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EXHIBIT 4.2
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NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of August 14, 2000
by and among
RAILAMERICA TRANSPORTATION CORP.
THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
and
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
and
SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
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This Notes Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is
made and entered into as of August 14, 2000, by and among RailAmerica
Transportation Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), the Guarantors set
forth on the signature page hereof (the "GUARANTORS"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, Barclays Bank PLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
(the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"). The Initial Purchasers have agreed to purchase the
Company's 12 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 (the "SERIES A NOTES")
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
dated as of August 9, 2000 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company,
the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial
Purchasers to purchase the Series A Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set
forth in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture,
dated the date hereof, between the Company and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
as Trustee, relating to the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes (the
"INDENTURE").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms
shall have the following meanings:
ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
ADVICE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
AFFILIATE: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors of the Company, or
any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the
Exchange Act.
BROKER-DEALER TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Series B Notes
that are acquired by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for
Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result
of market making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates).
BUSINESS DAY: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day
in the City of New York, or in the city of the corporate trust office of the
Trustee, on which banks are authorized to close.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES: Definitive Notes, as defined in the
Indenture.
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
COMMISSION: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
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CONSUMMATE: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated"
for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective
and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the
minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by
the Company to the Registrar of Series B Notes in the same aggregate principal
amount as the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes tendered by Holders
thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
DAMAGES PAYMENT DATE: With respect to the Series A Notes, each
Interest Payment Date.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a)
hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a
principal amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount
of Series A Notes that are tendered by Holders in connection with such exchange
and issuance.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Offer.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial
Purchasers propose to sell the Series A Notes (i) to certain "qualified
institutional buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, and
(ii) to persons permitted to purchase the Series A Notes in offshore
transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Act.
FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
GLOBAL SECURITIES: As defined in the Indenture.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
INDEMNIFIED HOLDER: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
INDENTURE: The Indenture, dated the Closing Date, among the
Company, the Guarantors and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., as trustee (the
"TRUSTEE"), pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is
amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
INTEREST PAYMENT DATE: As defined in the Indenture and the
Notes.
LIQUIDATED DAMAGES: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
NOTES: The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes.
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PERSON: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust,
unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in a Registration
Statement at the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments
thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by
reference into such Prospectus.
RECORD HOLDER: With respect to any Damages Payment Date, each
Person who is a Holder of Notes on the record date with respect to the Interest
Payment Date on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur.
REGISTRAR: As defined in the Indenture.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the
Company and the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes
pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each
case, (i) that is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii)
including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements
thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material
incorporated by reference therein.
REGULATION S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
RESTRICTED BROKER-DEALER: Any Broker-Dealer that holds
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 12 7/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2010 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer
or (ii) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
SUSPENSION NOTICE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each Note, until the earliest
to occur of (a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer
and entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such
Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c)
the date on which such Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) and (d) the date on
which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
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UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION or UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING: A
registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities (each, a "HOLDER") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted
Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by
applicable federal law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the
Commission (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause to be filed with
the Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event
later than 90 days after the Closing Date (such 90th day being a "FILING
DEADLINE"), the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (ii) use their best
efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective
at the earliest practicable time, but in no event later than 180 days after the
Closing Date (such 180th day being the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"), (iii) in
connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective, (B) file, if
applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary
filings, if any, in connection with the registration and qualification of the
Series B Notes to be made under the state Blue Sky or securities laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith to register or qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction
where such registration would result in any adverse effect to the Company, and
(iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and use their best efforts to Consummate the Exchange Offer. The
Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the
Series B Notes to be offered in exchange for the Series A Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer
Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section
3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective
best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective
continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less
than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities
laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall
such period be less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors shall
cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state
securities laws. No securities other than the Series B Notes (and the subsidiary
guarantees thereof) shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement. The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest
practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become
effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days thereafter (such 30th day
being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section
in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
indicate therein that any Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds Series A Notes that
are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for the account of
such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, may
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exchange such Series A Notes (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired
directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) pursuant to the
Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of each Series B
Note received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus
delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such
"Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with
respect to such sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by
Restricted Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit
such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not name any
such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by any such
Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a
change in policy, rules or regulations after the date of this Agreement.
To the extent necessary to ensure that the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of
Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their
respective best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by and subject to
the provisions of Sections 6(a) and 6(c) hereof and in conformity with the
requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations
of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from
the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as will terminate when all
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant thereto.
The Company and the Guarantors shall promptly provide
sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such
Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time in order to facilitate such
sales.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) SHELF REGISTRATION. If (i) the Company and the Guarantors
are not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect
to the Series B Notes or not permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer because
the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or the applicable
interpretations of the staff of the Commission (after the procedures set forth
in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with) or (ii) if any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days
following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder was
prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer
or (B) such Holder may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by it in the
Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or
available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer
and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates, then the Company and the Guarantors shall: (x) cause to be filed on
or prior to 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date on which the Company
determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or not permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer pursuant to clause
(a)(i) above and (ii) the date on which the Company receives the notice
specified in clause (a)(ii) above (such 30th day after such earlier date, a
"FILING DEADLINE"), a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(in either event, the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")), relating to all Transfer
Restricted Securities and (y) shall use their respective best efforts to cause
such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days
after the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 90th day
the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"). If, after the Company has filed an Exchange
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Offer Registration Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a)
above, the Company is required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration
Statement solely because the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted under
applicable federal law, then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above. Such
an event shall have no effect on the requirements of clause (y) above. The
Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement discussed in this Section 4(a) continuously
effective, supplemented and amended as required by and subject to the provisions
of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is
available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof
entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and to ensure that it conforms with
the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time for a period of at
least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(d)) following the Closing
Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant
thereto.
(b) PROVISION BY HOLDERS OF CERTAIN INFORMATION IN CONNECTION
WITH THE SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. No Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf
Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder
furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request
therefor, such information specified in item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as
applicable, or such other information as the Company may reasonably request
under the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein or in any application to
the NASD. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to
Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder
shall have provided all such information. Each selling Holder as to which any
Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly
additional information required to be disclosed in order to make the information
previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement
is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline,
(ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or before the 30th day after the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is first declared effective by the
Commission or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is
filed and declared effective but shall thereafter during the period such
Registration Statement is required to be maintained effective pursuant hereto
cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without
being succeeded promptly by a post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared effective
immediately (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a
"REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly and
severally agree to pay liquidated damages (the "LIQUIDATED DAMAGES") to each
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to the first 90-day period
immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default, in an amount
equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted
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Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that a
Registration Default continues (whether or not more than one Registration
Default shall exist at such time). The amount of the Liquidated Damages shall
increase by an additional $.05 per week (whether or not more than one
Registration Default shall exist at such time ) per $1,000 in principal amount
of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period
until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of
Liquidated Damages of $.50 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2)
upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon
the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an
additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be
declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the Liquidated
Damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result
of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease to accrue.
All accrued Liquidated Damages shall be paid to Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities that are in the form of Global Securities by wire
transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check and to Holders
of Transfer Restricted Securities that are in the form of Certificated
Securities by wire transfer to the account specified by them or by mailing
checks to their registered addresses on each Damages Payment Date. All
obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the preceding
paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security
at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall
survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security
shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT. In connection with
the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply with all
applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use their respective best
efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Series B Notes by
Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with
all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been
announced a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers
such as the Exchange Offer, such that in the reasonable opinion of
counsel to the Company there is a substantial question as to whether
the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company
and the Guarantors hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other
favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company and the
Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted
Securities. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the
issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In
connection with the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors hereby
agree to take all such other actions as are requested by the Commission
or otherwise reasonably required in connection with the issuance of
such decision, including without limitation (A) participating in
telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the
Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting
forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded
that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently
pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission
staff of such submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the
Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without
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limitation, any Holder who is a Broker-Dealer) shall furnish, upon the
request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, a written representation to the Company and the Guarantors
(which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is
not an Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not
intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to be
issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes
in its ordinary course of business. As a condition to its participation
in the Exchange Offer each Holder shall acknowledge and agree that any
Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to
participate in a distribution of the Series B Notes shall acknowledge
and agree that, if the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such
Holder in exchange for Series A Notes acquired directly by such Holder
directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not
under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely
on the position of the Commission enunciated in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ AND CO.,
INC. (available June 5, 1991) and EXXON CAPITAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
(available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to
SHEARMAN & STERLING dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters
(including, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to
clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a
secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale
transaction must be covered by an effective registration statement
containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507
or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K.
(iii) To the extent required by the Commission, prior
to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental letter to the
Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors are
registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
Commission enunciated in EXXON CAPITAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION (available
May 13, 1988), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ AND CO., INC. (available June 5, 1991),
as interpreted in the Commission's letter to SHEARMAN & STERLING dated
July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained
pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that
neither the Company nor the Guarantors has entered into any arrangement
or understanding with any Person to distribute the Series B Notes to be
received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company's
and the Guarantors' information and belief, each Holder participating
in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary
course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Series B Notes
received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or
representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.
(b) SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall
(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c)
below and shall use their respective best efforts to effect such
registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities
being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to the
Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the
Company and the Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a
Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate
form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities
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in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution
thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or
purchaser of Series A Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Series A
Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered
to the Company for cancellation; the Company shall register Series B
Notes on the shelf Registration for this purpose and issue the Series B
Notes to the purchaser(s) of securities subject to the Shelf
Registration Statement in the names as such purchaser(s) shall
designate.
(c) GENERAL PROVISIONS. In connection with any Registration
Statement required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer
Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, to the extent that the same are required to be available
to permit sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted
Broker-Dealers), the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite
financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this
Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would
cause any such Registration Statement (including the Prospectus
contained therein) (A) to contain an untrue statement of material fact
or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale
of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this
Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file promptly an
appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, (1) in the case
of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and (2) in
the case of clauses (A) and (B), use their respective best efforts to
cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration
Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their
intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement
as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for
the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, or such
shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause
the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as
applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the
provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the
sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement
to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise each Holder promptly and, if requested
by such Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus
or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been
filed, and, with respect to any applicable Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become
effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the
Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of
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the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the
suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of
the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the
preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening
of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement
thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or
that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the
Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes
in the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at
any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities
commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order
suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws,
the Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts
to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest
possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have
occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer
Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to the Initial Purchasers and each
selling Holder named in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in
connection with such exchange or sale, if any, before filing with the
Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus
included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents
incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration
Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and comment
of such Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of
at least five Business Days, and the Company will not file any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to
any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such
documents incorporated by reference) to which such Holders shall
reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt thereof.
A Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if
such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as
applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement
or omission or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the
Act;
(vi) promptly after the filing of any document that
is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, make available copies of such document to each Holder in
connection with such exchange or sale, if any, make the Company's and
the Guarantors' representatives available for discussion of such
document and other customary due diligence matters;
(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for
inspection by each Holder participating in any disposition pursuant to
such Registration Statement and any attorney or
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accountant retained by such Holders, all financial and other records
and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and the
Guarantors and cause the Company's and the Guarantors' officers,
directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested
by any such Holder, attorney or accountant in connection with such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
PROVIDED that any information that is reasonably and in good faith
designated by the Company in writing as confidential at the time of
delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such
Persons, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court
or administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of
regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure of such information is required
by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to federal
securities laws in connection with the filing of such Registration
Statement or the use of any Prospectus, except if the Company obtains
"confidential treatment" for any document or information in accordance
with the rules of the Commission), (iii) such information becomes
generally available to the public other than as a result of a
disclosure or failure to safeguard such information by such Person or
(iv) such information becomes available to such Person from a source
other than the Company and its subsidiaries and such source is not
known, after due inquiry, by such Person to be bound by a
confidentiality agreement;
(viii) if requested by any Holders in connection with
such exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement
or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if
necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to
have included therein, including, without limitation, information
relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted
Securities and the use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus for
market-making activities; and make all required filings of such
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as
practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be included
in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(ix) furnish to each Holder in connection with such
exchange or sale, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration
Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment
thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference therein and
all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(x) deliver to each Holder without charge, as many
copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) and
any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may
request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in
accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the Holders in connection with the offering and the
sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto and all market-making activities of
the Initial Purchasers, as the case may be;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such
agreements (including an underwriting agreement) and make such
representations and warranties and take all such other actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any applicable
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be
reasonably requested by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities in
connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any applicable
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Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement. In such
connection and also in connection with any market-making activities by
the Initial Purchasers, whether or not an underwriting agreement is
entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten
Registration, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(A) upon the request of any Holder, furnish
(or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use their best
efforts to furnish) to each Holder upon the effectiveness of
the Shelf Registration Statement and to each Restricted
Broker-Dealer upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer:
(1) a certificate, dated the date
of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be, signed on behalf of the Company and
the Guarantors by (x) the President or any Vice
President and (y) a principal financial or accounting
officer of the Company and such Guarantor,
confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set
forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Section 9 of
the Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters
as such Holders and/or Restricted Broker Dealers may
reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be, of counsel for the Company and the
Guarantors covering matters similar to those set
forth in paragraph (e) of Section 9 of the Purchase
Agreement and such other matter as the Holders and/or
Restricted Broker Dealers may reasonably request, and
in any event including a statement to the effect that
such counsel has participated in conferences with
officers and other representatives of the Company and
the Guarantors and representatives of the independent
public accountants for the Company and the Guarantors
and has considered the matters required to be stated
therein and the statements contained therein,
although such counsel has not independently verified
the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such
statements; and that such counsel advises that, on
the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality
to a large extent upon facts provided to such counsel
by officers and other representatives of the Company
and the Guarantors and without independent check or
verifications), no facts came to such counsel's
attention that caused such counsel to believe that
the applicable Registration Statement, at the time
such Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto became effective and, in the case
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of
the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus
contained in such Registration Statement as of its
date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date
of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the date
of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing,
such counsel may state further that such counsel
assumes no responsibility for, does not opine as to,
and has not independently verified, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the financial statements,
notes and schedules and other financial data included
in any Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
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(3) a customary comfort letter,
dated as of the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement or the date of Consummation of
the Exchange Offer, as the case may be, from the
Company's independent accountants, in the customary
form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in comfort letters to underwriters in
connection with underwritten offerings, and affirming
the matters set forth in the comfort letters
delivered pursuant to paragraph (g) of Section 9 of
the Purchase Agreement, without exception;
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by
reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, in connection
with any sale or resale pursuant to any Shelf Registration
Statement the indemnification provisions and procedures of
Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified
pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the selling
Holders, and Restricted Broker Dealers, if any, to evidence
compliance with clause (A) above and with any customary
conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors
pursuant to this clause (xi).
If at any time the representations and warranties of the
Company and the Guarantors contemplated in (A)(1) above cease to be
true and correct in all material respects, the Company and the
Guarantors shall so advise the selling Holders and each Restricted
Broker-Dealer promptly and if requested by such Persons, shall confirm
such advice in writing;
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their
counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities under the state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders may request and do
any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by the applicable Registration Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that neither the Company nor any Guarantors shall be required to
register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so
qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of
process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and
transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any
jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities that will result in such securities no longer
being Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing
any restrictive legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted
Securities in such denominations and such names as the Holders or the
underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two Business Days prior to
such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use their respective best efforts to cause the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate
the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the
proviso contained in clause (xii) above;
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(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer
Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of a
Registration Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and
provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for
the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for
deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvi) cooperate and assist in any filings required to
be made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence
investigation by any underwriter (including any "qualified independent
underwriter") that is required to be retained in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the NASD, and use their respective best
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and
approved by such governmental agencies or authorities as may be
necessary to enable the Holders selling Transfer Restricted Securities
to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not take any position during
review by the NASD that would, in any manner, create the implication
that the offering of the Series A Notes on the Closing Date by the
Company should be or is subject to the rules and regulations of the
NASD;
(xvii) otherwise use their respective best efforts to
comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and
make generally available to its security holders with regard to any
applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a
consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158
(which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such term is
defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act);
(xviii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the
TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration
Statement required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith,
cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Notes to effect such
changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so
qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use
their best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that
may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and
documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xix) provide promptly to each Holder and the Initial
Purchasers upon request each document filed with the Commission
pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act.
(d) RESTRICTIONS ON HOLDERS. Each Holder agrees by acquisition
of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to
in Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any
fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is
advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed,
and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (the "ADVICE"). If so directed by
the Company, each Holder will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than
permanent file copies, then in such Holder's possession which have been replaced
by the Company with more recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to the
Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than
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permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus
covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of
receipt of either such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such
notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended
by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) or Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof
to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration
Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof or shall have received the
Advice.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's and the Guarantors'
performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including
without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including
filings made by any Purchaser or Holder with the NASD and its counsel that may
be required by the rules and regulations of the NASD); (ii) all fees and
expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities
laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the
Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses,
whether for exchanges, sales or otherwise), messenger and delivery services and
telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the
Guarantors and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (subject to the
provisions of Section 7(b) hereof); (v) all application and filing fees in
connection with listing the Series B Notes on a national securities exchange or
automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all
fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the
Company and the Guarantors (including the expenses of any special audit and
comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holders will be responsible
for any underwriting discounts and commissions, brokers fees and any transfer
taxes relating to such Notes disposed of by the Holders. The Company will, in
any event, bear its and the Guarantors' internal expenses (including, without
limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing
legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and
expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company or
the Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by
this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company and the Guarantors
will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities being tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose
benefit such Registration Statement is being prepared.
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SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally,
agree to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each person, if
any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the persons referred to in this clause (ii)
being hereinafter referred to as a "CONTROLLING PERSON") and (iii) the
respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents
of any Holder or any controlling person (any person referred to in clause (i),
(ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an "INDEMNIFIED HOLDER"), to the
fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, judgments, actions and expenses (including without limitation and
as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing,
pursuing or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by
any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any Indemnified Holder) directly or
indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection
with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses are caused by an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any of the Holders
furnished in writing to the Company by any of the Holders expressly for use
therein.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees,
severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the
Guarantors, and their respective directors, officers, and any person controlling
(within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
the Company or the Guarantors, and the respective officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of each such person, to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to each of the
Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to claims and actions based on
information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action or
proceeding shall be brought against the Company, the Guarantors or any of their
directors or officers or any such controlling person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought against a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such
Holder shall have the rights and duties given the Company and the Guarantors,
and the Company, the Guarantors, such directors or officers or such controlling
person shall have the rights and duties given to each Holder by the preceding
paragraph. In no event shall any Holder be liable or responsible for any amount
in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder with respect
to its sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer
Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages which such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person
in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b)
(the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the
person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PERSON") in
writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred
(except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required
to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may
employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of
the
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Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless
(i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in
writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed
to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by counsel
that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different
from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case
the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such
action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying
party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the
Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by
the Company and Guarantors, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the
indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected
with its written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent if the
settlement is entered into more than twenty business days after the indemnifying
party shall have received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement
for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses
are at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such
settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such
reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or
consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened
action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity or contribution may or could have been sought hereunder by the
indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes
an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof
(other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then
each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and
the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other
hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses. The relative fault of the
Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on
the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company or the Guarantors or by the Indemnified Holder and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the last sentence of
Section 8(b), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.
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The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or
by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder or its related
Indemnified Holders shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder with
respect to the sale of its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds the sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for
such Transfer Restricted Securities PLUS (B) the amount of any damages which
such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to
this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount
of Series A Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree with each Holder,
for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and, in the
event the Company subsequently becomes subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, during any period in which the Company or the Guarantors (i) are
not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon
request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, to any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any
prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such
Holder, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to
permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and
(ii) are subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings
required thereby in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
SECTION 10. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration
hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer
Restricted Securities on the basis provided in customary underwriting
arrangements entered into in connection therewith and (b) completes and executes
all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, and other documents required
under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
For any Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or
investment bankers and manager or managers for any Underwritten Offering that
will administer such offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in
such offering. Such investment bankers and managers are referred to herein as
the "underwriters."
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SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) REMEDIES. Each Holder and the Initial Purchasers, in
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein, in the
Indenture, the Purchase Agreement or granted by law, including recovery of
Liquidated Damages (the payment of which is the sole monetary remedy available
to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Series A Notes in the event that the
Company does not comply with the deadlines set forth in this Agreement with
respect to the conduct of the Exchange Offer or the registration of the Series A
Notes for resale under a Shelf Registration Statement) or other damages, will in
addition be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.
The Company and the Guarantors agree that monetary damages would not be adequate
compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by them of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action
for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor the
Guarantors will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to their respective securities that is inconsistent with
the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with
the provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor the Guarantors has previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to
their respective securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's and the Guarantors' securities
under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTING THE NOTES. Neither the Company nor
the Guarantors will take any action, or voluntarily permit any change to occur,
with respect to the Notes that would materially and adversely affect the ability
of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. This Agreement may not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof
and this Section 12(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent of
Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities (except with respect
to a waiver or departure entered into by a Holder with the Company that is
binding only with respect to the Notes held by such Holder) and (ii) in the case
of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written consent of
Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Company or its
Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure
from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders
whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does
not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities
are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the
Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.
(e) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders
hereunder.
(f) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or
air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
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(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the
records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the
Registrar under the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
RailAmerica Transportation Corp.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.A.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if
timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at
the address specified in the Indenture.
(g) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding
upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor
or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities directly from such Holder.
(h) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(i) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(j) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(k) SEVERABILITY. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
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legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of
the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired
thereby.
(l) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete
and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto
in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
21
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date first written above.
RAILAMERICA TRANSPORTATION CORP.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
RAILAMERICA, INC.,
as Guarantor
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President, General Counsel and
Assistant Secretary
▇-▇
▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMPANY, INC.
BOSTON CENTRAL FREIGHT RAILROADS, INC.
CASCADE AND COLUMBIA RIVER RAILROAD COMPANY, INC.
CENTRAL OREGON & PACIFIC RAILROAD, INC.
CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY OF INDIANA
CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY OF INDIANAPOLIS
CONNECTICUT SOUTHERN RAILROAD, INC.
DAKOTA RAIL, INC.
DALLAS, GARLAND & NORTHEASTERN RAILROAD, INC.
DALLAS, GARLAND & NORTHEASTERN RAILROAD, INC.
DELAWARE VALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY, INC.
FLORIDA RAIL LINES, INC.
GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN RAILROAD, INC.
HURON AND EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY, INC.
INDIANA & OHIO CENTRAL RAILROAD, INC.
INDIANA & OHIO RAIL CORP.
INDIANA & OHIO RAILWAY COMPANY
INDIANA SOUTHERN RAILROAD, INC.
MARKSMAN CORP.
MID-MICHIGAN RAILROAD, INC.
MINNESOTA NORTHERN RAILROAD, INC.
MISSOURI & NORTHERN ARKANSAS RAILROAD COMPANY, INC.
NEW ENGLAND CENTRAL RAILROAD, INC.
NEW ORLEANS LOWER COAST RAILROAD COMPANY, INC.
NORTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA RAILROAD COMPANY, INC.
OTTER TAIL VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY, INC.
PALM BEACH RAIL HOLDING, INC.
PITTSBURG INDUSTRIAL RAILROAD, INC.
PLAINVIEW TERMINAL COMPANY
PRAIRIE HOLDINGS CORPORATION
RAIL OPERATING SUPPORT GROUP, INC.
RAILAMERICA AUSTRALIA, INC.
RAILAMERICA EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
RAILAMERICA INTERMODAL SERVICES, INC.
RAILINK ACQUISITION, INC.
RAILTEX ACQUISITION CORP.
RAILTEX DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, INC.
RAILTEX, INC.
RAILTEX INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.
RAILTEX LOGISITICS, INC.
RAILTEX SERVICES CO., INC.
SAGINAW VALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY, INC.
SAN DIEGO & IMPERIAL VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY, INC.
▇-▇
▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ RAILROAD COMPANY, INC.
SOUTH CENTRAL TENNESSEE RAILROAD CORP., INC.
ST. CROIX VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY
THE TOLEDO, PEORIA & WESTERN RAILROAD CORPORATION
TOLEDO, PEORIA & WESTERN RAILWAY CORPORATION
VENTURA COUNTY RAILROAD CO., INC.
WEST TEXAS AND LUBBOCK RAILROAD COMPANY, INC.,
as Guarantors
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer,
On behalf of each of the above-
named entities.
▇-▇
▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
Barclays Bank PLC
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
S-4