EXHIBIT 4.5
ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED
6.00% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2014
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
August 16, 2004
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
As representatives of the several Purchasers
named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement
c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited, a Bermuda company (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to the Purchasers (as defined herein) upon the terms
set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) an aggregate of
$250,000,000 principal amount of its 6.00% Senior Notes due 2014. As an
inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in
satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Purchasers thereunder, the
Company agrees with the Purchasers for the benefit of holders (as defined
herein) from time to time of the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as
follows:
1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective
meanings:
"Base Interest" shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue on
the Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture, without giving
effect to the provisions of this Agreement.
The term "broker-dealer" shall mean any broker or dealer registered
with the Commission under the Exchange Act.
"Closing Date" shall mean the date on which the Securities are
initially issued.
"Commission" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for
the particular purpose.
"Effective Time," in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange
Registration Statement effective or as of which the
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Exchange Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a
Shelf Registration, shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission
declares the Shelf Registration Statement effective or as of which the
Shelf Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective.
"Electing Holder" shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities that
has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company
in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or 3(d)(iii) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Exchange Offer" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 3(c) hereof.
"Exchange Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(a) hereof.
The term "holder" shall mean each of the Purchasers and other persons
who acquire Registrable Securities from time to time (including any
successors or assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any
Registrable Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of August 16, 2004,
between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee,
as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Notice and Questionnaire" means a Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto.
The term "person" shall mean a corporation, association, partnership,
organization, business, individual, government or political subdivision
thereof or governmental agency.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
August 11, 2004, between the Purchasers and the Company relating to the
Securities.
"Purchasers" shall mean the Purchasers named in Schedule I to the
Purchase Agreement.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) in the
circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has been
exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as contemplated in
Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security that, pursuant to
the last two sentences of Section 2(a), is included in a prospectus for use
in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be deemed to be a
Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9 until resale of
such Registrable Security has been effected within the 180-day period
referred to in Section 2(a)); (ii) in the circumstances contemplated by
Section 2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement registering such
Security under the Securities Act has been declared or becomes effective
and such Security has been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder
thereof pursuant to and in a manner contemplated by such effective Shelf
Registration Statement; (iii) such Security is sold pursuant to Rule 144
under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Security relating to
restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the
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Indenture; (iv) such Security is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph
(k)of Rule 144; or (v) such Security shall cease to be outstanding.
"Registration Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(c) hereof.
"Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 4 hereof.
"Resale Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Restricted Holder" shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of the
Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires Exchange
Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder's business, (iii) a
holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to
participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange
Securities and (iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with respect
to Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an
Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the
broker-dealer directly from the Company.
"Rule 144," "Rule 405" and "Rule 415" shall mean, in each case, such
rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as
the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Securities" shall mean, collectively, the 6.00% Notes due 2014 of the
Company to be issued and sold to the Purchasers, and securities issued in
exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to the Indenture.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2(b) hereof.
"Special Interest" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(c) hereof.
"Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or
any successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated
thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.
Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a
"Section" or "clause" refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and the words "herein," "hereof" and
"hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or
other subdivision.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company agrees to
file under the Securities Act, as soon as practicable, but no later than
150 days after the Closing Date, a registration statement relating to an
offer to exchange (such registration statement, the "Exchange Registration
Statement", and such offer, the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the
Securities for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities issued
by the Company, which debt securities are substantially identical to the
Securities (and are entitled to the benefits of a trust indenture which is
substantially identical to the Indenture or is the Indenture and which has
been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act), except that they have been
registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act and do not contain provisions for the additional interest
contemplated in Section 2(c) below (such
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new debt securities hereinafter called "Exchange Securities"). The Company
agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange
Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as soon
as practicable, but no later than 210 days after the Closing Date. The
Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act on the
appropriate form and will comply with all applicable tender offer rules and
regulations under the Exchange Act. The Company further agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts to commence and complete the Exchange Offer
promptly, but no later than 45 days after such registration statement has
become effective, hold the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days and
exchange Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been
properly tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to the expiration of the
Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have been "completed"
only if the debt securities received by holders other than Restricted
Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are, upon receipt,
transferable by each such holder without restriction under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act and without material restrictions under the blue
sky or securities laws of a substantial majority of the States of the
United States of America. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been
completed upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Company having exchanged the
Exchange Securities for all outstanding Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company having exchanged, pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that
have been properly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration of the
Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is at least 30 days following
the commencement of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees (x) to include
in the Exchange Registration Statement a prospectus for use in any resales
by any holder of Exchange Securities that is a broker-dealer and (y) to
keep such Exchange Registration Statement effective for a period (the
"Resale Period") beginning when Exchange Securities are first issued in the
Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the expiration of the 180th
day after the Exchange Offer has been completed or such time as such
broker-dealers no longer own any Registrable Securities. With respect to
such Exchange Registration Statement, such holders shall have the benefit
of the rights of indemnification and contribution set forth in Sections
6(a), (c), (d) and (e) hereof.
(b) If (i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed
existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the debt
securities received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the
Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are not or would not be, upon
receipt, transferable by each such holder without restriction under the
Securities Act, (ii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 255
days following the Closing Date or (iii) the Exchange Offer is not
available to any holder of the Securities, the Company shall, in lieu of
(or, in the case of clause (iii), in addition to) conducting the Exchange
Offer contemplated by Section 2(a), file under the Securities Act as soon
as reasonably practicable, but no later than the later of 30 days after the
time such obligation to file arises, a "shelf" registration statement
providing for the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or delayed
basis by the holders of, all of the Registrable Securities, pursuant to
Rule 415 or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission (such
filing, the "Shelf Registration" and such registration statement, the
"Shelf Registration Statement"). The Company agrees to use its reasonable
best efforts (x) to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become or be
declared effective no later than 120 days after such Shelf Registration
Statement is filed and to keep such Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective for a period ending on the earlier of the second
anniversary of the Effective Time or such time as there are no longer any
Registrable Securities outstanding, provided, however, that no holder shall
be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf
Registration Statement or to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for
resales of Registrable Securities unless such holder is an Electing Holder,
and (y) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement,
promptly upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is
not then an Electing Holder, to take any action reasonably necessary to
enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales
of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, any action
necessary to identify such holder as a selling securityholder in the
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Shelf Registration Statement, provided, however, that nothing in this
Clause (y) shall relieve any such holder of the obligation to return a
completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance
with Section 3(d)(iii) hereof. The Company further agrees to supplement or
make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement, as and when required
by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration
form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the
Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration,
and the Company agrees to furnish to each Electing Holder copies of any
such supplement or amendment prior to its being used or promptly following
its filing with the Commission, if such supplement or amendment is not
available via the Commission's ▇▇▇▇▇ database.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the requirements set
forth in Section 3(e) hereof, the Company may, by notice to holders of
Registrable Securities, suspend the availability of a Shelf Registration
Statement and the use of the related prospectus for up to an aggregate of
45 days in any consecutive twelve-month period, if (i) the board of
directors of the Company determines in good faith that it is in the
Company's best interests to refrain from disclosing the existence of or
facts surrounding any proposed or pending material corporate transaction or
(ii) the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement or a material fact made in the Shelf Registration Statement or
the related prospectus untrue or requires the making of any changes in or
additions to the Shelf Registration Statement or related prospectus to make
the statements therein not misleading.
(c) In the event that (i) the Company has not filed the Exchange
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement on or before the
date on which such registration statement is required to be filed pursuant
to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (ii) such Exchange Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement has not become effective or been
declared effective by the Commission on or before the date on which such
registration statement is required to become or be declared effective
pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (iii) the Exchange Offer
has not been completed within 45 days after the initial effective date of
the Exchange Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer (if the
Exchange Offer is then required to be made), or (iv) any Exchange
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement required by Section
2(a) or 2(b) hereof is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter
either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject to an effective
stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending
the effectiveness of such registration statement (except as specifically
permitted herein) without being succeeded immediately by an additional
registration statement filed and declared effective, or (v) if any Shelf
Registration Statement required by Section 2(b) hereof is filed and
declared effective, and during the period the Company is required to use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to
remain effective, the Company shall have suspended the availability of the
Shelf Registration Statement and the use of the related prospectus pursuant
to Section 2(b) hereof for more than 45 days in the aggregate in any
consecutive twelve-month period and be continuing to suspend the
availability of the Shelf Registration Statement (each such event referred
to in clauses (i) through (v), a "Registration Default" and each period
during which a Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, a
"Registration Default Period"), then, as liquidated damages for such
Registration Default, subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), special
interest ("Special Interest"), in addition to the Base Interest, shall
accrue at a per annum rate of 0.25% for the first 90 days of the
Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.50% thereafter for
the remaining portion of the Registration Default Period.
(d) The Company shall take all actions reasonable and necessary or
advisable to be taken by it to ensure that the transactions contemplated
herein are effected as so contemplated.
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(e) Any reference herein to a registration statement as of any time
shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be
incorporated, therein by reference as of such time and any reference herein
to any post-effective amendment to a registration statement as of any time
shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be
incorporated, therein by reference as of such time.
(f) Each holder of Registrable Securities hereby acknowledges and
agrees that any broker-dealer and any such holder using the Exchange Offer
to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Securities (x) could not
under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on
the position of the Commission in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub.
avail. May 13, 1988) and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5,
1991), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling
dated July 2, 1993 and similar no-action letters; and (y) must comply with
the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act
in connection with any secondary resale transaction, which 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 under the Securities Act if the resales are of Exchange
Securities obtained by such holder in exchange for Registrable Securities
acquired by such holder directly from the Company or one of its affiliates.
Accordingly, the Company's obligation to accept for exchange a holder's
Registrable Securities tendered in the Exchange Offer shall be conditioned
upon such holder representing to the Company that, at the time of the
consummation of the Exchange Offer:
(i) that any Exchange Securities received by such holder will be
acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's business;
(ii) that such holder will have no arrangement or understanding
with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities within the meaning of the Act;
(iii) that such holder is not an affiliate of the Company; and
(iv) that if such holder is a broker-dealer that it will receive
Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable
Securities acquired as a result of market making activities or other
trading activities and acknowledges that such holder will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of the Exchange Securities.
3. Registration Procedures.
If the Company files a registration statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Offer or the Shelf
Registration, as the case may be, the Company shall qualify the Indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(b) In the event that such qualification would require the appointment
of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new
trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(c) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 2(a) (the
"Exchange Registration"), if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable
but no later than 150 days after the Closing Date, an Exchange
Registration Statement on any form which may be
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utilized by the Company and which shall permit the Exchange Offer and
resales of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale
Period to be effected as contemplated by Section 2(a), and use its
reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Registration Statement
to become effective as soon as practicable thereafter, but no later
than 210 days after the Closing Date;
(ii) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and supplements to such Exchange Registration
Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to
effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration
Statement for the periods and purposes contemplated in Section 2(a)
hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations
of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such
Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly provide each
broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such number of copies
of the prospectus included therein (as then amended or supplemented),
in conformity in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, as such broker-dealer
reasonably may request prior to the expiration of the Resale Period,
for use in connection with resales of Exchange Securities;
(iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has requested or
received copies of the prospectus included in such registration
statement, and confirm such advice in writing if so requested by any
such broker-dealer, (A) when such Exchange Registration Statement or
the prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with
respect to such Exchange Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments by
the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or
regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the
Commission for amendments or supplements to such Exchange Registration
Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or the
initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if
at any time the representations and warranties of the Company
contemplated by Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all material
respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Exchange
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F) at any time
during the Resale Period when a prospectus is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act, that such Exchange Registration Statement,
prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective
amendment does not conform in all material respects to the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or contains an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(iv) in the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 3(e)(iii)(F) above, to notify any broker-dealers holding
Exchange Securities, without delay prepare and furnish to each such
holder a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or
amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such
Exchange Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus shall
conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and shall not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
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therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
each such broker-dealer agrees that upon receipt of any notice from
the Company pursuant to Section 3(c)(iii)(F) hereof, such
broker-dealer shall forthwith discontinue the disposition of Exchange
Securities pursuant to such defective prospectus until such
broker-dealer shall have received copies of such amended or
supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the Company, such
broker-dealer shall deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense)
all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such
broker-dealer's possession of the prospectus covering such Exchange
Securities at the time of receipt of such notice;
(v) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest
practicable date;
(vi) use its reasonable best efforts to (A) register or qualify
the Exchange Securities under the securities laws or blue sky laws of
such jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a) no later than
the commencement of the Exchange Offer, (B) keep such registrations or
qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the
continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such
jurisdictions until the expiration of the Resale Period and (C) take
any and all other actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable
to enable each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities to consummate
the disposition thereof in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify
as a foreign company or corporation or as a dealer in securities in
any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for the requirements of this Section 3(c)(vi), (2) consent to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction, (3) subject
itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any such
jurisdiction or (4) make any changes to its certificate of
incorporation, memorandum of association, articles of association,
bye-laws or other organizational document, as amended (any such
document, a "Constitutional Document"), or any agreement between it
and its shareholders;
(vii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent or
approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal,
state, local or foreign, which may be required to effect the Exchange
Registration, the Exchange Offer and the offering and sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period;
(viii) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, not
later than the applicable Effective Time;
(ix) use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
available to its securityholders as soon as reasonably practicable but
no later than eighteen months after the effective date of such
Exchange Registration Statement, an earning statement of the Company
and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).
(d) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable
but in any case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b), a
Shelf Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by the
Company and which shall register all of the Registrable Securities for
resale by the holders thereof in accordance with such method or
methods of
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disposition as may be specified by such of the holders as, from time
to time, may be Electing Holders and use its reasonable best efforts
to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as soon
as practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in
Section 2(b);
(ii) not less than 30 calendar days prior to the Effective Time
of the Shelf Registration Statement, mail the Notice and Questionnaire
to the holders of Registrable Securities; no holder shall be entitled
to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement as of the Effective Time, and no holder shall be entitled to
use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable
Securities at any time, unless such holder has returned a completed
and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company by the deadline for
response set forth therein; provided, however, holders of Registrable
Securities shall have at least 28 calendar days from the date on which
the Notice and Questionnaire is first mailed to such holders to return
a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
provided, further that each holder agrees to furnish to the Company
such information that the Company may reasonably request for use in
connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus to the
extent required by applicable law and each holder agrees to furnish
promptly to the Company, with respect to any Shelf Registration
Statement being effected, all information required to be disclosed in
order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by
such holder not misleading;
(iii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities
that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly send a Notice and
Questionnaire to such holder; provided that the Company shall not be
required to take any action to name such holder as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such
holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities until such holder has returned a completed and
signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company; provided, further that
each holder agrees to furnish to the Company such information that the
Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement or prospectus to the extent required by
applicable law and each holder agrees to furnish promptly to the
Company, with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement being
effected, all information required to be disclosed in order to make
the information previously furnished to the Company by such holder not
misleading;
(iv) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement
and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and
maintain the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement for
the period specified in Section 2(b) hereof and as may be required by
the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the
instructions applicable to the form of such Shelf Registration
Statement, and furnish to the Electing Holders copies of any such
supplement or amendment simultaneously with or prior to its being used
or filed with the Commission;
(v) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect
to the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition by the Electing Holders provided for in such
Shelf Registration Statement;
(vi) provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the underwriters
(which term, for purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, shall include a person deemed to be an underwriter within
the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), if any,
thereof, (C) any sales or placement agent therefor, (D) counsel for
any such underwriter or agent and (E) not more than one counsel for
all the Electing Holders the opportunity to participate in
9
the preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, each prospectus
included therein or filed with the Commission and each amendment or
supplement thereto;
(vii) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such Shelf
Registration Statement, and throughout the period specified in Section
2(b), make available at reasonable times at the Company's principal
place of business or such other reasonable place for inspection by the
persons referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) who shall certify to the
Company that they have a current intention to sell the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration such financial and other
information and books and records of the Company, and cause the
officers, employees, counsel and independent certified public
accountants of the Company to respond to such inquiries, as shall be
reasonably necessary, in the judgment of the respective counsel
referred to in such Section, to conduct a reasonable investigation
within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided,
however, that each such party shall be required to maintain in
confidence and not to disclose to any other person any information or
records reasonably designated by the Company as being confidential,
until such time as (A) such information becomes a matter of public
record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such registration
statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall be required so to
disclose such information pursuant to a subpoena or order of any court
or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
matter (subject to the requirements of such order, and only after such
person shall have given the Company prompt prior written notice of
such requirement), or (C) such information is required to be set forth
in such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included
therein or in an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an
amendment or supplement to such prospectus in order that such Shelf
Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the
case may be, complies with applicable requirements of the federal
securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Commission and
does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of
the circumstances then existing;
(viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders, any sales or
placement agent therefor and any underwriter thereof (which
notification may be made through any managing underwriter that is a
representative of such underwriter for such purpose) and confirm such
advice in writing if so requested, (A) when such Shelf Registration
Statement or the prospectus included therein or any prospectus
amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed,
and, with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of
any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities
commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or any
request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to such Shelf
Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information,
(C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation
or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time
the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by
Section 3(d)(xvii) or Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all
material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F)
if at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act, that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus,
prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment does
not conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of
the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder or contains an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or
10
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of
the circumstances then existing;
(ix) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement
or any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable
date;
(x) if requested by any managing underwriter or underwriters, any
placement or sales agent or any Electing Holder, promptly incorporate
in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as is required by the applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission and as such managing underwriter or underwriters, such
agent or such Electing Holder specifies should be included therein
relating to the terms of the sale of such Registrable Securities,
including information with respect to the principal amount of
Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder or agent or
to any underwriters, the name and description of such Electing Holder,
agent or underwriter, the offering price of such Registrable
Securities and any discount, commission or other compensation payable
in respect thereof, the purchase price being paid therefor by such
underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the offering of
the Registrable Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent
or to such underwriters; and make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment;
(xi) furnish to each Electing Holder, each placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any, thereof and the
respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) a conformed copy
(or, in the case of an Electing Holder, a conformed copy) of such
Shelf Registration Statement, each such amendment and supplement
thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto (in the case of
an Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and
documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number of copies
of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto and
documents incorporated by reference therein unless specifically so
requested by such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, as the case
may be) and of the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration
Statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary
prospectus), in conformity in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and
such other documents, as such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and
underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
offering and disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Electing Holder, offered or sold by such agent or underwritten by such
underwriter and to permit such Electing Holder, agent and underwriter
to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
and the Company hereby consents to the use of such prospectus
(including such preliminary and summary prospectus) and any amendment
or supplement thereto by each such Electing Holder and by any such
agent and underwriter, in each case in the form most recently provided
to such person by the Company, in connection with the offering and
sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus
(including such preliminary and summary prospectus) or any supplement
or amendment thereto;
(xii) use reasonable best efforts to (A) register or qualify the
Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration
Statement under such securities laws or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any Electing Holder and each placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor and underwriter, if any, thereof shall
reasonably request, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in
effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
11
offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the
period the Shelf Registration is required to remain effective under
Section 2(b) above and for so long as may be necessary to enable any
such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter to complete its
distribution of Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement and (C) take any and all other actions as may be reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable each such Electing Holder, agent, if
any, and underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition in such
jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify
as a foreign company or corporation or as a dealer in securities in
any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for the requirements of this Section 3(d)(xii), (2) consent to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction, (3) subject
itself to material taxation in respect of doing business in any such
jurisdiction or (4) make any changes to its Constitutional Documents
or bye-laws or any agreement between it and its stockholders;
(xiii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent or
approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal,
state, local or foreign, which may be required to effect the Shelf
Registration or the offering or sale in connection therewith or to
enable the selling holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the
disposition of, their Registrable Securities;
(xiv) Unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry
only form, cooperate with the Electing Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be
sold, which certificates, if so required by any securities exchange
upon which any Registrable Securities are listed, shall be penned,
lithographed or engraved, or produced by any combination of such
methods, on steel engraved borders, and which certificates shall not
bear any restrictive legends; and, in the case of an underwritten
offering, enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the managing
underwriters may request at least two business days prior to any sale
of the Registrable Securities;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, not
later than the applicable Effective Time;
(xvi) enter into one or more underwriting agreements, engagement
letters, agency agreements, "best efforts" underwriting agreements or
similar agreements, as appropriate, including customary provisions
relating to indemnification and contribution, and take such other
actions in connection therewith as any Electing Holders aggregating at
least 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities
at the time outstanding shall request in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; provided
that such Electing Holders shall have the right to direct the Company
to effect not more than one underwritten offering;
(xvii) if an agreement of the type referred to in Section
3(d)(xvi) hereof is entered into, (A) make such representations and
warranties to the Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent,
if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof in form,
substance and scope as are customarily made in connection with an
offering of debt securities pursuant to any appropriate agreement or
to a registration statement filed on the form applicable to the Shelf
Registration; (B) obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company in
customary form and covering such matters, of the type customarily
covered by such an opinion, as the managing underwriters, if any, or
as any Electing Holders of at least 50% in aggregate principal amount
of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding may reasonably
request, addressed to such Electing Holder or Electing Holders and the
placement or sales agent, if any, therefor
12
and the underwriters, if any, thereof and dated the effective date of
such Shelf Registration Statement (and if such Shelf Registration
Statement contemplates an underwritten offering of a part or all of
the Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing under the
underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being agreed that the
matters to be covered by such opinion shall include the due
incorporation and good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries;
the qualification of the Company and its subsidiaries to transact
business as foreign corporations; the due authorization, execution and
delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section
3(d)(xvi) hereof; the due authorization, execution, authentication and
issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of the Securities; the
absence of material legal or governmental proceedings involving the
Company; the absence of a breach by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of, or a default under, material agreements binding upon
the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; the absence of
governmental approvals required to be obtained in connection with the
Shelf Registration, the offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities, this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement or any
agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof, except
such approvals as may be required under state securities or blue sky
laws; the material compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration
Statement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and of
the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and of
the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent post-effective
amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then
amended or supplemented, and from the documents incorporated by
reference therein (in each case other than the financial statements
and other financial information contained therein) of an untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
(in the case of such documents, in the light of the circumstances
existing at the time that such documents were filed with the
Commission under the Exchange Act)); (C) obtain a "cold comfort"
letter or letters from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company addressed to the selling Electing Holders, the placement
or sales agent, if any, therefor or the underwriters, if any, thereof,
dated (i) the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement and
(ii) the effective date of any prospectus supplement to the prospectus
included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes
unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period
subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in such
prospectus (and, if such Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an
underwritten offering pursuant to any prospectus supplement to the
prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement or
post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which
includes unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for
a period subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in
such prospectus, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting
agreement relating thereto), such letter or letters to be in customary
form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by
letters of such type; (D) deliver such documents and certificates,
including officers' certificates, as may be reasonably requested by
any Electing Holders of at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding or the placement or
sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any,
thereof to evidence the accuracy of the representations and warranties
made pursuant to clause (A) above or those contained in Section 5(a)
hereof and the compliance with or satisfaction of any agreements or
conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement
entered into by the Company; and (E) undertake such obligations
relating to expense reimbursement, indemnification and contribution as
are provided in Section 6 hereof;
13
(xviii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable Securities
of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any provision of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to Section 9(h)
hereof and of any amendment or waiver effected pursuant thereto, each
of which notices shall contain the text of the amendment or waiver
proposed or effected, as the case may be;
(xix) in the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall be an "affiliate" (as defined in Rule 2720(b)(1) of
the Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD Rules") or any successor thereto, as amended from time to time)
of the Company or has a "conflict of interest" (as defined in Rule
2720(b)(7) of the NASD Rules (or any successor provision thereto)) and
such broker-dealer shall underwrite, participate as a member of an
underwriting syndicate or selling group or assist in the distribution
of any Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement, whether as a holder of such Registrable Securities or as an
underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in
respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company shall provide such
nonconfidential information to such broker-dealer as may be required
in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the
NASD Rules; and
(xx) use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
available to its securityholders as soon as reasonably practicable but
in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date
of such Shelf Registration Statement, an earning statement of the
Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158
thereunder).
(e) In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 2(b) or Section 3(d)(viii)(F) above, to notify the Electing
Holders, the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing
underwriters, if any, thereof, the Company shall without delay prepare and
furnish to each of the Electing Holders, to each placement or sales agent,
if any, and to each such underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies
of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to
purchasers of Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall conform in all
material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and
the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances
then existing. Each Electing Holder agrees that upon receipt of any notice
(a "notice of suspension") from the Company pursuant to Section 2(b) or
Section 3(d)(viii)(F) hereof, such Electing Holder shall forthwith
discontinue the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement applicable to such Registrable Securities until such
Electing Holder shall have received (i) in the case of a notice of
suspension pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, notice of termination of such
suspension or (ii) in the case of a notice of suspension pursuant to
Section 3(d)(viii)(F) hereof, copies of such amended or supplemented
prospectus (each such period, a "period of suspension"). If so directed by
the Company, such Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the
Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in
such Electing Holder's possession of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of a notice of suspension.
The period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided
for in Section 2(b) hereof shall be extended by the number of days in any
period of suspension.
(f) In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the
information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its Notice
Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to furnish to
the Company such additional information regarding such Electing Holder and
such
14
Electing Holder's intended method of distribution of Registrable Securities
as may be required in order to comply with the Securities Act. Each such
Electing Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of
any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by such
Electing Holder to the Company or of the occurrence of any event in either
case as a result of which any prospectus relating to such Shelf
Registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a material
fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder's intended
method of disposition of such Registrable Securities or omits to state any
material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder's
intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly to
furnish to the Company any additional information required to correct and
update any previously furnished information or required so that such
prospectus shall not contain, with respect to such Electing Holder or the
disposition of such Registrable Securities, an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light
of the circumstances then existing.
(g) Until the expiration of two years after the Closing Date, the
Company will not, and (i) will not permit any of its "affiliates" (as
defined in Rule 144) under its control to and (ii) will use its best
efforts to not permit any of its "affiliates" which control, or are under
common control with, the Company to, resell any of the Securities that have
been reacquired by any of them except pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act.
4. Registration Expenses.
The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly all
expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including (a) all Commission and any
NASD registration, filing and review fees and expenses including fees and
disbursements of counsel for the placement or sales agent or underwriters in
connection with such registration, filing and review, (b) all fees and expenses
in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in Section 3(d)(xii)
hereof and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of
such jurisdictions as any managing underwriters or the Electing Holders may
designate, including any fees and disbursements of counsel for the Electing
Holders or underwriters in connection with such qualification and determination,
(c) all expenses relating to the preparation, printing, production, distribution
and reproduction of each registration statement required to be filed hereunder,
each prospectus included therein or prepared for distribution pursuant hereto,
each amendment or supplement to the foregoing, the expenses of preparing the
Securities for delivery and the expenses of printing or producing any
underwriting agreements, agreements among underwriters, selling agreements and
blue sky or legal investment memoranda and all other documents in connection
with the offering, sale or delivery of Securities to be disposed of (including
certificates representing the Securities), (d) messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses relating to the offering, sale or delivery of Securities and the
preparation of documents referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and expenses of
the Trustee under the Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and any counsel for
the Trustee and of any collateral agent or custodian, (f) internal expenses
(including all salaries and expenses of the Company's officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), (g) fees, disbursements and expenses of
counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company (including
the expenses of any opinions or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to such performance and compliance), (h) fees, disbursements and expenses of any
"qualified independent underwriter" engaged pursuant to Section 3(d)(xix)
hereof, (i) fees, disbursements and expenses of one counsel for the Electing
Holders retained in connection with a Shelf Registration, as selected by the
Electing Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Securities held by Electing Holders (which counsel shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (j)
15
any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities, and
(k) fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons, including special
experts, retained by the Company in connection with such registration
(collectively, the "Registration Expenses"). To the extent that any Registration
Expenses are incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of Registrable Securities
or any placement or sales agent therefor or underwriter thereof, the Company
shall reimburse such person for the full amount of the Registration Expenses so
incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a request therefor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable Securities being
registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and underwriting discounts
and commissions attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities and the
fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisors or experts retained by
such holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel and experts
specifically referred to above.
5. Representations and Warranties.
The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Purchaser
and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities that:
(a) Each registration statement covering Registrable Securities and
each prospectus (including any preliminary or summary prospectus) contained
therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) hereof and
any further amendments or supplements to any such registration statement or
prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the Commission, as
the case may be, and, in the case of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities, at the time of the closing under the underwriting
agreement relating thereto, will conform in all material respects to the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; and at all times subsequent to the Effective Time when a
prospectus would be required to be delivered under the Securities Act,
other than from (i) such time as a notice has been given to holders of
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) or Section
3(c)(iii)(F) hereof until (ii) such time as the Company furnishes an
amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to Section 3(e) or Section
3(c)(iv) hereof, each such registration statement, and each prospectus
(including any summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant
to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) hereof, as then amended or supplemented,
will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the
light of the circumstances then existing; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for
use therein.
(b) Any documents incorporated by reference in any prospectus referred
to in Section 5(a) hereof, when they become or became effective or are or
were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform or
conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents will
contain or contained an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for
use therein.
(c) The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated will not con-
16
flict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, (i) the Constitutional
Documents of the Company, (ii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, or (iii) any statute or any
order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, any
stock exchange authority or any other regulatory authority (hereinafter
referred to as a "Governmental Agency") having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except, in
the case of clause (ii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any Governmental Agency is required for the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, except the registration under
the Securities Act of the Securities, qualification of the Indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations,
registrations or qualifications as may be required under State securities
or blue sky laws in connection with the offering and distribution of the
Securities.
(e) This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and
hold harmless each of the holders of Registrable Securities included in an
Exchange Registration Statement, each of the Electing Holders of
Registrable Securities included in a Shelf Registration Statement and each
person who participates as a placement or sales agent or as an underwriter
in any offering or sale of such Registrable Securities against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such holder,
agent or underwriter may become subject under the Securities Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the
case may be, under which such Registrable Securities were registered under
the Securities Act, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus
contained therein or furnished by the Company to any such holder, Electing
Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse such holder, such
Electing Holder, such agent and such underwriter for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such person in any
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration
statement, or preliminary, final or summary prospectus, or amendment or
supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such person expressly for use
therein.
(b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and Underwriters.
The Company may require, as a condition to including any Registrable
Securities in any registration statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b)
hereof and to entering into any underwriting agreement with respect
thereto, that the Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably
satisfactory to it from the Electing Holder of such Registrable Securities
and from each underwriter named in any such underwriting agreement,
severally and not jointly, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the Company,
and all other holders of Registrable Securities, against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities to which the
17
Company or such other holders of Registrable Securities may become subject,
under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in such registration statement, or any preliminary, final or
summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the Company to any
such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent,
but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
Electing Holder or underwriter expressly for use therein, and (ii)
reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no
such Electing Holder shall be required to undertake liability to any person
under this Section 6(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of
the proceeds to be received by such Electing Holder from the sale of such
Electing Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.
(c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified
party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of
any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is
to be made against an indemnifying party pursuant to the indemnification
provisions of or contemplated by this Section 6, notify such indemnifying
party in writing of the commencement of such action; but the omission so to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under the
indemnification provisions of or contemplated by Section 6(a) or 6(b)
hereof. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified
party and it shall notify an indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein
and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying
party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except
with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying
party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, such indemnifying
party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal expenses
of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred
by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other
than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall,
without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement
or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to,
any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim)
unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising
out of such action or claim 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
any indemnified party.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provisions
contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) are unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and
indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
omission or
18
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied
by such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party, and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders or
any agents or underwriters or all of them 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 this Section 6(d).
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 6(d), no holder shall be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the dollar amount of the
proceeds received by such holder from the sale of any Registrable
Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions applicable
thereto) exceeds 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, and no underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at
which the Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the
public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which
such underwriter 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 Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The
holders' and any underwriters' obligations in this Section 6(d) to
contribute shall be several in proportion to the principal amount of
Registrable Securities registered or underwritten, as the case may be, by
them and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 6 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director and
partner of each holder, agent and underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls any holder, agent or underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act; and the obligations of the holders and any agents or
underwriters contemplated by this Section 6 shall be in addition to any
liability which the respective holder, agent or underwriter may otherwise
have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer
and director of the Company (including any person who, with his consent, is
named in any registration statement as about to become a director of the
Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
7. Underwritten Offerings.
(a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to an
underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof
shall be designated by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in
such offering, subject to the consent of the Company, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld. For the avoidance of doubt, the Electing
Holders shall have the right to direct the Company to effect not more than
one underwritten offering.
(b) Participation by Holders. Each holder of Registrable Securities
hereby agrees with each other such holder that no such holder may
participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless such holder (i)
agrees to sell such holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided
in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder
to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
19
agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
8. Rule 144.
The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that
to the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company
shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act
or the Securities Act (including the reports under Section 13 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 adopted by the
Commission under the Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by
the Commission thereunder, and shall take such further action as any holder of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption
provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar or successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities in
connection with that holder's sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall
deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with
such requirements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants,
covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant,
registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities or any other
securities which would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
(b) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that there
would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of
its obligations hereunder and that the Purchasers and the holders from time
to time of the Registrable Securities may be irreparably harmed by any such
failure, and accordingly agree that the Purchasers and such holders, in
addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in
equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the obligations
of the Company under this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement, in any court of the United States or any State thereof
having jurisdiction.
(c) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally or by
courier, or three days after being deposited in the mail (registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If
to the Company, to it at ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇, and if to a holder, to the address of such holder set forth
in the security register or other records of the Company, or to such other
address as the Company or any such holder may have furnished to the other
in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address
shall be effective only upon receipt.
(d) Parties in Interest. The parties to this Agreement intend that all
holders of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to receive the benefits
of this Agreement and that any Electing Holder shall be bound by the terms
and provisions of this Agreement by reason of such election with respect to
the Registrable Securities which are included in a Shelf Registration
Statement. All the terms and provisions of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and
shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and the holders from time to
time of the Registrable Securities and the respective successors and
assigns of the parties hereto and such holders. In the event that any
transferee of any holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire
Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase,
operation of law or
20
otherwise, such transferee shall, without any further writing or action of
any kind, be deemed a beneficiary hereof for all purposes and such
Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and by taking and holding such
Registrable Securities such transferee shall be entitled to receive the
benefits of, and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by all
of the applicable terms and provisions of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement. If the Company shall so request, any such successor,
assign or transferee shall agree in writing to acquire and hold the
Registrable Securities subject to all of the applicable terms hereof.
(e) Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably (i) agree
that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in any
state or federal court located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York, New York (each a "New York Court"), (ii) waives, to the fullest
extent it may effectively do so, any objection which it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding and (iii)
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such New York Court in any such
suit, action or proceeding. The Company has appointed CT Corporation
System, New York, New York, as its authorized agent (the "Authorized
Agent") upon whom process may be served in any such action arising out of
or based on this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby which
may be instituted in any New York Court by any Purchaser or by any person
who controls any Purchaser, expressly consents to the jurisdiction of any
such court in respect of any such action, and waives any other requirements
of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Such
appointment shall be irrevocable. The Company represents and warrants that
the Authorized Agent has agreed to act as such agent for service of process
and agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all
documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such
appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon
the Authorized Agent and written notice of such service to the Company
shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the
Company.
(f) Judgment Currency. In respect of any judgment or order given or
made for any amount due hereunder that is expressed and paid in a currency
(the "judgment currency") other than United States dollars, the party
against whom such judgment or order has been given or made will indemnify
each party in whose favor such judgment or order has been given or made
(the "Indemnitee") against any loss incurred by the Indemnitee as a result
of any variation as between (i) the rate of exchange at which the United
States dollar amount is converted into the judgment currency for the
purpose of such judgment or order and (ii) the rate of exchange at which
the Indemnitee is able to purchase United States dollars with the amount of
the judgment currency actually received by such Indemnitee. The foregoing
indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of each of
the Company and the Purchasers and shall continue in full force and effect
notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term "rate of
exchange" shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in
connection with the purchase of or conversion into United States dollars.
(g) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations,
warranties and each other provision set forth in this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation (or statement as to the
results thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of Registrable
Securities, any director, officer or partner of such holder, any agent or
underwriter or any director, officer or partner thereof, or any controlling
person of any of the foregoing, and shall survive delivery of and payment
for the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the
transfer and registration of Registrable Securities by such holder and the
consummation of an Exchange Offer.
21
(H) GOVERNING LAW. THIS EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK.
(i) Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Sections and
paragraphs of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are inserted
for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning
or interpretation of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
(j) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement and the other writings referred to herein (including the
Indenture and the form of Securities) or delivered pursuant hereto which
form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the
parties with respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be waived (either generally
or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only
by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Securities at the time outstanding. Each holder of any Registrable
Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any
amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section 9(h), whether or not
any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or waiver appears
on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.
(k) Inspection. For so long as there are Registrable Securities
outstanding and this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be in
effect, this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and a complete list
of the names and addresses of all the holders of Registrable Securities
shall be made available for inspection and copying on any business day by
any holder of Registrable Securities for proper purposes only (which shall
include any purpose related to the rights of the holders of Registrable
Securities under the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement) at the
offices of the Company at the address thereof set forth in Section 9(c)
above and at the office of the Trustee under the Indenture.
(l) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed by the parties in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.
22
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us seven counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by
you, on behalf of each of the Purchasers, this letter and such acceptance hereof
shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Purchasers the Company.
It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the
Purchasers is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among
Purchasers, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination
upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the
signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
By:
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
(▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Sachs & Co.)
On behalf of each of the Purchasers
23
EXHIBIT A
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS
(Date of Mailing)
URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE] *
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") has identified you as a DTC Participant
through which beneficial interests in the Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (the
"Company") 6.00% Senior Notes due 2014 (the "Securities") are held.
The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the Securities
Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof. In order to have their
Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial owners must
complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement and Selling
Securityholder Questionnaire.
It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a copy of the
enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the Securities
included in the registration statement depend upon their returning the Notice
and Questionnaire by [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Please forward a copy of the
enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the
Securities through you. If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or
have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact Aspen Insurance
Holdings Limited, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇,
(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
___________________________
*Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing.
A-1
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
Notice of Registration Statement
and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
(Date)
Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement") between Aspen Insurance Holdings
Limited (the "Company") and the Purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has filed with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement on Form [__] (the "Shelf Registration Statement") for the
registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), of the Company's 6.00% Senior Notes due 2014 (the
"Securities"). A copy of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement is
attached hereto. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed thereto in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below) is entitled
to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included in the
Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities included
in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire ("Notice and Questionnaire") must be
completed, executed and delivered to the Company's counsel at the address set
forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Beneficial owners
of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and return this Notice
and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as selling securityholders
in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use the Prospectus forming
a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in
the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. Accordingly, holders
and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus.
The term "Registrable Securities" is defined in the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement.
A-2
ELECTION
The undersigned holder (the "Selling Securityholder") of Registrable Securities
hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3). The
undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees to
be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and conditions
of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were
an original party thereto.
Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company
and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus and
as Exhibit B to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the
Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and
complete:
A-3
QUESTIONNAIRE
(1) (a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a)
above) of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below:
(c) Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the
same as (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in
Item (3) below are Held:
(2) Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
Telephone:
Fax:
Contact Person:
(3) Beneficial Ownership of Securities:
Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not
beneficially own any Securities.
(a) Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned: CUSIP
No(s). of such Registrable Securities:
(b) Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities
beneficially owned:
CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:
(c) Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the undersigned
wishes to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement: CUSIP
No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf
Registration Statement:
(4) Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any
other securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed
above in Item (3).
State any exceptions here:
A-4
(5) Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor
any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity
holders (5% or more) has held any position or office or has had any
other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or
affiliates) during the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
(6) Plan of Distribution:
Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder
intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in
Item (3) only as follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities
may be sold from time to time directly by the undersigned Selling
Securityholder or, alternatively, through underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents. Such Registrable Securities may be sold in
one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market
prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time
of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in
transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i)
on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which
the Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of
sale, (ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions
otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the
over-the-counter market, or (iv) through the writing of options. In
connection with sales of the Registrable Securities or otherwise,
the Selling Securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with
broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
Registrable Securities in the course of hedging the positions they
assume. The Selling Securityholder may also sell Registrable
Securities short and deliver Registrable Securities to close out
such short positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to
broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.
State any exceptions here:
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands
its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly
Regulation M.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the
Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such
information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees to
notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and
obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement.
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (6) above and
the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder understands that such information
will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation of the
Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
In accordance with the Selling Securityholder's obligation under Section 3(d) of
the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as
may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the
Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies
or changes in the information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the
date
A-5
hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in
effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:
(i) To the Company:
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
(ii) With a copy to:
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and
received by the Company's counsel, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire,
and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be binding on,
shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective
successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the Company and the
Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially
owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above. This
Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New
York.
A-6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its
duly authorized agent.
Dated:
Selling Securityholder
(Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable
Securities)
By:
Name:
Title:
PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON
OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY'S COUNSEL AT:
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
A-7
EXHIBIT B
NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited
c/o Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Trust and Securities Services
Re: Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (the "Company")
6.00% Senior Notes due 2014
Dear Sirs:
Please be advised that _________ has transferred $___________ aggregate
principal amount of the above-referenced Senior Notes pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement on Form [ ] (File No. 333- ) filed by the Company.
We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named
beneficial owner of the Senior Notes is named as a "Selling Holder" in the
Prospectus dated [DATE] or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate
principal amount of the Senior Notes transferred are the Senior Notes listed in
such Prospectus opposite such owner's name.
Dated:
Very truly yours,
(Name)
By:
(Authorized Signature)
B-1