EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of March 24, 1998
by and among
Chattem, Inc.
Signal Investment & Management Co.
and
NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of March 24, 1998, by and among Chattem, Inc., a Tennessee
corporation (the "Company"), Signal Investment & Management Co., a Delaware
corporation (the "Guarantor" and, together with any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company that guarantees any other indebtedness of the Company or any other
guarantors of the Notes (as defined below), the "Guarantors"), and NationsBanc
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC (the "Initial Purchaser"), which has agreed to
purchase the Company's 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Series A
Notes") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement,
dated March 20, 1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company, the
Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser
to purchase the Series A Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchaser set
forth in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture,
dated March 24, 1998, between the Company, the Guarantors and SouthTrust Bank,
National Association, as Trustee, relating to the Series A Notes (the
"Indenture").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Business Day: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day in the
City of New York on which banks are authorized or ordered to close.
Certificated Securities: Definitive Notes, as defined in the Indenture.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be continuously
effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than
the period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the
Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of Series B Notes in the same
aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes
tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Consummation Deadline: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal
amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of
Series A Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with such
exchange and issuance.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the Prospectus contained therein.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchaser
proposes to sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, to certain "accredited
investors," as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) and (7) of
Regulation D under the Act and pursuant to Regulation S under the Act.
Filing Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indemnified Party: As defined in Section 8(c) hereof.
Indemnifying Party: As defined in Section 8(c) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, between the
Company, the Guarantors and SouthTrust Bank, National Association, as trustee
(the "Trustee"), pursuant to
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which the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented
from time to time in accordance with the terms therein.
Liquidated Damages: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Notes: Series A and Series B Notes.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the
time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such prospectus.
Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company and
the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an
Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that
is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the
Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
Regulation S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
Restricted Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer that holds Series B Notes
that were acquired in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Series A Notes that
such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
Series B Notes: The Company's 8 7/8% Series B Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2008 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the Exchange Offer
or as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
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Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Note, until the earliest to occur
of (a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer for a
Series B Note and entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof
without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the
date on which such Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf
Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Series A Note is disposed of
by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus
contained therein) or (d) the date on which such Series A Note is distributed to
the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
Trustee: As set forth in the Indenture and shall also include any of
its successors.
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (a
"Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 60 days after the
Closing Date (such 60th day being the "Filing Deadline"), (ii) use its best
efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective
at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 150 days after the
Closing Date (such 150th day being the "Effectiveness Deadline"), (iii) in
connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it
to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and
(C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Series B Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and
(iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Series B Notes to be offered
in exchange for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and
(ii) resales of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange
Offer Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a
result of market making activities or other trading activities (other than
Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as
contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
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(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective
continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less
than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities
laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall
such period be less than 30 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors shall
cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state
securities laws. No securities other than the Series B Notes and the guarantee
thereof shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The
Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event
later than 30 business days thereafter (such 30th day being the "Consummation
Deadline").
(c)(1) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities
that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer
Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the
Company) may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial resale of any Series
B Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, and that the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement may be used to
satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement. Such "Plan of Distribution"
section shall also contain all other information with respect to such sales by
such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such
sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not name any such
Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by
any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a
result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the date of this
Agreement.
(2) To the extent necessary to ensure that the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is available for sales of Series B Notes by
Broker-Dealers, upon the reasonable request of any Broker-Dealer who certifies
in writing to the Company that it anticipates it will be a Restricted-Broker
Dealer, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use their respective best
efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously
effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section
6(c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act
and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time
to time, for a period of one year from the date on which the Exchange Offer is
Consummated, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold
pursuant thereto. The Company and the
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Guarantors shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the latest version of
such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers promptly upon request, and in no event
later than one Business Day after such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
applicable law (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the
procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days following
the Consummation Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder
may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the
Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 60 days after the earlier of (i) the
date on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date
on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above,
(such earlier date, the "Filing Deadline"), a shelf registration statement
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement")), relating to
all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) shall use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 150 days after the
earlier of (i) the date on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and
(ii) the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause
(a)(ii) above (such 150th day the "Effectiveness Deadline").
If, after the Company and the Guarantors have filed an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above,
the Company and the Guarantors are required to file and make effective a Shelf
Registration Statement solely because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under
applicable federal law (i.e., clause (a)(i) above), then the filing of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the
requirements of clause (x) above; provided that, in such event, the Company and
the Guarantors shall remain obligated to meet the Effectiveness Deadline set
forth in clause (y).
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The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts
to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a)
continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by and subject to
the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure
that it is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders
thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it
conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies,
rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a
period of at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following
the date on which such Shelf Registration Statement first becomes effective
under the Act, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold
pursuant thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to Liquidated Damages pursuant to
Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such
information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously
furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii)
any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline
or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and
declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be
usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded immediately by a
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure
and that is itself declared effective immediately (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then the Company and the
Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities affected thereby Liquidated Damages in an amount equal to
$.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration
Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately following the
occurrence of such Registration Default ("Liquidated Damages"). The amount of
the Liquidated Damages shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000
in principal
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amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day
period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount
of Liquidated Damages of $.50 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that the Company and the Guarantors
shall in no event be required to pay Liquidated Damages for more than one
Registration Default at any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i)
above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii)
above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above,
or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement)
to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the
Liquidated Damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as
a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued Liquidated Damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes. All obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the
preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted
Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security
shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such
Transfer Restricted Security shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply with all
applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use their respective best
efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Series B Notes by
Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof and (z) comply with
all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the Closing Date, there has been announced a
change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the
Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the
Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer
is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and the Guarantors
hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision
from the Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to
Consummate an Exchange
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Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company and the
Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to
the Commission staff level. In connection with the foregoing, the
Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other actions
as may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in
connection with the issuance of such decision, including without
limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences with the
Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared
by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon
which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be
permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be
favorable) by the Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including,
without limitation, any Holder who is a Broker Dealer) shall furnish,
upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company and the
Guarantors (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal
contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the
effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not
engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or
understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the
Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is
acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business. As a
condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each Holder using
the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Series B
Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Series B
Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not,
under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement,
rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and
Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the
Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and
similar no-action letters (including, if applicable, any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above) and (2) must comply with
the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in
connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a
secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective
registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as
applicable.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a
supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and
the Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the
position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc.
(available June 5,
9
1991), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling
(available July 2, 1993) and, if applicable, any no-action letter
obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation
that neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered into any
arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Series B
Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the
Company's and each Guarantor's information and belief, each Holder
participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in
its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding
with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Series B
Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or
representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all the
provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use their respective best efforts to
effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to the Company
pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the
Guarantors shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement
relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form
shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within
the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement
and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite
financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this
Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would
cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained
therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not
to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
during the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement curing such defect and, if Commission review is
required, use their respective best efforts to cause such amendment to
be declared effective as soon as practicable;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4
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hereof, as the case may be; cause the Prospectus contained in such
Registration Statement to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as
applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the
provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the
sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement
to the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement;
(iii) advise the selling Holders promptly and, if requested by
such Persons, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the related
Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has
been filed and, with respect to any such Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective,
(B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration
Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for
additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state
securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation
of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes and (D) of the
existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the
related Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document
incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making
of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order
to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the
making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. If at any time the Commission
issues any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory
authority issues an order suspending the qualification or exemption
from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state
securities or Blue Sky laws, then the Company and the Guarantors shall
use their respective best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting
of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i) hereof, if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof shall exist or have
occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer
Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary
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to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to the Initial Purchaser and each selling Holder
named in any Registration Statement or related Prospectus in connection
with such sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of
any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any
amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents shall
be subject to the review and comment of such Holders in connection with
such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and the
Company and the Guarantors shall not file any such Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents
incorporated by reference) to which the selling Holders of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement in
connection with such sale, if any, shall reasonably object within five
Business Days after the receipt thereof. A selling Holder shall be
deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration
Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as
proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or omission or
fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to
be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, provide upon request copies of such document to the selling
Holders in connection with such sale, if any, make the Company's and
the Guarantors' representatives available for discussion of such
document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such
information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such
selling Holders may reasonably request;
(vii) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the
selling Holders participating in any disposition pursuant to such
Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such
selling Holders all financial and other records and pertinent corporate
documents of the Company and the Guarantors and cause the Company's and
the Guarantors' officers, directors and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such selling Holder, attorney
or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and
prior to its effectiveness, subject to each Holder and its
representative agreeing to maintain confidentiality with respect to
such information on customary terms;
(viii) if requested by any selling Holders in connection with
such sale, if any, promptly include in any Registration Statement or
related Prospectus, pursuant to a
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supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information
as such selling Holders may reasonably request to have included
therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the
"Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities; and make
all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment as soon as practicable after the Company and the Guarantors
are notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment;
(ix) furnish upon request to each selling Holder in connection
with such sale, if any, without charge, at least one copy of the
Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each
amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference
therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by
reference);
(x) deliver to each selling Holder, without charge, as many
copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and
any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may
request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in
accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering
and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any selling Holder, enter into such
agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such
representations and warranties and take all such other actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any applicable
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be
reasonably requested by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities in
connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any applicable
Registration Statement, and in such connection the Company and the
Guarantors shall:
(A) upon the request of any selling Holder, furnish (or in the
case of paragraphs (2) and (3) below, use their respective best
efforts to cause to be furnished) to each selling Holder, upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or upon
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the case may be:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of
the Company and the Guarantors by (x) a principal operating or
executive officer of the Company and the Guarantors and (y) a
principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and
the Guarantors, confirming, as of the date thereof, the
matters set forth in paragraphs (b) through (e) of Section 7
of
13
the Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as the
selling Holders may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated such date, of counsel for the
Company and the Guarantors covering matters similar to those
set forth in Section 7(g) of the Purchase Agreement and such
other matters as the selling Holders may reasonably request,
and in any event including a statement to the effect that such
counsel has participated in conferences with officers and
other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and
representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company and the Guarantors and has considered the matters
required to be stated therein and the statements contained
therein, although such counsel has not independently verified
the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and
that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing
(relying as to materiality to the extent such counsel deems
appropriate upon the statements of officers and other
representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and without
independent check or verification), no facts came to such
counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe that
the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
became effective and, in the case of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such
Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the
opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Without limiting the foregoing, such counsel may
state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility for,
and has not independently verified, the accuracy, completeness
or fairness of the financial statements, notes and schedules
and other financial data included in any Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related
Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be, from the Company's independent accountants, in the
customary form and covering matters of the type
14
customarily covered in comfort letters to underwriters in
connection with underwritten offerings, and affirming the
matters set forth in its comfort letter delivered pursuant to
Section 7(l) of the Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance
with clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained
in the any agreement entered into by the Company and the
Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Holders may request and do any and all
other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition
in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither
the Company nor any Guarantors shall be required to register or qualify
as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take
any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or
to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the
Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
subject;
(xiii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to
the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the
Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such
Holder; such Series B Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder
or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Series B Notes, as the case
may be; in return, the Series A Notes held by such Holder shall be
surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
(xiv) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders to facilitate
the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any
restrictive legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted
Securities in such denominations and such names as the selling Holders
may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities;
(xv) use their respective best efforts to cause the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to
15
enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of
such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained
in clause (xii) above;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration
Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the
Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer
Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The
Depository Trust Company;
(xvii) otherwise use their respective best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make
generally available to their security holders with regard to any
applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a
consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158
(which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such term is
defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act);
(xviii) make appropriate officers of the Company available to
the selling Holders for meetings with prospective purchasers of the
Transfer Restricted Securities and prepare and present to potential
investors customary "road show" material in a manner consistent with
other new issuances of other securities similar to the Transfer
Restricted Securities;
(xix) upon request cause the Indenture to be qualified under
the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration
Statement required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith,
cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to
the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified
in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use best
efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be
required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be
so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xx) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each
document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact
of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"Suspension Notice"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder has
16
received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by
Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is advised in writing by the
Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies
of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus (in each case, the "Recommencement Date"). Each Holder receiving
a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will either (i) destroy any
Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder's possession
which have been replaced by the Company with more recently dated Prospectuses or
(ii) deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than
permanent file copies, then in such Holder's possession of the Prospectus
covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of
receipt of the Suspension Notice. The time period regarding the effectiveness of
such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable,
shall be extended by a number of days equal to the number of days in the period
from and including the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice to the
Recommencement Date.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's and the Guarantors'
performance of or compliance with this Agreement shall be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including
without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses, (ii) all
fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or
securities laws, (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates
for the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of
Prospectuses, messenger and delivery services and telephone, (iv) all fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities and fees and disbursements of the Trustee and
counsel, (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the
Series B Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system
pursuant to the requirements hereof and (vi) all fees and disbursements of
independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors
(including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or
incident to such performance) and underwriting discounts and commissions and
transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of the Series B
Notes by a Holder.
The Company shall, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors' internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of
any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special
experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company and the Guarantors
shall reimburse the Holders of
17
Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or
resold pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more
than one counsel, who shall be ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, unless another firm shall be
chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being
prepared.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to
indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder, (ii) each person, if any, who
controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the persons referred to in this clause (ii)
being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person") and (iii) the
respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents
of any Holder or any controlling person (any person referred to in clause (i),
(ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an "Indemnified Holder") from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments,
(including without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in
connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that
could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) provided by the Company to any holder
or any prospective purchaser of Series B Notes, or caused by any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon
information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company
by any of the Holders.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and
not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and
their respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls
(within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
the Company or the Guarantors, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity
from the Company and the Guarantors to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only
with reference to information relating to such Indemnified Holder furnished in
writing to the Company by such Indemnified Holder expressly for use in any
Registration Statement. In no event shall any Indemnified Holder be liable or
responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount
received by such Indemnified Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the
amount paid by such Indemnified Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities
and (ii) the amount of any
18
damages that such Indemnified Holder has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
"indemnified party"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and
the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that
in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), an Indemnified Holder shall not be required to
assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ
separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of
the Indemnified Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified
party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party
shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to
any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been
advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party).
In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one
action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated
in writing by a majority of the Indemnified Holders, in the case of the parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and
hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i)
effected with its written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent
if the settlement is entered into more than twenty business days after the
indemnifying party shall have received a request from the indemnified party for
reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees
and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the
date of such settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with
such reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise
of, or consent to the entry of
19
judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which
the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or
contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified
party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims that
are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section
8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale
of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above
but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand,
and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one
hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or such Guarantors, on the one
hand, or by the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments referred to above shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second
paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim.
The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined
by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any
action that could have given rise to such
20
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 8, no Holder or its related Indemnified Holders shall
be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale of its
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the
sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted
Securities plus (B) the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by each of the Holders hereunder and not
joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as
any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in
which the Company or such Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder
or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any
sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A and (ii) is subject to
Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby
in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that
any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their respective
obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material irreparable
injury to the Initial Purchaser or the Holders for which there is no adequate
remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries
precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchaser or
any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the
Company's and the Guarantors' obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The
Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantors
shall, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with
respect to its securities that is
21
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantors has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration
rights with respect to its securities to any Person pursuant to which such other
Person currently has unexercised registration rights, except for those
registration rights granted in connection with the Company's 12.75% Series A
Senior Subordinated Series A Notes due 2004. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's and the Guarantors' securities
under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered
pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to
such Exchange Offer.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may
deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the
rights of Holders hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of
the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under
the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
Chattem, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.:(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: President and Chief Operating Officer
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇
1000 Volunteer Building
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.:(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
Upon the date of filing of the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, notice shall be delivered to the Initial
Purchaser in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any
assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in
violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If
any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by
taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities such Holder shall be
conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the
terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set
forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such
Holder shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
23
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
24
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
CHATTEM, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------------
Name: A. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇
Title: President and Chief Operating Officer
SIGNAL INVESTMENT & MANAGEMENT CO.
By:
--------------------------------------------
Name: A. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇
Title: President
NATIONSBANC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC
By:
-------------------------
Name:
Title:
25
EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
To: NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
From: Chattem, Inc.
Re: 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Series A Notes Due 2008
Date: , 199
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For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):
Today, , 199 , we filed [an Exchange
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Registration Statement] [a Shelf Registration Statement] with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We currently expect this registration statement to be
declared effective by , 199 .
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