EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated November 13, 2009 (the “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Cott Beverages Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), the guarantors listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Guarantors”) and the several initial purchasers listed in Schedule 2 hereto (the “Initial Purchasers”).
The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated November 3, 2009 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $215,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.375% Senior Notes due 2017 of the Company (the “Securities”), which will be guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each of the Guarantors. As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Additional Guarantor” shall mean any subsidiary of the Company that executes a Subsidiary Guarantee under the Indenture after the date of this Agreement.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
“Closing Date” shall mean the date of this Agreement.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include any successor entity.
“Consummate” shall mean the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, and (iii) the delivery by the Company to the Trustee under the Indenture of Exchange Securities in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities that were tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Exchange Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean the Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean senior notes issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
“FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Guarantors” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include any Guarantor’s successors and any Additional Guarantors.
“Holder” shall mean each Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any Registrable Securities, and each of the Initial Purchasers’ successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who becomes an owner of Registrable Securities under the Indenture;provided that for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.
“Indemnified Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.
“Indemnifying Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.
“Indenture” shall mean the indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of November 13, 2009, among the Company, the Guarantors and HSBC Bank USA, as trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Inspector” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiii) hereof.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
“Liquidated Damages” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Participating Broker-Dealers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(m) hereof.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust or unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
2
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities;provided that such Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which such Securities cease to be outstanding, (ii) the date on which a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement or (iii) November 13, 2011.
“Registration Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall initially be counsel for the Initial Purchasers, subject to replacement upon action by a majority of Holders) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
3
“Shelf Filing Deadline” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors filed under the Securities Act providing for the registration on a continuous or delayed basis of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Staff” shall mean the staff of the SEC.
“Subsidiary Guarantees” shall mean the guarantees of the Securities and Exchange Securities by the Guarantors under the Indenture.
“Suspension Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(d).
“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.
“Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a)Registered Exchange Offer. To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to (i) cause to be filed with the SEC, a Registration Statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Securities and the Exchange Offer, (ii) cause such Registration Statement to become effective, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, cause all necessary filings in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Securities to be made under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, commence the Exchange Offer. Each of the Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to Consummate the Exchange Offer not later than 365 days following the Closing Date (or if such 365th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) (the “Exchange Date”). The Exchange Offer, if required pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Securities to be offered in exchange for the Registrable Securities and to permit resales of Registrable Securities held by Participating Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
If an Exchange Offer Registration Statement is required to be filed and declared effective pursuant to the paragraph above, the Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer;provided,however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (the “Exchange Period”). The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable
4
federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Securities shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on or before the Exchange Date.
The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:
| (i) | that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange; |
| (ii) | that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein; |
| (iii) | that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the last day of the Exchange Period; and |
| (iv) | that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last day of the Exchange Period, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Securities. |
As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company and the Guarantors that (i) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company or any Guarantor and (iv) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
As soon as practicable after the Exchange Period, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
| (i) | accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and |
| (ii) | deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities equal in |
5
principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities tendered by such Holder. |
The Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.
(b)Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer solely because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer is not Consummated by the Exchange Date or (iii) prior to the Exchange Date: (A) the Initial Purchasers request from the Company with respect to Registrable Securities not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer, (B) with respect to any Holder of Registrable Securities such Holder notifies the Company that (i) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or SEC policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (ii) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, or (iii) such Holder is a Participating Broker-Dealer and holds Registrable Securities acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates or (C) in the case of the Initial Purchasers, the Initial Purchasers notify the Company they will not receive Exchange Securities in exchange for Registrable Securities constituting any portion of the Initial Purchasers’ unsold allotment, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) cause to be filed a Shelf Registration Statement as promptly as practicable (such date being the “Shelf Filing Deadline”), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and (y) use their reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC.
The Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Registrable Securities by the Holders of such Registrable Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 2(b), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the SEC as announced from time to time, from the date on which the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC until the expiration of the two-year period after the Closing Date (or shorter period that will terminate when all the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement;provided that the Company may for a period of up to 60 days in any three-month period, not to exceed 90 days in any calendar year determine that the Shelf Registration Statement is not usable under certain circumstances relating to corporate developments, public filings with the SEC and similar events, and suspend the use of the prospectus that is part of the Shelf Registration Statement).
No Holder of Registrable Securities may include any of its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
6
(c)Registration Expenses. The Company and the Guarantors shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d)Effective Date. An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.
(e)Liquidated Damages. If (i) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated by the Exchange Date, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, has not been declared effective by the SEC 120 days after any obligation to file a Shelf Registration Statement arises or (iii) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been declared effective but ceases to be effective at any time at which it is required to be effective under this Agreement (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iii), a “Registration Default”), the Company hereby agrees that the interest rate borne by the Registrable Securities shall be increased by 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of any Registration Default and shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period (such increase, “Liquidated Damages”), but in no event shall Liquidated Damages exceed 0.50% per annum. At the earlier of (i) the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to the particular Registrable Securities or (ii) the second anniversary of the Closing Date, the interest rate borne by the relevant Registrable Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such Registrable Securities;provided,however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Registrable Securities shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions. Such Liquidated Damages shall be the sole remedy of any Holder hereunder (other than a Participating Broker-Dealer).
All obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Registrable Security at the time such security ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.
3. Registration Procedures.
(a) In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall as expeditiously as possible:
| (i) | use their reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities; |
| (ii) | in the case of a Shelf Registration, use their reasonable best efforts to furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if |
7
any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus or preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Holder, counsel or Underwriters may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and the Company and the Guarantors consent to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law; |
| (iii) | use their reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder;provided that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject; |
| (iv) | notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities and counsel for such Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective and when any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed, (2) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company or any Guarantor contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company or any Guarantor receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (5) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (6) of any determination by the Company or any Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus would be appropriate; |
8
| (v) | use their reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2), including by filing an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement on the proper form, at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution; |
| (vi) | in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon request, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested); |
| (vii) | in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities; |
| (viii) | in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(v)(5) hereof, use their reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus will cease to have the identified deficiencies and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company and the Guarantors shall notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to suspend use of the Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus until the Company and the Guarantors have amended or supplemented the Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission; |
| (ix) | a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Holders of Registrable Securities and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Company and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of Registrable Securities or their counsel) available for discussion of such document; and the Company and the Guarantors shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the |
9
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of Registrable Securities and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of Registrable Securities or their counsel) shall reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt thereof; |
| (x) | obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement; |
| (xi) | cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; |
| (xii) | in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities (an “Inspector”), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, any attorneys and accountants designated by a majority of the Holders of Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration and any attorneys and accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;provided that if any such information is identified by the Company or any Guarantor as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Holder or Underwriter; |
| (xiii) | in the case of a Shelf Registration, use their reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any Guarantor are then listed if requested by the majority of Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements; |
| (xiv) | if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing; |
| (xv) | in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by a majority of the Holders) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the |
10
extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (3) obtain “comfort” letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor, or of any business acquired by the Company or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus or Prospectus and (4) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement; and |
| (xvi) | prior to the completion of the Exchange Offer, or, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, prior to the date on which such Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, and so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, cause each Additional Guarantor upon the creation or acquisition by the Company of such Additional Guarantor, to execute a counterpart to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A and to deliver such counterpart to the Initial Purchasers no later than five Business Days following the execution thereof. |
(b) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
(c) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Registrable Securities covered in such Shelf Registration Statement agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company and the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(v)(3) or 3(a)(v)(5) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(ix) hereof and, if so directed by the Company and the Guarantors, such Holder will deliver to the Company and the Guarantors all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses covering such Registrable Securities that are current at the time of receipt of such notice.
11
(d) If the Company and the Guarantors shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions (such period, the “Suspension Period”). The Company and the Guarantors may give any such notice for a period of up to 60 days in any three-month period, not to exceed 90 days in any calendar year.
(e) The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each, an “Underwriter”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, no Underwritten Offering hereunder may be conducted without the Company’s written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;provided that any request for an Underwritten Offering must be made by written request of Holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the then outstanding Registrable Securities;provided further, that the Company shall not be required to complete more than one Underwritten Offering pursuant to the terms hereof.
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a) The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.
(b) In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, upon notice from a Participating Broker-Dealer that certifies that it may be deemed an “underwriter” as contemplated in Section 4(a) above, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use their reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by Section 3 hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available to participating Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that is conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the SEC as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date on which a Participating Broker-Dealer is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities. The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of the Prospectus to Participating Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such 180-day (or shorter period as provided in the foregoing sentence) period in order to facilitate such resales. The Company and the Guarantors further agree that Participating
12
Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.
(c) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company, any Guarantor or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information provided by any Initial Purchaser or Holder expressly for use therein or arise as a result of sales made during a Suspension Period. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Company and the Guarantors, each officer of the Company and the Guarantors who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, the Guarantors, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or (ii) any sales made during a Suspension Period.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing;provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; andprovided,further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability
13
that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) if designated for one or more Initial Purchasers or affiliates, directors, officers or control Persons of one or more Initial Purchasers shall be designated in writing by Barclays Capital Inc. unless such representation is to include Holders that are not Initial Purchasers, (y) if designated for one or more Holders or directors, officers or control Persons of any Holder, in each case including one or more Holders other than Initial Purchasers, shall be designated in writing by a majority of the Holders to be represented and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its prior written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final non-appealable judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request, (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person for such amounts as are not in dispute in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have notified the Indemnified Person in writing (and in reasonable detail) of its good faith belief that such reimbursement is not required. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange
14
Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other 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 and the Guarantors or by the applicable Holders, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) The Company, the Guarantors and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined bypro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that 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 Securities 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 5 are several and not joint.
(f) The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company or the Guarantors or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Company or the Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
6. General.
(a)Rule 144A.The Company and the Guarantors hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, to make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Registrable Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
(b)Adjustments Affecting the Securities. The Company and the Guarantors will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Securities that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(c)No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and the Guarantors represent, warrant and agree that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not
15
inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any Guarantor under any other agreement and (ii) neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(d)Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent of a majority of the Holders affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent;provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.
(e)Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(e), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the addresses set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Company and the Guarantors, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(e); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(e). 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 is acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile; 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.
(f)Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees 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 Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
(g)Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.
16
(h)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(i)Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j)Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in New York County, New York, including the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in connection with any claim brought with respect to this Agreement or related matter and waives any right to claim such forum would be inappropriate, including concepts offorum non conveniens.
(k)Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company, the Guarantors and each of the Initial Purchasers hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(l)Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.
(m)Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Holder represents that it has not prepared or had prepared on its behalf or used or referred to, and agrees that it will not prepare or have prepared on its behalf or use or refer to, any Free Writing Prospectus, and has not distributed and will not distribute any written materials in connection with the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities without the prior express written consent of the Company. Any such Free Writing Prospectus consented to by the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents and agrees that it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the SEC, legends and record-keeping.
(n)Majorities. Any reference herein to a majority of Holders shall be deemed to refer to a majority of the relevant aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities;provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders is required hereunder, any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its affiliates shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the required majority.
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| COTT CORPORATION | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| COTT BEVERAGES INC. | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| COTT HOLDINGS INC. | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| COTT USA CORP. | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| COTT VENDING INC. | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| COTT BEVERAGES LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Gregory N. Leiter | |
Name: Gregory N. Leiter Title: Director | ||
[Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page]
| COTT RETAIL BRANDS LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Gregory N. Leiter | |
Name: Gregory N. Leiter Title: Director | ||
| COTT LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Gregory N. Leiter | |
Name: Gregory N. Leiter Title: Director | ||
| COTT EUROPE TRADING LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Gregory N. Leiter | |
Name: Gregory N. Leiter Title: Director | ||
| COTT PRIVATE LABEL LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Gregory N. Leiter | |
Name: Gregory N. Leiter Title: Director | ||
| COTT NELSON (HOLDINGS) LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Gregory N. Leiter | |
Name: Gregory N. Leiter Title: Director | ||
| COTT (NELSON) LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Gregory N. Leiter | |
Name: Gregory N. Leiter Title: Director | ||
[Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page]
| INTERIM BCB, LLC | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| CB NEVADA CAPITAL INC. | ||
| By | /s/ Ceaser Gonzalez | |
Name: Ceaser Gonzalez Title: President | ||
| COTT USA FINANCE LLC | ||
| By | /s/ Ceaser Gonzalez | |
Name: Ceaser Gonzalez Title: President | ||
| 2011438 ONTARIO LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| 804340 ONTARIO LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| 967979 ONTARIO LIMITED | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
[Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page]
| 156775 CANADA INC. | ||
| By | /s/ Neal Cravens | |
Name: Neal Cravens Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
[Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page]
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:
| BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Benjamin Burton | |
Name: Benjamin Burton Title: Director | ||
| DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Edwin E. Roland | |
Name: Edwin E. Roland Title: Managing Director | ||
| By: | /s/ William Fraven | |
Name: William Fraven Title: Managing Director | ||
| J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Gerard J. Murray | |
Name: Gerard J. Murray Title: Managing Director | ||
[Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page]
Schedule 1
GUARANTORS
Cott Corporation
Cott Holdings Inc.
Cott USA Corp.
Cott Vending Inc.
Cott Beverages Limited
Cott Retail Brands Limited
Cott Limited
Cott Europe Trading Limited
Cott Private Label Limited
Cott Nelson (Holdings) Limited
Cott (Nelson) Limited
Interim BCB, LLC
CB Nevada Capital Inc.
Cott USA Finance LLC
2011438 Ontario Limited
804340 Ontario Limited
967979 Ontario Limited
156775 Canada Inc.
Schedule 2
INITIAL PURCHASERS
Barclays Capital Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Annex A
Counterpart to Registration Rights Agreement
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees as a Guarantor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2009 by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, and Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc, and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as Initial Purchasers) to be bound by the terms and provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this counterpart as of .
| [GUARANTORS NAME] | ||
| By | ||
Name: Title: | ||