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EXHIBIT 10.5
CONFORMED COPY
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
NORTHLAND CABLE TELEVISION, INC.,
as Issuer
and
NORTHLAND CABLE NEWS, INC.,
as Guarantor
and
BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
as Initial Purchasers
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 12, 1997
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of November 12, 1997, by and among Northland Cable
Television, Inc., a Washington corporation (the "Issuer"), Northland Cable News,
Inc., a Washington corporation and subsidiary of the Issuer (the "Guarantor"),
on the one hand, and BancAmerica Robertson Stephens and First Chicago Capital
Markets, Inc. (each an "Initial Purchaser" and, collectively, the "Initial
Purchasers"), on the other hand, each of whom has agreed to purchase the
Issuer's 10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Initial Notes")
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
as of November 6, 1997 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Issuer, the
Guarantor and the Initial Purchasers (i) for your benefit and for the benefit of
each other Initial Purchaser and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time
to time of the Notes (including you and each other Initial Purchaser). In order
to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Initial Notes, the Issuer has
agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of
the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall
have the following meanings:
Additional Interest Payment Date: With respect to the Initial
Notes, each Interest Payment Date.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the
Exchange Act.
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities: Exchange Notes
that are acquired by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for
Initial Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result
of market making activities or other trading activites (other than Initial Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and
effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Notes 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 3(b) hereof, and (iii) the delivery by the
Issuer to the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same
aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes
that were tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Initial Notes, each
Interest Payment Date.
Effectiveness Target Date: As defined in Section 5.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Notes: The 10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007,
of the same series under the Indenture as the Initial Notes, to be issued to
Holders in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to this
Agreement.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Issuer under the
Securities Act of the Exchange Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement
pursuant to which the Issuer offers the Holders of all outstanding Transfer
Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer
Restricted Securities held by such
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Holders for Exchange Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in
such exchange offer by such Holders.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Initial Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to certain
institutional "accredited investors," as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1),
(2), (3) and (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act ("Accredited
Institutions").
Holders: As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of November 12, 1997, among
the Issuer and Harris Trust Company of California, as trustee (the "Trustee"),
pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchaser: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Initial Notes: The 10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007,
of the same series under the Indenture as the Exchange Notes, for so long as
such securities constitute Transfer Restricted Securities.
Initial Placement: The issuance and sale by the Issuer of the
Initial Notes to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the
Notes.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes: The Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement,
as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other
amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material
incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.
Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date relating
to the Notes, each Person who is a Holder of Notes on the record date with
respect to the Interest Payment Date on which such Damages Payment Date shall
occur.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Issuer
and the Guarantor relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an
Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus
included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
Restricted Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer which holds
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities.
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Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Shelf Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Note, until the earliest to
occur of (a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and
entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with
the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) the date on
which such Note has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement and (c) the date
on which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act or by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution"
contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of
the Prospectus contained therein).
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A
registration in which securities of the Issuer are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
SECTION 2. SECURITIES SUBJECT TO THIS AGREEMENT
(a) Transfer Restricted Securities. The securities entitled to the
benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.
(b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. A Person is deemed to
be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a "Holder") whenever such
Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under
applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section
6(a) below have been complied with), the Issuer and the Guarantor shall (i)
cause to be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing
Date, but in no event later than 75 days after the Closing Date, a Registration
Statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Notes and the
Exchange Offer, (ii) use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement
to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than
150 days after the Closing Date, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, file
(A) all pre-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be
necessary in order to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, (B)
if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and (C) cause all necessary
filings in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange
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 Registration Statement, commence the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer
shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Notes
to be offered in exchange for the Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit
sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted
Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Issuer and the Guarantor 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 30 days after
the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders. The Issuer and
the Guarantor shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable
federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Notes shall be
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Issuer and the
Guarantor shall use its 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 180 days
after the Closing Date.
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(c) The Issuer shall indicate in a "Plan of Distribution" section
contained in the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement that any Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds Initial Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than
Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Issuer), may exchange
such Initial Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer
may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act
and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Notes received by
such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement
may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with respect to
such resales by Restricted Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in
order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution"
shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by
any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission as a
result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.
The Issuer and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to
keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective,
supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to
the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Securities acquired by Restricted Broker-Dealers for their
own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the
Commission 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 Restricted Broker-Dealer is no
longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or
other trading activities.
The Issuer and the Guarantor shall provide sufficient copies of
the latest version of such Prospectus to Restricted Broker-Dealers promptly upon
request at any time during such 180-day (or shorter as provided in the foregoing
sentence) period in order to facilitate such resales.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Issuer is not required to file an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission
policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been complied
with), (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer is not Consummated within 180 days
after the Closing Date, or (iii) with respect to any Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, or (B) such Holder
may not resell the Exchange Notes 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 (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Initial
Notes acquired directly from the Issuer or one of its affiliates, then, upon
such Holder's request, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall
(x) cause to be filed a shelf registration statement pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the "Shelf
Registration Statement") as soon as practicable but in any event on or
prior to 30 days after the Closing Date (such date being the "Shelf
Filing Deadline"), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for
resales of all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall
have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof;
and
(y) use their best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or before the
180th day after the Closing Date.
The Issuer and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to keep such Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as
required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent
necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Notes by the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities entitled
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to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the
requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at
least two years following the effective date of such Shelf Registration
Statement (or shorter period that will terminate when all the Notes covered by
such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement).
(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 Issuer in writing, within 10 business days after receipt of a request
therefor, such information as the Issuer 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 Issuer all
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously
furnished to the Issuer by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL INTEREST
If (i) any of the Registration Statements required by this
Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for
such filing in this Agreement, (ii) any of such Registration Statements has not
been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for
such effectiveness in this Agreement (the "Effectiveness Target Date"),
regardless of the reasonableness of any efforts made by or on behalf of the
Issuer to cause such Registration Statement to become effective), or (iii) 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 immediately declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses
(i) through (iii), a "Registration Default"), the Issuer and the Guarantor,
jointly and severally, hereby agree that the interest rate borne by the Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be increased by 0.50% 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,
but in no event shall such increase exceed 2.00% per annum. Following the cure
of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Transfer Restricted
Securities, the interest rate borne by the relevant Transfer Restricted
Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such Transfer
Restricted Securities; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in
interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne
by the relevant Transfer Restricted Securities shall again be increased pursuant
to the foregoing provisions.
All obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor 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 Note
shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall comply with all of the
provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use their best efforts to effect such
exchange to permit the sale of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities
being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution
thereof, and shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Issuer
there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable
law, the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or
other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Issuer and the
Guarantor to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Initial Notes. The Issuer and
the Guarantor, each hereby agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision to
the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take commercially
unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy. The Issuer and the
Guarantor hereby agree, however, to (A) participate in telephonic conferences
with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by
counsel to the Issuer setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such
counsel has concluded that such an Exchange
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Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a favorable resolution by
the Commission staff of such submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Issuer, prior to
the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Issuer and the
Guarantor (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 Issuer, (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 Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it
is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business. In addition,
all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in
the Issuer's preparations for the Exchange Offer. Each Holder hereby
acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the
Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired
in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the
date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in
Morgan Stanley 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 (which
may include any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2)
must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a
secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration
statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item
507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange
Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Notes acquired by such
Holder directly from the Issuer.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall comply with all the
provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use their 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, and
pursuant thereto the Issuer and the Guarantor will as expeditiously as possible
prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the
registration on any appropriate form under the Securities 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.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration
Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or
resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers), the
Issuer and the Guarantor shall:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite
financial statements (including, if required by the Securities Act or any
regulation thereunder, financial statements of the Guarantor) 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 Issuer and the
Guarantor shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration
Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or
omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use its best efforts to
cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement
and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as
soon as practicable thereafter;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments
and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary
to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth
in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will
terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable
provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner;
and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the
applicable period in accordance with
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the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth
in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders
promptly and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in writing,
(A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
has been filed, and, with respect to any 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 Securities
Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification
of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of
the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement
of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference
therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state
securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order
suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Issuer and
the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting
of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) furnish without charge to each of the Initial Purchasers
and each of the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission,
copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any
amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus
(including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of
such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review of
such Holders and underwriter(s), if any, for a period of at least five business
days, and the Issuer will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus
(including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which an Initial
Purchaser of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object in writing
within five business days after the receipt thereof (such objection to be deemed
timely made upon confirmation of telecopy transmission within such period). The
objection of an Initial Purchaser or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to be
reasonable if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement,
as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or
omission;
(v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to
be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and to the
underwriter(s), if any, make the Issuer's representatives and representatives of
the Guarantor 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 or underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may
request;
(vi) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the
Initial Purchasers, any managing underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney or accountant retained
by such selling Holders or any of the underwriter(s), all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Issuer and the
Guarantor and cause the Issuer's and the Guarantor's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder,
underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration
Statement subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the
underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary,
such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may
reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation,
information relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted
Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price
being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer
Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings
of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
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amendment as soon as practicable after the Issuer is notified of the matters to
be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(viii) cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so
requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes
covered thereby or the underwriter(s), if any;
(ix) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration
Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated by
reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by
reference);
(x) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, 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 Issuer and the Guarantor hereby
consent to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by
each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in
connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(xi) enter into, and cause the Guarantor to enter into, such
agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and make, and cause the
Guarantor to 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 Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be requested
by any Initial Purchaser or by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or
underwriter in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement; and whether or not an underwriting
agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten
Registration, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall:
(A) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder
and each underwriter, if any, in such substance and scope as they may
request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in
primary underwritten offerings, upon the date of the Consummation of the
Exchange Offer and, if applicable, the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of Consummation of
the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, signed by (y) the
President or any Vice President and (z) a principal financial or
accounting officer of each of the Issuer and the Guarantor,
confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set forth in
paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 9 of the Purchase
Agreement and such other matters as such parties may reasonably
request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of
the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the
Issuer and the Guarantor, covering the matters set forth in
paragraphs (e) through (g) of Section 9 of the Purchase
Agreement and such other matter as such parties 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 Issuer and the Guarantor,
representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Issuer and the Guarantor, the Initial Purchasers'
representatives and the Initial Purchasers' counsel in
connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement
and the related Prospectus and have considered the matters
required to be stated therein and the statements contained
therein, although such counsel has not independently verified
the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and
that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing
(relying as to materiality to a large extent upon facts provided
to such counsel by officers and other representatives of the
Issuer and the Guarantor 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
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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, 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 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 as of the date
of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be, from the Issuer's independent accountants, in the
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with
primary underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set
forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 9 of
the Purchase Agreement, without exception;
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the
underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and
procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with clause
(A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Issuer and
the Guarantor pursuant to this clause (xi), if any.
If at any time the representations and warranties of the Issuer
and the Guarantor contemplated in clause (A)(1) above cease to be true and
correct, the Issuer or the Guarantor shall so advise the Initial Purchasers and
the underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested
by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with, and cause the Guarantor to cooperate with, the
selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective 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 or underwriter(s) 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 Shelf Registration Statement;
provided, however, that neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall not be
required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not then 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 then so subject;
(xiii) shall issue, upon the request of any Holder of Initial
Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Exchange Notes, having an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial
Notes surrendered to the Issuer by such Holder in exchange therefor or being
sold by such Holder; such Exchange Notes to be registered in the name of such
Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the case may be; in
return, the Initial Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Issuer
for cancellation;
(xiv) cooperate with, and cause the Guarantor to cooperate
with, the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such
Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any,
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may request at least two business days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities made by such underwriter(s);
(xv) use its best efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or
approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary
to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to
consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to
the proviso contained in clause (viii) above;
(xvi) if any fact or event contemplated by clause (c)(iii)(D)
above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that,
as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the
Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(xvii) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement 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
Depositary Trust Issuer;
(xviii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made
with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any
underwriter (including any "qualified independent underwriter") that is required
to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD, and use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become
effective and approved by such governmental agencies or authorities as may be
necessary to enable the Holders selling Transfer Restricted Securities to
consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xix) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available
to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings
statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) for
the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which
Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm or best
efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an
offering, beginning with the first month of the Issuer's first fiscal quarter
commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement;
(xx) 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, and cause the
Guarantor to cooperate with, the Trustee and the Holders of Notes to effect such
changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so
qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and cause the
Guarantor to execute, and use its 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
(xxi) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each
document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13
and Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted
Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Issuer of the existence of
any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi)
hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Issuer 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. If
so directed by the Issuer, each Holder will deliver to the Issuer (at the
Issuer'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 such notice. In the event
the Issuer shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof,
as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from
and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section
6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each
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selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section
6(c)(xvi) hereof or shall have received the Advice; however, no such extension
shall be taken into account in determining whether Additional Interest is due
pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the amount of such Additional Interest, it being
agreed that the Issuer's option to suspend use of a Registration Statement
pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated as a Registration Default for
purposes of Section 5.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Issuer's or the Guarantor's
performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Issuer or
the Guarantor, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective,
including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses
(including filings made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with the NASD (and,
if applicable, the fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter"
and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of the NASD));
(ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue
Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing
certificates for the Exchange 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 Issuer, the Guarantor and, subject
to Section 7(b) below, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; and (v)
all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the
Issuer and the Guarantor (including the expenses of any special audit and
comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
The Issuer will, in any event, bear its 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 Issuer or the Guarantor.
(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 Issuer and the Guarantor
will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities being tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be
Latham & Watkins or such other counsel as may 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 Issuer agrees and the Guarantor, jointly and severally,
agree to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each person, if
any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the persons referred to in
this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person") and
(iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives
and agents of any Holder or any controlling person (any person referred to in
clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an "Indemnified
Holder"), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and expenses (including without
limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of
investigating, preparing, pursuing, settling, compromising, paying or defending
any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental
agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel to any Indemnified Holder), joint or several, directly or
indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection
with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the
Issuer by any of the Holders expressly for use therein. This indemnity agreement
shall be in
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addition to any liability which the Issuer may otherwise have.
In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any
of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against
the Issuer or the Guarantor, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder
controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Issuer and the
Guarantor in writing (provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not
relieve the Issuer or the Guarantor of their respective obligations pursuant to
this Agreement). Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to employ its own
counsel in any such action and the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
paid, as incurred, by the Issuer and the Guarantor (regardless of whether it is
ultimately determined that an Indemnified Holder is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder). The Issuer and the Guarantor shall not, in
connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially
similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out
of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable
fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to
any local counsel) at any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be
designated by the Holders. The Issuer shall be liable for any settlement of any
such action or proceeding effected with the Issuer's prior written consent,
which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, and the Issuer agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Holder from and against any loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action
effected with the written consent of the Issuer. The Issuer shall not, without
the prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending
or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any
Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise,
consent or termination includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified
Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or
proceeding.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and the Guarantor and
their respective directors, officers of the Company who sign a Registration
Statement, and any person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Issuer and the respective
officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of each
such person, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Issuer and
the Guarantor to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to
claims and actions based on information relating to such Holder furnished in
writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case
any action or proceeding shall be brought against the Issuer or its directors or
officers or any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought against a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such Holder shall
have the rights and duties given the Issuer and the Issuer or its directors or
officers or such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to
each Holder by the preceding paragraph. In no event shall the liability of any
selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the
proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof
(other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses
referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Issuer on the one hand and the Holders on the
other hand from the Initial Placement (which in the case of the Issuer shall be
deemed to be equal to the total gross proceeds from the Initial Placement as set
forth on the cover page of the Offering Memorandum), the amount of Additional
Interest which did not become payable as a result of the filing of the
Registration Statement resulting in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
judgments actions or expenses, and such Registration Statement, or if such
allocation is not permitted by applicable law, the relative fault of the Issuer
on the one hand and of the Indemnified Holder on the other in connection with
the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Issuer on the one hand and of the Indemnified Holder
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
Issuer or by the Indemnified Holder and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section
8(a), any
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legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection
with investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Issuer, the Guarantor and each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 8(c) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method
of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 8, none of the Holders (and its related Indemnified
Holders) shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess
of the amount by which the total discount received by such Holder with respect
to the Initial Notes exceeds the amount of any damages which such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. 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 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount
of Initial Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Issuer and the Guarantor each hereby agrees with each
Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, to
make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted
Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of
such Transfer Restricted 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 Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10. PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration
hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer
Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b)
completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney,
indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer
Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten
Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in
such offering; provided, that such investment bankers and managers must be
reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer.
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Issuer and the Guarantor each agrees that monetary
damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a
breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the
defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be
adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuer will not, and will cause
the Guarantor not to, on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor the Guarantor has previously entered
into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its
securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in
any way conflict with and are not
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inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Issuer's securities
under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. Neither the Issuer nor the
Guarantor will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect
to the Notes that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the
Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. 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 the Issuer has obtained the
written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other
Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer
may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered or registered; provided that, with
respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any
Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Issuer shall obtain the written consent of each
such Initial Purchaser with respect to which such amendment, qualification,
supplement, waiver, consent or departure is to be effective.
(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 Issuer or the Guarantor:
Northland Cable Television, Inc.
1501 Third Avenue, Suite 3600
Seattle, Washington 98101
Telecopier No.: (206) 674-3950
Attention: James A. Penney, Vice President and
General Counsel
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 answered back, if telexed; 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.
(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 of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided,
however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding
upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor
or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder.
(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.
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(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 together with the other
Operative Documents (as defined in the Purchase 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 by the Issuer with
respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.
NORTHLAND CABLE TELEVISION, INC.
By: _______________________________________
Name:
Title:
NORTHLAND CABLE NEWS, INC.
By: _______________________________________
Name:
Title:
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The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
By: /s/ THOMAS J. McGRATH
-------------------------------------
Name: Thomas J. McGrath
Title: Managing Director
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
By: /s/ ROBERT J. RISCHARD
-------------------------------------
Name: Robert J. Rischard
Title: Director
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