EXHIBIT 10.3
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of August 14, 1997
Between
CAPSTAR HOTEL COMPANY
and
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
as Initial Purchaser
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
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1. Definitions........................................................ 1
2. Notes Subject to This Agreement.................................... 3
3. Registered Exchange Offer.......................................... 3
4. Shelf Registration................................................. 4
5. Liquidated Damages................................................. 5
6. Registration Procedures............................................ 6
7. Registration Expenses.............................................. 13
8. Indemnification and Contribution................................... 13
9. Rule 144A.......................................................... 16
10. Participation in Underwritten Registrations........................ 16
11. Selection of Underwriters.......................................... 16
12. Miscellaneous...................................................... 16
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of August 14, 1997 by and between CapStar Hotel Company, a
Delaware corporation ("the Company") and Lehman Brothers Inc. (the "Initial
Purchaser").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of August 14, 1997, between the Company and the Initial
Purchaser (the "Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company
to the Initial Purchaser of $100,000,000 principal amount of the Company's 8.75%
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Notes"). Capitalized terms used but
not specifically defined herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in
the Purchase Agreement. As an inducement to the Initial Purchaser to enter into
the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to its obligations
thereunder, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchaser, for the benefit of
the holders of the Notes (including the Initial Purchaser) (the "Holders"), as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following
capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the
Exchange Act.
CLOSING DATE: The date on which the Notes were sold.
COMMISSION: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSUMMATE: A Registered 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 Company of the Exchange Notes in the
same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities that were validly tendered by Holders
thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
DAMAGES PAYMENT DATE: With respect to the Notes, each
Distribution Date until the earlier of (i) the date on which Liquidated
Damages no longer are payable or (ii) maturity of the Notes.
EFFECTIVENESS TARGET DATE: As defined in Section 5.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXCHANGE NOTES: The Notes to be issued pursuant to the Indenture
in the Exchange Offer.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The registration by the Company under the
Securities Act of the Exchange Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement
pursuant to which the Company offers the Holders of all outstanding
Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such
outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for
Exchange Notes in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate amount of the
Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such
Holders.
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EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the Prospectus which
forms a part thereof.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial Purchaser
proposes to sell the Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers," as
such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, 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") and to certain non-U.S. persons.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.
INDENTURE: The Indenture, dated as of August 19, 1997, between
the Company and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, 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.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
PERSON: An individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, 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.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the
Company 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 either case, including the
Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto
(including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material
incorporated by reference therein.
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 amended.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each Note, until the earliest to
occur of (a) the date on which such Note has been exchanged by a person
other than a Broker-Dealer for Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer, (b)
following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of such
Note for one or more Exchange Notes, the date on which such Exchange Notes
are
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sold to a purchaser who receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the
date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Notes have been
effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (d) the date on which
such Notes are eligible to be distributed to the public pursuant to Rule
144 under the Securities Act;
UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION or UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING: A
registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter
for reoffering to the public.
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.
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) or one of the events set forth in Section
4(a)(ii) has occurred the Company shall (i) cause to be filed with the
Commission promptly after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 30 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 no later than 90 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) unless the Exchange Offer would not
be permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company will commence
the Exchange Offer and use its best efforts to issue on or prior to 30 business
days after the date on which such Registration Statement was declared effective
by the Commission, Exchange Notes in exchange for all Transfer Restricted
Securities tendered prior thereto in 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
resales of Exchange Notes held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c)
below. The 30, 90 and 30 business day periods referred to in (i), (ii) and
(iii) of this Section 3(a) shall not include any period during which the Company
is pursuing a Commission ruling pursuant to Section 6(a)(i) below.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the
Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required
under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange
Offer; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall such period be less than 20
business days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply in all
material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No
securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
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Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event
later than 30 business days thereafter.
(c) The Company shall indicate in a "Plan of Distribution"
section contained in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds 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 Company), may exchange such
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
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 Exchange Notes held by any such
Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a
change in policy announced after the date of this Agreement.
The Company shall use its 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 Exchange Notes acquired by
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 of 180 days from the
date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective.
The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of
such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such
180-day period in order to facilitate such resales.
4. SHELF REGISTRATION.
(a) SHELF REGISTRATION. If (i) the Company 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) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities that
is a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under the
Securities Act) or an institutional "accredited investor" (as defined in Rule
501(A)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) shall notify the Company at
least 20 business days prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer (A) that
such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from
participating in the Exchange Offer, or (B) that 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) that such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Notes acquired
directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, then the Company shall in
lieu of, or in the event of (ii) above, in addition to effecting the
registration of the Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, use its best efforts to:
(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
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Registration Statement (in either event, the "Shelf Registration
Statement"), on or prior to the earlier to occur of (1) the 30th day after
the date on which the Company determines that it is not required to file
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (2) the 30th day after the
date on which the Company receives notice from a Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities as contemplated by clause (ii) above (such earlier
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) cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be
declared effective by the Commission on or before the 90th day after
the Shelf Filing Deadline.
The Company shall use its 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 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 ending on the second anniversary of the Closing Date.
(b) PROVISION BY HOLDERS OF CERTAIN INFORMATION IN CONNECTION
WITH THE SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. No Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf
Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder
furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 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. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall
be entitled to Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until
such Holder shall have used its best efforts to provide all such reasonably
requested information. 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.
5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
(a) If (a) 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, (b) 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"), (c) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 30 business days after the
Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or (d) 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 within two business days
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 (a) through (d), a "Registration Default"), additional
cash interest ("Liquidated Damages") shall accrue to each Holder of the Notes
commencing upon the occurrence of such Registration Default in an amount equal
to $.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Notes held by such Holder. The
amount of Liquidated Damages will increase by an additional $.05 per week per
$1,000 principal amount of Notes with respect to each subsequent 90-day period
until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of
Liquidated Damages of $.50 per week per $1,000 principal amount
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of Notes. All accrued Liquidated Damages shall be paid to Holders by the
Company in the same manner as interest is made pursuant to the Indenture.
Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular
Transfer Restricted Securities, the accrual of Liquidated Damages with respect
to such Transfer Restricted Securities will cease.
All obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding paragraph
that have accrued and are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted
Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security
shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such
Transfer Restricted Security shall have been satisfied in full.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one business day
after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which
Liquidated Damages are required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Liquidated
Damages shall be paid by depositing Liquidated Damages with the Trustee, in
trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, on or before the applicable
Interest Payment Date (whether or not any payment other than Liquidated Damages
is payable on such Notes), in immediately available funds in sums sufficient to
pay the Liquidated Damages then due to such Holders. Each obligation to pay
Liquidated Damages shall be deemed to accrue from the applicable date of the
occurrence of the Registration Default.
6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
(a) EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT. In connection with
the Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply with all of the provisions of
Section 6(c) below, shall use its best efforts to effect such exchange to permit
the sale of 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 Company
there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by
applicable law, the Company hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or
other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company to
Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Notes. The Company 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 Company hereby agrees, however, to (A)
participate in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to
the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting
forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that
such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a
resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff of such
submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior
to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Company (which
may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate
of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in,
and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in,
a distribution of the 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 Company's preparations for the Exchange Offer.
Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and
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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 (including BROWN
& WOOD LLP (available February 7, 1997), and 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 Notes acquired by such Holder
directly from the Company.
(iii) Prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter to
the Commission (A) stating that the Company is registering the Exchange
Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated in EXXON
CAPITAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION (available May 13, 1988), MORGAN STANLEY AND
CO., INC. (available June 5, 1991), BROWN & WOOD LLP (available February 7,
1997) and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause
(i) above and (B) including a representation that the Company has not
entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute
the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the
best of the Company's information and belief, each Holder participating in
the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course
of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to
participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the
Exchange Offer.
(b) SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of
Section 6(c) below and shall use its 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 Company 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
Notes by Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:
(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as
applicable; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a
material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for
resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this
Agreement, the Company 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
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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
the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set
forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, 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 Company
shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such
order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each of
the selling or exchanging Holders 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 Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to
which selling Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the
underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object within five business days
after the receipt thereof. A selling Holder or underwriter, if any, shall
be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing
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if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as
applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or
omission;
(v) in the case of a Shelf Registration, 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 selling Holders and to the underwriter(s), if any, make the Company's
representatives available for discussion of such document and other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or
underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
(vi) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available at
reasonable times for inspection by the selling Holders, any 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 Company and cause the Company's officers,
directors, managers 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) in the case of a Shelf Registration, 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 amendment as soon as practicable after the
Company 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) in the case of a Shelf Registration, 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 all documents
incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits
incorporated therein by reference);
(x) in the case of a Shelf Registration, 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 Company hereby consents 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;
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(xi) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and make such
representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of
the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be requested by
any 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 in connection
with an Underwritten Registration, the Company shall:
(A) upon request, furnish to 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 effectiveness of
the Shelf Registration Statement:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, signed by (y)
the Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President and
(z) the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, confirming, as of
the date thereof, such matters as such parties may reasonably
request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, of counsel for
the Company, covering such matters 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 Company, representatives of the
independent public accountants for the Company, the Initial
Purchaser's representatives and the Initial Purchaser's 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 Company and
without independent check or verification), no facts came to such
counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe that the
applicable Registration Statement, at the time such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became
effective, 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, 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 and statistical data
included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
11
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of
the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, from the
Company'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.
(B) set forth in full or incorporated 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
Company pursuant to this clause (xi), if any.
If at any time the representations and warranties of the
Company contemplated in clause (A)(1) above cease to be true and
correct, the Company shall so advise the Initial Purchaser and the
underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if
requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;
(xii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, prior to any
public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, 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 reasonably
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 the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign
corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement,
in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, shall issue,
upon the request of any Holder of Notes covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement, Exchange Notes in the same amount as the Notes surrendered to
the Company 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 Exchange Notes, as the case may be;
in return, the Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the
Company for cancellation;
(xiv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, 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,
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
12
or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such
Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause
(xii) 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 CUSIP numbers for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement
and provide certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities;
(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 best efforts to cause such
Registration Statement to become effective and approved by such
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
Holders selling Transfer Restricted Securities to consummate the
disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign
corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement,
in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(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 Company'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 the Trustee
and the Holders of Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be
required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms
of the TIA; and execute and use 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.
13
Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted
Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company 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 Company that the use of the Prospectus may be
resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings
that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. If so directed by
the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company's
expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities
that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the
Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4
hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the
period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to
Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling
Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section
6(c)(xvi) hereof or shall have received the Advice.
7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES.
All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or
compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of
whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without
limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings
made by any Purchaser or Holder with the NASD (and, 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), and
associated messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company; (v) all application and filing fees in
connection with listing Notes on a national securities exchange or automated
quotation system; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified
public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit
and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
The Company 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
Company.
8. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) In connection with a Shelf Registration Statement or in
connection with any delivery of a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement by any participating Broker-Dealer or Initial Purchaser,
as applicable, who seeks to sell Exchange Notes, the Company shall indemnify and
hold harmless each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within any
such Shelf Registration Statement and each participating Broker-Dealer or
Initial Purchaser selling Exchange Notes, and each person, if any, who controls
any such person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (each, a
"Participant") from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or
several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any
loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of
Notes) to which such Participant or controlling person may become subject,
14
under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration
Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and shall reimburse each Participant promptly upon
demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Participant
in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to
the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of,
or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission made in any such Registration Statement or any prospectus
forming part thereof or in any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf
of any Participant specifically for inclusion therein; and PROVIDED FURTHER that
as to any preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 8(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any such Participant or any
controlling person of such Participant on account of any loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arising from the sale of the Exchange Notes to any person by
that Participant if (i) that Participant failed to send or give a copy of the
Prospectus, as the same may be amended or supplemented, to that person within
the time required by the Securities Act and (ii) the untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact in such preliminary Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus,
unless, in each case, such failure resulted from non-compliance by the Company
with Section 6(c). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any
liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Participant or to any
controlling person of that Participant.
(b) Each Participant, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, employees or agents and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or
several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such
director, officer, employees or agents or controlling person may become subject,
under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary
Prospectus, Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of that Participant specifically for inclusion herein,
and shall reimburse the Company and any such director, officer, employees or
agents or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by the Company or any such director, officer, employees or agents or controlling
person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend
against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are
incurred. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability
which any Participant may otherwise have to the Company or any such director,
officer or controlling person.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
8 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in
writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has
been materially prejudiced by such failure and, PROVIDED FURTHER, that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have to an indemnified
15
party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such claim or action shall be
brought against an indemnified party, and it shall have notified the
indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel to represent
jointly the indemnified party and those other Participants and its respective
officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability
arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the
Participants against the indemnifying party under this Section 8 if, in the
reasonable judgment of the indemnified party it is advisable for the indemnified
party and those Participants, officers, employees and controlling persons to be
jointly represented by separate counsel, and in that event the fees and expenses
of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party. In no event
shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one counsel (in addition to local counsel). Each indemnified party, as a
condition of the indemnity agreements contained in Section 8, shall use its best
efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such
action or claim. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written
consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in
respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such
claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, or (ii) be liable for any settlement
of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there
be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any
loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for
any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or
liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party,
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, in such
proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company
on the one hand and the Participants on the other with respect to the statements
or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action
in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the
Participants, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Participants agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to be determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by
an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or
action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be
deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), 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(d), no Participant shall be required to contribute
any
16
amount in excess of the amount by which proceeds received by such Participant
from an offering of the Notes exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Participant has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any 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 Participants' obligations to
contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are several and not joint.
9. RULE 144A.
The Company 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.
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.
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 Company; PROVIDED, that such
investment bankers and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted
Securities included in such offering.
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) REMEDIES. The Company agrees that monetary damages
(including Liquidated 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 Company will not 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. The
Company has not 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 inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the
Company's securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTING THE NOTES. The Company will not take
any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to Notes that would
materially and adversely affect
17
the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer unless such
action or change is required by applicable law.
(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 Company
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.
(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 of such Holder
maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
CAPSTAR HOTEL COMPANY
1010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Suite 650
Washington, DC 20007
Attention: John Emery, Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: (202) 965-4445
With a copy to:
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019-6064
Attention: Richard S. Borisoff, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 373-2523
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.
18
(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.
(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
transaction documents 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 Company with
respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to
such subject matter.
(l) REQUIRED CONSENTS. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Transfer Restricted Securities is
required hereunder, Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Company or
its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval
was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
CAPSTAR HOTEL COMPANY
By: /s/ John Emery
--------------------------
Name: John Emery
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Accepted as of the date thereof
By LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
By: /s/ Stephen Mehos
----------------------------
Name: Stephen Mehos
Title: Associate