EXHIBIT 10.58
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 1, 1997
BY AND AMONG
KEVCO, INC.,
AS ISSUER,
THE SUBSIDIARIES OF KEVCO, INC. IDENTIFIED HEREIN,
AS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
AND
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION
AND
NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES, INC.,
AS INITIAL PURCHASERS
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This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), entered into as
of December 1, 1997, by and among Kevco, Inc., a Texas corporation (the
"Company"), the subsidiaries of the Company identified on the signature page
hereof (each a "Subsidiary Guarantor" and, collectively, the "Subsidiary
Guarantors") and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation and
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc. (each, an "Initial Purchaser" and,
collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), who have agreed to purchase
$105,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company's 10 3/8% Series A
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Series A Notes") upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined
below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
November 21, 1997 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company, the
Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the
Initial Purchasers to purchase the Series A Notes, the Company has agreed to
provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial
Purchasers set forth in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement to purchase and pay
for the Series A Notes. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated as of the date
hereof (the "Indenture"), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and
United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee, relating to the Series A
Notes and the Series B Notes (as defined below).
The parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following
capitalized terms set forth below shall have the following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 under the Act.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange
Act.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (b)
the maintenance of such
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Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of
the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period required pursuant
to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar
under the Indenture of Series B Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as
the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes tendered by Holders thereof
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a
principal amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount
of Series A Notes that are tendered by the Holders in connection with such
exchange and issuance.
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 Series A Notes (i) to certain "qualified institutional
buyers" (as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act) in reliance on the
exemption from the registration requirements of the Act provided by Rule 144A or
(ii) outside the United States to certain persons in reliance on Regulation S
under the Act.
Filing Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Indemnified Holders: Each Holder and other person entitled to
indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof.
Notes: Series A Notes and Series B Notes.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at
the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Prospectus.
Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
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Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company and
the Subsidiary Guarantors filed pursuant to this Agreement in connection with
(a) the exchange and issuance by the Company of Series B Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Section 4 hereof, 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.
Regulation S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
Series B Notes: The Company's 10 3/8% Series B Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2007 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer
or (ii) as contemplated by Section 6(c)(xiii) hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, 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 by a
Holder other than a Broker-Dealer, (b) if such Note is exchanged by a Broker-
Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the date on which the Note received pursuant to
the Exchange Offer is 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 (unless such Prospectus is not appropriate
or available for resales by such Broker-Dealer), (c) the date on which such Note
has been effectively registered under the Act and disposed of in accordance with
a Shelf Registration Statement or (d) the date on which such Note is distributed
to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act or may be sold without
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Act.
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SECTION 2. Holders. 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 permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) hereof have been
complied with), the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall (i) cause the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date (the "Exchange Offer Filing Date"), but in no
event later than 45 days after the Closing Date (such 45th day being hereinafter
referred to, in the case of any references herein to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as the "Filing Deadline"), (ii) use its reasonable best
efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective
at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 120 days after the
Closing Date (such 120th day being hereinafter referred to, in the case of any
references herein to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as the
"Effectiveness Deadline"), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all
pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be
necessary in order to cause it to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a
post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant
to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Series B Notes to be
made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence and Consummate the Exchange
Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting
registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange for the Series A
Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit resales of Series B
Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer Series A Notes
that any such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as contemplated by
Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall use their
respective reasonable 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 and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply
with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than
the Series B Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
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The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable
best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest
practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become
effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days thereafter.
(c) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall include a "Plan of
Distribution" section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and indicate therein that (i) any Broker-Dealer who holds
Transfer Restricted Securities that were acquired for the account of such
Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the
Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; provided, however, such Broker-
Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Act and
must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in
connection with its initial sale of any Series B Notes received by such Broker-
Dealer in the Exchange Offer; and (ii) the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement may be used to satisfy such prospectus delivery
requirement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other
information with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the
Commission may require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such
"Plan of Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except
to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy,
rules or regulations after the date of this Agreement. See the Shearman &
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Sterling no-action letter (available July 2, 1993).
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To the extent necessary to ensure that the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is available for sales of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers, the
Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors each agree to use their respective
reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions
of Section 6(c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) the
expiration of one year from the date on which the Exchange Offer is Consummated
(as extended pursuant to Section 6(d)) or (ii) the date upon which all Transfer
Restricted Securities that were received by Broker-Dealers in the Exchange Offer
have been sold by such Broker-Dealers in compliance with the Securities Act.
The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall provide sufficient copies of the
latest version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers promptly upon request,
and in no event later than one day after such request, at any time during such
period.
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SECTION 4. Shelf Registration.
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
applicable law (after the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have complied
with the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) hereof) or (ii) if any Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business
Days following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder was
prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer
or (B) such Holder may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by it in the
Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or
available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer
and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates, then the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall:
(1) cause to be filed, on or prior to 45 days after the earlier of (i)
the date on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above
and (ii) the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in
clause (a) (ii) above (the 45th day after such earlier date, being
hereinafter referred to, in the case of any references herein to the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the "Filing Deadline"), a shelf registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the "Shelf Registration
Statement")), relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(2) shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause such
Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 120 days
after the date on which the obligation of the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors to file the Shelf Registration Statement arises (such 120th day
being hereinafter referred to, in the case of any references herein to the
Shelf Registration Statement, as the "Effectiveness Deadline").
The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall use their respective
reasonable best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by
this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required
by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent
necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of Transfer Restricted
Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a),
and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act
and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time
to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section
6(d)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration Statement first became
effective under
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the Act, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant
thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary prospectus included therein. Each selling Holder
agrees to promptly furnish additional information required to be disclosed in
order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder
not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. Liquidated Damages.
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii)
any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 30 Business Days after the
Effectiveness Deadline with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and
declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be
usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded immediately by a post-
effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and
that is itself declared effective immediately (each such event referred to in
clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities affected thereby liquidated damages in an
amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that
the Registration Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The amount of the
liquidated damages shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum amount of liquidated damages of $.30 per week per $1,000 in principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall in no event be required to pay liquidated damages
for more than one Registration Default at any given time. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement), in the case of (i) above,
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(2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or,
if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon
the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an
additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be
declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the liquidated
damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result
of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes. All obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth
in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer
Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted
Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to
such security shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. Registration Procedures.
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall comply with all
applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, and shall use their respective
reasonable best efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of
Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Series A
Notes that any such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of
its market making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and
shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a change in
Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange
Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a
substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by
applicable federal law, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby
agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the
Commission allowing the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to
Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities. The
Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the issuance
of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In connection with the
foregoing, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree to take
all such other actions as may be requested by the Commission
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or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such decision,
including without limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences
with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis
prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any,
upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should
be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be
favorable) by the Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation,
any Holder who is a Broker-Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request of the
Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written
representation to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (which may be
contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of
the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in,
and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in,
a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer
and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of
business. Each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a
distribution of the Series B Notes hereby acknowledges and agrees that, if
the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for
Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof,
it (1) could not, under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this
Agreement, rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan
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Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings
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Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's
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letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action
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letters (including, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant
to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary
resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must be
covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling
security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of
Regulation S-K.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall provide a
supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on
the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings
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Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc.
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(available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission's letter to
Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable,
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any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including
a representation that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor has
entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to
distribute the Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and
that, to the best of the Company's and each Subsidiary Guarantor's
information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is
acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no
arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the
distribution of the Series B Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C)
any other undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set
forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if
applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall comply
with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use their respective
reasonable best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method
or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to
the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company
and the Subsidiary Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a
Registration Statement on any appropriate form under the Act, which form shall
be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within the time
periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement
and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective reasonable best efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite
financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this
Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would
cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein
(A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be
effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during
the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is
required, use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause such
amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-
effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such
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Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in
Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may be; cause the Prospectus to be
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to
be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules
424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and
comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable
period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by
the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to
the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the selling Holders and Initial Purchasers promptly and,
if requested by such Persons, 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 applicable Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of
any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or
amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information
relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or
of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of
the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (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 in order to make the statements
therein not misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or
changes in the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at
any time the Commission 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 and the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated by
Section 6(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
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will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to the Initial Purchasers and each selling Holder named in
any Registration Statement or Prospectus in connection with such exchange or
sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration
Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements
to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents
incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration
Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and comment of such
Initial Purchasers and selling Holders in connection with such sale, 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 the Initial Purchasers or such
selling Holders shall reasonably object within five Business Days after the
receipt thereof;
(vi) 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 selling Holders
in connection with such exchange or sale, if any, make the Company's and the
Subsidiary Guarantors' representatives available for discussion of such
document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such
information in such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial
Purchasers or such selling Holders may reasonably request;
(vii) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the
selling Holders participating in any disposition pursuant to such
Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such
selling Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors and cause the
Company's and the Subsidiary Guarantors' officers, directors and employees to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such selling Holder,
attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior
to its effectiveness; provided, however, that such persons shall first agree
in writing with the Company that any information that is reasonably and in
good faith designated by the Company in writing as confidential at the time
of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such persons,
unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or
administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory
authorities, (ii) disclosure of such information is required by law
(including any
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disclosure requirements pursuant to federal securities laws in connection
with the filing of such Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus),
(iii) such information becomes generally available to the public other than
as a result of a wrongful disclosure such information by such person or (iv)
such information becomes available to such person from a source other than
the Company and its subsidiaries and such source is not known by such person
to be bound by a confidentiality agreement.
(viii) if requested by any selling Holders in connection with such
exchange or sale promptly include in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if
necessary, such information as such selling Holders may reasonably request to
have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to
the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities; and make
all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters
to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(ix) furnish to each selling Holder in connection with such exchange
or sale, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as
first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all
documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including
exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(x) deliver to each selling Holder without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company and
the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with law)
of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any selling Holder, enter into such
agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such representations
and warranties and take all such other actions in connection therewith in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement contemplated by
this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any
applicable Registration Statement. In such connection, the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall:
13
(A) upon request of any selling Holder, furnish (or, in the case
of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its reasonable best efforts to cause to
be furnished) to each selling Holder, upon the effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement or upon Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, as the case may be:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of the
Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor by (x) the President or any
Vice President and (y) a principal financial or accounting officer
of the Company and such Subsidiary Guarantor, confirming, as of the
date thereof, the matters set forth in paragraphs (a) and (d) of
Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters
as the selling Holders 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 Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors covering matters similar to those set forth
in paragraph (f) of Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement and such
other matter as the selling Holders may reasonably request, and in
any event including a statement to the effect that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officers and other representatives
of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, representatives of
the independent public accountants for the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors 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, no facts came to such
counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe that the
applicable Registration Statement, at the time such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became effective
and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as
of the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained
in such Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of
the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Without
limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state further that such
counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently
verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial
statements, notes and
14
schedules and other financial data included in any Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus;
and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of Consummation
of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the
Company's independent accountants, in the customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters
to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings, and
affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered
pursuant to paragraph (h) of Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement;
and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance
with clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in
the any agreement entered into by the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities,
cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in connection with the
registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders
may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration
Statement; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
Guarantor shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation
where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it
to the general consent to service of process or to taxation (other than any
taxes arising from or based upon matters and transactions relating to the
Registration Statement), in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement,
Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder
in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series B Notes to be
registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of
such Series B Notes, as the case may be; in return, the Series A Notes held
by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
(xiv) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with
15
the selling Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not
bearing any restrictive legends (other than, in the case of Transfer
Restricted Securities in global form, any customary legends required by DTC);
and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and
such names as the selling Holders may request at least two Business Days
prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xv) use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration
Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental
agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers
thereof to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities,
subject to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities
not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such
Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture
with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in
a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvii) otherwise use their respective reasonable best efforts to
comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make
generally available to its security holders with regard to any applicable
Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings
statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited)
covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158
under the Act);
(xviii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later
than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this
Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the
Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such
Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and
execute and use its reasonable 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
(xix) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed
with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act.
16
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact
of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"Suspension Notice"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is
advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed,
and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the "Recommencement
Date"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will
either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in
such Holder's possession which have been replaced by the Company with more
recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to the Company (at the Company's
expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder's
possession of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that
was current at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The time period
regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section
3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by a number of days equal to the
number of days in the period from and including the date of delivery of the
Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the Recommencement Date.
SECTION 7. Registration Expenses.
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's and the Subsidiary
Guarantors' 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;
(ii) all reasonable fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and
state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including
printing certificates for the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer
and printing of Prospectuses whether for exchanges, sales, or otherwise),
messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees in
connection with listing the Series B Notes on a national securities exchange or
automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all
fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the
Company, 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 and the Subsidiary
Guarantors' internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of its officers and
17
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual
audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts,
retained by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Rer
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 Baker & Botts, L.L.P. unless another firm shall
be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being
prepared.
SECTION 8. Indemnification.
(a) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agree, jointly and
severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, its
officers and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, (including without
limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with
investigating or defending any matter, including any action that could give rise
to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue statement or omission
or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon information relating
to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the Holders
expressly for use in any Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors and their respective directors, officers and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to each
of the Indemnified Holders, but only with reference to
18
information relating to such Indemnified Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Indemnified Holder expressly for use in any Registration
Statement.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced or threatened or any claim
shall be asserted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the "indemnified party"), the
indemnified party shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity
may be sought (the "indemnifying person") in writing and the indemnifying party
shall assume the defense of such action or claim, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and the payment of all
fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that in the case of any
action or claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to both
Sections 8(a) and 8(b), an Indemnified Holder shall not be required to assume
the defense of such action or claim pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may
employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of
the Indemnified Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel in connection with any such action or claim and participate in
the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall
have been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the
indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or
claim or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or
(iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) or
the persons asserting such claim and against whom such claim is asserted include
both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party
shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal
defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those avathe
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
or claim on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but
substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local
counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a
majority of the Indemnified Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(b); provided, however, that, in each case, the firm so
designated shall be reasonably acceptable to the indemnifying party (it being
understood that, in order to object to a firm as not being reasonably acceptable
for purposes of this Section 8(c), the indemnifying party shall be required to
establish that the selection of such counsel is reasonably likely to prejudice
the defense of such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall indemnify and
hold harmless the
19
indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action or claim
effected with the written consent of the indemnifying party, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding
sentence, if in any case where the fees and expenses of counsel are at the
expense of the indemnifying party and an indemnified party shall have requested
that the indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for such fees and
expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for
any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent if
(i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after the indemnifying
party of the aforesaid request and (ii) prior to the date of such settlement
such indemnifying party shall have failed to reimburse the indemnified party in
accordance with such request for reimbursement; provided, however, that if
within 30 days of the receipt of the aforesaid request, the indemnifying party
shall have made a good faith written challenge to the reasonableness of the
amount of the reimbursement requested or the sufficiency of the documentation
supporting the reimbursement requested (which challenge shall specifically set
forth the amount of the requested reimbursement which the indemnifying party in
good faith believes to be unreasonable or the basis for the good faith claim as
to the insufficiency of any supporting documentation), this sentence shall only
apply if such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party
for the amount which is not being so challenged. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect
to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which the
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution
may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such
settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the
indemnified party from all liability on claims that are or could have been the
subject matter of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as
to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of
the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this
Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid orf such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand,
and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) is not permitted
by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative
fault of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the
Indemnified Holder, on the other hand,
20
in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand,
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or such
Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, or by the Indemnified Holder, on the
other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount
paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal
or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and each Holder agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d)
were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one
entthod of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action
that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder or its
related Indemnified Holders shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate,
any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder
with respect to the sale of its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds the sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for
such Transfer Restricted Securities and (B) the amount of any damages which such
Holder has otherwise paid by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by each of the Holders hereunder and not
joint.
SECTION 9. Rule 144 and Rule 144A. The Company and each
Subsidiary Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company or such
21
Subsidiary Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities, 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 designated by such Holder or beneficial owner,
the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit
resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii)
is subject to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings
required thereby in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
SECTION 10. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors acknowledge
and agree that any failure by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors to comply
with their respective obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in
material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which
there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure
damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure,
the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required
to specifically enforce the Company's and the Subsidiary Guarantor's obligations
under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors
further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a
remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary Guarantor will, 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 any Subsidiary 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 inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's and the Subsidiary Guarantors'
securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities
22
held by the Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver
or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to
the rights of Holders whose 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 subject to such Exchange Offer.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other
hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent
they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or
the rights of Holders hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be mad-delivery, first-class mail (registered or
certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors:
c/o Kevco, Inc.
University Centre I
1300 South University Drive, Suite 200
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Telecopier No.: (817) 332-2765
Attention: Jerry E. Kimmel
With a copy to:
Jackson Walker L.L.P.
777 Main Street, Suite 1800
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Telecopier No.: (817) 334-7290
Attention: Richard S. Tucker
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
23
deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if
telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered to an air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
Upon the date of filing of the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, notice shall be delivered to Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, on behalf of the Initial Purchasers (in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A) and shall be addressed to: Attention: Louise
Guarneri (Compliance Department), 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172.
(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, that nothing
herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition
of Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the
Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall
acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any manner, whether by operation of
law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to
all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer
Restricted Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to
be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement,
including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if
applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to receive
the benefits hereof.
(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.
24
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
25
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.
KEVCO, INC.
By: /s/ Jerry E. Kimmel
-------------------------------------------
Name: Jerry E. Kimmel
Title: Chairman of the Board and
President
KEVCO DELAWARE, INC.
By: /s/ Jerry E. Kimmel
-------------------------------------------
Name: Jerry E. Kimmel
Title: Chairman of the Board and
President
SUNBELT WOOD COMPONENTS, INC.
By: /s/ Jerry E. Kimmel
-------------------------------------------
Name: Jerry E. Kimmel
Title: Chairman of the Board
CONSOLIDATED FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.
By: /s/ Jerry E. Kimmel
-------------------------------------------
Name: Jerry E. Kimmel
Title: Chairman of the Board
26
BOWEN SUPPLY, INC.
By: /s/ Jerry E. Kimmel
-------------------------------------------
Name: Jerry E. Kimmel
Title: Chairman of the Board
ENCORE INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: /s/ Jerry E. Kimmel
-------------------------------------------
Name: Jerry E. Kimmel
Title: Chairman of the Board
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ M. R. Nicolais
-------------------------------------------
Name: Michael R. Nicolais
Title: Managing Director
NATIONSBANC
MONTGOMERY SECURITIES, INC.
By: /s/ Stuart B. Gleichenhaus
-------------------------------------------
Name: Stuart B. Gleichenhaus
Title: Managing Director
27
EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
To: Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
277 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10172
Attention: Louise Guarneri (Compliance Department)
Fax: (212) 892-7272
From: Kevco, Inc.
10 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
Date: _______ __, 199_
For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):
Today, _______ __, 199_, we filed [an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement/a Shelf Registration Statement] with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We currently expect this registration statement to be declared
effective within __ business days of the date hereof.
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