1
EXHIBIT 4.3
EXECUTION COPY
NEENAH CORPORATION
$150,000,000
11-1/8 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
April 30, 1997
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
c/o Chase Securities Inc.
270 Park Avenue, 4th floor
New York, New York 10017
Ladies and Gentlemen:
NC Merger Company, a Wisconsin corporation (" NC Merger"), proposes
to issue and sell to you (the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in a purchase agreement dated April 23, 1997 (the
"Purchase Agreement"), $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 11-1/8 %
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be issued
pursuant to an Indenture to be dated as of April 30, 1997 (the "Indenture")
between NC Merger and United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee (the
"Trustee"). Immediately following the consummation of the sale of the Notes
under the Purchase Agreement and pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization dated November 20, 1996, as amended, among NFC Castings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, NC Merger and Neenah Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation
(the "Company"), NC Merger will merge (the "Merger") with and into the Company,
with the Company being the surviving corporation. Upon consummation of the
Merger, the Company will assume, by supplemental indenture, all of the
obligations of NC Merger under the Indenture and the Notes. The Company will
become the primary obligor on the Notes and the Notes will be fully guaranteed
(the "Guarantees", and collectively with the Notes, the "Securities") on an
unsecured senior subordinated basis as to payment, premium, if any, and interest
by the Company's principal operating subsidiaries, Neenah Foundry Company,
Hartley Controls Corporation and Neenah Transport, Inc. (the "Guarantors").
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to
such terms in the Purchase Agreement.
2
2
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, substantially simultaneously
with (i) the sale of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers and (ii) the Merger,
the Company and the Guarantors are required to enter into an exchange and
registration rights agreement in the form hereof. Accordingly, the Company and
the Guarantors hereby agree with you, for the benefit of the holders of the
Securities (including the Initial Purchasers) (the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company and the Guarantors shall
(i) prepare and, not later than 45 days following the date of original issuance
of the Securities (the "Issue Date"), file with the Commission a registration
statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration Statement") on an appropriate form
under the Securities Act with respect to a proposed offer to the Holders (the
"Registered Exchange Offer") to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange
for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the
Company (the "Exchange Securities") identical in all material respects to the
Securities, except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Securities,
(ii) use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to become effective under the Securities Act no later than 105 days
after the Issue Date and the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated no
later than 135 days after the Issue Date, and (iii) keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if
required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the Registered
Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange
Offer Registration Period"). The Exchange Securities will be issued under the
Indenture or an indenture (the "Exchange Securities Indenture") between the
Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee or such other bank or trust company
reasonably satisfactory to you, as trustee (the "Exchange Securities Trustee"),
such indenture to be identical in all material respects to the Indenture except
for the transfer restrictions relating to the Securities (as described above).
Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company and the Guarantors shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange
Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each
Holder to elect to exchange Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that
such Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the Company, a Guarantor or an Exchanging
Dealer (as defined below) not complying with the requirements of the next
sentence, (b) acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such
Holder's business and (c) has no arrangements or understandings with any person
to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities) and to trade such
Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or
restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under
the securities laws of the several states of the United States. The Company, the
Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and each Exchanging Dealer acknowledge that,
pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of
the Securities Act,
3
3
(i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Securities,
acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other
trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an "Exchanging Dealer"), is
required to deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in Annex A
hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures"
section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in
the "Plan of Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a sale
of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to
the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) if either Initial Purchaser elects to
sell Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for Securities constituting any
unsold portion of the original offering, it is required to deliver a prospectus
containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act ("Regulation S-K"), as applicable, in
connection with such a sale.
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter
of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20
business days after the date that notice of the Registered Exchange Offer
is mailed to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange
Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;
and
(d) otherwise comply in all respects with all laws applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange
Offer, the Company shall:
(a) accept for exchange all Securities validly tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(b) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so
accepted for exchange; and
(c) cause the Trustee or the Exchange Securities Trustee, as the
case may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of
Securities,
4
4
Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the Securities of such
Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Company shall make available, for a period of 180 days after the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, a copy of the prospectus forming
part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to any broker-dealer for use
in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities.
Interest on each Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest
was paid on the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest
has been paid on the Securities, from the Issue Date.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act and (iii) such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company or
any of the Guarantors, or, if it is such an affiliate, it will comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the
extent applicable.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company and the
Guarantors will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement
thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes
effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not
include, as of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit 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.
2. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations of the Commission's staff the Company is not
permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 1
hereof, or (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not
consummated within 135 days after the Issue Date, or (iii) either of the Initial
Purchasers so request with respect to Securities not
5
5
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange
Offer and held by such Initial Purchaser following the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer, or (iv) any applicable law or interpretations do not
permit any Holder to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (v) any
Holder that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer does not receive
freely transferable Exchange Securities in exchange for tendered Securities, or
(vi) the Company so elects, then the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best
efforts to file as promptly as practicable with the Commission, and thereafter
shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective, a
shelf registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act
relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined
below) by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of
distribution set forth in such registration statement (hereafter, a "Shelf
Registration Statement" and, together with any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, a "Registration Statement").
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best
efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order
to permit the prospectus forming part thereof to be used by Holders for a period
of two years from the Issue Date or such shorter period that will terminate when
all the Securities and Exchange Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (in any
such case, such period being called the "Shelf Registration Period"). The
Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed not to have used their reasonable
best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the
requisite period if any one of them voluntarily takes any action that would
result in Holders of Securities or Exchange Securities covered thereby not being
able to offer and sell such Securities or Exchange Securities during that
period, unless such action is required by applicable law
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company and the
Guarantors will ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement
thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto (in either case, other than with respect to
information included therein in reliance upon or in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder specifically
for use therein (the "Holders' Information")) does not, when it becomes
effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Shelf
Registration Statement, and any supplement
6
6
to such prospectus (in either case, other than with respect to Holders'
Information), does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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.
3. Liquidated Damages. (a) The parties hereto agree that the Holders
of Securities will suffer damages if the Company and the Guarantors fail to
fulfill their obligations under Section 1 or Section 2, as applicable, and that
it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly,
if (i) the applicable Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on
or prior to 45 days after the Issue Date, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, is not
declared effective within 105 days after the Issue Date (or in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law
or the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within 45
days after publication of the change in law or interpretation), (iii) the
Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to 135 days after the
Issue Date, or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared
effective within 105 days after the Issue Date (or in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law or
the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within 45 days
after publication of the change in law or interpretation) but shall thereafter
cease to be effective (at any time that the Company is obligated to maintain the
effectiveness thereof) without being succeeded within 30 days by an additional
Registration Statement filed and declared effective (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), the Company and the
Guarantors will be obligated to pay liquidated damages to each holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities, during the period of one or more such
Registration Defaults, in an amount equal to $ 0.192 per week per $1,000
principal amount of the Securities constituting Transfer Restricted Securities
held by such Holder until (i) the applicable Registration Statement is filed,
(ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and the
Registered Exchange Offer is consummated, (iii) the Shelf Registration Statement
is declared effective or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes
effective, as the case may be. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults,
the accrual of liquidated damages will cease. As used herein, the term "Transfer
Restricted Securities" means each Security or Exchange Security until (i) the
date on which such Security or Exchange Security has been exchanged for a freely
transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) the date
on which such Security or Exchange Security has been effectively registered
under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf
Registration Statement or (iii) the date on which such Security or Exchange
Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3(a), the Company and
the Guarantors shall not be required to pay liquidated damages to the holder of
Transfer
7
7
Restricted Securities if such holder failed to comply with its obligations to
make the representations set forth in the second to last paragraph of Section 1
or failed to provide the information required to be provided by it, if any,
pursuant to Section 4(n).
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent under
the Indenture immediately upon the happening of each and every Registration
Default. The Company and the Guarantors shall pay the liquidated damages due on
the Transfer Restricted Securities by depositing with the Paying Agent (which
may not be the Company for these purposes), in trust, for the benefit of the
holders thereof, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next interest
payment date specified by the Indenture and the Securities, sums sufficient to
pay the liquidated damages then due. The liquidated damages due shall be payable
on each interest payment date specified by the Indenture and the Securities to
the record holder entitled to receive the interest payment to be made on such
date. Each obligation to pay liquidated damages shall be deemed to accrue from
and including the date of the applicable Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided
for in this Section 3 constitute a reasonable estimate of and are intended to
constitute the sole damages that will be suffered by holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities by reason of the failure of (i) the Shelf Registration
Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed, (ii) the
Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or (iii) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be declared effective and the Registered Exchange
Offer to be consummated, in each case to the extent required by this Agreement.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Registration
Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to you, prior to the filing
thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each
amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included
therein and, in the event that either Initial Purchaser (with respect to any
portion unsold from the original offering) is participating in the Registered
Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration, shall use its reasonable best efforts
to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such
comments as you reasonably (as determined by the Company) may propose; (ii) if
applicable, include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in
Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of
the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution"
section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter
of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and (iii) if
requested by either Initial Purchaser, include
8
8
the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable,
in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(b) The Company shall advise you and the Holders (if applicable)
and, if requested by you or any such Holder, confirm such advice in writing
(which advice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an
instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes
have been made):
(i) when any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has
been filed with the Commission and when such Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements
to any Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for
additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities or the Exchange
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening
of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the making of any
changes in any Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein
so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do
not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) The Company and the Guarantors will make every reasonable effort
to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement at the earliest possible time.
(d) The Company will furnish to each holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement,
without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules
and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits (including those
incorporated by reference).
9
9
(e) The Company will, during the Shelf Registration Period, promptly
deliver to each holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the
coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of
the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in such Shelf
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder
may reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of such prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with the offer and sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(f) The Company will furnish to each Exchanging Dealer and to each
Initial Purchaser, as applicable, which so requests, without charge, at least
one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules and, if the
Exchanging Dealer or the Initial Purchaser, as applicable, so requests in
writing, all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference).
(g) The Company will, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period
or the Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly deliver to each
Exchanging Dealer and to each Initial Purchaser, as applicable, without charge,
as many copies of the prospectus included within the coverage of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such Exchanging Dealer or such Initial
Purchaser, as applicable, may reasonably request for delivery by (i) such
Exchanging Dealer in connection with a sale of Exchange Securities received by
it pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer or (ii) such Initial Purchaser in
connection with a sale of Exchange Securities received by it in exchange for
Securities constituting any unsold portion of the original offering; and the
Company consents to the use of such prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by any such Exchanging Dealer or by such Initial Purchaser, as
applicable, as aforesaid.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Securities or Exchange
Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company and the
Guarantors will use their reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, or
cooperate with the Holders of Securities included therein and their respective
counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of, such Securities
or Exchange Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws
of such jurisdictions as any such Holder reasonably requests in writing and do
any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and
sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities or Exchange Securities covered by
such Registration Statement; provided that the Company will not be required to
qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
qualified or to take any
10
10
action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in
any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) The Company and the Guarantors will cooperate with the Holders
of Securities or Exchange Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Securities or Exchange Securities to be
sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and
in such denominations and registered in such names as Holders may request in
writing prior to sales of Securities or Exchange Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
(j) If any event contemplated by paragraphs (b)(ii) through (v)
above occurs during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an
effective Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors will promptly
prepare a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement
to the related prospectus or file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Securities or purchasers of Exchange
Securities from a Holder, the prospectus will not include an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit 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.
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Securities or
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with
printed certificates for the Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case may
be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company and the Guarantors will comply with all applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission and will make generally available to its
security holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the
applicable Registration Statement an earnings statement satisfying the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act; provided that in no event
shall such earnings statement be delivered later than 45 days after the end of a
12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the
first month of the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective
date of the applicable Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such
12-month period.
(m) The Company and the Guarantors will cause the Indenture or the
Exchange Securities Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act as required by applicable law in a timely manner.
11
11
(n) The Company may require each holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities to be sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to
the Company such information concerning the Holder and the distribution of such
Transfer Restricted Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably
require for inclusion in such Registration Statement, and the Company may
exclude from such registration the Transfer Restricted Securities of any Holder
that fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving
such request.
(o) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities to be registered pursuant thereto agrees by
acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Securities that, upon receipt of any
notice of the Company pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) hereof, such
holder will discontinue disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities until
such holder's receipt of copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus
contemplated by Section 4(j) hereof or until advised in writing (the "Advice")
by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed. If the
Company shall give any notice under Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) during the
period that the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration
Statement (the "Effectiveness Period"), such Effectiveness Period shall be
extended by the number of days during such period from and including the date of
the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall have received
(x) the copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus contemplated by Section
4(j) (if an amended or supplemental prospectus is required) or (y) the Advice
(if no amended or supplemental prospectus is required).
(p) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and
the Guarantors shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if
requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other
action, if any, as Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities or Exchange Securities being sold or the managing underwriters (if
any) shall reasonably request in order to facilitate any disposition of
Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(q) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each of the
Company and the Guarantors shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by
a representative of, and Special Counsel (as defined in Section 5 below) acting
for, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or
Exchange Securities being sold and any underwriter participating in any
disposition of Securities or Exchange Securities pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and and the Guarantors and
(ii) use its reasonable best efforts to have its officers, directors, employees,
accountants and counsel supply all relevant information reasonably requested by
such representative,
12
12
Special Counsel or any such underwriter (an "Inspector") in connection with such
Shelf Registration Statement.
(r) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and
the Guarantors shall, if requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities or Exchange Securities being sold, their
Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) in connection with such
Shelf Registration Statement, use their reasonable best efforts to cause (i)
their counsel to deliver an opinion relating to the Shelf Registration Statement
and the Securities or Exchange Securities, as applicable, in customary form,
(ii) their officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and
certificates requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities or Exchange Securities being sold, their Special Counsel or the
managing underwriters (if any) and (iii) their independent public accountants to
provide a comfort letter in customary form, subject to receipt of appropriate
documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72.
5. Registration Expenses. The Company and the Guarantors will bear
all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their obligations
under Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the Company and the Guarantors will reimburse
the Initial Purchasers and the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements
of one firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) chosen by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities and the
Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant to each Registration Statement (the
"Special Counsel") acting for the Initial Purchasers or Holders in connection
therewith.
6. Indemnification. (a) In the event of a Shelf Registration
Statement or in connection with any prospectus delivery pursuant to an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, as
applicable, the Company and the Guarantors shall jointly and severally indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder, its affiliates, their respective officers,
directors, employees, representatives and agents, and each person, if any, who
controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act (collectively referred to for purposes of this Section 6 and Section 7 as a
Holder) from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several,
or any action in respect thereof (including, without limitation, any loss,
claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Securities
or Exchange Securities), to which that Holder may become subject, whether
commenced or threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other
federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law 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
13
13
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse each Holder promptly upon demand
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Holder in connection
with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against or appearing as a
third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company and
the Guarantors 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, an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission
from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders'
Information; and provided, further, that with respect to any such untrue
statement in or omission from any related preliminary prospectus, the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any
Holder from whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action received Securities or Exchange Securities to the extent that such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action of or with respect to such Holder results
from the fact that both (A) to the extent required by applicable law, a copy of
the final prospectus was not sent or given to such person at or prior to the
written confirmation of the sale of such Securities or Exchange Securities to
such person and (B) the untrue statement in or omission from the related
preliminary prospectus was corrected in the final prospectus unless, in either
case, such failure to deliver the final prospectus was a result of
non-compliance by the Company with Section 4(d), 4(e), 4(f) or 4(g).
(b) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors, their affiliates,
their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, and
each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively referred to for
purposes of this Section 6(b) and Section 7 as the Company), from and against
any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect
thereof, to which the Company may become subject, whether commenced or
threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal or
state statutory law or regulation, at common law 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 in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, 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 any Holders' Information
furnished to the Company by such Holder, and shall reimburse the Company for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with
investigating or
14
14
defending or preparing to defend against or appearing as a
third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Holder
shall be liable for any indemnity claims hereunder in excess of the amount of
net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Securities or Exchange
Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 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 pursuant to Section 6(a) or 6(b), 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 6 except to the extent
that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive
rights or defenses) 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 party otherwise than under this Section 6. If any
such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall
notify 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 reasonably 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 6 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than the reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however,
that an indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any
such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel for the
indemnified party will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1)
the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in
writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably
concluded (based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified party) that there may
be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are
different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3)
a conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon advice of counsel to the
indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in
which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense
of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party
has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after
receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the
reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the
expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the
indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees,
disbursements and other charges of more
15
15
than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any
one time for all such indemnified party or parties. Each indemnified party, as a
condition of the indemnity agreements contained in Sections 6(a) and 6(b), shall
use all reasonable efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the
defense of any such action or claim. No indemnifying party shall 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 for 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. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section
6(a) or 6(b), 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 indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the
other with respect to the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such
loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying
party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by,
such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the intent of the parties and
their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such action, statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7 were
to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation
that 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 7 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, an
indemnifying party that is a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or
Exchange Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of
the amount by which the total price at which the
16
16
Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such indemnifying
party to any purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages which such indemnifying
party 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.
8. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company and the Guarantors shall use
their reasonable best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by them
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any
time the Company or the Guarantors are not required to file such reports, they
will, upon the written request of any holder of Transfer Restricted Securities,
make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales
of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company and the
Guarantors covenant that they will take such further action as any holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Transfer Restricted
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including, without limitation,
the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in
this Section 8 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its
securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
9. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager
or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities
included in such offering, subject to the consent of the Company (which shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and such holders shall be responsible
for all underwriting commissions and discounts in connection therewith.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
lock-up letters, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required
under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous. (a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of
this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or
consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the
Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the
17
17
Securities and the Exchange Securities, taken as a single class. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with
respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of the Holders of
Securities or Exchange Securities whose Securities or Exchange Securities are
being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or
indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or Exchange Securities
being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
telecopier or air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder
to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10(b),
which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of
such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy
in like manner to each Initial Purchaser;
(2) if to an Initial Purchaser, initially at its address set forth
in the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company or a Guarantor, initially at the address of
the Company set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business day
after being delivered to a next-day air courier; five business days after being
deposited in the mail; and when receipt is acknowledged by the recipient's
telecopier machine, if sent by telecopier.
(c) Successors And Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or by telecopier) 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.
(e) Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the
term "business day" means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is
open for trading, (b) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule
405 under the
18
18
Securities Act and (c) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term
"affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(h) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or the
Guarantors, or by any holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, of any of their
obligations under this Agreement, each holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
or the Company and each Guarantor, as the case may be, in addition to being
entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages
(other than the recovery of damages for a breach by the Company or any of the
Guarantors of any of their obligations under Sections 1 or 2 hereof for which
liquidated damages have been paid pursuant to Section 3 hereof), will be
entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company, the Guarantors and each holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree
that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred
by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and
hereby further agree that, in the event of any action for specific performance
in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would
be adequate.
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and each of the
Guarantors represents, warrants and agrees that (i) it has not entered into and
shall not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement that
is inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof,
(ii) it has not previously entered into any agreement which remains in effect
granting any registration rights with respect to any of its debt securities to
any person and (iii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without
the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, it shall not grant to
any person the right to request the Company to register any debt securities of
the Company under the Securities Act unless the rights so granted are not in
conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
(j) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of
its security holders (other than the holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
in such capacity) shall have the right to include any securities of the Company
in any Shelf Registration or Registered Exchange Offer other than Transfer
Restricted Securities.
19
19
(k) Severability. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and
not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term, provision, covenant
or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and
the parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to find and employ an
alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that
contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby
stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have
executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without
including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or
unenforceable.
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
among the Company and you.
Very truly yours,
NEENAH CORPORATION
By
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY
By
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
20
20
HARTLEY CONTROLS CORPORATION
By
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
NEENAH TRANSPORT, INC.
By
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted:
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
By Chase Securities Inc.
By
----------------------------
Authorized Signatory
21
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer
in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for
Securities where such Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company and the
Guarantors have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date
(as defined herein) they will make this Prospectus available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of
Distribution."
22
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
23
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be
used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities
received in exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company and
the Guarantors have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration
Date, they will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to
any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until
_______________, 1997, all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange
Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.(1)
Neither the Company nor the Guarantors will receive any proceeds
from any sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities
received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the
over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of
options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of resale,
at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made
directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive
compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such
broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any
broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were received by it for its
own account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer
that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to
be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on
any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions
received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under
the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that
it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be
deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities
Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, the Company and
the Guarantors will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests
such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company and the Guarantors have
agreed to pay all expenses
- ----------
(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Registered Exchange Offer prospectus.
24
incident to the Registered Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel
for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any
broker-dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
25
ANNEX D
|_| CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS
OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name: __________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.