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EXHIBIT 4.8
EXECUTION COPY
BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
5.00% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE MAY 15, 2006
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
May 8, 2001
Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
Banc of America Securities LLC
As representatives of the several Purchasers
named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Briggs & Stratton Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to the Purchasers (as defined herein) upon the terms
set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) its 5.00% Convertible
Senior Notes due May 15, 2006 (the "Securities"). As an inducement to the
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees with the
Purchasers for the benefit of Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of
the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as follows:
1. Definitions.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement,
the following defined terms shall have the following meanings:
"Act" or "Securities Act" means the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended.
"Affiliate" of any specified person means any other person which,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common
control with such specified person. For purposes of this definition, control of
a person means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of such person whether by contract or
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otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Closing Date" means the First Time of Delivery as defined in the
Purchase Agreement.
"Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Exchange
Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for the particular
purpose.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share.
"DTC" means The Depository Trust Company.
"Effectiveness Period" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(b)(i) hereof.
"Effective Time" means the date on which the Commission declares the
Shelf Registration Statement effective or on which the Shelf Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective.
"Electing Holder" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3(a)(3)
hereof.
"Exchange Act" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
"Holder" means, any person that is the record owner of Registrable
Securities (and includes any person that has a beneficial interest in any
Registrable Security in book-entry form).
"Indenture" means the Indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Date,
between the Company and Bank One, N.A., as Trustee, as amended and supplemented
from time to time in accordance with its terms.
"Managing Underwriters" means the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering,
if any, conducted pursuant to Section 8 hereof.
"NASD Rules" means the Rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., as amended from time to time.
"Notice and Questionnaire" means a Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto.
The term "person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, trust
or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
subdivision thereof.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus (including, without limitation, any
preliminary prospectus, any final prospectus and any prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act) included in the
Shelf Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement and by all
other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including all material
incorporated by reference in such prospectus and all documents filed after the
date of such prospectus by the Company under the Exchange Act and incorporated
by reference therein.
"Purchase Agreement" means the purchase agreement, dated as of May 8,
2001, between the Purchasers and the Company relating to the Securities.
"Purchasers" means the Purchasers named in Schedule I to the Purchase
Agreement.
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"Registrable Securities" means all or any portion of the Securities
issued from time to time under the Indenture in registered form and the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Securities, including any
Securities initially issued in bearer form and constituting the unsold allotment
of a distributor (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act)
of such Securities and later exchanged for Securities in registered form;
provided, however, that a security ceases to be a Registrable Security when it
is no longer a Restricted Security.
"Restricted Security" means any Security or share of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion thereof except any such Security or share of Common
Stock which (i) has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and
sold in a manner contemplated by the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) has been
transferred in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any
successor provision thereto) or is transferable pursuant to paragraph (k) of
such Rule 144 (or any successor provision thereto), (iii) has been sold in
compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (or any successor thereto)
and does not constitute the unsold allotment of a distributor within the meaning
of Regulation S under the Securities Act, or (iv) has otherwise been transferred
and a new Security or share of Common Stock not subject to transfer restrictions
under the Securities Act has been delivered by or on behalf of the Company in
accordance with Section 2.06 of the Indenture.
"Rules and Regulations" means the published rules and regulations of
the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as in
effect at any relevant time.
"Shelf Registration" means a registration effected pursuant to Section
2 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means a "shelf" registration statement
filed under the Securities Act providing for the registration of, and the sale
on a continuous or delayed basis by the Holders of, all of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act and/or any similar rule
that may be adopted by the Commission, filed by the Company pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement, including the Prospectus contained
therein, any amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or any
successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated thereunder,
as the same shall be amended from time to time.
The term "underwriter" means any underwriter of Registrable Securities
in connection with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) Wherever there is a reference in this Agreement to a percentage of
the "principal amount" of Registrable Securities or to a percentage of
Registrable Securities, Common Stock shall be treated as representing the
principal amount of Securities which was surrendered for conversion or exchange
in order to receive such number of shares of Common Stock.
2. Shelf Registration.
(a) The Company shall, no later than 90 calendar days following the
Closing Date, file with the Commission a Shelf Registration Statement relating
to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders from time to
time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and
set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement and,
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thereafter, shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Act no later than 180
calendar days following the Closing Date; provided, however, that the Company
may, upon written notice to all Holders, postpone having the Shelf Registration
Statement declared effective for a reasonable period not to exceed 90 days if
the Company possesses material non-public information, the disclosure of which
would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole; provided, further, however, that no Holder shall be entitled to be
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to use
the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities
unless such Holder is an Electing Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts:
(i) To keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously
effective in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be
usable by Holders until the earliest of (1) the sale of all Registrable
Securities registered under the Shelf Registration Statement; (2) the
expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) of the Act with
respect to all Registrable Securities held by Persons that are not
Affiliates of the Company; and (3) two years from the date (the
"Effective Date") such Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective (such period being referred to herein as the "Effectiveness
Period");
(ii) After the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, promptly upon the request of any Holder of Registrable
Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, to take any action
reasonably necessary to enable such Holder to use the Prospectus
forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities,
including, without limitation, any action necessary to identify such
Holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement;
provided, however, that nothing in this subparagraph shall relieve such
Holder of the obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(a)(2) hereof;
and
(iii) If at any time the Securities, pursuant to Article 12 of the
Indenture, are convertible into securities other than Common Stock, the
Company shall, or shall cause any successor under the Indenture to,
cause such securities to be included in the Shelf Registration
Statement no later than the date on which the Securities may then be
convertible into such securities.
The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep
the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if the
Company voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Registrable
Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell any of such
Registrable Securities during that period, unless such action is required by
applicable law and the Company thereafter promptly complies with the
requirements of paragraph 3(j) below.
(c) The Company may suspend the use of the Prospectus for a period not
to exceed 30 days in any 90-day period or an aggregate of 90 days in any
12-month period if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined
in good faith that because of valid business reasons (not including avoidance of
the Company's obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture
of assets, pending corporate developments and similar events, it is in the best
interests of the Company to suspend such use, and prior to suspending such use
the Company provides the Holders with written notice of such suspension, which
notice need not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such suspension.
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3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a)(i) Not less than 30 calendar days prior to the Effective Time of
the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall mail the Notice and
Questionnaire to the Holders of Registrable Securities. No Holder shall be
entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement as of the Effective Time, and no Holder shall be entitled to use the
Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities at any
time, unless such Holder has returned a completed and signed Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company by the deadline for response set forth therein;
provided, however, Holders of Registrable Securities shall have at least 28
calendar days from the date on which the Notice and Questionnaire is first
mailed to such Holders to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire
to the Company.
(ii) After the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Company shall, upon the request of any Holder of
Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly
send a Notice and Questionnaire to such Holder. The Company shall not
be required to take any action to name such Holder as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such
Holder to use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities until such Holder has returned a completed and
signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company.
(iii) The term "Electing Holder" shall mean any Holder of
Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice
and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(a)(i) or
3(a)(ii) hereof.
(b) The Company shall furnish to each Electing Holder, prior to the
Effective Time, a copy of the Shelf Registration Statement initially filed with
the Commission, and shall furnish to such Holders, prior to the filing thereof
with the Commission, copies of each amendment thereto and each amendment or
supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein, and shall use its best
efforts to reflect in each such document, at the Effective Time or when so filed
with the Commission, as the case may be, such comments as such Holders and their
respective counsel reasonably may propose.
(c) The Company shall promptly take such action as may be necessary so
that (i) each of the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
the Prospectus forming part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto (and
each report or other document incorporated therein by reference in each case)
complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
and the respective rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) each of the Shelf
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) each of the Prospectus forming part of the
Shelf Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement to such
Prospectus, does not at any time during the Effectiveness Period 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.
(d) The Company shall promptly advise each Electing Holder, and shall
confirm such advice in writing if so requested by any such Holder:
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(i) when a Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when a Shelf
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has
become effective, in each case making a public announcement thereof by
release made to Reuters Economic Services and Bloomberg Business News;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Shelf 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for such purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities
included in the Shelf Registration Statement for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event or the existence of any state
of facts that requires the making of any changes in the Shelf
Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein so that, as
of such date, such Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus do not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading (which advice
shall be accompanied by an instruction to such Holders to suspend the
use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made).
(e) The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance,
and if issued to obtain the withdrawal, of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement at the earliest possible time.
(f) The Company shall furnish to each Electing Holder, without charge,
at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and all post-effective
amendments thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if such
Holder so requests in writing, all reports, other documents and exhibits that
are filed with or incorporated by reference in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall, during the Effectiveness Period, deliver to
each Electing Holder, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
(including each preliminary Prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Electing Holder may
reasonably request; and the Company consents (except during the continuance of
any event described in Section 3(d)(v) above) to the use of the Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the Electing Holders in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by
the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto during the Effectiveness
Period.
(h) Prior to any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall (i) register or qualify or
cooperate with the Electing Holders and their respective counsel in connection
with the registration or qualification of such Registrable
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Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Electing Holder may reasonably
request, (ii) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply
with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers and sales in such
jurisdictions for so long as may be necessary to enable any Electing Holder or
underwriter, if any, to complete its distribution of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and (iii) take any and all other
actions necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions
of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that in no event shall the
Company be obligated to (A) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so
qualify but for this Section 3(h), (B) file any general consent to service of
process in any jurisdiction where it is not as of the date hereof so subject or
(C) make any changes to its articles of incorporation or bylaws or any
agreements between it and its stockholders.
(i) Unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry only
form, the Company shall cooperate with the Electing Holders to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable
Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which
certificates, if so required by any securities exchange upon which any
Registrable Securities are listed, shall be penned, lithographed or engraved, or
produced by any combination of such methods, on steel engraved borders, and
which certificates shall be free of any restrictive legends and in such
permitted denominations and registered in such names as Electing Holders may
request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any fact or event contemplated by paragraph
3(d)(v) above, the Company shall promptly prepare a post-effective amendment to
any Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related
Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered
to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the Prospectus
will not include 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. If the Company
notifies the Electing Holders of the occurrence of any event contemplated by
paragraph 3(d)(v) above, the Electing Holder shall suspend the use of the
Prospectus until the requisite changes to the Prospectus have been made.
(k) Not later than the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable
Securities that are debt securities.
(l) The Company shall use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable Rules and Regulations, and to make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen
months after (i) the effective date (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the
Securities Act) of the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) the effective date of
each post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, and (iii) the
date of each filing by the Company with the Commission of an Annual Report on
Form 10-K that is incorporated by reference in the Shelf Registration Statement,
an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section
11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158).
(m) Not later than the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act; in connection with such qualification, the Company shall
cooperate with the Trustee under the Indenture and the Holders (as defined in
the Indenture) to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be
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required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of
the Trust Indenture Act; and the Company shall execute, and shall use all
reasonable 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. In the event that any such amendment or modification referred to
in this Section 3(m) involves the appointment of a new trustee under the
Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the
applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(n) In the event of an underwritten offering conducted pursuant to
Section 7 hereof, the Company shall, if requested, promptly include or
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Shelf
Registration Statement such information as the Managing Underwriters reasonably
agree should be included therein and to which the Company does not reasonably
object and shall make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after it is notified of the
matters to be included or incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment.
(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including
an underwriting agreement in customary form in the event of an underwritten
offering conducted pursuant to Section 7 hereof) and take all other appropriate
action in order to expedite and facilitate the registration and disposition of
the Registrable Securities, and in connection therewith, if an underwriting
agreement is entered into, cause the same to contain indemnification provisions
and procedures substantially identical to those set forth in Section 6 hereof
with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 6 hereof.
(p) The Company shall:
(i) (A) make reasonably available for inspection by Electing
Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other
agent retained by such Holders or any such underwriter all relevant
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and (B) cause the
Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information
reasonably requested by such Holders or any such underwriter, attorney,
accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, in each case, as is customary for similar due diligence
examinations; provided, however, that all records, information and
documents that are designated in writing by the Company, in good faith,
as confidential shall be kept confidential by such Holders and any such
underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is
made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such
records, information or documents become available to the public
generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation
of confidentiality; and provided further that, if the foregoing
inspection and information gathering would otherwise disrupt the
Company's conduct of its business, such inspection and information
gathering shall, to the greatest extent possible, be coordinated on
behalf of the Electing Holders and the other parties entitled thereto
by one counsel designated by and on behalf of Electing Holders and
other parties;
(ii) in connection with any underwritten offering conducted
pursuant to Section 7 hereof, make such representations and warranties
to the Holders participating in such underwritten offering and to the
Managing Underwriters, in form, substance and scope as are customarily
made to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings of
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equity and convertible debt securities and are reasonably satisfactory
to the Company and covering matters including, but not limited to,
those set forth in the Purchase Agreement;
(iii) in connection with any underwritten offering conducted
pursuant to Section 7 hereof, obtain opinions of counsel to the Company
(which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters) addressed to each
Holder participating in such underwritten offering and the
underwriters, covering such matters as are customarily covered in
opinions requested in primary underwritten offerings of equity and
convertible debt securities and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by such Holders and underwriters (it being agreed that the
matters to be covered by such opinions shall include, without
limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of the Company; the
qualification of the Company to transact business as a foreign
corporation; the due authorization, execution and delivery of the
relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the
due authorization, execution, authentication and issuance, and the
validity and enforceability, of the Securities; the absence of material
legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company; the absence of
a breach by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of, or a default
under, material agreements binding upon the Company or any subsidiary
of the Company; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration, the offering and
sale of the Registrable Securities, this Registration Rights Agreement
or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof, except
such approvals as may be required under state securities or blue sky
laws; the material compliance as to form of the Shelf Registration
Statement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and of
the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of
the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent
post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from
such Shelf Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including the
documents incorporated by reference therein, of an untrue statement of
a material fact or the omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading);
(iv) in connection with any underwritten offering conducted
pursuant to Section 7 hereof, obtain a "cold comfort" letter or letters
from the independent certified public accountants of the Company
addressed to each Holder participating in such underwritten offering
(if such Holder has provided such letter, representations or
documentation, if any, required for such cold comfort letter to be so
addressed) and the underwriters, dated (i) the effective date of the
Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the effective date of any
prospectus supplement to the Prospectus or post-effective amendment to
such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited or audited
financial statements as of a date or for a period subsequent to that of
the latest such statements included in such Prospectus (and, if such
Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten offering
pursuant to any prospectus supplement to the Prospectus included in
such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to such
Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited or audited
financial statements as of a date or for a period subsequent to that of
the latest such statements included in such Prospectus, dated the date
of the closing under the underwriting agreement relating thereto), such
letter or letters to be in customary form and covering such matters of
the type customarily covered by letters of such type;
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(v) in connection with any underwritten offering conducted
pursuant to Section 7 hereof, deliver such documents and certificates
as may be reasonably requested by any Holders participating in such
underwritten offering and the Managing Underwriters, if any, including,
without limitation, certificates to evidence compliance with Section
3(j) hereof and with any conditions contained in the underwriting
agreement or other agreements entered into by the Company.
(q) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities to be listed on the New
York Stock Exchange or other stock exchange or trading system on which the
Common Stock primarily trades on or prior to the Effective Time of the Shelf
Registration Statement hereunder.
(r) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange
Act shall be an "affiliate" (as defined in Rule 2720(b)(1) of the NASD Rules (or
any successor provision thereto)) of the Company or has a "conflict of interest"
(as defined in Rule 2720(b)(7) of the NASD Rules (or any successor provision
thereto)) and such broker-dealer shall underwrite, participate as a member of an
underwriting syndicate or selling group or assist in the distribution of any
Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, whether as a
Holder of such Registrable Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales
agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company shall
assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of the NASD Rules,
including, without limitation, by (A) engaging a "qualified independent
underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720(b)(15) of the NASD Rules (or any successor
provision thereto)) to participate in the preparation of the registration
statement relating to such Registrable Securities, to exercise usual standards
of due diligence in respect thereto and to recommend the public offering price
of such Registrable Securities, (B) indemnifying such qualified independent
underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in
Section 6 hereof, and (C) providing such information to such broker-dealer as
may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements
of the NASD Rules.
(s) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration, offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3,
the Company shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of its obligations under Sections 2 and 3 hereof and shall bear or
reimburse the Electing Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of a
single counsel selected by a plurality of all Electing Holders who own an
aggregate of not less than 25% of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Shelf Registration Statement to act as counsel therefore in connection
therewith. Each Electing Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and
commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of
such Electing Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement.
5. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, each Purchaser and each of the Holders from time
to time that:
(a) The Shelf Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
further amendment or supplement to such Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the Commission, as the
case may be, and, in the case of an underwritten offering, at the time of the
closing under the underwriting agreement relating
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thereto, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and will not 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 at all times subsequent to
the Effective Time when a prospectus would be required to be delivered under the
Securities Act, other than from (i) such time as a notice has been given to
Electing Holders pursuant to Section 3(d)(v) hereof until (ii) such time as the
Company furnishes an amended or supplemented Prospectus pursuant to Section 3(j)
hereof, such Shelf Registration Statement, and Prospectus contained therein or
furnished pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, as then amended or supplemented, will
conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and
the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and will not 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 in the light of the circumstances then
existing; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not
apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by a Holder expressly for
use therein.
(b) Any documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus referred
to in Section 5(a) hereof, when they become or became effective or are or were
filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform or conformed in all
material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
as applicable, and none of such documents will contain or contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or will omit or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not
apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by a Holder expressly for
use therein.
(c) The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this
Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein
contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a
party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets
of the Company is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the
provisions of the articles of incorporation, as amended, or the bylaws of the
Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of their
properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is
required for the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by
this Registration Rights Agreement, except the registration under the Securities
Act of the Securities, qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act and future filings in accordance therewith and the rules of the Commission
thereunder and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
qualifications as may be required under State securities or blue sky laws in
connection with the offering and distribution of the Securities.
(d) This Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.
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6. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. Upon the registration of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Company shall indemnify
and hold harmless each Electing Holder and each underwriter, selling agent or
other securities professional, if any, which facilitates the disposition of
Registrable Securities, and each of their respective officers and directors and
each person who controls such Electing Holder, underwriter, selling agent or
other securities professional within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each such person being sometimes referred
to as an "Indemnified Person") against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Person may become
subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Shelf Registration Statement under which such Registrable
Securities are to be registered under the Securities Act, or any Prospectus
contained therein or furnished by the Company to any Indemnified Person, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the
Company hereby agrees to reimburse such Indemnified Person for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such Indemnified Person in
any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in such Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus, or amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Indemnified Person
expressly for use therein.
(b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and Underwriters.
Each Electing Holder agrees, as a consequence of the inclusion of any of such
Holder's Registrable Securities in such Shelf Registration Statement, and each
underwriter, selling agent or other securities professional, if any, which
facilitates the disposition of Registrable Securities shall agree, as a
consequence of facilitating such disposition of Registrable Securities,
severally and not jointly, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, officers who sign any Shelf Registration Statement and each person,
if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities to which the Company or such other persons may become
subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder,
underwriter, selling agent or other securities professional expressly for use
therein, and (ii) reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.
(c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified
party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any
action, such indemnified
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party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying
party under this Section 6, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under this Section 6. In case any such action shall be brought
against any indemnified party and it shall notify an indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and,
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, such indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent
of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or
claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party
to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i)
includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability
arising out 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
any indemnified party.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section
6 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions 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 the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Electing Holders or any underwriters, selling
agents or other securities professionals or all of them were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6(d).
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above
shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The obligations of the Electing Holders and any underwriters,
selling agents or other securities professionals in this Section 6(d) to
contribute shall be several in proportion to the percentage of principal amount
of Registrable Securities registered or underwritten, as the case may be, by
them and not joint.
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(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6, in no event
will any (i) Electing Holder be required to undertake liability to any person
under this Section 6 for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the
proceeds to be received by such Holder from the sale of such Holder's
Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions
applicable thereto) pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement under which
such Registrable Securities are to be registered under the Securities Act and
(ii) underwriter, selling agent or other securities professional be required to
undertake liability to any person hereunder for any amounts in excess of the
discount, commission or other compensation payable to such underwriter, selling
agent or other securities professional with respect to the Registrable
Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public.
(f) The obligations of the Company under this Section 6 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any
Indemnified Person and the obligations of any Indemnified Person under this
Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability which such Indemnified Person
may otherwise have to the Company. The remedies provided in this Section 6 are
not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to an indemnified party at law or in equity.
7. Underwritten Offering. Any Holder of Registrable Securities who
desires to do so may sell Registrable Securities (in whole or in part) in an
underwritten offering; provided that (i) the Electing Holders of at least
33-1/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities then covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement shall request such an offering and (ii) at
least such aggregate principal amount of such Registrable Securities shall be
included in such offering; and provided further that the Company shall not be
obligated to cooperate with more than one underwritten offering during the
Effectiveness Period. Upon receipt of such a request, the Company shall provide
all Holders of Registrable Securities written notice of the request, which
notice shall inform such Holders that they have the opportunity to participate
in the offering. In any such underwritten offering, the investment banker or
bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be
selected by, and the underwriting arrangements with respect thereto (including
the size of the offering) will be approved by, the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities to be included in such offering; provided, however, that
such investment bankers and managers and underwriting arrangements must be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company. No Holder may participate in any
underwritten offering contemplated hereby unless (a) such Holder agrees to sell
such Holder's Registrable Securities to be included in the underwritten offering
in accordance with any approved underwriting arrangements, (b) such Holder
completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney,
indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents
required under the terms of such approved underwriting arrangements, and (c) if
such Holder is not then an Electing Holder, such Holder returns a completed and
signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section
3(a)(2) hereof within a reasonable amount of time before such underwritten
offering. The Holders participating in any underwritten offering shall be
responsible for any underwriting discounts and commissions and fees and, subject
to Section 4 hereof, expenses of their own counsel. The Company shall pay all
expenses customarily borne by issuers, including but not limited to filing fees,
the fees and disbursements of its counsel and independent public accountants and
any printing expenses incurred in connection with such underwritten offering.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or the provisions of Section 3(n) hereof, upon
receipt of a request from the Managing Underwriter or a representative of
holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in an
underwritten offering to prepare and file an amendment or supplement to the
Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus in connection with an underwritten
offering, the Company may delay the filing of any such amendment or supplement
for up to 90 days if the Board of Directors of
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the Company shall have determined in good faith that the Company has a bona fide
business reason for such delay.
8. Liquidated Damages.
(a) Pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, the Company may, upon written
notice to all the Holders, postpone having the Shelf Registration Statement
declared effective for a reasonable period not to exceed 90 days if the Company
possesses material non-public information, the disclosure of which would have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Notwithstanding any such postponement, if (i) on or prior to the 90th day
following the Closing Date, a Shelf Registration Statement has not been filed
with the Commission or (ii) on or prior to the 180th day following the Closing
Date, such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the
Commission (each, a "Registration Default"), the Company shall be required to
pay liquidated damages ("Liquidated Damages"), from and including the day
following such Registration Default until such Shelf Registration Statement is
either so filed or so filed and subsequently declared effective, as applicable,
at a rate per annum equal to an additional one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) of
the principal amount of Registrable Securities, to and including the 90th day
following such Registration Default and one-half of one percent (0.5%) thereof
from and after the 91st day following such Registration Default.
(b) In the event that the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be
effective (or the Holders of Registrable Securities are otherwise prevented or
restricted by the Company from effecting sales pursuant thereto) (an "Effective
Failure") for more than 30 days, whether or not consecutive, in any 90-day
period, or 90 days, whether or not consecutive, during any 12-month period, then
the Company shall pay Liquidated Damages at a rate per annum equal to an
additional one-half of one percent (0.5%) from the 31st day of the applicable
90-day period or the 91st day of the applicable 12-month period, as the case may
be, that such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective (or the
Holders of Registrable Securities are otherwise prevented or restricted by the
Company from effecting sales pursuant thereto) until the earlier of (i) the time
the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective or the Holders of
Registrable Securities are again able to make sales under the Shelf Registration
Statement or (2) the time the Effectiveness Period expires. For the purpose of
determining an Effective Failure, days on which the Company has been obligated
to pay Liquidated Damages in accordance with the foregoing in respect of a prior
Effective Failure within the applicable 90-day or 12-month period, as the case
may be, shall not be included.
(c) In the event the Company fails to file a post-effective amendment
to the Shelf Registration Statement, or the post-effective amendment is not
declared effective, within the periods required by Section 3, the Company shall
pay Liquidated Damages at a rate per annum equal to an additional one-half of
one percent (0.5%) from and including the date of such Registration Default
until such time as such Registration Default is cured.
(d) Any amounts to be paid as Liquidated Damages pursuant to
paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 8 shall be paid semi-annually in
arrears, with the first semi-annual payment due on the first Interest Payment
Date (as defined in the Indenture), as applicable, following the date of such
Registration Default. Such Liquidated Damages will accrue (1) in respect of the
Securities at the rates set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section
8, as applicable, on the principal amount of the Securities and (2) in respect
of the Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Securities, at the rates set
forth in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 8, as applicable, applied to
the Conversion Price (as defined in the Indenture) at that time.
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(e) Except as provided in Section 9(b) hereof, the Liquidated Damages
as set forth in this Section 8 shall be the exclusive monetary remedy available
to the Holders of Registrable Securities for such Registration Default or
Effective Failure. In no event shall the Company be required to pay Liquidated
Damages in excess of the applicable maximum amount of one-half of one percent
(0.5%) set forth above, regardless of whether one or multiple Registration
Defaults exist.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Other Registration Rights. The Company may grant registration
rights that would permit any Person that is a third party the right to
piggy-back on any Shelf Registration Statement, provided that if the Managing
Underwriter of any underwritten offering conducted pursuant to Section 7 hereof
notifies the Company and the Electing Holders that the total amount of
securities which the Electing Holders and the holders of such piggy-back rights
intend to include in any Shelf Registration Statement is so large as to
materially threaten the success of such offering (including the price at which
such securities can be sold), then the amount, number or kind of securities to
be offered for the account of holders of such piggy-back rights will be reduced
to the extent necessary to reduce the total amount of securities to be included
in such offering to the amount, number and kind recommended by the Managing
Underwriter prior to any reduction in the amount of Registrable Securities to be
included in such Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that there
would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of its
obligations hereunder and that the Purchasers and the Holders from time to time
may be irreparably harmed by any such failure, and accordingly agree that the
Purchasers and such Holders, in addition to any other remedy to which they may
be entitled at law or in equity and without limiting the remedies available to
the Electing Holders under Section 8 hereof, shall be entitled to compel
specific performance of the obligations of the Company under this Registration
Rights Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Registration Rights Agreement, in any court of the United States or any State
thereof having jurisdiction.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement, including this Section
9(c), may be amended, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions
hereof may be given, only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company
and the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable
Securities then outstanding. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding
at the time of any such amendment, waiver or consent or thereafter shall be
bound by any amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section
9(c), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment,
waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such
Holder.
(d) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally or by courier, or
three days after being deposited in the mail (registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If to the Company, to it
at 12301 West Wirth Street, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 53222-2110, and if to a
holder, to the address of such holder set forth in the security register or
other records of the Company, or to such other address as the Company or any
such holder may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith,
except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
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(e) Parties in Interest. The parties to this Agreement intend that all
Holders of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to receive the benefits of
this Agreement and that any Electing Holder shall be bound by the terms and
provisions of this Agreement by reason of such election with respect to the
Registrable Securities which are included in a Shelf Registration Statement. All
the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to
the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns
of the parties hereto and any Holder from time to time of the Registrable
Securities to the aforesaid extent. In the event that any transferee of any
Holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any
manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase, operation of law or otherwise, such
transferee shall, without any further writing or action of any kind, be entitled
to receive the benefits of and, if an Electing Holder, be conclusively deemed to
have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of
this Agreement to the aforesaid extent.
(f) 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.
(g) Headings. The headings in this agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(i) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity,
legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of
the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected
thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties
hereto shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(j) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations,
warranties and other provisions set forth in this Agreement or made pursuant
hereto shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation
(or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any
Electing Holder, any director, officer or partner of such Holder, any agent or
underwriter, any director, officer or partner of such agent or underwriter, or
any controlling person of any of the foregoing, and shall survive the transfer
and registration of the Registrable Securities of such Holder.
(k) Inspection. For so long as this Registration Rights Agreement
shall be in effect, this Registration Rights Agreement and a complete list of
the names and addresses of all the holders of Registrable Securities shall be
made available for inspection and copying on any business day by any holder of
Registrable Securities for proper purposes only (which shall include any purpose
related to the rights of the holders of Registrable Securities under the
Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement) at the offices of the Company at
the address thereof set forth in Section 9(c) above and at the office of the
Trustee under the Indenture.
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between the Company and you.
Very truly yours,
Briggs & Stratton Corporation
By: /s/ Carita R. Twinem
------------------------------
Name: Carita R. Twinem
Title: Treasurer
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
By: /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT A
BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS
(Date of Mailing)
URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE]
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") has identified you as a DTC
Participant through which beneficial interests in the Briggs & Stratton
Corporation (the "Company") 5.00% Convertible Senior Notes due May 15, 2006 (the
"Securities") are held.
The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under
the Securities Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof. In order
to have their Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial
owners must complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement
and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire.
It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a
copy of the enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the
Securities included in the registration statement depend upon their returning
the Notice and Questionnaire by [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Please forward a copy
of the enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the
Securities through you. If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or
have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact Corporate
Secretary, Briggs & Stratton Corporation, 12301 West Wirth Street, Wauwatosa,
Wisconsin 53222-2110, (414) 259-5333.
A-1
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BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
Notice of Registration Statement
and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
(Date)
Reference is hereby made to the Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Registration Rights Agreement") between Briggs & Stratton Corporation (the
"Company") and the Purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Company has filed with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Shelf
Registration Statement") for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the Company's
5.00% Convertible Senior Notes due May 15, 2006 (the "Securities") and the
shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable
upon conversion thereof. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is attached
hereto. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below)
is entitled to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included
in the Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities
included in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration
Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire ("Notice and Questionnaire")
must be completed, executed and delivered to the Company's counsel at the
address set forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [the twenty-ninth day
following the date which this notice and questionnaire was mailed to the
beneficial owners of such Registrable Securities]. Beneficial owners of
Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and return this Notice and
Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as selling securityholders in
the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use the Prospectus forming a
part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised
to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being
named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement and related Prospectus.
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The term "Registrable Securities" is defined in the Registration
Rights Agreement to mean all or any portion of the Securities issued from time
to time under the Indenture in registered form and the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of such Securities; provided, however, that a security
ceases to be a Registrable Security when it is no longer a Restricted Security.
The term "Restricted Security" is defined in the Registration
Rights Agreement to mean any Security or share of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion thereof except any such Security or share of Common Stock which (i)
has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and sold in a manner
contemplated by the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) has been transferred in
compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision
thereto) or is transferable pursuant to paragraph (k) of such Rule 144 (or any
successor provision thereto), (iii) has been sold in compliance with Regulation
S under the Securities Act (or any successor thereto) and does not constitute
the unsold allotment of a distributor within the meaning of Regulation S under
the Securities Act, or (iv) has otherwise been transferred and a new Security or
share of Common Stock not subject to transfer restrictions under the Securities
Act has been delivered by or on behalf of the Company in accordance with Section
2.06 of the Indenture.
ELECTION
The undersigned holder (the "Selling Securityholder") of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration
Statement the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below
in Item (3). The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and
Questionnaire, agrees to be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by
the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration
Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Registration
Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were an original
party thereto.
Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver
to the Company and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the
Prospectus. This Notice of Transfer is set forth as Exhibit A to the Prospectus
and as Exhibit B to the Registration Rights Agreement.
The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following
information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is
accurate and complete:
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QUESTIONNAIRE
(1) (a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a)
above) of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the
same as (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in
Item (3) below are Held:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
Telephone:
---------------------------------------
Fax:
---------------------------------------
Contact Person:
---------------------------------------
(3) Beneficial Ownership of Securities:
Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not
beneficially own any Securities or shares of Common Stock issued
upon conversion of any Securities.
(a) Principal amount of Registrable Securities (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) beneficially owned:
-------------------
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:
-------------------------
Number of shares of Common Stock (if any) issued upon conversion of
such Registrable Securities:
(b) Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities
beneficially owned:
--------------------------------------------------
CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:
-------------------------------
Number of shares of Common Stock (if any) issued upon conversion of
such other Securities:
-----------------------------------------------
(c) Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the undersigned
wishes to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:
-----------
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the
Shelf Registration Statement:
----------------------------------------
Number of shares of Common Stock (if any) issued upon conversion of
Registrable Securities which are to be included in the Shelf
Registration Statement:
----------------------------------------------
(4) Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
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Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any
shares of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company, other
than the Securities and shares of Common Stock listed above in Item
(3).
State any exceptions here:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any
of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders
(5% or more) has held any position or office or has had any other
material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or
affiliates) during the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
(6) Plan of Distribution:
Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder
intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item
(3) only as follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities may be
sold from time to time directly by the undersigned Selling
Securityholder or, alternatively, through underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents. Such Registrable Securities may be sold in
one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices
at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of
sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in
transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on
any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale,
(ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise
than on such exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market,
or (iv) through the writing of options. In connection with sales of
the Registrable Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder
may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in
turn engage in short sales of the Registrable Securities in the
course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
Securityholder may also sell Registrable Securities short and deliver
Registrable Securities to close out such short positions, or loan or
pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell
such securities.
State any exceptions here:
Note: In no event may such method(s) of distribution take the form
of an underwritten offering of the Registrable Securities without the prior
agreement of the Company.
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it
understands its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the
provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
particularly Regulation M.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any
portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on
which such information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder
agrees to notify the transferee(s) at the
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time of the transfer of its rights and obligations under this Notice and
Questionnaire and the Registration Rights Agreement.
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the
disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1)
through (6) above and the inclusion of such information in the Shelf
Registration Statement and related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder
understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in
connection with the preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement and related
Prospectus.
In accordance with the Selling Securityholder's obligation under
Section 3(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as
may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the
Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies
or changes in the information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the
date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in
effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement
shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery, first-class mail, or air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:
(i) To the Company:
Briggs & Stratton Corporation
12301 West Wirth Street
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53222
Telephone (414) 259-5333
Fax: (414) 479-1391
Attn: Corporate Secretary
(ii) With a copy to:
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling
Securityholder and received by the Company's counsel, the terms of this Notice
and Questionnaire, and the representations and warranties contained herein,
shall be binding on, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by
the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the
Company and the Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item
(3) above. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the
State of New York.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has
caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in
person or by its duly authorized agent.
Dated:
-----------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Selling Securityholder
(Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable
Securities)
By:
---------------------------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON
OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY'S COUNSEL AT:
Briggs & Stratton Corporation
12301 West Wirth Street
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53222
Telephone: (414) 259-5333
Fax: (414) 479-1391
Attn: Corporate Secretary
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EXHIBIT B
NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Bank One, N.A.
100 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43071-0181
Attn: Corporate Trust Division
Attention: Trust Offer
Re: Briggs & Stratton Corporation (the "Company")
5.00% Convertible Senior Notes due May 15, 2006 (the "Notes")
Dear Sirs:
Please be advised that _____________________ has transferred
___________ aggregate principal amount of the above-referenced Notes pursuant to
an effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 file No. 333-____) filed by the
Company.
We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if
any, of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the
above-named beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a "Selling Holder" in the
Prospectus dated [date], or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in such
Prospectus opposite such owner's name.
Dated:
Very truly yours,
----------------------------
(Name)
By:
----------------------------
(Authorized Signature)
B-1