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EXHIBIT 4.11
EXECUTION COPY
BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
8.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE MARCH 15, 2011
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
May 9, 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 8.875% Senior Notes
due March 15, 2011. 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. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective
meanings:
"Base Interest" shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue on
the Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture, without giving
effect to the provisions of this Agreement.
The term "broker-dealer" shall mean any broker or dealer registered
with the Commission under the Exchange Act.
"Closing Date" shall mean the date on which the Securities are
initially issued.
"Commission" shall mean 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.
"Effective Time," in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange
Registration Statement effective or
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as of which the Exchange Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective
and (ii) a Shelf Registration, shall mean the time and date as of which the
Commission declares the Shelf Registration Statement effective or as of
which the Shelf Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective.
"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(d)(ii) or 3(d)(iii) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Exchange Offer" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 3(c) hereof.
"Exchange Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(a) hereof.
The term "holder" shall mean each of the Purchasers and other persons
who acquire Registrable Securities from time to time (including any
successors or assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any
Registrable Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean the indenture, to be dated as of the Closing
Date, between the Company and Bank One, N.A., as Trustee, as amended or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.
"Notice and Questionnaire" means a Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto.
The term "person" shall mean a corporation, association, partnership,
organization, business, individual, government or political subdivision
thereof or governmental agency.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of May
9, 2001, between the Purchasers and the Company relating to the Securities.
"Purchasers" shall mean the Purchasers named in Schedule I to the
Purchase Agreement.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) in the
circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has been
exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as contemplated in
Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security that, pursuant to
the last two sentences of Section 2(a), is included in a prospectus for use
in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be deemed to be a
Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9 until resale of
such Registrable Security has been effected within the 180-day period
referred to in Section 2(a)); (ii) in the circumstances contemplated by
Section 2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement registering such
Security under the Securities Act has been declared or becomes effective
and such Security has been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder
thereof pursuant to and in a manner contemplated by such effective Shelf
Registration Statement; (iii) such Security is sold pursuant to Rule 144
under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Security relating to
restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture; (iv)
such Security is eligible to be
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sold pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144; or (v) such Security shall
cease to be outstanding.
"Registration Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(c) hereof.
"Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 4 hereof.
"Resale Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Restricted Holder" shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of the
Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires Exchange
Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder's business, (iii) a
holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to
participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange
Securities and (iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with respect
to Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an
Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the
broker-dealer directly from the Company.
"Rule 144," "Rule 405" and "Rule 415" shall mean, in each case, such
rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as
the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Securities" shall mean, the 8.875% Notes due March 15, 2011 of the
Company to be issued and sold to the Purchasers, and securities issued in
exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to the Indenture.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2(b) hereof.
"Special Interest" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(c) hereof.
"Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or
any successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated
thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Trustee" shall mean Bank One, N.A.
Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a
"Section" or "clause" refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and the words "herein," "hereof" and
"hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or
other subdivision.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company
agrees to file under the Securities Act, as soon as practicable, but no
later than 60 days after the Closing Date, a registration statement
relating to an offer to exchange (such registration statement, the
"Exchange Registration Statement", and such offer, the "Exchange
Offer") any and all of the Securities for a like aggregate principal
amount of debt
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securities issued by the Company, which debt securities are
substantially identical to the Securities (and are entitled to the
benefits of a trust indenture which is substantially identical to the
Indenture or is the Indenture and which has been qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act), except that they have been registered pursuant to
an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and do not
contain provisions for the additional interest contemplated in Section
2(c) below (such new debt securities hereinafter called "Exchange
Securities"). The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the Exchange Registration Statement to become effective under the
Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no later than 180 days after
the Closing Date. The Exchange Offer will be registered under the
Securities Act on the appropriate form and will comply with all
applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act.
The Company further agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to
commence and complete the Exchange Offer promptly, but no later than 45
days after such registration statement has become effective, hold the
Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days and exchange Exchange
Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been properly
tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to the expiration of the
Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have been
"completed" only if the debt securities received by holders other than
Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities
are, upon receipt, transferable by each such holder without restriction
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and without material
restrictions under the blue sky or securities laws of a substantial
majority of the States of the United States of America. The Exchange
Offer shall be deemed to have been completed upon the earlier to occur
of (i) the Company having exchanged the Exchange Securities for all
outstanding Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer and
(ii) the Company having exchanged, pursuant to the Exchange Offer,
Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been
properly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration of the
Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is at least 30 days
following the commencement of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees
(x) to include in the Exchange Registration Statement a prospectus for
use in any resales by any holder of Exchange Securities that is a
broker-dealer and (y) to use its reasonable best efforts to keep such
Exchange Registration Statement effective in order to permit the
prospectus to be used for such resales for a period (the "Resale
Period") beginning when Exchange Securities are first issued in the
Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the expiration of the
180th day after the Exchange Offer has been completed or such time as
such broker-dealers no longer own any Registrable Securities. With
respect to such Exchange Registration Statement, such broker-dealers
shall have the benefit of the rights of indemnification and
contribution set forth in Sections 6(a), (c), (d) and (e) hereof.
(b) If (i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is
completed existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the
debt securities received by holders other than Restricted Holders in
the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are not or would not be,
upon receipt, transferable by each such holder without restriction
under the Securities Act, (ii) the Exchange Offer has not been
completed within 225 days following the Closing Date or (iii) the
Exchange Offer is not available to any holder of the Securities, the
Company shall, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause (iii), in addition
to) conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 2(a), file
under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no later than the
later of 30 days after the time such obligation to file arises, a
"shelf" registration statement 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 or any similar rule that
may be adopted by the Commission (such filing, the "Shelf Registration"
and such registration statement, the
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"Shelf Registration Statement"). The Company agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts (x) to cause the Shelf Registration Statement
to become or be declared effective no later than 120 days after such
Shelf Registration Statement is filed and to keep such Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective for a period ending on
the earlier of the second anniversary of the Effective Time or such
time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding,
provided, 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, and (y) 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
Clause (y) shall relieve any such holder of the obligation to return a
completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in
accordance with Section 3(d)(iii) hereof. The Company further agrees to
supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement, as
and when required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable
to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf
Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or rules and
regulations thereunder for shelf registration, and the Company agrees
to furnish to each Electing Holder copies of any such supplement or
amendment prior to its being used or promptly following its filing with
the Commission.
(c) In the event that (i) the Company has not filed the
Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement on or
before the date on which such registration statement is required to be
filed pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (ii) such
Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement has not
become effective or been declared effective by the Commission on or
before the date on which such registration statement is required to
become or be declared effective pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b),
respectively, or (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within
45 days after the initial effective date of the Exchange Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Offer (if the Exchange Offer is then
required to be made) or (iv) any Exchange Registration Statement or
Shelf Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof is
filed and declared effective but shall thereafter either be withdrawn
by the Company or shall become subject to an effective stop order
issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending the
effectiveness of such registration statement (except as specifically
permitted herein) without being succeeded immediately by an additional
registration statement filed and declared effective (each such event
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default" and
each period during which a Registration Default has occurred and is
continuing, a "Registration Default Period"), then, as liquidated
damages for such Registration Default, subject to the provisions of
Section 9(b), special interest ("Special Interest"), in addition to the
Base Interest, shall accrue at a per annum rate of 0.25% for the first
90 days of the Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of
0.50% for the second 90 days of the Registration Default Period, at a
per annum rate of 0.75% for the third 90 days of the Registration
Default Period and at a per annum rate of 1.0% thereafter for the
remaining portion of the Registration Default Period.
(d) The Company shall take all actions necessary or advisable
to be taken by it to ensure that the transactions contemplated herein
are effected as so contemplated.
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(e) Any reference herein to a registration statement as of any
time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to
be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time and any reference
herein to any post-effective amendment to a registration statement as
of any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or
deemed to be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time.
3. Registration Procedures.
If the Company files a registration statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange
Registration or the Shelf Registration, as the case may be, the Company
shall qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(b) In the event that such qualification would require 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.
(c) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect
to the registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section
2(a) (the "Exchange Registration"), if applicable, the Company shall,
as soon as practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as
practicable but no later than 60 days after the Closing Date,
an Exchange Registration Statement on any form which may be
utilized by the Company and which shall permit the Exchange
Offer and resales of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers
during the Resale Period to be effected as contemplated by
Section 2(a), and use its reasonable best efforts to cause
such Exchange Registration Statement to become effective as
soon as practicable thereafter, but no later than 180 days
after the Closing Date;
(ii) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the
Commission such amendments and supplements to such Exchange
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as
may be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of
such Exchange Registration Statement for the periods and
purposes contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof and as may be
required by the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such
Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly provide each
broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such number of
copies of the prospectus included therein (as then amended or
supplemented), in conformity in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as
such broker-dealer reasonably may request prior to the
expiration of the Resale Period, for use in connection with
resales of Exchange Securities;
(iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has
requested or received copies of the prospectus included in
such registration statement, and confirm such advice in
writing, (A) when such Exchange Registration Statement or the
prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and,
with respect to such Exchange Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective,
(B) of any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky
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or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect
thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements
to such Exchange Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional
information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or
the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D)
if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all material
respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Exchange
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F) at any time
during the Resale Period when a prospectus is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act, that such Exchange Registration Statement,
prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective
amendment does not conform in all material respects to the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or contains an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(iv) in the event that the Company would be required, pursuant
to Section 3(e)(iii)(F) above, to notify any broker-dealers holding
Exchange Securities, without delay prepare and furnish to each such
holder a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or
amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such Exchange
Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus shall conform in
all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and shall 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
light of the circumstances then existing;
(v) use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;
(vi) use its best efforts to (A) register or qualify the
Exchange Securities under the securities laws or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a) no later than the
commencement of the Exchange Offer, (B) keep such registrations or
qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the
continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions
until the expiration of the Resale Period and (C) take any and all
other actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable
each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities to consummate the
disposition thereof in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a
foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise
be required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section
3(c)(vi), (2) consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its articles of incorporation
or bylaws or any agreement between it and its stockholders;
(vii) use its best efforts to obtain the consent or approval
of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or
local, which may be
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required to effect the Exchange Registration, the Exchange Offer and
the offering and sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during
the Resale Period;
(viii) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, not
later than the applicable Effective Time;
(ix) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as soon
as practicable but no later than eighteen months after the effective
date of such Exchange Registration Statement, an earning statement of
the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158
thereunder).
(d) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as practicable (or
as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as
practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in
Section 2(b), a Shelf Registration Statement on any form which may be
utilized by the Company and which shall register all of the Registrable
Securities for resale by the holders thereof in accordance with such
method or methods of disposition as may be specified by such of the
holders as, from time to time, may be Electing Holders and use its
reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to
become effective as soon as practicable but in any case within the time
periods specified in Section 2(b);
(ii) not less than 30 calendar days prior to the Effective
Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, 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;
(iii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, 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; provided that 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;
(iv) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the
Commission such amendments and supplements to such Shelf Registration
Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to
effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration
Statement for the period specified in Section 2(b) hereof and as may be
required by the applicable rules and
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regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the
form of such Shelf Registration Statement, and furnish to the Electing
Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment simultaneously with
or prior to its being used or filed with the Commission;
(v) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
respect to the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities covered
by such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition by the Electing Holders provided for in such
Shelf Registration Statement;
(vi) provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the underwriters
(which term, for purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, shall include a person deemed to be an underwriter within
the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), if any,
thereof, (C) any sales or placement agent therefor, (D) counsel for any
such underwriter or agent and (E) not more than one counsel for all the
Electing Holders the opportunity to participate in the preparation of
such Shelf Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein or
filed with the Commission and each amendment or supplement thereto;
(vii) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such
Shelf Registration Statement, and throughout the period specified in
Section 2(b), make available at reasonable times at the Company's
principal place of business or such other reasonable place for
inspection by the persons referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) who shall
certify to the Company that they have a current intention to sell the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration such
financial and other information and books and records of the Company,
and cause the officers, employees, counsel and independent certified
public accountants of the Company to respond to such inquiries, as
shall be reasonably necessary, in the judgment of the respective
counsel referred to in such Section, to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act;
provided, however, that each such party shall be required to maintain
in confidence and not to disclose to any other person any information
or records reasonably designated by the Company as being confidential,
until such time as (A) such information becomes a matter of public
record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such registration
statement or otherwise), (B) such person shall be required so to
disclose such information pursuant to a subpoena or order of any court
or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
matter (subject to the requirements of such order, and only after such
person shall have given the Company prompt prior written notice of such
requirement), or (C) such information is required to be set forth in
such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or
in an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or
supplement to such prospectus in order that such Shelf Registration
Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case may be,
complies with applicable requirements of the federal securities laws
and the rules and regulations of the Commission and does not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders, any sales
or placement agent therefor and any underwriter thereof (which
notification may be made through any managing underwriter that is a
representative of such underwriter for such purpose) and confirm such
advice in writing, (A) when such
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Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or any
prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment has been
filed, and, with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of
any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities
commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or any
request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to such Shelf
Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C)
of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation or
threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section
3(d)(xvii) or Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all material
respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F) if at any time
when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act,
that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus
amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform in
all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of
the circumstances then existing;
(ix) use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;
(x) if requested by any managing underwriter or underwriters,
any placement or sales agent or any Electing Holder, promptly
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as is required by the applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission and as such managing underwriter or underwriters, such
agent or such Electing Holder specifies should be included therein
relating to the terms of the sale of such Registrable Securities,
including information with respect to the principal amount of
Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder or agent or
to any underwriters, the name and description of such Electing Holder,
agent or underwriter, the offering price of such Registrable Securities
and any discount, commission or other compensation payable in respect
thereof, the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters
and with respect to any other terms of the offering of the Registrable
Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to such
underwriters; and make all required filings of such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after notification of
the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(xi) furnish to each Electing Holder, each placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any, thereof and the
respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) a conformed copy
(or, in the case of Purchasers, an executed copy) of such Shelf
Registration Statement, each such amendment and supplement thereto (in
each case including all exhibits thereto (in the case of an Electing
Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and documents
incorporated by reference therein) and such number of copies of such
Shelf
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Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto and documents
incorporated by reference therein unless specifically so requested by
such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, as the case may be) and of
the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement (including
each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), in conformity
in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, and such other documents, as
such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the offering and disposition
of the Registrable Securities owned by such Electing Holder, offered or
sold by such agent or underwritten by such underwriter and to permit
such Electing Holder, agent and underwriter to satisfy the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act; and the Company hereby
consents to the use of such prospectus (including such preliminary and
summary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto by each
such Electing Holder and by any such agent and underwriter, in each
case in the form most recently provided to such person by the Company,
in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by the prospectus (including such preliminary and summary
prospectus) or any supplement or amendment thereto;
(xii) use best efforts to (A) register or qualify the
Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration
Statement under such securities laws or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any Electing Holder and each placement or sales agent,
if any, therefor and underwriter, if any, thereof shall reasonably
request, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and
comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales
and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the period the Shelf
Registration is required to remain effective under Section 2(b) above
and for so long as may be necessary to enable any such Electing Holder,
agent or underwriter to complete its distribution of Securities
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement and (C) take any and all
other actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable
each such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, to
consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable
Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required
for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any
jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify but
for the requirements of this Section 3(d)(xii), (2) consent to general
service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to
its articles of incorporation or bylaws or any agreement between it and
its stockholders;
(xiii) use its best efforts to obtain the consent or approval
of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or
local, which may be required to effect the Shelf Registration or the
offering or sale in connection therewith or to enable the selling
holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the disposition of, their
Registrable Securities;
(xiv) unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry
only form, cooperate with the Electing Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, 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 not bear any restrictive
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legends; and, in the case of an underwritten offering, enable such
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the managing underwriters may request at least two
business days prior to any sale of the Registrable Securities;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities,
not later than the applicable Effective Time;
(xvi) enter into one or more underwriting agreements,
engagement letters, agency agreements, "best efforts" underwriting
agreements or similar agreements, as appropriate, including customary
provisions relating to indemnification and contribution, and take such
other actions in connection therewith as any Electing Holders
aggregating at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Securities at the time outstanding shall reasonably request
in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities;
(xvii) whether or not an agreement of the type referred to in
Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof is entered into and whether or not any portion
of the offering contemplated by the Shelf Registration is an
underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent or
any other entity, (A) make such representations and warranties to the
Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and
the underwriters, if any, thereof in form, substance and scope as are
customarily made in connection with an offering of debt securities
pursuant to any appropriate agreement or to a registration statement
filed on the form applicable to the Shelf Registration and are
reasonably satisfactory to the Company; (B) obtain an opinion of
counsel to the Company in customary form and covering such matters, of
the type customarily covered by such an opinion, as the managing
underwriters, if any, or as any Electing Holders of at least 20% in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time
outstanding may reasonably request, addressed to such Electing Holder
or Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor
and the underwriters, if any, thereof and dated the effective date of
such Shelf Registration Statement (and if such Shelf Registration
Statement contemplates an underwritten offering of a part or all of the
Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing under the
underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being agreed that the
matters to be covered by such opinion shall include 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(d)(xvi) 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 Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement
or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof,
except such approvals as may be required under state securities or blue
sky laws; the material compliance as to form of such 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
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regulations of the Commission thereunder, respectively; and, as of the
date of the opinion and 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
included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from the
documents incorporated by reference therein (in each case other than
the financial statements and related schedules and other financial
information contained therein) of an untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading (in the case of such documents,
in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such
documents were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act)); (C)
obtain a "cold comfort" letter or letters from the independent
certified public accountants of the Company addressed to the selling
Electing Holders, the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor or the
underwriters, if any, thereof, dated (i) the effective date of such
Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the effective date of 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 (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; (D) deliver such
documents and certificates, including officers' certificates, as may be
reasonably requested by any Electing Holders of at least 20% in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time
outstanding or the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the
managing underwriters, if any, thereof to evidence the accuracy of the
representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (A) above or
those contained in Section 5(a) hereof and the compliance with or
satisfaction of any agreements or conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company;
and (E) undertake such obligations relating to expense reimbursement,
indemnification and contribution as are provided in Section 6 hereof;
(xviii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable
Securities of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any
provision of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement pursuant
to Section 9(h) hereof and of any amendment or waiver effected pursuant
thereto, each of which notices shall contain the text of the amendment
or waiver proposed or effected, as the case may be;
(xix) in the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Registrable Securities or participate
as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in
the distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the
"Conduct Rules) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD") or any successor thereto, as amended from time to time)
thereof, 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,
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or otherwise, assist such broker-dealer in complying with the
requirements of such Conduct Rules, including by (A) if such Conduct
Rules shall so require, engaging a "qualified independent underwriter"
(as defined in such Conduct Rules) to participate in the preparation of
the Shelf Registration Statement relating to such Registrable
Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect
thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Shelf
Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a
placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Registrable
Securities, (B) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter
to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in
Section 6 hereof (or to such other customary extent as may be requested
by such underwriter), 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 Conduct Rules; and
(xx) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as soon
as practicable but in any event not later than eighteen months after
the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, an earning
statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section
11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company,
Rule 158 thereunder).
(e) In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 3(d)(viii)(F) above, to notify the Electing Holders, the placement or
sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof,
the Company shall without delay prepare and furnish to each of the Electing
Holders, to each placement or sales agent, if any, and to each such underwriter,
if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so
that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of Registrable Securities, such
prospectus shall conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements
of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder and shall 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 light of the
circumstances then existing. Each Electing Holder agrees that upon receipt of
any notice from the Company pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) hereof, such
Electing Holder shall forthwith discontinue the disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement applicable to such
Registrable Securities until such Electing Holder shall have received copies of
such amended or supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the Company, such
Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all
copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Electing Holder's
possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of
receipt of such notice.
(f) In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the
information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its Notice
Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to furnish to the
Company such additional information regarding such Electing Holder and such
Electing Holder's intended method of distribution of Registrable Securities as
may be required in order to comply with the Securities Act. Each such Electing
Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy
or change in information previously furnished by such Electing Holder to the
Company or of the occurrence of any event in either case as a result of which
any prospectus relating to such Shelf Registration contains or would contain an
untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such
Electing Holder's intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities
or omits
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to state any material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such
Electing Holder's intended method of disposition of such Registrable
Securities required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then
existing, and promptly to furnish to the Company any additional
information required to correct and update any previously furnished
information or required so that such prospectus shall not contain, with
respect to such Electing Holder or the disposition of such Registrable
Securities, 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 light of the circumstances then
existing.
(g) Until the expiration of two years after the Closing Date,
the Company will not, and will not permit any of its "affiliates" (as
defined in Rule 144) to, resell any of the Securities that have been
reacquired by any of them except pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act.
4. Registration Expenses.
The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly all
expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including (a) all Commission and any
NASD registration, filing and review fees and expenses including fees and
disbursements of counsel for the placement or sales agent or underwriters in
connection with such registration, filing and review, (b) all fees and expenses
in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in Section 3(d)(xii)
hereof and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of
such jurisdictions as any managing underwriters or the Electing Holders may
designate, including any fees and disbursements of counsel for the Electing
Holders or underwriters in connection with such qualification and determination,
(c) all expenses relating to the preparation, printing, production, distribution
and reproduction of each registration statement required to be filed hereunder,
each prospectus included therein or prepared for distribution pursuant hereto,
each amendment or supplement to the foregoing, the expenses of preparing the
Securities for delivery and the expenses of printing or producing any
underwriting agreements, agreements among underwriters, selling agreements and
blue sky or legal investment memoranda and all other documents in connection
with the offering, sale or delivery of Securities to be disposed of (including
certificates representing the Securities), (d) messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses relating to the offering, sale or delivery of Securities and the
preparation of documents referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and expenses of
the Trustee under the Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and any counsel for
the Trustee and of any collateral agent or custodian, (f) internal expenses
(including all salaries and expenses of the Company's officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), (g) fees, disbursements and expenses of
counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company (including
the expenses of any opinions or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to such performance and compliance), (h) fees, disbursements and expenses of any
"qualified independent underwriter" engaged pursuant to Section 3(d)(xix)
hereof, (i) fees, disbursements and expenses of one counsel for the Electing
Holders retained in connection with a Shelf Registration, as selected by the
Electing Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Securities held by Electing Holders (which counsel shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (j) any fees charged by securities
rating services for rating the Securities, and (k) fees, expenses and
disbursements of any other persons, including special experts, retained by the
Company in connection with such registration (collectively, the "Registration
Expenses"). To the extent that any Registration Expenses are incurred, assumed
or paid by any holder of Registrable Securities or any placement or sales agent
therefor or underwriter thereof, the Company shall reimburse such person for the
full amount of the Registration Expenses so incurred, assumed or paid promptly
after receipt of a request therefor.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable Securities being
registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and underwriting discounts
and commissions attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities and the
fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisors or experts retained by
such holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel and experts
specifically referred to above.
5. Representations and Warranties.
The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
Purchaser and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities
that:
(a) Each registration statement covering Registrable
Securities and each prospectus (including any preliminary or summary
prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or
Section 3(c) hereof and any further amendment or supplement to any such
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 of Registrable Securities, at the time of the
closing under the underwriting agreement relating 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 holders of Registrable
Securities pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) or Section 3(c)(iii)(F)
hereof until (ii) such time as the Company furnishes an amended or
supplemented prospectus pursuant to Section 3(e) or Section 3(c)(iv)
hereof, each such registration statement, and each prospectus
(including any summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished
pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) 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 of
Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(b) Any documents incorporated by reference in any 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 of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(c) The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions
of this Exchange and 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
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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 its 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 Exchange and
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 Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
6. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify
and hold harmless each of the holders of Registrable Securities
included in an Exchange Registration Statement including, without
limitation, the broker-dealers referred to in the last sentence of
Section 2(a), each of the Electing Holders of Registrable Securities
included in a Shelf Registration Statement and each person who
participates as a placement or sales agent or as an underwriter in any
offering or sale of such Registrable Securities against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such holder,
agent or underwriter 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 Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be, under which such Registrable Securities were
registered under the Securities Act, or any preliminary, final or
summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the Company to any
such holder, Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, 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
will reimburse such holder, such Electing Holder, such agent and such
underwriter 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 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 registration statement, or
preliminary, final or summary prospectus, or amendment or supplement
thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such person expressly for use therein.
(b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and
Underwriters. The Company may require, as a condition to including any
Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed pursuant to
Section 2(b) hereof and to entering into any underwriting agreement
with respect thereto, that the Company shall have received an
undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from the Electing Holder of
such Registrable Securities and from each underwriter named in any such
underwriting agreement,
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severally and not jointly, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, and all other holders of Registrable Securities, against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or such
other holders of Registrable Securities 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 registration statement, or any preliminary, final or
summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the Company to any
such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, 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, 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 Electing Holder or underwriter
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; provided, however, that no such Electing Holder shall be
required to undertake liability to any person under this Section 6(b)
for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds to be
received by such Electing Holder from the sale of such Electing
Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.
(c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice
of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
pursuant to the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by this
Section 6, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement of such action; 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 the indemnification
provisions of or contemplated by Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof. 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
reasonably 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 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 for any reason the indemnification
provisions contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) are unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless an
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indemnified party 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 contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders or any agents or
underwriters 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.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no holder shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
dollar amount of the proceeds received by such holder from the sale of
any Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and
commissions applicable thereto) exceeds the amount of any damages which
such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, and no
underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages which such underwriter has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The holders'
and any underwriters' obligations in this Section 6(d) to contribute
shall be several in proportion to the principal amount of Registrable
Securities registered or underwritten, as the case may be, by them and
not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 6 shall
be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have
and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer,
director and partner of each holder, agent and underwriter and each
person, if any, who controls any holder, agent or underwriter within
the meaning of the Securities Act; and the obligations of the holders
and any agents or underwriters contemplated by this Section 6 shall be
in addition to any liability which the respective holder, agent or
underwriter may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms
and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act.
7. Underwritten Offerings.
(a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to
an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters
thereof shall be designated by Electing Holders holding at
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least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Securities to be included in such offering, provided that such
designated managing underwriter or underwriters is or are reasonably
acceptable to the Company.
(b) Participation by Holders. Each holder of Registrable
Securities hereby agrees with each other such holder that no such
holder may participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless
such holder (i) agrees to sell such holder's Registrable Securities on
the basis 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, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
8. Rule 144.
The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that to
the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company
shall use its best efforts to timely file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (including the reports under
Section 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of
Rule 144 adopted by the Commission under the Securities Act) and the rules and
regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, and shall take such further
action as any holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to
the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations
of the exemption provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar or successor rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of
Registrable Securities in connection with that holder's sale pursuant to Rule
144, the Company shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether
it has complied with such requirements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents,
warrants, covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not
grant, registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities or
any other securities which would be inconsistent with the terms
contained in this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
(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 of the Registrable Securities 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, shall be entitled to compel
specific performance of the obligations of the Company under this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement in accordance with the terms
and conditions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, in
any court of the United States or any State thereof having
jurisdiction.
(c) 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
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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.
(d) Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, shall
inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto
and the holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities and the
respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto and such
holders. 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
deemed a beneficiary hereof for all purposes and such Registrable
Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement, and by taking and holding such
Registrable Securities such transferee shall be entitled to receive the
benefits of, and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by
all of the applicable terms and provisions of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement. If the Company shall so request, any
such successor, assign or transferee shall agree in writing to acquire
and hold the Registrable Securities subject to all of the applicable
terms hereof.
(e) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements,
representations, warranties and each other provision set forth in this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement or made pursuant hereto
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
(or statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any
holder of Registrable Securities, any director, officer or partner of
such holder, any agent or underwriter or any director, officer or
partner thereof, or any controlling person of any of the foregoing, and
shall survive delivery of and payment for the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the transfer and registration of
Registrable Securities by such holder and the consummation of an
Exchange Offer.
(f) Governing Law. This Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.
(g) Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Sections
and paragraphs of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are
inserted for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and shall not affect in any
way the meaning or interpretation of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement.
(h) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement and the other writings referred to herein
(including the Indenture and the form of Securities) or delivered
pursuant hereto which form a part hereof contain the entire
understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter. This
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to its
subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be
amended and the observance of any term of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a
particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by
a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Securities at the time outstanding. Each holder of any Registrable
Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any
amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section 9(h), whether or
not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or waiver
appears on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.
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(i) Inspection. For so long as this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement shall be in effect, this Exchange and 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.
(j) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed by the
parties in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such respective counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us one for the Company and each of you plus one for each counsel
counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of
the Purchasers, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a
binding agreement between each of the Purchasers and the Company. It is
understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the
Purchasers is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among
Purchasers, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination
upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the
signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
Briggs & Stratton Corporation
By: /s/ Carita Twinem
--------------------------------
Name: Carita 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") 8.875% Senior Notes due March 15, 2011 (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 Briggs & Stratton
Corporation, 12301 West Wirth Street, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 53222-2110, (414)
259-5333.
- ----------
*Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing.
A-1
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BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
Notice of Registration Statement
and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
(Date)
Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement") between Briggs & Stratton
Corporation (the "Company") and the Purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the
Exchange and 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 8.875% Senior Notes due March 15, 2011
(the "Securities"). A copy of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement is
attached hereto. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed thereto in the Exchange and 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
upon 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.
The term "Registrable Securities" is defined in the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement.
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26
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 Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Exchange and
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 and
as Exhibit B to the Exchange and 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:
A-3
27
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.
(a) Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
---------------------------------------------------------------
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities
beneficially owned:
-------------------------------------------------
CUSIP No(s). 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:
----------------------------------------
(4) Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any
other securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed
above in Item (3).
State any exceptions here:
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(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:
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 time of the transfer of its rights and
obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and
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(d) of
the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as
may be required by law for
A-5
29
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 Exchange and 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
Attention: Corporate Secretary
(ii) With a copy to:
Steven P. Emerick
Quarles & Brady Streich Lang LLP
Renaissance One
Two North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2391
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.
A-6
30
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
Attention: 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 Officer
Re: Briggs & Stratton Corporation (the "Company")
8.875% Notes due March 15, 2011
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