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EXHIBIT 4.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into this 19th day of May 1999, among American Plumbing & Mechanical
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), the Guarantors named on Schedule A
hereto (the "Guarantors") and Fleet Securities, Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. and Credit Lyonnais
Securities (USA) Inc. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated May
12, 1999, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers (the
"Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company and the
Guarantors to the Initial Purchasers of an aggregate of $125 million principal
amount of the Company's 11 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008, Series A
(the "Notes"), together with the related guarantees of such Notes by the
Guarantors (the Guarantees, and together with the Notes, the "Securities"). In
order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the
Company and the Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and
their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under
the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms
shall have the following meanings:
"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended
from time to time.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall
also include the Company's successors.
"Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
depositary appointed by the Company, provided, however, that such depositary
must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in the City of New York.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the offer by the Company and the Guarantors
to exchange Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
2.1 hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the 1933
Act effected pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate
form), and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
documents incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchange Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1
hereof.
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"Exchange Securities" shall mean the 11 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2009, Series B and related guarantees issued by the Company and the
Guarantors under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities in
all material respects (except for references to certain interest rate
provisions, restrictions on transfers and restrictive legends), to be offered to
Holders of Securities in exchange for Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer.
"Guarantors" has the meaning set forth in the preamble, and shall
include any additional guarantors of the Notes added pursuant to the Indenture.
"Holder" shall mean an Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any
Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and
indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities
under the Indenture and each Participating Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange
Securities for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer is required to
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated
as of May 19, 1999, among the Company, the Guarantors and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, as trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or
otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchaser" or "Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set
forth in the preamble.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of Outstanding (as defined in the Indenture)
Registrable Securities; provided, however, that whenever the consent or approval
of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required
hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company and other obligors on the
Securities or any Affiliate (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company shall
be disregarded in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the
Holders of such required percentage amount.
"Notes" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
"Participating Broker-Dealer" shall mean any of Fleet Securities, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Banc One Capital Markets,
Inc. and Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc. and any other broker-dealer which
makes a market in the Securities and exchanges Registrable Securities in the
Exchange Offer for Exchange Securities.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership (general or limited),
corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or
a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Private Exchange" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1
hereof.
"Private Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1 hereof.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including any such
prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion
of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by
all other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and in each case including all information incorporated by reference
therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
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"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities and, if issued, the
Private Exchange Securities; provided, however, that the Securities and, if
issued, the Private Exchange Securities, shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when (i) a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities
shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall
have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such
Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule l44 under the 1933 Act
or have become eligible for resale without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k)
under the 1933 Act (in each case, or any similar provision then in force, but
not Rule 144A), (iii) such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding or
(iv) such Securities have been exchanged for freely tradeable Exchange
Securities in the Exchange Offer (except in the case of Securities purchased
from the Company and continued to be held by the Initial Purchasers).
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") registration and filing fees, including,
if applicable, the fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter"
(and its counsel) that is required to be retained by any holder of Registrable
Securities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD, (ii) all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities
or blue sky laws and compliance with the rules of the NASD (including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection
with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities and any filings with the NASD), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in
preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing
any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements
thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and other
documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement,
(iv) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing, if any, of
any of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or exchanges, (v)
all rating agency fees, (vi) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company and of the independent public accountants of the Company, including the
expenses of any special audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to such performance and compliance, (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee,
and any escrow agent or custodian, (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of
the Initial Purchasers in connection with the Exchange Offer, including the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection
therewith, (ix) the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel
representing the Majority Holders and (x) any reasonable fees and disbursements
of the underwriters customarily required to be paid by issuers or sellers of
securities and the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the
Company in connection with any Registration Statement, but excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to
the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company which covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all amendments and supplements
to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
successor agency or government body performing the functions currently performed
by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 2.2 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 of this
Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities or all of the Private
Exchange Securities on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or
any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments,
in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto
and all material incorporated by reference therein.
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"Suspension Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under
the Indenture.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
2.1 Exchange Offer. The Company and the Guarantors shall, for the
benefit of the Holders, at the Company's cost, (A) prepare and, as soon as
practicable but not later than 60 days following the Closing Date, file with the
SEC an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the
1933 Act with respect to a proposed Exchange Offer and the issuance and delivery
to the Holders, in exchange for the Registrable Securities (other than Private
Exchange Securities), of a like principal amount of Exchange Securities, (B) use
their reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
to be declared effective under the 1933 Act within 150 days of the Closing Date,
(C) use their reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer and (D) use their
reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be consummated not later
than 180 days following the Closing Date. The Exchange Securities will be issued
under the Indenture. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall promptly commence the Exchange
Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
eligible and electing to exchange Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities
(assuming that such Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the Company within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, (b) is not a broker-dealer tendering
Registrable Securities acquired directly from the Company for its own account,
(c) acquired the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's
business and (d) has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to
participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange
Securities) to transfer such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt
without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act or under state
securities or blue sky laws.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail as promptly as practicable to each Holder a copy of
the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and
related documents;
(b) keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period
of not less than 30 calendar days after the date notice thereof is
mailed to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law) (such
period referred to herein as the "Exchange Period");
(c) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange
Offer;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Securities
at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the last business day
of the Exchange Period, by sending to the institution specified in the
notice a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting
forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable
Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that such Holder is
withdrawing such Holder's election to have such Securities exchanged;
(e) notify each Holder that any Registrable Security not
tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but
will not retain any rights under this Agreement (except in the case of
the Initial Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided
herein); and
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(f) otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws
relating to the Exchange Offer.
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial Purchasers
hold any Securities acquired by them and having the status of an unsold
allotment in the initial distribution, the Company and the Guarantors upon the
request of any Initial Purchaser shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the
Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial
Purchaser in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company and
related guarantees by the Guarantors that are identical (except that such
securities shall bear appropriate transfer restrictions) to the Exchange
Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities").
The Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities shall be
issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material
respects to the Indenture and which, in either case, has been qualified under
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), or is exempt from such
qualification and shall provide that the Exchange Securities shall not be
subject to the transfer restrictions applicable to the Registrable Securities
set forth in the Indenture but that the Private Exchange Securities shall be
subject to such transfer restrictions. The Indenture or such indenture shall
provide that the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the
Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities or the
Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any
matter. The Private Exchange Securities shall be of the same series as and the
Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have the Private
Exchange Securities bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities. The
Company shall not have any liability under this Agreement solely as a result of
such Private Exchange Securities not bearing the same CUSIP number as the
Exchange Securities.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and/or the
Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Registrable Securities duly
tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer in
accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
and the letter of transmittal which shall be an exhibit thereto;
(ii) accept for exchange all Securities properly tendered
pursuant to the Private Exchange;
(iii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(iv) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be,
to each Holder of Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange in a
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registrable
Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security will
accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on the Registrable
Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on
the Registrable Securities, from the date of original issuance. The Exchange
Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to any conditions, other
than (i) that the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, or the making of any
exchange by a Holder, does not violate applicable law or any applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) the due tendering of Registrable
Securities in accordance with the Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange, (iii)
that each Holder of Registrable Securities exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall
have represented that all Exchange Securities to be received by it shall be
acquired in the ordinary course of its business and that at the time of the
consummation of the Exchange Offer it shall have no arrangement or understanding
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with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the
1933 Act) of the Exchange Securities and shall have made such other
representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules,
regulations or interpretations to render the use of Form S-4 or other
appropriate form under the 1933 Act available and (iv) that no action or
proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before
any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange which, in the Company's judgment, would reasonably be expected to
impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange. The Company shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names
and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial
Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate
the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
2.2 Shelf Registration. (i) If, because of any changes in law, SEC
rules or regulations or applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the
SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer as contemplated
by Section 2.1 hereof, (ii) if for any other reason the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not declared effective within 150 days following the
original issue of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Offer is not
consummated within 180 days after the original issue of the Registrable
Securities, (iii) upon the request of any of the Initial Purchasers or (iv) if a
Holder is not permitted to participate in the Exchange Offer or does not receive
fully tradeable Exchange Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then in case
of each of clauses (i) through (iv) the Company and the Guarantors shall, at the
Company's cost:
(a) As promptly as practicable, file with the SEC, and
thereafter shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause to be
declared effective as promptly as practicable but no later than 150
days after the date the obligation to file the Shelf Registration
Statement arises, a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer
and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders from time to time
in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Majority
Holders participating in the Shelf Registration and set forth in such
Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) Use their reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of
two years from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective by the SEC, or for such shorter period that will terminate
when all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement
or cease to be outstanding or otherwise cease to be Registrable
Securities (the "Effectiveness Period"); provided, however, that the
Effectiveness Period in respect of the Shelf Registration Statement
shall be extended to the extent required to permit dealers to comply
with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174 under
the 1933 Act and as otherwise provided herein; and provided, further,
that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be obligated to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement effective or to permit the use of any
Prospectus forming a part of the Shelf Registration Statement if (A)
the Company determines, in its reasonable judgment, upon advice of
counsel, that the continued effectiveness and use of the Shelf
Registration Statement would (x) require the disclosure of material
information which the Company has a bona fide business reason for
preserving as confidential, or (y) interfere with any financing,
acquisition, corporate reorganization or other material transaction
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and provided,
further, that the failure to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
effective and usable for offers and sales of Registrable Securities for
such reasons shall last no longer than an aggregate of 30 days in any
consecutive twelve-month period (whereafter a Registration Default, as
defined in Section 2.5, shall occur), and (B) the Company promptly
thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 3(k) hereof, if
applicable (any such period during which the Company is excused from
keeping the Shelf Registration Statement effective and usable for
offers and sales of Registrable Securities is referred to herein as a
"Suspension Period", and a Suspension Period shall commence on and
include the date that the Company gives notice to the Holders that the
Shelf Registration Statement is no longer effective or the prospectus
included therein is no longer usable for offers and sales of
Registrable Securities as a result of the foregoing provisions and
shall end on the earlier to occur of the date
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on which each seller of Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement either receives the copies of the supplemented
or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof or is advised
in writing by the Company that use of the prospectus may be resumed);
and
(c) use their reasonable best efforts to ensure that (i) any
Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any
Prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in
all material respects with the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading and (iii) subject to Section 2(b) above, any Prospectus
forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such Prospectus (as amended or supplemented from time to time), does
not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The Company shall not permit any securities other than Registrable
Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company and
the Guarantors further agree, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf
Registration Statement, as required by Section 3(b) below, and to furnish to the
Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment
promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
2.3 Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2. Each Holder
shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
2.4 Effectiveness. (a) The Company and the Guarantors will be deemed
not to have used their reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be,
to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite period if they
voluntarily take any action that would, or omits to take any action which
omission would, result in any such Registration Statement not being declared
effective or in the Holders of Registrable Securities covered thereby not being
able to exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Securities during that
period as and to the extent contemplated hereby, unless such action is required
by applicable law.
(b) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof will not
be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the
SEC; provided, however, that if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop
order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other
governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to
have become effective during the period of such interference, until the offering
of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally
resume.
2.5 Additional Interest. The Indenture executed in connection with the
Securities will provide that in the event that either (a) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the 60th
calendar day following the date of original issue of the Securities, (b) the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has not been declared effective on or
prior to the 150th calendar day following the date of original issue of the
Securities , (c) the Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 180th
calendar day following the date of original issue of the Securities or a Shelf
Registration Statement is not declared effective prior to the 150th day
following the date the obligation to file such Shelf Registration Statement
arises or (d) after the Shelf Registration Statement has been filed and declared
effective, the Shelf Registration Statement is
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unusable by the Holders for any reason during the Effectiveness Period, and the
aggregate number of days in any consecutive twelve-month period for which the
Shelf Registration Statement shall not be usable exceeds 30 days in the
aggregate (each such event referred to in clauses (a) through (d) above, a
"Registration Default"), the interest rate borne by the Registrable Securities
shall be increased ("Additional Interest") by 0.25% per annum upon the
occurrence of each Registration Default, which rate will increase by 0.25% per
annum each 90-day period that such Additional Interest continues to accrue under
any such circumstance, provided that the maximum aggregate increase in the
interest rate will in no event exceed 0.50% per annum. Additional Interest shall
be computed based on the actual number of days elapsed in each period in which a
Registration Default occurs. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults the
accrual of Additional Interest will cease and the interest rate will revert to
the original rate.
The Company shall notify the Trustee within three business days after
each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional
Interest is required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Additional Interest shall be
paid by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of
Registrable Securities, on or before the applicable semiannual interest payment
date, immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the Additional
Interest then due. The Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest
payment date to the record Holder of Securities entitled to receive the interest
payment to be paid on such date as set forth in the Indenture. Each obligation
to pay Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and including the day
following the applicable Event Date.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the obligations of the
Company with respect to Registration Statements pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2
hereof, the Company (and, as necessary, the Guarantors) shall:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement,
within the relevant time period specified in Section 2, on the
appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (i) shall be selected
by the Company, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be
available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling
Holders thereof, (iii) shall comply as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the applicable form and include or incorporate
by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed
therewith or incorporated by reference therein, and (iv) shall comply
in all respects with the requirements of Regulation S-T under the 1933
Act, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with
Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be
necessary under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement
effective for the applicable period; and cause each Prospectus to be
supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provision
then in force) under the 1933 Act and comply with the provisions of the
1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder
applicable to them with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by each Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the
selling Holders thereof (including sales by any Participating
Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each
Holder of Registrable Securities, at least five business days prior to
filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the
Registrable Securities is being filed and advising such Holders that
the distribution of Registrable Securities will be made in accordance
with the method selected by the Majority Holders participating in the
Shelf Registration; (ii) furnish to each Holder of Registrable
Securities and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto and such other
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documents as such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request,
including financial statements and schedules, in order to facilitate
the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and
(iii) hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable
Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto;
(d) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue
sky" laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities
covered by a Registration Statement and each underwriter of an
underwritten offering of Registrable Securities shall reasonably
request by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared
effective by the SEC, and do any and all other acts and things which
may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such Holder and
underwriter to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of
such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it
would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d),
or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of
process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject;
(e) notify promptly each Holder of Registrable Securities
included in a Shelf Registration or any Participating Broker-Dealer who
has notified the Company that it is utilizing the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement as provided in paragraph (f) below and, if
requested by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, confirm such
advice in writing promptly (i) when a Registration Statement has become
effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements
thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state
securities authority for post-effective amendments and supplements to a
Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information
after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the
issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the happening
of any event or the discovery of any facts during the period a Shelf
Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement made in
such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any
material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such
Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein not misleading or to include omitted material information, (v)
of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities or the
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, for sale in any jurisdiction
or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and
(vi) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective
amendment to such Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f) (A) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (i) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a
section entitled "Plan of Distribution", and which shall contain a
summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff
of the SEC with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any
broker-dealer that holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own
account as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities and that will be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Securities to be received by
such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer, whether such positions or
policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or
such positions or policies represent the prevailing views of the staff
of the SEC, including a statement that any such broker-dealer who
receives Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory underwriter and must deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Securities, (ii) furnish to each
Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the Company the notice
referred to in Section 3(e), without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement
thereto, as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably request,
(iii) hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any
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amendment or supplement thereto, by any Person subject to the
prospectus delivery requirements of the SEC, including all
Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or transfer
of the Exchange Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto (except during any Suspension Period), and (iv)
include in the transmittal letter or similar documentation to be
executed by an exchange offeree in order to participate in the Exchange
Offer (x) the following provision:
"If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding
Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, it will deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of
Exchange Securities received in respect of such Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer;" and
(y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the
acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus
in connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter
within the meaning of the 1933 Act; and
(B) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company agrees to deliver to the Initial Purchasers on behalf of
the Participating Broker-Dealers upon the effectiveness of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement (i) an opinion of counsel or opinions of
counsel substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, (ii)
officers' certificates substantially in the form customarily delivered
in a public offering of debt securities and (iii) a comfort letter or
comfort letters in customary form to the extent permitted by Statement
on Auditing Standards No. 72 of the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants (or if such a comfort letter is not permitted, an
agreed upon procedures letter in customary form) from the Company's
independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary, any other
independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the
Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial
statements are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement) at least as broad in scope and coverage as the comfort
letter or comfort letters delivered to the Initial Purchasers in
connection with the initial sale of the Securities to the Initial
Purchasers;
(g) (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer, furnish counsel for
the Initial Purchasers and (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration,
furnish counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any
comment letters received from the SEC or any other request by the SEC
or any state securities authority for amendments or supplements to a
Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information;
(h) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at
the earliest possible moment;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, and each underwriter, if any, without
charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements
and schedules (without documents incorporated therein by reference and
all exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(j) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
(consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in
such names as
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the selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, may reasonably request
at least three business days prior to the closing of any sale of
Registrable Securities;
(k) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence
of any event or the discovery of any facts, each as contemplated by
Sections 3(e)(iv) and 3(e)(v) hereof, as promptly as practicable after
the occurrence of such an event, subject to Section 2.2(b), use its
reasonable best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or
any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other
required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of
the Registrable Securities or Participating Broker-Dealers, such
Prospectus will not contain at the time of such delivery any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading or will remain so qualified. At
such time as such public disclosure is otherwise made or the Company
determines that such disclosure is not necessary, in each case to
correct any misstatement of a material fact or to include any omitted
material fact, the Company agrees promptly to notify each Holder of
such determination and to furnish each Holder such number of copies of
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as such Holder may
reasonably request;
(l) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time
prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any
amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a
Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference
into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a
Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial
Purchasers on behalf of such Holders; and make representatives of the
Company as shall be reasonably requested by the holders of a majority
of the Registrable Securities being sold, or the Initial Purchasers on
behalf of such Holders, available for discussion of such document;
(m) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, Private
Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not
later than the effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide
the Trustee with printed certificates for the Exchange Securities,
Private Exchange Securities or the Registrable Securities, as the case
may be, in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(n) (i) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA in
connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, (ii) cooperate with the
Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may
be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the
terms of the TIA and (iii) execute, and use its reasonable best efforts
to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to
effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be
filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a
timely manner;
(o) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into agreements
(including underwriting agreements) and take all other customary and
appropriate actions reasonably required in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities:
(i) make such representations and warranties to the
Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters,
if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made
by issuers to underwriters in similar underwritten offerings
as may be reasonably requested by them;
(ii) if requested by the managing underwriters, obtain
opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which
counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, if any,
and the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Registrable Securities being sold) addressed to each selling
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Holder and the underwriters, if any, covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten
offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by such Holders and underwriters;
(iii) if requested by the managing underwriters, obtain
"cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the Company's
independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary,
any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements are, or are required to
be, included in the Registration Statement) addressed to the
underwriters, if any, and use reasonable efforts to have such
letter addressed to the selling Holders of Registrable
Securities (to the extent consistent with Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 72 of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accounts), such letters to be in customary
form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
"cold comfort" letters to underwriters in connection with
similar underwritten offerings;
(iv) enter into a securities sales agreement with the
Holders and an agent of the Holders providing for, among other
things, the appointment of such agent for the selling Holders
for the purpose of soliciting purchases of Registrable
Securities, which agreement shall be in form, substance and
scope customary for similar offerings;
(v) if an underwriting agreement is entered into,
cause the same to set forth indemnification provisions and
procedures substantially equivalent to the indemnification
provisions and procedures set forth in Section 4 hereof with
respect to the underwriters and all other parties to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section or, at the request of any
underwriters, in the form customarily provided to such
underwriters in similar types of transactions; and
(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested and as are customarily delivered in
similar offerings to the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Registrable Securities being sold and the
managing underwriters, if any.
The above shall be done at each closing of any sale of Registrable
Securities, whether under any underwriting or similar agreement or
otherwise;
(p) in the case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is
required to be delivered by any Participating Broker-Dealer in the case
of an Exchange Offer, make available at reasonable times for inspection
by representatives appointed by the Majority Holders, any underwriters
participating in any disposition pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement, any Participating Broker-Dealer and any counsel or
accountant retained by any of the foregoing, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
reasonably requested by any such persons, and cause the respective
officers, directors, employees, and any other agents of the Company to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative,
underwriter, special counsel or accountant in connection with a
Registration Statement, and make such representatives of the Company
available for discussion of such documents as shall be reasonably
requested by the Initial Purchasers;
(q) (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any
amendment to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or amendment or
supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the
Initial Purchasers and to counsel to the Majority Holders and make such
changes in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial
Purchasers may reasonably request and, except as otherwise required by
applicable law, not file any such document in a form to which the
Initial Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities
and
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counsel to the Majority Holders shall not have previously been advised
and furnished a copy of or to which the Initial Purchasers on behalf of
the Holders of Registrable Securities or counsel to the Majority
Holders shall reasonably object, and make the representatives of the
Company available for discussion of such documents as shall be
reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers; and
(ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time
prior to filing any Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus
forming a part thereof, any amendment to such Shelf Registration
Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies
of such document to the Holders of Registrable Securities, to the
Initial Purchasers, to counsel for the Holders and to the underwriter
or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities,
if any, make such changes in any such document prior to the filing
thereof as the Initial Purchasers, the counsel to the Holders or the
underwriter or underwriters reasonably request and not file any such
document in a form to which the Majority Holders, the Initial
Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities, counsel
for the Holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriter shall not
have previously been advised and furnished a copy of or to which the
Majority Holders, the Initial Purchasers of behalf of the Holders of
Registrable Securities, counsel to the Holders of Registrable
Securities or any underwriter shall reasonably object, and make the
representatives of the Company available for discussion of such
document as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable
Securities, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, counsel
for the Holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriter;
(r) otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of the SEC and make available to its security holders, as soon as
reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering at least 12
months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933
Act and Rule 158 thereunder;
(s) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made
with the NASD and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, in the
performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter and
its counsel (including any "qualified independent underwriter" that is
required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of
the NASD); and
(t) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private
Exchange, obtain a customary opinion of counsel to the Company and the
Guarantors addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of
Registrable Securities participating in the Exchange Offer or Private
Exchange, and which includes an opinion that (i) the Company and the
Guarantors have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange
Securities and/or Private Exchange Securities, as applicable, and the
related indenture, and (ii) each of the Exchange Securities and related
indenture constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Company and the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the
Guarantors in accordance with its respective terms (with customary
exceptions).
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may (as a
condition to such Holder's participation in the Shelf Registration) require each
Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such
Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request
in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company of (a) the happening of any event or
the discovery of any facts, each of the kind described in Section 3(e)(iv)
hereof or (b) the Company's election to begin a Suspension Period pursuant to
Section 2.2(b), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by
Section 3(k) hereof or written notice from the Company of termination of such
Suspension Period, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver
to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies in such Holder's
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possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession,
of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of
receipt of such notice.
If any of the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration
Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the underwriter or
underwriters and manager or managers that will manage such offering will be
selected by the Majority Holders of such Registrable Securities included in such
offering and shall be acceptable to the Company. No Holder of Registrable
Securities may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless
such Holder (a) 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 (b) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
4. Indemnification; Contribution.
(a) The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to
indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchasers, each Holder, each
Participating Broker-Dealer, each Person who participates as an underwriter (any
such Person being an "Underwriter") and each Person, if any, who controls any
Holder or Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were
registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated
therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission
or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or
omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided
that (subject to Section 4(d) below) any such settlement is effected
with the written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by any
indemnified party), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or
defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by
any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any
such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such
expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Holder or Underwriter expressly for use in a Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
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(b) Each Holder severally, but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers, each
Underwriter and the other selling Holders, and each of their respective
directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any
Guarantor, any Initial Purchaser, any Underwriter or any other selling Holder
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act,
against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the
indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect
to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions,
made in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any
Prospectus included therein (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information with respect to such Holder
furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in the Shelf
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto); provided, however, that no such Holder shall
be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds
received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
(c) Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably
practicable to each indemnifying party of any action or proceeding commenced
against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure so
to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from
any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a
result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. An indemnifying
party may participate at its own expense in the defense of such action;
provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with
the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party.
In no event shall the indemnifying party or parties be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate
from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one
action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties,
settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which
indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 4 (whether or
not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless
such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of
each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding 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) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after
receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such
indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at
least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement; provided,
however, that an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any such settlement
effected without its consent if such indemnifying party, prior to the date of
such settlement, (1) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such
request for the amount of such fees and expenses of counsel as the indemnifying
party believes in good faith to be reasonable, and (2) provides written notice
to the indemnified party that the indemnifying party disputes in good faith the
reasonableness of the unpaid balance of such fees and expenses.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is for any
reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in
respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to
therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount
of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the
Holders and the
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Initial Purchasers on the other hand in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand
and the Holders and the Initial Purchasers on the other hand shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Guarantors, the Holders
or the Initial Purchasers and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Guarantors, the Holders and the Initial Purchasers
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 4 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers
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 above in this Section 4. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in
this Section 4 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending
against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental
agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4, no Initial Purchaser
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Securities sold by it were offered exceeds the amount
of any damages which such Initial Purchaser 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 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 4, each Person, if any, who controls an
Initial Purchaser or Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
Initial Purchaser or Holder, and each director of the Company or any Guarantor,
and each Person, if any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Company and the Guarantors. The Initial
Purchasers' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 4 are
several in proportion to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite
their respective names in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement and not joint.
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Company is subject to
the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the 1934 Act, the Company
covenants that it will file the reports required to be filed by it under the
1933 Act and Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder. If the Company ceases to be so
required to file such reports, the Company covenants that it will upon the
request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make publicly available such
information as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933
Act, (b) deliver such information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary to
permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and it will take such
further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request,
and (c) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in
each case, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the 1933 Act within
the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the 1933 Act,
as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any similar rules or
regulations
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hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable
Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements.
5.2 No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into and
the Company will not after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement
which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable
Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not and will not for the term of
this Agreement in any way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the
Company's other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
5.3 Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be
given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the Majority
Holders affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or
departure.
5.4 Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (a) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 5.4, which address initially is the address set forth in the Purchase
Agreement with respect to the Initial Purchasers; and (b) if to the Company or
any Guarantor, initially at the Company's address set forth in the Purchase
Agreement, and thereafter at such other address of which notice is given in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.4.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; two business days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered
back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next
business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the person giving the same to the Trustee under the
Indenture, at the address specified in such Indenture.
5.5 Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the
parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to
permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities
in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities such person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and,
if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such person shall be entitled to
receive the benefits hereof.
5.6 Third Party Beneficiaries. The Initial Purchasers (even if the
Initial Purchasers are not Holders of Registrable Securities) shall be third
party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, and shall have
the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they deem such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of
Holders hereunder. Each Holder of Registrable Securities shall be a third party
beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems
such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights hereunder.
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5.7 Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to
the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company and the Guarantors
acknowledge that any failure by the Company and the Guarantors to comply with
their obligations under Sections 2.1 through 2.4 hereof may result in material
irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is
no adequate remedy at law, that it would not be possible to measure damages for
such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial
Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under
Sections 2.1 through 2.4 hereof.
5.8 Restriction on Resales. Until the expiration of two years after the
original issuance of the Securities, the Company and the Guarantors will not
resell any Securities which are "restricted securities" (as such term is defined
under Rule 144(a)(3) under the 1933 Act) that have been reacquired by any of
them and shall immediately upon any purchase of any such Securities submit such
Securities to the Trustee for cancellation.
5.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
5.10 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
5.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THEREOF. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK
CITY TIME.
5.12 Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
AMERICAN PLUMBING &
MECHANICAL, INC.
By: /s/ DAVID BAGGETT
--------------------------------------
David C. Baggett
Chief Financial Officer
CHRISTIANSON ENTERPRISES, INC.
CHRISTIANSON SERVICE COMPANY
G.G.R. LEASING COMPANY
R.C.R. PLUMBING INC.
FRANKLIN FIRE SPINKLER COMPANY
J.A. CROSON COMPANY
TEEPE'S RIVER CITY MECHANICAL, INC.
KEITH RIGGS PLUMBING, INC.
J.A. CROSON COMPANY OF FLORIDA
POWER PLUMBING INC.
NELSON MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS, INC.
SHERWOOD MECHANICAL, INC.
MILLER MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS, INC.
By: /s/ DAVID BAGGETT
--------------------------------------
David C. Baggett
Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer of each of the above Guarantors.
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Confirmed and accepted as of the first date first above written:
FLEET SECURITIES, INC.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
CREDIT LYONNAIS SECURITIES (USA) INC.
BY: FLEET SECURITIES, INC.
By: /s/ Mike Browne
-------------------------------------
Name: Mike Browne
Title: Managing Director
BY: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Lex Maultsby
-------------------------------------
Name: Lex Maultsby
Title: Vice President
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SCHEDULE A
LIST OF GUARANTORS
Christianson Enterprises, Inc.
G.G.R. Leasing Corporation
Christianson Service Company
R.C.R. Plumbing, Inc.
Franklin Fire Sprinkler Company
J.A. Croson Company
Teepe's River City Mechanical, Inc.
Keith Riggs Plumbing, Inc.
J.A. Croson Company of Florida
Power Plumbing, Inc.
Nelson Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
Sherwood Mechanical, Inc.
Miller Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
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Exhibit A
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL
Fleet Securities, Inc.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc.
c/o Fleet Securities, Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
1185 Avenue of the Americas Smith Incorporated
16th Floor North Tower
New York, NY 10036 World Financial Center
New York, NY 10036
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for American Plumbing & Mechanical, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") and the Guarantors described below in
connection with the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers (as defined
below) of $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11 5/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2009 (the "Notes") of the Company together with the related guarantees
of the obligation of the Company under such Notes, pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement dated May 12, 1999 (the "Purchase Agreement") among the Company, the
Guarantors named therein (the "Guarantors") and Fleet Securities, Inc., Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. and
Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers")
and the filing by the Company and the Guarantors of an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") in connection with an
Exchange Offer to be effected pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"), dated May 19, 1999 among the Company, the
Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers. This opinion is furnished to you pursuant
to Section 3(f)(B) of the Registration Rights Agreement. Unless otherwise
defined herein, capitalized terms used in this opinion that are defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement are used herein as so defined.
We have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have
deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. In rendering this opinion, as to
all matters of fact relevant to this opinion, we have assumed the completeness
and accuracy of, and are relying solely upon, the representations and warranties
of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the Purchase Agreement and the
statements set forth in certificates of public officials and officers of the
Company and the Guarantors, without making any independent investigation or
inquiry with respect to the completeness or accuracy of such representations,
warranties or statements, other than a review of the certificate of
incorporation, by-laws and relevant minute books of the Company and the
Guarantors.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Prospectus (other
than the financial statements, notes or schedules thereto and other financial
data and supplemental schedules included or incorporated by reference therein or
omitted therefrom and the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion), comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of
the 1933 Act and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the 1933
Act.
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2. We have participated in the preparation of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and in the course thereof have had discussions with
representatives of the Underwriters, officers and other representatives of the
Company and the Company's independent public accountants, during which the
contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus were discussed. We
have not, however, independently verified and are not passing upon, and do not
assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Based on
our participation as described above, nothing has come to our attention that
would lead us to believe that the Registration Statement (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial data included therein as to which
we make no statement) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements and schedules
and other financial data included therein, as to which such counsel need make no
statement), at the time the Prospectus was issued, at the time any such amended
or supplemented Prospectus was issued or at the Closing Time, included or
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
This opinion is being furnished to you solely for your benefit in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Registration Rights
Agreement, and may not be used for any other purpose or relied upon by any
person other than you. Except with our prior written consent, the opinions
herein expressed are not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to
in connection with any transactions other than those contemplated by the
Registration Rights Agreement by or to any other person.
Very truly yours,
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