EXHIBIT 4.3
________________________________________________________________________________
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of July 31, 1998
Among
GLOBE MANUFACTURING CORP.
and
BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
and
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.,
as Initial Purchasers
________________________________________________________________________________
$150,000,000
10% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Definitions........................................................ 1
2. Exchange Offer..................................................... 5
3. Shelf Registration................................................. 8
4. Additional Interest................................................ 8
5. Registration Procedures............................................ 10
6. Registration Expenses.............................................. 18
7. Indemnification.................................................... 19
8. Rule 144 and 144A.................................................. 22
9. Underwritten Registrations......................................... 22
10. Miscellaneous...................................................... 23
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements.................................... 23
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes....................... 23
(c) Amendments and Waivers........................................ 23
(d) Notices....................................................... 23
(e) Successors and Assigns........................................ 25
(f) Counterparts.................................................. 25
(g) Headings...................................................... 25
(h) Governing Law................................................. 25
(i) Severability.................................................. 26
(j) Notes Held by the Company or its Affiliates................... 26
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries..................................... 26
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is dated as of
July 31, 1998, by and among Globe Manufacturing Corp., an Alabama corporation
(the "Company"), and BancAmerica Robertson Stephens and Merrill Lynch & Co.(the
"Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of July 28, 1998, among the Company and the Initial
Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale to the
Initial Purchasers of $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 10% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2008 of the Company (the "Notes"). In order to induce
the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has
agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the
benefit of the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligation of
the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Notes under the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
Additional Interest: See Section 4(a) hereof.
Advice: See the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof.
Agreement: See the first introductory paragraph hereto.
Applicable Period: See Section 2(b) hereof.
Closing Date: The Closing Date as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
Company: See the first introductory paragraph hereto.
Effectiveness Date: The 150th day after the Issue Date; provided,
however, that with respect to any Shelf Registration, the Effectiveness Date
shall be the 90th day after the Filing Date with respect thereto.
Effectiveness Period: See Section 3(a) hereof.
Event Date: See Section 4(b) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Notes: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Exchange Offer: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Exchange Registration Statement: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Expiration Date: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Filing Date: (A) In the case of an Exchange Registration Statement,
the 60th day after the Issue Date; or (B) in the case of a Shelf Registration
(which may be applicable notwithstanding the consummation of the Exchange
Offer), the 60th day after a Shelf Notice is required to be delivered pursuant
to this Agreement.
Guarantors: The domestic subsidiaries of the Company, if any, who
guarantee the Company's obligations under the Notes, the Exchange Notes, the
Private Exchange Notes or the Indenture in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture.
Holder: Any record holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable Notes.
Indemnified Person: See Section 7(c) hereof.
Indemnifying Person: See Section 7(c) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of July 31, 1998 by and among the
Company, each of the Guarantors party thereto from time to time, and Norwest
Bank Minnesota, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the Notes
are being issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance
with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchasers: See the first introductory paragraph hereto.
Inspectors: See Section 5(o) hereof.
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Issue Date: July 31, 1998, the date of original issuance of the
Notes.
NASD: See Section 5(s) hereof.
Offering Memorandum: The final offering memorandum of the Company
dated July 28, 1998, in respect of the offering of the Notes.
Participant: See Section 7(a) hereof.
Participating Broker-Dealer: See Section 2(b) hereof.
Person: An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, limited liability limited partnership, joint stock company,
trust, unincorporated association, union, business association, firm or other
legal entity.
Private Exchange: See Section 2(b) hereof.
Private Exchange Notes: See Section 2(b) hereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, any prospectus that includes any information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, and all other amendments
and supplements to the Prospectus, with respect to the terms of the offering of
any portion of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
Purchase Agreement: See the second introductory paragraph hereto.
Records: See Section 5(o) hereof.
Registrable Notes: Each Note upon its original issuance and at all
times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof
is applicable upon original issuance and at all times subsequent thereto and
each Private Exchange Note upon original issuance thereof and at all times
subsequent thereto, until in the case of any such Note, Exchange Note or Private
Exchange Note, as the case may be, the earliest to occur of (i) a Registration
Statement (other than, with respect to any Exchange Note as to which Section
2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable, the Exchange
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Registration Statement) covering such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange
Note, as the case may be, has been declared effective by the SEC and such Note
(unless such Note was not tendered for exchange by the Holder thereof), Exchange
Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been disposed of in
accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Note, Exchange
Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, is sold in compliance with
Rule 144, or (iii) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the
case may be, ceases to be outstanding for purposes of the Indenture.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company,
including, but not limited to, the Exchange Registration Statement, that covers
any of the Registrable Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,
including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
registration statement.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144)
or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
Rule 415: Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Notice: See Section 2(c) hereof.
Shelf Registration: See Section 3(a) hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: See Section 3(a) hereof.
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TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the trustee
under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes (if
any).
Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
2. Exchange Offer
(a) The Company agrees to file with the SEC no later than the Filing
Date a registration statement with respect to an offer to exchange (the
"Exchange Offer") any and all of the Registrable Notes (other than the Private
Exchange Notes, if any) for a like aggregate principal amount of senior
subordinated debt securities of the Company, guaranteed by the Guarantors (if
any), which are identical in all material respects to the Notes (the "Exchange
Notes") and which are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or a trust
indenture which is identical in all material respects to the Indenture (other
than such changes to the Indenture or any such identical trust indenture as are
necessary to comply with any requirements of the SEC to effect or maintain the
qualification thereof under the TIA) and which, in either case, has been
qualified under the TIA, except that the Exchange Notes (other than Private
Exchange Notes, if any) shall have been registered pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement under the Securities Act and shall contain no restrictive
legend thereon. The Exchange Offer shall be registered under the Securities Act
on the appropriate form (the "Exchange Registration Statement") and shall comply
with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act.
The Company agrees to use its best efforts to (x) cause the Exchange
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or
before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the Exchange Offer open for at least 20
business days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date that
notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders (the last day of such period,
the "Expiration Date"); and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the
180th day following the Issue Date. Each Holder who participates in the
Exchange Offer will be required to represent to the Company that any Exchange
Notes to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its
business, that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder
will have no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes in violation of the provisions of the
Securities Act, that such Holder is not an affiliate of any of the Company
within the meaning of the Securities Act and that such Holder is not acting on
behalf of any Person who could not truthfully make the foregoing
representations. Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with
this Section 2, the Company shall have no further obligation to register
Registrable Notes (other than Private Exchange Notes and other than in respect
of any Exchange Notes as to which clause 2(c)(iv) hereof applies)
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pursuant to Section 3 hereof. No securities other than the Exchange Notes (and
the guarantees, if any, made by the Guarantors) shall be included in the
Exchange Registration Statement.
(b) The Company shall include within the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, 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 is the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange
Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a "Participating
Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies have been publicly
disseminated by the Staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the
judgment of the Initial Purchasers, represent the prevailing views of the Staff
of the SEC. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also expressly permit
the use of the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act, including all Participating Broker-Dealers,
and include a statement describing the means by which Participating Broker-
Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by any Participating Broker-Dealer subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as is necessary to
comply with applicable law in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes;
provided, however, that such period shall not exceed 180 days following the
first bona fide offering of securities under such Registration Statement (or
such longer period if extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5
hereof)(the "Applicable Period"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
shall have no obligation to keep the Exchange Registration Statement effective
or to amend and supplement the Prospectus contained therein in the event that
the Company has not received written notice within 30 days following the
completion of the Exchange Offer that a Participating Broker-Dealer received
Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer.
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial
Purchasers hold any Notes acquired by them and having the status of an unsold
allotment in the initial distribution, the Company shall, upon the request of
any of the Initial Purchasers, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Notes in the Exchange Offer issue and deliver to the Initial Purchasers in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for such Notes held by the Initial Purchasers
a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company, guaranteed by the
Guarantors, that are identical to the Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange
Notes") (and which are issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange
Notes) except for the placement of a restrictive legend on such Private Exchange
Notes. The Private Exchange Notes shall bear the same CUSIP number as the
Exchange Notes.
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Interest on the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the
Notes, from the Issue Date.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(1) mail or cause to be mailed to each Holder a copy of the
Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Registration Statement, together
with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(2) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with
an address in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York;
(3) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to
the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which the
Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(4) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(1) accept for exchange all Notes tendered and not validly withdrawn
pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange;
(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Notes so accepted for
exchange; and
(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may
be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so accepted for
exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes shall be issued
under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects
to the Indenture, which in either event shall provide that (1) the Exchange
Notes shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the
Indenture and (2) the Private Exchange Notes shall be subject to the transfer
restrictions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture or such indenture shall
provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall
vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
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none of the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes will have
the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
(c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing
interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, the Company reasonably determines in
good faith that it is not permitted to effect an Exchange Offer, (ii) the
Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180 days of the Issue Date, (iii) any
holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests at any time after the consummation
of the Private Exchange, or (iv) in the case of any Holder that participates in
the Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive Exchange Notes on the date of
the exchange that may be sold without restriction under state and federal
securities laws (other than due solely to the status of such Holder as an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any such
Holder so requests in writing to the Company, then the Company shall promptly
(and, in any event, within five business days) deliver to the Holders and the
Trustee written notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") and shall file a Shelf
Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof; provided, that the Company shall have
no obligation to deliver a Shelf Notice or file a Shelf Registration Statement
pursuant to clause (ii) above if the Exchange Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the SEC and the scheduled expiration date of the Exchange
Offer is less than 195 days after the Issue Date.
3. Shelf Registration
If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c) hereof,
then:
(a) Shelf Registration. The Company shall as promptly as reasonably
practicable file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be
made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable
Notes (the "Shelf Registration"). The Company shall use its best efforts to file
with the SEC the Shelf Registration on or before the applicable Filing Date. The
Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another appropriate form (the "Shelf
Registration Statement") permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for
resale by Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including,
without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Company shall not
permit any securities other than the Registrable Notes (and the guarantees, if
any, made by the Guarantors) to be included in the Shelf Registration.
The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior
to the Effectiveness Date and to keep the Shelf Registration continuously
effective under the Securities Act until the date which is two years from the
date on which the SEC declares such Shelf Registration Statement effective,
subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof (the
"Effectiveness
8
Period"), or such shorter period ending when all Registrable Notes covered by
the Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set forth and as
contemplated in the Shelf Registration.
(b) Withdrawal of Stop Orders. If the Shelf Registration ceases to be
effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than
because of the sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the Company
shall use its best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness thereof.
(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall promptly supplement
and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf
Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
covered by such Registration Statement or by any underwriter of such Registrable
Notes.
4. Additional Interest
(a) The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders of
Registrable Notes will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its
obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly,
the Company agrees to pay, as liquidated damages, additional interest on the
Notes ("Additional Interest") under the circumstances and to the extent set
forth below (each of which shall be given independent effect):
(i) if the Exchange Registration Statement or the Shelf
Registration has not been filed on or prior to the applicable Filing Date,
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes over and above the stated
interest at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days immediately
following such date, such Additional Interest rate increasing by an
additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day
period;
(ii) if (A) the Exchange Registration Statement is not declared
effective by the SEC on or prior to the relevant Effectiveness Date or (B)
notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or will consummate the
Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration and
such Shelf Registration is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to
the Effectiveness Date in respect of such Shelf Registration, then,
commencing on the day after either such Effectiveness Date, Additional
Interest shall accrue on the Notes over and above the stated interest at a
rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days immediately following such
date, such Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.25% per
annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period; and
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(iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Notes for
all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
Offer on or prior to the 180th day after the Issue Date or (B) the Exchange
Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to the
Expiration Date or (C) if applicable, the Shelf Registration has been
declared effective and such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at
any time during the Effectiveness Period (unless all Notes have been sold
thereunder), then Additional Interest shall accrue (over and above any
interest otherwise payable on such Notes) at a rate of 0.50% per annum for
the first 90 days commencing on (x) the 181st day after the Issue Date in
the case of (A) above, or (y) the day the Exchange Registration Statement
ceases to be effective in the case of (B) above, or (z) the day such Shelf
Registration ceases to be effective in the case of (C) above, such
Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum at the
beginning of each such subsequent 90-day period;
provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the Notes as a result of
the provisions of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above may not exceed in the
aggregate 2.0% per annum; and provided, further, that (1) upon the filing of the
Exchange Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration (in the case of clause
(i) of this Section 4(a)), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange
Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration (in the case of clause (ii) of
this Section 4(a)), or (3) upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all Notes
tendered and not withdrawn (in the case of clause (iii)(A) of this Section
4(a)), or upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Registration Statement which
had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (iii)(B) of this Section 4(a)),
or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration which had ceased to remain
effective (in the case of (iii)(C) of this Section 4(a)), Additional Interest on
the Notes as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the
case may be, shall cease to accrue.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within five 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"). Any amounts of
Additional Interest due pursuant to clauses (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this
Section 4 will be payable to the Holders of affected Notes in cash semi-annually
on each February 1 and August 1 (to the holders of record on the January 15 and
July 15 immediately preceding such dates), commencing with the first such date
occurring after any such Additional Interest commences to accrue. The amount of
Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional
Interest rate by the principal amount of the Notes, multiplied by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was
applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year
comprised of twelve 30-day months and, in the case of a partial month, the
actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which is 360.
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5. Registration Procedures
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant
to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Company (and the Guarantors, if any) shall effect
such registration(s) to permit the sale of the securities covered thereby in
accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and
pursuant thereto and in connection with any Registration Statement filed by the
Company hereunder, the Company shall (and shall cause any Guarantor to):
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC prior to the applicable Filing Date
a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2
or 3 hereof, and use its best efforts to cause each such Registration Statement
to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided, however,
that, if (1) such filing is pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus
contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2
hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating
Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period,
before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto, the Company shall, if requested, furnish to and afford the
Holders of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or each
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel and the
managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all
such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by
reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each case
at least five business days prior to such filing). The Company shall not file
any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto in respect of which the Holders must be afforded an opportunity to
review prior to the filing of such document, if the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes covered by such Shelf
Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any,
shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Shelf Registration or Exchange Registration Statement, as the
case may be, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period or
until consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the case may be; cause the related
Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement required by
applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any
similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; and
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable
to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented
and with respect to the subsequent resale of any securities being sold by a
Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus. The Company shall
be deemed not to have used its best efforts to keep a
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Registration Statement effective during the Applicable Period if it voluntarily
takes any action that would result in selling Holders of the Registrable Notes
covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking to sell Exchange Notes
not being able to sell such Registrable Notes or such Exchange Notes during that
period unless such action is required by applicable law or unless the Company
complies with this Agreement, including without limitation, the provisions of
paragraph 5(j) hereof and the last paragraph of this Section 5.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange
Notes during the Applicable Period and who has notified the Company in writing
that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer on or prior to 30 days following
the completion of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall notify the selling
Holders of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the
case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly (but
in any event within five business days), and confirm such notice in writing, (i)
when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has
been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment, when the same has become effective under the Securities Act
(including in such notice a written statement that any Holder may, upon request,
obtain, at the sole expense of the Company, one conformed copy of such
Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial
statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the initiation
of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a prospectus is
required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the
Registrable Notes or resales of Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement
(including any underwriting agreement), contemplated by Section 5(l) hereof
cease to be true and correct, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the Registrable Notes
or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or
sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the existence of any condition
or any information becoming known that makes any statement made in such
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or
that requires the making of any changes in or amendments or supplements to such
Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the
Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of
the Prospectus, it
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will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and (vi) of the determination by the Company that a post-effective
amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.
(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification
(or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Notes or the
Exchange Notes for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued,
to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the
earliest possible moment.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), or the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold
in connection with an underwritten offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information about the
Company as the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), such Holders, or
counsel for any of them reasonably request to be included therein and (ii) make
all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective
amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of
the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment.
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange
Notes during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling Holder of
Registrable Notes and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so requests
and upon request to counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, at the sole
expense of the Company, one conformed copy of the Registration Statement or
Registration Statements and each post-effective amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, and, if requested, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits.
(g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to
13
sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling Holder
of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may
be, their respective counsel, and the underwriters, if any, at the sole expense
of the Company, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each
form of preliminary prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and any
documents incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably
request; and, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Company
hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the underwriters or agents,
if any, and dealers (if any), in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Notes covered by, or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers of the
Exchange Notes pursuant to, such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any delivery
of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration Statement by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, to use its best efforts to register or qualify such
Registrable Notes (and to cooperate with selling Holders of Registrable Notes or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection
with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Notes) for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as
any selling Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the managing underwriter or
underwriters reasonably request in writing; provided, however, that where
Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or Registrable Notes are
offered other than through an underwritten offering, the Company agrees to cause
its counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and
qualifications required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5(h); use its best
efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom)
effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept
effective hereunder and do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary
or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Exchange
Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or the Registrable Notes covered by
the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold, which
certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form
eligible for deposit
14
with The Depository Trust Company; and enable such Registrable Notes to be in
such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or Holders may reasonably request.
(j) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable prepare and
(subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file with the SEC, at the sole expense of the
Company, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes being
sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom such
Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer, any such
Prospectus 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
amend or supplement a Registration Statement, any related Prospectus or any
document incorporated therein by reference, in the event that, and for a period
not to exceed an aggregate of 45 days in any calendar year if, (i) any event
occurs and is continuing as a result of which a Shelf Registration Statement
would, in the Company's good faith judgment, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, and (ii)(a) the Company determines in its good faith
judgment that the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material
adverse effect on the business, operations or prospects of the Company or (b)
the disclosure otherwise relates to a pending material business transaction that
has not been publicly disclosed.
(k) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement
relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with certificates for
the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, in a form eligible
for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number
for the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be.
(l) In connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable Notes
pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement as is
customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and take all such
other actions as are reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters in order to facilitate the registration or the disposition of such
Registrable Notes and,
15
in such connection, (i) make such representations and warranties to, and
covenants with, the underwriters with respect to the business of the Company and
its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if
any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each
case, as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten
offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes, and confirm the same in
writing if and when requested; (ii) obtain the written opinion of counsel to the
Company and written updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the
underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in
underwritten offerings of debt similar to the Notes; (iii) use its best efforts
to obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof in form, scope and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters
from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary
of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries for which financial statements and financial data are, or are
required to be, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to be in
customary form and substantially in the form delivered to the Initial Purchasers
under the Purchase Agreement; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered
into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less
favorable than those set forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and
procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
underwriter or underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section. The above shall be done at each closing
under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.
(m) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, subject to prior receipt of appropriate confidentiality
agreements, make available for inspection by one representative of the selling
Holders of such Registrable Notes being sold, or each such Participating Broker-
Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such
disposition of Registrable Notes, if any, and any attorney, accountant or other
agent retained by any such selling Holders or each such Participating Broker-
Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at
the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial
and other records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Company
and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably
necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence
responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company
and its subsidiaries to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement. Records which the
Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential
16
and any Records which it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be
disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is
necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or material omission in
such Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered
pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction,
(iii) disclosure of such information is, in the opinion of counsel for any
Inspector, necessary or advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit or
proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving or reasonably likely to involve
such Inspector and arising out of, based upon, relating to, or involving this
Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or arising hereunder, or (iv)
the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public;
provided, further, however, that prior notice shall be provided as soon as
practicable to the Company of the potential disclosure of any information by
such Inspector pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this sentence to
permit the Company to obtain a protective order (or waive the provisions of this
paragraph (m)) and that such Inspector shall take such actions as are reasonably
necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information (if practicable).
Each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each such Participating
Broker-Dealer will be required to agree that information obtained by it as a
result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by
it as the basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries unless and until such information is generally available
to the public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each such
Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to further agree that it will, upon
learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent
jurisdiction, give prior notice to the Company and allow the Company to
undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed
confidential at the Company's, sole expense.
(n) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes or the
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust
indenture provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the case may be, to be
qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the Exchange Offer
or the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Notes; and in
connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture and
the Holders of the Registrable Notes, to effect such changes to such indenture
as may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the
terms of the TIA; and execute, and use its best efforts to cause such 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 such indenture
to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(o) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC to the
extent and so long as they are applicable to the Exchange Registration Statement
or the Shelf Registration Statement and make generally available to its
securityholders earnings statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a)
of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule
17
promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 60 days after the end of any
12-month period (or 120 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period
is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which
Registrable Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts
underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering,
commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the
effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said
12-month periods.
(p) If an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Company (or to such
other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Notes or
the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or cause
to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such Registrable Notes are being
canceled in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as
the case may be; in no event shall such Registrable Notes be marked as paid or
otherwise satisfied.
(q) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any
Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in connection
with any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(r) Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,
obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company, in a form customary for
underwritten transactions, addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all
Holders of Registrable Notes participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange, as the case may be, that the Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes,
as the case may be, the related guarantees, if any, and the related indenture
constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company (and the
Guarantors, if any), enforceable against the Company (and the Guarantors, if
any), in accordance with their respective terms, subject to customary exceptions
and qualifications.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes or
Participating Broker-Dealer as to which any registration is being effected to
furnish to the Company such information regarding such seller or Participating
Broker-Dealer and the distribution of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company may
exclude from such registration the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes of any
seller or Participating Broker-Dealer who fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request. Each seller or
Participating Broker-Dealer as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected
agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be
disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company
by such seller or Participating Broker-
18
Dealer not materially misleading and to promptly notify the Company following
any sale or other transfer of Registrable Notes covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement, which notice shall specify the amount of securities
involved and the market, if any, on which such sale or transfer occurred.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer
agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon actual receipt
of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi) hereof, such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered
by such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by
such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such
Holder's or Participating Broker-Dealer's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j) hereof, or until
it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the
applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments
or supplements thereto. In the event the Company shall give any such notice,
each of the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall be extended by
the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the giving
of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Notes
covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be sold by such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have received (x) the
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j)
hereof or (y) the Advice; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph
shall be construed to require the Company to keep a Registration Statement
effective at a time when all of the Registrable Notes covered thereby may be
sold under Rule 144.
6. Registration Expenses
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not
the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective,
including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including,
without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with
the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses
of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with Blue
Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes and determination
of the eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the holders of Registrable Notes
are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section
5(h) hereof, in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by a
Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing
expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The
19
Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
or by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes included in any Registration Statement or sold by any Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses incurred by the Company, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company and fees and disbursements of special counsel for the sellers of
Registrable Notes (subject to the provisions of Section 6(b) hereof), (v) fees
and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred to in
Section 5(l)(iii) hereof (including, without limitation, the expenses of any
special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
performance), (vi) rating agency fees, if any, and any fees associated with
making the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes eligible for trading through The
Depository Trust Company, (vii) Securities Act liability insurance, if the
Company desires such insurance, (viii) fees and expenses of all other Persons
retained by the Company, (ix) internal expenses of the Company (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the
Company performing legal or accounting duties), (x) the expense of any annual
audit of the Company, (xi) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange, if
applicable, and (xii) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and
distributing all Registration Statements and any other documents necessary in
order to comply with this Agreement.
(b) In the event the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to a Shelf Notice delivered pursuant to Section 2(c)(ii)
hereof, the Company, shall reimburse the Holders of the Registrable Notes being
registered in a Shelf Registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of
not more than one counsel (in addition to appropriate local counsel) chosen by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement.
7. Indemnification
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of
Registrable Notes offered pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and each
Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period,
the officers and directors of each such Person, and each Person, if any, who
controls any such Person within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a "Participant"), from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including,
without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and other expenses actually
incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim
asserted) caused by, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement pursuant to which the offering of such Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes, as the case may be, is registered (or any
20
amendment thereto) or related Prospectus (or any amendments or supplements
thereto) or any related preliminary prospectus, or caused by, any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will
not be required to indemnify a Participant if (i) such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities are caused by any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
relating to any Participant furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf
of such Participant expressly for use therein or (ii) if such Participant sold
to the person asserting the claim the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes which
are the subject of such claim and such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was contained or made in any preliminary prospectus
and corrected in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and the
Prospectus does not contain any other untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission of a material fact that was the subject matter of
the related proceeding and it is established by the Company in the related
proceeding that such Participant failed to deliver or provide a copy of the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) to such Person with or prior to the
confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes sold to
such Person if required by applicable law, unless such failure to deliver or
provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) or as a result of
noncompliance by the Company with Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) Each Participant agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers, employees,
representatives, affiliates and agents and each Person who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to
each Participant, but only (i) with reference to information relating to such
Participant furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of such
Participant expressly for use in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus or (ii) with
respect to any untrue statement or representation made by such Participant in
writing to the Company. The liability of any Participant under this paragraph
shall in no event exceed the proceeds received by such Participant from sales of
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes giving rise to such obligations.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the
two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly
notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying
Person") in writing, and the Indemnifying Person, upon request of the
Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person to
21
represent the Indemnified Person and any others the Indemnifying Person may
reasonably designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and
expenses actually incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding; provided,
however, that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve
it of any obligation or liability which it may have hereunder or otherwise
(unless and only to the extent that such failure directly results in the loss or
compromise of any material rights or defenses by the Indemnifying Person and the
Indemnifying Person was not otherwise aware of such action or claim). In any
such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified
Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the
Indemnifying Person shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to
retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the
named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of
both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them. It is understood that, unless there
exists a conflict among Indemnified Persons, the Indemnifying Person shall not,
in connection with any one such proceeding or separate but substantially similar
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all
such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed promptly after demand as they are
incurred. Any such separate firm for the Participants and such control Persons
of Participants shall be designated in writing by Participants who sold a
majority in interest of Registrable Notes and Exchange Notes sold by all such
Participants and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors,
officers, employees, representatives, agents and affiliates and such control
Persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The
Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its prior written consent, but if settled with such consent or
if there be a final non-appealable judgment for the plaintiff for which the
Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement,
the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified
Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect
any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party, and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such
settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of such Indemnified
Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified
Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault,
culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
22
(d) If the indemnification provided for in the first and second
paragraphs of this Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to, or insufficient
to hold harmless, an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under
such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder and
in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
(i) the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the
one hand and the Indemnified Person or Persons on the other from the offering of
the Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not
permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the
relative fault of the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the
Indemnified Person or Persons on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions or alleged statements or omissions that 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 the parties
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the
one hand or such Participant or such other Indemnified Person, as the case may
be, on the other, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission, and any other
equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation
(even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims,
damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable
legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Person in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall a
Participant be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Participant has otherwise been required to pay or has paid by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
23
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons
may otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.
8. Rule 144 and 144A
The Company covenants that it will file the reports required to be
filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time
the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of
any Holder of Registrable Notes, provide other information so long as necessary
to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 and Rule 144A. The Company further
covenants for so long as any Registrable Notes remain outstanding, to make
available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Notes in connection
with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Registrable Notes
from such Holder or beneficial owner the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Notes
pursuant to Rule 144A.
9. Underwritten Registrations
If any of the Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf Registration are
to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable
Notes included in such offering and reasonably acceptable to the Company.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Notes 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.
10. Miscellaneous
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, and shall not after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement
with respect to any of its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this Agreement or otherwise
conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company has not entered nor will
24
it enter into any agreement with respect to any of its securities which will
grant to any Person piggy-back registration rights with respect to a
Registration Statement.
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. The Company shall not,
directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable Notes as
a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of Registrable
Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration undertaken pursuant to
this Agreement.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written
consent of the Company and the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Registrable Notes. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect
to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of holders of Registrable
Notes whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and
that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the
rights of other Holders of Registrable Notes may be given by Holders of at least
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold by
such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided, however, that
the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented
except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications (including without
limitation any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-
class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:
1. if to a Holder of the Registrable Notes or any Participating
Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the
registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to the Initial
Purchasers as follows:
BancAmerica Robertson Stephens
231 S. LaSalle Street
17th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60697
Facsimile No: (312) 828-5539
Attention: Thomas J. McGrath
25
Merrill Lynch & Co.
World Financial Center
North Tower, 32nd Floor
New York, New York 10281
Facsimile No.: (212) 449-8635
Attention: Bertram Michel
with a copy to:
Winston & Strawn
35 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Facsimile No: (312) 558-5700
Attention: Steven J. Gavin
2. if to the Initial Purchasers, at the addresses specified in
Section 10(d)(1);
3. if to the Company, as follows:
Globe Manufacturing Corp.
456 Bedford Street
Fall River, Massachusetts 02720
Facsimile No.: (508) 679-9458
Attention: President
26
with copies to:
Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC
10 South Wacker Drive
Suite 3175
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Facsimile No: (312) 876-3854
Attention: Peter M. Gotsch
and
Kirkland & Ellis
200 East Randolph
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Facsimile No: (312) 861-2000
Attention: Laurie T. Gunther
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one business day after
being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and when receipt is
acknowledged by the addressee, if sent by facsimile.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address and in the manner specified in such Indenture.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto;
provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be
binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such
successor or assign holds Registrable Notes.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
27
(h) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS
MADE AND PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL
OBLIGATIONS LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT T0 THE
JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their best reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(j) Notes Held by the Company or its Affiliates. Whenever the consent
or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is
required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Company or its affiliates (as
such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted
in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries. Holders of Registrable Notes and
Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third party beneficiaries of this
Agreement and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.
[Signature pages follow]
28
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
GLOBE MANUFACTURING CORP., an Alabama
Corporation
By: /s/ Thomas A. Rodgers, III
------------------------------
Name: Thomas A. Rodgers, III
Title: President
The foregoing Agreement is
hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date first above
written:
BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
By: /s/ Daniel J. Kelly
--------------------------------
Name: Daniel J. Kelly
Title: Director
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
By: /s/ illegible
--------------------------------
Name: Illegible
Title: Authorized Signatory