Exhibit 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of May 21, 2004
by and among
TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES INDUSTRIES, INC.,
as Issuer,
THE GUARANTORS named herein
and
THE HOLDERS named herein
__________________________
12.5% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Definitions.........................................................1
2. Exchange Offer......................................................4
3. Shelf Registration..................................................7
4. Additional Interest.................................................8
5. Registration Procedures.............................................9
6. Registration Expenses..............................................17
7. Indemnification....................................................18
8. Rules 144 and 144A.................................................20
9. Underwritten Registrations.........................................21
10. Miscellaneous......................................................21
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements................................21
(b) Actions Affecting Registrable Notes.......................21
(c) Amendments and Waivers....................................21
(d) Notices...................................................22
(e) Successors and Assigns....................................23
(f) Counterparts..............................................23
(g) Headings..................................................23
(h) Governing Law.............................................23
(i) Severability..............................................23
(j) Notes Held by Any Issuer or Its Affiliates................23
(k) Third-Party Beneficiaries.................................23
(l) Entire Agreement..........................................23
(m) Joint and Several Obligations.............................24
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NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of May 21, 2004, by and among Transportation Technologies Industries,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), the Guarantors (as defined below)
and the holders of the Notes (as defined below) whose signatures appear on the
execution pages of this 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).
Advice: See the last paragraph of Section 5.
Agreement: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Applicable Period: See Section 2(b).
Business Day: A day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which
banking institutions in New York, New York or Chicago, Illinois are required to
be closed.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Company: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Effectiveness Date: The 200th day after the Issue Date.
Effectiveness Period: See Section 3(a).
Event Date: See Section 4(b).
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Notes: See Section 2(a).
Exchange Offer: See Section 2(a).
Exchange Registration Statement: See Section 2(a).
Filing Date: The 120th day after the Issue Date.
Guarantee: The guarantee by each Guarantor of the obligations of the
Company with respect to the Notes.
Guarantors: Truck Components Inc.; Gunite Corporation; Gunite EMI
Corporation; Brillion Iron Works, Inc.; Fabco Automotive Corporation; Bostrom
Holdings, Inc.; Bostrom Seating, Inc.; Bostrom Specialty Seating, Inc.; Imperial
Group Holding Corp.-1; Imperial Group Holding Corp.-2; Imperial Group, L.P.; and
JAII Management Company.
Holder: Any registered holder of Registrable Notes.
Indemnified Person: See Section 7(c).
Indemnifying Person: See Section 7(c).
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of May 21, 2004, by and among the
Issuers and U.S. Bank 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 Shelf Registration: See Section 3(a).
Inspectors: See Section 5(o).
Issue Date: The date on which the Notes are first issued under the
Indenture.
Issuers: The Company and the Guarantors, collectively.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes: $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 12.5% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2010 that may be issued pursuant to the Indenture, and such term also
includes any Notes issued pursuant to the terms of the Indenture in payment of
accrued interest on the outstanding Notes in lieu of cash interest thereon.
Participant: See Section 7(a).
Participating Broker-Dealer: See Section 2(b).
Person: Any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization or government (including any agency or political subdivision
thereof).
Private Exchange: See Section 2(b).
Private Exchange Notes: See Section 2(b).
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
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, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion
of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all other
amendments and
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supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.
Records: See Section 5(o).
Registrable Notes: Each Note upon original issuance thereof and at all
times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof
is applicable upon original issuance thereof 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) covering such Note, Exchange Note or
Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been declared effective by the
Commission and such Note, 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, (iii) in the case of any Note, such
Note has been exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Note or
Exchange Notes which may be resold without restriction under federal securities
laws, or (iv) 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 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 Commission 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 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 Commission.
Rule 415: Rule 415 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended
from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the
Commission.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Notice: See Section 2(c).
Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).
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Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).
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 one or more of the Issuers are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
2. Exchange Offer
(a) The Issuers agree to file with the Commission, 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 Private
Exchange Notes, if any) for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities
of the Company 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
(including, without limitation, the guarantee provisions thereof) (other than
such changes to the Indenture or any such identical trust indenture as are
necessary to comply with any requirements of the Commission 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 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. Each of the Issuers agrees to use its
reasonable 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
first mailed to the Holders; and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior
to the 30th day following the date on which the Exchange Registration Statement
is declared effective. If after such Exchange Registration Statement is
initially declared effective by the Commission, the Exchange Offer or the
issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder is interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or any other
governmental agency or court, such Exchange Registration Statement shall be
deemed not to have become effective, for purposes of this Agreement, during the
period of interference, until the Exchange Offer and issuance resume. Each
Holder who participates in the Exchange Offer will be required to represent that
any Exchange Notes 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, that such Holder is not an affiliate of any
Issuer within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any additional
representations that in the opinion of counsel to the Issuers are necessary
under then existing interpretations of the Commission in order for the Exchange
Registration Statement to be declared effective. Upon consummation of the
Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section 2, the provisions of this
Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis, solely with respect to
Registrable Notes that are Private Exchange Notes and Exchange Notes held by
Participating Broker-Dealers, if any, and the Issuers shall have no fur-
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ther 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) pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement.
(b) The Issuers shall include within the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Registration Statement a section, entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Holders, which shall contain a summary statement of
the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission 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 Commission or such positions or policies, in
the judgment of the Holders, represent the prevailing views of the staff of the
Commission. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also allow, to the extent
permitted by applicable policies and regulations of the Commission, the use of
the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of
the Securities Act, including, to the extent so permitted, all Participating
Broker-Dealers, and shall include a statement describing the manner in which
Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.
Each of the Issuers shall use its reasonable 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 all Persons, subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time beginning when the Exchange Notes are
first issued in the Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the expiration
of the 180th day after the Exchange Offer has been completed, and such Persons
are no longer required to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements in
connection with offers and sales of the Exchange Notes (the "Applicable
Period").
If, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, any Holder holds any Notes
acquired by it and having the status of an unsold allotment in the initial
distribution and, as a result, such Holder does not receive Exchange Notes on
the date of exchange that may be sold without restriction under the federal
securities laws, the Issuers, upon the request of such Holder, shall,
simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer,
issue and deliver to such Holder, in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the
Notes held by such Holder, a like principal amount of debt securities of the
Company that are identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes,
except for the existence of restrictions on transfer thereof under the
Securities Act and securities laws of the several states of the United States of
America (the "Private Exchange Notes") (and which are issued pursuant to the
same indenture as the Exchange Notes). The Private Exchange Notes shall bear the
same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes. Interest on the Exchange Notes and
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 Issuers shall:
(1) mail 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;
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(2) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with
an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which may be
the Trustee or an affiliate thereof;
(3) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable 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.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange, as the case may be, the Issuers shall:
(1) accept for exchange all Registrable Notes validly tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange;
(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Notes so
accepted for exchange; and
(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder tendering such Registrable 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 may be issued under (i)
the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects to the
Indenture, which in either event will provide that the Exchange Notes will not
be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that the
Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes, if any, will vote and
consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Exchange
Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes, if any, 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 Commission, the Company is not permitted to
effect an Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 230
days of the Issue Date and the Holders of 25% of the Registrable Securities so
request, (iii) any holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests in writing to
the Company, (iv) in the case of any Holder that participates in the Exchange
Offer (and tenders its Registrable Notes prior to the expiration thereof), such
Holder does not receive Exchange Notes on the date of the exchange that may be
sold without restriction under federal securities laws (other than due solely to
the status of such Holder as an affiliate of any Issuer within the meaning of
the Securities Act) and so notifies the Company within 30 days following the
consummation of the Exchange Offer (and providing a reasonable basis for its
conclusions), or (v) there are any Notes outstanding after the earlier of (x)
the 180th day after the Issue Date or (y) the completion of an Exchange Offer
(unless the Issuers successfully complete an additional Exchange Offer with
respect to Exchange Notes issued upon exchange for all such Notes), in the case
of each of clauses (i)-(v), then the Issuers shall promptly deliver to the
Holders and the Trustee written notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") and shall
file a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3.
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3. Shelf Registration
If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c), then:
(a) Shelf Registration. The Issuers shall, as promptly as reasonably
practicable after delivery of the Shelf Notice, file with the Commission a
Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis
pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes (the "Initial
Shelf Registration"). If the Issuers shall not have yet filed the Exchange
Registration Statement, the Issuers shall file with the Commission the
Initial Shelf Registration on or prior to the Filing Date and shall use
their reasonable best efforts to cause such Initial Shelf Registration to
be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date. Otherwise, the Issuers shall file with the Commission
the Initial Shelf Registration within 60 days of the delivery of the Shelf
Notice and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior
to the 60th day after filing of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement.
The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another appropriate
form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by
Holders in the manner or manners designated by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes included in such
Registration Statement (including, without limitation, one or more
underwritten offerings). The Issuers shall not permit any securities other
than the Registrable Notes to be included in any Shelf Registration. Each
of the Issuers shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Initial
Shelf Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act until
the date which is 24 months from the Issue Date (or, if Rule 144(k) under
the Securities Act is amended to permit unlimited resales by non-affiliates
within a lesser period, such lesser period) (subject to extension pursuant
to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof) (the "Effectiveness Period") or
such shorter period ending when (i) all Registrable Notes covered by the
Initial Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set forth and as
contemplated in the Initial Shelf Registration or (ii) a Subsequent Shelf
Registration covering all of the Registrable Notes has been declared
effective under the Securities Act.
(b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Initial Shelf Registration
or any Subsequent 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), each of the Issuers shall
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall, within
30 days of such cessation of effectiveness, amend the Shelf Registration in
a manner to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness
thereof, or file an additional "shelf" Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes (a "Subsequent Shelf
Registration"). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, each of the
Issuers shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf
Registration to be declared effective as soon as practicable after such
filing and to keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration continuously
effective for a period equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness
Period less the aggregate number of days during which the Initial Shelf
Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registrations was previously
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continuously effective. As used herein, the term "Shelf Registration" means
the Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registration.
(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Issuers shall promptly supplement
and amend any 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 Shelf Registration or by any underwriter
of such Registrable Notes, in each case, with each Issuer's consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
4. Additional Interest
(a) The Issuers and the Holders agree that the Holders of Registrable Notes
will suffer damages if the Issuers fail to fulfill their respective 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 Issuers,
jointly and severally, agree to pay, as liquidated damages, additional interest
on the Registrable Notes ("Additional Interest") under the circumstances and to
the extent set forth below (each of which shall be given independent effect):
(i) if (A) neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the Initial
Shelf Registration has been filed on or prior to the Filing Date or (B)
notwithstanding that the Issuers have consummated or will consummate an
Exchange Offer, the Issuers are required to file a Shelf Registration and
such Shelf Registration is not filed on or prior to the 60th day after
delivery of the Shelf Notice, then, in the case of subclause (A),
commencing on the day after the Filing Date or, in the case of subclause
(B), commencing on the 61st day following delivery of the Shelf Notice,
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Registrable Notes over and above
the stated interest at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days
immediately following the Filing Date or such 60th day, as the case may be,
such Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum
at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period;
(ii) if (A) neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the
Initial Shelf Registration is declared effective on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date or (B) notwithstanding that the Issuers have consummated
or will consummate an Exchange Offer, the Issuers are required to file a
Shelf Registration and such Shelf Registration is not declared effective by
the Commission on or prior to the 60th day after filing of the Initial
Shelf Registration Statement, then, commencing on the day after the
Effectiveness Date or such 60th day, as the case may be, Additional
Interest shall accrue on the Registrable Notes over and above the stated
interest at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days immediately
following the day after the Effectiveness Date or such 60th day, as the
case may be, such Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional
0.25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period; and
(iii) if (A) the Issuers have not exchanged Exchange Notes for all
Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer
on or prior
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to the 230th day after the Issue Date, (B) the Exchange Registration
Statement ceases to be effective prior to consummation of the Exchange
Offer or (C) if applicable, a Shelf Registration has been declared
effective and such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at any time
during the Effectiveness Period, then Additional Interest shall accrue on
the Registrable Notes over and above the stated interest at a rate of 0.50%
per annum for the first 90 days commencing on the (x) 231st day after the
Issue Date in the case of (A) above or (y) the day such Exchange
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration ceases to be effective in the
case of (B) and (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, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, the
Additional Interest rate on the Registrable Notes may not exceed in the
aggregate 2.0% per annum; provided further that (1) upon the filing of the
Exchange Registration Statement or each Shelf Registration (in the case of (i)
above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Registration Statement or
each Shelf Registration, as the case may be (in the case of (ii) above), or (3)
upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all Registrable Notes tendered (in the
case of (iii)(A) above) or upon the effectiveness of an Exchange Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration which had ceased to remain effective (in the
case of (iii)(B) and (C) above), Additional Interest on any Registrable Notes
then accruing Additional Interest as a result of such clause (or the relevant
subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue.
(b) The Issuers shall notify the Trustee within one Business Day 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 (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section 4 will be payable in
cash semiannually on each regular interest payment date specified in the
Indenture (to the Holders of Registrable Notes of record on the regular record
date therefor (as specified in the Indenture) immediately preceding such dates),
commencing with the first such regular interest payment 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 subject thereto, 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 the denominator of which is 360.
5. Registration Procedures
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2 or 3 hereof, the Issuers shall effect such registrations to permit the
sale of such 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 Issuers hereunder, the Issuers shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission prior to the Filing Date, the
Exchange Registration Statement or, if the Exchange Registration Statement
is not filed or is unavailable, a Shelf Registration as prescribed by
Section 2 or 3, and each Issuer shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause each such Registration Statement to become effective and remain
effective as provided herein; provided that, if (1) a Shelf Registration is
filed pursuant to Section 3 or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange
Registration
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Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 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 has advised the Issuers
that it is a Participating Broker-Dealer, before filing any Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the
Issuers shall, if requested, furnish to and afford the Holders of the
Registrable Notes to be registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, covered by such
Registration Statement, 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 Issuers shall not file any such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, or any such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel, or the
managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the Commission 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, 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) 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 Issuers shall be deemed not to have used their reasonable best efforts
to keep a Registration Statement effective during the Applicable Period if
they voluntarily take 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, rule or regulation or unless the Issuers comply
with this Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions of
paragraph 5(k) hereof and the last paragraph of Section 5.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period from whom the Issuers have received written notice that
it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer, notify the selling Holders of
Registrable Notes, and each such Participating Broker-Dealer, their counsel
and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly (but in any event within
two 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 (including in
such notice a written statement that any Holder may, upon request, obtain,
without charge, one
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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 Commission 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 the representations and warranties of any Issuer contained in any
agreement (including any underwriting agreement contemplated by Section
5(n) hereof) cease to be true and correct in any material respect, (iv) of
the receipt by any Issuer 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 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 the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the Issuers' reasonable
determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement
would be appropriate.
(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 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 their reasonable 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 to be sold by any Participating
Broker-Dealer, for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such order is
issued, to use their reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
any such order at the earliest possible date.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if
requested by the managing 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) as promptly as practicable
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information or revisions to information therein relating to such
underwriters or selling Holders as the managing underwriters, if any, or
such Holders or their counsel reasonably request to be included or made
therein, (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the
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Issuers have received notification of the matters to be incorporated in
such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, and (iii)
supplement or make amendments to such Registration Statement.
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 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 to counsel and
each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, 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 or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer, 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, without charge, 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 Issuers
hereby consent to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and
each Participating Broker-Dealer, 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, use their reasonable best efforts to register or
qualify, and cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, the 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 or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, 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, if any, reasonably request in writing;
provided that, where Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or
Registrable Notes are offered pursuant to an underwritten offering, counsel
to the underwriters shall, at the cost and expense of the Issuers, perform
the Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and qualifications
required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5(h); keep each such
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the
period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective, and do
any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to
enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Ex-
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change Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers or the Registrable Notes
covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided that no Issuer
shall 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 excess
of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, cooperate
with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes, any Participating
Broker-Dealer 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 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 at least two
Business Days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Notes.
(j) Use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes
covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by
such governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
seller or sellers thereof or the underwriters, if any, to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Notes, except as may be required as a
consequence of the nature of the seller's business, in which case the
Issuers will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such
Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals.
(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 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 Commission, at the
Issuers' sole expense, 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.
(l) Use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes
covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating
agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such Registration
Statement or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any.
(m) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement
relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with printed
certificates for the Registrable
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Notes or the 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 the Exchange Notes, as the case may be.
(n) In connection with an 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 and take all such other actions as are reasonably requested by the
managing underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the
registration or the disposition of such Registrable Notes and, in such
connection, (i) make such representations and warranties to the
underwriters, with respect to the business of the Issuers and their
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 opinion of
counsel to the Issuers and updates thereof in form 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 securities similar to the Notes; (iii)
obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters from
the independent certified public accountants of the Issuers (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of any Issuer or of any business acquired by any Issuer for
which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be,
included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the
underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of
the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes and such
other matters as reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters; 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.
(o) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any selling Holder of
such Registrable Notes being sold, and each Participating Broker-Dealer,
any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Notes,
if any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such
selling Holder, each 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 properties of each Issuer and its
subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary
to enable them
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to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the
officers, directors and employees of each Issuer and its subsidiaries to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in
connection with such Registration Statement. Records which an Issuer
determines, in good faith, to be confidential 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 misstatement or 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) the information in such
Records has been made generally available to the public other than as a
result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Inspector or (iv)
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 potentially
involving such Inspector and arising out of, based upon, related to, or
involving this Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or
arising hereunder. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each
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 any Issuer unless and until such is made generally available
to the public. Each Inspector, each selling Holder of such Registrable
Notes and each 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 pursuant to clauses (ii) or (iv) above
or otherwise, give notice to the Issuers and allow the Issuers to undertake
appropriate action to obtain a protective order or otherwise prevent
disclosure of the Records deemed confidential at its expense.
(p) 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), 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 reasonable
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 Commission to enable such indenture to be so qualified
in a timely manner.
(q) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
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 promulgated under the Securities Act)
no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 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
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quarter of the Company after the effective date of a Registration
Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods.
(r) Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,
obtain an opinion of counsel to the Issuers, 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 the
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Guarantees and the related
indenture constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Issuers,
enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with their respective terms.
(s) If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Issuers (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, mark, or caused to
be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such Registrable Notes are being
cancelled 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.
(t) 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 NASD.
(u) Use their reasonable best efforts to take all other steps
reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Notes
covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
The Issuers may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to which any
registration is being effected to furnish to the Issuers such information
regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the
Issuers may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Issuers may exclude from
such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller who fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. Each seller
as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish
promptly to the Issuers all information required to be disclosed in order to
make the information previously furnished to the Issuers by such seller not
materially misleading.
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 receipt of any
notice from the Issuers 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), 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, and, in each case,
dissemination of such Prospectus until such Holder's or Participating
Broker-Dealer's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 5(k), 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
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amendments or supplements thereto. In the event the Issuers 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(k) or (y) the Advice.
6. Registration Expenses
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with
this Agreement by the Issuers shall be borne by the Issuers 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
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 by any Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, (iii) reasonable messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses incurred in connection with the Exchange Registration
Statement and any Shelf Registration, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Issuers and reasonable fees and disbursements of special counsel for the
sellers of Registrable Notes, (v) fees and disbursements of all independent
certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(n)(iii) (including,
without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and "cold comfort" letters
required by or incident to such performance), (vi) rating agency fees, (vii)
Securities Act liability insurance, if any Issuer desires such insurance, (viii)
fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Issuers, (ix) internal
expenses of the Issuers (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of officers and employees of the Issuers performing legal or accounting
duties), (x) the expense of any annual or special audit, (xi) the fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be
registered on any securities exchange, (xii) the fees and disbursements of
underwriters, if any, customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities (but
not including any underwriting discounts or commissions or transfer taxes, if
any, attributable to the sale of the Registrable Notes which discounts,
commissions or taxes shall be paid by Holders of such Registrable Notes) and
(xiii) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and distributing all
Registration Statements, underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements,
indentures and any other documents necessary in order to comply with this
Agreement.
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7. Indemnification
(a) Each of the Issuers jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer,
the officers, directors, employees and agents 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
reasonable 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 or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Issuers
shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or caused by,
arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except insofar as 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 Issuers in writing by or on behalf of such
Participant expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the Issuers shall
not be liable if 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 any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense suffered or
incurred by the Participants resulted from any action, claim or suit by any
Person who purchased Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes which are the subject
thereof from such Participant and it is established 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) was a result of noncompliance by the
Issuers with Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) Each Participant will be required to agree, severally and not jointly,
to indemnify and hold harmless each Issuer, its directors and officers and each
Person who controls each Issuer 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 Issuers to each Participant, but only with
reference to information relating to such Participant furnished to the Issuers
in writing by such Participant expressly for use in any Registration Statement
or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary
prospectus. The liability of any Participant under this paragraph shall in no
event exceed the net 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 Section 7(a)
or 7(b), such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly notify the Person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "In-
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demnifying Person") in writing, and the Indemnifying Person, upon request of the
Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Person
to 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. 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 has failed within a reasonable 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 the Indemnified Person shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it that are not available to such Indemnifying Person. It is understood that,
unless there is a conflict among Indemnified Persons, the Indemnifying Person
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
(in addition to one local counsel in any jurisdiction) for all Indemnified
Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
incurred. Any such separate firm for the Participants shall be designated in
writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest of Registrable Notes
sold by all such Participants and any such separate firm for the Issuers, their
respective directors, officers and such control Persons of the Issuers shall be
designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final non-appealable
judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify any
Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time
an Indemnified Person shall have requested an Indemnifying Person to reimburse
the Indemnified Person for reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by
counsel as contemplated by the third sentence of this paragraph, the
Indemnifying Person agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its consent if (i) such settlement is entered into
more than 30 days after receipt by such Indemnifying Person of the aforesaid
request and (ii) such Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the
Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Person shall not be liable
for any settlement effected without its consent pursuant to this sentence if the
Indemnifying Person is contesting, in good faith, the request for reimbursement.
No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Person, effect any settlement 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 release of such Indemnified
Person, in form and substance 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 an Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in Sections 7(a) and (b) is
unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an Indemnified Person in
respect of any losses, claims, dam-
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ages or liabilities referred to therein for which it is entitled to
indemnification, 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 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 Issuers on the one hand or
by the Participants 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 under 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 the net 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 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.
(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. Rules 144 and 144A
Each of the Issuers 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 Commission thereunder in a timely manner and, if at
any time it is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of
any Holder of Registrable Notes, 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 re-
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quired 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 Issuers.
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. None of the Issuers has entered, as of the
date hereof, and none of the Issuers shall enter, after the date of this
Agreement, 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.
(b) Actions Affecting Registrable Notes. None of the Issuers shall,
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 (A) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of then outstanding Registrable Notes and (B) in circumstances that would
adversely affect Participating Broker-Dealers, the Participating Broker-Dealers
holding not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange
Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however, that Section
7 and this Section 10(c) may not be amended, modified or supplemented without
the prior written consent of each Holder and each Participating Broker-Dealer
(including any person who was a Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer of
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, disposed of pursuant to
any Registration Statement). 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 tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer or 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 tendered or being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration
Statement.
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(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class
mail, next-day air courier or telecopier:
(1) if to a Holder of 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 to:
CIBC World Markets Corp.
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attention: Brian Perman
and
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
One Wachovia Center
301 South College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0604
Attention: High Yield Origination
(2) if to the Issuers, as follows:
Transportation Technologies Industries, Inc.
980 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 1000
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Facsimile No.: (312) 280-4820
Attention: General Counsel
with copies to:
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
80 Pine Street
New York, New York 10005
Facsimile No.: (212) 269-5420
Attention: Roger Meltzer, Esq.
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 guaranteeing overnight
delivery; and when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if telecopied.
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.
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(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 and
the Holders; 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.
(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 WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO 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 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 Any Issuer or Its Affiliates. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is required
hereunder, Registrable Notes held by any Issuer 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.
(l) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Indenture, is
intended by the parties as a final and exclusive statement of the agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein and therein and any and all prior oral or written agreements,
representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings, correspondence,
conversations and memoranda among the Holders on the one hand and the Issuers on
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the other, or between or among any agents, representatives, parents,
subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or successors in interest
with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are merged herein and
replaced hereby.
(m) Joint and Several Obligations. All of the obligations of the Issuers
hereunder shall be joint and several obligations of each of them.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: /s/ Donald C. Mueller
---------------------------------------------
Name: Donald C. Mueller
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and
Vice President
TRUCK COMPONENTS INC.
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
GUNITE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
GUNITE EMI CORPORATION
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
BRILLION IRON WORKS, INC.
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
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FABCO AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
BOSTROM HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
BOSTROM SEATING, INC.
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
BOSTROM specialty SEATING, INC.
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
IMPERIAL GROUP HOLDING CORP.-1
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
IMPERIAL GROUP HOLDING CORP.-2
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
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IMPERIAL GROUP, L.P.
By: Imperial Group Holding Corp.-1,
its General Partner
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
JAII MANAGEMENT COMPANY
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Tallering
---------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth M. Tallering
Title: Secretary
HOLDERS:
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
By: /s/ Brian S. Perman
---------------------------------------------
Name: Brian S. Perman
Title: Managing Director
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By: /s/ Rit Amin
---------------------------------------------
Name: Rit Amin
Title: Vice President
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