EXECUTION COPY
$115,000,000
COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
10.00% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2010
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
July 15, 2003
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC
Fleet Securities, Inc.
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010-3629
Dear Sirs:
Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Issuer"),
proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Fleet
Securities, Inc. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms set
forth in a purchase agreement of even date herewith (the "Purchase Agreement"),
$115,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 10.00% Senior Secured Notes due
2010 (the "Initial Securities") to be guaranteed (the "Guaranties") on a senior
secured basis by the entities listed on Schedule A hereto (the "Guarantors", and
together with the Issuer, the "Company"). The Initial Securities will be issued
pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of July 22, 2003 (the "Indenture"), among the
Issuer, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee (the
"Trustee"). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the
Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the
benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including, without limitation,
the Initial Purchasers), the Exchange Securities (as defined below) and the
Private Exchange Securities (as defined below) (collectively the "Holders"), as
follows :
1. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER. The Company shall, at its own cost, prepare and,
not later than 90 days after (or if the 90th day is not a business day, the
first business day thereafter (such 90th day, or first business day thereafter,
being a "Filing Deadline")) the date of original issue of the Initial Securities
(the "Issue Date"), file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration
Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), with respect to a proposed offer (the "Registered
Exchange Offer") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in
Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission
from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to
such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal
amount of debt securities (the "Exchange Securities") of the Company issued
under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the Initial
Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial
Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6
hereof) and registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
become effective under the Securities Act within 180 days (or if the 180th day
is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) after the Issue Date
(such 180th day, or first business day thereafter, being an "Effectiveness
Deadline") of the Initial Securities and shall keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if
required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange
Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange Offer
Registration Period").
If the Company commences the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company (i)
will be entitled to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after the
commencement thereof provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial
Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the
Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) must consummate the Registered Exchange Offer
no later than 40 days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is declared effective (such 40th day being the "Consummation
Deadline") in order to avoid Additional Interest (as defined in Section 6 below)
for such a Registration Default (as defined in Section 6 below).
Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall as promptly as practicable commence
the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered
Exchange Offer to enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (as
defined in Section 6 hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for
Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange
Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities
laws of the several states of the United States.
The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer
electing to exchange Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of
market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities
(an "Exchanging Dealer"), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the
information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in
the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer"
section and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such
prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by
such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an
Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Exchange Securities acquired in exchange
for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to
deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of
Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such
sale.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
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 as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that (i) in the
case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be
delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be
the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the
Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such
period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall
make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities
for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the Registered
Exchange Offer (or such shorter period during which participating broker dealers
are required by law to deliver such prospectus).
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the
existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the
securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding
provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial
Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "Securities".
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In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date
notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day
on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered
and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the
Private Exchange;
(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to
each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to
the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been
paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate" as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a
broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.
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Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
2. SHELF REGISTRATION. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within
220 days of the Issue Date, (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect
to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not eligible to
be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and held
by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder
(other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate in the
Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an
Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such
Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the
exchange, the Company shall take the following actions (the date on which any of
the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) occur,
including in the case of clauses (iii) or (iv) the receipt of the required
notice, being a "Trigger Date"):
(a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable
(but in no event more than 30 days after so required or requested
pursuant to this Section 2 (such 30th day being a "Filing Deadline"))
file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause to be declared effective no later than (1) in the case
of clause (i) above, 180 days after the Closing Date and (2) in the
case of clause (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, 90 days after the applicable
Trigger Date (such 180th day or 90th day, as the case may be, being an
"Effectiveness Deadline") a registration statement (the "Shelf
Registration Statement" and, together with the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, a "Registration Statement") on an appropriate
form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) by the
Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of
distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415
under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the "Shelf Registration");
provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser)
shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such
Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be
bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such
Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of
the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer
period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its
effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been
sold pursuant thereto or (ii) can be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under
the Securities Act without any limitations under clauses (c), (e), (f)
and (h) of Rule 144. The Company shall be deemed not to have used its
best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during
the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would
result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer
and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is
required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as
of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
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requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser,
prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the
Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement,
if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an
Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment
from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange
Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its
best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the
Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may
propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on
the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section
and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto
in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the
information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested
by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Items 507
or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in
the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer 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 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer
in the Registered 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
reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of
counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views
of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders who propose to
sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling
securityholders.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial
Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice
that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(vi) hereof shall
be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments
or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal
counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of
the qualification of the Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose;
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(v) of the happening of any event that requires the
Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading; and
(vi) of any determination by the Company, in the
exercise of its reasonable judgment, that it is not in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders to disclose
a possible acquisition or business combination or other
transaction, business development or event involving the
Company that may require disclosure in the Shelf Registration
Statement, or if required to be kept effective after
consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement. In the event of such determination,
the Company may suspend the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, or if required to be kept effective
after consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, for up to two periods of no greater
than 30 days each during any 365-day period. Any notice
provided pursuant to this clause (vi) shall not be required to
disclose any such possible acquisition, business combination
or other transaction, business development or event if the
Company determines in the exercise of its reasonable judgment
that such acquisition or business combination or other
transaction, business development or event should remain
confidential. Upon the abandonment, consummation or
termination of the possible acquisition or business
combination or other transaction, business development or
event or the availability of the required financial statements
with respect to a possible acquisition or business
combination, the suspension of the use of the Registration
Statement shall cease and the Company shall promptly comply
with Section 3(j) hereof and notify the Holders that
disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities may resume.
(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included
within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy
of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in
writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by
reference).
(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each
Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at
least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules,
and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto
(including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to
each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf
Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each
preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The
Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders
of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities
covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in
the Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging
Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to
deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as
many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably
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request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to
the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial
Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons
required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in
connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the
prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any
Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate with
the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer
and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of such states of the United
States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any
and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale
in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified
or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or
to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the
Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any
restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as
the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii)
through (vi) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company is
required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall
promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or
purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an 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. If the Company notifies the Initial
Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating
Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (vi) of Section 3(b)
above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the
prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the
Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such
prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement
provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days
from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the
date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known
Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented
prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j) or shall have received written notice
from the Company that the prospectus is again usable or the Company shall have
notified such Holders that disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities
may resume under the existing prospectus
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial Securities,
the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be,
and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the Initial
Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the
case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the
Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered
Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to
its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of
the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month
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period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first
month of the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date
of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such
changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that
such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the
Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the
applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the
Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf
Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the
Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including,
if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such
other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request
in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf
Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make
reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any
underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of
the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the
Company's officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all
relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or
any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable
such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of
Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing
inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the
Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel
designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 4
hereof and provided further that the foregoing inspection and information
gathering shall be subject to reasonable confidentiality procedures instituted
by the Company.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if reasonably
requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its
counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in
customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any,
thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of
such Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be
covered by such opinion shall include, without limitation, the due incorporation
and good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the
Company and its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the
due authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type
referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization, execution,
authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of the
applicable Securities; the absence of material legal or governmental proceedings
involving the Company and its subsidiaries; the absence of governmental
approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, the offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement
of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of
such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by reference
therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of
the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent
post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such
Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then
amended or supplemented, and from any documents incorporated by reference
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therein of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents, in the
light of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed
with the Commission under the Exchange Act); (ii) its officers to execute and
deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested
by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent
public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable
Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in
connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of
appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement
of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by any
Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the Company shall
cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating
Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the form set forth in Section 6(c) of the
Purchase Agreement with such changes as are customary in connection with the
preparation of a Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public
accountants to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating
Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as
to the substance thereof as set forth in Section 6(a) of the Purchase Agreement,
with appropriate date changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the Company
(or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the
Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities so
exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in
no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) The Company will use its best efforts to (a) if the Initial
Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Initial Securities,
confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration
Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the
Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate
rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or by the managing
underwriters, if any.
(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange
Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an
underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the distribution" (within
the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "Rules") of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof, whether as a Holder of such
Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or
dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will assist such
broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including,
without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require,
engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720) to
participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such
Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and,
if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an
underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to
recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified
independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters
provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such
broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with
the requirements of the Rules.
(v) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Registration
Statement contemplated hereby.
9
4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1
through 3 hereof (including the reasonable fees and expenses, if any, of Cravath
Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, incurred in connection
with the Registered Exchange Offer), whether or not the Registered Exchange
Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective, and, in the event
of a Shelf Registration, shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the Securities
covered thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel
designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Initial
Securities covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Initial
Securities in connection therewith.
5. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Issuer and each Guarantor agree, jointly
and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Securities, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or
such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling
persons are referred to collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any
actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the
Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified
Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) neither the
Issuer nor any Guarantor shall be liable in any such case to the extent that
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Issuer by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus
relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such
purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent or
given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of
such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Issuer had
previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability which the Issuer or a Guarantor may otherwise have
to such Indemnified Party. The Issuer and each Guarantor shall also, jointly and
severally, indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person
who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and each Guarantor and each person, if
any, who controls the Issuer or a Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Issuer or any
Guarantor, or any such controlling person may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
10
written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Issuer by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Issuer or a Guarantor for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Issuer or a Guarantor or any such controlling person in
connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or
action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Issuer or a Guarantor or
any of their respective controlling persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any
liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the
extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of
substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or
(b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and
it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified
party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be
counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party
to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of
investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter
of such action, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of
fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities,
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by
the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection
with the 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 Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such
Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have 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
11
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who
controls the Issuer or a Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Issuer or
applicable Guarantor.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
6. ADDITIONAL INTEREST UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. (a) Additional
interest (the "Additional Interest") with respect to the Securities shall be
assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in
clauses (i) through (iii) below, a "Registration Default":
(i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is
not filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing
Deadline;
(ii) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is
not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable
Effectiveness Deadline;
(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer has not been consummated
on or prior to the Consummation Deadline; or
(iv) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (A) such
Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B) such
Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable
(except as permitted in paragraph (b)) in connection with resales of
Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein
because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related
prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (2) it
shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement
the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.
Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever
the reason for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is
beyond the control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result
of any action or inaction by the Commission.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Securities over and above the interest
set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on which
any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all
such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.50% per annum (the
"Additional Interest Rate") for the first 90-day period immediately following
the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest Rate shall
increase by an additional 0.50% with respect to each subsequent 90-day period
until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional
Interest Rate of 2.0%.
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iii)(B) hereof
shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the
Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such
12
Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events;
provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a
continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in
accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default
occurs until such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i), (ii)
or (iii) of Section 6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular interest
payment dates with respect to the Initial Securities. The amount of Additional
Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest
rate by the principal amount of the Securities, 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.
(d) Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until (i) the
date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a
broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which
such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer
on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has
been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such
Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.
7. RULES 144 AND 144A. The Company shall use its best efforts to file
the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file
such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Securities, make
publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of
their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it
will take such further action as any Holder of Securities may reasonably
request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the
limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the
requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this
Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the
Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder
of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company
to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
8. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities 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 administer the offering ("Managing Underwriters") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering and will be reasonably
acceptable to the Company.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
9. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) 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, except by the Company and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.
13
(b) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Company.
(2) if to the Initial Purchaser, a single notice addressed to:
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010-3629
Fax No.: (212) 325-8278
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
with a copy to:
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019-7475
Fax No.: (212) 474-3700
Attention: William J. Whelan, III
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
Columbus McKinnon Corporation
140 John James Audubon Parkway
Amherst, NY 14228-1197
Fax No.: (716) 689-5598
Attention: Corporate Secretary
with a copy to:
Hodgson Russ LLP
One M&T Plaza
Suite 2000
Buffalo, NY 14203-2391
Fax No.: (716) 849-0349
Attention: Robert J. Olivieri
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given as follows: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when receipt is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent
by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
(c) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(d) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.
14
(e) 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.
(f) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) GOVERNING Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
(h) SEVERABILITY. If any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(i) SECURITIES HELD BY THE COMPANY. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.
(j) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders
hereunder.
(k) COMMENCEMENT OF AGREEMENT. The rights and obligations hereunder of
the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers shall not commence or
become effective until the sale of delivery of the Offered Securities has been
completed on the Closing Date pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement
(the terms "Offered Securities" and "Closing Date" have the meanings assigned to
them in the Purchase Agreement).
15
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and the Guarantors in
accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
-----------------------------------------
Name: Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
AUDUBON EUROPE S.AR.L.
By:
/s/ Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
-----------------------------------------
Name: Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
Title: Manager - A category
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name: Romain Thillens
Title: Manager - B category
AUDUBON WEST, INC.
By:
/s/ Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
-----------------------------------------
Name: Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
CRANE EQUIPMENT & SERVICE, INC.
By:
/s/ Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
-----------------------------------------
Name: Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
YALE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC.
By:
/s/ Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
-----------------------------------------
Name: Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
16
Theforegoing Registration
Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
FLEET SECURITIES, INC.
by: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
By:/S/
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
17
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of
Distribution."
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 200 , all dealers
effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a
prospectus.(1)
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
- --------
(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the inside front cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.
ANNEX D
[ ] CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name: ____________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
SCHEDULE A
Guarantors
o Audubon Europe S.ar.l.
o Audubon West, Inc.
o Crane Equipment & Service, Inc.
o Yale Industrial Products, Inc.