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EXECUTION COPY
APOGENT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
$325,000,000
8% Senior Notes due 2011
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
April 4, 2001
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
c/o Chase Securities Inc.
270 Park Avenue, 4th floor
New York, New York 10017
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Apogent Technologies Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to JPMorgan, a division of Chase
Securities Inc. ("JPMorgan") and Banc of America Securities LLC, Banc One
Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and First Union
Securities, Inc. (together with JPMorgan, the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a purchase agreement dated
March 30, 2001 (the "Purchase Agreement"), $325,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of its 8% Senior Notes due 2011 (the "Securities") to be jointly and
severally guaranteed on a senior basis by the subsidiaries of the Company listed
on Schedule 1 and signatories hereto (collectively, the "Guarantors").
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to
such terms in the Purchase Agreement.
As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the
Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the
Initial Purchasers thereunder, the Company and the Guarantors agree with the
Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders (including the Initial
Purchasers) of the Securities, the Exchange Securities (as defined herein) and
the Private Exchange Securities (as defined herein) (collectively, the
"Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall (i) prepare and, not later than
60 days following the date of original issuance of the Securities (the "Issue
Date"), file with the Commission a registration statement (the "Exchange Offer
Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act with
respect to a proposed offer to the Holders of the Securities (the "Registered
Exchange Offer") to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the
Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company
(the
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"Exchange Securities") that are identical in all material respects to the
Securities, except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Securities,
(ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act no later
than 150 days after the Issue Date and the Registered Exchange Offer to be
consummated no later than 180 days after the Issue Date and (iii) keep the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 20 business
days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date on which notice
of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being
called the "Exchange Offer Registration Period"). The Exchange Securities will
be issued under the Indenture or an indenture (the "Exchange Securities
Indenture") between the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee or such other
bank or trust company that is reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers,
as trustee (the "Exchange Securities Trustee"), such indenture to be identical
in all material respects to the Indenture, except for the transfer restrictions
relating to the Securities (as described above).
Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it
being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
electing to exchange Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such
Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the Company or an Exchanging Dealer (as
defined herein) not complying with the requirements of the next sentence, (b) is
not an Initial Purchaser holding Securities that have, or that are reasonably
likely to have, the status of an unsold allotment in an initial distribution,
(c) acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's
business and (d) has no arrangements or understandings with any person to
participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities) and 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, the
Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and each Exchanging Dealer acknowledge that,
pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of
the Securities Act, each Holder that 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 substantially 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 such prospectus in connection
with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
If, prior to the consummation of the Registered Exchange
Offer, any Holder holds any Securities acquired by it that have, or that are
reasonably likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in
an initial distribution, or any Holder is not entitled to participate in the
Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall, upon the request of any such
Holder, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities in the
Registered Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to any such Holder, in exchange for
the Securities held by such Holder (the "Private Exchange"), a like aggregate
principal amount of debt securities of the Company (the "Private Exchange
Securities") that are identical in all material respects to the Exchange
Securities, except for the transfer restrictions relating to such Private
Exchange Securities. The Private Exchange Securities will be issued under the
same indenture as the Exchange Securities,
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and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Private
Exchange Securities to bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities.
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 20 business
days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date on which
notice of the Registered Exchange Offer 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;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the
close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on
which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply in all respects with all laws that are applicable to
the Registered Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered
Exchange Offer and any Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(a) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly withdrawn
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange;
(b) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so accepted for
exchange; and
(c) cause the Trustee or the Exchange Securities Trustee, as the case may
be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in
principal amount to the Securities of such Holder so accepted for
exchange.
The Company shall use its reasonable 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 used 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 that (i) in the case where
such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an
Exchanging Dealer, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on
which all Exchanging Dealers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them and
(ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
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with any resale of any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 90 days
after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.
The Indenture or the Exchange Securities Indenture, as the
case may be, shall provide that the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the
Private Exchange Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as
one class and that none of the Securities, the Exchange Securities or the
Private Exchange Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate
class 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 Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has
been paid on the Securities, from the Issue Date.
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 and (iii) such Holder is not an
affiliate of the Company or, if it is such an affiliate, such Holder will comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act
to the extent applicable.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company and
the Guarantors 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 of the Commission 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,
as of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
2. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff the Company is not
permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 1
hereof, or (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not
consummated within 180 days after the Issue Date, or (iii) any Initial Purchaser
so requests with respect to Securities or Private Exchange Securities not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange
Offer and held by it following the consummation of the Registered Exchange
Offer, or (iv) any applicable law or interpretations do not permit any Holder to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (v) any Holder that
participates in the Registered Exchange Offer does not receive freely
transferable Exchange Securities in exchange for tendered Securities, or (vi)
the Company so elects, then the following provisions shall apply:
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(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable
best efforts to file as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 20
days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section 2 and not earlier
than 60 days after the Issue Date) with the Commission (the "Shelf Filing
Date"), and thereafter shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause
to be declared effective, a shelf registration statement on an appropriate form
under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities (as defined below) by the Holders thereof from time to
time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in such
registration statement (hereafter, a "Shelf Registration Statement" and,
together with any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a "Registration
Statement").
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable
best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in
order to permit the prospectus forming part thereof to be used by Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities for a period ending on the earlier of (i) two
years from the Issue Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement
have been sold pursuant thereto and (ii) the date on which the Securities become
eligible for resale without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act (in any such case, such period being called the "Shelf
Registration Period"). The Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed not to
have used their reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
effective during the requisite period if the Company or a Guarantor voluntarily
takes any action that would result in Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Transfer Restricted
Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company
will ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in
all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto (in either case, other than with respect to information
included therein in reliance upon or in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder specifically for use
therein (the "Holders' Information")) does not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any supplement to such
prospectus (in either case, other than with respect to Holders' Information),
does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) In the absence of the events described in clauses (i)
through (vi) of the first paragraph of this Section 2, the Company and the
Guarantors shall not be permitted to discharge its obligations hereunder by
means of the filing of a Shelf Registration Statement.
3. Additional Interest. (a) The parties hereto agree that the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities will suffer damages if the Company and
the Guarantors fail to fulfill their obligations under Section 1 or Section 2,
as applicable, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such
damages. Accordingly, if (i) the Exchange Offer Registration
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Statement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to 60 days after the
Issue Date or the Shelf Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission
on or before the Shelf Filing Date, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective within
150 days after the Issue Date, (iii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not
consummated on or prior to 180 days after the Issue Date, or (iv) the Shelf
Registration Statement is filed and declared effective within 150 days after the
Issue Date but shall thereafter cease to be effective (at any time that the
Company and the Guarantors are obligated to maintain the effectiveness thereof)
without being succeeded within 30 days by an additional Registration Statement
filed and declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through
(iv), a "Registration Default"), the Company and the Guarantors will be jointly
and severally obligated to pay additional cash interest to each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities, during the period of one or more such
Registration Defaults, in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder during the first 90
day period following such registration default, increasing by an additional
0.25% per annum during each subsequent 90 day period up to a maximum of 0.50%
per annum, until (i) the applicable Registration Statement is filed, (ii) the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be, is declared effective, (iii) the Registered Exchange Offer is
consummated, or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective,
as the case may be. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual
of additional interest will cease. As used herein, the term "Transfer Restricted
Securities" means (i) each Security until the date on which such Security has
been exchanged for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) each Security or Private Exchange Security until the date
on which it has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and
disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iii) each
Security or Private Exchange Security until the date on which it 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. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Section 3(a), neither the Company nor the Guarantors shall
be required to pay additional interest to a Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities if such Holder failed to comply with its obligations to make the
representations set forth in the second to last paragraph of Section 1 or failed
to provide the information required to be provided by it, if any, pursuant to
Section 4(n).
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent
under the Indenture immediately upon the happening of each and every
Registration Default. The Company and the Guarantors shall pay the additional
interest due on the Transfer Restricted Securities by depositing with the Paying
Agent (which may not be the Company for these purposes), in trust, for the
benefit of the Holders thereof, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
next interest payment date specified by the Indenture and the Securities, sums
sufficient to pay the additional interest then due. The additional interest due
shall be payable on each interest payment date specified by the Indenture and
the Securities to the record holder entitled to receive the interest payment to
be made on such date. Each obligation to pay additional interest shall be deemed
to accrue from and including the date of the applicable Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the additional interest
provided for in this Section 3 constitute a reasonable estimate of and are
intended to constitute the sole damages that
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will be suffered by Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities by reason of the
failure of (i) the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be filed, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement to
remain effective or (iii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be
declared effective and the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated, in each
case to the extent required by this Agreement.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any
Registration Statement, 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 shall use its reasonable best efforts to reflect
in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as any
Initial Purchaser may reasonably 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; and (iii) if requested by any Initial Purchaser,
include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as
applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
(b) The Company shall advise each Initial Purchaser, each
Exchanging Dealer and the Holders (if applicable) and, if requested by any such
person, confirm such advice in writing (which advice pursuant to clauses
(ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the
prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when any Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become
effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to any 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 any Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification
with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the making
of any changes in any Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein in order that the
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statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.
(c) The Company and the Guarantors will make every reasonable
effort to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time of any order
suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
(d) The Company will furnish to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration
Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of such Shelf
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules and, if any such Holder so requests in
writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by
reference).
(e) The Company will, during the Shelf Registration Period,
promptly deliver to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included
within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many
copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in
such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
such Holder may reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of such
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders
of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with the offer and sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(f) The Company will furnish to each Initial Purchaser and
each Exchanging Dealer, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge,
at least one conformed copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules
and, if any Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer or any such Holder so
requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated
by reference).
(g) The Company will, during the Exchange Offer Registration
Period or the Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly deliver to each
Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and such other persons that are
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 or the Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such Initial Purchaser, Exchanging Dealer or
other persons may reasonably request; and the Company and the Guarantors consent
to the use of such prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any such
Initial Purchaser, Exchanging Dealer or other persons, as applicable, as
aforesaid.
(h) Prior to the effective date of any Registration Statement,
the Company and the Guarantors will use their reasonable best efforts to
register or qualify, or cooperate with the Holders of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities included therein and their respective
counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of, such
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities for offer and
sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such
Holder 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
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the Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities covered by
such Registration Statement; provided that the Company and the Guarantors will
not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it
is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general
service of process or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then
so subject.
(i) The Company and the Guarantors will cooperate with the
Holders of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange 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 thereof may
request in writing prior to sales of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(j) If any event contemplated by Section 4(b)(ii) through (v)
occurs during the period for which the Company and the Guarantors are required
to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company will promptly
prepare and file with the Commission a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or file any
other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities from a Holder,
the prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the
Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, as the
case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for
the 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 and the Guarantors will comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and will make generally
available to its security holders as soon as practicable after the effective
date of the applicable Registration Statement an earning statement satisfying
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act; provided that in no event
shall such earning statement be delivered later than 45 days after the end of a
12-month 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 applicable Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such
12-month period.
(m) The Company and the Guarantors will cause the Indenture or
the Exchange Securities Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act as required by applicable law in a timely manner.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities to be registered pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to
furnish to the Company such information concerning the Holder and the
distribution of such Transfer Restricted Securities as
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the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Shelf
Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the
Transfer Restricted Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
(o) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities to be registered pursuant thereto agrees by
acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Securities that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Company pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii) through (v), such Holder
will discontinue disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities until such
Holder's receipt of copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus
contemplated by Section 4(j) or until advised in writing (the "Advice") by the
Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed. If the Company
shall give any notice under Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) during the period that
the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement (the
"Effectiveness Period"), such Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the
number of days during such period from and including the date of the giving of
such notice to and including the date when each seller of Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall have received (x) the
copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j)
(if an amended or supplemental prospectus is required) or (y) the Advice (if no
amended or supplemental prospectus is required).
(p) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
and the Guarantors shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if
requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other
action, if any, as Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold or
the managing underwriters (if any) shall reasonably request in order to
facilitate any disposition of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(q) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by a representative of, and
Special Counsel (as defined below) acting for, Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private
Exchange Securities being sold and any underwriter participating in any
disposition of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, all relevant financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to have its officers,
directors, employees, accountants and counsel supply all relevant information
reasonably requested by such representative, Special Counsel or any such
underwriter (an "Inspector") in connection with such Shelf Registration
Statement.
(r) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall, if requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold,
their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) in connection with
such Shelf Registration Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to cause (i)
its counsel to deliver an opinion relating to the Shelf Registration Statement
and the Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as
applicable, in customary form, (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all
customary documents and
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certificates requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold,
their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) and (iii) its
independent public accountants to provide a comfort letter or letters in
customary form, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated,
and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
5. Registration Expenses. The Company and the Guarantors will
bear all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their
obligations under Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the Company will reimburse the
Initial Purchasers and the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of
one firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) chosen by the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange
Securities and the Private Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant to each
Registration Statement (the "Special Counsel") acting for the Initial Purchasers
or Holders in connection therewith.
6. Indemnification. (a) In the event of a Shelf Registration
Statement or in connection with any prospectus delivery pursuant to an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement by an Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer, as
applicable, the Company and each of the Guarantors shall jointly and severally
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder (including, without limitation, any such
Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer), its affiliates, their respective
officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, and each person, if
any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes of this Section 6 and
Section 7 as a Holder) from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability,
joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, without
limitation, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases
and sales of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities), to
which that Holder may become subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration
Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein 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, and shall reimburse each Holder promptly upon demand for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Holder in connection
with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against or appearing as a
third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company and
the Guarantors shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission
from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders'
Information; and provided, further, that with respect to any such untrue
statement in or omission from any related preliminary prospectus, the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any
Holder from whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action received Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities
to the extent that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action of or with
respect to such Holder results from the fact that both (A) a copy of the final
prospectus was not sent or given to such person at or
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12
prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities to such person and (B) the untrue
statement in or omission from the related preliminary prospectus was corrected
in the final prospectus unless, in either case, such failure to deliver the
final prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with Section
4(d), 4(e), 4(f) or 4(g).
(b) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement, each
Holder shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Guarantor and their
respective affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or
any Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
(collectively referred to for purposes of this Section 6(b) and Section 7 as the
Company), from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or
several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company may become
subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, any other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out
of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any such Registration Statement or any prospectus
forming part thereof or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the
omission or alleged omission to state therein 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, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with any Holders' Information furnished to the Company by such
Holder, and shall reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending
or preparing to defend against or appearing as a third party witness in
connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Holder shall be liable
for any indemnity claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds
received by such Holder from the sale of Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party pursuant to Section 6(a) or 6(b), notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided,
however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have under this Section 6 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 which it
may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 6. If any
such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall
notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in
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13
connection with the defense thereof other than the reasonable costs of
investigation; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the right
to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other
charges of such counsel for the indemnified party will be at the expense of such
indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party
has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified
party has reasonably concluded (based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified
party) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified
parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the
indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon
advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and
the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the
right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party)
or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action
within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the
action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other
charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties.
It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection
with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable
for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one
separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any one time
for all such indemnified party or parties. Each indemnified party, as a
condition of the indemnity agreements contained in Sections 6(a) and 6(b), shall
use all reasonable efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the
defense of any such action or claim. No indemnifying party shall be liable for
any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified
party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding 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 includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in
Section 6 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party
under Section 6(a) or 6(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or
action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors from
the offering and sale of the Securities, on the one hand, and a Holder with
respect to the sale by such Holder of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, on the other, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
(i) above 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 Company and the Guarantors on the one
hand and such Holder on the other with respect to the statements or omissions
that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and a Holder
on the other
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14
with respect to such offering and such sale shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before
deducting expenses) received by or on behalf of the Company as set forth in the
table on the cover of the Offering Memorandum, on the one hand, bear to the
total proceeds received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on the other. The relative
fault 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 the Company and the Guarantors or
information supplied by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand or to any
Holders' Information supplied by such Holder on the other, the intent of the
parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The parties hereto agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
Section 7 were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred
to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to
above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section
7, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, an
indemnifying party that is a Holder of Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities sold by such indemnifying party to any
purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages which such indemnifying party has
otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any 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.
8. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable
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 written request of any
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, make publicly available other
information so long as necessary to permit sales of such Holder's securities
pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company and the Guarantors covenant that
they will take such further action as any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time
to enable such Holder to sell Transfer Restricted Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including, without limitation, the requirements
of Rule 144A(d)(4) in the event that the Company ceases to be a company subject
to or in compliance with Schedule 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act). Upon the
written request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Company and
the Guarantors shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it
has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in
this Section 8 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its
securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
9. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold
in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and
manager or managers that will administer the
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15
offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering, subject
to the consent of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), and such Holders shall be responsible for all underwriting commissions
and discounts in connection therewith.
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.
10. 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, unless the
Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private
Exchange Securities, taken as a single class. 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 whose Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities are being sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the
rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private
Exchange Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration
Statement.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10(b),
which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of such
Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like
manner to Chase Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Banc One
Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and First Union
Securities, Inc.;
(2) if to an Initial Purchaser, initially at its address set
forth in the Purchase Agreement;
(3) if to the Company, initially at the address of the Company
set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and
(4) if to the Guarantors, initially at the address of the
Guarantors set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business
day after being delivered to a
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16
next-day air courier; five business days after being deposited in the mail; and
when receipt is acknowledged by the recipient's telecopier machine, if sent by
telecopier.
(c) Successors And Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon the Company, the Guarantors and their respective successors and assigns.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or by telecopier) 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.
(e) Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a)
the term "business day" means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
is open for trading, (b) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule
405 under the Securities Act and (c) except where otherwise expressly provided,
the term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act.
(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.
(h) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or any
of the Guarantors or by any Holder of any of their respective obligations under
this Agreement, each Holder or the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be,
in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including
recovery of damages (other than the recovery of damages for a breach by the
Company or any Guarantor of their obligations under Sections 1 or 2 hereof for
which additional interest has been paid pursuant to Section 3 hereof), will be
entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company, each Guarantor and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not be
adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of any
of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agree that, in the event
of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive
the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. Each of the Company and each
Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that (i) it has not entered into,
shall not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement that
is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof, (ii) it has not previously
entered into any agreement which remains in effect granting any registration
rights with respect to any of its debt securities to any person and (iii)
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written consent of
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Transfer Restricted Securities, it shall not grant to any person the right to
request the Company to register any debt securities of the Company under the
Securities Act unless the rights so granted are not in conflict or inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement.
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17
(j) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any
of its security holders (other than the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities in such capacity) shall have the right to include any securities of
the Company in any Shelf Registration or Registered Exchange Offer other than
Transfer Restricted Securities.
(k) Severability. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. 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 reasonable 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.
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18
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the
agreement among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.
Very truly yours,
APOGENT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
By ______________________________
Name:
Title:
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19
ALEXON-TREND, INC.
APOGENT FINANCE COMPANY
APPLIED BIOTECH, INC.
BARNSTEAD THERMOLYNE CORPORATION
BIOROBOTICS INC.
CHASE SCIENTIFIC GLASS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
ERIE SCIENTIFIC COMPANY
ERIE SCIENTIFIC COMPANY OF PUERTO RICO
ERIE UK HOLDING COMPANY
EVER READY THERMOMETER CO., INC.
GENEVAC INC.
LAB-LINE INSTRUMENTS, INC.
LAB VISION CORPORATION
MATRIX TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
MICROGENICS CORPORATION
MOLECULAR BIOPRODUCTS, INC.
NALGE NUNC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMPANY
THE NAUGATUCK GLASS COMPANY
NERL DIAGNOSTICS CORPORATION
OWL SEPARATION SYSTEMS, INC.
REMEL INC.
RICHARD-ALLAN SCIENTIFIC COMPANY
ROBBINS SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
SAMCO SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
SYBRON TRANSITION CORP.
VACUUM PROCESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
By ____________________________
Name:
Title:
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Accepted:
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
By____________________________
Authorized Signatory
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SCHEDULE I
GUARANTORS
Alexon-Trend, Inc.
Apogent Finance Company
Applied Biotech, Inc.
Barnstead Thermolyne Corporation
Biorobotics Inc.
Chase Scientific Glass, Inc.
Consolidated Technologies, Inc.
Erie Scientific Company
Erie Scientific Company Of Puerto Rico
Erie UK Holding Company
Ever Ready Thermometer Co., Inc.
Genevac Inc.
Lab-Line Instruments, Inc.
Lab Vision Corporation
Matrix Technologies Corporation
Microgenics Corporation
Molecular Bioproducts, Inc.
Nalge Nunc International Corporation
National Scientific Company
The Naugatuck Glass Company
Nerl Diagnostics Corporation
Owl Separation Systems, Inc.
Remel Inc.
Richard-Allan Scientific Company
Robbins Scientific Corporation
Samco Scientific Corporation
Sybron Transition Corp.
Vacuum Process Technology, Inc.
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22
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its
own account pursuant to the Registered 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 Securities where such 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".
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23
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its
own account in exchange for Securities, where such 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".
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ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its
own account pursuant to the Registered 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 Securities where such 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.
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 Registered 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 at 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 Registered 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 Registered Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel
for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any
broker-dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
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25
ANNEX D
o 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 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.
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