EX-4.16 43 y03145exv4w16.htm EX-4.16 exv4w16
Execution Version
A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of October 2, 2009
by and among
L-3 Communications Corporation,
The Guarantors listed on the Signature Pages Hereto
and
Banc of America Securities LLC
Barclays Capital Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Calyon Securities (USA) Inc.
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.
RBS Securities Inc.
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
SG Americas Securities, LLC
ANZ Securities, Inc.
BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC
As the Initial Purchasers

 


 

A/B EXCHANGE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
     This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of October 2, 2009 by and among L-3 Communications Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) the guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto (collectively, the “Existing Guarantors”), and Banc of America Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (the “Initial Purchasers”) named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company’s 5.20% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Series A Notes”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
     This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2009 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Series A Notes, the Company and the Existing Guarantors have agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement.
     The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS
     As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
     Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
     Additional Guarantor: Any subsidiary of the Company that executes a Subsidiary Guarantee under the Indenture after the date of this Agreement.
     Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
     Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.
     Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
     Consummate: A Registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (iii) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of Series B Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes that were tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
     Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Series A Notes, each Interest Payment Date.
     Effectiveness Target Date: As defined in Section 5.
     Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended.
     Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Act of the Series B Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company offers

 


 

the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for Series B Notes and registered Subsidiary Guarantees in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.
     Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
     Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose to sell the Series A Notes to (i) certain “qualified institutional buyers,” as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, and (ii) outside the United States to Persons other than U.S. Persons in offshore transactions meeting the requirements of rule 904 of Regulation S under the Act.
     FINRA: The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
     Guarantors: The Additional Guarantors and the Existing Guarantors.
     Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
     Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Existing Guarantors and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
     Initial Purchasers: As defined in the preamble hereto.
     Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Notes.
     Notes: The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes.
     Offering Memorandum: As defined in the Purchase Agreement.
     Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
     Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.
     Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to Notes, each Person who is a Holder of Notes on the record date with respect to the Interest Payment Date on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur.
     Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
     Registrar: As defined in the Indenture.
     Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions, of this Agreement, in each case including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements

2


 

thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
     Series B Notes: The Company’s 5.20% Senior Notes due 2019 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the Exchange Offer.
     Shelf Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
     Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
     Special Interest: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
     Subsidiary Guarantee: The Guarantee by a Guarantor of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and Indenture.
     TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
     Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Note (including the Subsidiary Guarantees), until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Note is exchanged by a person other than a Broker-Dealer for a Series B Note in the Exchange Offer, (b) following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Note for a Series B Note, the date on which such Series B 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, (c) the date on which such Note (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) is effectively registered under the Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (d) the date on which such Note (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
     Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.
SECTION 2 SECURITIES SUBJECT TO THIS AGREEMENT
          (a) Transfer Restricted Securities. The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.
          (b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3 REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
          (a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission as promptly as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 180 days after the Closing Date, a Registration Statement under the Act relating to the Series B Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) and the Exchange Offer, (ii) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than 270 days after the Closing Date (which 270-day period shall be extended for a number of days equal to the number of business days, if any, the Commission is officially closed during such period), (iii) in connection with the

3


 

foregoing, file (A) all pre-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, (B) if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings in connection with the registration and qualification of the Series B Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) to be made, under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, commence the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Series B Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) to be offered in exchange for the Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit resales of Notes held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
          (b) The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 business days. The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 30 business days thereafter.
          (c) The Company and the Guarantors shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who owns Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company), may exchange such Series A Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a Prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with any resales of the Series B Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which Prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission.
          The Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Notes acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 210 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective or such shorter period that will terminate when all Notes covered by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement have been exchanged in the Exchange Offer.
          The Company and the Guarantors shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such 210 day period in order to facilitate such resales.

4


 

SECTION 4 SHELF REGISTRATION
          (a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been complied with) or (ii) any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities that is a “qualified institutional buyer,” as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act or an institutional “accredited investor,” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(l), (2), (3) and (7) under the Act shall notify the Company prior to the 20th day following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer that such Holder alone or together with holders who hold in the aggregate at least $1.0 million in principal amount of Series A Notes (A) is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, or (B) may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, or (C) is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
     (i) cause to be filed with the Commission a shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the “Shelf Registration Statement”) on or prior to the earliest to occur of (A) the 30th day after the date on which the Company determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer and (B) the 30th day after the date on which the Company receives notice from a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities as contemplated by clause (ii) of paragraph (a) above (such earliest date being the “Shelf Filing Deadline”), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and
     (ii) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or before the 90th day after the Shelf Filing Deadline.
The Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Notes by the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years following the Closing Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 without volume or other restrictions.
          (b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 10 business days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to Special interest pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have used its best efforts to provide all such reasonably requested information. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company

5


 

all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5 SPECIAL INTEREST
     If (i) any of the Registration Statements required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in sections 3(a) and 4(a), as applicable, (ii) any of such required Registration Statements has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in sections 3(a) and 4(a), as applicable, (the “Effectiveness Target Date”), (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 30 business days after the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded within five business days by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), the Company agrees to pay special, interest (“Special Interest”) to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default, in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder. The amount of the Special Interest shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of Special Interest 0.5% per annum of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company shall in no event be required to pay Special Interest for more than one Registration Default at any given time. All accrued Special Interest shall be paid to Record Holders by the Company and the Guarantors by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check on each Damages Payment Date, as provided in the Indenture. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Transfer Restricted Securities, the accrual of Special Interest with respect to such Transfer Restricted Securities will cease.
     All payment obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such payment obligations with respect to such Security shall have been satisfied in full provided, however, that the Special Interest shall cease to accrue on the day immediately prior to the date such Transfer Restricted Securities cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 6 REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
          (a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and shall comply with all of the following provisions:
          (i) If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company and the Guarantors there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Series A Notes. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy. The Company

6


 

and the Guarantors hereby agree however, to (A) participate in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company and the Guarantors setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff of such submission.
          (ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Company and the Guarantors (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business. In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Company’s and the Guarantors’ preparations for the Exchange Offer. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (A) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (B) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective Registration Statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Series A Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company.
          (iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13,1988), Morgan Stanley and Co.. Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above and (B) including a representation that neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that to the best of the Company’s and each Guarantor’s information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Series B Notes received in the Exchange Offer.
          (b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company and the Guarantors will as expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act; which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof.

7


 

          (c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Notes by Broker-Dealers), the Company and the Guarantors shall:
          (i) use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements (including, if required by the Act or any regulation thereunder, financial statements of any Guarantors) for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after Consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors may allow the Shelf Registration Statement to cease to become effective and usable if (A) the board of directors of the Company determines in good faith that it is in the best interests of the Company not to disclose the existence of or facts surrounding any proposed or pending material corporate transaction involving the Company and the Guarantors, and the Company notifies the Holders within two business days after the Board of Directors makes such determination, or (B) the Prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement contains an untrue statement of the material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the two-year period referred to in Section 4(a) hereof during which the Shelf Registration Statement is required to be effective and usable shall be extended by the number of days during which such Registration Statement was not effective or usable pursuant to the foregoing provisions;.
          (ii) subject to Section 6(c)(i), prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
          (iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale

8


 

in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes and (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
          (iv) upon written request, furnish to each of the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and each of the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review of such Holders and underwriter(s), if any, for a period of at least five business days, and the Company and the Guarantors will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) if a selling Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object within 5 business days after receipt thereof;
          (v) upon written request, promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the selling Holders and to the underwriter(s), if any, make the Company’s and the Guarantors’ representatives available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;
          (vi) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, make available at reasonable times at the Company’s principal place of business for inspection by the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney or accountant retained by such selling Holders or any of the underwriter(s) who shall certify to the Company and the Guarantors that they have a current intention to sell Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, such financial and other information of the Company and the Guarantors as reasonably requested and cause the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers, directors and employees to respond to such inquiries as shall be reasonably necessary, in the reasonable judgment of counsel to such Holders, to conduct a reasonable investigation; provided, however, that each such party shall be required to maintain in confidence and not to disclose to any other person any information or records reasonably designated by the Company in writing as being confidential, until such time as (A) such information becomes a matter of public record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such Registration Statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall be required so to disclose such information pursuant to the subpoena or order of any court or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the requirements of such order, and only after such person shall have given the Company prompt prior written notice of such requirement), or (C) such information is required to be set forth in such Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein or in an amendment to such Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to such Prospectus in order that such Registration Statement,

9


 

Prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case may be, does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
          (vii) if requested by any selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
          (viii) upon request, furnish to each selling Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
          (ix) deliver to each selling Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
          (x) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and make such representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be requested by the Initial Purchaser or, in the case of registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, by any Holder or Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who hold at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of such class of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, that, the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to enter into any such agreement more than once with respect to all of the Transfer Restricted Securities and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, may delay entering into such agreement if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that it is in the best interests of the Company and the Guarantors not to disclose the existence of or facts surrounding any proposed or pending material corporate transaction involving the Company and the Guarantors; and whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Registration, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
          (A) furnish to the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who hold at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of such class of Transfer Restricted Securities (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and each underwriter, if any, in such substance and scope as they may request and as are customarily made in connection with an offering of debt securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (i) upon the

10


 

effective date of any Registration Statement (and if such Registration Statement contemplates an Underwritten Offering of Transfer Restricted Securities upon the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement related thereto) and (ii) upon the filing of any amendment or supplement to any Registration Statement or any other document that is incorporated in any Registration Statement by reference and includes financial data with respect to a fiscal quarter or year:
          (1) a certificate, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement signed by (y) the respective Chairman of the Board, the respective President or any Vice President and (z) the respective Chief Financial Officer of the Company and each of the Guarantors confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set forth in paragraph (f) of Section 6 of the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as such parties may reasonably request;
          (2) an opinion, dated the date, of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company covering the matters set forth in paragraphs (d) and (e) of Section 6 of the Purchase Agreement and such other matter as such parties may reasonably request, and in any event including a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, the Initial Purchasers’ representatives and the Initial Purchasers’ counsel in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and have considered the matters required to be stated therein and the statements contained therein, although such counsel has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality to a large extent upon facts provided to such counsel by officers and other representatives of the Company and without independent check or verification), no facts came to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel to believe that the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became effective, and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Such counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial data included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
          (3) a customary comfort letter, dated as of the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the Company’s independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 6 of the Purchase Agreement, without exception;

11


 

          (B) set forth in full or incorporated by reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
          (C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (x), if any.
          (xi) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter(s) may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 4 hereof; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
          (xii) shall issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Series B Notes, having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series B Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the case may be; in return, the Series A Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
          (xiii) cooperate with the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two business days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such underwriter(s);
          (xiv) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xi) above;
          (xv) subject to clause (d)(i) above, if any fact or event contemplated by clause (d)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted 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 not misleading;

12


 

          (xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company;
          (xvii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any “qualified independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA;
          (xviii) otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement;
          (xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
          (xx) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and Section 15 of the Exchange Act; and
          (xxi) so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, cause each Additional Guarantor upon the creation or acquisition by the Company of such Additional Guarantor, to execute a counterpart to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A and to deliver such counterpart, together with an opinion of counsel as to the enforceability thereof against such entity, to the Initial Purchasers no later than five business days following the execution thereof.
     Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause any underwriter to forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth

13


 

in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(d)(xv) hereof or shall have received the Advice.
     The Company and the Guarantors may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and such Holder’s intended method of distribution of the applicable Transfer Restricted Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing, but only to the extent that such information is required in order to comply with the Act. Each such Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of (i) any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by such Holder to the Company or (ii) the occurrence of any event, in either case, as a result of which any Prospectus relating to such registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Holder or such Holder’s intended method of distribution of the applicable Transfer Restricted Securities or omits to state any material fact regarding such Holder or such Holder’s intended method of distribution of the applicable Transfer Restricted Securities required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and promptly to furnish to the Company any additional information required to correct and update any previously furnish to the Company any additional information required to correct and update any previously furnished information or required so that such Prospectus shall not contain, with respect to such Holder or the distribution of the applicable Transfer Restricted Securities 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.
     Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any party to this Agreement (and any employee, representative, or other agent of any party to this Agreement) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. federal income tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Transactions”) and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to it relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided, however, that neither party (nor any employee, representative or other agent thereof) shall disclose any information (a) that is not relevant to an understanding of the U.S. federal income tax treatment or tax structure of the Transactions or (b) to the extent such disclosure could result in a violation of any federal or state securities laws.
SECTION 7 REGISTRATION EXPENSES
     All expenses incident to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with FINRA (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA)); (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; and (v) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
     The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors’ internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its’ officers and employees performing legal or accounting

14


 

duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
SECTION 8 INDEMNIFICATION
          (a) The Company and the Guarantors shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, its officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Holders, within the meaning of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases, sales and registration of Notes), to which that Holder, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act 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 (A) in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) in any blue sky application or other document prepared or executed by the Company or any Guarantor (or based upon any written information furnished by the Company or any Guarantor) specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Notes under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Blue Sky Application”), (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Holder in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Notes or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon matters covered by clause (i) or (ii) above (provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that it is determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Holder through its gross negligence or willful misconduct), and shall reimburse each Holder and each such officer, employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Holder, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against 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, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any such amendment or supplement, or in any Blue Sky Application, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder specifically for inclusion therein. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company and the Guarantors may otherwise have to any Holder or to any officer, employee or controlling person of that Holder.
          (b) Each Holder, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, their respective officers and employees, each of their respective directors, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect, thereof, to which the Company, the Guarantors or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act 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 (A) in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (B) in any Blue Sky Application or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not

15


 

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 written information concerning such Holders furnished to the Company by or on behalf of that Holder specifically for inclusion therein, and shall reimburse the Company, the Guarantors and any such director, officer or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company, the Guarantors or any such director; officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which any Holder may otherwise have to the Company, the Guarantors or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person. The Company and the Guarantors shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution of such Registrable Securities to the same extent as provided above with respect to information or affidavit furnished in writing by such Persons as provided specifically for in any Prospectus or Registration Statement.
          (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 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 under this Section 8, 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 8 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced 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 8. 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 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the indemnifying party in writing, (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party and in the reasonable judgment of such counsel it is advisable for such indemnified party to employ separate counsel or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to one local counsel) at any time for all such indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by Banc of America Securities LLC, if the indemnified parties under this Section 8 consist of any Initial Purchaser or any of their respective officers, employees or controlling persons, or by the Company, if the indemnified parties under this Section consist of the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or controlling persons. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties

16


 

are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, or (ii) 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 the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment of 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.
          (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, 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, on the one hand, and the Holders on the other, from the offering of the Notes 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 the Holders on the other with respect to the statements or omissions which 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 the Holders on the other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Series A Notes purchased under the Purchase Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the total discounts and commissions received by the Holders with respect to the Series A Notes purchased under this Agreement, on the other hand, bear to the total gross proceeds from the offering of the Series A Notes under the Purchase Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Guarantors or the Holders, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company, the Guarantors and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which 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 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), no Holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by it. in connection with its sale of Notes exceeds the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise paid of 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. The Holders’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are several and not joint.
SECTION 9 RULE 144A
     The Company and each Guarantor hereby agrees with each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities,, during any period in which the Company or such Guarantor is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act within the two-year period following the Closing Date, to make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities, in connection with any sale thereof and

17


 

any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10 PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
     No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
SECTION 11 SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
     The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering at such Holders’ expense. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering; provided, that such investment bankers and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
SECTION 12 MISCELLANEOUS
          (a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors agree that monetary damages (including the Special Interest contemplated hereby) would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
          (b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum or in the documents incorporated therein by reference, neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person that is inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
          (c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company and the Guarantors will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Notes that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.
          (d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may

18


 

be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered or registered.
          (e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
          (i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and
          (ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
L-3 Communications Corporation
600 Third Avenue, 34th Floor,
New York, New York 10016,
Attention: Steve Post (Fax: 212-805-5494),
With a copy to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY, 10017
Attention: Vincent Pagano Jr. (Fax: 212-455-2502)
     All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
     Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.
          (f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder.
          (g) 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.
          (h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
          (i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
          (j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

19


 

          (k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
[Signature pages follow]

20


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
Dated as of October 2, 2009
         
  L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Steven M. Post    
    Name:   Steven M. Post    
    Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary   
 
BROADCAST SPORTS INC.
D.P. ASSOCIATES, INC.
ELECTRODYNAMICS, INC.
HENSCHEL INC.
INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES GROUP LTD.
INTERSTATE ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
L-3 CHESAPEAKE SCIENCES CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS ADVANCED LASER SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AIS GP CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS APPLIED SIGNAL AND IMAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AVIONICS SYSTEMS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CINCINNATI ELECTRONICS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CRESTVIEW AEROSPACE CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CYTERRA CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS DYNAMIC POSITIONING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS ELECTRON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS EO/IR, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS EOTECH, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS ESSCO, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS FOREIGN HOLDINGS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS GENEVA AEROSPACE, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS INFRAREDVISION TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS INVESTMENTS INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS KLEIN ASSOCIATES, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MARIPRO, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MOBILE-VISION, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS NAUTRONIX HOLDINGS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS NOVA ENGINEERING, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS SAFEVIEW, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY AND DETECTION SYSTEMS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS SONOMA EO, INC.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 


 

L-3 COMMUNICATIONS TCS, INC.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS WESTWOOD CORPORATION
L-3 FUZING AND ORDNANCE SYSTEMS, INC.
L-3 G.A. INTERNATIONAL, INC.
L-3 GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS, INC.
L-3 SERVICES, INC.
LINCOM WIRELESS, INC.
MICRODYNE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
MICRODYNE CORPORATION
MICRODYNE OUTSOURCING INCORPORATED
PAC ORD INC.
POWER PARAGON, INC.
SPD ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
SPD SWITCHGEAR, INC.
TITAN FACILITIES, INC.
TROLL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
WESCAM AIR OPS INC.
WESCAM HOLDINGS (US) INC.
         
As Guarantors
 
   
By:   /s/ Steven M. Post      
  Name:   Steven M. Post     
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Secretary     
 
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATED SYSTEMS L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

As a Guarantor
 
   
By:   L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AIS GP CORPORATION, as General Partner      
 
By:   /s/ Steven M. Post      
  Name:   Steven M. Post     
  Title: Senior Vice President, Secretary     
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 


 

L-3 COMMUNICATIONS GERMANY HOLDINGS, LLC
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS SHARED SERVICES, LLC
         
As Guarantors
 
   
By:   L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, as Sole Member      
 
By:   /s/ Steven M. Post      
  Name:   Steven M. Post     
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary     
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS FLIGHT CAPITAL LLC
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL AVIATION LLC
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS VECTOR INTERNATIONAL AVIATION LLC
         
As Guarantors
 
   
By:   L-3 COMMUNICATIONS VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC, as Sole Member      
 
By:   L-3 COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATED SYSTEMS L.P., as Sole Member      
 
By:   L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AIS GP CORPORATION, as General Partner      
 
By:   /s/ Steven M. Post      
  Name:   Steven M. Post     
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Secretary     
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC
         
As a Guarantor
 
   
By:   L-3 COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATED SYSTEMS L.P., as Sole Member      
 
By:   L-3 COMMUNICATIONS AIS GP CORPORATION, as General Partner      
 
By:   /s/ Steven M. Post      
  Name:   Steven M. Post     
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Secretary     
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 


 

          In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
         
  For themselves and as representatives of the several Initial Purchasers

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
 
 
  By:   /s/ R. Keith Harman    
    Name:   R. Keith Harman   
    Title:   Managing Director   
 
  BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
SENIOR NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 


 

          In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
         
  For themselves and as representatives of the several Initial Purchasers

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
  BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
 
 
  By:   /s/ Stephen Feinstein    
    Name:   Stephen Feinstein   
    Title:   Managing Director   
 
SENIOR NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 


 

Annex A
Counterpart To Registration Rights Agreement
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees (as a “Guarantor”) to use commercially reasonable efforts to include its Subsidiary Guarantee in any Registration Statement required to be filed by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2009, (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) by and among L-3 Communications Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the guarantors party thereto, Banc of America Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Calyon Securities (USA) Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., RBS Securities Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., SG Americas Securities, LLC, ANZ Securities, Inc. and BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as specified in the Registration Rights Agreement; and to otherwise be bound by the terms and provisions, of the Registration Rights Agreement.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Counterpart as of                     .
         
  [NAME]
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title: