NewPage Corporation
Exhibit 10.6
Execution Version
NewPage Corporation
10% Senior Secured Notes due 2012
unconditionally guaranteed as to the
payment of principal, premium,
if any, and interest by the Guarantors named on Schedule I hereto
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement
December 21, 2007
Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
As representative of the several Purchasers
named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
NewPage Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the Purchasers (as defined herein) upon the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) $456.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 specified above, which are unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors (as defined herein). As an inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Purchasers thereunder, the Company and the Guarantors agree with the Purchasers for the benefit of holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”), the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
“Base Interest” shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue on the Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture, without giving effect to the provisions of this Agreement.
“Blackout Period” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(f) hereof.
The term “broker-dealer” shall mean any broker or dealer registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act.
“Business Day” shall each mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
“Closing Date” shall mean the date on which the Securities are initially issued.
“Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for the particular purpose.
“Conduct Rules” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3(d)(xix) hereof.
“EDGAR System” means the EDGAR filing system of the Commission and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto promulgated by the Commission in Regulation S-T under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, in each case as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time (and without regard to format).
“Effective Time,” in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange Registration Statement effective or as of which the Exchange Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a Shelf Registration, shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Shelf Registration Statement effective or as of which the Shelf Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective.
“Electing Holder” shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or Section 3(d)(iii) hereof and the instructions set forth in the Notice and Questionnaire.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time.
“Exchange Offer” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Registration” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3(c) hereof.
“Exchange Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Securities” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
“Guarantor” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Indenture.
The term “holder” shall mean each of the Purchasers and other persons who acquire Registrable Securities from time to time (including any successors or assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any Registrable Securities.
“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2005 among the Company, each Guarantor and the Trustee, as the same shall be amended and supplemented from time to time.
“NASD” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3(d)(xix) hereof.
“Notice and Questionnaire” means a Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
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The term “person” shall mean a corporation, association, limited liability company, partnership, organization, business, individual, government or political subdivision thereof or governmental agency.
“Purchase Agreement” shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 7, 2007, among the Purchasers, the Guarantors and the Company relating to the Securities.
“Purchasers” shall mean the Purchasers named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided, however, that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security upon the earliest to occur of the following: (i) in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has been exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security that, pursuant to the last two sentences of Section 2(a) hereof, is included in a prospectus for use in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be deemed to be a Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9 until resale of such Registrable Security has been effected within the 120-day period referred to in Section 2(a) hereof); (ii) in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement registering such Security under the Securities Act has been declared or becomes effective and such Security has been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder thereof pursuant to and in a manner contemplated by such effective Shelf Registration Statement; (iii) such Security is sold pursuant to Rule 144 under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Security relating to restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture; (iv) such Security is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144; or (v) such Security shall cease to be outstanding.
“Registration Default” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c) hereof.
“Registration Default Period” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c) hereof.
“Registration Expenses” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4 hereof.
“Resale Period” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
“Restricted Holder” shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires Exchange Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder’s business, (iii) a holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange Securities and (iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with respect to Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the broker-dealer directly from the Company.
“Rule 144,” “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B” and “Rule 433” shall mean, in each case, such rule promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time.
“Securities” shall mean, collectively, the 10.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 to be issued and sold to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and securities issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to the Indenture. Each Security is entitled to the benefit of the guarantees provided by the Guarantors in the Indenture (the
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“Guarantees”) and, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a “Security,” an “Exchange Security” or a “Registrable Security” shall include a reference to the related Guarantees.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time.
“Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Special Interest” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c) hereof.
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time.
“Trustee” shall mean HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture, together with any successors thereto in such capacity.
Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a “Section” or “clause” refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Agreement, and the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company agrees to file under the Securities Act, as soon as practicable, but no later than 120 days after the Closing Date, or if the 120th day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter, a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange (such registration statement, the “Exchange Registration Statement,” and such offer, the “Exchange Offer”) any and all of the Securities for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors, which debt securities and guarantee are substantially identical to the Securities and the related Guarantee, respectively (and are entitled to the benefits of a trust indenture which is substantially identical to the Indenture or is the Indenture and which has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act), except that they have been registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and do not contain provisions for the additional interest contemplated in Section 2(c) below (such new debt securities hereinafter called “Exchange Securities”). The Company agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than 210 days after the Closing Date, or if the 210th day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter. The Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate form and will comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. Unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company further agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to commence and complete the Exchange Offer promptly but no later than 45 business days after such registration statement has become effective, hold the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days and exchange Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to the expiration
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of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have been “completed” only if the debt securities and related guarantees received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are, upon receipt, transferable by each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (except for the requirement to deliver a prospectus included in the Exchange Registration Statement applicable to resales by any broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities other than those acquired by the broker-dealer directly from the Company) and without material restrictions under the blue sky or securities laws of a substantial majority of the States of the United States of America. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been completed upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Company having exchanged the Exchange Securities for all outstanding Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company having exchanged, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration of the Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is at least 30 days following the commencement of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees (x) to include in the Exchange Registration Statement a prospectus for use in any resales by any holder of Exchange Securities that is a broker-dealer and (y) to keep such Exchange Registration Statement effective for a period (the “Resale Period”) beginning when Exchange Securities are first issued in the Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the expiration of the 180th day after the Exchange Offer has been completed or such time as such broker-dealers no longer own any Registrable Securities. With respect to such Exchange Registration Statement, such holders shall have the benefit of the rights of indemnification and contribution set forth in Sections 6(a), (c), (d) and (e) hereof.
(b) If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not permitted to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy; (ii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 255 days following the Closing Date or (iii) any Restricted Holder notifies the Company prior to the 15th business day following consummation of the Exchange Offer that (a) it is prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (b) it may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus supplement contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales or (c) it is a broker-dealer and owns Securities acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company, the Company shall, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause (iii), in addition to) conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 2(a), file under the Securities Act as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than 45 Business Days after the time such obligation to file arises, a “shelf” registration statement providing for the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or delayed basis by the holders of, all of the Registrable Securities, pursuant to Rule 415 or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission (such filing, the “Shelf Registration” and such registration statement, the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Company agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to (x) cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become or be declared effective no later than 150 days after such Shelf Registration Statement is filed (provided, that if at any time the Company is or becomes a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405) and is eligible to file an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405), then the Company and the Guarantors shall file the Exchange Registration Statement in the form of an automatic shelf registration statement as provided in Rule 405) and to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective (other than during any Blackout Period (as defined in Section 2(f) below)) for a period ending on the earlier of the second anniversary of the Effective Time or such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding, provided, however, that no holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in
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the Shelf Registration Statement or to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities unless such holder is an Electing Holder, and (y) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, promptly upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, to take any action reasonably necessary to enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, any action necessary to identify such holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement (whether by post-effective amendment thereto or by filing a prospectus pursuant to Rules 430B and 424(b) under the Securities Act identifying such holder), provided, however, that nothing in this Clause (y) shall relieve any such holder of the obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(iii) hereof. The Company further agrees to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement, as and when required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration, and the Company agrees to furnish to each Electing Holder copies of any such supplement or amendment prior to its being used or promptly following its filing with the Commission.
(c) In the event that (i) the Company and the Guarantors have not filed the Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement on or before the date on which such registration statement is required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof, respectively, (ii) such Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement has not become effective or been declared effective by the Commission on or before the date on which such registration statement is required to become or be declared effective pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, (iii) the Exchange Offer, if any, has not been completed within 45 Business Days after the Effective Time of the Exchange Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer (if the Exchange Offer is then required to be made) or (iv) any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject to an effective stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement (except as specifically permitted herein, including any Blackout Period permitted herein) without being succeeded immediately by an additional registration statement filed and declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default” and each period during which a Registration Default(s) has occurred and is continuing, a “Registration Default Period”), then, as liquidated damages for such Registration Default(s), the Securities affected thereby will be subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), special interest (“Special Interest”), in addition to the Base Interest, shall accrue on the outstanding principal amount of such Securities at a per annum rate of 0.25% for the first 90 days of the Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.50% for the second 90 days of the Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.75% for the third 90 days of the Registration Default Period and at a per annum rate of 1.0% thereafter for the remaining portion of the Registration Default Period.
(d) The Company shall take, and shall cause the Guarantors to take, all actions necessary or advisable to be taken by them to ensure that the transactions contemplated herein are effected as so contemplated, including all actions necessary or desirable to register the Guarantee under the registration statement contemplated in Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof, as applicable.
(e) Any reference herein to a registration statement as of any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, therein by reference as
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of such time and any reference herein to any post-effective amendment to a registration statement as of any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time.
(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company, upon advising the Purchasers in writing, may, pursuant to the advice of outside counsel to the Company, delay the filing or effectiveness of any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement (if not filed or effective, as applicable) or suspend, or otherwise fail to maintain, the effectiveness thereof or cease to permit the use of the prospectus included therein for a period (the “Blackout Period”) not to exceed an aggregate of 60 days in any twelve consecutive month period in the event that (i) the Boards of Directors or Board of Managers, as the case may be, of the Company reasonably and in good faith determines that the premature disclosure of a material event at such time could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operations or prospects or (ii) the disclosure otherwise relates to a material business transaction which has not been publicly disclosed and the Boards of Directors or Board of Managers, as the case may be, of the Company reasonably and in good faith determines that any such disclosure could reasonably be expected to jeopardize the success of such transaction; provided, that, upon the termination of such Blackout Period, the Company promptly shall advise the Purchasers that such Blackout Period has been terminated.
3. Registration Procedures.
If the Company and the Guarantors file a registration statement pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Registration or the Shelf Registration, as the case may be, the Company shall qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(b) In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(c) In connection with the Company’s and the Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof (the “Exchange Registration”), if applicable, the Company and the Guarantors shall, as soon as reasonably practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as reasonably practicable but no later than 120 days after the Closing Date, or if the 120th day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter, an Exchange Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and the Guarantors and which shall permit the Exchange Offer and resales of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period to be effected as contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, and use all commercially practicable efforts to cause such Exchange Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, but no later than 210 days after the Closing Date, or if the 210th day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter;
(ii) as soon as reasonably practicable prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and maintain the
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effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement for the periods and purposes contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly provide each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such number of copies of the prospectus included therein (as then amended or supplemented), in conformity in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as such broker-dealer reasonably may request prior to the expiration of the Resale Period, for use in connection with resales of Exchange Securities;
(iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has requested or received copies of the prospectus included in such Exchange Registration Statement, and confirm such advice in writing, (A) when such Exchange Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Exchange Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by Section 5 hereof cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (F) the occurrence of any event that causes the Company to become an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 or (G) if at any time during the Resale Period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, that such Exchange Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(iv) in the event that the Company and the Guarantors would be required, pursuant to Section 3(c)(iii)(G) above, to notify any broker-dealers holding Exchange Securities, promptly prepare and furnish to each such holder a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such Exchange Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus shall conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and shall 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 in light of the circumstances then existing;
(v) use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;
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(vi) use all commercially reasonable efforts to (A) register or qualify the Exchange Securities under the securities laws or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof no later than the commencement of the Exchange Offer, to the extent required by such laws, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions until the expiration of the Resale Period and (C) take any and all other actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities to consummate the disposition thereof in such jurisdictions, provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantors shall be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section 3(c)(vi), (2) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or become subject to taxation in such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation, limited liability company agreement, by-laws or other governing documents, as applicable, or any agreement between it and its stockholders;
(vii) use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent or approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or local, which may be required to effect the Exchange Registration, the Exchange Offer and the offering and sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period;
(viii) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time; and
(ix) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and any national securities exchange or any quotation service on which the Exchange Securities may be listed or quoted, as applicable, and make generally available to its securityholders as soon as reasonably practicable but no later than eighteen months after the Effective Time of such Exchange Registration Statement, an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).
(d) In connection with the Company’s obligations with respect to the Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as reasonably practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b), a Shelf Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and which shall register all of the Registrable Securities for resale by the holders thereof in accordance with such method or methods of disposition as may be specified by such of the holders as, from time to time, may be Electing Holders and use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective (other than during any Blackout Period, as defined in Section 2(f) hereof) as soon as reasonably practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b) hereof;
(ii) (A) mail the Notice and Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable Securities not less than 30 calendar days prior to the anticipated Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement or (B) in the case of an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405), mail the Notice and Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable Securities not later than the Effective Time of such Shelf Registration Statement, and in any such case no holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling
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securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement, and no holder shall be entitled to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities at any time, unless and until such holder has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company by the deadline for response set forth therein; provided, however, holders of Registrable Securities shall have at least 28 calendar days from the date on which the Notice and Questionnaire is first mailed to such holders to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly send a Notice and Questionnaire to such holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to take any action to name such holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities until such holder has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iv) as soon as reasonably practicable, prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement for the period specified in Section 2(b) hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such Shelf Registration Statement, and furnish to the Electing Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment simultaneously with or prior to its being used or filed with the Commission to the extent such documents are not publicly available on the Commission’s EDGAR System;
(v) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Electing Holders provided for in such Shelf Registration Statement;
(vi) provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the underwriters (which term, for purposes of this Agreement, shall include a person deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), if any, thereof, (C) any sales or placement agent therefor, (D) counsel for any such underwriter or agent and (E) not more than one counsel for all the Electing Holders the opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission and each amendment or supplement thereto;
(vii) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, and throughout the period specified in Section 2(b) hereof, make available at reasonable times at the Company’s principal place of business or such other reasonable place for inspection by the persons referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) hereof who shall certify to the Company that they have a current intention to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration such financial and other information and books and records of the Company, and cause the officers, employees, counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company to respond to such inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the judgment of the respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) hereof, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided,
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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 as being confidential, until such time as (A) such information becomes a matter of public record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such Shelf Registration Statement or otherwise, but not because of disclosure by such person or its representatives that was otherwise in breach of this provision), or (B) such person shall be required so to disclose such information pursuant to a 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 Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or in an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to such prospectus in order that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case may be, complies with applicable requirements of the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Commission and 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 in light of the circumstances then existing;
(viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders, any sales or placement agent therefor and any underwriter thereof (which notification may be made through any managing underwriter that is a representative of such underwriter for such purpose) and confirm such advice in writing, (A) when such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by Section 3(d)(xvii) or Section 5 hereof cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (F) the occurrence of any event that causes the Company to become an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405, or (G) if at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(ix) use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;
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(x) if requested by any managing underwriter or underwriters, any placement or sales agent or any Electing Holder, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as is required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and as such managing underwriter or underwriters, such agent or such Electing Holder reasonably specifies should be included therein relating to the terms of the sale of such Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the principal amount of Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to any underwriters, the name and description of such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, the offering price of such Registrable Securities and any discount, commission or other compensation payable in respect thereof, the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters and with respect to any other material terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to such underwriters; and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(xi) furnish to each Electing Holder, each placement or sales agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any, thereof and the respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) hereof an executed copy (or, in the case of an Electing Holder, a conformed copy) of such Shelf Registration Statement, each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto (in the case of an Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number of copies of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein unless specifically so requested by such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, as the case may be) and of the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), in conformity in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder to the extent such documents are not available through the Commission’s EDGAR System, and such other documents, as such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the offering and disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Electing Holder, offered or sold by such agent or underwritten by such underwriter and to permit such Electing Holder, agent and underwriter to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act; and the Company hereby consents to the use of such prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto by each such Electing Holder and by any such agent and underwriter, in each case in the form most recently provided to such person by the Company, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus) or any supplement or amendment thereto;
(xii) use all commercially reasonable efforts to (A) register or qualify the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement under such securities laws or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Electing Holder and each placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and underwriter, if any, thereof shall reasonably request, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect (other than during any Blackout Period) and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the period the Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective under Section
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2(b) above and for so long as may be necessary to enable any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter to complete its distribution (as long as such distribution is commenced during the period the Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective under Section 2(b) above) of Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement and (C) take any and all other actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantors shall be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section 3(d)(xii), (2) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or become subject to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation, limited liability company agreement, by-laws or other governing documents, as applicable, or any agreement between it and its stockholders;
(xiii) use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent or approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or local, which may be required to effect the Shelf Registration or the offering or sale in connection therewith or to enable the selling holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the disposition of, their Registrable Securities;
(xiv) unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry only form, cooperate with the Electing Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates, if so required by any securities exchange upon which any Registrable Securities are listed, shall be printed, penned, lithographed or engraved, or produced by any combination of such methods, on steel engraved borders, and which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends; and, in the case of an underwritten offering, enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriters may request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of the Registrable Securities;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time;
(xvi) enter into one or more underwriting agreements, engagement letters, agency agreements, “commercially reasonable efforts” underwriting agreements or similar agreements, as appropriate, including customary provisions relating to indemnification and contribution, and take such other actions in connection therewith as any Electing Holders aggregating at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding shall request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(xvii) whether or not an agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof is entered into and whether or not any portion of the offering contemplated by the Shelf Registration is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent or any other entity, (A) make such representations and warranties to the Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof in form, substance and scope as are customarily made in connection with an offering of debt securities pursuant to any appropriate agreement or to a registration statement filed on the form applicable to the Shelf Registration;
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(B) obtain an opinion of counsel (which may be in-house counsel) to the Company in customary form and covering such matters, of the type customarily covered by such an opinion, as the managing underwriters, if any, or as any Electing Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding may reasonably request, addressed to such Electing Holder or Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof and dated the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (and if such Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten offering of a part or all of the Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign entities in states where they transact business; the due authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof; the due authorization, execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of the Registrable Securities, Securities or Exchange Securities as applicable; the absence of material legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company; the absence of a breach by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of, or a default under, material agreements binding upon the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; the absence of governmental approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration, the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities, this Agreement or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof, except such approvals as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws; the material compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from the documents incorporated by reference therein (in each case other than the financial statements and other financial information contained therein) of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of such documents, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act)); (C) obtain a “cold comfort” letter or letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company addressed to the selling Electing Holders, the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor or the underwriters, if any, thereof, dated (i) the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the effective date of any prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in such prospectus (and, if such Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten offering pursuant to any prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in such prospectus, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement relating thereto), such letter or letters to be in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by letters of such type; (D) deliver such documents and certificates,
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including officers’ certificates, as may be reasonably requested by any Electing Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding or the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof to evidence the accuracy of the representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (A) above or those contained in Section 5(a) hereof and the compliance with or satisfaction of any agreements or conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company or the Guarantors; and (E) undertake such obligations relating to expense reimbursement, indemnification and contribution as are provided in Section 6 hereof;
(xviii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable Securities of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any provision of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9(h) hereof and of any amendment or waiver effected pursuant thereto, each of which notices shall contain the text of the amendment or waiver proposed or effected, as the case may be;
(xix) in the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Registrable Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the “Conduct Rules”) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) or any successor thereto, as amended from time to time) thereof, whether as a holder of such Registrable Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Conduct Rules, including by (A) if such Conduct Rules shall so require, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in such Conduct Rules) to participate in the preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement relating to such Registrable Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Shelf Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Registrable Securities, (B) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 6 hereof (or to such other customary extent as may be requested by such underwriter) and (C) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Conduct Rules; and
(xx) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and any national securities exchange or any quotation service on which the Securities may be listed or quoted, as applicable, and make generally available to its securityholders as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event not later than eighteen months after the Effective Time of such Shelf Registration Statement, an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).
(e) In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(G) above, to notify the Electing Holders, the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof, the Company shall promptly prepare and furnish to each of the Electing Holders, to each placement or sales agent, if any, and to each such underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of Registrable Securities, such
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prospectus shall conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and shall 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 in light of the circumstances then existing. Each Electing Holder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(G) hereof, such Electing Holder shall forthwith discontinue the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement applicable to such Registrable Securities until such Electing Holder shall have received copies of such amended or supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the Company, such Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Electing Holder’s possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.
(f) In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its Notice and Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to furnish to the Company such additional information regarding such Electing Holder and such Electing Holder’s intended method of distribution of Registrable Securities as may be required or necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act. Each such Electing Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by such Electing Holder to the Company or of the occurrence of any event in either case as a result of which any prospectus relating to such Shelf Registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder’s intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities or omits to state any material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder’s intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly to 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 Electing Holder or the disposition of such Registrable 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 in light of the circumstances then existing.
(g) Until the expiration of two years after the Closing Date, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 144) to, resell any of the Securities that have been reacquired by any of them except pursuant to an effective registration statement under or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
(h) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each holder of Registrable Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, a written representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal or “agent’s message” transmitted via The Depository Trust Company’s Automated Tender Offer Procedures, in either case contemplated by the Exchange Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an “affiliate” of the Company, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, or if it is such an “affiliate”, it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (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 Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Securities in its ordinary course of business, (D) if it is a broker-dealer that holds Securities that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Securities acquired directly from the Company
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or any of its affiliates), it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Securities received by it in the Exchange Offer, (E) if it is a broker-dealer, that it did not purchase the Securities to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer from the Company or any of its affiliates, and (F) it is not acting on behalf of any person who could not truthfully and completely make the representations contained in the foregoing subclauses (A) through (E).
4. Registration Expenses.
The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly all expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including (a) all Commission and any NASD registration, filing and review fees and expenses including with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement fees and disbursements of counsel for the placement or sales agent or underwriters in connection with any such registration, filing and review, (b) all fees and expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in Section 3(d)(xii) hereof and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as any managing underwriters or the Electing Holders may designate, including with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement any fees and disbursements of counsel for the Electing Holders or underwriters in connection with such qualification and determination, (c) all expenses relating to the preparation, printing, production, distribution and reproduction of each registration statement required to be filed hereunder, each prospectus included therein or prepared for distribution pursuant hereto, each amendment or supplement to the foregoing, the expenses of preparing the Securities for delivery and the expenses of printing or producing any underwriting agreements, agreements among underwriters, selling agreements and blue sky or legal investment memoranda and all other documents in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of Securities to be disposed of (including certificates representing the Securities), (d) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses relating to the offering, sale or delivery of Securities and the preparation of documents referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and any counsel for the Trustee and of any collateral agent or custodian, (f) internal expenses of the Company (including all salaries and expenses of the Company’s officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (g) fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any opinions or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance), (h) fees, disbursements and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” engaged pursuant to Section 3(d)(xix) hereof, (i) fees, disbursements and expenses of one counsel for the Electing Holders retained in connection with a Shelf Registration, as selected by the Electing Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by Electing Holders (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (j) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities, and (k) fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons, including special experts, retained by the Company in connection with such registration (collectively, the “Registration Expenses”). To the extent that any Registration Expenses are incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of Registrable Securities or any placement or sales agent therefor or underwriter thereof, the Company shall reimburse such person for the full amount of the Registration Expenses so incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a request therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable Securities being registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities and the fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisors or experts retained by such holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel and experts specifically referred to above.
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5. Representations and Warranties.
The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Purchaser and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities that:
(a) Each registration statement covering Registrable Securities and each prospectus (including any preliminary or summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 3(d) hereof and any further amendments or supplements to any such registration statement or prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the Commission, as the case may be, and, in the case of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, at the time of the closing under the underwriting agreement relating thereto, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and at all times subsequent to the Effective Time when a prospectus would be required to be delivered under the Securities Act, other than (A) from (i) such time as a notice has been given to holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(G) or Section 3(c)(iii)(G) hereof until (ii) such time as the Company furnishes an amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to Section 3(e) or Section 3(c)(iv) hereof or (B) during any Blackout Period, each such registration statement, and each prospectus (including any summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 3(d) hereof, as then amended or supplemented, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(b) Any documents incorporated by reference in any prospectus referred to in Section 5(a) hereof, when they become or became effective or are or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform or conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents will contain or contained an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(c) The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, as amended, certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement or other governing documents, as applicable, or the by-laws of the Company or the Guarantors or any statute or any order, rule
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or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company and the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities, qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under State securities or blue sky laws in connection with the offering and distribution of the Securities.
(d) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold harmless each of the holders of Registrable Securities included in an Exchange Registration Statement, each of the Electing Holders of Registrable Securities included in a Shelf Registration Statement and each person who participates as a placement or sales agent or as an underwriter in any offering or sale of such Registrable Securities against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such holder, agent or underwriter may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus (including, without limitation, any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433) contained therein or furnished by the Company to any such holder, Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse such holder, such Electing Holder, such agent and such underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantors shall be liable to any such person in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, or preliminary, final or summary prospectus (including, without limitation, any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433), or amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such person expressly for use therein; provided, further, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantors will be liable to any such person with respect to any preliminary prospectus to the extent that it shall be proven in a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arose out of or was based upon the fact that such person sold securities to a person to whom such selling person failed to send or give, at or prior to the time of sale, a copy of the final prospectus as then amended or supplemented if (i) the Company has previously furnished copies thereof (sufficiently in advance of the time of sale to allow for distribution by the time of sale) to such selling person and the loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such selling person arose out of or was based upon an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in or omitted from the preliminary prospectus which was corrected in the final prospectus
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prior to the time of sale and (ii) the delivery of such final prospectus by the time of sale by such selling person would have cured such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense asserted by such party or parties.
(b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and Underwriters. The Company may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof and to entering into any underwriting agreement with respect thereto, that the Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from each Electing Holder of Registrable Securities and from each underwriter named in any such underwriting agreement, severally and not jointly, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors and all other holders of Registrable Securities, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company, the Guarantors or such other holders of Registrable Securities may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus (including, without limitation, any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433) contained therein or furnished by the Company to any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Electing Holder or underwriter expressly for use therein and (ii) reimburse the Company and the Guarantors for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Electing Holder shall be required to undertake liability to any person under this Section 6(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds to be received by such Electing Holder from the sale of such Electing Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.
(c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party pursuant to the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by this Section 6, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, such indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any
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judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. The indemnifying party shall not be required to indemnify the indemnified party for any amount paid or payable by the indemnified party in the settlement or compromise of, or entry into any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder without the written consent of the indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provisions contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) hereof are unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, 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 such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders or any agents or underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such holder from the sale of any Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions applicable thereto) exceeds the amount of any damages which such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, and no underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The holders’ and any underwriters’ obligations in this Section 6(d) to contribute shall be several in proportion to the principal amount of Registrable Securities registered or underwritten, as the case may be, by them and not joint.
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(e) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company or the Guarantors may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director and partner of each holder, agent and underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any holder, agent or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act; and the obligations of the holders and any agents or underwriters contemplated by this Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective holder, agent or underwriter may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company or the Guarantors (including any person who, with his consent, is named in any registration statement as about to become a director of the Company or the Guarantors) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act.
7. Underwritten Offerings.
(a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof shall be designated by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in such offering, provided that such designated managing underwriter or underwriters is or are reasonably acceptable to the Company.
(b) Participation by Holders. Each holder of Registrable Securities hereby agrees with each other such holder that no such holder may participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless such holder (i) agrees to sell such holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis 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.
8. Rule 144.
The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that to the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (including the reports under Section 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 adopted by the Commission under the Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, and shall take such further action as any holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar or successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities in connection with that holder’s sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant, registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities or any other securities which would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this Agreement.
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(b) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that there would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder and that the Purchasers and the holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities may be irreparably harmed by any such failure, and accordingly agree that the Purchasers and such holders, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in any court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction.
(c) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally, by facsimile or by courier, or five Business Days after being deposited in the mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If to the Company, to it at NewPage Corporation, 8540 Gander Creek Drive, Miamisburg, Ohio 45342, Attention: Corporate Secretary, with copies to Michael R. Littenberg, Esq., Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, and if to a holder, to the address of such holder set forth in the security register or other records of the Company, or to such other address as the Company or any such holder may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
(d) Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and the holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities and the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto and such holders. In the event that any transferee of any holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase, operation of law or otherwise, such transferee shall, without any further writing or action of any kind, be deemed a beneficiary hereof for all purposes and such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such transferee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of, and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by all of the applicable terms and provisions of this Agreement. If the Company shall so request, any such successor, assign or transferee shall agree in writing to acquire and hold the Registrable Securities subject to all of the applicable terms hereof.
(e) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and each other provision set forth in this Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation (or statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of Registrable Securities, any director, officer or partner of such holder, any agent or underwriter or any director, officer or partner thereof, or any controlling person of any of the foregoing, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the transfer and registration of Registrable Securities by such holder and the consummation of an Exchange Offer.
(f) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(g) Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(h) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the other writings referred to herein (including the Indenture and the form of Securities) or delivered pursuant hereto
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which form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding. Each holder of any Registrable Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section 9(h), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or waiver appears on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.
(i) Inspection. For so long as this Agreement shall be in effect, this Agreement and a complete list of the names and addresses of all the holders of Registrable Securities shall be made available as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than after five days’ notice, for inspection and copying on any Business Day by any holder of Registrable Securities for proper purposes only (which shall include any purpose related to the rights of the holders of Registrable Securities under the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement) at the offices of the Company at the address thereof set forth in Section 9(c) above and at the office of the Trustee under the Indenture.
(j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
(k) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained in this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us one for the Company, each of the Guarantors and each of the Representatives plus one for each counsel counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Purchasers, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Purchasers, the Guarantors and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Purchasers is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Purchasers, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| NewPage Corporation | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Assistant Treasurer | |
| Chillicothe Paper Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| Escanaba Paper Company | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| Luke Paper Company (formerly MeadWestvaco Maryland, Inc.) | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
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| Rumford Paper Company (formerly MeadWestvaco Oxford Corporation) | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| Wickliffe Paper Company | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| NewPage Energy Services LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| Upland Resources Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| Rumford Cogeneration Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| Rumford Falls Power Company | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
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| Stora Enso North America Inc. (to be renamed NewPage Consolidated Papers Inc.) | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| Stora Enso North America Corp. (to be renamed NewPage Wisconsin System Inc.) | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| Stora Enso North America Canadian Sales, LLC (to be renamed NewPage Canadian Sales LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
| Stora Enso Port Hawkesbury Limited (to be renamed NewPage Port Hawkesbury Limited) | ||
| By: | /s/ Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Name: | Timothy D. Nusbaum | |
| Title: | Treasurer | |
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| Accepted as of the date hereof: | ||
| Goldman, Sachs & Co. | ||
| By: | /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co. | |
| (Goldman, Sachs & Co.) | ||
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SCHEDULE 1
Guarantors
Existing Guarantors:
Chillicothe Paper Inc.
Escanaba Paper Company
Luke Paper Company (formerly MeadWestvaco Maryland Inc.)
Rumford Paper Company (formerly MeadWestvaco Oxford Corporation)
Wickliffe Paper Company
NewPage Energy Services LLC (formerly MeadWestvaco Energy Services LLC)
Upland Resources Inc.
Rumford Cogeneration Inc.
Rumford Falls Power Company
SENA Guarantors:
Stora Enso North America Inc. (to be renamed NewPage Consolidated Papers Inc.
Stora Enso North America Corp. (to be renamed NewPage Wisconsin System Inc.)
Stora Enso North America Canadian Sales, LLC (to be renamed NewPage Canadian Sales LLC)
Stora Enso Port Hawkesbury Limited (to be renamed NewPage Port Hawkesbury Limited)
Exhibit A
NewPage Corporation
INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS
(Date of Mailing)
URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE] *
The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) has identified you as a DTC Participant through which beneficial interests in the NewPage Corporation (the “Company”) 10.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 (the “Securities”) are held.
The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof. In order to have their Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial owners must complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire.
It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a copy of the enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the Securities included in the registration statement depend upon their returning the Notice and Questionnaire by [Deadline For Response]. Please forward a copy of the enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the Securities through you. If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact NewPage Corporation, 8540 Gander Creek Drive, Miamisburg, Ohio 45342, Attention: Corporate Secretary, (877) ###-###-####.
| * | Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing. |
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NewPage Corporation
Notice of Registration Statement
and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
(Date)
Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the “Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement”) between NewPage Corporation (the “Company”) and the Purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form [ ] (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Company’s 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 (the “Securities”). A copy of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below) is entitled to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included in the Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire (“Notice and Questionnaire”) must be completed, executed and delivered to the Company’s counsel at the address set forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [Deadline for Response]. Beneficial owners of Registrable Securities who do not properly complete, execute and return this Notice and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as selling securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
The term “Registrable Securities” is defined in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
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ELECTION
The undersigned holder (the “Selling Securityholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3). The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees to be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were an original party thereto.
Pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the undersigned has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers who sign any Shelf Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), against certain loses arising out of an untrue statement, or the alleged untrue statement, of a material fact in the Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus (including, without limitation, any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433) or the omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus, but only to the extent such untrue statement or omission, or alleged untrue statement or omission, was made in reliance on and in conformity with the information provided in this Notice and Questionnaire.
Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus and as Exhibit B to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and complete:
A-3
QUESTIONNAIRE
| (1) | (a) | Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder: |
| (b) | Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a) above) of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below: |
| (c) | Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same as (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below are Held: |
| (2) | Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder: |
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| Telephone: |
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| Fax: |
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| Contact Person: |
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| (3) | Beneficial Ownership of Securities: |
Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not beneficially own any Securities.
| (a) | Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned: |
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:
| (b) | Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities beneficially owned: |
CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:
| (c) | Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the undersigned wishes to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement: |
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:
| (4) | Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company: |
Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any other securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed above in Item (3).
State any exceptions here:
| (5) | Individuals who exercise dispositive powers with respect to the Securities: |
If the Selling Securityholder is not an entity that is required to file reports with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (a “Reporting
A-4
Company”), then the Selling Securityholder must disclose the name of the natural person(s) who exercise sole or shared dispositive powers with respect to the Securities. Selling Securityholders should disclose the beneficial holders, not nominee holders or other such others of record. In addition, the Commission has provided guidance that Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 should be used by analogy when determining the person or persons sharing voting and/or dispositive powers with respect to the Securities.
| (a) | Is the holder a Reporting Company? |
| Yes | No |
If “No”, please answer Item (5)(b).
| (b) | List below the individual or individuals who exercise dispositive powers with respect to the Securities: |
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Please note that the names of the persons listed in (b) above will be included in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
| (6) | Relationships with the Company: |
Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5% or more) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
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| (7) | Plan of Distribution: |
Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3) only as follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to time directly by the undersigned Selling Securityholder. Such Registrable Securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv) through the writing of options. In connection with sales of the Registrable Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Registrable Securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Securityholder may also sell Registrable Securities short and deliver Registrable Securities to close out such short positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.
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State any exceptions here:
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Note: In no event may such method(s) of distribution take the form of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities without the prior written agreement of the Company.
| (8) | Broker-Dealers: |
The Commission requires that all Selling Securityholders that are registered broker-dealers or affiliates of registered broker-dealers be so identified in the Shelf Registration Statement. In addition, the Commission requires that all Selling Securityholders that are registered broker-dealers be named as underwriters in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus, even if they did not receive the Registrable Securities as compensation for underwriting activities.
| (a) | State whether the undersigned Selling Securityholder is a registered broker-dealer: |
| Yes | No |
| (b) | If the answer to (a) is “Yes”, you must answer (i) and (ii) below, and (iii) below if applicable. Your answers to (i) and (ii) below, and (iii) below if applicable, will be included in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. |
| (i) | Were the Securities acquired as compensation for underwriting activities? |
| Yes | No |
If you answered “Yes”, please provide a brief description of the transaction(s) in which the Securities were acquired as compensation:
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| (ii) | Were the Securities acquired for investment purposes? |
| Yes | No |
| (iii) | If you answered “No” to both (i) and (ii), please explain the Selling Securityholder’s reason for acquiring the Securities: |
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| (c) | State whether the undersigned Selling Securityholder is an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer and, if so, list the name(s) of the broker-dealer affiliate(s): |
| Yes | No |
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A-6
| (d) | If you answered “Yes” to question (c) above: |
| (i) | Did the undersigned Selling Securityholder purchase Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business? |
| Yes | No |
If the answer is “No” to question (d)(i), provide a brief explanation of the circumstances in which the Selling Securityholder acquired the Registrable Securities:
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| (ii) | At the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities, did the undersigned Selling Securityholder have any agreements, understandings or arrangements, directly or indirectly, with any person to dispose of or distribute the Registrable Securities? |
| Yes | No |
If the answer is “Yes” to question (d)(ii), provide a brief explanation of such agreements, understandings or arrangements:
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If the answer is “No” to Item (8)(d)(i) or “Yes” to Item (8)(d)(ii), you will be named as an underwriter in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus.
| (9) | Hedging and short sales: |
| (a) | State whether the undersigned Selling Securityholder has or will enter into “hedging transactions” with respect to the Registrable Securities: |
| Yes | No |
If “Yes”, provide below a complete description of the hedging transactions into which the undersigned Selling Securityholder has entered or will enter and the purpose of such hedging transactions, including the extent to which such hedging transactions remain in place:
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| (b) | Set forth below is Interpretation A.65 of the Commission’s July 1997 Manual of Publicly Available Interpretations regarding short selling: |
“An issuer filed a Form S-3 registration statement for a secondary offering of common stock which is not yet effective. One of the selling shareholders wanted to do a short sale of common stock “against the box” and cover the short sale with registered shares after the effective date. The issuer was advised that the short sale could not be made
A-7
before the registration statement becomes effective, because the shares underlying the short sale are deemed to be sold at the time such sale is made. There would, therefore, be a violation of Section 5 if the shares were effectively sold prior to the effective date.”
By returning this Notice and Questionnaire, the undersigned Selling Securityholder will be deemed to be aware of the foregoing interpretation.
* * * * *
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly Regulation M (or any successor rule or regulation).
The Selling Securityholder hereby acknowledges its obligations under the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and certain other persons as set forth in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees to notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (9) above and the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
In accordance with the Selling Securityholder’s obligation under Section 3(d) of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect and to provide such additional information that the Company may reasonably request regarding such Selling Securityholder and the intended method of distribution of Registrable Securities in order to comply with the Securities Act. Except as otherwise provided in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, all notices hereunder and pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery, first-class mail, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:
| (i) To the Company: | ||
| NewPage Corporation | ||
| 8540 Gander Creek Drive | ||
| Miamisburg, Ohio 45342 | ||
| Attention: Corporate Secretary | ||
| (ii) With a copy to: | Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP | |
| 919 Third Avenue | ||
| New York, New York 10022 | ||
| Attention: Michael R. Littenberg, Esq. | ||
A-8
Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and received by the Company’s counsel, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire, and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be binding on, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the Company and the Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above). This Notice and Questionnaire shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York.
A-9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.
Dated:
|
| ||
| Selling Securityholder | ||
| (Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable Securities) | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY’S COUNSEL AT:
| Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP | ||||
| 919 Third Avenue | ||||
| New York, New York 10022 | ||||
| Attention: Michael R. Littenberg, Esq. | ||||
A-10
Exhibit B
NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
HSBC Bank USA, National Association
NewPage Corporation
c/o HSBC Bank USA, National Association
452 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10018
Attention: Trust Officer
| Re: | NewPage Corporation (the “Company”) 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 |
Dear Sirs:
Please be advised that has transferred $ aggregate principal amount 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 pursuant to an effective Registration Statement on Form [ ] (File No. 333- ) filed by the Company.
We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a “Selling Holder” in the Prospectus dated [ , 2008] or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate principal amount of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in such Prospectus opposite such owner’s name.
Dated:
| Very truly yours, | ||
|
| ||
| (Name) | ||
| By: |
| |
| (Authorized Signature) | ||
B-1
