REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 7, 2005
among
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.
and
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this 7th day of June, 2005, among Simon Property Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), and Banc of America Securities LLC (“BofA”), Credit Suisse First Boston LLC (“Credit Suisse”), Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (“Morgan Stanley”) and the other Initial Purchasers named in Schedule 1 to the Purchase Agreement (as hereinafter defined) (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated June 1, 2005, among the Operating Partnership and the Initial Purchasers (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Operating Partnership to the Initial Purchasers of an aggregate of $400,000,000 principal amount of the Operating Partnership’s 4.60% senior unsecured notes due 2010 and an aggregate of $600,000,000 principal amount of the Operating Partnership’s 5.10% senior unsecured notes due 2015 (collectively, the “Securities”). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Operating Partnership has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
“1933 Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“1934 Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“BofA” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Closing Date” shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
“Credit Suisse” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Depositary” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other depositary appointed by the Operating Partnership, provided, however, that such depositary must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in the City of New York.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Operating Partnership of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form), and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all documents incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean the 4.60% senior unsecured notes due 2010 and the 5.10% senior unsecured notes due 2015 issued by the Operating Partnership under the Indenture containing
terms identical to the Securities in all material respects (except for references to certain interest rate provisions, restrictions on transfers and restrictive legends), to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
“Holder” shall mean an Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture and each Participating Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange Securities for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer is required to deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of November 26, 1996, between the Operating Partnership, Simon Property Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (which, effective December 31, 1997, was merged into the Operating Partnership) and The Chase Manhattan Bank (now, JPMorgan Chase Bank), as trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Initial Purchaser” or “Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding (as defined in the Indenture) Registrable Securities; provided, that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Operating Partnership and other obligors or any Affiliate (as defined in the Indenture) of the Operating Partnership shall be disregarded in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage amount.
“Morgan Stanley” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Operating Partnership” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Operating Partnership’s successors.
“Participating Broker-Dealer” shall mean any of BofA, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, UBS and Wachovia and, if applicable, any other broker-dealer which makes a market in the Securities and exchanges Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer for Exchange Securities.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership (general or limited), corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Private Exchange” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
“Private Exchange Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including any such prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities and, if issued, the Private Exchange Securities; provided, however, the Securities and, if issued, the Private Exchange Securities, shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any
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similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act, (iii) such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, or (iv) the Exchange Offer is consummated (except in the case of Securities purchased from the Operating Partnership and continued to be held by the Initial Purchasers).
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Operating Partnership with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) registration and filing fees, including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” (and its counsel) that is required to be retained by any holder of Registrable Securities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws and compliance with the rules of the NASD (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with the blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities and any filings with the NASD), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing, if any, of any of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or exchanges, (v) all rating agency fees, (vi) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Operating Partnership and of the independent public accountants of the Operating Partnership, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, and any escrow agent or custodian, (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of the Initial Purchasers in connection with the Exchange Offer, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection therewith, (ix) the reasonable fees and disbursements of any special counsel representing the Holders of Registrable Securities, and (x) any fees and disbursements of the underwriters customarily required to be paid by issuers or sellers of securities and the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Operating Partnership in connection with any Registration Statement, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Operating Partnership which covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency or government body performing the functions currently performed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Operating Partnership pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities or all of the Private Exchange Securities on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
“TIA” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.
“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.
“UBS” shall mean UBS Securities LLC.
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“Wachovia” shall mean Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
2.1 Exchange Offer. The Operating Partnership shall, for the benefit of the Holders, at the Operating Partnership’s cost, (A) use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and, as soon as practicable but not later than 90 days after the Closing Date, file with the SEC an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the 1933 Act with respect to a proposed Exchange Offer and the issuance and delivery to the Holders, in exchange for the Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange Securities), of a like principal amount of Exchange Securities, (B) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective under the 1933 Act within 150 days of the Closing Date, (C) use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer, and (D) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be consummated not later than 180 days following the Closing Date. The Exchange Securities shall be issued under the Indenture. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Operating Partnership shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder eligible and electing to exchange Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the Operating Partnership within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, (b) is not a broker-dealer tendering Registrable Securities acquired directly from the Operating Partnership for its own account, (c) acquired the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business, or (d) has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Securities) to transfer such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act and under state securities or blue sky laws.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Operating Partnership shall:
(a) mail as promptly as practicable to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not less than 30 calendar days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law) (such period referred to herein as the “Exchange Period”);
(c) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Securities at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), on the last business day of the Exchange Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing such Holder’s election to have such Securities exchanged;
(e) notify each Holder that any Registrable Security not tendered shall remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but shall not retain any rights under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and
(f) otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws relating to the Exchange Offer.
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If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial Purchasers hold any Securities acquired by them and having the status of an unsold allotment in the initial distribution, the Operating Partnership upon the request of any Initial Purchaser shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in exchange (the “Private Exchange”) for the Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Operating Partnership that are identical (except that such securities shall bear appropriate transfer restrictions) to the Exchange Securities (the “Private Exchange Securities”).
The Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities shall be issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects to the Indenture and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA, or is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the Exchange Securities shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture but that the Private Exchange Securities shall be subject to such transfer restrictions. The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities or the Securities shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. The Private Exchange Securities shall be of the same series as and the Operating Partnership shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have the Private Exchange Securities bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities. The Operating Partnership shall not have any liability under this Agreement solely as a result of such Private Exchange Securities not bearing the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and/or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Operating Partnership shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Registrable Securities duly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the letter of transmittal which shall be an exhibit thereto;
(ii) accept for exchange all Securities properly tendered pursuant to the Private Exchange;
(iii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(iv) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, to each Holder of Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security shall accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on the Registrable Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Registrable Securities, from the date of original issuance. The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to any conditions, other than (i) that the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, or the making of any exchange by a Holder, does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) the due tendering of Registrable Securities in accordance with the Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange, (iii) that each Holder of Registrable Securities exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall have represented that all Exchange Securities to be received by it shall be acquired in the ordinary course of its business and that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer it shall have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) of the Exchange Securities and shall have made such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules,
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regulations or interpretations to render the use of Form S-4 or other appropriate form under the 1933 Act available, and (iv) that no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange which, in the Operating Partnership’s judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Operating Partnership to proceed with the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange. The Operating Partnership shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
2.2 Shelf Registration.
(a) If, because of any changes in law, SEC rules or regulations or applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the SEC, the Operating Partnership is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2.1 hereof, (ii) if for any other reason the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180 days after the original issue of the Registrable Securities, or (iii) if a Holder is not permitted to participate in the Exchange Offer or does not receive fully tradeable Exchange Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer (other than due solely to the status of such holder as an affiliate of the Operating Partnership within the meaning of the 1933 Act or as a broker dealer), then in case of each of clauses (i) through (iii) the Operating Partnership shall (x) promptly deliver to the holders written notice thereof and (y) at the Operating Partnership’s sole expense:
(b) As promptly as practicable, (but in no event more than 60 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Agreement) file with the SEC, and thereafter shall use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 60 days after such filing), a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Majority Holders participating in the Shelf Registration and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, or for such shorter period that will terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or cease to be outstanding or otherwise to be Registrable Securities (the “Effectiveness Period”); provided, however, that the Effectiveness Period in respect of the Shelf Registration Statement shall be extended to the extent required to permit dealers to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174 under the 1933 Act and as otherwise provided herein.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, use its best efforts to ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any supplement to such Prospectus (as amended or supplemented from time to time), does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to include any of its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder agrees in writing to be
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bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder and furnishes to the Operating Partnership in writing within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Operating Partnership may, after conferring with counsel, reasonably request for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish to the Operating Partnership all information with respect to such Holder necessary to make the information previously furnished to the Operating Partnership by such Holder not materially misleading.
The Operating Partnership shall not permit any securities other than Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement. The Operating Partnership further agrees, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, as required by Section 3(b) below, and to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
2.3 Expenses. The Operating Partnership shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
2.4 Effectiveness.
(a) The Operating Partnership shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite period if the Operating Partnership voluntarily takes any action that would, or omits to take any action which omission would, result in any such Registration Statement not being declared effective or in the Holders of Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Securities during that period as and to the extent contemplated hereby, unless such action is required by applicable law.
(b) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that if, after it has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement shall be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such interference, until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume.
2.5 Interest. The Indenture executed in connection with the Securities shall provide that if (i) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the 90th day following the Closing Date, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the 150th day following the Closing Date, (iii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 180th day following the Closing Date, (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the 60th day following the date the obligation arises or (v) the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the 60th day following the date the Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Special Interest Premium shall accrue from and including the next day following each of (a) such 90-day period in the case of clause (i) above, (b) such 150-day period in the case of clause (ii) above, (c) such 180-day period in the case of clause (iii) above, and (d) such 60-day periods in the case of clauses (iv) and (v) above, in each case at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum. The aggregate amount of the Special Interest Premium payable pursuant to the above provisions shall in no event exceed 0.50% per annum. If the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the 150th day following the Closing Date and the Operating Partnership shall request
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holders of Securities to provide the information called for by the Registration Rights Agreement referred to herein for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Securities owned by holders who do not deliver such information to the Operating Partnership when required pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall not be entitled to any such increase in the interest rate for any day after the Operating Partnership has filed the Shelf Registration Statement. Upon (1) the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement after the 90-day period described in clause (i) above, (2) the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement after the 150-day period described in clause (ii) above, (3) the consummation of the Exchange Offer after the 180-day period described in clause (iii) above, (4) the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement after the 60-day period described in clause (iv) above or (5) the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement after the 60-day period described in clause (v) above, the interest rate on each series of Securities from the date of such filing, effectiveness or consummation, as the case may be, shall be reduced to the original interest rate.
If a Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective pursuant to the foregoing paragraphs, and if the Operating Partnership fails to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously (x) effective or (y) useable for resales for the period required by this Agreement due to certain circumstances relating to pending corporate developments, public filings with the Commission and similar events, or because the Prospectus contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and such failure continues for more than 60 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period (the 61st day being referred to as the “Default Day”), then from the Default Day until the earlier of (i) the date that the Shelf Registration Statement is again deemed effective or is useable, (ii) the date that is the second anniversary of the Closing Date (or, if Rule 144(k) is amended to provide a shorter restrictive period, the end of such shorter period) or (iii) the date as of which all the Securities are sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, the Special Interest Premium shall accrue at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum.
If the Operating Partnership fails to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective or useable for resales pursuant to the preceding paragraph, it shall give the Holders notice to suspend the sale of the Securities and shall extend the relevant period referred to above during which the Operating Partnership is required to keep effective the Shelf Registration Statement (or the period during which Participating Broker-Dealers are entitled to use the prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in connection with the resale of Exchange Securities, as the case may be) by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when holders shall have received copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus necessary to permit resales of the Securities or to and including the date on which the Operating Partnership has given notice that the sale of Securities may be resumed, as the case may be.
Each Note shall contain a legend to the effect that the holder thereof, by its acceptance thereof, shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.
The Operating Partnership shall notify the Trustee within three business days after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which the Special Interest Premium is required to be paid (an “Event Date”). The Special Interest Premium shall be paid by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of Registrable Securities, on or before the applicable semiannual interest payment date, immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the Special Interest Premium then due. The Special Interest Premium due shall be payable on each interest payment date to the record Holder of Securities entitled to receive the interest payment to be paid on such date as set forth in the Indenture. Each obligation to pay the Special Interest Premium shall be deemed to accrue from and include the day following the applicable Event Date.
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3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Operating Partnership with respect to Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2.1 and Section 2.2 hereof, the Operating Partnership shall:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement, within the relevant time period specified in Section 2, on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (i) shall be selected by the Operating Partnership, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof, (iii) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein, and (iv) shall comply in all respects with the requirements of Regulation S-T under the 1933 Act, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period; and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provision then in force) under the 1933 Act and comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to them with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by each Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof (including sales by any Participating Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, at least five business days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities is being filed and advise such Holders that the distribution of Registrable Securities shall be made in accordance with the method selected by the Majority Holders participating in the Shelf Registration; (ii) furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request, including financial statements and schedules and, if the Holder so requests, all exhibits in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii) hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(d) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities shall reasonably request by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such Holder and underwriter to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Operating Partnership shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(e) notify promptly each Holder of Registrable Securities under a Shelf Registration or any Participating Broker-Dealer who has notified the Operating Partnership that it is utilizing the Exchange
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Offer Registration Statement as provided in paragraph (f) below and, if requested by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, confirm such advice in writing promptly (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for post-effective amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, if, between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Operating Partnership contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (v) of the happening of any event or the discovery of any facts during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (vi) of the receipt by the Operating Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities, as the case may be, for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (vii) of any determination by the Operating Partnership that a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f) (i) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (a) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution” which section shall be reasonably acceptable to BofA, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers, and which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that shall be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Securities to be received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer, whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of BofA, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers and their counsel, represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC, including a statement that any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (b) furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the Operating Partnership the notice referred to in Section 3(e), without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably request, (c) hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, by any Person subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the SEC, including all Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or transfer of the Exchange Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, and (d) include in the transmittal letter or similar documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to participate in the Exchange Offer (i) the following provision:
“If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of Exchange
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Securities received in respect of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer;” and
(ii) a statement to the effect that, by a broker-dealer making the acknowledgment described in clause (i) and by delivering a Prospectus in connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer shall not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act; and
(iii) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Operating Partnership agrees to deliver to the Initial Purchasers on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (a) an opinion of counsel or opinions of counsel substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, (b) officers’ certificates substantially in the form customarily delivered in a public offering of debt securities and (c) a comfort letter or comfort letters in customary form to the extent permitted by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72 of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (or if such a comfort letter is not permitted, an agreed upon procedures letter in customary form) from the Operating Partnership’s independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Operating Partnership or of any business acquired by the Operating Partnership for which financial statements are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) at least as broad in scope and coverage as the comfort letter or comfort letters delivered to the Initial Purchasers in connection with the initial sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers;
(g) The Operating Partnership may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Operating Partnership, as applicable, such information regarding such seller as may be required by the staff of the SEC to be included in a Registration Statement. The Operating Partnership shall have no obligation to register under the Securities Act the Registrable Securities of a seller who so fails to furnish such information.
(h) (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer, furnish counsel for the Initial Purchasers and (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any comment letters received from the SEC or any other request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information;
(i) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment;
(j) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, and each underwriter, if any, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules (without documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(k) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, may reasonably request at least three business days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
(l) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any facts, each as contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) and Section 3(e)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, use its best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective
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amendment to the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities or Participating Broker-Dealers, such Prospectus shall not contain at the time of such delivery any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or shall remain so qualified. At such time as such public disclosure is otherwise made or the Operating Partnership determines that such disclosure is not necessary, in each case to correct any misstatement of a material fact or to include any omitted material fact, the Operating Partnership agrees promptly to notify each Holder of such determination and to furnish each Holder such number of copies of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as such Holder may reasonably request;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders; and make representatives of the Operating Partnership as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities, or the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, available for discussion of such document;
(n) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, Private Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for the Exchange Securities, Private Exchange Securities or the Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(o) use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cause the Indenture Supplement to be qualified under the TIA in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, (ii) cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA, and (iii) execute, and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(p) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into agreements (including underwriting agreements) and take all other customary and appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and in such connection whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration:
(i) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in similar underwritten offerings as may be reasonably requested by them;
(ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Operating Partnership and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, if any, and the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;
(iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the Operating Partnership’s independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary, any other independent certified
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public accountants of any subsidiary of the Operating Partnership or of any business acquired by the Operating Partnership for which financial statements are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) addressed to the underwriters, if any, and use reasonable efforts to have such letter addressed to the selling Holders of Registrable Securities (to the extent consistent with Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72 of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts), such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters to underwriters in connection with similar underwritten offerings;
(iv) enter into a securities sales agreement with the Holders and an agent of the Holders providing for, among other things, the appointment of such agent for the selling Holders for the purpose of soliciting purchases of Registrable Securities, which agreement shall be in form, substance and scope customary for similar offerings;
(v) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to set forth indemnification provisions and procedures substantially equivalent to the indemnification provisions and procedures set forth in Section 4 hereof with respect to the underwriters and all other parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section or, at the request of any underwriters, in the form customarily provided to such underwriters in similar types of transactions; and
(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested and as are customarily delivered in similar offerings to the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold and the managing underwriters, if any.
The above shall be done at (A) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement (and each post-effective amendment thereto) and (B) each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder;
(q) in the case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is required to be delivered by any Participating Broker-Dealer in the case of an Exchange Offer, make available for inspection by representatives of the Holders of the Registrable Securities, any underwriters participating in any disposition pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, any Participating Broker-Dealer and any counsel or accountant retained by any of the foregoing, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Operating Partnership reasonably requested by any such persons, and cause the respective officers, directors, employees, and any other agents of the Operating Partnership to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, special counsel or accountant in connection with a Registration Statement, and make such representatives of the Operating Partnership available for discussion of such documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Purchasers by the Representative and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by the Representatives and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 3(c) hereof. Records which the Operating Partnership determines in good faith, to be confidential and any records which they notify such representatives are confidential shall not be disclosed by such representatives unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court a competent jurisdiction or is necessary in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or (iii) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer shall be required to agree in writing that information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential, shall not be communicated to any third-party (other than its agents and affiliates (who shall also be subject to the confidentially requirements of this paragraph) on a “need-to-know” basis) and shall not be used by it as the basis for market transaction in the securities of
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the Operating Partnership unless and until such is made generally available to the public. Each selling holder of such Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer shall be required to further agree in writing that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Operating Partnership and allow the Operating Partnership at its expense to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;
(r) (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and to counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities and make such changes in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers or counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request and, except as otherwise required by applicable law, not file any such document in a form to which the Initial Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities and counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy of or to which the Initial Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities or counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities shall reasonably object, and make the representatives of the Operating Partnership available for discussion of such documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers; and
(ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to filing any Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Holders of Registrable Securities, to the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for the Holders and to the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, make such changes in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers, the counsel to the Holders or the underwriter or underwriters reasonably request and not file any such document in a form to which the Majority Holders, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriter shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy of or to which the Majority Holders, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of the Holders of Registrable Securities, counsel to the Holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriter shall reasonably object, and make the representatives of the Operating Partnership available for discussion of such document as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities or any underwriter.
(s) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange on which similar debt securities issued by the Operating Partnership are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, or if requested by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any;
(t) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be rated by the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Majority Holders, or if requested by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any;
(u) otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering at least 12 months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 thereunder;
(v) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the NASD and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter and its
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counsel (including any “qualified independent underwriter” that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD); and
(w) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, obtain a customary opinion of counsel to the Operating Partnership addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, and which includes an opinion that (i) the Operating Partnership has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange Securities and/or Private Exchange Securities, as applicable, and the related indenture, and (ii) each of the Exchange Securities and related indenture constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with its respective terms (with customary exceptions).
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Operating Partnership may (as a condition to such Holder’s participation in the Shelf Registration) require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Operating Partnership such information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Operating Partnership may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Operating Partnership of the happening of any event or the discovery of any facts, each of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(l) hereof, and, if so directed by the Operating Partnership, such Holder shall deliver to the Operating Partnership (at its expense) all copies in such Holder’s possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
In the event that the Operating Partnership fails to effect the Exchange Offer or file any Shelf Registration Statement and maintain the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement as provided herein, the Operating Partnership shall not file any Registration Statement with respect to any securities (within the meaning of Section 2(1) of the 1933 Act) of the Operating Partnership other than Registrable Securities.
If any of the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the underwriter or underwriters and manager or managers that will manage such offering shall be selected by the Majority Holders of such Registrable Securities included in such offering and shall be acceptable to the Operating Partnership. No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) 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 (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
4. Indemnification, Contribution.
(a) The Operating Partnership agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchasers, each Holder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, each Person who participates as an underwriter (any such Person being an “Underwriter”) and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
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(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 4(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Operating Partnership; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by any indemnified party), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or subparagraph (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Operating Partnership by the Holder or Underwriter expressly for use in a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Each Holder severally, but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Operating Partnership, the Initial Purchasers, each underwriter and the other selling Holders, and each of their respective directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls the Operating Partnership, the Initial Purchasers, any Underwriter or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus included therein (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information with respect to such Holder furnished to the Operating Partnership by such Holder expressly for use in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); provided, however, that no such Holder shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action or proceeding commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof, and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this
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indemnity agreement. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying party or parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding 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.
(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Operating Partnership on the one hand and the Holders and the Initial Purchasers on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Operating Partnership on the one hand and the Holders and the Initial Purchasers on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Operating Partnership, the Holders or the Initial Purchasers and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Operating Partnership, the Holders and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 4 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers 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 above in this Section 4. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 4 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4, no Holder or Initial Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities sold by
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it were offered exceeds the amount of any damages which such Holder or Initial Purchaser 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 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 4, each Person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser or Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser or Holder, and each director of the Operating Partnership, and each Person, if any, who controls the Operating Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Operating Partnership. The Initial Purchasers’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 4 are several in proportion to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement and not joint.
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Operating Partnership is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15 of the 1934 Act, the Operating Partnership covenants that it shall file the reports required to be filed by it under the 1933 Act and Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder. If the Operating Partnership ceases to be so required to file such reports, the Operating Partnership covenants that it shall upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make publicly available such information as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, (b) deliver such information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and it shall take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, and (c) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in each case, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the 1933 Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Operating Partnership shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
5.2 No Inconsistent Agreements. The Operating Partnership has not entered into and the Operating Partnership shall not after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not and shall not for the term of this Agreement in any way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the Operating Partnership’s other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
5.3 Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Operating Partnership has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or departure.
5.4 Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (a) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
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Holder to the Operating Partnership by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.4, which address initially is the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement with respect to the Initial Purchasers; and (b) if to the Operating Partnership, initially at the Operating Partnership’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement, and thereafter at such other address of which notice is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.4.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; two business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the person giving the same to the Trustee under the Indenture, at the address specified in such Indenture.
5.5 Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
5.6 Third Party Beneficiaries. The Initial Purchasers (even if the Initial Purchasers are not Holders of Registrable Securities) shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder. Each Holder of Registrable Securities shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights hereunder.
5.7 Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Operating Partnership acknowledges that any failure by the Operating Partnership to comply with its obligations under Section 2.1 through Section 2.4 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it would not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Operating Partnership’s obligations under Section 2.1 through Section 2.4 hereof.
5.8 Restriction on Resales. Until the expiration of two years after the original issuance of the Securities, the Operating Partnership shall not, and shall cause its “affiliates” (as such term is defined in Rule 144(a)(1) under the 1933 Act) not to, resell any Securities which are “restricted securities” (as such term is defined under Rule 144(a)(3) under the 1933 Act) that have been reacquired by any of them and shall immediately upon any purchase of any such Securities submit such Securities to the Trustee for cancellation.
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5.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
5.10 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
5.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THEREOF.
5.12 Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
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| SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P. | |||||
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| By: | SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC. | ||||
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| By: | /s/ David Simon |
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| Name: David Simon | ||||
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| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||||
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| CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED |
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| BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC |
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| By: | /s/ Peter J. Carbone |
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| Name: Peter J. Carbone |
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| Title: Vice President |
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| CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC |
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| By: | /s/ Joseph D. Fashano |
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| Name: Joseph D. Fashano |
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| Title: Director |
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| MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED |
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| By: | /s/ Carolyn Crar |
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| Name: Carolyn Crar |
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| Title: Associate |
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For themselves and for the other
Initial Purchasers named in Schedule 1
to the Purchase Agreement.
Exhibit A
Form of Opinion of Counsel
Banc of America Securities LLC
Hearst Tower
214 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28255
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Simon Property Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in connection with the sale by the Operating Partnership to the Initial Purchasers (as defined below) of $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.60% senior unsecured notes due 2010 and $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.10% senior unsecured notes due 2015 (the “Securities”) of the Operating Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated June 1, 2005 (the “Purchase Agreement”) among the Operating Partnership, and Banc of America Securities LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and the other Initial Purchasers named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”) and the filing by the Operating Partnership of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) in connection with an Exchange Offer to be effected pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), dated June 7, 2005, between the Operating Partnership and the Initial Purchasers. This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 3(f)(iii) of the Registration Rights Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this opinion that are defined in the Registration Rights Agreement are used herein as so defined.
We have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. In rendering this opinion, as to all matters of fact relevant to this opinion, we have assumed the completeness and accuracy of, and are relying solely upon, the representations and warranties of the Operating Partnership set forth in the Purchase Agreement and the statements set forth in certificates of public officials and officers of the Operating Partnership, without making any independent investigation or inquiry with respect to the completeness or accuracy of such representations, warranties or statements, other than a review of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws and relevant minute books of the Operating Partnership.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Prospectus (other than the financial statements, notes or schedules thereto and other financial data and supplemental schedules included or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom and the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the 1933 Act.
2. We have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and in the course thereof have had discussions with representatives of the underwriters, officers and other representatives of the Operating Partnership and Ernst & Young LLP, the Operating Partnership’s independent public accountants, during which the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus were discussed. We have not, however, independently verified and are not passing upon,
and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Based on our participation as described above, nothing has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the Registration Statement (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial data included therein as to which we make no statement) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which such counsel need make no statement), as of the date of the Prospectus, as of the date of any such amended or supplemented Prospectus or on the Closing Date, included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
This opinion is being furnished to you solely for your benefit in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, and may not be used for any other purpose or relied upon by any person other than you. Except with our prior written consent, the opinions herein expressed are not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to in connection with any transactions other than those contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement by or to any other person.
Very truly yours,
