REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

EX-10.1 3 d775288dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of August 20, 2014, between The Timken Company, an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as the representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several initial purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”) set forth in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

The Company and the Initial Purchasers are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated August 13, 2014 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.875% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery 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 terms shall have the following meanings:

Blackout Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or Canton, Ohio are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Closing Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

Exchange Dates” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.

Exchange Offer” shall mean the offer by the Company to Exchange Notes for Registrable Notes pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) 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, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.


Exchange Notes” shall mean notes issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Notes (except that the Exchange Notes will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Notes in exchange for Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the sale of the Notes or the Exchange Notes.

Holders” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Notes, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Notes under the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of Section 4 and Section 5 hereof, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.

Indemnified Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indemnifying Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Notes, dated as of August 20, 2014, between the Company and the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Inspector” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.

Issuer Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Notes; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is required hereunder, any Registrable Notes owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its “affiliates” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount; and provided, further, that if the Company shall issue any additional Notes under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, such additional Notes and the Registrable Notes to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes has been obtained.

 

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Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Notice and Questionnaire” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Company upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.

Participating Broker-Dealers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

Participating Holder” shall mean any Holder of Registrable Notes that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.

Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Notes covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.

Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Registrable Notes” shall mean the Notes; provided that the Notes shall cease to be Registrable Notes (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Notes has become effective under the Securities Act and such Notes have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Notes cease to be outstanding or (iii) except in the case of Notes that otherwise remain Registrable Notes, are held by an Initial Purchaser and are ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, when the Exchange Offer is consummated.

Registration Default” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) if required pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, the Exchange Offer is not completed on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) or Section 2(b)(ii) hereof, has not become effective on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (iii) if the Company receives a Shelf Request pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed thereby has not become effective by the later of (a) the Target Registration Date and (b) 90 days after delivery of such Shelf Request or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and, subject to any Blackout Period, thereafter ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement, at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, and, subject to any Blackout Period, such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 30 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period.

 

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Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration, listing and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws and the Trust Indenture Act, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP or a replacement selected by the Participating Holders holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Notes held by such Participating Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding any underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Notes by a Holder.

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes 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 or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

Shelf Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

 

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Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Notes on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities 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 or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Shelf Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Staff” shall mean the staff of the SEC.

Target Registration Date” shall mean the 330th day after the Closing Date (or, if the 330th day is not a Business day, the next succeeding Business Day).

Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.

Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Notes under the Indenture.

Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.

Underwritten Offering” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Notes are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.

2. Registration Under the Securities Act. (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, unless there are no Registrable Notes outstanding, the Company shall (x) no later than 260 days after the Closing Date, cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Notes for Exchange Notes and (y) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Registration Statement become and remain effective until 180 days from the date that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective for use by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly (but no later than 10 Business Days) after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use its commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer promptly after such effective date.

The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer by sending the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:

(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;

 

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(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is sent (or longer if required by applicable law)) (the “Exchange Dates”);

(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein;

(iv) that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and

(v) that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Notes delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Notes exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Notes.

As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company that (1) any Exchange Notes to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer, it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (3) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company and (4) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Registrable Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes.

As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall:

 

(I) accept for exchange Registrable Notes or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and

 

(II) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Notes or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Notes equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Notes tendered by such Holder.

 

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The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Notes will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the Notes will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.

Interest on each Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Notes, from the date of original issue of the Notes.

The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be conducted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and shall not be subject to any conditions, except that the Company shall not be required to conduct the Exchange Offer if (i) doing so would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) any action or proceeding is instituted in or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer that, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, might materially impair the Company’s ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer or (iii) any government or regulatory approval to conduct the Exchange Offer has not been obtained that, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, is necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer.

In the event that (i) the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) hereof is not available or the Exchange Offer may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer, for any other reason, is not completed by the Target Registration Date or (iii) upon receipt of a written request (a “Shelf Request”) from any Initial Purchaser representing that it holds Registrable Notes that are or were ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, or (iv) any Holder is not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2(a) or, in the case of a Holder who does participate in the Exchange Offer, does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Notes, the Company shall cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Notes by the Holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective; provided that no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Notes included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Company as is contemplated by Section 3(b) hereof.

 

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In the event that the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall file, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to have become effective, both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof with respect to all Registrable Notes and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Notes held by the Initial Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer.

The Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the earlier of the (1) one-year anniversary of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement and (2) date when the Notes cease to be Registrable Notes (the “Shelf Effectiveness Period”); provided that the Company may, for a period of up to 60 days in any three-month period, not to exceed 90 days in any twelve-month period, suspend the use of the Prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement if it reasonably determines that the Shelf Registration Statement is not usable under circumstances relating to corporate developments, public filings with the SEC and similar events (a “Blackout Period”); provided, however, that in the case of (1) above), the Shelf Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the length of any such Blackout Period.

The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus if 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 by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Notes with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company agrees to furnish to the Participating Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.

(b) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

If a Registration Default occurs, the interest rate on the Registrable Notes will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until and including the date such Registration Default ends, up to a maximum increase of 1.00% per annum. A Registration Default ends when the Notes cease to be Registrable Notes or, if earlier, (1) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (i) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer is completed, (2) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or (3) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (iv) of the definition thereof, subject to any Blackout Period, when the Shelf Registration Statement

 

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again becomes effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable. If at any time more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, then, until the next date that there is no Registration Default, the increase in interest rate provided for by this paragraph shall apply as if there occurred a single Registration Default that begins on the date that the earliest such Registration Default occurred and ends on such next date that there is no Registration Default.

(c) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and, 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 Company’s obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof; provided, however, that the parties hereto agree that the additional interest provided for in this Section 2 is intended to constitute the sole remedy for monetary damages in connection with any Registration Default.

3. Registration Procedures. (a) In connection with its obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable:

(i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the SEC, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose;

(ii) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (A) shall be selected by the Company, (B) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Notes by the Holders thereof, (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and (D) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, subject to any Blackout Period, and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

(iii) subject to any Blackout Period, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes;

 

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(iv) to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;

(v) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Participating Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Notes, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Notes thereunder; and, subject to Section 3(c) hereof, the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;

(vi) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Notes under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; reasonably cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Participating Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Notes owned by such Participating Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;

(vii) notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, (2) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration

 

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Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Notes covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Notes cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (5) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (6) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;

(viii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, as soon as practicable and provide immediate notice to each Holder or Participating Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;

(ix) in the case of a Shelf Registration, to the extent the Registrable Notes are certificated, reasonably cooperate with the Participating Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Notes to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Notes;

(x) subject to any Blackout Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vii)(5) hereof, use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Notes, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company shall notify the Participating Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Company (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to

 

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suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, such Participating Broker-Dealers and the Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such misstatement or omission;

(xi) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus (excluding any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement), a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Participating Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document; and the Company shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus (excluding any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement) a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object;

(xii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement;

(xiii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Notes or Registrable Notes, as the case may be; reasonably 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 Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use its commercially reasonable 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;

(xiv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Participating Holders (an “Inspector”), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, any attorneys and accountants designated by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes held by the Participating Holders and any attorneys and accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and

 

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cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement; provided that if any such information is identified by the Company as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Holder or Underwriter;

(xv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Notes to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued or guaranteed by the Company are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Notes satisfy applicable listing requirements;

(xvi) use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) if the Notes have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Notes, confirm such ratings will apply to the Notes covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Notes were not previously rated, cause the Notes covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes covered by such Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any;

(xvii) if reasonably requested by any Participating Holder, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing; and

(xviii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Notes including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the extent possible, agree to customary indemnity and contribution provisions and make such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Notes with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) solely with respect to an Underwritten Offering, obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each Participating Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Notes, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (3) solely with respect to an Underwritten Offering, obtain

 

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“comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each Participating Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Notes, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.

(b) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Notes to furnish to the Company a Notice and Questionnaire and such other information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Notes as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

(c) Each Participating Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vii)(3) or Section 3(a)(vii)(5) hereof or of a Blackout Period, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus and any related Free Writing Prospectus or notice that the Blackout Period has terminated and, if so directed by the Company, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Company all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Notes that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.

(d) If the Company shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement or of any Blackout Period, the Company shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement 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 the Holders of such Registrable Notes shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions.

(e) The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Notes in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “Underwriter”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Notes included in such offering.

 

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(f) Each Participating Holder will furnish to the Company such information regarding such Participating Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing, but only to the extent such information is required to comply with the Securities Act or any relevant state securities or Blue Sky law or obligation. Each Participating Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by such Participating Holder to the Company or of the happening of any event, in either case as a result of which any Prospectus relating to such registration contains an untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Participating Holder or the distribution of such Registrable Notes or omits to state any material fact regarding such Participating Holder or the distribution of such Registrable Notes required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, and to furnish to the Company promptly any additional information required to correct and update any previously furnished information or required such that such Prospectus shall not contain, with respect to such Participating Holder or the distribution of such Registrable Notes, 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, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer. (a) The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes.

The Company understands that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Notes owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Notes for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.

(a) In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement becomes effective (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof), in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Company further agrees that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.

 

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(b) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof.

5. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, the directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and agents of each Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other U.S. federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon the following:

(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or

(ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“Issuer Information”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,

and will reimburse, as incurred, the Initial Purchasers and each such controlling person for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by the Initial Purchasers or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending against or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser or information relating to any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through an Initial Purchaser or any selling Holder, respectively, expressly for use therein.

(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the

 

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Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus.

(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; but the omission to so notify the Indemnifying Person (i) will not relieve it from any liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Indemnifying Person of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the Indemnifying Person from any obligations to any Indemnified Person other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraphs (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Person, and it notifies the Indemnifying Person of the commencement thereof, the Indemnifying Person will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other Indemnifying Person similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel (including local counsel) satisfactory to such Indemnified Person; provided, however, that if (i) the use of counsel (including local counsel) chosen by the Indemnifying Person to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Persons that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Person, (iii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of notice of the institution of such action, or (iv) the Indemnifying Person has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the Indemnified Person at the expense of the Indemnifying Person, then, in each such case, the Indemnifying Person shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of such Indemnified Person or Persons and such Indemnified Person or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel (including local counsel) to defend such action on behalf of such Indemnified Person or Persons. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. After notice from the Indemnifying Person to such Indemnified Person of its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such Indemnified Person of counsel appointed to defend such action, the Indemnifying Person will not be liable to such Indemnified Person under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation,

 

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subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with the defense thereof, unless the Indemnified Person shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that in connection with such action the Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel) in any one action or separate but substantially similar actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, designated by the Initial Purchasers or the Holders, as the case may be, in the case of paragraph (a) of this Section 5 or the Company in the case of paragraph (b) of this Section 5, representing the Indemnified Persons under such paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), as the case may be, who are parties to such action or actions). All fees and expenses reimbursed pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. After such notice from the Indemnifying Person to such Indemnified Person, the Indemnifying Person will not be liable for the costs and expenses of any settlement of such action effected by such Indemnified Person without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such Indemnified Person waived in writing its rights under this Section 5, in which case the Indemnified Person may effect such a settlement without such consent. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party, or indemnity could have been sought hereunder by any Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of the Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 5 is unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), each Indemnifying Person, in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person or parties on the one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other from the offering of the Notes or the Exchange Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying Person or parties on the one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative benefits received by the Company from the offering of the Notes or the Exchange Notes on the one hand and by the Holders on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total discounts and commissions received by such Holder. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact

 

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relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand, or such Holder on the other, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or alleged statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (d), in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes or Exchange Notes sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, less the aggregate amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the untrue or alleged untrue statements or the omissions or alleged omissions to state a material fact, and no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.

(e) The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Notes and (iv) any sale of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

6. General.

(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Company under any other agreement and (ii) the Company has not entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

(b) 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 Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Notes affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification,

 

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supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Notes unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be in writing.

(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when 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, at the address specified in the Indenture.

(d) Successors 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 Notes in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Notes in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Notes shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Notes 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 and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.

(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.

 

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(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(h) Governing Law. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY THEREIN, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS THEREOF RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAW.

(i) Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

THE TIMKEN COMPANY
By   /s/ Philip D. Fracassa
Name:   Philip D. Fracassa
Title:   Chief Financial Officer


Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

For themselves and on behalf of the

several Initial Purchasers

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By   /s/ Sybil Collins
Name:   Sybil Collins
Title:   Executive Director
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
By   /s/ Ritu Ketkar
Name:   Ritu Ketkar
Title:   Managing Director
By   /s/ Eunice Kang
Name:   Eunice Kang
Title:   Director