Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

OPTIMER PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                       Purposes of the Plan.  The purposes of this Plan are:

 

·                                          to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,

 

·                                          to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants, and

 

·                                          to promote the success of the Company’s business.

 

The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units and Performance Shares.

 

2.                                       Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions will apply:

 

(a)                                  “Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

 

(b)                                 “Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.

 

(c)                                  “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares.

 

(d)                                 “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan.  The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

(e)                                  “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(f)                                    “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i)                                     Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

 

(ii)                                  The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;

 

 

(iii)                               A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors.  “Incumbent Directors” means directors who either (A) are Directors as of the effective date of the Plan, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company); or

 

(iv)                              The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.

 

(g)                                 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Any reference to a section of the Code herein will be a reference to any successor or amended section of the Code.

 

(h)                                 “Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

 

(i)                                     “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

(j)                                     “Company” means Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

 

(k)                                  “Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity.

 

(l)                                     “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(m)                               “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.

 

(n)                                 “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.  Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

(o)                                 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(p)                                 “Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for Awards of the same type (which may have lower

 

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exercise prices and different terms), Awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is reduced.  The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.

 

(q)                                 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(i)                                     If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(ii)                                  If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(iii)                               For purposes of any Awards granted on the Registration Date, the Fair Market Value will be the initial price to the public as set forth in the final prospectus included within the registration statement in Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial public offering of the Company’s Common Stock; or

 

(iv)                              In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

 

(r)                                    “Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

 

(s)                                  “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(t)                                    “Inducement Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 3(e) of the Plan.

 

(u)                                 “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(v)                                 “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(w)                               “Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(x)                                   “Optioned Stock” means the Common Stock subject to an Award.

 

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(y)                                 “Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

 

(z)                                   “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

(aa)                            “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.

 

(bb)                          “Performance Share” means an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine pursuant to Section 10.

 

(cc)                            “Performance Unit” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing pursuant to Section 10.

 

(dd)                          “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.  Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.

 

(ee)                            “Plan” means this 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(ff)                                “Registration Date” means the effective date of the first registration statement that is filed by the Company and declared effective pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with respect to any class of the Company’s securities.

 

(gg)                          “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock award under Section 7 of the Plan, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.

 

(hh)                          “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 8.  Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.

 

(ii)                                  “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.

 

(jj)                                  “Section 16(b)”  means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

(kk)                            “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

 

(ll)                                  “Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

 

(mm)                      “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 9 is designated as a SAR.

 

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(nn)                          “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

3.                                       Stock Subject to the Plan.

 

(a)                                  Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is 2,000,000 (which has been determined after adjustment to reflect the stock split which will be completed by the Company prior to the initial registration of the Company’s Common Stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act), plus the number of Shares reserved for Inducement Awards under Section 3(e) of the Plan.  The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

 

(b)                                 Automatic Share Reserve Increase.  The number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be increased on the first day of each Fiscal Year beginning with the 2008 Fiscal Year, in an amount equal to the lesser of (A) 750,000 Shares (which has been determined after adjustment to reflect the stock split which will be completed by the Company prior to the initial registration of the Company’s Common Stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act), (B) five percent (5%) of the outstanding Shares on the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year or (C) such lesser number of Shares determined by the Board.

 

(c)                                  Lapsed Awards.  If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, is surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program, or, with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options or SARs the forfeited or repurchased Shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated); provided, however that, if the Award is an Inducement Award, then the unpurchased Shares (or, for Inducement Awards other than Options or SARs, the forfeited or repurchased Shares) which are subject thereto will become available for future gran or sale under the Plan only as Inducement Awards.  With respect to SARs, only Shares actually issued pursuant to an SAR will cease to be available under the Plan; all remaining Shares under SARs will remain available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated).  Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to the Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock, Performance Units or Performance Shares are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan.  Shares used to pay the exercise price of an Award or to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding obligations related to an Award will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a), plus, by that portion of each automatic increase specified in Section 3(b) that does not exceed 750,000 Shares.

 

(d)                                 Share Reserve.  The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

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(e)                                  Inducement Shares.  This Section 3(e) shall apply with respect to the 1,750,000 Shares reserved under this Plan by action of the Board (or a committee thereof) to be used exclusively for the grant of Inducement Awards.  The persons who are eligible for Inducement Awards shall consist of Employees and whose potential contribution, in the judgment of the Committee, will benefit the future success of the Company and/or an affiliated corporation.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, an Inducement Award may be granted only to an Employee who has not previously been an Employee or a non-Employee Director of the Company, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as an inducement material to the individual’s entering into employment with the Company within the meaning of Rule 5635(c)(4) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules.  In addition, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, all such Inducement Awards must be granted either by a majority of the Company’s independent directors or a committee comprised of a majority of independent directors.

 

4.                                       Administration of the Plan.

 

(a)                                  Procedure.

 

(i)                                     Multiple Administrative Bodies.  Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer the Plan.

 

(ii)                                  Section 162(m).  To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify Options granted hereunder as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan will be administered by a Committee of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(iii)                               Rule 16b-3.  To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.

 

(iv)                              Other Administration.  Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.

 

(b)                                 Powers of the Administrator.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:

 

(i)                                     to determine the Fair Market Value;

 

(ii)                                  to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;

 

(iii)                               to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(iv)                              to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;

 

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(v)                                 to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder.  Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator will determine;

 

(vi)                              to determine the terms and conditions of any, and to institute any Exchange Program;

 

(vii)                           to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;

 

(viii)                        to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws;

 

(ix)                                to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 18(c) of the Plan), including the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards;

 

(x)                                   to allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations in such manner as prescribed in Section 14;

 

(xi)                                to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;

 

(xii)                             to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award

 

(xiii)                          to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Effect of Administrator’s Decision.  The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.

 

5.                                       Eligibility.  Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, SARs, Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Service Providers.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Inducement Awards may be granted only to Service Providers as provided in Section 3(e).

 

6.                                       Stock Options.

 

(a)                                  Limitations.  Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.  However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such Options will

 

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be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.  For purposes of this Section 6(a), Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted.  The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.

 

(b)                                 Term of Option.  The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the term will be ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.  Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

 

(c)                                  Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

 

(i)                                     Exercise Price.  The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following:

 

(1)                                  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

 

a)                                      granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price will be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

b)                                     granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in paragraph (A) immediately above, the per Share exercise price will be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

c)                                      Notwithstanding the foregoing, Incentive Stock Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code.

 

(2)                                  In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price will be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(ii)                                  Waiting Period and Exercise Dates.  At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.

 

(iii)                               Form of Consideration.  The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant.  Such consideration may consist entirely of: (1) cash; (2) check; (3) other Shares, provided Shares acquired directly or indirectly from the Company, (A) have been owned by the Participant and not subject to substantial risk of forfeiture for more than six months on the date of surrender, and (B) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the

 

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aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option will be exercised; (4) consideration received by the Company under a broker-assisted cashless exercise program; (5) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or (6) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

 

(d)                                 Exercise of Option.

 

(i)                                     Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder.  Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement.  An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with an applicable withholding taxes).  Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan.  Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse.  Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.  The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 13  of the Plan.

 

Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

(ii)                                  Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider.  If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement).  In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for three (3) months following the Participant’s termination.  Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan.  If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

 

(iii)                               Disability of Participant.  If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement).  In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the

 

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Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination.  Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan.  If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

 

(iv)                              Death of Participant.  If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event may the option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator.  If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution.  In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following Participant’s death.  Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to the Plan.  If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

 

7.                                       Restricted Stock.

 

(a)                                  Grant of Restricted Stock.  Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

(b)                                 Restricted Stock Agreement.  Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.  Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company as escrow agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.

 

(c)                                  Transferability.  Except as provided in this Section 7, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.

 

(d)                                 Other Restrictions.  The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.

 

(e)                                  Removal of Restrictions.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction or at such other time as the Administrator may determine.  The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.

 

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(f)                                    Voting Rights.  During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.

 

(g)                                 Dividends and Other Distributions.  During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement.  If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

 

(h)                                 Return of Restricted Stock to Company.  On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

 

8.                                       Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a)                                  Grant.  Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator.  After the Administrator determines that it will grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, it shall advise the Participant in an Award Agreement of the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of Restricted Stock Units.

 

(b)                                 Vesting Criteria and Other Terms.  The Administrator shall set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant.  The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment), or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

 

(c)                                  Earning Restricted Stock Units.  Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a payout as specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout.

 

(d)                                 Form and Timing of Payment.  Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units shall be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) set forth in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.  The Administrator may only settle earned Restricted Stock Units in Shares.

 

(e)                                  Cancellation.  On the date set forth in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited to the Company.

 

9.                                       Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)                                  Grant of SARs.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a SAR may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

 

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(b)                                 Number of Shares.  The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of SARs granted to any Service Provider.

 

(c)                                  Exercise Price and Other Terms.  The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an SAR shall be determined by the Administrator and shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant.  Otherwise, subject to Section 6(a) of the Plan, the Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of SARs granted under the Plan; provided, however, that no SAR may have a term of more than ten (10) years from the date of grant.

 

(d)                                 SAR Agreement.  Each SAR grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the SAR, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

(e)                                  Expiration of SARs.  An SAR granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 6(d) also will apply to SARs.

 

(f)                                    Payment of SAR Amount.  Upon exercise of an SAR, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

 

(i)                                     The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times

 

(ii)                                  The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

 

The payment upon SAR exercise may only be in Shares of equivalent value (rounded down to the nearest whole Share).

 

10.         Performance Units and Performance Shares.

 

(a)                                  Grant of Performance Units/Shares.  Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.  The Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units and Performance Shares granted to each Participant.

 

(b)                                 Value of Performance Units/Shares.  Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established by the Administrator on or before the date of grant.  Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

 

(c)                                  Performance Objectives and Other Terms.  The Administrator will set performance objectives or other vesting provisions (including, without limitation, continued status as a Service Provider) in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Service Providers.  The time period during which the performance objectives or other vesting provisions must be met will be called the “Performance Period.”  Each Award of Performance Units/Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Performance Period, and such other

 

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terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.  The Administrator may set performance objectives based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, or individual goals, applicable federal or state securities laws, or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

 

(d)                                 Earning of Performance Units/Shares.  After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives or other vesting provisions have been achieved.  After the grant of a Performance Unit/Share, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Unit/Share.

 

(e)                                  Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares.  Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares will be made as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period.  The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination thereof.

 

(f)                                    Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares.  On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned or unvested Performance Units/Shares will be forfeited to the Company, and again will be available for grant under the Plan.

 

11.                                 Leaves of Absence.  Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence.  A Service Provider will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary.  For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract.  If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then three (3) months following the 91st day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

 

12.                                 Transferability of Awards.  Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant.  If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.

 

13.                                 Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.

 

(a)                                  Adjustments.  In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of

 

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the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator shall adjust the number and class of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award and the numerical Share limits in Section 3 of the Plan.

 

(b)                                 Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction.  To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

 

(c)                                  Change in Control.  In the event of a merger or Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines, including, without limitation, that each Award be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation.  The Administrator shall not be required to treat all Awards similarly in the transaction.

 

In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award, the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding Options and SARs, including Shares as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% on-target levels and all other terms and conditions met.  In addition, if an Option or SAR is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or SAR will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or SAR will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

 

For the purposes of this subsection (c), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or SAR or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit or Performance Share, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 13(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

 

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(d)                                 Outside Director Awards.  With respect to Awards granted to an Outside Director that are assumed or substituted for, if on the date of or following such assumption or substitution the Participant’s status as a Director or a director of the successor corporation, as applicable, is terminated other than upon a voluntary resignation by the Participant (unless such resignation is at the request of the acquirer), then the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise Options and/or SARs as to all of the Shares underlying such Award, including those Shares which would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Performance Units and Performance Shares, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% on-target levels and all other terms and conditions met.

 

14.                                 Tax Withholding.

 

(a)                                  Withholding Requirements.  Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), the Company will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).

 

(b)                                 Withholding Arrangements.  The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (a) paying cash, (b) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld, or (c) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld.  The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.

 

15.                                 No Effect on Employment or Service.  Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider with the Company, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the Company’s right to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

 

16.                                 Date of Grant.  The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator.  Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

 

17.                                 Term of Plan.  Subject to Section 21  of the Plan, the Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board.  It will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years from the date adopted by the Board unless terminated earlier under Section 18  of the Plan.

 

18.                                 Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

(a)                                  Amendment and Termination.  The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.

 

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(b)                                 Stockholder Approval.  The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.

 

(c)                                  Effect of Amendment or Termination.  No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company.  Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

 

19.                                 Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

 

(a)                                  Legal Compliance.  Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

 

(b)                                 Investment Representations.  As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.

 

20.                                 Inability to Obtain Authority.  The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.

 

21.                                 Stockholder Approval.  The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.  Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.

 

16Exhibit 4.39

 

Clean Harbors, Inc.

 

75/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016
 unconditionally guaranteed as to the
 payment of principal, premium,
 if any, and interest by the Guarantors named herein.

 

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

March 24, 2011

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Clean Harbors, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the Purchasers (as defined herein) upon the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 75/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016,  which  are  unconditionally  guaranteed  by each of the subsidiaries of the Company listed on Schedule IV to the Purchase Agreement (the “Guarantors”).  As an inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Purchasers thereunder, the Company and the Guarantors agree with the Purchasers for the benefit of holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as follows:

 

1.             Certain Definitions.  For purposes of this Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”), the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

 

“Base Interest” shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue on the Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture, without giving effect to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

The term “broker-dealer” shall mean any broker or dealer registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act.

 

“Business Day” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13e-4(a)(3) promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act, as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time.

 

“Closing Date” shall mean the date on which the Securities are initially issued.

 

“Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for the particular purpose.

 

“EDGAR System” means the Next-Generation EDGAR filing system of the Commission and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto promulgated by the Commission in Regulation S-T 

 

 

under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, in each case as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time (and without regard to format).

 

“Effective Time,” in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange Registration Statement effective or as of which the Exchange Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a Shelf Registration, shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Shelf Registration Statement effective or as of which the Shelf Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective.

 

“Electing Holder” shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or Section 3(d)(iii) and the instructions set forth in the Notice and Questionnaire.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time.

 

“Exchange Offer” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a).

 

“Exchange Registration” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3(c).

 

“Exchange Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a).

 

“Exchange Securities” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a).

 

“Existing Exchange Securities” shall mean collectively the Company’s $300,000,000 original aggregate principal amount of 75/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 issued and sold on August 14, 2009 and the securities issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to the Indenture and the registration rights agreement dated August 14, 2009 among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and the purchasers party thereto.

 

“Guarantors” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Indenture.

 

The term “holder” shall mean each of the Purchasers and other persons who acquire Securities from time to time (including any successors or assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any Securities.

 

“Indenture” shall mean that certain trust indenture, dated as of August 14, 2009, among the Company, the guarantors party thereo and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

“Notice and Questionnaire” means a Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

 

The term “person” shall mean a corporation, limited liability company, association, partnership, organization, business, individual, government or political subdivision thereof or governmental agency.

 

“Purchase Agreement” shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2011, among the Purchasers, the Company and the Guarantors relating to the Securities.

 

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“Purchasers” shall mean the Purchasers named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided, however, that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security upon the earliest to occur of the following: (i) in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a), the Security has been exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as contemplated in Section 2(a) (provided that any Exchange Security that, pursuant to the last two sentences of Section 2(a), is included in a prospectus for use in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be deemed to be a Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9 until resale of such Registrable Security has been effected within the Resale Period); (ii) in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(b), a Shelf Registration Statement registering such Security under the Securities Act has been declared or becomes effective and such Security has been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder thereof pursuant to and in a manner contemplated by such effective Shelf Registration Statement; (iii) subject to Section 8(b), such Security is actually sold by the holder thereof pursuant to Rule 144 under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Security relating to restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture; provided that for purposes of this clause (iii), the holding period required by paragraph (d) of Rule 144 shall be deemed to be two years; or (iv) such Security shall cease to be outstanding.

 

“Registration Default” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c).

 

“Registration Default Period” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c).

 

“Registration Expenses” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.

 

“Resale Period” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a).

 

“Restricted Holder” shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires Exchange Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder’s business, (iii) a holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange Securities and (iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with respect to Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the broker-dealer directly from the Company.

 

“Rule 144,” “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B” and “Rule 433” shall mean, in each case, such rule promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time.

 

“Securities” shall mean, collectively, the $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 75/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 to be issued and sold to the Purchasers on the Closing Date, and securities issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to the Indenture.  Each Security is entitled to the benefit of the guarantees provided by the Guarantors in the Indenture (the “Guarantees”) and, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a “Security,” an “Exchange Security” or a “Registrable Security” shall include a reference to the related Guarantee.

 

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time.

 

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“Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(b).

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(b).

 

“Special Interest” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c).

 

“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, as the same may be amended or succeeded from time to time.

 

“Trustee” shall mean U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture, together with any successors thereto in such capacity.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a “Section” or “clause” refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Agreement, and the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision.

 

2.             Registration Under the Securities Act.

 

(a)           Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company and  the  Guarantors agree to file under the Securities Act a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange (such registration statement, the “Exchange Registration Statement”, and such offer, the “Exchange Offer”) any and all of the Securities for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities issued by the Company and  guaranteed  by  the  Guarantors, which debt securities and  guarantees are substantially identical to the Securities and  the  related  Guarantees,  respectively (and are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture), except that they have been registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and do not contain provisions for Special Interest contemplated in Section 2(c) below (such new debt securities hereinafter called “Exchange Securities”).  The Company and  the  Guarantors agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act.  The Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate form and will comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act.  Unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company further agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to (i) commence the Exchange Offer promptly (but no later than 10 Business Days) following the Effective Time of such Exchange Registration Statement, (ii) hold the Exchange Offer open for at least 20 Business Days in accordance with Regulation 14E promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act and (iii) exchange Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn promptly following the expiration of the Exchange Offer.  The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have been “completed” only (i) if the debt securities and  related  guarantees received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are, upon receipt, transferable by each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and without material restrictions under the blue sky or securities laws of a substantial majority of the States of the United States of America and (ii) upon the Company having exchanged, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration of the Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is at least 20 and not more than 30 Business Days following the commencement of the Exchange Offer.

 

4

 

The Company and  the  Guarantors agree (x) to include in the Exchange Registration Statement a prospectus for use in any resales by any holder of Exchange Securities that is a broker-dealer and (y) to keep such Exchange Registration Statement effective for a period (the “Resale Period”) beginning when Exchange Securities are first issued in the Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the expiration of the 180th day after the Exchange Offer has been completed or such time as such broker-dealers no longer own any Registrable Securities.  With respect to such Exchange Registration Statement, such holders shall have the benefit of the rights of indemnification and contribution set forth in Subsections 6(a), (c), (d) and (e)(4).

 

(b)           If (i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed existing law or Commission interpretations are changed such that the debt securities or  the  related  guarantees received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are not or would not be, upon receipt, transferable by each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act, (ii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 180 days following the Closing Date or (iii) any holder of Registrable Securities notifies the Company prior to the 20th Business Day following the completion of the Exchange Offer that: (A) it is prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) it may not resell the Exchange Securities to the public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus supplement contained in the Exchange Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales or (C) it is a broker-dealer and owns Securities acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company, then the Company and  the  Guarantors shall, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause (iii), in addition to) conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 2(a), file under the Securities Act a “shelf” registration statement providing for the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or delayed basis by the holders of, all of the Registrable Securities, pursuant to Rule 415 or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission (such filing, the “Shelf Registration” and such registration statement, the “Shelf  Registration Statement”).  The Company and  the  Guarantors agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become or be declared effective no later than 90 days after such Shelf Registration Statement filing obligation arises (but no earlier than 180 days after the Closing Date); provided, that if at any time the Company is or becomes a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405) and is eligible to file an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405), then the Company and  the  Guarantors shall file the Shelf Registration Statement in the form of an automatic shelf registration statement as provided in Rule 405.  The Company and  the  Guarantors agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for a period ending on the earlier of the second anniversary of the Effective Time or such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding.  No holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities unless such holder is an Electing Holder.  The Company and  the  Guarantors agree, after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement and promptly upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, to use all commercially reasonable efforts to enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, any action necessary to identify such holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement (whether by post-effective amendment thereto or by filing a prospectus pursuant to Rules 430B and 424(b) under the Securities Act identifying such holder), provided, however, that nothing in this sentence shall relieve any such

 

5

 

holder of the obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(iii).

 

(c)           In the event that (i) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 180 days after the Closing Date or (ii)(x) the Shelf Registration Statement (if required) has not become or been declared effective within the later of 90 days after such Shelf Registration Statement filing obligation arises and 180 days after the Closing Date or (y) any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject to an effective stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement (except as specifically permitted herein) without being succeeded immediately by an additional registration statement filed and declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) and (ii), a “Registration Default” and each period during which a Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, a “Registration Default Period”), then, as liquidated damages for such Registration Default, subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), special interest (“Special  Interest”), in addition to the Base Interest, shall accrue on all Registrable Securities then outstanding at a per annum rate of 0.25% for the first 90 days of the Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.50% for the second 90 days of the Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.75% for the third 90 days of the Registration Default Period and at a per annum rate of 1.0% thereafter for the remaining portion of the Registration Default Period.  Special Interest shall accrue and be payable only with respect to a single Registration Default at any given time, notwithstanding the fact that multiple Registration Defaults may exist at such time.

 

(d)           The Company shall take, and shall cause the Guarantors to take, all actions necessary or advisable to be taken by it to ensure that the transactions contemplated herein are effected as so contemplated, including all actions necessary or desirable to register the Guarantee under any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf  Registration Statement, as applicable.

 

(e)           Any reference herein to a registration statement or prospectus as of any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time; and any reference herein to any post-effective amendment to a registration statement or to any prospectus supplement as of any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time.

 

(f)            The Company shall use its best efforts to cause all Exchange Securities or Securities that have been registered under the Securities Act, as applicable to have the same CUSIP number as the Existing Exchange Securities.

 

3.             Registration Procedures.

 

If the Company and  the  Guarantors file a registration statement pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply:

 

(a)           At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Registration or any Shelf Registration, whichever may occur first, the Company shall qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

6

 

(b)           In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

 

(c)           In connection with the Company’s and  the  Guarantors’ obligations with respect to the registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 2(a) (the “Exchange  Registration”), if applicable, the Company and  the  Guarantors shall:

 

(i)            prepare and file with the Commission, an Exchange Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and  the  Guarantors and which shall permit the Exchange Offer and resales of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period to be effected as contemplated by Section 2(a), and use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Registration Statement to become effective;

 

(ii)           as soon as practicable prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement for the periods and purposes contemplated in Section 2(a) and as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly provide each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such number of copies of the prospectus included therein (as then amended or supplemented), in conformity in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, as such broker-dealer reasonably may request prior to the expiration of the Resale Period, for use in connection with resales of Exchange Securities;

 

(iii)          promptly notify each broker-dealer that has requested or received copies of the prospectus included in such Exchange Registration Statement, and confirm such advice in writing, (A) when such Exchange Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Exchange Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (F) the occurrence of any event that causes the Company to become an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405, or (G) if at any time during the Resale Period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, that such Exchange Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;

 

7

 

(iv)          in the event that the Company and  the  Guarantors would be required, pursuant to Section 3(c)(iii)(G), to notify any broker-dealers holding Exchange Securities, promptly prepare and furnish to each such holder a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such Exchange Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus shall conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;

 

(v)           use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;

 

(vi)          use all commercially reasonable efforts to (A) register or qualify the Exchange Securities under the securities laws or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a) no later than the commencement of the Exchange Offer, to the extent required by such laws, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions until the expiration of the Resale Period, (C) take any and all other actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities to consummate the disposition thereof in such jurisdictions and (D) obtain the consent or approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or local, which may be required to effect the Exchange Registration, the Exchange Offer and the offering and sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period; provided, however, that the Company and  each  Guarantor  shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section 3(c)(vi), (2) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or become subject to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other governing documents or any agreement between it and its stockholders;

 

(vii)         obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time and to use its best efforts to cause all Exchange Securities to have the same CUSIP number as the Existing Exchange Securities; and

 

(viii)        comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders no later than eighteen months after the Effective Time of such Exchange Registration Statement, an “earning statement” of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).

 

(d)           In connection with the Company’s and  the  Guarantors’ obligations with respect to the Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company and  the  Guarantors shall:

 

(i)            prepare and file with the Commission, within the time periods specified in Section 2(b), a Shelf Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and which shall register all of the Registrable Securities for resale by the holders thereof in accordance with such method or methods of disposition as may be specified by the holders of Registrable Securities as, from time to time, may be Electing Holders

 

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and use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective within the time periods specified in Section 2(b);

 

(ii)           mail the Notice and Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable Securities (A) not less than 30 days prior to the anticipated Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement or (B) in the case of an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405), mail the Notice and Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable Securities not later than the Effective Time of such Shelf Registration Statement, and in any such case no holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement, and no holder shall be entitled to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities at any time, unless and until such holder has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;

 

(iii)          after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly send a Notice and Questionnaire to such holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to take any action to name such holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities until such holder has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;

 

(iv)          as soon as practicable prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement for the period specified in Section 2(b) and as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such Shelf Registration Statement, and furnish to the Electing Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment simultaneously with or prior to its being used or filed with the Commission to the extent such documents are not publicly available on the Commission’s EDGAR System;

 

(v)           comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Electing Holders provided for in such Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(vi)          provide the Electing Holders and not more than one counsel for all the Electing Holders the opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission and each amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(vii)         for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, and throughout the period specified in Section 2(b), make available at reasonable times at the Company’s principal place of business or such other reasonable place for inspection by the persons referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) who shall certify to the Company that they have a current intention to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration such financial and other information and books and records of the Company, and cause the officers, employees, counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company to respond to such inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary (and in the case of counsel, not violate an attorney-client privilege, in such counsel’s reasonable belief), in the judgment of the respective counsel referred to in Section 

 

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3(d)(vi), to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering on behalf of the Electing Holders shall be conducted by one counsel designated by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by the Electing Holders at the time outstanding and provided  further that each such party shall be required to maintain in confidence and not to disclose to any other person any information or records reasonably designated by the Company as being confidential, until such time as (A) such information becomes a matter of public record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such Shelf Registration Statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall be required so to disclose such information pursuant to a subpoena or order of any court or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the requirements of such order, and only after such person shall have given the Company prompt prior written notice of such requirement), or (C) such information is required to be set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or in an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to such prospectus in order that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case may be, complies with applicable requirements of the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Commission and does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;

 

(viii)        promptly notify each of the Electing Holders and confirm such advice in writing, (A) when such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (F) the occurrence of any event that causes the Company to become an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405, or (G) if at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;

 

(ix)           use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;

 

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(x)            if requested by any Electing Holder, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as is required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and as such Electing Holder specifies should be included therein relating to the terms of the sale of such Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the principal amount of Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder, the name and description of such Electing Holder, the offering price of such Registrable Securities and any discount, commission or other compensation payable in respect thereof and with respect to any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder; and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(xi)           furnish to each Electing Holder and the counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) an executed copy (or a conformed copy) of such Shelf Registration Statement, each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto (in the case of an Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number of copies of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein unless specifically so requested by such Electing Holder) and of the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), in conformity in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act to the extent such documents are not available through the Commission’s EDGAR System, and such other documents, as such Electing Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the offering and disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Electing Holder and to permit such Electing Holder to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act; and subject to Section 3(e), the Company hereby consents to the use of such prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto by each such Electing Holder, in each case in the form most recently provided to such person by the Company, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus) or any supplement or amendment thereto;

 

(xii)          use all commercially reasonable efforts to (A) register or qualify the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement under such securities laws or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Electing Holder shall reasonably request, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the period the Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective under Section 2(b) and for so long as may be necessary to enable any such Electing Holder to complete its distribution of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, (C) take any and all other actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such Electing Holder to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities and (D) obtain the consent or approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or local, which may be required to effect the Shelf Registration or the offering or sale in connection therewith or to enable the selling holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the disposition of, their Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the Company and the  Guarantors shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it 

 

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would not otherwise be required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section 3(d)(xii), (2) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or become subject to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other governing documents or any agreement between it and its stockholders;

 

(xiii)         unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry only form, cooperate with the Electing Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates, if so required by any securities exchange upon which any Registrable Securities are listed, shall be printed, penned, lithographed, engraved or otherwise produced by any combination of such methods, on steel engraved borders, and which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends;

 

(xiv)        obtain a CUSIP number for all Securities that have been registered under the Securities Act, not later than the applicable Effective Time and use its best efforts to cause all Securities to have the same CUSIP number as the Existing Exchange Securities;

 

(xv)         notify in writing each holder of Registrable Securities of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any provision of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9(h) and of any amendment or waiver effected pursuant thereto, each of which notices shall contain the text of the amendment or waiver proposed or effected, as the case may be; and

 

(xvi)        comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders no later than eighteen months after the Effective Time of such Shelf Registration Statement an “earning statement” of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).

 

(e)           In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(G), to notify the Electing Holders, the Company shall promptly prepare and furnish to each of the Electing Holders a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing.  Each Electing Holder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(G), such Electing Holder shall forthwith discontinue the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement applicable to such Registrable Securities until such Electing Holder shall have received copies of such amended or supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the Company, such Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities in such Electing Holder’s possession at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

(f)            In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its Notice and Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to furnish to the Company such additional information 

 

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regarding such Electing Holder and such Electing Holder’s intended method of distribution of Registrable Securities as may be required in order to comply with the Securities Act.  Each such Electing Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by such Electing Holder to the Company or of the occurrence of any event in either case as a result of which any prospectus relating to such Shelf Registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder’s intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities or omits to state any material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder’s intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly to furnish to the Company any additional information required to correct and update any previously furnished information or required so that such prospectus shall not contain, with respect to such Electing Holder or the disposition of such Registrable Securities, an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing.

 

(g)           Until the expiration of two years after the Closing Date, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 144) to, resell any of the Securities that have been reacquired by any of them except pursuant to an effective registration statement, or a valid exemption from the registration requirements, under the Securities Act.

 

(h)           As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each holder of Registrable Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, a written representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal or “agent’s message” transmitted via The Depository Trust Company’s Automated Tender Offer Procedures, in either case contemplated by the Exchange Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an “affiliate” of the Company, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, or if it is such an “affiliate”, it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (B) it is not engaged in and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Securities in its ordinary course of business, (D) if it is a broker-dealer that holds Securities that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Securities acquired directly from the Company or any of its affiliates), it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Securities received by it in the Exchange Offer, (E) if it is a broker-dealer, that it did not purchase the Securities to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer from the Company or any of its affiliates, and (F) it is not acting on behalf of any person who could not truthfully and completely make the representations contained in the foregoing subclauses (A) through (E).

 

4.             Registration Expenses.

 

The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly all expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including (a) all Commission and any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority registration, filing and review fees and expenses including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Eligible Holders in connection with such registration, 

 

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filing and review, (b) all fees and expenses in connection with the qualification of the Registrable Securities and the Exchange Securities, as applicable, for offering and sale under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in Section 3(d)(xii) and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Electing Holders may designate, including any reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Electing Holders in connection with such qualification and determination, (c) all expenses relating to the preparation, printing, production, distribution and reproduction of each registration statement required to be filed hereunder, each prospectus included therein or prepared for distribution pursuant hereto, each amendment or supplement to the foregoing, the expenses of preparing the Securities or Exchange Securities, as applicable, for delivery and the expenses of printing or producing any selling agreements and blue sky or legal investment memoranda and all other documents in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of Securities or Exchange Securities, as applicable, to be disposed of (including certificates representing the Securities or Exchange Securities, as applicable), (d) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses relating to the offering, sale or delivery of Securities or Exchange Securities, as applicable, and the preparation of documents referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and any counsel for the Trustee and of any collateral agent or custodian, (f) internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of the Company’s officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (g) reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company, (h) reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of one counsel for the Electing Holders retained in connection with a Shelf Registration, as selected by the Electing Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by Electing Holders (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (i) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities, as applicable, and (j) fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons, including special experts, retained by the Company in connection with such registration (collectively, the “Registration Expenses”).  To the extent that any Registration Expenses are incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of Registrable Securities, Securities or Exchange Securities, as applicable, the Company shall reimburse such person for the full amount of the Registration Expenses so incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a request therefor.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable Securities being registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and underwriting discounts and commissions, if any, and transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities and Exchange Securities, as applicable, and the fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisors or experts retained by such holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel and experts specifically referred to above.

 

5.             Representations and Warranties.

 

The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to, and agree with, each Purchaser and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities that:

 

(a)           Each registration statement covering Registrable Securities, Securities or Exchange Securities, as applicable, and each prospectus (including any preliminary or summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 3(d) and any further amendments or supplements to any such registration statement or prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and at all times subsequent to the Effective Time when a prospectus would be required to be delivered under the Securities Act, other than from (i) such time as a notice has been given to holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to 

 

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Section 3(c)(iii)(G) or Section 3(d)(viii)(G) until (ii) such time as the Company furnishes an amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to Section 3(c)(iv) or Section 3(e), each such registration statement, and each prospectus (including any summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 3(d), as then amended or supplemented, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.

 

(b)           Any documents incorporated by reference in any prospectus referred to in Section 5(a), when they become or became effective or are or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform or conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents will contain or contained an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.

 

(c)           The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, as amended, or the by-laws or other governing documents, as applicable, of the Company or the Guarantors or (iii)  result in any violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company and the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except (x) the registration under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities and the Exchange Securities, as applicable, and qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, (y) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws in connection with the offering and distribution of the Registrable Securities and the Exchange Securities, as applicable, and (z) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications that have been obtained and are in full force and effect as of the date hereof.

 

(d)           This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and by the Guarantors.

 

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6.             Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)           Indemnification by the Company  and the Guarantors.  The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold harmless each of the holders of Registrable Securities included in an Exchange Registration Statement and each of the Electing Holders as holders of Registrable Securities included in a Shelf Registration Statement against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such holder or such Electing Holder may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Exchange Registration Statement or any Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, under which such Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities were registered under the Securities Act, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus (including, without limitation, any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433) contained therein or furnished by the Company to any such holder or any such Electing Holder, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each such holder and each such Electing Holder for any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company and  the  Guarantors shall not be liable to any such person in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, or preliminary, final or summary prospectus (including, without limitation, any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433), or amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such person expressly for use therein.

 

(b)           Indemnification by the Electing Holders.  The Company may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b), that the Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from each Electing Holder of Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Registration Statement, severally and not jointly, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors and all other Electing Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Registration Statement, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company,  the  Guarantors or such other Electing Holders may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus (including, without limitation, any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433) contained therein or furnished by the Company to any Electing Holder, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Electing Holder expressly for use therein, and (ii) reimburse the Company and  the  Guarantors for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company and  the  Guarantors in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Electing Holder shall be required to undertake liability to any person under this Section 6(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar 

 

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amount of the proceeds to be received by such Electing Holder from the sale of such Electing Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.

 

(c)           Notices of Claims, Etc.  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party pursuant to the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by this Section 6, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b).  In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, such indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)           Contribution.  If for any reason the indemnification provisions contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) are unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6(d).  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no Electing Holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the dollar amount of 

 

17

 

the proceeds received by such holder from the sale of any Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions applicable thereto) exceeds the amount of any damages which such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The holders’ obligations in this Section 6(d) to contribute shall be several in proportion to the principal amount of Registrable Securities registered by them and not joint.

 

(e)           The obligations of the Company and  the  Guarantors under this Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company or  the  Guarantors may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director and partner of each holder, each Electing Holder, and each person, if any, who controls any of the foregoing within the meaning of the Securities Act; and the obligations of the holders and the Electing Holders contemplated by this Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective holder or Electing Holder may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company or  any  Guarantor  (including any person who, with his consent, is named in any registration statement as about to become a director of the Company or any Guarantor) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, as well as to each officer and director of the other holders and to each person, if any, who controls such other holders within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

7.             Underwritten Offerings.

 

Each holder of Registrable Securities hereby agrees with the Company and each other such holder that no holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless (a) the Company gives its prior written consent to such underwritten offering, (b) the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof shall be designated by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in such offering, provided that such designated managing underwriter or underwriters is or are reasonably acceptable to the Company, (c) each holder of Registrable Securities participating in such underwritten offering agrees to sell such holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled selecting the managing underwriter or underwriters hereunder and (d) each holder of Registrable Securities participating in such underwritten offering completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.  The Company hereby agrees with each holder of Registrable Securities that, to the extent it consents to an underwritten offering hereunder, it will negotiate in good faith and execute all indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements, including using all commercially reasonable efforts to procure customary legal opinions and auditor “comfort” letters.

 

8.             Rule 144.

 

(a)           Facilitation of Sales Pursuant to Rule 144.  The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that to the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (including the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144), and shall take such further action as any holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144.  Upon the request of any holder of Registrable 

 

18

 

Securities in connection with that holder’s sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

(b)           Availability of Rule 144 Not Excuse for Obligations under Section 2.  The fact that holders of Registrable Securities may become eligible to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144 shall not (1) cause such Securities to cease to be Registrable Securities or (2) excuse the Company’s and  the  Guarantors’ obligations set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, including without limitation the obligations in respect of an Exchange Offer, Shelf Registration and Special Interest.

 

9.             Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Company represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant, registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities, Exchange Securities or Securities, as applicable, or any other securities which would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this Agreement.

 

(b)           Specific Performance.  The parties hereto acknowledge that there would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder and that the Purchasers and the holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities may be irreparably harmed by any such failure, and accordingly agree that the Purchasers and such holders, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in any court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction.  Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement.

 

(c)           Notices.  All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally, by facsimile or by courier, or three days after being deposited in the mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If to the Company, to it at Clean Harbors, Inc. 42 Longwater Drive, Norwell, Massachusetts 02061-9149, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, and if to a holder, to the address of such holder set forth in the security register or other records of the Company, or to such other address as the Company or any such holder may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

(d)           Parties in Interest.  All the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto, the holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities and the respective successors and assigns of the foregoing.  In the event that any transferee of any holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase, operation of law or otherwise, such transferee shall, without any further writing or action of any kind, be deemed a beneficiary hereof for all purposes and such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such transferee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of, and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by all of the applicable terms and provisions of this Agreement.  If the Company shall so request, any such successor, assign or transferee shall agree in writing to acquire and hold the Registrable Securities subject to all of the applicable terms hereof.

 

(e)           Survival.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and each other provision set forth in this Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall remain in full 

 

19

 

force and effect regardless of any investigation (or statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of Registrable Securities, any director, officer or partner of such holder, or any controlling person of any of the foregoing, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the transfer and registration of Registrable Securities by such holder and the consummation of an Exchange Offer.

 

(f)            Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

(g)           Headings.  The descriptive headings of the several Sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(h)           Entire Agreement; Amendments.  This Agreement and the other writings referred to herein (including the Indenture and the form of Securities) or delivered pursuant hereto which form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to its subject matter.  This Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding.  Each holder of any Registrable Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section 9(h), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or waiver appears on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.

 

(i)            Inspection.  For so long as this Agreement shall be in effect, this Agreement and a complete list of the names and addresses of all the record holders of Registrable Securities shall be made available for inspection and copying on any Business Day by any holder of Registrable Securities for proper purposes only (which shall include any purpose related to the rights of the holders of Registrable Securities under the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement) at the offices of the Company at the address thereof set forth in Section 9(c) and at the office of the Trustee under the Indenture.

 

(j)            Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by the parties in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(k)           Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained in this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

20

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us five counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Purchasers, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Purchasers, the Guarantors and the Company.

 

	
 
    	
Very   truly yours,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/   James M. Rutledge
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
James   M. Rutledge
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
    
				

 

(Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement)

 

 

	
 
    	
ALTAIR   DISPOSAL SERVICES, LLC
    
	
 
    	
BATON   ROUGE DISPOSAL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
BRIDGEPORT   DISPOSAL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CH   INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS (MEXICO), INC.
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS ANDOVER, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS ANTIOCH, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS ARAGONITE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS ARIZONA, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS BATON ROUGE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS BDT, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS BUTTONWILLOW, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS CHATTANOOGA, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS CLIVE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS COFFEYVILLE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS COLFAX, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS DEER PARK, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS DEER TRAIL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS DEVELOPMENT, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS DISPOSAL SERVICES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS EL DORADO, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS FLORIDA, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS GRASSY MOUNTAIN, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS KANSAS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN HARBORS KINGSTON FACILITY   CORPORATION
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS LAPORTE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS LAUREL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS LONE MOUNTAIN, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS LONE STAR CORP.
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS LOS ANGELES, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS OF BALTIMORE, INC.
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS OF BRAINTREE, INC.
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS OF CONNECTICUT, INC.
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS PECATONICA, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS PPM, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN HARBORS RECYCLING   SERVICES OF CHICAGO, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN HARBORS RECYCLING   SERVICES OF OHIO, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS REIDSVILLE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS SAN JOSE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS SERVICES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS TENNESSEE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS WESTMORLAND, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(list   continued on next page)
    

 

(Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement)

 

 

	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS WHITE CASTLE, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS WILMINGTON, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CROWLEY   DISPOSAL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
DISPOSAL   PROPERTIES, LLC
    
	
 
    	
GSX   DISPOSAL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
HARBOR   MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
HILLIARD   DISPOSAL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
MURPHY’S   WASTE OIL SERVICE INC.
    
	
 
    	
ROEBUCK   DISPOSAL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
SAWYER   DISPOSAL SERVICES, LLC
    
	
 
    	
SERVICE   CHEMICAL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
SPRING   GROVE RESOURCE RECOVERY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
TULSA   DISPOSAL, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/   James M. Rutledge
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
James   M. Rutledge
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Vice President and Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ARC   ADVANCED REACTORS AND COLUMNS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS CATALYST TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS EXPLORATION SERVICES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
CLEAN   HARBORS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/   James M. Rutledge
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
James   M. Rutledge
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
PLAQUEMINE   REMEDIATION SERVICES, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/   William Geary
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
William   Geary
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Manager
    
				

 

(Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement)

 

 

	
Accepted   as of the date hereof:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Goldman,   Sachs & Co.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Goldman, Sachs & Co.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Goldman,   Sachs & Co.)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Merrill   Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   William H. Pegler
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:   William “Hutch” Pegler
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:   Managing Director
    	
 
    
					

 

(Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement)

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Clean Harbors, Inc.

 

INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS

 

(Date of Mailing)

 

URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED

 

DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE:  [DATE] (1)

 

The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) has identified you as a DTC Participant through which beneficial interests in the Clean Harbors, Inc.  (the “Company”) 75/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 (the “Securities”) are held.

 

The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof.  In order to have their Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial owners must complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire.

 

It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a copy of the enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the Securities included in the registration statement depend upon their returning the Notice and Questionnaire by [Deadline For Response].  Please forward a copy of the enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the Securities through you.  If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact Clean Harbors, Inc., 42 Longwater Drive, Norwell, Massachusetts 02061-9149, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, (telephone (781) 792-5000).

 

(1)           Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing.

 

A-1

 

Clean Harbors, Inc.

 

Notice of Registration Statement
 and
  Selling Securityholder Questionnaire

 

(Date)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) among Clean Harbors, Inc. (the “Company”), the Guarantors named therein and the Purchasers named therein dated March 24, 2011.  Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has filed or will file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form [    ] (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Company’s 75/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 (the “Securities”).  A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement has been filed or will be filed as an exhibit to the Shelf Registration Statement and can be obtained from the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.  All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below) is entitled to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included in the Shelf Registration Statement.  In order to have Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire (“Notice and Questionnaire”) must be completed, executed and delivered to the Company’s counsel at the address set forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [Deadline for Response].  Beneficial owners of Registrable Securities who do not properly complete, execute and return this Notice and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as selling securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.

 

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.  Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

 

The term “Registrable Securities” is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

A-2

 

ELECTION

 

The undersigned holder (the “Selling Securityholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3).  The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees to be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were an original party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the undersigned has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers who sign any Shelf Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), against certain loses arising out of an untrue statement, or the alleged untrue statement, of a material fact in the Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus or the omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus, but only to the extent such untrue statement or omission, or alleged untrue statement or omission, was made in reliance on and in conformity with the information provided in this Notice and Questionnaire.

 

Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus and as Exhibit B to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and complete:

 

A-3

 

QUESTIONNAIRE

 

(1)                                  (a)                                  Full legal name of Selling Securityholder:

 

(b)                                 Full legal name of registered Holder (if not the same as in (a) above) of Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) below:

 

(c)                                  Full legal name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same as (b) above) through which Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) below are held:

 

 

(2)                                  Address for notices to Selling Securityholder:

 

 

Telephone:

Fax:

Contact Person:

E-mail for Contact Person:

 

(3)                                  Beneficial Ownership of Securities:

 

Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not beneficially own any Securities.

 

(a)                                  Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:
 CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:

 

(b)                                 Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities beneficially owned:

CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:

 

(c)                                  Principal amount of Registrable Securities that the undersigned wishes to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:
 CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:

 

(4)                                  Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:

 

Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any other securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed above in Item (3).

 

State any exceptions here:

 

 

A-4

 

(5)                                  Individuals who exercise dispositive powers with respect to the Securities:

 

If the Selling Securityholder is not an entity that is required to file reports with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (a “Reporting Company”), then the Selling Securityholder must disclose the name of the natural person(s) who exercise sole or shared dispositive powers with respect to the Securities.  Selling Securityholders should disclose the beneficial holders, not nominee holders or other such others of record.  In addition, the Commission has provided guidance that Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 should be used by analogy when determining the person or persons sharing voting and/or dispositive powers with respect to the Securities.

 

(a)                                  Is the holder a Reporting Company?

 

Yes                                                                                                                            No

 

If “No”, please answer Item (5)(b).

 

(b)                                 List below the individual or individuals who exercise dispositive powers with respect to the Securities:

 

 

Please note that the names of the persons listed in (b) above will be included in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

 

(6)                                  Relationships with the Company:

 

Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5% or more) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.

 

State any exceptions here:

 

 

(7)                                  Plan of Distribution:

 

Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3) only as follows (if at all):  Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to time directly by the undersigned Selling Securityholder.  Such Registrable Securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.  Such sales may be effected in transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv) through the writing of options.  In connection with sales of the Registrable Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage

 

A-5

 

in short sales of the Registrable Securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume.  The Selling Securityholder may also sell Registrable Securities short and deliver Registrable Securities to close out such short positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.

 

State any exceptions here:

 

 

Note:  In no event may such method(s) of distribution take the form of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities without the prior written agreement of the Company.

 

(8)                                  Broker-Dealers:

 

The Commission requires that all Selling Securityholders that are registered broker-dealers or affiliates of registered broker-dealers be so identified in the Shelf Registration Statement.  In addition, the Commission requires that all Selling Securityholders that are registered broker-dealers be named as underwriters in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus, even if they did not receive the Registrable Securities as compensation for underwriting activities.

 

(a)                                  State whether the undersigned Selling Securityholder is a registered broker-dealer:

 

Yes                                                                                                                            No

 

(b)                                 If the answer to (a) is “Yes”, you must answer (i) and (ii) below, and (iii) below if applicable.  Your answers to (i) and (ii) below, and (iii) below if applicable, will be included in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

 

(i)                                     Were the Securities acquired as compensation for underwriting activities?

 

Yes                                                                                                                            No

 

If you answered “Yes”, please provide a brief description of the transaction(s) in which the Securities were acquired as compensation:

 

 

(ii)                                  Were the Securities acquired for investment purposes?

 

Yes                                                                                                                            No

 

(iii)                               If you answered “No” to both (i) and (ii), please explain the Selling Securityholder’s reason for acquiring the Securities:

 

 

(c)                                  State whether the undersigned Selling Securityholder is an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer and, if so, list the name(s) of the broker-dealer affiliate(s):

 

Yes                                                                                                                            No

 

A-6

 

 

(d)                                 If you answered “Yes” to question (c) above:

 

(i)             Did the undersigned Selling Securityholder purchase Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business?

 

Yes                                                                                                                            No

 

If the answer is “No” to question (d)(i), provide a brief explanation of the circumstances in which the Selling Securityholder acquired the Registrable Securities:

 

 

(ii)                                  At the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities, did the undersigned Selling Securityholder have any agreements, understandings or arrangements, directly or indirectly, with any person to dispose of or distribute the Registrable Securities?

 

Yes                                                                                                                            No

 

If the answer is “Yes” to question (d)(ii), provide a brief explanation of such agreements, understandings or arrangements:

 

 

If the answer is “No” to Item (8)(d)(i) or “Yes” to Item (8)(d)(ii), you will be named as an underwriter in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus.

 

(9)                                  Hedging and short sales:

 

(a)                                  State whether the undersigned Selling Securityholder has or will enter into “hedging transactions” with respect to the Registrable Securities:

 

Yes                                                                                                                            No

 

If “Yes”, provide below a complete description of the hedging transactions into which the undersigned Selling Securityholder has entered or will enter and the purpose of such hedging transactions, including the extent to which such hedging transactions remain in place:

 

 

(b)                                 Set forth below is Interpretation A.65 of the Commission’s July 1997 Manual of Publicly Available Interpretations regarding short selling:

 

“An issuer filed a Form S-3 registration statement for a secondary offering of common

 

A-7

 

stock which is not yet effective.  One of the selling shareholders wanted to do a short sale of common stock “against the box” and cover the short sale with registered shares after the effective date.  The issuer was advised that the short sale could not be made before the registration statement becomes effective, because the shares underlying the short sale are deemed to be sold at the time such sale is made.  There would, therefore, be a violation of Section 5 if the shares were effectively sold prior to the effective date.”

 

By returning this Notice and Questionnaire, the undersigned Selling Securityholder will be deemed to be aware of the foregoing interpretation.

 

*                                         *                                         *                                         *                                         *

 

By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of the Exchange Act, particularly Regulation M (or any successor rule or regulation).

 

The Selling Securityholder hereby acknowledges its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and certain other persons as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees to notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (9) above and the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.  The Selling Securityholder understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

 

In accordance with the Selling Securityholder’s obligation under Section 3(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect and to provide such additional information that the Company may reasonably request regarding such Selling Securityholder and the intended method of distribution of Registrable Securities in order to comply with the Securities Act.  Except as otherwise provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, all notices hereunder and pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery, first-class mail, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:

 

(i)                                     To the Company:

 

 

(ii)                                  With a copy to:

 

A-8

 

 

Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and received by the Company’s counsel, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire, and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be binding on, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the Company and the Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above.  This Notice and Questionnaire shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York.

 

A-9

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

 

	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Selling   Securityholder
    
	
 
    	
(Print/type   full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable Securities)
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    
						

 

PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY’S COUNSEL AT:

 

 

 

A-10

 

Exhibit B

 

NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

U.S. Bank National Association

Clean Harbors, Inc.

c/o U.S. Bank National Association

[Address of Trustee]

 

Attention:  Trust Officer

 

Re:                               Clean Harbors, Inc. (the “Company”)
 75/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016

 

Dear Sirs:

 

Please be advised that                                                      has transferred $                                          aggregate principal amount of the above-referenced Notes pursuant to an effective Registration Statement on Form [     ] (File No. 333-        ) filed by the Company.

 

We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a “Selling Holder” in the Prospectus dated [date] or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate principal amount of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in such Prospectus opposite such owner’s name.

 

	
Dated:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Very   truly yours,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
(Name)
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
(Authorized   Signature)
    

 

Endnotes-1

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