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Exhibit 10.4  

 
  ESCROW AGREEMENT    
    

        ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of April 14, 2004 (the "Agreement"), between Superior Essex Communications LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company (the "Company") and Essex Group, Inc., a Michigan corporation ("Essex
Group", together with the Company, the "Issuers"), and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a New York banking corporation,
as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent"). 

        This
Agreement is being entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement"), dated April 8, 2004, by
and among the Issuers and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., UBS Securities LLC, Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and Fleet Securities, Inc., as initial purchasers
(together, the "Initial Purchasers"), and the Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of April 14,
2004, between the Issuers and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (in such capacity, the "Trustee"). Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein have the respective meanings specified in the Indenture. 

        Pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement, the Company is selling $257,100,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9% Senior Notes due 2012 (the
"Securities"). Concurrently with the closing of such sale, the Company will deposit with the Escrow Agent, as hereinafter provided, $50,000,000,
together with other funds (in both cases, in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (as defined below)) in an amount sufficient to pay when due the Special Mandatory Redemption Price (as defined below),
assuming redemption of the Securities occurs on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (as defined below). Such funds will be used to fund, in part, the acquisition (the
"Acquisition") of certain assets and business operations of Belden Communications Company and Belden (Canada) Inc. (together,
"Belden"), pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement by and among Belden and the Company, dated as of March 18, 2004 (the
"Acquisition Agreement"). As security for its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture, the Company hereby grants to the Trustee, for the
benefit of the holders of the Securities, a first priority security interest in and lien upon the Escrow Account (as defined herein) on the terms and conditions set forth herein. 

        If
the closing of the Acquisition occurs on or prior to October 11, 2004 (the "Deadline Date"), the Issuers will so notify the
Escrow Agent on or prior to the third Business Day prior to the closing date of the Acquisition and all Escrowed Property (as defined below) will be released to the Issuers concurrently with such
closing (an "Authorized Release"). If (a) the Acquisition is not consummated on
or prior to the Deadline Date or (b) the Acquisition Agreement is terminated on or prior to the Deadline Date without an extension of such agreement to a date not later than the Deadline Date,
for any reason, the Issuers will so notify the Escrow Agent and the Escrow Agent will transfer to the Paying Agent an amount of Escrowed Property sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption
Price for the mandatory redemption pursuant to paragraph 6 of the Securities and Section 3.8 of the Indenture (the "Special Mandatory
Redemption"), and any excess Escrowed Property will be released to the Issuers. 

        Accordingly,
the Issuers and the Escrow Agent agree as follows: 

        1.    Delivery and Acceptance of Escrowed Property.    (a) Concurrently with the execution and delivery
hereof, the Escrow Agent shall establish an interest bearing escrow account in the name of "Escrow Account by the Issuers to The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee" (the
"Escrow Account") and the Issuers shall deposit the Initial Deposit with the Escrow Agent to be deposited into the Escrow Account by the Escrow Agent.
The Escrow Account shall be maintained by the Escrow Agent as a Securities Account. The Escrow Agent, the Trustee and the Issuers shall execute and deliver, on the date hereof, a Securities Account
Control Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Securities Account Control Agreement") which, when so executed and delivered,
shall be deemed to have been made a part of this Agreement. All funds, including the Initial Deposit, Pledged Securities (as defined below) and any Cash Equivalents accepted by the Escrow Agent
pursuant to this Agreement, shall be held by the Escrow Agent for the exclusive 

 

benefit
of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee under the Indenture and holders of the Securities, as secured parties hereunder (collectively, the
"Beneficiaries") and shall be treated as Financial Assets (as defined below). The Trustee will be entitled to all rights and remedies to which a person
in control of Financial Assets is entitled pursuant to Part 5 of Article 8 and Article 9 of the Revised UCC (as defined below). All such funds shall be held in the Escrow Account
until disbursed or paid in accordance with the terms hereof. Without limiting the foregoing, if at any time the Escrow Agent shall receive an "entitlement order" (as such term is defined in
Section 8-102(a)(8) of the Revised UCC) issued by the Trustee and relating to the Escrow Account, the Escrow Agent shall comply with such entitlement order without further consent
of the Issuers or any other person and will accept "entitlement orders" from no other party; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not preclude an
Authorized Release. The Trustee has and will have exclusive (and no other person has or will have any) Security Control over the Escrow Account and all assets, properties and items from time to time
deposited or credited thereto. 

        "Book-Entry Securities" means securities maintained in the form of entries (including, without limitation, the securities
entitlements (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a)
of the Revised UCC) in such securities) in the commercial book-entry system of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 

        "Cash Equivalents" means 

        (1)   marketable
direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency or instrumentality thereof and backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof (including,without limitation, obligations issued or guaranteed by the United
States Treasury commonly referred to as "T-Bills", maturing in 7 or 30 days); 

        (2)   marketable
direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof or
the District of Columbia maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Standard &
Poor's Ratings Group or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.; 

        (3)   certificates
of deposit, money market deposit accounts, time deposit accounts, term deposit accounts or bankers' acceptances maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof issued or held by any bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or any U.S. branch of a foreign bank having at
the date of acquisition thereof combined capital and surplus of not less than $250.0 million; 

        (4)   repurchase
obligations with a term of not more than thirty days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) above entered into with any bank
meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above; 

        (5)   investments
in money market funds which invest substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (4) above; and 

        (6)   Federated
U.S. Treasury Cash Reserves fund (NASDAQ Symbol UTIXX)(or any comparably rated money market fund); 

        provided that no such Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition shall mature
later than October 11, 2004. The Escrow Agent may purchase from or sell to itself or an affiliate, as principal or agent, securities herein authorized. 

        "Entitlement Holder" means an "entitlement holder" as defined (i) in Section 8-102(a)(7) of the Revised UCC and
(ii) with respect to Book-Entry Securities governed by the Federal Book-Entry Regulations, in 31 C.F.R. § 357.2. 

2

 

        "Fed Member Securities Account" means, in respect of any person, an account in the name of such person in the commercial
book-entry system of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 

        "Federal Book-Entry Regulations" means (i) the federal regulations contained in Subpart B ("Treasury/Reserve Automated
Debt Entry System (TRADES) governing Book-Entry Securities consisting of U.S. Treasury bonds, notes and bills and Subpart D ("Additional
Provisions") of 31 C.F.R. Part 357, 31 C.F.R. § 357.10 through § 357.41 and § 357.41 through
§ 357.44, including related defined terms in 31 C.F.R. § 357.27; and (ii) to the extent substantially identical to the Federal Book-Entry
Regulations referred to in clause (i) above, the federal regulations governing other Book-Entry Securities. 

        "Financial Asset" has the meaning set forth in Section 8-102(a) of the Revised UCC. 

        "Initial Deposit" means an amount of cash and/or Pledged Securities which will, with the anticipated income thereon and without the
reinvestment thereof or sale prior to maturity, provide cash to the Escrow Agent in an amount sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof (the
"Required Amount"), but solely to the extent that the Securities become subject to Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to the terms of the Indenture
or the Securities. For the avoidance of any doubt, the Initial Deposit shall, at a minimum, include cash and/or Pledged Securities of $50,000,000 plus an amount sufficient to pay at least six months
of interest thereon accruing at the rate of 9%. 

        "Notice of Sole Control" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Securities Account Control Agreement. 

        "Pledged Securities" means any Cash Equivalents, as more fully described on Schedule I attached hereto, purchased by the Company
and deposited into the Escrow Account. 

        "Revised UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York. 

        "Secured Obligations" shall mean all obligations for the payment of principal, premium, interest, liquidated damages, charges, reasonable
fees, fees and expenses of counsel, indemnities, damages, claims and other liabilities payable under the Securities or the Indenture in respect of the Special Mandatory Redemption, in each case
whether (i) such obligations are direct or indirect, secured or unsecured, joint or several, absolute or contingent, due or to become due whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, (ii) arising in the ordinary course of business or otherwise, (iii) for payment or performance and/or (iv) now existing or hereafter arising (including, without
limitation, interest and other obligations arising or accruing after the commencement of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Issuers or any other
person, or which would have arisen or accrued but for the commencement of such proceeding, even if such obligation or the claim therefor is not enforceable or allowable in such proceeding). 

        "Securities Account" shall have the meaning set forth in Revised UCC Section 8-501(a). 

        "Securities Intermediary" has the meaning specified (i) in Section 8-102(a) of the Revised UCC and
(ii) with respect to Book-Entry Securities governed by the Federal Book-Entry Regulations, in 31 C.F.R. § 357.2. 

        "Security Control" means "control" as defined in Section 8-106 of the Revised UCC. 

        "Special Mandatory Redemption Date" means (a) October 11, 2004, if the Acquisition has not occurred on or prior to the
Deadline Date, or (b) the seventh Business Day following the termination of the Acquisition Agreement, in any case, on or prior to the Deadline Date, for any reason without an extension of such
agreement to a date not later than the Deadline Date. 

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        "Special Mandatory Redemption Price" means 100% of $50,000,000 in original principal amount of the Securities plus accrued and unpaid
interest thereon up to but not including the Special Mandatory Redemption Date. 

        (b)   If
the Securities become subject to Special Mandatory Redemption, the Issuers shall provide prompt notice thereof (a "Redemption
Notice") to the Escrow Agent, together with a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company setting forth (i) a calculation of the amount of cash that will
be available to the Escrow Agent, based on the Escrowed Property then held with the Escrow Agent, with the anticipated income thereon and without any reinvestment thereof or sale prior to maturity, on
the third Business Day prior to the date fixed for such Special Mandatory Redemption and (ii) a calculation
of the Special Mandatory Redemption Price payable on the date fixed for such Special Mandatory Redemption. If such certificate demonstrates that the amount of cash so available, together with the
market value (as calculated by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company based on quotations received from two or more dealers in such Cash Equivalents who are unaffiliated with the Issuers) of any
Cash Equivalents in the Escrowed Property that will not mature on or prior to the Business Day prior to the date fixed for such Special Mandatory Redemption will be insufficient to pay the Special
Mandatory Redemption Price, then the Issuers shall within one Business Day after receipt by the Escrow Agent of such notice, deposit with the Escrow Agent an amount of cash that, without reinvestment,
equals the amount of such deficiency. In connection with any Redemption Notice received from the Issuers relating to a date fixed for Special Mandatory Redemption that is prior to October 11,
2004, the Escrow Agent is hereby authorized to promptly liquidate in any manner it deems reasonable any Cash Equivalents that will not mature on or prior to the third Business Day prior to the date
fixed for Special Mandatory Redemption; provided that the Escrow Agent shall reinvest any portion of the proceeds so realized by the Escrow Agent in
Cash Equivalents that shall mature on or prior to the date fixed for Special Mandatory Redemption as may be directed by the Issuers in writing pursuant to Section 1(d). To the extent that the
proceeds realized by the Escrow Agent from liquidating such Cash Equivalents are less than the market value thereof calculated by the Chief Financial Officer as evidenced in the certificate described
above, the Escrow Agent shall so notify the Issuers, and the Issuers shall promptly, but in any event within one Business Day after receiving such notice, deposit cash in an amount that, without
reinvestment, equals the amount of such shortfall. 

        (c)   The
Issuers shall deliver to the Escrow Agent, in conjunction with each deposit with the Escrow Agent under Sections 1(a) and (b) and as a condition to any
investment of cash in Cash Equivalents and to any release requested by the Issuers under Section 2(d), a written statement, certified as to its mathematical accuracy by the Chief Financial
Officer of the Company, setting forth a calculation showing that the amount of cash that would then be available to the Escrow Agent, based on the Escrowed Property that would be held with the Escrow
Agent (after giving effect to any such investment or release, if applicable) or to be deposited with the Escrow Agent, without any reinvestment thereof or sale prior to maturity, but taking into
account scheduled maturities of, and scheduled payments of interest on, the Cash Equivalents included in the Escrowed Property, would be at least equal to (i) the Required Amount on the Special
Mandatory Redemption Date, or (ii) if an earlier date shall have been fixed for the Special Mandatory Redemption at the time such statement is delivered, an amount sufficient to pay the Special
Mandatory Redemption Price on the date fixed for such Special Mandatory Redemption. 

        (d)   The
Escrow Agent shall accept the Initial Deposit and any amounts deposited pursuant to Section 1(b) and shall hold such cash, Cash Equivalents and the proceeds
thereof in the Escrow Account. The Initial Deposit and any amounts deposited pursuant to 

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Section l(b)
hereof, and the proceeds of any such deposits, less any amounts released pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall constitute the "Escrowed
Property." The Escrow Agent further agrees to invest any portion of the Escrowed Property that is cash in Cash Equivalents as may be directed by the Issuers in writing from
time to time. In selecting any Cash Equivalents, the Issuers shall determine in their good faith judgment that the proceeds thereof at maturity, when added to the balance of the Escrowed Property
without the reinvestment thereof or sale prior to maturity, shall provide cash to the Escrow Agent in an amount at least equal to the Required Amount on the assumed Redemption Date. No investment of
funds in the Escrow Account shall be made unless the Issuers have certified to the Escrow Agent and the Trustee that, upon such investment, Trustee will have a first priority perfected security
interest in the applicable investment. 

        (e)   The
obligation of the Escrow Agent to make the payments and transfers required by this Escrow Agreement shall be limited to the Escrowed Property and any other moneys on
deposit with it pursuant to this Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any loss resulting from any investment made pursuant to this Agreement in compliance with the provisions
hereof or from the sale of any Cash Equivalents required by the terms hereof. 

        2.    Disbursement of Escrowed Property.    (a) If the Escrow Agent receives notice from the Issuers that the
closing of the Acquisition will occur on or prior to the Deadline Date, the Escrow Agent will release all Escrowed Property then held by it to the Issuers. The Escrow Agent hereby agrees that upon the
Escrow Agent's receipt of such notice, the Issuers shall be automatically released from any further liability under this Agreement. 

        (b)   If
the Escrow Agent receives a notice from the Issuers and the Trustee that a Special Mandatory Redemption is to occur, the Escrow Agent will on or before the Business
Day prior to the date fixed for such Special Mandatory Redemption release to the Paying Agent an amount of Escrowed Property in cash equal to the Special Mandatory Redemption Price specified in such
notice from the Issuers or the Trustee. Concurrently with such release to the Paying Agent, the Escrow Agent shall release any excess of Escrowed Property over the Special Mandatory Redemption Price
to the Issuers. 

        (c)   If
the Escrow Agent receives a notice from the Trustee that the principal of and accrued interest on the Securities (the "Default
Amount") has become immediately due and payable as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(a)(6) or Section 6.1(a)(7) of the
Indenture (an "Acceleration Event") and either (i) a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the acceleration of the Securities was
appropriate as a result of a bona fide Event of Default under the Indenture or (ii) such acceleration is not rescinded on or prior to the Deadline Date (either such event, a
"Remedies Trigger Event"), the Escrow Agent will liquidate all Escrowed Property then held by it within one Business Day after it receives notice of
such court determination or on the Business Day after the
Deadline Date, as the case may be, and will release to the Paying Agent for payment to the holders of the Securities an amount of Escrowed Property sufficient to pay the Default Amount. The Escrow
Agent will release all remaining Escrowed Property in excess of such Default Amount to the Issuers. 

        If
the Escrow Agent receives a notice that a Special Mandatory Redemption is to occur, this Section 2(c) shall be of no further effect and all Escrowed Property then held by the
Escrow Agent shall be released in accordance with Section 2(b). 

        (d)   In
the event of (i) an Acceleration Event or (ii) a Change of Control, in either case occurring prior to a Remedies Trigger Event, (A) the Issuers
may, at their sole option, direct the Escrow Agent to liquidate the Escrowed Property and release to the Paying Agent Escrowed Property in an amount sufficient for the payment of the Default Amount or
the 

5

 

applicable
purchase price and (B) if the Issuers so direct the Escrow Agent pursuant to clause (A) above and pays to the Paying Agent any additional amounts necessary to pay the full
amount of the Default Amount or the applicable purchase price to the extent amounts released pursuant to clause (A) are insufficient to pay such full amount, or if the Issuers otherwise pay all
of such Default Amount or purchase price, as the case may be, pursuant to such Acceleration Event or Change of Control and, in either case, deliver an Officer's Certificate to the Escrow Agent to such
effect, the Issuers may (x) in the case of an Acceleration Event, request the Escrow Agent to release to the Issuers and the Escrow Agent shall, subject to Section 1(c), promptly release
to the Issuers all remaining Escrowed Property or (y) in the case of a Change of Control, request the Escrow Agent to release to the Issuers and the Escrow Agent shall, subject to
Section l(c), promptly release to the Issuers the excess of the remaining Escrowed Property over the amount necessary to pay the remaining Required Amount with respect to any Securities that
remain outstanding following the consummation of the purchase of Securities in accordance with Section 4.15 of the Indenture in respect of such Change of Control. 

        3.    Termination.    Upon the release of any Escrowed Property to the Issuers pursuant to Section 1 or 2, such
Escrowed Property shall be delivered to the Issuers, free and clear of any and all interests and liens of any Person, including, without limitation, the Escrow Agent, the Trustee and the holders of
the Securities. Upon the release of all Escrowed Property in accordance with Section 1 or Section 2 hereof, this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that it is expressly agreed
that the provisions of Sections 4 and 7 hereof shall survive any such termination. 

        4.    Indemnity.    The Issuers jointly and severally agree to indemnify the Escrow Agent, and its officers,
directors, employees and agents, for, and to hold it and each of them harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and carrying
out its duties hereunder, including the cost and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability; provided, however, that the Issuers will
not be liable for indemnification or otherwise for any loss, liability or expense incurred as a result of the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Escrow Agent. 

        5.    Modifications, Waivers and Amendments.    The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any modification, amendment,
termination (except as provided in Section 3), cancellation, rescission or supersession of this Agreement unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto, and, if its
rights, duties, immunities or indemnities as Escrow Agent are affected thereby, unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto. This Agreement may not be modified, amended or terminated
(except as provided in Section 3) without the written consent of the Initial Purchasers. 

        6.    Grant of Security Interests; Instructions to Escrow Agent.    (a) As security for the full and timely
payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, the Issuers hereby irrevocably grant a perfected first priority security interest in and pledge, assign and set over to the Trustee for its benefit
and the benefit of the holders of the Securities all of the Issuers' right, title and interest in, to and under the following whether now or hereafter existing or acquired (collectively, the
"Collateral"): (i) the Escrow Account, and all Financial Assets and other property from time to time placed or deposited in, or delivered to the
Escrow Agent for placement or deposit in, the Escrow Account, including, without limitation, all funds held therein, and all Cash Equivalents held by (or otherwise maintained in the name of) the
Escrow Agent pursuant to Section 1; (ii) all security entitlements (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a) of the Revised UCC) from time to time credited to the
Escrow Account; (iii) all claims and rights of whatever nature which the Issuers may now have or hereafter acquire against any third party(ies) in respect of any of the Collateral described in
this Section 6(a) (including any claims or rights in respect of any security entitlements credited to an account of the Escrow Agent maintained at The Depository Trust 

6

 

Company
or any other clearing corporation) or any other securities intermediary (as such terms are defined in Section 8-102(a) of the Revised UCC); (iv) all rights which the
Issuers may now have or hereafter acquire against the Escrow Agent in respect of its holding and managing all or any part of the Collateral; and (v) all proceeds (as such term is defined in
Section 9-102(a) of the Revised UCC) of any of the foregoing. The Escrow Agent hereby acknowledges the Trustee's security interest as set forth in this Section 6(a). The
Issuers shall take all actions and shall direct the Trustee in writing to take all actions reasonably necessary on its part to ensure (i) the continuance of a security interest in the
Collateral in favor of the Trustee for its benefit and for the benefit of the holders of the Securities in order to secure all the Secured Obligations and (ii) that such security interest is at
all times a perfected first priority security interest. The Issuers shall not grant or cause or permit any other person to obtain a security interest, encumbrance, lien or other claim, direct or
indirect, in the Issuers' right, title or interest in the Escrow Account or any Collateral. 

        The
Issuers and the Trustee hereby irrevocably instruct the Escrow Agent to, and the Escrow Agent shall, (i) (A) maintain the Escrow Account for the sole and exclusive benefit of
the Trustee on its behalf and on behalf of the holders of the Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Securities Account Control Agreement, (B) take all steps
reasonably specified in writing by the Issuers pursuant to this Section 6(a) to cause the Trustee to enjoy a continuous perfected first priority security interest under the Revised UCC, any
other applicable statutory or case law or regulation of the State of New York and any applicable law or regulation of the United States in the Collateral and (C) except as otherwise required by
law, maintain the Collateral free and clear of all liens, security interests, safekeeping or other charges, demands and claims of any nature now or hereafter existing in favor of anyone other than the
Trustee; (ii) promptly notify the Trustee if the Escrow Agent receives written
notice that any person other than the Trustee has a lien, security interest, charge, demand or claim of any nature upon any portion of the Collateral; and (iii) in addition to disbursing the
Escrowed Property and all other Collateral held in the Escrow Account pursuant to Section 2, upon receipt of a Notice of Sole Control, the Escrow Agent shall, as promptly as practicable,
disburse all Escrowed Property and other Collateral held in the Escrow Account to or as directed by the Trustee and, to the extent permissible by applicable law, transfer title to all Cash Equivalents
held by the Escrow Agent hereunder to or as directed by the Trustee. 

        The
security interest provided for by this Section 6(a) shall automatically terminate and cease as to, and shall not extend or apply to, and the Trustee shall have no security
interest in, any property constituting Collateral disbursed by the Escrow Agent pursuant to this Agreement. 

        The
Escrow Agent shall act solely as the Trustee's agent in connection with its duties under this Section 6(a), notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement,
without any right to receive compensation from the Trustee and without any authority to obligate the Trustee or to compromise or pledge its security interest hereunder. Accordingly, the Escrow Agent
is hereby directed to cooperate with the Trustee in the exercise of its rights in the Collateral provided for herein. 

        Upon
demand, the Issuers will execute and deliver to the Trustee such instruments and documents as are necessary or advisable to confirm or perfect the rights of the Trustee under this
Agreement and Trustee's interests in the Collateral. The Trustee shall be entitled but not obligated to take all necessary action to preserve and protect the lien and security interest created hereby
upon the Collateral. The Issuers will pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with any of the foregoing. 

        Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Indenture and for so long as such Event of Default continues, the Issuers hereby appoint the Trustee as their
attorney-in-fact with 

7

 

full
power of substitution to do any act which the Issuers are obligated hereunder to do, and the Trustee may, but shall not be required to, exercise such rights as the Issuers might exercise with
respect to the Collateral and take any action in the Issuers' name to protect the Trustee's security interest and lien granted hereunder, except that the Issuers shall retain the right to cause the
occurrence of an Authorized Release. In addition to the rights provided under this Section 6(a), upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Indenture and for so long as such Event of
Default continues, the Trustee may, but shall not be required to, exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or in the Securities Account
Control Agreement or otherwise available to it, its right to issue an "entitlement order" (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(8) of the UCC) and all other rights and remedies of
secured parties under the UCC or other applicable law, and the Trustee may also upon obtaining possession of the Collateral as set forth herein, without notice to the Issuers except as specified
below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange, broker's board or at any of the Trustee's offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or
for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Trustee may deem commercially reasonable. The Issuers agree that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days' notice
to the Issuers of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Trustee shall not be obligated to make any
sale regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Trustee may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may,
without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. 

        If
at any time the Escrow Agent shall receive an "entitlement order" (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(8) of the UCC) issued by the Trustee and relating to the
Escrow Account, the Escrow Agent shall comply with such entitlement order without further consent by the Issuers or any other person. 

        (b)   Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any right or remedy against the Collateral unless and until the
Deadline Date has occurred. 

        7.    Concerning the Escrow Agent.    (a) The fee of the Escrow Agent hereunder is $750, which fee shall be
nonrefundable and paid in advance by the Issuers. The Issuers also agree to pay on demand the reasonable costs and expenses of the Escrow Agent, including the reasonable fees and expenses of outside
counsel selected by the Escrow Agent, other than the costs and expenses reimbursed pursuant to Section 4, incurred in connection with its duties hereunder. 

        (b)   The
Escrow Agent shall exercise the same degree of care toward the Escrowed Property as it exercises toward its own similar property and shall not be held to any higher
standard of care under this Agreement, nor be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the Issuers or any other party. 

        (c)   The
Escrow Agent may act upon any instrument or other writing believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person, and
shall not be liable to any party hereto in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, except for its own negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The duties of the Escrow Agent shall
be determined only with reference to this Agreement and applicable laws and the Escrow Agent is not charged with any knowledge of, or any duties or responsibilities in connection with, any other
document or agreement. The Escrow Agent may consult with counsel of its choice and shall be protected in any action taken or omitted in good faith in reliance on the advice or opinion of such counsel. 

        (d)   The
Escrow Agent may execute any of its powers or responsibilities hereunder and exercise any rights hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys
and shall 

8

 

not
be liable for the misconduct or negligence of any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder. 

        (e)   Nothing
in this Agreement shall be deemed to impose upon the Escrow Agent any duty to qualify to do business or to act as agent or otherwise in any jurisdiction other
than the State of New York. 

        (f)    The
Escrow Agent shall not be responsible for and shall not be under a duty to examine into or pass upon the validity, binding effect, execution or sufficiency of this
Agreement, any agreement amendatory or supplemental hereto or of any certificates delivered to it hereunder. 

        (g)   The
Escrow Agent makes no representation as to the validity, value, genuineness or collectability of any security or other document or instrument held by or delivered to
it. 

        (h)   The
Escrow Agent shall not be called upon to advise any party as to selling or retaining, or taking or refraining from taking any action with respect to, any securities
or other property deposited hereunder. 

        (i)    The
Escrow Agent shall have the right at any time to resign hereunder by giving written notice of its resignation to the Issuers at the address set forth herein or at
such other address as the Issuers shall provide, at least 30 days prior to the date specified for such resignation to take effect. Upon the
effective date of such resignation, all Escrowed Property then held by the Escrow Agent hereunder shall be delivered by it to a successor escrow agent. If no successor escrow agent is appointed within
30 days of such effective date, the Escrow Agent may apply at the expense of the Issuers to a court of competent jurisdiction for such appointment. 

        (j)    In
the event of any ambiguity or uncertainty hereunder or in any notice, instruction or other communication received by Escrow Agent hereunder, Escrow Agent may, in its
sole discretion, refrain from taking any action other than retain possession of the Escrowed Property, unless Escrow Agent receives written instructions, signed by the Issuers, which eliminates such
ambiguity or uncertainty. If the Escrow Agent should at any time be confronted with inconsistent claims or demands to the Escrowed Property, the Escrow Agent shall have the right, but not the duty, to
interplead the parties in any court of competent jurisdiction and request that such court determine the respective rights of the parties with respect to the Escrowed Property. In the event the Escrow
Agent no longer holds any Escrowed Property, it shall be released from any obligation or liability as a consequence of any such claims or demands. 

        (k)   The
Escrow Agent shall not be required to use its own funds in the performance of any of its obligations or duties, or in the exercise of any rights or powers, and shall
not be required to take any action which, in the Escrow Agent's sole judgment, could involve it in expense or liability unless furnished with security and indemnity which the Escrow Agent deems, in
its sole discretion, to be satisfactory. 

        (l)    If
at any time Escrow Agent is served with any judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, writ or other form of judicial or administrative process which in any
way affects Escrowed Property (including but not limited to orders of attachment or garnishment or other forms of levies or injunctions or stays relating to the transfer of Escrowed Property), upon
prior notice to the Issuers (unless such notice is prohibited by applicable law) Escrow Agent is authorized to comply therewith in any manner as it or its legal counsel of its own choosing deems
appropriate; and if Escrow Agent complies with any such judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, writ or other form of judicial or administrative process, Escrow Agent shall not be liable
to any of the parties hereto or to any other person 

9

 

or
entity even though such order, judgment, decree, writ or process may be subsequently modified or vacated or otherwise determined to have been without legal force or effect. 

        (m)  Subject
to Section 7(c) above, the Escrow Agent shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility
hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of Escrow Agent (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any
act of God or war, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility). 

        (n)   In
the event of any dispute between or conflicting claims by or among the Issuers and/or any other person or entity with respect to any Escrowed Property, Escrow Agent
shall be entitled, in its sole discretion, to refuse to comply with any and all such claims, demands or instructions with respect to such, and Escrow Agent shall not be or become liable in any way to
the Issuers for failure or refusal to comply with such conflicting claims, demands or instructions. Escrow Agent shall be entitled to refuse to act until, in its sole discretion, such conflicting or
adverse claims or demands shall have been determined by a final order, judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, which order, judgment or decree is not subject to appeal, or settled by
agreement between the conflicting parties and evidenced in a writing satisfactory to Escrow Agent. 

        (o)   Escrow
Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted or for any loss or injury resulting from its actions or its performance or lack of performance of its
duties hereunder in the absence of gross negligence of willful misconduct on its part. In no event shall Escrow Agent be liable (i) for acting in accordance with or relying upon any
instruction, notice, demand, certificate or document from the Issuers or the Initial Purchasers or any entity acting on behalf of any Issuer, (ii) for any consequential, punitive or special
damages, (iii) for the acts or omissions of its nominees, correspondents, designees, subagents or subcustodians, in each case, to the extent such person was selected by the Escrow Agent with
due care, or (iv) for an amount in excess of the value of the Escrowed Property, valued as of the date of deposit. 

        8.    Notices.    All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficiently
given when received by hand delivery, by telecopier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested at the following addresses until such time as the parties hereto
designate a different or additional address or addresses: 

        If
to the Issuers or the Guarantors: 

Superior
Essex Communications LLC

150 Interstate North Parkway, Suite 300

Atlanta, Georgia 30339-2101

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Fax: (770) 984-3218 

        With
a copy to: 

Proskauer
Rose LLP

1585 Broadway, Suite 2700

New York, New York 10036-8299

Attn: Jack P. Jackson

Telephone: (212) 969-3140

Facsimile: (212) 969-2900 

        To
the Escrow Agent: 

10

 

THE
BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

100 Ashford Center North, Suite 520

Atlanta, GA 30338

Attention: Barbara K. Royal 

        9.    Miscellaneous.    (a) This Agreement sets forth exclusively the duties of the Escrow Agent with respect
to any and all matters pertinent hereto and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Escrow Agent. 

        (b)   This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one agreement. 

        (c)   This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. 

        (d)   This
Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give, either express or implied,
any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim to any other entity or person whatsoever. 

11

 

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

	

 	
 	

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

        as Escrow Agent
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  PHILIP L. WATSON      
 Name: Philip L. Watson

Title: Vice President
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	

 	
 	

SUPERIOR ESSEX COMMUNICATIONS LLC
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	

 	
 	

By:	

SUPERIOR ESSEX HOLDING CORP.
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      
 Name: David S. Aldridge

Title: Vice President and Treasurer
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	

 	
 	

ESSEX GROUP, INC.
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      
 Name: David S. Aldridge

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

12

 
 

SCHEDULE I    
    

[Description
of Pledged Securities to be deposited into the Escrow Account] 

   EXHIBIT A

CONTROL AGREEMENT CONCERNING SECURITIES ACCOUNT  

        This Control Agreement Concerning Securities Account (this "Control Agreement"), dated as of April 14, 2004
by and among Superior Essex Communications LLC and Essex Group, Inc. (the "Pledgors"), The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (in
such capacity, the "Collateral Agent"), and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (in such capacity, the "Securities
Intermediary"), is delivered pursuant to that certain Escrow Agreement (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Escrow Agreement"), dated as of April 14, 2004 made by the Pledgors and each of the Guarantors listed on the signature pages thereto in favor of
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as escrow agent, as pledgee, assignee and secured party (the "Collateral Agent"). This Control Agreement is
for the purpose of perfecting the security interests of the Collateral Agent granted by the Pledgors in the Designated Account described below. All references herein to the "UCC" shall mean the
Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Escrow Agreement. 

        Section 1.    Confirmation of Establishment and Maintenance of Designated Account.    The Securities
Intermediary hereby confirms and agrees that (i) the Securities Intermediary has established for the Pledgors and maintains the account(s) listed in  Schedule I annexed hereto (such account(s),
together with each such other securities account maintained by the Pledgors with the Securities
Intermediary, the "Designated Account") (ii) the Designated Account will be maintained in the manner set forth herein until termination of this
Control Agreement, (iii) this Control Agreement is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Securities Intermediary, (iv) the Securities Intermediary is a "securities
intermediary" as defined in Article 8-102(a)(14) of the UCC, (v) the Designated Account is a "securities account" as such term is defined in
Section 8-501(a) of the UCC and (vi) all securities or other property underlying any financial assets which are credited to the Designated Account shall be registered in the
name of the Securities Intermediary, endorsed to the Securities Intermediary or in blank or credited to another securities account maintained in the name of the Securities Intermediary and in no case
will any financial asset credited to any Designated Account be registered in the name of the Pledgors, payable to the order of the Pledgors or specially endorsed to the Pledgors, except to the extent
the foregoing have been specially endorsed to the Securities Intermediary or in blank. 

        Section 2.    "Financial Assets" Election.    The Securities Intermediary hereby agrees that each item of
Investment Property credited to the Designated Account shall be treated as a "financial asset" within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC. 

        Section 3.    Entitlement Order.    If at any time the Securities Intermediary shall receive an "entitlement
order" (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(8) of the UCC) issued by the Collateral Agent and relating to any financial asset maintained in the Designated Account, the Securities
Intermediary shall comply with such entitlement order without further consent by the Pledgors or any other person. The Securities Intermediary shall not comply with instructions directing the
Securities Intermediary with respect to the sale, exchange or transfer of financial assets held in the Designated Account originated by any Pledgor, or any representative of, or investment manager
appointed by, a Pledgor; provided however, that the foregoing shall not preclude an Authorized Release (as defined in the Escrow Agreement). 

        Section 4.    Subordination of Lien; Waiver of Set-Off.    The Securities Intermediary hereby
agrees that any security interest in any Designated Account it now has or subsequently obtains shall be subordinate to the security interest of the Collateral Agent. The financial assets and other
items deposited to the Designated Account will not be subject to deduction, set-off, banker's lien, or any other right in favor of any person other than the Collateral Agent (except that
the Securities 

1

 

Intermediary
may set off all amounts due to the Securities Intermediary in respect of its customary fees and expenses for the routine maintenance and operation of the Designated Account, including
overdraft fees and amounts advanced to settle authorized transactions. 

        Section 5.    Choice of Law.    Both this Control Agreement and the Designated Account shall be governed by the
laws of the State of New York. Regardless of any provision in any other agreement, for purposes of the UCC, New York shall be deemed to be the Securities Intermediary's jurisdiction and the Designated
Account (as well as the security entitlements related thereto) shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. 

        Section 6.    Conflict with Other Agreements; Amendments.    As of the date hereof, there are no other
agreements entered into between the Securities Intermediary and the Pledgors with respect to the Designated Account or any security entitlements or other financial assets credited thereto (other than
standard and customary documentation with respect to the establishment and maintenance of such Designated Account). The Securities Intermediary and the Pledgors will not enter into any other agreement
with respect to the Designated Account unless the Collateral Agent shall have received prior written notice thereof. The Securities Intermediary and the Pledgors have not and will not enter into any
other agreement with respect to (i) creation or perfection of any security interest in or (ii) control of security entitlements maintained in the Designated Account or purporting to
limit or condition the obligation of the Securities Intermediary to comply with entitlement orders with respect to financial assets credited to any Designated Account as set forth in  Section 3
hereof without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent acting in its sole discretion. In the event of any conflict with
respect to control over the Designated Account between this Control Agreement (or any portion hereof) and any other agreement now existing or hereafter entered into, the terms of this Control
Agreement shall prevail. No amendment or modification of this Control Agreement or waiver of any rights hereunder shall be binding on any party hereto unless it is in writing and is signed by all the
parties hereto. 

        Section 7.    Certain Agreements. 

        (i)    The
Securities Intermediary has furnished to the Collateral Agent the most recent account statement issued by the Securities Intermediary with respect to the Designated
Account and the financial assets and cash balances held therein, identifying the financial assets held therein in a manner acceptable to the Collateral Agent. Each such statement accurately reflects
the assets held in such Designated Account as of the date thereof. 

        (ii)   The
Securities Intermediary will, upon its receipt of each supplement to the Escrow Agreement signed by the Pledgors and identifying one or more financial assets as
"Escrowed Property," enter into its records, including computer records, with respect to the Designated Account a notation with respect to any such financial asset so that such records and reports
generated with respect thereto identify such financial asset as "Pledged." 

        (iii)  The
Collateral Agent has delivered to the Securities Intermediary a list, signed by an authorized representative of the officers of the Collateral Agent authorized to
give approvals or instructions under this Control Agreement (the "Authorized Representatives") and the Securities Intermediary shall be entitled to rely
on communications from any such authorized officers until the earlier of the termination of this Control Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof and notification by an Authorized Representative
of a change in such list at any time. 

        Section 8.    Notice of Adverse Claims.    Except for the claims and interest of the Collateral Agent and of
the Pledgors in the financial assets maintained in the Designated Account, the Securities Intermediary on the date hereof does not know of any claim to, or security interest in, any Designated Account
or in any financial asset credited thereto and does not know of any claim that any person other than the Collateral Agent has been given "control" (within the meaning of
Section 8-106 of the 

2

 

UCC)
of any Designated Account or any such financial asset. If the Securities Intermediary becomes aware that any person is asserting any lien, encumbrance or adverse claim (including any writ,
garnishment, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process or any claim of control) against any of the financial assets maintained in any Designated Account, the Securities
Intermediary shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent and the Pledgors thereof. 

        Section 9.    Maintenance of Designated Account.    In addition to the obligations of the Securities
Intermediary in Section 3 hereof, the Securities Intermediary agrees to maintain the Designated Account as follows: 

        (i)    Voting Rights. Until such time as the Securities Intermediary receives a notice of sole control, the Pledgors shall
direct the Securities Intermediary with respect to the voting of any financial assets credited to any Designated Account. 

        (ii)   Bailee for Perfection. The Securities Intermediary acknowledges that, in the event that it should come into possession
of any certificate representing any security or other assets held as financial assets in the Designated Account, the Securities Intermediary shall retain possession of the same for the benefit of the
Collateral Agent and such act shall cause the Securities Intermediary to be deemed a bailee for the Collateral Agent, if necessary to perfect the Collateral Agent's security interest in such
securities or assets. The Securities Intermediary hereby acknowledges its receipt of a copy of the Escrow Agreement, which shall also serve as notice to the Securities Intermediary of a security
interest in collateral held by a bailee. Neither Collateral Agent nor Securities Intermediary shall have any obligation to file UCC financing statements or otherwise take any action to maintain the
perfection of their security interest in the Designated Account. 

        Section 10.    Successors; Assignment.    The terms of this Control Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall
inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective corporate successors and permitted assignees. 

        Section 11.    Notices.    Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given under
this Control Agreement shall be in writing and deemed to have been properly given when delivered in person, or when sent by telecopy or other electronic means and electronic confirmation of error free
receipt is received or two (2) days after being sent by certified or registered United States mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the party at the address set forth
below. 

	Pledgors:	 	Superior Essex Communications LLC

Essex Group, Inc.

150 Interstate North Parkway, Suite 300

Atlanta, Georgia 30339-2101

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telecopy: (770) 984-3218
	 	 	 

3

 

	

 	
 	

with a copy to:
	

 	
 	

Proskauer Rose LLP

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036-8299

Attention: Jack P. Jackson, Esq.

Fax: (212) 969-2900
	
 Securities

Intermediary:	
 	

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

100 Ashford Center North

Suite 520

Atlanta, Georgia 30338

Fax: 770-698-5195
	
 Collateral

Agent:	
 	

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

100 Ashford Center North

Suite 520

Atlanta, Georgia 30338

Fax: 770-698-5195
	

 	
 	

with a copy to:
	

 	
 	

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP

80 Pine Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: William B. Gannett, Esq.

Telecopy: (212) 269-5420

Telephone: (212) 701-3000

        Any
party may change its address for notices in the manner set forth above. 

        Section 12.    Termination.    The rights and powers granted herein to the Collateral Agent are powers coupled
with an interest and will be affected neither by the bankruptcy of either Pledgor nor by the lapse of time. The obligations of the Securities Intermediary hereunder shall continue in effect until
(i) the security interests of the Collateral Agent with respect to the financial assets maintained in the Designated Account have been terminated and an Authorized Representative has notified
the Securities Intermediary of such termination in writing or (ii) thirty days following the Securities Intermediary's delivery of written notice of such termination to the Pledgors and the
Collateral Agent. 

        Section 13.    Severability.    If any term or provision set forth in this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement, other than those provisions held invalid or unenforceable, shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable term or provision were
omitted. 

        Section 14.    Counterparts.    This Control Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of
which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Control Agreement by signing and delivering one or more counterparts. 

        Section 15.    Incorporation by Reference.    In connection with its appointment and acting hereunder, each of
the Securities Intermediary and Collateral Agent are entitled to all rights, privileges, protections, benefits, immunities and indemnities provided to the escrow agent under the Escrow Agreement. 

4

  

	

 	
 	

SUPERIOR ESSEX COMMUNICATIONS LLC,

as Pledgor
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

SUPERIOR ESSEX HOLDING CORP.
	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

 	
 	

ESSEX GROUP, INC., as Pledgor
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

 	
 	

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Collateral Agent
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

 	
 	

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Securities Intermediary
	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

 Name:

Title:

S-1

SCHEDULE I

Designated Account  

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Exhibit 10.5  

 
 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT    
    

        This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated April 14, 2004 (the "Agreement") is entered into by and among Superior Essex Communications LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company ("Superior Essex"), Essex Group, Inc., a Michigan corporation ("Essex Group," together with Superior Essex, the "Issuers"), the guarantors listed in Schedule 1 hereto
(collectively, the "Guarantors"), and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., UBS Securities LLC, Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and Fleet Securities, Inc. (the "Initial
Purchasers"). 

        The
Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated April 8, 2004 (the "Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Issuers to
the Initial Purchasers of $257,100,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers' 9% Senior Notes due 2012 (the "Securities"), which will be guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each of the
Guarantors. As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuers and the Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and
indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement. 

        In
consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows: 

        1.    Definitions.    As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 

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

        "Closing
Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Purchase Agreement. 

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

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

        "Exchange
Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Issuers and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof. 

        "Exchange
Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof. 

        "Exchange
Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments
and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. 

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

        "Guarantors"
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include any Guarantor's successors. 

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

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

 

        "Indenture"
shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of April 14, 2004 among the Issuers, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, and
as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. 

        "Issuers"
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Issuers' successors. 

        "Majority
Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders
of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Issuers or any of their affiliates shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount. 

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

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

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

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

        "Registrable
Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such
Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities are eligible
to be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the Securities Act or (iii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding. 

        "Registration
Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Issuers and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including, without limitation, (i)
all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities
or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement,
(iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all reasonable fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the reasonable fees and disbursements of
the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuers and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and
disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Issuers and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or "comfort" letters required by or incident to the performance of
and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) 

2

 

above)
or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder. 

        "Registration
Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the Issuers and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. 

        "SEC"
shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

        "Securities"
shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals. 

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

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

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

        "Shelf
Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration statement of the Issuers and the Guarantors that covers all the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless
approved by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities to be covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under
the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in
each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. 

        "Staff"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof. 

        "Superior
Essex" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include Superior Essex's successors. 

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

        "Trustee"
shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture. 

        "Underwriter"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof. 

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

        2.    Registration Under the Securities Act.    (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretations of the Staff of the SEC (the "Staff"), the Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to (i) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering
an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (ii) have such Registration Statement remain effective until 180 days after the closing of the Exchange
Offer. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use their reasonable best efforts
to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date. 

3

 

        The
Issuers and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder
stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, 

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

	(ii)
	the
dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed) (the "Exchange Dates");

	(iii)
	that
any Registrable Security not tendered, or tendered and properly withdrawn, will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights
under this Agreement;

	(iv)
	that
any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable Security, together with
the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) and in the manner specified in the notice, prior to the close
of business on the last Exchange Date; and

	(v)
	that
any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to the institution and at the
address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal
amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged. 

        As
a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Issuers and the Guarantors that (i) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will
be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution
(within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) it is not an "affiliate" (within the meaning of Rule 405 under
Securities Act) of any Issuer or any Guarantor and (iv) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were
acquired as a result of market-making or other
trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. 

        As
soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall 

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

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

        The
Issuers and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the
Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff. 

4

 

        (b)
In the event that (i) the Issuers and the Guarantors determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be completed as
soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed
on or prior to 180 days after the date hereof or (iii) in the case of (A) any Holder not permitted by applicable law or SEC policy to participate in the Exchange Offer, (B) any Holder participating in
the Exchange Offer that receives Exchange Securities that may not be sold without restriction under the federal securities laws (other than due solely to the status of such Holder as an affiliate of
the Issuers within the meaning of the Securities Act) or (C) any Initial Purchaser or any broker-dealer that holds Securities acquired directly from the Issuers or any of their affiliates and, in each
such case contemplated by this clause (iii), such Holder, Initial Purchaser or broker-dealer notifies the Issuers within 90 days of consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Issuers and the
Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing
for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. 

        In
the event that the Issuers and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Issuers and the
Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to file and have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable
Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities
held by the Initial Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer. 

        The
Issuers and the Guarantors agree to use their reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the expiration of the period referred to
in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act with respect to the Registrable Securities or such shorter period that will terminate when (i) all the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) there ceases to be any outstanding Registrable Securities (the "Shelf Effectiveness Period"). The Issuers and
the Guarantors further agree to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration
form used by the Issuers for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a
Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use their reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf
Registration Statement and Prospectus to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Issuers and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such
supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC. 

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

        (d)
An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective
unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. 

        In
the event that either the Exchange Offer is not completed or the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, is not declared effective on or prior to 180 days after the date
hereof (or, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii) above, 

5

 

on
or prior to 90 days after receipt by the Issuers of the notice requesting the filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, but not earlier than 180 days after the date hereof) (the "Target
Registration Date"), the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by (i) 0.25%per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the Target Registration Date
and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until the Exchange Offer is completed or the Shelf Registration Statement, if required
hereby, is declared effective by the SEC or the Securities become freely tradable under the Securities Act, up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum of additional interest. 

        If
the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective and thereafter either ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable at any time during
the Shelf Effectiveness Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 30 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period, then the interest rate on
the Registrable Securities will be increased by 1.00% per annum commencing on the 31st day in such 12-month period and ending on such date that the Shelf Registration
Statement has again been declared effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable. 

        (e)
Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Issuers and the Guarantors acknowledge that any failure by the Issuers or the Guarantors to
comply with their obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at
law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Issuers' and the Guarantors' obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof. 

        3.    Registration Procedures.    In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)
hereof, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall as expeditiously as possible 

        (a)
prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Issuers and the Guarantors, (y)
shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use their reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become
effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof; 

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

        (c)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Holders and to each Underwriter of
an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, such reasonable number of copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement
thereto, as any such Person may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and the Issuers and the Guarantors consent to the use
of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement 

6

 

thereto
in accordance with applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law; 

        (d)
use their reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; cooperate with the
Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary
or advisable to enable each Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided that neither of the Issuers nor any Guarantor
shall be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) take any
action that would subject it to any general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject; 

        (e)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, counsel for such Holders and counsel for the Initial Purchasers promptly and, if requested by any
such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes
effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the
Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the
representations and warranties of either of the Issuers or any Guarantor contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar
agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if either of the Issuers or any Guarantor receives any notification
with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event
during the Shelf Effectiveness Period that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes
in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading and (vi)
of any determination by either of the Issuers or any Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate; 

        (f)
use their reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate
notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order; 

        (g)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested); 

7

 

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

        (i)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use their reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a
supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that,
as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to suspend use
of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Issuers and the Guarantors have amended or
supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission; 

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

        (k)
obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement; 

        (l)
cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be;
cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and
execute, and use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the
SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; 

        (m)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities (an "Inspector"), any Underwriter participating in
any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants 

8

 

designated
by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Issuers and the Guarantors, and cause the
respective officers, directors and employees of the Issuers and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection
with a Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such Person to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act
or as is customary in such situation; provided that if any such information is identified by either of the Issuers or any Guarantor as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such
information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in
derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Holder or Underwriter); 

        (n)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, use their reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system
on which similar securities (if any) issued or guaranteed by either of the Issuers or any Guarantor are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities
satisfy applicable listing requirements; 

        (o)
if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such
post-effective amendment as soon as the Issuers have received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such filing; and 

        (p)
in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten
Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of
Superior Essex Inc. and its subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form,
substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Issuers and the
Guarantors (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling
Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain "comfort" letters from the independent
certified public accountants of the Issuers and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of either of the Issuers or any Guarantor, or of any business
acquired by either of the Issuers or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder
and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings and
(iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are
customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Issuers and the Guarantors made pursuant to clause (i) 

9

 

above
and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement. 

        In
the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Issuers such information regarding such Holder and the
proposed
disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Issuers and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing. No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled
to include any of its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless such Holder furnishes to the Issuers and the Trustee in writing, within 30 days after
receipt of a written request therefor, such information as the Issuers and the Trustee, after conferring with counsel with regard to information relating to Holders that would be required by the SEC
to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, may reasonably request for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, and no such
Holder shall be entitled to additional interest pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof in the event such Holder shall not have provided such information and the 30-day period to produce such
information has lapsed. 

        In
the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Issuers and the Guarantors of the happening of any
event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(iii) or 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such
Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof and, if so directed by the Issuers and the Guarantors, such Holder will deliver to the
Issuers and the Guarantors all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at
the time of receipt of such notice. 

        If
the Issuers and the Guarantors shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Issuers and the Guarantors
shall extend the period during which the Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when the Issuers shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Issuers and the
Guarantors may give any such notice only twice during any 365-day period and any such suspensions shall not exceed 30 days for each suspension and there shall not be more than two
suspensions in effect during any 365-day period. In the event that the disposition of the Registrable Securities is suspended in accordance with the restrictions contained in the preceding
sentence, the Holders' sole remedy shall be that additional interest shall accrue on the Registrable Securities in accordance with Section 2(d). The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a
Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and
manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities included in such offering. 

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

        The
Issuers and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff's position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution
containing 

10

 

a
statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of
Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales
of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act. 

        (b)
In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Issuers and the Guarantors agree to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period of up to 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to the
penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement), if requested by the Initial Purchasers or by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Issuers and the Guarantors further agree that Participating
Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4. 

        (c)
The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to either of the Issuers, any Guarantor or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above. 

        5.    Indemnification and Contribution.    (a) Each Issuer and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to
indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal
fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based
upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating
to any Initial Purchaser or any Holder furnished to the Issuers in writing through J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. or any selling Holder expressly for use therein. In connection with any
Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities
industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the
same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement. 

        (b)
Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, their respective
affiliates, the directors of the Issuers and the Guarantors, each officer of the Issuers and the Guarantors who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Issuers, the
Guarantors, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in
paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder 

11

 

furnished
to the Issuers in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement and any Prospectus. 

        (c)
If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which
indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be
sought (the "Indemnifying Person") in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that
it may have under this Section 5 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and  provided, further, that the
failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person
otherwise than under this Section 5. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying
Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the
Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified
Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the
Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person;
(iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or
(iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial
Purchaser shall be designated in writing by J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., (y) for any Holder, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in
writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Issuers. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against
any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse
the Indemnified Person for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the
Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of
any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless
such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the
subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include 

12

 

any
statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person. 

        (d)
If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified
Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuers and the Guarantors from the offering
of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if
the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative
fault of the Issuers and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Issuers and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuers and the Guarantors
or by the Holders and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. 

        (e)
The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 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 that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in
paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any
such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the
Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. 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. 

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

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

        6.    General.    

        (a)
No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuers and the Guarantors represent, warrant and agree that (i) the rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Issuers or any Guarantor under
any other agreement and (ii) neither of the 

13

 

Issuers
nor any Guarantor has entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable
Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. 

        (b)  Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Issuers and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent;  provided that no amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as
against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a
writing executed by each of the parties hereto. 

        (c)
Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by
hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Issuers by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase
Agreement; (ii) if to the Issuers and the Guarantors, initially at the Issuers' address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is
given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely
delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee,
at the address specified in the Indenture. 

        (d)
Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of
each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein
shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms
of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities
shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform
all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no
liability or obligation to the Issuers or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this
Agreement. 

        (e)  Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall not, and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause
their affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any Registrable Securities. 

        (f)
Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Issuers and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the 

14

 

extent
it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder. 

        (g)
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. 

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

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

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

15

 

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

	 	 	SUPERIOR ESSEX COMMUNICATIONS LLC
	

 	
 	

By:	

SUPERIOR ESSEX HOLDING CORP.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      
 Name: David S. Adridge

Title: Vice President and Treasurer
	

 	
 	

ESSEX GROUP, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      
 Name: David S. Aldridge

Title: Vice President and Treasurer
	

 	
 	

SUPERIOR ESSEX INC.

SUPERIOR ESSEX HOLDING CORP.

ESSEX INTERNATIONAL INC.

ESSEX GROUP, INC. (DE)

ESSEX CANADA INC.

ESSEX GROUP MEXICO INC.

ESSEX TECHNOLOGY, INC.

ESSEX WIRE CORPORATION

ESSEX MEXICO HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      
 Name: David S. Aldridge

Title: Authorized Officer

Confirmed
and accepted as of the date

first above written: 

J.P.
MORGAN SECURITIES INC. 

For
itself and on behalf of the

several Initial Purchasers 

	

By	

/s/  GERARD J. MURRAY      
 Authorized Signatory	
 	

 

16

Schedule 1  

Guarantors  

	Name
 
	 	Jurisdiction of

Incorporation
	 	Record Holder

	Superior Essex Inc.	 	Delaware	 	publicly held
	Superior Essex Holding Corp.	 	Delaware	 	Superior Essex Inc.
	Essex International Inc.	 	Delaware	 	Superior Essex Holding Corp.
	Essex Group, Inc.	 	Delaware	 	Essex Group, Inc. (MI)
	Essex Canada Inc.	 	Delaware	 	Essex Group, Inc.
	Essex Group Mexico Inc.	 	Delaware	 	Essex Group, Inc.
	Essex Technology, Inc.	 	Delaware	 	Essex Group, Inc.
	Essex Wire Corporation	 	Michigan	 	Essex Group, Inc.
	Essex Mexico Holdings, L.L.C.	 	Delaware	 	Essex Group Mexico Inc.

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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

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