UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
_______________________
FORM 8-K
_______________________
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 8, 2006
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. |
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) |
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Delaware | 1-6686 | 13-1024020 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction | (Commission File | (IRS Employer |
of Incorporation) | Number) | Identification No.) |
1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York |
10036 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
(Zip Code) |
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Registrants telephone number, including area code: 212-704-1200 |
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 1.01 |
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (the Company) entered into the following agreements:
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Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 8, 2006, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 (the Supplemental Indenture, and, together with the Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of November 12, 2004, between the Company and SunTrust Bank, as trustee, the Indenture), with respect to the issuance of up to $250 million aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2010 (the New Notes); and |
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Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2006, between the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 (the Registration Rights Agreement), relating to the New Notes. |
The disclosure under Item 2.03 of this report with respect to the entry into these agreements is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
Item 1.02 |
Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On December 8, 2006, the Company retired $250 million of its Floating Rate Notes due 2008 (the Old Notes) in connection with the exchange described in Item 2.03 of this report.
Item 2.03 |
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation. |
On December 8, 2006, the Company issued $250 million aggregate principal amount of the New Notes under the Indenture.
The New Notes were exchanged for the same aggregate principal amount of the Companys Old Notes with certain qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). The exchange was exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
For a comparison of the terms of the New Notes and the Old Notes, please refer to the press release announcing the receipt of tenders and acceptance for exchange of all the Old Notes, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
The New Notes will mature on November 15, 2010 and will bear interest at a floating rate. The interest rate on the New Notes will be a per annum rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 200 basis points. The New Notes are subject to restrictions on transfer as a result of the private placement.
Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC to allow holders of the New Notes to exchange these notes for an equal principal amount of notes with substantially identical terms, except that the notes issued in this exchange will be registered under the Securities Act.
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Item 8.01 |
Other Events. |
On December 8, 2006, the Company issued a press release, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein, announcing the receipt of tenders and acceptance for exchange of all the Old Notes.
Item 9.01 |
Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
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Exhibit 4.1: |
Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 8, 2006, creating a series of securities designated Floating Rate Notes due 2010 (filed pursuant to Items 1.01 and 2.03). |
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Exhibit 10.1: |
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2006 (filed pursuant to Items 1.01 and 2.03). |
Exhibit 99.1: | Press release, dated December 8, 2006 (filed pursuant to Items 2.03 and 8.01). |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
Date: December 8, 2006 |
By: /s/ Nicholas J. Camera |
Nicholas J. Camera
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
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Exhibit 4.1
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Trustee
__________________________
Sixth Supplemental Indenture
Dated as of December 8, 2006
to the Senior Debt Indenture dated as of November 12, 2004
____________________________
Creating a series of Securities designated
Floating Rate Notes due 2010
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TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||
Page | |||
ARTICLE 1 | |||
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION | |||
Section 1.01. | Provisions of the Base Indenture | 2 | |
Section 1.02. | Definitions | 2 | |
ARTICLE 2 | |||
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES |
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Section 2.01. | Creation of Series; Establishment of Form | 6 | |
Section 2.02. | Payment of Principal or Interest | 8 | |
ARTICLE 3 | |||
GLOBAL SECURITIES | |||
Section 3.01. | Form | 9 | |
Section 3.02. | Transfer | 9 | |
Section 3.03. | Notes in Certificated Form | 9 | |
Section 3.04. | Transfer Restrictions | 10 | |
ARTICLE 4 | |||
RANKING | |||
Section 4.01. | Senior in Right of Payment | 11 | |
ARTICLE 5 | |||
EVENTS NOT CONSTITUTING DEFAULT |
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Section 5.01. | Reserved | 11 | |
ARTICLE 6 | |||
REPORTS BY THE COMPANY | |||
Section 6.01. | Reports by the Company | 11 | |
ARTICLE 7 | |||
MISCELLANEOUS | |||
Section 7.01. | Integral Part | 11 | |
Section 7.02. | Adoption, Ratification and Confirmation | 12 | |
Section 7.03. | Counterparts | 12 | |
Section 7.04. | GOVERNING LAW | 12 | |
Section 7.05. | Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with Trust Indenture | ||
Act | 12 | ||
Section 7.06. | Effect of Headings | 12 | |
Section 7.07. | Severability of Provisions | 12 | |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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(continued) |
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Section 7.08. | Successors and Assigns | 12 | |
Section 7.09. | Benefit of Indenture | 12 | |
Section 7.10. | Acceptance by Trustee | 12 | |
EXHIBIT A | Form of Note | A-F-1 | |
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SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of December 8, 2006 between THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association under the laws of the United States of America and having a corporate trust office in Atlanta, Georgia, as trustee (the Trustee).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to SunTrust Bank (to the interests of which as indenture trustee the Trustee has succeeded) a Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of November 12, 2004 (the Base Indenture), providing for the issuance from time to time of its senior unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the Securities), to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, Section 9.01(7) of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may from time to time enter into one or more indentures supplemental thereto to establish the form or terms of Securities of a new series;
WHEREAS, Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture provides that the Company may enter into supplemental indentures to establish the terms and provisions of a series of Securities issued pursuant to the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company has duly issued Floating Rate Notes due 2008 in the aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000 (the Old Notes) pursuant to the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the fifth supplemental indenture, dated as of July 25, 2005, and the Old Notes are outstanding as of the date hereof;
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to exchange up to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of a new series of senior unsecured notes representing debt obligations of the Company for a like principal amount of the Old Notes;
WHEREAS, the Company, pursuant to the foregoing authority, proposes in and by this Sixth Supplemental Indenture (the Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture) to supplement the Base Indenture in so far as it will apply only to a series of Securities to be known as the Companys Floating Rate Notes due 2010 (the Notes) issued hereunder (and not to any other series);
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture to establish the Notes as a series of Securities under the Base Indenture and to provide for, among other things, the issuance of and the form and terms of the Notes for purposes of the Notes and the Holders thereof; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company, and to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with their and its terms.
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NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 1.01. Provisions of the Base Indenture.
Except insofar as herein otherwise expressly provided, all the definitions, provisions, terms and conditions of the Base Indenture shall remain in full force and effect. The Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and considered as one and the same instrument for all purposes and every Holder of Notes authenticated and delivered under the Base Indenture shall be bound hereby.
SECTION 1.02. Definitions. For all purposes of the Indenture relating to the series of Securities (consisting of the Notes) created hereby, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the subject matter or context otherwise requires:
(1) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an Article or a Section refers to an Article or Section, as the case may be, of this Supplemental Indenture;
(2) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(3) each capitalized term that is used in this Supplemental Indenture but not defined herein shall have the meaning specified in the Base Indenture;
(4) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, or defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and not otherwise defined herein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;
(5) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;
(6) the word including (and with correlative meaning include) means including, without limiting the generality of, any description preceding such term;
(7) the words herein, hereof and hereunder and other words of similar import refer to the Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and
(8) references to payments on the Notes shall include Additional Interest payable under the Registration Rights Agreement, if any.
Additional Interest means all additional interest owing on the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
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Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, control when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Authenticating Agent means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes.
Base Indenture has the meaning provided in the recitals.
Business Day means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Calculation Agent means U.S. Bank National Association or its successor duly appointed under the Calculation Agent Agreement dated as of December 8, 2006 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as amended.
Company has the meaning provided in the recitals.
Company Order or Company Request means a written order or request signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers, at least one of whom must be its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its Chief Accounting Officer, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer or its Controller, and delivered to the Trustee.
Corporate Trust Office means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 25 Park Place, 24th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2900; Attn: Corporate Trust Division.
Default means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
Defaulted Interest has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(3)(b).
Depositary shall mean the Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.
Dollars and $ means the lawful money of the United States of America.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
GAAP means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America on the date or time of any computation required hereunder.
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Global Securities means with respect to the Notes issued hereunder, a global note which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositarys instruction, all in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate Principal Amount of, all of the outstanding Notes or any portion thereof.
Holder means a Person in whose name a Note is registered in the Security Register.
Indenture has the meaning provided in the recitals.
Interest Determination Date means the second London Business Day preceding the commencement of an Interest Period.
Interest Payment Date means February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.
Interest Period means the period commencing on an Interest Payment Date for the Notes and ending on the day before the next succeeding Interest Payment Date for the Notes. The initial Interest Period shall commence on the Issue Date and end on February 14, 2007.
Issue Date means the date of this Supplemental Indenture.
London Business Day means a day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.
Maturity means the date on which the principal of the Notes becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided at the Stated Maturity.
Notes has the meaning provided in the recitals.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by any two Officers of the Company, at least one of whom must be its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its Chief Accounting Officer, its Treasurer or its Controller, and delivered to the Trustee.
Old Notes has the meaning provided in the recitals.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of, or counsel for, the Company, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Paying Agent means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes on behalf of the Company. The Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of the Company may act as Paying Agent with respect to any Notes issued hereunder.
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Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
Predecessor Note of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 of the Base Indenture in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note.
Principal, Principal Amount or principal of a Note means the principal of the Note.
Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated the Issue Date, between the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Regular Record Date means, with respect to each Interest Payment Date, the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Restricted Global Security means a Global Security bearing the Restricted Securities Legend.
Restricted Securities Legend means those legends containing the transfer restrictions set forth on the face of the form of Global Security attached as Exhibit A hereto.
Securities has the meaning specified in the recitals.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Security Register means the register, in such office as the Company shall keep at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any office or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Base Indenture, in which the Company shall, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, provide for the registration of Securities and of registration of transfers of Securities.
Shelf Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement relating to registering the Notes under the Securities Act.
Stated Maturity means November 15, 2010.
Supplemental Indenture has the meaning provided in the recitals.
Telerate Page 3750 means the display page designated as page 3750 on the Moneyline Telerate service (or such other page as may replace page 3750 on that service for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates).
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Three-Month LIBOR means the London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having an index maturity of three months, in amounts of at least $1.0 million, as such rate appears on Telerate Page 3750 at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date. If Telerate Page 3750 is replaced by another service or ceases to exist, the Calculation Agent will use the replacing service or such other service that may be nominated by the British Bankers Association for the purpose of displaying LIBOR for U.S. dollar deposits. If no offered rate appears on Telerate Page 3750 on the Interest Determination Date at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, then the Calculation Agent (after consultation with the Company) will select four major banks in the London interbank market and shall request each of their principal London offices to provide a quotation of the rate at which three-month deposits in U.S. dollars in amounts of at least $1.0 million are offered by them to prime banks in the London interbank market, on that date and at that time, that is representative of single transactions at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, the interest rate will be the arithmetic average of the quotations provided. If less than two quotations are provided under the preceding sentence, the Calculation Agent will select three major banks in New York City and shall request each of them to provide a quotation of the rate offered by them at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Interest Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks having an index maturity of three months for the applicable Interest Period in an amount of at least $1.0 million that is representative of single transactions at that time. If three quotations are provided, Three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic average of the quotations provided. If less than three quotations are provided under the preceding sentence, the interest rate for the next Interest Period will be set equal to the interest rate of the then-current Interest Period.
Trustee has the meaning provided in the recitals and, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of the Base Indenture, any successor to that person.
Unrestricted Global Security means a Global Security not bearing the Restricted Securities Legend.
ARTICLE 2
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01. Creation of Series; Establishment of Form. In accordance with Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture, there is hereby created a series of Securities under the Indenture entitled Floating Rate Notes due 2010.
(1) The form of the Notes, including the form of the certificate of authentication, is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(2) The Trustee shall authenticate or deliver the Notes for original issue in an initial aggregate principal amount up to $250,000,000 upon a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of the Notes. The Company may from time to time issue additional Notes in accordance with Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture. The Notes issued originally hereunder, together with any additional Notes subsequently issued, shall be treated as a single class for purposes of the Indenture.
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(3) The aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes shall be due and payable at the Stated Maturity unless earlier repaid in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture.
(4) The outstanding Principal Amount of the Notes shall bear interest for each Interest Period at a rate per annum as set forth in the Form of Note in Exhibit A hereto, as determined by the Calculation Agent, subject to the maximum interest rate permitted by applicable law. Such interest shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, commencing on February 15, 2007, and at Maturity, to the Person in whose name the Notes are registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date, until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Notes will be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days in an Interest Period and a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
(5) If any Interest Payment Date or Maturity date is not a Business Day, the payment of principal and interest, as applicable, will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, except that if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. No interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity date to the date payment is made.
(6) All amounts payable in connection with the Notes shall be denominated and payable in the lawful currency of the United States.
(7) The Notes shall be payable and may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange, without service charge, at the office of the Company maintained for such purpose in the State of New York, City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, which shall initially be the office or agency of the Trustee.
(8) The Company may appoint and change any Calculation Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or co-registrar without notice, other than notice to the Trustee, except that the Company will maintain at least one Paying Agent in the State of New York, City of New York, Borough of Manhattan. The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any agent not a party to the Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of the Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent and any change in the address of such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Calculation Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar and/or agent for service of notices and demands, the Trustee shall act as such Calculation Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or agent for service of notices and demands. The Company may remove any Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Security Registrar upon written notice to such Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Security Registrar and the Trustee; provided that no such removal shall become effective until (i) the acceptance of an appointment by a successor Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Security Registrar as evidenced by an appropriate agency agreement entered into by the Company and such successor and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as such Paying Agent or Security Registrar until the appointment of a successor agent in accordance with clause (i) of this proviso. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Calculation Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or co-registrar.
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(9) Article 12 of the Base Indenture shall have no force or effect in respect of, or application to, the Notes.
(10) The Base Indenture is hereby amended, with respect to the Notes only, by replacing the words, other than the Securities of such series with the words other than the Floating Rate Notes due 2010 in paragraph (5) of Section 5.01.
(11) The Base Indenture is hereby amended, with respect to the Notes only, by replacing the definition of L/C Cash Deposit Account in Section 1.01 thereof with the following definition:
L/C Cash Deposit Account means any interest bearing cash deposit account established and maintained for the benefit of any lender under any credit agreement entered into by and among the Company and such lender, over which the lender or its agent shall have sole dominion and control, upon terms as may be satisfactory to such lender or its agent.
SECTION 2.02. Payment of Principal or Interest.
(1) Payments. Payments of principal and interest on the Notes shall be made in the manner provided for in the Notes.
(2) Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Security Registrar, the Company shall furnish, or cause the Security Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders.
(3) Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
(a) Quarterly interest on the Notes that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Notes are registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose. Each installment of interest on the Notes shall be paid in same-day funds by transfer to an account maintained by the payee located inside the United States.
(b) Except as otherwise specified with respect to the Notes, any quarterly interest on the Notes that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any applicable payment date (herein called Defaulted Interest), shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company as provided for in Section 3.07 of the Base Indenture.
(c) Subject to the foregoing provisions of Section 2.02 of this Supplemental Indenture and Section 3.05 of the Base Indenture, Notes delivered under this Supplemental Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Notes shall
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carry the rights to quarterly interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue interest, which were carried by such other Notes.
(4) Additional Interest under the Registration Rights Agreement. Under certain circumstances, the Company may be obligated to pay Additional Interest to Holders, all as and to the extent set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. The terms thereof are incorporated by reference herein and such Additional Interest is deemed to be interest for purposes of this Indenture.
(5) Sinking Fund. There shall be no sinking fund provided for the Notes.
ARTICLE 3
GLOBAL SECURITIES
SECTION 3.01. Form. The Notes shall initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities. The Company shall execute and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver such Global Security or Securities in the manner provided for in Article 2 of the Base Indenture.
SECTION 3.02. Transfer. Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for Notes in certificated form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 3.05 of the Base Indenture, only to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or to the Depositary, or a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
SECTION 3.03. Notes in Certificated Form.
(1) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, upon receipt of a written request by the Company for the authentication and delivery of Notes in certificated form in exchange for such Global Security, shall authenticate and deliver, Notes in certificated form in an aggregate Principal Amount equal to the outstanding Principal Amount of the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security.
(2) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Notes or any portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, upon receipt of a written request by the Company for the authentication and delivery of Notes in certificated form in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security, shall authenticate and deliver Notes in certificated form in an aggregate Principal Amount equal to the outstanding Principal Amount of such Global Security
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or Securities representing such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
(3) If specified by the Company with respect to Notes issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for Notes in certificated form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, without service-charge, (a) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Note or Notes of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Persons beneficial interest in the Global Security; and (b) to such Depositary a new Global Security in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the Principal Amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate Principal Amount of Notes delivered to the Holders thereof.
(4) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company shall execute and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver Notes in certificated form in authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for Notes in certificated form, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or the Security Registrar. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Notes issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Security Registrar. The Trustee or the Security Registrar shall deliver such Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.
SECTION 3.04. Transfer Restrictions. (1) Notes shall be stamped or otherwise be imprinted with the Restricted Securities Legend. The Restricted Securities Legend may be removed from such Notes, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order, (i) two years from the later of issuance of the Note or the date such Note (or any Predecessor Note) was last acquired from an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (ii) in connection with a sale made pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act following one year from such time, or (iii) in connection with any sale in a transaction registered under the Securities Act (including any exchange or transfer effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any sale made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement), provided that, if the legend is removed and the Note is subsequently held by such an affiliate of the Company, the legend shall be reinstated.
(2) Upon the transfer of beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Security under circumstances permitting the removal of the Restricted Securities Legend contemplated in Section 3.04(1) if the Notes represented by such beneficial interest were not in the form of a Global Security, such transferred beneficial interests shall be represented by a beneficial interest in a Global Security that is not a Restricted Global Security. If any such transfer is effected pursuant to Section 3.04(1) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to Section 3.04(1).
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10 |
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(3) Every Note authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Article or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a registered Global Security, unless such Note is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof, in which case such Note shall be authenticated and delivered in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons.
(4) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interest in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
ARTICLE 4
RANKING
SECTION 4.01. Senior in Right of Payment. The Notes shall be direct senior obligations of the Company and shall rank (a) senior in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness that is, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and (b) pari passu in right of payment with all other unsecured senior indebtedness of the Company. The Notes are not guaranteed.
ARTICLE 5
EVENTS NOT CONSTITUTING DEFAULT
SECTION 5.01. Reserved.
ARTICLE 6
REPORTS BY THE COMPANY
SECTION 6.01. Reports by the Company. For so long as any of the Notes outstanding are restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Company will furnish, upon the request of a Holder and a prospective purchaser designated by such Holder, the information required to be delivered under Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act, if at the time of such request the Company is neither a reporting company under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, nor exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g32(b) thereunder.
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.01. Integral Part. This Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes only.
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SECTION 7.02. Adoption, Ratification and Confirmation. The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects hereby adopted, ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided. The provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall, subject to the terms hereof, supersede the provisions of the Base Indenture to the extent the Base Indenture is inconsistent herewith.
SECTION 7.03. Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 7.04. GOVERNING LAW. THE INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OF SAID STATE.
SECTION 7.05. Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with Trust Indenture Act. If and to the extent that any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision required under the terms of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trust Indenture Act provision shall control.
SECTION 7.06. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 7.07. Severability of Provisions. In case any provision in the Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 7.08. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Indenture by the parties hereto shall bind their respective successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 7.09. Benefit of Indenture. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, and their successors hereunder, and the Holders of the Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim hereunder or under the Indenture.
SECTION 7.10. Acceptance by Trustee. The Trustee accepts the amendments to the Base Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture and agrees to execute the trusts created by the Base Indenture as hereby amended, but only upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Supplemental Indenture and the Base Indenture. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the recitals contained herein, which shall be taken as the statements of the Company and except as provided in the Indenture the Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any way whatsoever for or with respect to the validity or execution or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture and the Trustee makes no representation with respect thereto. All rights, protections, privileges, indemnities and benefits granted or afforded to the Trustee under the Indenture shall be deemed incorporated
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herein by this reference and shall be deemed applicable to all actions taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee under this Supplemental Indenture.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, and the Companys corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. | |
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By: /s/ Ellen Johnson |
[SEAL]
Attest: /s/ Nicholas J. Camera |
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Name: |
Nicholas J. Camera |
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee |
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By: /s/ George T. Hogan |
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EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF GLOBAL SECURITY]
THIS SECURITY IS IN GLOBAL FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN CERTIFICATED FORM IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS SECURITY OR ANY PORTION HEREOF IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (II) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (IV) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
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A-F-1 |
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THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
Floating Rate Notes due 2010
No. A-1
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CUSIP No.: |
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the Company, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, on November 15, 2010 the principal sum of __________ Dollars ($__________) and to pay interest thereon from December 8, 2006 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2007, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest next preceding such Interest Payment Date. The Notes shall bear interest for each Interest Period at a rate per annum determined by the Calculation Agent, subject to the maximum interest rate permitted by applicable law. The rate at which interest on the Notes shall be payable during each quarterly Interest Period shall be equal to Three-Month LIBOR on the Interest Determination Date for such Interest Period plus 200 basis points. Promptly upon determination of the rate, the Calculation Agent will inform the Trustee and the Company of the interest rate for the next Interest Period. Absent manifest error, the determination of the interest rate by the Calculation Agent shall be binding and conclusive on the Holders, the Trustee and the Company. For the initial interest period commencing on December 8, 2006 and ending on February 14, 2007, the per annum interest rate borne by the Notes will be 7.37%.
Upon request from any Holder, the Calculation Agent will provide notice of the interest rate in effect on the Notes for the current Interest Period and, if it has been determined, the interest rate to be in effect for the next Interest Period. Interest on the Notes will be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days in an Interest Period and a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Dollar amounts resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the State of New York, City of New York, Borough of Manhattan; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.
So long as all of the Notes of this series are represented by Notes in global form, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this global Note shall be paid in same day
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A-F-2 |
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funds to the Depositary, or to such name or entity as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary. If at any time the Notes of this series are no longer represented by global Notes and are issued in definitive certificated form, then the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on each certificated Note at Maturity shall be paid in same day funds to the Holder upon surrender of such certificated Note at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or at such other place or places as may be designated in or pursuant to the Indenture; provided that such certificated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or at such other place or places as may be designated in or pursuant to the Indenture, in time for the Paying Agent to make such payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Payments of interest with respect to such certificated Notes other than at Maturity may, at the option of the Company, be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it appears on the Security Register on the relevant Regular or Special Record Date or by wire transfer in same day funds to such account as may have been appropriately designated to the Paying Agent by such Person in writing not later than such relevant Regular or Special Record Date.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
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A-F-3 |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. | |
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By: |
Attest: | |
By: Name: Nicholas J. Camera Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
[SEAL]
Dated: |
December __, 2006 |
TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes described in the within-mentioned Indenture and Supplemental Indenture.
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By: |
__________________________________________ | ||
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Authorized Signatory |
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[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF GLOBAL SECURITY]
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
Floating Rate Notes due 2010
1. |
INTEREST |
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company), promises to pay interest on the outstanding Principal Amount of this Note at a per annum rate equal to Three-Month LIBOR plus 200 basis points for each Interest Period, as determined by the Calculation Agent, subject to the maximum interest rate permitted by applicable law. Interest shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date of each year, commencing on February 15, 2007, to the Person in whose name the Notes are registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date, until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Notes will be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days in an Interest Period and a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. The Regular Record Date, with respect to each Interest Payment Date, is the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date. For the initial interest period commencing on December 8, 2006 and ending on February 14, 2007, the per annum interest rate borne by the Notes will be 7.37%.
If any Interest Payment Date or Maturity date is not a Business Day, the payment of principal and interest, as applicable, will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, except that if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. No interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity date to the date payment is made.
2. |
METHOD OF PAYMENT |
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company shall make payments in respect of the Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes as of the close of business on the Business Day preceding the Maturity date, as the case may be. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of the Notes. The Company shall pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. However, the Company may make such cash payments by check payable in such money.
3. |
CALCULATION AGENT, PAYING AGENT AND SECURITY REGISTRAR |
Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association under the laws of the United States of America and having a corporate trust office in Atlanta, Georgia (the Trustee), shall act as Calculation Agent, Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Calculation Agent, Paying Agent and Security Registrar or co-registrar without notice, other than notice to the Trustee except that the Company will maintain at least one Paying Agent in the State of New York, City of New York, Borough of Manhattan.
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A-R-1 |
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The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Calculation Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or co-registrar.
4. |
INDENTURE |
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the Securities), issued and to be issued in one or more series under a Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of November 12, 2004 (the Base Indenture), as supplemented by the Sixth Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of December 8, 2006 (the Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture), between the Company and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and the terms upon which the Notes are to be authenticated and delivered. The terms, conditions and provisions of the Notes are those stated in the Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and those set forth in the Notes.
The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company limited to an aggregate Principal Amount of $250,000,000.
5. |
RANKING |
The Notes shall be direct senior obligations of the Company and shall rank senior in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness that is, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and pari passu in right of payment with all other unsecured senior indebtedness of the Company. The Notes are not guaranteed.
6. |
DEFAULTED INTEREST |
Except as otherwise specified with respect to the Notes, any Defaulted Interest on any Note shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company as provided for in Section 3.07 of the Base Indenture.
7. |
DENOMINATIONS; TRANSFER; EXCHANGE |
The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Security Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Notes are subject to certain transfer restrictions set forth in Article 3 of the Supplemental Indenture.
8. |
PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS |
The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.
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A-R-2 |
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9. |
UNCLAIMED MONEY OR PROPERTY |
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall return to the Company upon written request any money or property held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Notes that remains unclaimed for one year; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such return, shall at the expense of the Company cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or mail to each such Holder notice that such money or property remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed money or property then remaining shall be returned to the Company. After return to the Company, Holders entitled to the money or property must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
10. |
AMENDMENT; WAIVER |
Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture or the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes at the time outstanding and (ii) certain Defaults or noncompliance with certain provisions may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture or the Notes may be amended without the consent of any Holders under circumstances set forth in Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture.
11. |
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, may declare the outstanding Principal Amount and any accrued and unpaid interest, of all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which shall result in the Notes being declared due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.
Events of Default in respect of the Notes are set forth in Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Notes unless it receives reasonable indemnity or security. Subject to certain limitations, conditions and exceptions, Holders of a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power, including the annulment of a declaration of acceleration. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment of amounts specified in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interests.
12. |
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, AND SALE OF ASSETS |
In the event of a consolidation, merger, or sale of assets to convey, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the Companys property or assets as described in Section 8.01 of the Base Indenture, the successor corporation to the Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the
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A-R-3 |
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Company, and may exercise the Companys rights and powers under this Indenture, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the Company shall be relieved of all obligations and convents under the Indenture and the Notes with respect to its obligations under this Indenture
13. |
TRUSTEE AND AGENT DEALINGS WITH THE COMPANY |
The Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent and Security Registrar under the Indenture, each in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Security Registrar.
14. |
NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS |
A director, officer or employee, as such, of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any stockholder as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.
15. |
AUTHENTICATION |
This Note shall not be valid until an authorized officer of the Trustee or Authenticating Agent manually signs the Trustees certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
16. |
ABBREVIATIONS |
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TENANT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
17. |
GOVERNING LAW |
The Indenture and this Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of law rules of said state.
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A-R-4 |
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Security, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Security to:
_____________________________________________
(Insert assignees social security or tax I.D. number)
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint ___________________________________as agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Dated: __________ |
Your Signature:___________________________________ |
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security)
Signature Guaranty: |
_____________________________________________ |
[Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution meeting the requirements of the Transfer Agent, which requirements will include membership or participation in STAMP or such other signature guarantee program as may be determined by the Transfer Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Exchange Act.]
Social Security Number or
Taxpayer Identification Number:
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A-R-5 |
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Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated December 8, 2006
between
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
and
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is made and entered into as of December 8, 2006, between THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. (the Dealer Manager).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Dealer Manager Agreement dated November 22, 2006, between the Company and the Dealer Manager (the Dealer Manager Agreement), which provides for an offer by the Company for up to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Floating Rate Notes due 2008 in exchange for up to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Floating Rate Notes due 2010 (the Securities). In order to induce the Dealer Manager to enter into the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Dealer Manager and its direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Dealer Manager Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
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1. |
Definitions. |
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
1933 Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
Additional Interest shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d).
Company shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Companys successors.
Dealer Manager shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Dealer Manager Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Exchange Dates shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii).
Exchange Offer shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
Exchange Offer Consummation Deadline shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
Exchange Offer Registration shall mean a registration under the 1933 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 all material incorporated by reference therein.
Exchange Securities shall mean securities issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not contain restrictions on transfer) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Filing Date means with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(b)(i), (iii) or (iv), the later of (x) the Filing Deadline or (y) the 45th day after such determination, date or notice of an opinion of counsel, as applicable.
Filing Deadline shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
Free Writing Prospectus means each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.
Holder shall mean the registered holder of Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term Holder shall include Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).
Indenture shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of November 12, 2004 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor in interest to SunTrust Bank, as trustee, as supplemented by the Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 8, 2006 between the Company and the Trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Issuer Information shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
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 held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) (other than the Holders of Registrable Securities if such Holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their holding of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount.
Participating Broker-Dealer shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).
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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 all material incorporated by reference therein.
Registrable Securities shall mean the Securities; provided, however, that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for Exchange Securities, (ii) when a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, (iii) when such Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or (iv) when such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
Registration Expenses shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or 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 of the 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, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Dealer Manager) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or comfort letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) 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.
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Registration Statement shall mean any registration statement of the Company 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 all material incorporated by reference therein.
SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Shelf Registration shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
Shelf Registration Effectiveness Period shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement shall mean a shelf registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Holders whose Registrable Securities are covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
Suspension Period shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.
TIA shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof.
Trustee shall mean U.S. Bank National Association, as successor in interest to SunTrust Bank, as trustee, with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.
Underwriter shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.
Underwritten Offering shall mean a registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
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2. |
Registration Under the 1933 Act. |
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities not later than June 12, 2007 (the Filing Deadline), to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective not later than 120 days after the Filing Deadline and to have such Exchange Offer Registration Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer as soon as reasonably practicable after the
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Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Exchange Offer consummated within 150 days after the Filing Deadline.
The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus and 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 Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 business days and not more than 40 business days, or longer if required by applicable law, from the date such notice is mailed) (the Exchange Dates);
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice, or effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, not later than the close of business, New York City time, 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 his election to have such Securities exchanged or effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Securities.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof tendered and not validly 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 Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, an Exchange Security equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder.
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Interest on each Exchange Security will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Securities, from the date of original issuance of the Securities on the date hereof.
The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 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 applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC. The Company shall inform the Dealer Manager of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Dealer Manager shall have the right, subject to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company determines upon the advice of the Companys outside counsel that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated within 150 days after the Filing Deadline (the Exchange Offer Consummation Deadline) or (iii) any Holder notifies the Company that it is not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed as promptly as practicable after such determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the Company (but no later than the Filing Date), as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities and to use commercially reasonable efforts to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC within 120 days after the Filing Date. In the event the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the matters referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall use commercially reasonable 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 Holders after completion of the Exchange Offer. Subject to the Companys right to suspend the use of the Shelf Registration Statement during the Suspension Period (as defined in Section 3), the Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the earlier of (i) the second anniversary date of the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) such time as all of the Securities cease to be outstanding or have either been (A) sold or otherwise transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or (B) sold pursuant to Rule 144 of the 1933 Act under circumstances in which any legend borne by the Securities relating to restrictions on transferability thereof is removed and such Securities are eligible to be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k), or any successor provision, of the 1933 Act (the Shelf Registration Effectiveness Period). The Company further agrees 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 Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a Holder with respect
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to information relating to such Holder, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company agrees 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 Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b). Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holders 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 or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that, if, after it has been declared effective or becomes automatically effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume. As provided for in the Indenture, in the event the Exchange Offer is not consummated and the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective as set forth below, then the interest rate on the Securities will be increased (the Additional Interest) as follows:
(i) if (A) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has not been filed with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Deadline or (B) the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date applicable thereto then, commencing on the day after the Filing Deadline in the case of Clause (A) or the Filing Date in the case of Clause (B), Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Registrable Securities at a rate of .25% per annum for the first 90 days immediately following thereafter, and such Additional Interest rate shall increase by an additional .25% per annum after the first 90 days; or
(ii) if (A) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC within 120 days after the Filing Deadline or (B) the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC within 120 days following the Filing Date applicable thereto then, commencing on the 121st day in the case of Clause (A) or such 121st day following the Filing Date in the case of Clause (B), Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Registrable Securities at a rate of .25% per annum for the first 90 days immediately following thereafter, and such Additional Interest rate shall increase by an additional .25% per annum after the first 90 days; or
(iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Securities for all Securities validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to the Exchange Offer Consummation Deadline, (B) if applicable, the Shelf
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Registration Statement has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or usable during the Shelf Registration Effectiveness Period that exceeds the Suspension Period (as defined in Section 3) or (C) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective but ceases to be effective or usable prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, then Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Registrable Securities at a rate of .25% per annum for the first 90 days commencing on the day after the Exchange Offer Consummation Deadline in the case of Clause (A) or the day such Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement ceases to be effective in the case of Clauses (B) and (C), as applicable, and such Additional Interest rate shall increase by an additional .25% per annum after the first 90 days (it being understood and agreed that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, so long as any Securities not registered under an Exchange Offer Registration Statement are then covered by an effective Shelf Registration, no Additional Interest shall accrue on such Securities);
provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the Securities may not exceed in the aggregate 0.5% per annum; provided further, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to pay Additional Interest under more than one of the clauses in this Section 2(d) at any one time; provided further, however, that (1) upon the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in the case of Clause (i)(A) above) or a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of Clause (i)(B) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration (in the case of Clause (ii)(A) above) or a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of Clause (ii)(B) above), or (3) upon the exchange of Exchange Securities for all Securities tendered or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of Clause (iii)(A) above), or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of Clause (iii)(B) above or Clause (iii)(C) above), Additional Interest on the Securities as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue.
(e) The Dealer Manager and the Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of the Holders, to seek any available remedy for the enforcement of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that the sole monetary damages payable for a violation of the terms of this Agreement with respect to Additional Interest shall be as set forth in this Section 2(d). Nothing shall preclude the Dealer Manager and the Holders from pursuing or obtaining specific performance or other equitable relief with respect to this Agreement.
(f) The Company represents, warrants and covenants that it (including its agents and representatives) will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any Free Writing Prospectus that may conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement.
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3. |
Registration Procedures. |
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
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(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Company and (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 commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep each Prospectus current during the period described under Section 4(3) and Rule 174 under the 1933 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 Dealer Manager, to counsel for the Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement 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 commercially reasonable 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, to cooperate with such 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 which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of process 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 the Holders and counsel for the Dealer Manager promptly and, if
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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 and when any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed, (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, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, (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 the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company 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 period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, including by filing an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement on the proper form, 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 documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(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 in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names 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 its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file
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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 (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to the 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; the Company agrees to notify the Holders to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has 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 any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Dealer Manager and its counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Dealer Manager or its counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make any amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Dealer Manager and its counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Dealer Manager or its counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably 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 of 1939, as amended (the TIA), 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 TIA and execute, and use its 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, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all financial and other records, pertinent documents and properties of the Company, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all
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information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(o) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Securities to continue to be rated by two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (as such term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act), if the Registrable Securities have been rated;
(p) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, (i) 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 (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such filing; and
(q) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and in the case of a Shelf Registration, make generally available to its securityholders earning statements (which need not be audited) satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the 1933 Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company commencing after the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods.
(r) 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 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 the Company 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 in writing if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (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 Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or
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of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each 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 Majority Holders 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 Company made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holders receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at its expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holders possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company 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 Holders shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Company may give any such notice of suspension that may not exceed 120 days in the aggregate during any 12-month period (the Suspension Period).
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.
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4. |
Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer. |
(a) The Staff of the SEC 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 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
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The Company understands that it is the Staffs position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange 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 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the 1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto as may be, reasonably requested by the Dealer Manager or by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, 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; provided that:
(i) the Company shall not be required 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 exceeding 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and Participating Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company to deliver and shall not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4; and
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, will be in conformity with the reasonable request to the Company by the Dealer Manager or with the reasonable request in writing to the Company by one or more broker-dealers who certify to the Dealer Manager and the Company in writing that they anticipate that they will be Participating Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in connection with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3 to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Company shall be obligated (x) to deal only with one entity representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. unless it elects not to act as such representative, (y) to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of only one counsel representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel to the Dealer Manager unless such counsel elects not to so act and (z) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, comfort letter with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the last Exchange Date and with respect to each subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected during the period specified in clause (i) above.
(c) The Dealer Manager shall have no liability to the Company or any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.
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Indemnification and Contribution. |
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Dealer Manager, each Holder and each Person, if any, who controls any Dealer Manager or any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, any Dealer Manager or any Holder, from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Dealer Manager, any Holder or any such controlling or affiliated Person in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), any Free Writing Prospectus used in violation of this Agreement or any issuer information (Issuer Information) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the 1933 Act, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to the Dealer Manager or any Holder furnished to the Company in writing by the Dealer Manager or any selling Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any Prospectus relating to a Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a Prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer under the 1933 Act in accordance with applicable law in connection with such purchase and any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer result from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person if required by law, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person, a copy of the Prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Dealer Manager and the other selling Holders, and each of their respective directors, officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Dealer Manager and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the
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foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Dealer Manager and the Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Free Writing Prospectus or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such Person (the indemnified party) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the indemnifying party) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party 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 party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, (b) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Dealer Manager and all Persons, if any, who control the Dealer Manager within the meaning of either such Section and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who control any Holders within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such reasonable fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In such case involving the Company and such Persons who control the Company, such firm shall be designated by the Company, and in such case involving the Dealer Manager and such Persons who control the Dealer Manager, such firm shall be designated by the Dealer Manager. The indemnifying party 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 party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it 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 such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees and expenses of counsel in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which such indemnified party is
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or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand 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 Company and the Holders 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 Company or by the Holders and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Holders respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation 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 party 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 legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities were 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 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
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 Dealer Manager, any Holder or any Person controlling any Dealer Manager or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
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6. |
Miscellaneous. |
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Companys other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Majority Holders affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided, however, 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.
(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 Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Dealer Manager, the address set forth in the Dealer Manager Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Companys address set forth in the Dealer Manager 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 Dealer Manager Agreement. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
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The Dealer Manager (in its capacity as Dealer Manager) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
(e) Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company shall not, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any Securities.
(f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Dealer Manager, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of 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 and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of law rules of said State.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. | |
By: /s/ Nicholas J. Camera Name: Nicholas J. Camera Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
By: /s/ Stephen L. Sheiner
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Name: Stephen L. Sheiner | |
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Title: Vice President |
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Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
INTERPUBLIC ANNOUNCES RECEIPT OF TENDERS AND ACCEPTANCE FOR EXCHANGE OF ALL OF ITS FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2008 IN EXCHANGE FOR NEW FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2010
New York, NY (December 8, 2006) The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE: IPG) announced today that it has received tenders of $250 million aggregate principal amount representing all of its outstanding Floating Rate Notes due 2008 (the old notes) in connection with its previously announced offer to exchange the old notes for its new Floating Rate Notes due 2010 (the new notes). Pursuant to the terms of the exchange offer, Interpublic has accepted the entire principal amount of old notes tendered for early settlement. Settlement is expected to occur later today, December 8, 2006. The exchange offer was conducted on a private basis in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), with qualified institutional buyers.
Interpublic offered eligible holders $1,000 principal amount of its new notes for each $1,000 principal amount of its outstanding old notes, plus an early participation payment of $41.25 in cash per $1,000 principal amount of old notes exchanged. Exchanging holders will also receive a cash payment in the amount of accrued but unpaid interest on their old notes up to, but not including, the settlement date.
The main differences between the new notes and the old notes are that the new notes will (i) mature in November 2010 (instead of July 2008), (ii) bear interest at a per annum rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 200 basis points (instead of three-month LIBOR plus 325 basis points) and (iii) benefit from the terms of a registration rights agreement between Interpublic and the dealer manager for the exchange offer. The new notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer as a result of the private placement.
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Interpublic Group 1114 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 212-704-1200 tel 212-704-1201 fax
The new notes have not been and, at the time of their issuance, will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. They may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under, or an applicable exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
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About Interpublic
Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services companies. Major global brands include DraftFCB Group, FutureBrand, GolinHarris International, Initiative, Jack Morton Worldwide, Lowe Worldwide, MAGNA Global, McCann Erickson, Momentum, MRM, Octagon, Universal McCann and Weber Shandwick. Leading domestic brands include Campbell-Ewald, Carmichael Lynch, Deutsch, Hill Holliday, Mullen and The Martin Agency.
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Contact Information
Philippe Krakowsky (212) 704-1328 |
Jerry Leshne (Analysts, Investors) (212) 704-1439 |
Interpublic Group 1114 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 212-704-1200 tel 212-704-1201 fax
Cautionary Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements. Statements in this release that are not historical facts, including statements about managements beliefs and expectations, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and are subject to change based on a number of factors, including those outlined in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 1A, Risk Factors. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
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risks arising from material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, including material weaknesses in our control environment; |
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potential adverse effects to our financial condition, results of operations or prospects as a result of our restatements of financial statements; |
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our ability to satisfy certain reporting covenants under our indentures; |
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our ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients; |
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our ability to retain and attract key employees; |
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risks associated with assumptions we make in connection with our critical accounting estimates; |
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potential adverse effects if we are required to recognize impairment charges or other adverse accounting-related developments; |
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potential adverse developments in connection with the ongoing SEC investigation; |
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potential downgrades in the credit ratings of our securities; |
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risks associated with the effects of global, national and regional economic and political conditions, including fluctuations in interest rates and currency exchange rates; and |
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developments from changes in the regulatory and legal environment for advertising and marketing and communications services companies around the world. |
Investors should carefully consider these factors and the additional risk factors outlined in more detail in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 1A, Risk Factors.
Interpublic Group 1114 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 212-704-1200 tel 212-704-1201 fax