Exhibit 4.26
WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.
$ 365,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds, 7 7/8% Series Due 2007
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
New York, New York
May 10, 2002
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Inc.
BNY Capital Markets, Inc.
c/o ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Barney Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs:
Western Resources, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Kansas
(the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers (the "Initial
Purchasers"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement of even date
herewith (the "Purchase Agreement"), $365,000,000 principal amount of its First
Mortgage Bonds, 7 7/8% Series Due 2007 (the "Securities") relating to the
initial placement of the Securities (the "Initial Placement"). To induce the
Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and to satisfy a
condition of your obligations thereunder, the Company agrees with you for your
benefit and the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Securities
(including the Initial Purchasers) (each a "Holder" and, together, the
"Holders"), as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall
have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in
this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following
meanings:
"Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Affiliate" of any specified person shall mean any other person that,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified person. For purposes of this definition, control of
a person shall mean the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such person whether by contract or
otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" shall have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
2
"Broker-Dealer" shall mean any broker or dealer registered as such
under the Exchange Act.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are
authorized or obligated by law to close in the City of New York.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Exchange Offer Registration Period" shall mean the one-year period
following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any
period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean a registration
statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to
the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments thereto, in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchanging Dealer" shall mean any Holder (which may include any
Initial Purchaser) that is a Broker-Dealer and elects to exchange for New
Securities any Securities that it acquired for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities (but not directly from the
Company or any Affiliate of the Company) for New Securities.
"Final Memorandum" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Holder" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust
(the "Mortgage") dated as of July 1, 1939, between the Company and BNY Midwest
Trust Company, as successor to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank, as trustee (the
"Trustee"), as amended and supplemented by a supplemental indenture, to be dated
as of May 10, 2002.
"Initial Placement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"Initial Purchaser" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of Securities registered under a Registration
Statement.
"Managing Underwriters" shall mean the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.
3
"New Securities" shall mean debt securities of the Company identical
in all material respects to the Securities (except that the cash interest and
interest rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions shall be modified
or eliminated, as appropriate) and to be issued under the Indenture.
"New Securities Indenture" shall mean an indenture between the Company
and the New Securities Trustee, identical in all material respects to the
Indenture (except that the cash interest and interest rate step-up provisions
will be modified or eliminated, as appropriate).
"New Securities Trustee" shall mean a bank or trust company reasonably
satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as trustee with respect to the New
Securities under the New Securities Indenture.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities covered by such
Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"Registered Exchange Offer" shall mean the proposed offer of the
Company to issue and deliver to the Holders of the Securities that are not
prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in such
offer, in exchange for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of the
New Securities.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or
the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, any 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.
"Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 3 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which
covers some or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an
appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be
adopted by the Commission, 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.
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"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under
the Indenture.
"underwriter" shall mean any underwriter of Securities in connection
with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.
(a) Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall prepare and, not
later than 180 days following the date of the original issuance of the
Securities (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding
Business Day), shall file with the Commission the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer. The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to become effective under the Act within 270 days of the date of
the original issuance of the Securities (or if such 270th day is not a
Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).
(b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange
Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable
each Holder electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming
that such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company, acquires the New
Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business, has no
arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the New
Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission
from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such New
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or
restrictions under the Act and without material restrictions under the
securities laws of a substantial proportion of the several states of the
United States. 1
(c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company
shall: 1
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of
the effective Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20
Business Days and not more than 35 Business Days after the date notice
thereof is mailed to the Holders (or, in each case, longer if required
by applicable law);
(iii) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Act,
supplemented and amended as required, under the Act to ensure that it
is available for sales of New Securities by Exchanging Dealers during
the Exchange Offer Registration Period;
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(iv) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan in New York
City, which may be the Trustee, the New Securities Trustee or an
Affiliate of either of them;
(v) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business
Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer is open;
(vi) prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating
that the Company is conducting the Registered Exchange Offer in
reliance on the position of the Commission in Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988) and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co.,
Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991); and (B) including a representation
that the Company has not entered into any arrangement or understanding
with any person to distribute the New Securities to be received in the
Registered Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company's
information and belief, each Holder participating in the Registered
Exchange Offer is acquiring the New Securities in the ordinary course
of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in the distribution of the New Securities;
(vii) notify each Holder that any Security not tendered by such
Holder in the Registered Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and
continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this
Agreement (except in the case of the Initial Purchasers and Exchange
Dealers as provided herein); and
(viii) comply in all respects with all applicable laws.
(d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange
Offer, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with
Section 4(r) all Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(iii) unless the New Securities are to be issued in the form of
one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository
Trust Company or its nominee, cause the New Securities Trustee
promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of Securities a
principal amount of New Securities equal to the principal amount of
the Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
(e) Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer
and any such Holder using the Registered Exchange Offer to participate in a
distribution of the New Securities (x) could not under Commission policy as
in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the
Commission in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991) and
Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub.
6
avail. May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman
& Sterling dated July 2, 1993 and similar no-action letters; and (y) must
comply with the registration and prospectus deliveryrequirements of the Act
in connection with any secondary resale transaction must be covered by an
effective registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K
under the Act if the resales are of New Securities obtained by such Holder
in exchange for Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the
Company or one of its Affiliates. Accordingly, each Holder participating in
the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company
that, at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer:
(i) any New Securities received by such Holder will be acquired
in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with
any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the
New Securities within the meaning of the Act; and
(iii) such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company.
(f) If any Initial Purchaser determines that it is not eligible to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the exchange
of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the
request of such Initial Purchaser, the Company shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser or the person purchasing New Securities registered
under a Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof
from such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a like
principal amount of New Securities. The Company shall use its best efforts
to cause the CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for such
New Securities as for New Securities issued pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer.
(g) Shelf Registration. If (i) due to any change in law or applicable
interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff, the Company determines
upon advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect the
Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof; (ii) for any
other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 360
days of the date hereof; (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with
respect to Securities that are not eligible to be exchanged for New
Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and that are held by it
following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer; (iv) any Holder
(other than an Initial Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the
Registered Exchange Offer other than by reason of such Holder being an
Affiliate of the Company; or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser that
participates in the Registered Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities
pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, such Initial Purchaser does not receive
freely tradeable New Securities in exchange for Securities constituting any
portion of an unsold allotment (it being understood that (x) the
requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing the
information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Act in
connection with sales of New Securities acquired in exchange for such
Securities shall
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result in such New Securities being not "freely tradeable"; and (y) the
requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection
with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities being not
"freely tradeable"), the Company shall effect a Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with subsection (b) below.
(i) If required pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Company
shall as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 60 days
after so required or requested pursuant to this Section 3), file with
the Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts to cause to
be declared effective under the Act a Shelf Registration Statement
relating to the offer and sale of the Securities or the New
Securities, as applicable, by the Holders thereof from time to time in
accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders
and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however,
that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to
have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of
the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder; and
provided further, that with respect to New Securities received by an
Initial Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion
of an unsold allotment, the Company may, if permitted by current
interpretations by the Commission's staff, file a post-effective
amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the
information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as
applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this subsection
with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed
by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration
Statement.
(ii) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and
amended as required by the Act, in order to permit the Prospectus
forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years
from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective
by the Commission or such shorter period that will terminate when all
the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being called the
"Shelf Registration Period"). The Company shall be deemed not to have
used its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any
action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not
being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period,
unless (A) such action is required by applicable law; or (B) such
action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business
reasons (not including avoidance of the Company's obligations
hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so
long as the Company promptly thereafter complies with the requirements
of Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.
8
(iii) The Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
and the related Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as
of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or such
amendment or supplement, (A) to comply in all material respects with
the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations
of the Commission; and (B) not to contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
2. Additional Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply.
(a) The Company shall:
(i) furnish to you, not less than five Business Days prior to the
filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement, and each
amendment thereof and each amendment or supplement, if any, to the
Prospectus included therein (including all documents incorporated by
reference therein after the initial filing) and shall use its best
efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the
Commission, such comments as you reasonably propose subject to the
Company's reasonable determinations as to the compliance with
applicable laws as provided in subsection (b) below;
(ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the
facing page of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B
hereto in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in
a section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, in Annex C
hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution section of the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and
in Annex D hereto in the letter of transmittal delivered pursuant to
the Registered Exchange Offer;
(iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the
information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as
applicable, in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement; and
(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the
names of the Holders that propose to sell Securities pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement as selling security holders.
(b) The Company shall ensure that:
(i) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any
Prospectus forming part thereof and any amendment or supplement
thereto
9
complies in all material respects with the Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder; and
(ii) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does
not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) The Company shall advise you, the Holders of Securities covered by
any Shelf Registration Statement and any Exchanging Dealer under any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement that has provided in writing to the
Company a telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if
requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, shall confirm
such advice in writing (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof
shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus
until the Company shall have remedied the basis for such suspension):
(i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has
been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for
additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities
included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any
proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires any change in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus so that, as of such date, the
statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
(d) The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the
qualification of the securities therein for sale in any jurisdiction at the
earliest possible time.
(e) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities covered by
any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one copy of such
Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including all material incorporated therein by reference, and, if the
Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto
10
(including exhibits incorporated by reference therein to the extent such
exhibits are not available on open access public retrieval systems).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver
to each Holder of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement,
without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each
preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration Statement and
any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request.
The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of securities in
connection with the offering and sale of the securities covered by the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf
Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so
requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including
all material incorporated by reference therein, and, if the Exchanging
Dealer so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits
incorporated by reference therein to the extent such exhibits are not
available on open access public retrieval systems).
(h) The Company shall promptly deliver to each Initial Purchaser, each
Exchanging Dealer and each other person required to deliver a Prospectus
during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, without charge, as many
copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as any such person may
reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, any
Exchanging Dealer and any such other person that may be required to deliver
a Prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the
offering and sale of the New Securities covered by the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.
(i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of
Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall
arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities or the New
Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder
shall reasonably request and will maintain such qualification in effect so
long as required; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated
to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process
in suits, other than those arising out of the Initial Placement, the
Registered Exchange Offer or any offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement, in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(j) Unless the New Securities are to be issued in the form of one or
more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust
Company or its nominee, the Company shall cooperate with the Holders of
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing New Securities or Securities to be issued or sold
pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and
in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may
request.
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(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by subsections
(c)(ii) through (v) above, the Company shall promptly prepare a
post-effective amendment to the applicable Registration Statement or an
amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other
required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the Initial
Purchasers of the securities included therein, the Prospectus will not
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. In such
circumstances, the period of effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement provided for in Section 2 and the Shelf Registration
Statement provided for in Section 3(b) shall each be extended by the number
of days from and including the date of the giving of a notice of suspension
pursuant to Section 4(c) to and including the date when the Initial
Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Exchanging Dealer
shall have received such amended or supplemented Prospectus pursuant to
this Section.
(l) Not later than the effective date of any Registration Statement,
the Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the Securities or the New
Securities, as the case may be, registered under such Registration
Statement and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for such
Securities or New Securities, in a form eligible for deposit with The
Depository Trust Company.
(m) The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of the Commission and shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Act.
(n) The Company shall cause the Indenture or the New Securities
Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act in a timely manner.
(o) The Company may require each Holder of securities to be sold
pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such securities as
the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such
Registration Statement. The Company may exclude from such Shelf
Registration Statement the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails
to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
request.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall
enter into such and take all other appropriate actions (including if
requested an underwriting agreement in customary form) in order to expedite
or facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Securities or New
Securities, and in connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is
entered into, cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and
procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 6 (or such
other provisions and procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the
Managing Underwriters, if any, with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to Section 6).
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(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall:
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of
Securities to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating
in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any
such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries;
(ii) cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to
supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or
any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with
any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due
diligence examinations; provided, however, that any information that
is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as
confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept
confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney,
accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with
a court proceeding or required by law (in which case such Holder or
Underwriter shall notify the Company of such disclosure in sufficient
time to permit the Company to take legal action to limit such
disclosure), or such information becomes available to the public
generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation
of confidentiality;
(iii) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of
Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in
form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters
including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase
Agreement;
(iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates
thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance)
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any)
addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any,
covering such matters as are customarily covered in opinions requested
in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by such Holders and underwriters;
(v) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company
for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required
to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each
selling Holder of Securities registered thereunder and the
underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the
type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
primary underwritten offerings; and
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(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if
any, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with
any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or
other agreement entered into by the Company.
The actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section
shall be performed at (A) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and
each post-effective amendment thereto; and (B) each closing under any
underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.
(a) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company shall:
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by such Initial
Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by
such Initial Purchaser, all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries;
(ii) cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to
supply all relevant information reasonably requested by such Initial
Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent in connection with
any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due
diligence examinations; provided, however, that any information that
is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as
confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept
confidential by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney,
accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with
a court proceeding or required by law (in which case such Holder or
Underwriter shall notify the Company of such disclosure in sufficient
time to permit the Company to take legal action to limit such
disclosure), or such information becomes available to the public
generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation
of confidentiality;
(iii) make such representations and warranties to such Initial
Purchaser, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by
issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering
matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase
Agreement;
(iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates
thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance)
shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser and its
counsel, addressed to such Initial Purchaser, covering such matters as
are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten
offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by
such Initial Purchaser or its counsel;
(v) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Company or of
14
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 such Initial Purchaser, in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
"cold comfort" letters in connection with primary underwritten
offerings, or if requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel in
lieu of a "cold comfort" letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter
under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters
requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel; and
(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel, including those to
evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily
contained in underwriting agreements.
The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of
this Section shall be performed at the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
and the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.
(a) If a Registered Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery
of the Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other person as
directed by the Company) in exchange for the New Securities, the Company
shall ▇▇▇▇, or caused to be marked, on the Securities so exchanged that
such Securities are being canceled in exchange for the New Securities. In
no event shall the Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(b) The Company will use its best efforts (i) if the Securities have
been rated prior to the initial sale of such Securities, to confirm such
ratings will apply to the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may
be, covered by a Registration Statement; or (ii) if the Securities were not
previously rated, to cause the Securities covered by a Registration
Statement to be rated with at least one nationally recognized statistical
rating agency, if so requested by Majority Holders with respect to the
related Registration Statement or by any Managing Underwriters.
(c) In the event that any Broker-Dealer shall underwrite any
Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or
selling group or "assist in the distribution" (within the meaning of the
Rules of Fair Practice and the By-Laws of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities
or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in
respect thereof, or otherwise assist such Broker-Dealer in complying with
the requirements of such Rules and By-Laws, including, without limitation,
by:
(i) if such Rules or By-Laws shall so require, engaging a
"qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in such Rules) to
participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement, to
exercise usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto and, if
any portion of the offering contemplated by
15
such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made
through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
Securities;
(ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to
the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in
Section 6 hereof; and
(iii) providing such information to such Broker-Dealer as may be
required in order for such Broker-Dealer to comply with the
requirements of such Rules.
(d) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration of the Securities or the New
Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement.
2. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses incurred
in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 4
hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the
Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel
designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in
connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel acting in connection therewith.
3. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of
Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, covered by any
Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect
to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each
Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers, employees and agents of each
such Holder and each person who controls any such Holder within the meaning
of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may
become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state
statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement as
originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each
such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that
the Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder
specifically for inclusion therein. This
16
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company
may otherwise have.
The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute as provided in
Section 6(d) to the Losses of any underwriter of Securities or New
Securities, as the case may be, registered under a Shelf Registration
Statement, their directors, officers, employees or agents and each person
who controls such underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of
the indemnification of the Initial Purchasers and the selling Holders
provided in this Section 6(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter
into an underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in
Section 4(o) hereof.
(a) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement
(including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus
delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer)
severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
each of its directors each of its officers who signs such Registration
Statement and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of
either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company to each such Holder, but only with reference to
written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion in the documents
referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which any such Holder may otherwise have.
(b) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
6 or notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under this Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the failure to so notify the indemnifying party
(i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above
unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such
failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial
rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the
indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than
the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The
indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying
party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the
indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in
which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for
the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified
party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such
counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to represent the
indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right
to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying
party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate
counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to
represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict
of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any
such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be
legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to
17
those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party
shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of
the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall
authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense
of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or
threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or
action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising
out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(c) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
of this Section 6 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party
shall have a joint and several obligation to contribute to the aggregate
losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same)
(collectively "Losses") to which such indemnified party may be subject in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on
the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the Registration Statement
which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in no case shall any
Initial Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Security or New Security
be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the purchase
discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a New
Security, applicable to the Security that was exchangeable into such New
Security, as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, nor shall
any underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting
discount or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such
underwriter under the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses.
If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is
unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of such
indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the
other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the sum of
(x) the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement (before deducting
expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum and (y)
the total amount of additional interest which the Company was not required
to pay as a result of registering the securities covered by the
Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Benefits received by
the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase
discounts and commissions as set forth on the cover page of the Final
Memorandum, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to
be equal to the value of receiving Securities or New Securities, as
applicable, registered under the Act. Benefits received by any underwriter
shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a
part of the Registration Statement which resulted in such
18
Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to
information provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the
indemnified party, on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their
relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement or omission. The parties agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section, each person who
controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act
and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have
the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each person who
controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange
Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration
Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms
and conditions of this paragraph (d). The Initial Purchasers' and any
subsequent Holders' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 8 are several in proportion to the purchase discount or commission
applicable to such Security, or in the case of a New Security, applicable
to the Security that was exchangeable into such New Security, and not
joint.
(d) The provisions of this Section will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder
or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling Persons
referred to in this Section hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder
of securities covered by a Registration Statement.
2. Underwritten Registrations.
(a) If any of the Securities or New Securities, as the case may be,
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the Managing Underwriters shall be selected by the
Majority Holders.
(b) No person may participate in any underwritten offering pursuant to
any Shelf Registration Statement, unless such person (i) agrees to sell
such person's Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, on the
basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the
persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements; and (ii) completes
and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the
terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
19
4. Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified, 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 the
Majority Holders (or, after the consummation of any Registered Exchange Offer in
accordance with Section 2 hereof, of New Securities); provided that, with
respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any
Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of
each such Initial Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification,
supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing
(except the foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from the
provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders whose Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, are
being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or
indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by the Majority
Holders, determined on the basis of Securities or New Securities, as the case
may be, being sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.
5. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
telex, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(a) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such holder
to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section, which
address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of such
Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like
manner to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.;
(b) if to you, initially at the respective addresses set forth in the
Purchase Agreement; and
(c) if to the Company, initially at its address set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received.
The Initial Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other parties
may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
1. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including,
without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Company
thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and the New Securities. The Company
hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of
Securities and the New Securities, and any such Holder may specifically enforce
the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.
2. Counterparts. This agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of
which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and
the same agreement.
3. Headings. The headings used herein are for convenience only and
shall not affect the construction hereof.
20
4. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts
made and to be performed in the State of New York.
5. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity,
legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of
the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected
thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties
shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
6. Securities Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities
or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New Securities, as
applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than subsequent Holders
of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities or New
Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval
was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
21
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon
this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the
Company and the several Initial Purchasers.
Very truly yours,
Western Resources, Inc.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
and Senior Vice President
The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES INC.
BNY CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BARNEY INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
-------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Managing Director
For itself and the other several Initial
Purchasers named in the Purchase Agreement.
22
ANNEX A
Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection
with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such
Securities were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on
the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business one
year after the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus available to any
Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of
Distribution."
23
ANNEX B
Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account in
exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such
Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such New Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
24
ANNEX C
1. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in
exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business one
year after the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, available to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such
resale. In addition, until , 200 , all dealers effecting
transactions in the New Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New
Securities by brokers-dealers. New Securities received by Broker-Dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the New Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such Broker-Dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New
Securities. Any Broker-Dealer that resells New Securities that were received by
it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer
that participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any
such resale of New Securities and any commissions or concessions received by any
such Persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities
Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver
and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that
it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of one year after the Expiration Date, the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any Broker-Dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
holder of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Securities (including any
Broker-Dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items 507
and/or 508.]
25
ANNEX D
Rider A
CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR
SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:
Address:
Rider B
If the undersigned is not a Broker-Dealer, the undersigned represents
that it acquired the New Securities in the ordinary course of its business, it
is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New
Securities and it has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to
participate in a distribution of the New Securities. If the undersigned is a
Broker-Dealer that will receive New Securities for its own account in exchange
for Securities, it represents that the Securities to be exchanged for New
Securities were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging
and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that
it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.