EXHIBIT 4.3
$500,000,000
EL PASO CORPORATION
7 7/8% NOTES DUE JUNE 15, 2012
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
June 10, 2002
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs:
El Paso Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes
to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation (the "INITIAL
PURCHASER"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated June 4, 2002
(the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its
7 7/8% Notes due June 15, 2012 (the "INITIAL SECURITIES"). The Initial
Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of May 10, 1999,
among the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank),
as trustee (the "TRUSTEE") through the date hereof (as supplemented through the
date hereof, the "INDENTURE"). As an inducement to the Initial Purchaser to
enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees with the Initial
Purchaser, for the benefit of the Initial Purchaser and the holders of the
Securities (as defined below) (collectively the "HOLDERS"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. Unless not permitted by applicable law
(after the Company has complied with the ultimate paragraph of this Section 1),
the Company shall prepare and, not later than 90 days (such 90th day being a
"FILING DEADLINE") after the date on which the Initial Purchaser purchases the
Initial Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the "CLOSING DATE"), file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") a registration
statement (the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate form
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), with
respect to a proposed offer (the "REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER") to the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not
prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the
Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for
the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of
the Company issued under the Indenture, identical in all material respects to
the Initial Securities and registered under the Securities Act (the "EXCHANGE
SECURITIES"). The Company shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to (i)
cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the
Securities Act within 220 days after the Closing Date (such 220th day being an
"EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE") and (ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective for not less than 20 days (or longer, if required by
applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed
to the Holders (such period being called the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION
PERIOD").
If the Company commences the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company (i)
will be entitled to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer 20 days after such
commencement (provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial Securities
theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the
Registered Exchange Offer) and (ii) will be required to consummate the
Registered Exchange Offer no later than 30 business days after the date on which
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective (such 30th
business day being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
Following the declaration of 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 of Transfer Restricted Securities electing to exchange the
Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the
Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities
laws of the several states of the United States.
The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer
electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a
result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange
Securities (an "EXCHANGING DEALER"), is required to deliver a prospectus
containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b)
Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of
the Exchange Offer" section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of
Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such
Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell
Securities (as defined below) acquired in exchange for Initial Securities
constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, is required to deliver a
prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.
The Company shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to keep the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully
delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such
requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that
(i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto
must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period
shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and
the Initial Purchaser have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless
such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company
shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to
any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange
Securities for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer.
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the Initial
Securities (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "SECURITIES".
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
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(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
20 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date
notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) 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 shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered
and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the
Private Exchange;
(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to
each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to
the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been
paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities.
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 Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a
broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
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thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer 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 and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an 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.
If following the date hereof there has been announced a change in
Commission policy with respect to exchange offers that in the reasonable opinion
of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the
Registered Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company
will seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer. The Company
will pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In
connection with the foregoing, the Company will take all such other actions as
may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the
issuance of such decision, including without limitation (i) participating in
telephonic conferences with the Commission, (ii) delivering to the Commission
staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal
bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that the Registered
Exchange Offer should be permitted and (iii) diligently pursuing a resolution
(which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff.
2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated by the
260th day after the Closing Date, (iii) the Initial Purchaser so requests with
respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange
Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or
(iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate
in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an
Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such
Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the
exchange and any such Holder so requests, the Company shall take the following
actions (the date on which any of the conditions described in the foregoing
clauses (i) through (iv) occur, including in the case of clauses (iii) or (iv)
the receipt of the required notice, being a "TRIGGER DATE"):
(a) The Company shall file, as promptly as practicable (but in
no event more than 30 business days after the Trigger Date (such 30th
business day being a "FILING DEADLINE")), with the Commission and
thereafter use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective as
promptly as practicable thereafter, a registration statement (the
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" and, together with the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, a "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate
form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time
in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf
Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act
(hereinafter, the "SHELF REGISTRATION"); provided, however, that no
Holder (other than the 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 the provisions
of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to
keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order
to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by
the Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or
for such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from
the date of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will
terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer
restricted securities (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
or any successor rule thereof). The Company shall be
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deemed not to have used its reasonable commercial 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 such action is required by
applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
the contrary, 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, amendment or
supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission and (ii) 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 light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to the Initial Purchaser,
prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the
Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement,
if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an
Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment
from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange
Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its
reasonable commercial efforts to reflect in each such document, when so
filed with the Commission, such comments as the Initial Purchaser
reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex
A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer
Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and
in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the
prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
and include the information set forth 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 Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities
Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section
entitled "Plan of Distribution," reasonably acceptable to the Initial
Purchaser, which shall contain a summary statement of the positions
taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to
the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of Exchange
Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange
Offer (a "PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER"), whether such positions or
policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission
or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the
Initial Purchaser based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house
counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the
Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement,
include the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling
securityholders.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial
Purchaser, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice
that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall
be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes have been made):
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(i) when the Registration Statement or 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 amendments
or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein 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 or its legal
counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of
the qualification of the Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the
Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact nor 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 light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain
the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities
included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits
thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and
the Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without
charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such
Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by
reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of
the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the
prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the
Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to
the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the
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 deliver to the Initial Purchaser, any
Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other
persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered
Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The
Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the
use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the
Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and
such other persons required to deliver a prospectus
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following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering
and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to
any Registration Statement the Company shall register or qualify or
cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky"
laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the
Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i)
qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to
general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject.
(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing the Securities to be 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 a
reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to
such Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for
which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the
prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the
Initial Purchaser, the Holders of the Securities and any known
Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through
(v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until
the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the
Initial Purchaser, the Holders of the Securities and any such
Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and
the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement
provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the
number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice
to and including the date when the Initial Purchaser, the Holders of
the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have
received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this
Section 3(j).
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the
Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with
printed certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of
the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make
generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in
accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings
statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90
days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month
of the Company's
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first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the
Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month
period.
(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner
and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall
appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions
of the Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of
the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require
for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may
exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
after receiving such request.
(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
(including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form)
and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities
shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the
Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or
other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such
underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the
Company's officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to
supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of
the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent
in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as
shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the
Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and
information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial
Purchaser by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel
designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in
Section 4 hereof.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if
requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i)
its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the
Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial
opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it
being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall
include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of
the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and
its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the
type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization,
execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and
enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material
legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company and its
subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the
offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the
type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of
such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by
reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of
the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf
Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto,
as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement
and the prospectus
8
included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from any
documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading (in the case of any such documents, in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed with
the Commission under the Exchange Act); (ii) its officers to execute
and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates
thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and
(iii) its independent public accountants and the independent public
accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial
information is provided in the Shelf Registration Statement to provide
to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter
therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the
type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary
underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation
as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72.
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested
by the Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the
Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to the Initial Purchaser
or such Participating Broker-Dealer signed opinions in the forms set
forth in Section 6(b) and (c) of the Purchase Agreement with such
changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a
Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants and
the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for
which financial information is provided in the Registration Statement
to deliver to the Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer
a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the
substance thereof as set forth in Section 6(a) of the Purchase
Agreement, with appropriate date changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to
be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to
the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in
exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall ▇▇▇▇, or caused to be
marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial
Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities
or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event
shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) The Company will use its reasonable commercial efforts to
(a) if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale
of such Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the
Securities covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Initial
Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a
Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating
agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement,
or by the managing underwriters, if any.
(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act 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 Conduct Rules (the "RULES") of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) 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, the Company will assist such broker-dealer in complying with
the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i)
if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a
"qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720) to
participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating
to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in
respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by
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 5 hereof and
9
(iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be
required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the
requirements of the Rules.
(v) The Company shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to
take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the
Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses.
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of and
compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless
of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes effective,
including without limitation;
(i) all registration and filing fees and expenses;
(ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal
securities and state "blue sky" or securities laws;
(iii) all expenses of printing (including printing
certificates for the Securities to be issued in the Registered
Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange and printing of
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone;
(iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company;
(v) all application and filing fees in connection
with listing the Exchange Securities on a national securities
exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the
requirements hereof; and
(vi) all fees and disbursements of independent
certified public accountants of the Company (including the
expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by
or incident to such performance).
The Company will bear its internal expenses (including, without
limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual
audit and the fees and expenses of any person, including special
experts, retained by the Company.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by
this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchaser and
the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering Initial
Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling
Securities pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of
not more than one counsel, who shall be ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P. unless
another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such
Registration Statement is being prepared.
5. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each
person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating
Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling
persons are referred to collectively as the "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
10
several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited
to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to
purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party
may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration
Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in
any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, 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 shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect
thereof; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in
any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration
Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in
any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such
Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder
specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in
any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf 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 Securities Act in
connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or
liability of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer results from
the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior
to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such
person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company had previously
furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer;
provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such
Indemnified Party. In connection with any underwritten registration as
contemplated in Section 8 below, the Company shall also indemnify
underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls
such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such
Holders.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly,
will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or
any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment
or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a
Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent
that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by
or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and,
subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause,
shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling
person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim,
damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity
agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may
otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.
11
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding
(including a governmental investigation), such indemnified party will,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying
party 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. In case any such
action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party
will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will
not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any
legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation,
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending
or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or
could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder
by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on
any claims that are the subject matter of such action, and (ii) does
not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or
a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party
on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the
case may be, on the other, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the
first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which
is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which
the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of
damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each
person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
12
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive
the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and
shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or
cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on
behalf of any indemnified party.
6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances.
(a) Additional interest (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST") with
respect to the Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the
following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iv)
below being herein called a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"):
(i) any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the
applicable Filing Deadline;
(ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
required by this Agreement is not declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline;
(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer has not been
consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline; or
(iv) any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement has been declared effective by the Commission but
(A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be
effective or (B) such Registration Statement or the related
prospectus ceases to be usable in connection with resales of
Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified
herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of
which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration
Statement would include any 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, or (2) it shall be
necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement
the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.
Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever
the reason for any such event and whether it is voluntary or
involuntary or is beyond the control of the Company or pursuant to
operation of law or as a result of any action or inaction by the
Commission.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Securities over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including
the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but
excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been
cured, at a rate of 0.25% per annum (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST RATE")
for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of
such Registration Default. The Additional Interest Rate shall increase
by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day
period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum
Additional Interest Rate of 0.75% per annum.
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iv)
hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in
relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if
(i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x)
the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration
Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with
respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet
effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use
the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect to
the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y),
the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or
supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to
describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such
13
Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30
days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above
paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such
Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section
6(a) will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with
respect to the Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be
determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by
the principal amount of the Securities and further multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional
Interest Rate was applicable during such period (determined on the
basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the
denominator of which is 360.
(d) "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" means each Security until
(i) the date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person
other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security
in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a
broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security
for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a
purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date
of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has been
effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on
which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under
the Securities Act.
7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its best efforts to file
the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file
such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Securities, make
publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of
their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it
will take such further action as any Holder of Securities may reasonably
request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the
limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the
requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this
Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the
Company by the Initial Purchaser upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of
Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement
as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to
register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("MANAGING UNDERWRITERS") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering, provided that such
Managing Underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities 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.
14
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any
failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 1
and 2 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial
Purchaser or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law,
that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries
precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial
Purchaser or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Sections 1 and 2
hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action
for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not on or
after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect
to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the
Holders 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 Company's securities under any agreement in effect on
the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement
may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by
the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consents. Without the consent of
the Holder of each Security, however, no modification may change the
provisions relating to the payment of Additional Interest.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery,
first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which
guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most
current address given by such Holder to the Company.
(2) if to the Initial Purchaser;
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Mayor, Day, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
15
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
El Paso Corporation
El Paso Building
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
All such notices and communications shall be deemed
to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if
personally delivered; three business days after being
deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
receipt is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine
operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day
delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next
day delivery.
(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third
party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the
Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other hand,
and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the
extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect
their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
(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, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT
REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
(j) Severability. If 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.
(k) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of
Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its
affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities if such
subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of
their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
16
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the Initial Purchaser and the Company in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
El Paso Corporation
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
The foregoing Registration
Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Director
17
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange 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 Exchange 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 Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
18
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial 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 Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
19
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange 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 Exchange 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 Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 180 days 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 Exchange Securities may be required to
deliver a prospectus.(1)
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange 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 Exchange 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 or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange 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 Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission 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 180 days 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
Holders 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.
----------
(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the inside front cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus below the
Table of Contents.
20
ANNEX D
[ ] 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:
--------------------------------------------------
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange 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.
21