EXHIBIT 4.8
_____________________________________________________________________________
NOTE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 30, 1997
by and among
PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇ FINANCIAL CORPORATION
and
CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
as Initial Purchasers
_____________________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Definitions....................................................... 1
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2. Exchange Offer.................................................... 4
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3. Shelf Registration................................................ 8
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(a) Initial Shelf Registration.................................. 8
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(b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations.............................. 9
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(c) Supplements and Amendments.................................. 9
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4. Additional Interest............................................... 9
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5. Registration Procedures........................................... 11
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6. Registration Expenses............................................. 20
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7. Indemnification................................................... 22
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8. Rules 144 and 144A................................................ 24
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9. Underwritten Registrations........................................ 25
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10. Miscellaneous..................................................... 25
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(a) Remedies.................................................... 25
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(b) Enforcement................................................. 25
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(c) No Inconsistent Agreements.................................. 26
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(d) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes..................... 26
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(e) Amendments and Waivers...................................... 26
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(f) Notices..................................................... 26
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(g) Successors and Assigns...................................... 27
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(h) Counterparts................................................ 27
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(i) Headings.................................................... 27
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(j) Governing Law............................................... 27
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(k) Severability................................................ 27
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(l) Entire Agreement............................................ 27
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(m) Notes Held by the Company or Its Affiliates................. 28
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-i-
NOTE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of January 30, 1997 (the
"Agreement"), by and among PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the "Company"), PETRO FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company ("PFC", and together with the
Company, the "Registrants"), and CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED, as Initial Purchasers (the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Securities
Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 23, 1997, by and among Petro Holdings GP
Corp., Chartwell Investments, Inc., the Registrants and the Initial Purchasers
(the "Purchase Agreement") relating to the sale by the Registrants to the
Initial Purchasers of $135,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10 1/2% Senior
Notes due 2007 of the Registrants (the "Notes"). In order to induce the Initial
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Registrants have agreed to
provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of
the Initial Purchasers. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the Initial Purchasers' obligation to purchase the Notes under the
Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
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As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
Additional Interest: See Section 4(a).
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Advice: See Section 5.
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Affiliate: An "affiliate" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities
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Act (as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC).
Applicable Period: See Section 2(b).
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Closing: See the Purchase Agreement.
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Company: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
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Effectiveness Date: The 135th day after the Issue Date.
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Effectiveness Period: See Section 3(a).
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Eligible Notes: See Section 4(a).
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Event Date: See Section 4(b).
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Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
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the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Notes: See Section 2(a).
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Exchange Offer: See Section 2(a).
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Exchange Registration Statement: See Section 2(a).
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Filing Date: The 75th day after the Issue Date.
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Holder: Any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable Notes.
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Indemnified Person: See Section 7(c).
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Indemnifying Person: See Section 7(c).
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Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of January 30, 1997, by and among
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the Registrants and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, pursuant to
which the Notes are being issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time
in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchasers: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
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Initial Shelf Registration: See Section 3(a).
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Inspectors: See Section 5(o).
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Issue Date: The date on which the original Notes are sold to the
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Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Lien: See the Indenture.
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NASD: See Section 5(t).
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Notes: See the introductory paragraphs to this Agreement.
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Participant: See Section 7(a).
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Participating Broker-Dealer: See Section 2(b).
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Person: An individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
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association, joint stock Registrants, trust, unincorporated organization or
government (including any agency or political subdivision thereof).
PFC: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
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Private Exchange: See Section 2(b).
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Private Exchange Notes: See Section 2(b).
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Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
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(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus
filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A
promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion
of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all other
amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
Purchase Agreement: See the introductory paragraphs to this
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Agreement.
Records: See Section 5(o).
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Registrable Notes: The Notes upon original issuance of the Notes and
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at all times subsequent thereto and, if issued, the Private Exchange Notes,
until in the case of any such Notes or any such Private Exchange Notes, as the
case may be, (i) a Registration Statement covering such Notes or such Private
Exchange Notes has been declared effective by the SEC and such Notes or such
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, have been disposed of in accordance
with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Notes or such Private
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, are sold in compliance with Rule 144 or
(iii) such Notes or such Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, cease to be
outstanding.
Registrants: See the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
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Registration Default: See Section 4(a).
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Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the
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Registrants, including, but not limited to, the Exchange Registration Statement,
which covers any of the Registrable Notes pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such registration statement.
Restricted Person: (i) Any Affiliate of any of the Registrants, (ii)
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the Initial Purchasers or (iii) any Affiliate of the Initial Purchasers (other
than Affiliates of the Initial Purchasers that (x) are acquiring the Exchange
Notes in the ordinary course of business and do not have an arrangement with
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any Person to distribute the Exchange Notes and (y) may trade such Exchange
Notes without restriction (other than delivery required by Participating Broker-
Dealers of the Prospectus included in the Exchange Registration Statement) under
the Securities Act).
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
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may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such
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Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144)
or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
Rule 415: Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
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may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
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and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Notice: See Section 2(c).
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Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).
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Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).
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TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
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Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the
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trustee under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange
Notes (if any).
Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A registration in
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which securities of the Registrants are sold to an underwriter(s) for reoffering
to the public.
2. Exchange Offer
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(a) The Registrants agree to use their best efforts to file with the
SEC as soon as practicable after the Closing, but
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in no event later than the Filing Date, an offer to exchange (the "Exchange
Offer") any and all of the Notes for a like aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of the Registrants which are identical to the Notes (the "Exchange
Notes") (and which are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or a trust
indenture which is substantially identical to the Indenture (other than such
changes to the Indenture or any such identical trust indenture as are necessary
to comply with any requirements of the SEC to effect or maintain the
qualification thereof under the TIA) and which, in either case, has been
qualified under the TIA), except that the Exchange Notes shall have been
registered pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities
Act. The Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act on an
appropriate form (the "Exchange Registration Statement") and will comply with
all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The
Registrants agree to use their best efforts to (x) cause the Exchange
Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or before
the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days
(or longer if required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the
Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders; and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or
prior to the 45th day following the date on which the Exchange Registration
Statement is declared effective. Each Holder who participates in the Exchange
Offer will be required to represent that any Exchange Notes received by it will
be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, that at the time of the
consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder will have no arrangement or
understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Notes, and that such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Registrants or if it is
such an Affiliate, that it will comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. Upon
consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section 2, the
provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis, solely
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with respect to Registrable Notes that are Private Exchange Notes, and the
Registrants shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Notes
(other than Private Exchange Notes) pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement.
(b) The Registrants shall include within the Prospectus contained in
the Exchange Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of
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the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the
potential underwriter status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner
(as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes
received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-
Dealer"), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by
the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the judgment of the
Initial Purchasers, represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC.
Such "Plan of
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Distribution" section shall also allow the use of the Prospectus by all persons
subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including
all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a statement describing the means
by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.
The Registrants shall use their best efforts to keep the Exchange
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, including Participating Broker-Dealers, for such period of time as such
persons must comply with such requirements in order to resell the Exchange
Notes, provided that such period shall not exceed 180 days (or such longer
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period if extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5) after the date
of the consummation of the Exchange Offer (the "Applicable Period").
If, immediately prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the
Initial Purchasers hold any Notes acquired by them and having, or which are
reasonably likely to be determined to have, the status as an unsold allotment in
the initial distribution, the Registrants upon the request of the Initial
Purchasers shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the
Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to the Initial Purchasers, in exchange (the
"Private Exchange") for the Notes held by such Initial Purchasers, a like
principal amount of debt securities of the Registrants that are identical in all
material respects to the Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange Notes") (and
which are issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes). The
Private Exchange Notes shall bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.
Interest on the Exchange Notes and any Private Exchange Notes will accrue from
the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Notes
surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Notes,
from the Issue Date.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Registrants shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of
transmittal and related documents;
(ii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with
an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York; and
(iii) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to
the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which the
Exchange Offer shall remain open.
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As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Registrants shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Notes tendered and not validly withdrawn
pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Notes so accepted for
exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder of Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the
case may be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so
accepted for exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes may be issued under
(i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture substantially identical to the Indenture,
which in either event will provide that the Exchange Notes will not be subject
to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that the Exchange
Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes will vote and consent together
on all matters as one class and that neither the Exchange Notes, the Private
Exchange Notes nor the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a
separate class on any matter.
(c) If (1) prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, the
Registrants or Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Notes reasonably determine in good faith that (i) the Exchange
Notes would not, upon receipt, be tradable by such Holders which are not
affiliates (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Registrants without
restriction (other than delivery required by Participating Broker-Dealers of the
Prospectus included in the Exchange Registration Statement) under the Securities
Act and without restrictions under applicable state securities laws or (ii)
after conferring with counsel, the SEC is unlikely to permit the effectiveness
of the Exchange Registration Statement prior to the Effectiveness Date, (2)
subsequent to the consummation of the Private Exchange, any holder of the
Private Exchange Notes so requests, or (3) the Exchange Offer is commenced and
not consummated within 180 days of the date of this Agreement, then the
Registrants shall promptly deliver to any such Holders and the Trustee written
notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") and shall file an Initial Shelf Registration
pursuant to Section 3. Following the delivery of a Shelf Notice to the Holders
of Registrable Notes (in the circumstances contemplated by clauses (1) and (3)
of the preceding sentence), the Registrants shall not have any further
obligation to conduct the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange under this
Section 2; provided, however, that if (in the circumstances contemplated by
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clauses (1)(ii) and (3) of the preceding sentence) the Registrants subsequently
consummate
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the Exchange Offer, the Registrants shall be subject to the provisions of
Section 4(a) until such consummation and thereafter shall not have any further
obligation to file an Initial Shelf Registration or cause such Initial Shelf
Registration to be declared effective by the SEC.
(d) In the event that the Registrants reasonably determine in good
faith and after conferring with counsel that (i) the Exchange Notes would not,
upon consummation of any resale thereof by a Restricted Person to any Person
other than another Restricted Person, be tradeable by each Holder thereof
without restriction (other than delivery required by Participating Broker-
Dealers of the Prospectus included in the Exchange Registration Statement) under
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and without restriction under applicable
state securities or Blue Sky laws, or (ii) the SEC is unlikely to permit the
Registration Statement covering the Exchange Offer to become effective prior to
the Effectiveness Date solely because such Registration Statement covers resales
of the Exchange Notes by Restricted Persons, then the Registrants shall promptly
deliver a Shelf Notice to the Restricted Persons who are Holders of Registrable
Notes, and the Registrants shall thereafter file an Initial Shelf Registration
pursuant to, and otherwise comply with, the provisions of Section 3; provided
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that, if a Shelf Notice is not then otherwise required to be delivered pursuant
to Section 2(c), such Initial Shelf Registration shall only cover resales of
Registrable Notes by Restricted Persons. Following the delivery of a Shelf
Notice in accordance with this Section 2(d) and compliance with the provisions
of Section 3, the Registrants shall not have any further obligation under this
Section 2 with respect to the filing of an offer to exchange the Registrable
Notes held by the Restricted Persons (including, without limitation, any
obligation to provide that a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section
2(a) cover resales of Exchange Notes by Restricted Persons); provided that, the
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provisions of this Section 2 shall otherwise remain in full force and effect
with respect to Registrable Notes held by any Person other than a Restricted
Person.
3. Shelf Registration
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If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c) or (d),
then:
(a) Initial Shelf Registration. The Registrants shall prepare and file
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with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous
basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes (the "Initial
Shelf Registration"). If the Registrants shall have not yet filed an Exchange
Registration Statement, the Registrants shall use their best efforts to file
with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration on or prior to the Filing Date. In
any other instance, the Registrants shall use their best efforts to file with
the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration within 30 days of the delivery of the
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Shelf Notice. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another
appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by
such Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including, without
limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Registrants shall not
permit any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in the
Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined
below). The Registrants shall use their best efforts to cause the Initial Shelf
Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to
the Effectiveness Date and to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously
effective under the Securities Act until three years from the Issue Date (the
"Effectiveness Period"), or such shorter period ending when (i) all Registrable
Notes covered by the Initial Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set
forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf Registration or (ii) a Subsequent
Shelf Registration covering all of the Registrable Notes has been declared
effective under the Securities Act.
(b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Initial Shelf Registration
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or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any reason at
any time during the Effectiveness Period (prior to the sale of all of the
securities registered thereunder), the Registrants shall use their best efforts
to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness
thereof, and in any event shall within 45 days of such cessation of
effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration in a manner reasonably expected to
obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file
an additional "shelf" Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all
of the Registrable Notes (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration"). If a Subsequent
Shelf Registration is filed, the Registrants shall use their best efforts to
cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective during the Effectiveness Period. As used herein the term
"Shelf Registration" means the Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent
Shelf Registration.
(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Registrants shall promptly
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supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such
Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if requested by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
covered by such Registration Statement or by any underwriter(s) of such
Registrable Notes.
4. Additional Interest
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The Registrants and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders of
Registrable Notes will suffer damages if the Registrants fail to fulfill their
obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain
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the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the Registrants agree to
pay additional interest on the Eligible Notes (as defined below) ("Additional
Interest") under the circumstances set forth below:
(i) if neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the Initial
Shelf Registration has been filed on or prior to the Filing Date;
(ii) if neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the Initial
Shelf Registration has been declared effective on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date; and/or
(iii) if either (A) the Registrants have not exchanged the Exchange
Notes for all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the
Exchange Offer on or prior to 45 days after the date on which the Exchange
Registration Statement was declared effective (but not including any Notes
that have not been validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the
Exchange Offer) or (B) the Exchange Registration Statement ceases to be
effective at any time prior to the time that the Exchange Offer is
consummated or (C) if applicable, the Shelf Registration has been declared
effective and such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at any time
prior to the earlier of the date on which all Registrable Notes covered by
the Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set forth and as
contemplated in the Shelf Registration or the third anniversary of the
Issue Date;
(each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above is a
"Registration Default" and each Note referred to in clauses (i) through (iii)
above is an "Eligible Note"), the sole remedy available to holders of the
Eligible Notes will be the immediate accrual of Additional Interest as follows:
the per annum interest rate on the Eligible Notes will increase by 50 basis
points upon the occurrence of a Registration Default; and the per annum interest
rate will increase by an additional 25 basis points for each subsequent 90-day
period during which the Registration Default remains uncured, up to a maximum
additional interest rate of 200 basis points per annum, provided, however, that
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(1) upon the filing of the Exchange Registration Statement or the Initial Shelf
Registration (in the case of (i) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the
Exchange Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration (in the case of (ii)
above) or (3) upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered
(in the case of (iii)(A) above), or upon the effectiveness of the Exchange
Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of
(iii)(B) above), or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration which had
ceased to remain effective (in the case of (iii)(C) above), Additional Interest
on the Eligible Notes as a result of such clause (i), (ii) or (iii) (or the
relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue and the
interest rate on the
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Eligible Notes will revert to the interest rate originally borne by the Eligible
Notes.
(b) The Registrants shall notify the Trustee within one business day
after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which
Additional Interest is required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Any amounts of
Additional Interest due pursuant to (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section
4 will be payable in cash semi-annually on each February 1 and August 1 (to the
Holders of record on the January 15 and July 15 immediately preceding such
dates), commencing with the first such date occurring after any such Additional
Interest commences to accrue. The amount of Additional Interest with respect to
each Eligible Note will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional
Interest rate by the principal amount of such Eligible Note, 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.
5. Registration Procedures
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In connection with the registration of any Registrable Notes or
Private Exchange Notes pursuant to Section 2 or 3 hereof, the Registrants shall
effect such registrations to permit the sale of such Registrable Notes or
Private Exchange Notes in accordance with the intended method or methods of
disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Registrants shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC, prior to the Filing Date, a
Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Section
2 or 3, and to use their best efforts to cause each such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein,
provided that, if (1) such filing is pursuant to Section 3, or (2) a
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Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus
or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Registrants shall, if
requested, furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Notes and
each such Participating Broker-Dealer known by the Issuers, as the case may
be, covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing
underwriter(s), if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all
such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by
reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (at least
five business days prior to such filing). The Registrants shall not file
any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto in respect of which the Holders must be afforded an opportunity to
review prior to the filing of such document, if the
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Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes covered by such Registration Statement, or such Participating Broker-
Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel, or the managing underwriter(s),
if any, shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Shelf Registration or Exchange Registration Statement,
as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable
Period, as the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented
by any prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions
then in force) under the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to them with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement as so
amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to the
subsequent resale of any securities being sold by a Participating Broker-
Dealer covered by any such Prospectus; the Registrants shall be deemed not
to have used their best efforts to keep a Registration Statement effective
during the Applicable Period if any Registrant voluntarily takes any action
that would result in selling Holders of the Registrable Notes covered
thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking to sell Exchange Notes not
being able to sell such Registrable Notes or such Exchange Notes during
that period, unless such action is required by applicable law or unless
such Registrant complies with this Agreement, including without limitation,
the provisions of clause 5(c)(v) below.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, notify the selling Holders of Registrable Notes, or each
such Participating Broker-Dealer known by the Issuer, as the case may be,
their counsel and the managing underwriter(s), if any, promptly (but in any
event within two business days), and confirm such notice in writing, (i)
when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
thereto has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective
(including in such notice a written statement that any Holder may, upon
request, obtain, without charge, one conformed copy of such Registration
Statement or post-effective amendment thereto including financial
statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be
-12-
incorporated by reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or
of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary Prospectus
or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time
when a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in
connection with sales of the Registrable Notes the representations and
warranties of the Registrants contained in any agreement (including any
underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(n) below cease to be true
and correct, (iv) of the receipt by the Registrants of any notification
with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from
qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the Registrable Notes
or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for
offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event or any
information becoming known that makes any statement made in such
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material
respect or that requires the making of any changes in, or amendments or
supplements to, such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so
that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any
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
not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain
any 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and (vi) any Registrant's reasonable determination that a post-
effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.
(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, use their best efforts to prevent the issuance of any
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any
order preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the
qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer,
for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to use
their best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the
earliest possible moment.
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(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any, or the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being
sold in connection with an underwritten offering, (i) promptly incorporate
in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment thereto such
information as the managing underwriter(s), if any, or such Holders
reasonably request to be included therein, (ii) make all required filings
of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment thereto as
soon as practicable after the Registrants have received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment thereto and (iii) supplement or make amendments to such
Registration Statement.
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, furnish to each selling Holder of Registrable Notes and
to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so requests and to counsel and
the managing underwriter(s), if any, without charge, one conformed copy of
the Registration Statement or Registration Statements and each post-
effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules,
and, if requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference and all exhibits.
(g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Notes, or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel,
and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, without charge, as
many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of
preliminary Prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and any
documents incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably
request; and, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the
Registrants hereby consent to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes
or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the
managing underwriter or underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers (if
any), in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes
covered by or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange
Notes pursuant to such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
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(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any delivery
of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration Statement by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, use their best efforts to register or qualify, and
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing underwriter
or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with
the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes for offer and
sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the
United States as any selling Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, reasonably request in
writing, provided that where Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-
--------
Dealers or Registrable Notes are offered other than through an underwritten
offering, the Registrants agree to cause their counsel to perform Blue Sky
investigations and file registrations and qualifications required to be
filed pursuant to this Section 5(h); keep each such registration or
qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such
Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all
other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes held by
Participating Broker-Dealers or the Registrable Notes covered by the
applicable Registration Statement; provided that no Registrant shall be
--------
required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where
it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar
amount in any such jurisdiction.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, cooperate
with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the managing underwriter
or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold, which
certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form
eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; and enable such
Registrable Notes to be in such denominations and registered in such names
as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may
reasonably request and which are consistent with the terms of the indenture
under which the Registrable Notes are issued.
(j) Use their best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by
the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
seller or
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sellers thereof or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to
consummate the disposition of such Registrable Notes, except as may be
required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder's
business, in which case the Registrants will cooperate in all reasonable
respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of
such approvals at such sellers' cost and expense.
(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) above, as promptly as reasonably practicable
prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) above) file with the SEC, at the
expense of the Registrants, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
Purchasers of the Registrable Notes being sold thereunder or to the
Purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom such Prospectus will be delivered
by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, any such
Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(l) Use their best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by a
Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes sold by a Participating
Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, as the case may be, to be rated
with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, or the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any.
(m) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement
relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with printed
certificates for the Registrable Notes in a form eligible for deposit with
The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the
Registrable Notes.
(n) In connection with an underwritten offering of Registrable Notes
pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement as
is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the
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Notes and take all such other actions as are reasonably requested by the
managing underwriter(s), if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the
registration or the disposition of such Registrable Notes, and in such
connection, (i) make such representations and warranties to the managing
underwriter or underwriters on behalf of any underwriters, with respect to
the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and the Registration
Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made by
issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings of debt securities, and
confirm the same if and when requested; (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to
the Registrants and updates thereof in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the
managing underwriter or underwriters covering the matters customarily
covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings of debt securities
and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by underwriters;
(iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or
underwriters from the independent certified public accountants of the
Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public
accountants of any subsidiary of the Registrants or of any business
acquired by the Registrants for which financial statements and financial
data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement),
addressed to the managing underwriter or underwriters on behalf of any
underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of
the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
underwritten offerings of debt securities and such other matters as
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters; and (iv)
if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain
indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set
forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures
acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
underwriter or underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section. The above shall be done at each
closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required
thereunder.
(o) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any selling Holder of
such Registrable Notes being sold, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer
who so requests, as
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the case may be, the managing underwriter or underwriters participating in
any such disposition of Registrable Notes, if any, and any attorney,
accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be (collectively, the
"Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable
business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively,
the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise
any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers,
directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all
information in each case reasonably requested by any such Inspector in
connection with such Registration Statement. Records which the Company
determines, in good faith, to be confidential and any Records which it
notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the
Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid
or correct a material misstatement or material omission in such
Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered
pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent
jurisdiction or (iii) the information in such Records has been made
generally available to the public other than through the Inspectors' breach
of any confidentiality agreement. Each selling Holder of such Registrable
Notes and each such Participating Broker-Dealer or underwriter will be
required to agree that information obtained by it as a result of such
inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it for
any purpose other than discharging due diligence responsibilities. In
addition, such information shall not be used as the basis for any market
transactions in the securities of the Registrants unless and until such is
made generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of such
Registrable Notes and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be
required to further agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of
such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to
the Registrants and allow the Registrants to undertake appropriate action
to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential at its expense.
(p) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes or the
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust
indenture provided for in Section 2(a), as the case may be, to be qualified
under the TIA not later than the effective date of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or the first Registration Statement relating to the
Registrable Notes; and in connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee
under any such indenture and the Holders of the Registrable Notes, to
effect such changes to such indenture as may be required for such indenture
to be so qualified in accordance with the
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terms of the TIA; and execute, and use their best efforts to cause such
trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such
changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the
SEC to enable such indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(q) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
make generally available to its securityholders earnings statements
satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule
158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act)
no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days
after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Notes are
sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten
offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering,
commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company
after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements
shall cover said 12-month periods.
(r) Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,
obtain an opinion of counsel to the Registrants, in a form customary for
underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes, addressed
to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Notes
participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case
may be, and which includes an opinion that (i) the Registrants have duly
authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange
Notes and the related indenture and (ii) each of the Exchange Notes or the
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and related indenture
constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Registrants,
enforceable against the Registrants in accordance with its respective terms
(with customary exceptions).
(s) If an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Registrants (or to
such other Person as directed by the Registrants) in exchange for the
Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the
Registrants shall ▇▇▇▇, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Notes
that such Registrable Notes are being cancelled in exchange for the
Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; and, in
no event shall such Registrable Notes be marked as paid or otherwise
satisfied.
(t) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any
Registration Statement and the managing underwriter(s), if any,
participating in the disposition of such Registrable Notes and their
respective counsel in
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connection with any filings required to be made with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(u) Use their best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect
the registration of the Registrable Notes covered by a Registration
Statement contemplated hereby.
The Registrants may require each seller of Registrable Notes or
Participating Broker-Dealer as to which any registration is being effected to
furnish to the Registrants such information regarding such seller or
Participating Broker-Dealer and the distribution of such Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may
be, as the Registrants may, from time to time, reasonably request. The
Registrants may exclude from such registration the Registrable Notes of any
seller or Participating Broker-Dealer who unreasonably fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer
agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Registrants of the happening of any event of the kind described
in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi), such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered by such Registration
Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such Holder's receipt of
the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section
5(k), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Registrants that
the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of
any amendments or supplements thereto. In the event the Registrants shall give
any such notice, the Applicable Period shall be extended by the number of days
during such period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to
and including the date when each seller of Exchange Notes to be sold by such
Participating Broker-Dealer, shall have received (x) the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) or (y) the
Advice.
6. Registration Expenses
---------------------
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Registrants shall be borne by the Registrants whether
or not the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective,
including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including,
without
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limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with the NASD
in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses of
compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with Blue
Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes and determination
of the eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the Holders of Registrable Notes
are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section
5(h), in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by a
Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing
expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The
Depository Trust Company and of printing Prospectuses if the printing of
Prospectuses is reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or, in respect of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to
be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
included in any Registration Statement or of such Exchange Notes, as the case
may be), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Registrants and fees and disbursements of
special counsel for the sellers of Registrable Notes (subject to the provisions
of Section 6(b)), (v) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public
accountants referred to in Section 5(n)(iii) (including, without limitation, the
expenses of any special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to such performance), (vi) rating agency fees, (vii) Securities Act liability
insurance, if the Registrants desire such insurance, (viii) fees and expenses of
the Trustee, (ix) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the
Registrants, (x) internal expenses of the Registrants (including, without
limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the
Registrants performing legal or accounting duties), (xi) the expense of any
annual audit, (xii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any
listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange if the
Registrants elect to list any such securities and (xiii) the expenses relating
to printing, word processing and distributing all Registration Statements,
underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, indentures and any other
documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement.
(b) In connection with any Shelf Registration hereunder, the
Registrants shall reimburse the Holders of the Registrable Notes being
registered in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements, of
not more than one counsel (in addition to appropriate local counsel) chosen by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
to be included in such Registration Statement and other reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses of the Holders of Registrable Notes incurred in connection with the
registration of the Registrable Notes. The Registrants shall not have any
obligation to pay any underwriting fees, discounts or commissions attributable
to the sale of Registrable Securities.
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7. Indemnification
---------------
(a) Each of the Registrants, jointly and severally, agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes and each
Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period,
the officers and directors of each such person, and each person, if any, who
controls any such person within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a "Participant"), from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including,
without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred in
connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted) caused by,
arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (as
amended or supplemented if the Registrants shall have furnished any amendments
or supplements thereto) or any preliminary Prospectus, or caused by, arising out
of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Participant or
underwriter furnished to the Registrants in writing by such Participant or
underwriter expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Participant will be required to agree, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Registrants, their directors and
officers and each person who controls any such person within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Registrants to each Participant, but
only with reference to information relating to such Participant furnished to the
Registrants in writing by such Participant expressly for use in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary
Prospectus. The liability of any Participant under this paragraph (b) shall in
no event exceed the proceeds received by such Participant from sales of
Registrable Notes giving rise to such obligations.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7, such person (the "Indemnified Person")
shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"Indemnifying Person") in writing, and the Indemnifying Person, upon request of
the Indemnified Person, shall retain one counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any
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others the Indemnifying Person may reasonably designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses incurred by such counsel related to
such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the
right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall
be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person
and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the
contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to
retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the
named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representations of
both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the
Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more
than one separate law firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all
Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Participants and such control
persons of Participants shall be designated in writing by Participants who sold
a majority in interest of Registrable Notes sold by all such Participants and
any such separate firm for the Registrants, their directors and officers and
such control persons of the Registrants shall be designated in writing by the
Registrants. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of
any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying
Person agrees to indemnify any Indemnified Person from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested an
Indemnifying Person to reimburse the Indemnified Person for reasonable fees and
expenses incurred by counsel as contemplated by the third sentence of this
paragraph, the Indemnifying Person agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such Indemnifying
Person of the aforesaid request and (ii) such Indemnifying Person shall not have
reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the
date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could
have been a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of
such Indemnified Person from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
of such proceeding.
If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 7 is unavailable to an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying
Person under such paragraphs,
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in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of the Registrants on the one hand and the
Participants on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Registrants on the
one hand and the Participants on the other shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Registrants or by the Participants and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The parties shall agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation
--------
(even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims,
damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable
legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Person in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall a
Participant be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes exceeds the amount of any damages that such Participant has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7
will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons may
otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.
8. Rules 144 and 144A
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The Registrants covenant that they will file the reports required to
be filed by them under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner and, if at any time
the Registrants are not required to file such reports, they will, upon the
request of any Holder of Registrable Notes, make publicly
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available other information of a like nature until no longer necessary to permit
sales pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A. The Registrants further covenant that
so long as any Registrable Notes remain outstanding to make available to any
Holder of Registrable Notes in connection with any sale thereof, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales
of such Registrable Notes pursuant to (a) such Rule 144A, or (b) any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC, unless at such time the
Registrable Notes are fully saleable under Rule 144 or any successor provision.
9. Underwritten Registrations
--------------------------
If any of the Registrable Notes 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 manage the offering will be selected
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable
Notes included in such offering and shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Registrants.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous
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(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Registrants of any of
--------
their obligations under this Agreement, other than the occurrence of an event
which requires payment of Additional Interest, each Holder of Registrable Notes,
in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein, in the
Indenture or, in the case of the Initial Purchasers, in the Purchase Agreement
or granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific
performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Registrants agree that
monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by
reason of a breach by them of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby
further agree that, in the event of any action for specific performance in
respect of such breach, they shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would
be adequate.
(b) Enforcement. The Trustee shall be authorized to enforce the
-----------
provisions of this Agreement for the ratable benefit of the Holders.
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(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Registrants do not have, as of the
--------------------------
date hereof, and the Registrants shall not, after the date of this Agreement,
enter into any agreement with respect to any of their securities that is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this
Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Registrants
have not entered and will not enter into any agreement with respect to any of
their securities which will grant to any Person piggy-back rights with respect
to a Registration Statement.
(d) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. The Registrants shall
---------------------------------------
not, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable
Notes as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of
Registrable Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration undertaken
pursuant to this Agreement.
(e) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
----------------------
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the Registrants have obtained the written consent of
Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal
amount of Registrable Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates
exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Notes whose securities are
being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or
indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of
Registrable Notes may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold by such Holders pursuant to
such Registration Statement, provided that the provisions of this sentence may
--------
not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the
provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Notices. All notices and other communications (including without
-------
limitation any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-
class mail, next-day air courier or telecopier:
(i) if to a Holder of Registrable Notes, at the most current address
given by the Trustee to the Registrants; and
(ii) if to the Registrants, c/o Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Chief Financial Officer,
with a copy to Petro Holdings GP Corp., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: President, and to Akin, Gump, Strauss,
▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇, L.L.P., ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇., Esq.
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All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (ii) five business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (iii) one
business day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and (iv)
when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if telecopied.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee under the
indenture at the address specified in such Indenture.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
----------------------
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders of Registrable Notes.
(h) 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.
(i) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
-------------
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS
MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(k) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
------------
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction.
(l) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase
----------------
Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final expression of
their agreement, and is intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the
agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject
matter contained herein and therein.
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(m) Notes Held by the Registrants or their Affiliates. Whenever the
-------------------------------------------------
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is
required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Registrants or their
affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall
not be deemed outstanding for such purpose and shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Zine
--------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Zine
Title: Exec ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.Zine
--------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Zine
Title: VP
CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
--------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
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