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EXHIBIT 4.4
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 12, 1996
by and among
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company of Oklahoma, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technology, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company International Limited Nevada
Choctaw International Rig Corporation
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company Ltd. (Nevada)
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company of Alaska Limited
▇▇▇▇▇ Systems Engineering Inc.
DGH Engineering, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Driling USA Ltd.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company of New Guinea, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company North America, Inc.
and the other Subsidiary Guarantors as defined in the Indenture referred to
herein
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc.
ING Baring (U.S.) Securities Inc.
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of November 12, 1996 by and among ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Drilling Company of Oklahoma, Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technology, Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling
Company International Limited Nevada, Choctaw International Rig Corporation,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company Ltd. (Nevada), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company of Alaska
Limited, ▇▇▇▇▇ Systems Engineering Inc., DGH Engineering, Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Driling
USA Ltd. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company of New Guinea, Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling
Company North America, Inc. and each of the Company's other subsidiaries that
are "Subsidiary Guarantors" under the Indenture (as defined below)
(collectively, the "Subsidiary Guarantors") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc. and
ING Baring (U.S.) Securities Inc. (each, a "Purchaser" and, collectively, the
"Purchasers"), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company's 9 3/4% Senior
Notes due 2006 (the "Original Notes") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as
defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
dated November 5, 1996 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company,
the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Purchasers. In order to induce the
Purchasers to purchase the Original Notes, the Company has agreed to provide
the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Purchasers
set forth in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms
shall have the following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the
Exchange Act.
Certificated Securities: The registered certificated form of
the Global Note.
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Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: A Registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed
"Consummated" for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the
filing and effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement relating to the New Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii)
the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the
keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum
period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (iii) the delivery by the
Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of New Notes in the same aggregate
principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Original Notes that were
tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Damages Payment Date: With respect to the Original Notes,
each Interest Payment Date.
Effectiveness Target Date: As defined in Section 5.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Act
of the New Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the
Company offers the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to
exchange the Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for New Notes
in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the
Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Purchasers
propose to sell the Original Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, and to certain
institutional "accredited investors," as such term is defined in Rule
501(a)(1), (2), (3) and (7) of Regulation D under the Act ("Accredited
Institutions").
Global Note: One or more fully registered global notes,
collectively representing the Original Notes as initially issued.
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Global Note Holder: The nominee of the Depository in whose
name the Global Note is registered.
Holders: As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of November 12, 1996,
among the Company, Texas Commerce Bank National Association, as trustee (the
"Trustee") and the Subsidiary Guarantors, pursuant to which the Notes are to be
issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the
Notes.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
New Notes: The Company's 9 3/4% Senior Notes due 2006, Series
B to be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the Exchange Offer.
Notes: The Original Notes and the New Notes.
Person: An individual, partnership, limited liability
company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or
agency or political subdivision thereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all
other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material
incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.
Purchaser: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date
relating to the Notes, each Person who is a Holder of Notes on the record date
with respect to the Interest Payment Date on which such Damages Payment Date
shall occur.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
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Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the
Company relating to (i) an offering of New Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer
or (ii) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions
of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included therein, all
amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and
all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
Shelf Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Note until the earliest
to occur of (i) the date on which such Note has been exchanged by a person
other than a broker-dealer for a New Note in the Exchange Offer, (ii) following
the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Note for a New Note,
the date on which such New 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 Note has been effectively registered under the Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such
Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A
registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
SECTION 2. SECURITIES SUBJECT TO THIS AGREEMENT
(a) Transfer Restricted Securities. The securities
entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted
Securities.
(b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. A Person
is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a "Holder")
whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
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SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Company hereby agrees: (i) to file an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement with the Commission on or prior to 60 days after the
Closing Date, (ii) to use its best efforts to have the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission on or prior to 120
days after the Closing Date, (iii) unless the Exchange Offer would not be
permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, to commence the Exchange
Offer and use its best efforts to issue on or prior to 30 business days after
the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement was declared
effective by the Commission, New Notes in exchange for all Notes tendered prior
thereto in the Exchange Offer and (iv) if obligated to file the Shelf
Registration Statement, to use its best efforts to file the Shelf Registration
Statement with the Commission on or prior to 30 days after such filing
obligation arises (and in any event within 90 days after the Closing Date) and
to cause the Shelf Registration to be declared effective by the Commission on
or prior to 90 days after such obligation arises.
(b) The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange
Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under
applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer;
provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 business
days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable
federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Notes shall be
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company shall use
its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest
practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become
effective, but in no event later than 30 business days thereafter.
(c) The Company shall indicate in a "Plan of
Distribution" section contained in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds Original Notes
that are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own
account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities
(other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company),
may exchange such Original Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such
Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Act in connection with any resales of the New Notes received by such Broker-
Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be
satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section
shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by
Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales
pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not name any such
Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer
except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in
policy after the date of this Agreement.
The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall use their best
efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously
effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section
6(c) below to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales
of Notes acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that it
conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies,
rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a
period of one year from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is declared effective.
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The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest
version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time
during such one-year period in order to facilitate such resales.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not
required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the
Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or
Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have
been complied with) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
shall notify the Company within 20 business days of the Consummation of the
Exchange Offer (A) that such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, or (B) that such
Holder may not resell the New Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales by such Holder, or (C) that such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds
Original Notes acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates,
then the Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed a shelf registration statement
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act, which may be an amendment to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the "Shelf
Registration Statement") on or prior to the earliest to occur of (1)
the 30th day after the date on which the Company determines that it is
not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (2)
the 30th day after the date on which the Company receives notice from
a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities as contemplated by clause
(ii) above, and (3) the 60th day after the Closing Date (such earliest
date being the "Shelf Filing Deadline"), which Shelf Registration
Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted
Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information
required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and
(y) use their best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on
or before the 30th day after the Shelf Filing Deadline.
The Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall use
its best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously
effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections
6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that such Shelf
Registration Statement is available for resales of Notes by the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a),
and to ensure that such Shelf Registration Statement conforms with the
requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations
of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least
three years following the Closing Date.
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(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in
Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in
any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until
such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 business days after
receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably
request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to Liquidated Damages pursuant to
Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have used its best efforts
to provide all such reasonably requested information. Each Holder as to which
any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly
to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the
information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially
misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
(a) If (i) the Company fails to file any of the Registration
Statements required by this Agreement on or before the date specified for such
filing, (ii) any of such Registration Statements is not declared effective by
the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness (the
"Effectiveness Target Date"), (iii) the Company fails to consummate the
Exchange Offer within 30 Business days of the Effectiveness Target Date with
respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or (iv) the Shelf
Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared
effective but thereafter ceases to be effective or usable in connection with
the Exchange Offer or resales of Transfer Restricted Securities, as the case
may be, during the periods specified in the Registration Rights Agreement (each
such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above, a "Registration
Default"), then the interest rate on the Transfer Restricted Securities, with
respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such
Registration Default shall increase ("Liquidated Damages") by 0.50% per annum
and will increase by an additional 0.50% per annum with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum amount of Liquidated Damages of 2% per annum with respect to all
Registration Defaults. All accrued Liquidated Damages shall be paid by the
Company on each Damages Payment Date to the Global Note Holder by wire transfer
of immediately available funds and to Holders of Certificated Securities by
wire transfer to the accounts specified by them or by mailing checks to their
registered addresses if no such accounts have been specified. Following the
cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of Liquidated Damages shall
cease.
(b) All obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors set forth in Section 5(a) above that are outstanding with respect to
any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a
Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such
obligations with respect to such Transfer Restricted Security shall have been
satisfied in full.
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SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection
with the Exchange Offer, the Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors
shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use its
best efforts to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof, and shall comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the
Company there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is
permitted by applicable law, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors
hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision
from the Commission allowing the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors
to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Original Notes. The Company
and the Subsidiary Guarantors each hereby agrees to pursue the
issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall
not be required to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a
change of Commission policy. The Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors each hereby agrees, however, to (A) participate in
telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver 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 such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C)
diligently pursue a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the
Commission staff of such submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company,
prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the
Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal
contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the
effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not
engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement
or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of
the New Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is
acquiring the New Notes in its ordinary course of business. In
addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall
otherwise cooperate in the Company's preparations for the Exchange
Offer. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any
Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to
participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the
Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on
the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission
enunciated in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991)
and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as
interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated
July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act
in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a
secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective
registration statement containing the selling security holder
information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation
S-K if the resales are of New Notes obtained by such Holder in
exchange for Original Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the
Company.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors
shall provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that
the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are registering the Exchange
Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission
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enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13,
1988), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and, if
applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above
and (B) including a representation that neither the Company nor any of
the Subsidiary Guarantors has entered into any arrangement or
understanding with any Person to distribute the New Notes to be
received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company's
information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange
Offer is acquiring the New Notes in its ordinary course of business
and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate
in the distribution of the New Notes received in the Exchange Offer.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors
shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use its
best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall as
expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the Commission a Registration
Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act,
which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution
thereof.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any
Registration Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit
the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without
limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to
permit resales of Senior Notes by Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:
(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements (including, if required by the Act or any regulation
thereunder, financial statements of the Subsidiary Guarantors) for the
period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable;
upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to
contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective
and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the
period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an
appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of
clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the
case of either clause (A) or (B), use its best efforts to cause such
amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and
the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s)
as soon as practicable thereafter;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments
and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable,
or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;
cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to
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Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with the applicable
provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Act in a timely manner; and
comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition
of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the
applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling
Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such
advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post- effective amendment has been filed, and, with
respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the
Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments
or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information
relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under
the Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the
qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or
sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any
of the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the
happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact
made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein
untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission
shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification
or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities
under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall use their best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) furnish to each of the selling Holders and each of
the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies
of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or
any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after
the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents
will be subject to the review of such Holders and underwriter(s), if
any, for a period of at least five business days, and the Company will
not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to
which a selling Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall
reasonably object within five business days after the receipt thereof.
A selling Holder or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to have
reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration Statement,
amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be
filed, contains a material misstatement or omission;
(v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is
to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or
Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the selling Holders and
to the underwriter(s), if any, make the Company's representatives
available (and representatives of the Subsidiary Guarantors) for
discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters,
and include such information in such document prior to the filing
thereof as such selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, reasonably
may request;
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(vi) make available at reasonable times for inspection by
the selling Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney or
accountant retained by such selling Holders or any of the
underwriter(s), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors
and cause the Company's and the Subsidiary Guarantors' officers,
directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested
by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection
with such Registration Statement subsequent to the filing thereof and
prior to its effectiveness;
(vii) if requested by any selling Holders or the
underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective
amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and
underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included
therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the
"Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities,
information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase
price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the
Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make
all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the
matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-
effective amendment;
(viii) cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
the Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating
agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Notes covered thereby or the underwriter(s), if
any;
(ix) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the
Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of
each amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by
reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated
therein by reference);
(x) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment
or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the
Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby consent to the use of the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection
with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(xi) enter into, and cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to
enter into, such agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and
make, and cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to make, such
representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any
Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such
extent as may be requested by any Purchaser or by any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter in connection with any
sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by
this Agreement; and whether or not an underwriting agreement is
entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten
Registration, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall:
(A) furnish to each Purchaser, each selling
Holder and each underwriter, if any, in such substance and
scope as they may request and as are customarily made by
issuers to
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underwriters in primary underwritten offerings, upon the date
of the Consummation of the Exchange Offer and, if applicable,
the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be, signed by (y) the President or any
Vice President and (z) a principal financial or
accounting officer of each of the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors, confirming, as of the date
thereof, the matters set forth in paragraphs (a),
(b), (c) and (d) of Section 9(f) of the Purchase
Agreement and such other matters as such parties may
reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as
the case may be, of counsel for the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors, covering the matters set forth
in Section 9(h) of the Purchase Agreement and such
other matter as such parties may reasonably request,
and in any event including a statement to the effect
that such counsel has participated in conferences
with officers and other representatives of the
Company, representatives of the independent public
accountants for the Company, the Purchasers'
representatives and the Purchasers' counsel in
connection with the preparation of such Registration
Statement and the related Prospectus and have
considered the matters required to be stated therein
and the statements contained therein, although such
counsel has not independently verified the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of such statements; and that
such counsel advises that, on the basis of the
foregoing (relying as to materiality to a large
extent upon facts provided to such counsel by
officers and other representatives of the Company and
without independent check or verification), no facts
came to such counsel's attention that caused such
counsel to believe that the applicable Registration
Statement, at the time such Registration Statement or
any post- effective amendment thereto became
effective, and, in the case of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as of the date of
Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, or that the
Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement
as of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated
the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of
the date of Consummation, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. Without
limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state
further that such counsel assumes no responsibility
for, and has not independently verified, the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial
statements, notes and schedules and other financial
data included in any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement or the related
Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated as
of the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or
the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, from the Company's
independent accountants, in the customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in
comfort letters by underwriters in connection with
primary underwritten offerings, and affirming the
matters
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set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant
to Sections 9(j) and 9(k) of the Purchase Agreement,
without exception;
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference
in the underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification
provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to
all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates
as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence
compliance with clause (A) above and with any customary
conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to this clause
(xi), if any.
If at any time the representations and warranties of the
Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors contemplated in clause (A)(1)
above cease to be true and correct, the Company or the Subsidiary
Guarantors shall so advise the Purchasers and the underwriter(s), if
any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such
Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with, and cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to
cooperate with, the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and
their respective counsel in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling
Holders or underwriter(s) may request and do any and all other acts or
things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither the
Company nor the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be required to register or
qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or
to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in
suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions
relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it
is not now so subject;
(xiii) shall issue, upon the request of any Holder of
Original Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, New Notes,
having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of Original Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder in
exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such New Notes to be
registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the
purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the case may be; in return, the
Original Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company
for cancellation;
(xiv) cooperate with, and cause the Subsidiary Guarantors
to cooperate with, the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any,
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing
any restrictive legends; and enable such Transfer Restricted
Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as
the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two
business days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made
by such underwriter(s);
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(xv) use its best efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted
Securities 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 sellers thereof or the
underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause
(viii) above;
(xvi) if any fact or event contemplated by clause
(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement
or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related
Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file
any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(xvii) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration
Statement and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed
certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities that are in a form
eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xviii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be
made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence
investigation by any underwriter (including any "qualified independent
underwriter") that is required to be retained in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the NASD, and use its reasonable best efforts
to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and approved
by such governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to
enable the Holders selling Transfer Restricted Securities to
consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xix) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a
consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158
(which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing
at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted
Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm or best efforts
Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an
offering, beginning with the first month of the Company's first fiscal
quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration
Statement;
(xx) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement
required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate,
and cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to cooperate, with the Trustee and
the Holders of Senior Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as
may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance
with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and cause the Subsidiary
Guarantors to execute, and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee
to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes
and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the
Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely
manner;
(xxi) cause all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
the Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on
which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed if
requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of Original Notes or the managing underwriter(s), if any; and
(xxii) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each
document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of
Section 13 and Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
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Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted
Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the existence of
any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi)
hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that
the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus. If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the
Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies
then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer
Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice.
In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding
the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4
hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the
period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to
Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder
covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof or
shall have received the Advice.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's or the
Subsidiary Guarantors' performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be
borne by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, regardless of whether a
Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all
registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by any
Purchaser or Holder with the NASD (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of
any "qualified independent underwriter" and its counsel that may be required by
the rules and regulations of the NASD)); (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 New Notes to
be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and
delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and, subject to Section 7(b) below, the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing fees
in connection with listing Senior Notes 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 and the Subsidiary Guarantors (including the expenses of any special
audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
The Company shall, in any event, bear its and the Subsidiary
Guarantor's internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties),
the
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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 (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company shall
reimburse the Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
being tendered in the Exchange Offer and/or resold pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or such other counsel as may 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.
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SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor, jointly
and severally, agree: (i) to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Initial
Purchasers and each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) either of the Initial
Purchasers (any of such persons being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling
person") and the respective officers, directors, partners, employees,
representatives and agents of either of the Initial Purchasers or any
controlling person (any person referred to above being sometimes referred to as
an "Indemnified Party"), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, actions and judgments directly or
indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection
with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (and any amendment or
supplement thereto) or 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; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
Guarantor will be liable in any such case to the extent, but only to the
extent, that any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or judgment is
based upon an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors by or on
behalf of the Holders specifically for use therein; and (ii) to reimburse any
Indemnified Party for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such
person in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending
against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or judgment or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental or regulatory agency or body,
commenced or threatened, as such expenses are incurred. The Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution,
threat or assertion of any claim, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation or proceeding) or action of which the Company or the
Subsidiary Guarantors are aware in connection with the matters addressed by
this Agreement that involves the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any
Indemnified Party.
In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental
or regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against
any of the Indemnified Parties with respect to which indemnity may be sought
against the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, such Indemnified Party shall
promptly notify the Company in writing (provided that the failure to give such
notice shall not relieve the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors of their
obligations pursuant to this Agreement) and the Company or the Subsidiary
Guarantors, as the case may be, shall assume the defense thereof, including the
employment of counsel satisfactory to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified
Parties and payment of all fees and expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties shall have the right to employ
its or their own counsel in any such action, but the fees and expenses of such
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counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Indemnified
Parties unless (i) the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors agrees to
pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the Company or any of the Subsidiary
Guarantors shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party to take charge of the defense of such action promptly after
notice of commencement of the action, or (iii) such Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses
available to it or them that are different from or additional to those
available to the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors (in which case the
Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors shall not have the right to direct the
defense of such action on behalf of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified
Parties); provided, however, that unless there exists a conflict among
Indemnified Parties hereunder, the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors shall
only be liable for the legal fees and expenses of one firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Parties and that all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed by the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors as they are incurred (regardless of whether it is ultimately
determined that such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties are not entitled
to indemnification hereunder). The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall
be liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected with the
Company's prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, and such persons agree to indemnify and hold harmless each of the
Indemnified Parties from and against any loss, claim, damage, expense or
liability by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the consent
of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an
Indemnified Party has requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
Indemnified Party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the
second sentence of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 10 business days after
receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if at any
time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, an
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of the nature
contemplated by clause (ii) of the first paragraph of this Section 8(a)
effected without its consent if such indemnifying party, prior to the date of
settlement, (i) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such
request to the extent such indemnifying party considers such request to be
reasonable and (ii) provides written notice in reasonable detail to the
indemnified party of the reasons such indemnifying party considers the unpaid
balance unreasonable. Such indemnifying party shall be liable for all costs
and expenses of the indemnifying party in seeking to recover such unpaid
balance if a court of competent jurisdiction (or an arbitrator, if such matter
is submitted to arbitration) finds such balance to be reasonable.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent
of the Indemnified Party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of
judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action,
claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnity could have been
sought hereunder (whether or not any
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Indemnified Party is a party thereto), unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding.
(b) The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities jointly
agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and
each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor and
the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and
agents of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any such controlling
person, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company provided
in Section 8(a) above, the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Indemnified Parties but
only with respect to claims and actions based on information relating to the
Indemnified Parties furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Indemnified
Party specifically for use in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (and any
amendment or supplement thereto) (as set forth in Section 8(e) hereof).
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 8(a) or (b) (other than by reason of exceptions provided in Section
8(a) or (b) above) in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
actions or judgments referred to herein, then each indemnifying party, in lieu
of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, actions and judgments (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their
sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided
by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified
party failed to give the notice required under Section 8(a) above, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, the
Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, in
connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, actions or judgments, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the
other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, or the Holders, on
the other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
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The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and each Holder of a
Transfer Restricted Security agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages, liabilities, actions or judgments referred to in
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating, preparing to defend or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(c), none of the Holders shall
be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total discounts and commissions received by it with respect to the
Original Notes exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
(d) In any proceeding relating to any Registration
Statement or Prospectus (or any supplement or amendment thereto), each party
against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 8 hereby consents to
the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any other contributing
party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be served upon him or it
by any other contributing party and consents to the service of such process and
agrees that any other contributing party may join him or it as an additional
defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing party is a
party.
(e) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained
in this Section 8 are in addition to any liability that the indemnifying
persons may otherwise have to the indemnified persons referred to above.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A
The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any
Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, to make available to any
Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with
any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
SECTION 10. PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration
hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer
Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements
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and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other
documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
SECTION 11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer
Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten
Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in
such offering; provided, that such investment bankers and managers must be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and each of the Subsidiary
Guarantors agree that monetary damages (including the liquidated damages
contemplated hereby) would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred
by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby
agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy
at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company shall not,
and shall cause the Subsidiary Guarantor not to, 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. [Neither the Company nor the
Subsidiary Guarantors has previously entered into any agreement granting any
registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person.] 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) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company shall
not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Notes
that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to
Consummate any Exchange Offer.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this
Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company
has obtained the written consent of Holders of a
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majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the
provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose
securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not
affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are
not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders
of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities being tendered or registered.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,
first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex,
telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on
the records of the Registrar (as defined in the
Indenture) under the Indenture, with a copy to the
Registrar under the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company, to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Drilling Company
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇;
with a copy to:
T. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and
on the next business day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at
the address specified in the Indenture.
(f) 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 Transfer Restricted Securities;
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provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be
binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such
successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder.
(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 THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of
the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any
circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality
and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired
thereby.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with the
other Operative Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) is intended by
the parties as a final expression of their agreement and 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. There are no
restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth
or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the
Company with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.
[signature page follows]
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25
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
THE COMPANY:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DRILLING COMPANY
By:
Name:
Title:
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DRILLING COMPANY OF
OKLAHOMA, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ TECHNOLOGY, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DRILLING COMPANY
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED NEVADA
By:
Name:
Title:
25
26
CHOCTAW INTERNATIONAL RIG
CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DRILLING COMPANY LTD.
(NEVADA)
By:
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DRILLING COMPANY OF
ALASKA LIMITED
By:
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇ SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
DGH ENGINEERING, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DRILING USA LTD.
By:
Name:
Title:
26
27
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DRILLING COMPANY OF
NEW GUINEA, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DRILLING COMPANY NORTH
AMERICA, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DRILLING COMPANY
By:
Name:
Title:
27
28
ACQUIRED GUARANTORS:
QUAIL TOOLS, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
MALLARD BAY DRILLING, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
BAY DRILLING CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
EV OFFSHORE, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
AWI DRILLING AND WORKOVER,
INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
DELTA ____________, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
28
29
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
29