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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated June 10, 1998
between
▇▇▇▇▇▇ WIRELINE COMPANY
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
NATIONSBANC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into June 10, 1998, between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ WIRELINE COMPANY, an Oklahoma
corporation (the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED AND
NATIONSBANC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC (the "Placement Agents").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Placement Agreement dated the
date hereof, between the Company and the Placement Agents (the "Placement
Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Placement Agents
of an aggregate of $350,000,000 principal amount of the Company's 12 1/4% Senior
Notes due 2008 (the "Securities"). In order to induce the Placement Agents to
enter into the Placement Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the
Placement Agents and their direct and indirect transferees the registration
rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a
condition to the closing under the Placement Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms
shall have the following meanings:
"1933 ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time.
"1934 ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.
"CLOSING DATE" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Placement
Agreement.
"COMPANY" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement and shall also include the Company's successors.
"EXCHANGE OFFER" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of
Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof.
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"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration under the 1933
Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another
appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all
exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"EXCHANGE SECURITIES" shall mean securities issued by the Company
under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except
that the Exchange Securities will not contain restrictions on transfer) and
to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant
to the Exchange Offer.
"HOLDER" shall mean the Placement Agents, for so long as they own any
Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct
and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable
Securities under the Indenture; PROVIDED that for purposes of Sections 4
and 5 of this Agreement, the term "Holder" shall include Participating
Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).
"INDENTURE" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities to be
dated as of June 12, 1998 between the Company and United States Trust
Company of New York, as the same may be amended from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
"MAJORITY HOLDERS" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; PROVIDED
that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage
of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities
held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in
Rule 405 under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) (other than the Placement Agents or subsequent
Holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to
be such affiliates solely by reason of their holding of such Registrable
Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or
approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount.
"PERSON" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
subdivision thereof.
"PLACEMENT AGENTS" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement.
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"PLACEMENT AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
to this Agreement.
"PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a
prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus,
and in each case including all material incorporated by reference therein.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean the Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a
Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been
declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been
disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such
Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any
similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or
(iii) when such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
"REGISTRATION EXPENSES" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or
blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for
any underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of
any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all
expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word
processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting
agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the
performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency
fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the
Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements
of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the
fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall
be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel
for the Placement Agents) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the
independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of
any special audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to
such performance and compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel
to the underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii)
above) or the Holders
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and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments
and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SHELF REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 2(b) hereof.
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this
Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities (but no other
securities unless approved by the Holders whose Registrable Securities are
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under
Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the
SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.
"TRUSTEE" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under
the Indenture.
"UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION" or "UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING" shall mean a
registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter (as
hereinafter defined) for reoffering to the public.
2. REGISTRATION UNDER THE 1933 ACT.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its best efforts
to cause to be filed, no later than 90 days after the Closing Date, an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to
exchange all of the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and to have
such Registration Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange
Offer. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and
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use its best efforts to have the Exchange Offer consummated not later than 60
days after such effective date. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer
by mailing the related exchange offer Prospectus and accompanying documents to
each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by
applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this
Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly
tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of
at least 20 business days from the date such notice is mailed) (the
"Exchange Dates");
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain
outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights
under this Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged
pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such
Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of transmittal, to
the institution and at the address specified in the notice prior to the
close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, not
later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to
the institution and at the address specified in the notice a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such
Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for
exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to
have such Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company
shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof
validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer;
and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for
exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly
authenticate and mail to each Holder, an Exchange Security equal in
principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities
surrendered by such Holder.
The Company shall use its best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as
provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act and other
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applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The
Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the
Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any applicable
interpretation of the Staff of the SEC. The Company shall inform the
Placement Agents of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the
Exchange Offer is made, and the Placement Agents shall have the right,
subject to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate
the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company determines that the Exchange
Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may
not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because
it would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the Staff
of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated by
December 12, 1998 or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed and in the
opinion of counsel for the Placement Agents a Registration Statement must be
filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Placement Agents in connection
with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its
best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such
determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the
Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the
sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities and to have such Shelf
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. In the event the Company
is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the
matters referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall
file and use its best efforts have declared effective by the SEC both an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to
all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a
combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement)
with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Placement
Agents after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees to use its
best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective
until the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) with respect to
all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement or such
shorter period that will terminate when all of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement. The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the
Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such
Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any other rules and
regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a
Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its best
efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf
Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The
Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any
such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the
SEC.
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(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection
with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b). Each Holder
shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will
not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by
the SEC; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement
will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such
interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume. As provided for in the Indenture, in
the event that the Exchange Offer is not consummated and the Shelf Registration
Statement is not declared effective on or prior to December 12, 1998, interest
on the Securities (in addition to the accrual of interest otherwise due on the
Securities) will accrue from December 12, 1998, at a rate of 0.5% per annum, and
be payable in cash semi-annually, commencing December 15, 1998, until the
Exchange Offer is consummated or a Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective by the SEC.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Placement Agents
and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to
comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Placement Agents or the Holders for
which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Placement Agents or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Section 2(a)
and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the
Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the
Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the
appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by
the Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be
available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders
thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements
required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and use its best efforts
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to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain
effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and cause each
Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as
so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to
keep each Prospectus current during the period described under Section 4(3)
and Rule 174 under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by
brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange
Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Placement Agents, to counsel for
the Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of
Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or Underwriter
may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other
disposition of the Registrable Securities; and the Company consents to the
use of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in
accordance with applicable law by each of the selling Holders of
Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the
offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the
manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
in accordance with applicable law;
(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable
Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such
jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the
applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to
cooperate with such Holders in connection with any filings required to be
made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any
and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or
advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such
jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would
not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file
any general consent to service of process or (iii) subject itself to
taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of
Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the
Placement Agents promptly and,
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if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing
(i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any
post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii)
of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments
and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for
additional information after the Registration Statement has become
effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if,
between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of
any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations
and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement,
securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to
the offering cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if
the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of
the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of
the happening of any event during the period a Shelf Registration Statement
is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration Statement
or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires
the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in
order to make the statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any
determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the
earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the
withdrawal of any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without
documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless
requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and
not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities
to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the
Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders may
reasonably request at least one business day prior to the closing of any
sale of Registrable Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any
event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) or (vi) hereof, use its best efforts
to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment
to a Registration Statement or
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the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference
or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to
the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company
agrees to notify the Holders to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly
as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and the Holders
hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus upon receipt of such notice
until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct
such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or
amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus
after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such
document to the Placement Agents and their counsel (and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make such
of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by
the Placement Agents or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) available for
discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make any
amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendment of
or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or any document
which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a
Prospectus, of which the Placement Agents and their counsel (and, in the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel)
shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the
Placement Agents or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a
Registration Statement;
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), in connection with the registration of the
Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be,
cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the
Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in
accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute, and use its best efforts
to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect
such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with
the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
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(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for
inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable
Securities, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated
by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all
financial and other records, pertinent documents and properties of the
Company, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the
Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a
Shelf Registration Statement;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to
cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or
any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the
Company are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent
such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(o) use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Securities to be rated
or continue to be rated by two nationally recognized statistical rating
organizations (as such term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933
Act), if the Registrable Securities have been rated;
(p) in case of a Shelf Registration, if reasonably requested by any
Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, (i)
promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably
requests to be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such
Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the
Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
filing; and
(q) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary
agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith
(including those requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an
Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible,
make such representations and warranties to the Holders and, in the event
of an Underwritten Offering, any Underwriters of such Registrable
Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents
incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in
each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers
to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when
requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel
and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Holders and such
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Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder
and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily
covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain
"cold comfort" letters from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of
any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company
for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be
included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder
and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary
form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort"
letters in connection with underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such
documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold
or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten
offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and
warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause (i) above and to
evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an
underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require
each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such
Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request
in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event
of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) or (vi) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if
so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at its
expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in
such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities
current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give any
such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which the
Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement
by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have
received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume
such dispositions. There may not be more than 90 days during any consecutive
365 day period in which such suspensions are in effect.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an
Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker
or investment bankers and manager or
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managers (the "Underwriters") that will administer the offering will be
selected by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities included in
such offering.
4. PARTICIPATION OF BROKER-DEALERS IN EXCHANGE OFFER.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer"), may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange
Securities.
The Company understands that it is the Staff's position that if the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a
plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by
which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without
naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange
Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating
Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the 1933
Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so
long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the 1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of
this Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this Agreement as they
relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange Offer
Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto as
may be, reasonably requested by the Placement Agents or by one or more
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by
Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited
in Section 4(a) above; PROVIDED that:
(i) the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as would
otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period exceeding 180 days
after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to
the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and Participating
Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company to deliver and shall
not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with the
resales contemplated by this Section 4; and
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in
Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, to the
extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or the 1933
Act and the rules and regulations
14
thereunder, will be in conformity with the reasonable request to the
Company by the Placement Agents or with the reasonable request in writing
to the Company by one or more broker-dealers who certify to the Placement
Agents and the Company in writing that they anticipate that they will be
Participating Broker-Dealers; and PROVIDED FURTHER that, in connection
with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in
Section 3 to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Company shall be
obligated (x) to deal only with one entity representing the Participating
Broker-Dealers, which shall be ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated unless
it elects not to act as such representative, (y) to pay the fees and
expenses of only one counsel representing the Participating Broker-Dealers,
which shall be counsel to the Placement Agents unless such counsel elects
not to so act and (z) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, "cold
comfort" letter with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the
last Exchange Date and with respect to each subsequent amendment or
supplement, if any, effected during the period specified in clause (i)
above.
(c) The Placement Agents shall have no liability to the Company or
any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to Section 4(b)
above.
5. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Placement
Agents, each Holder and each Person, if any, who controls any Placement Agent or
any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20
of the 1934 Act, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, any
Placement Agent or any Holder, from and against all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Placement Agent, any Holder or any such controlling
or affiliated Person in connection with defending or investigating any such
action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto)
pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered
under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference,
or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they
were made not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to the Placement
Agents or any Holder furnished to the Company in writing by the Placement Agents
or any selling Holder expressly for use therein. In connection with any
Underwritten Offering permitted by Section
15
3, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers,
dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the
distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such
Persons (within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) to the same
extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders,
if requested in connection with any Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, the Placement Agents and the other selling Holders,
and each of their respective directors, officers who sign the Registration
Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Placement Agent
and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933
Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity
from the Company to the Placement Agents and the Holders, but only with
reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in
writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such Person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Placement Agents and all
Persons, if any, who control any Placement Agent within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, (▇) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for
the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and
each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such
Section and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who
control any Holders within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case
involving the Placement
16
Agents and Persons who control the Placement Agent, such firm shall be
designated in writing by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated. In such case
involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm shall
be designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In all other cases, such
firm shall be designated by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent but, if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for
the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified
party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the
second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees
that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days
after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii)
such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for
such fees and expenses of counsel in accordance with such request prior to
the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which such indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder
by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional
release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the
subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph
(b) of this Section 4 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying
party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party
thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Holders shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Holders
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Holders'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several
in proportion to the respective principal amount of Registrable Securities of
such Holder that were registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by PRO RATA
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the equitable considerations
17
referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities
referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no
Holder shall be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in excess of
the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities were sold
by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall
be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 5
are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may
otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Placement Agents, any Holder or any Person controlling any Placement Agent
or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or
any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange
Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement.
6. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company has not entered into,
and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement
which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable
Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and
are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's
other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(b) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5
hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless
consented to in writing by such Holder.
18
(c) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder
to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the
Placement Agents, the address set forth in the Placement Agreement; and (ii)
if to the Company, initially at the Company's address set forth in the
Placement Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is
given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on
the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(d) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each
of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an
express assignment, subsequent Holders; PROVIDED that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Placement Agreement. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The
Placement Agents (in their capacity as Placement Agents) shall have no liability
or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply
with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder
under this Agreement.
(e) PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES. The Company shall not, and
shall use its best efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under
the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any
Securities.
(f) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the
19
extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights
or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ WIRELINE COMPANY
By
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
NATIONSBANC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
By
--------------------------------
Name:
Title: