NUEVO ENERGY COMPANY
9 3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2010
REGISTRATION AGREEMENT
New York, New York
September 26, 2000
Banc of America Securities LLC
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Inc.
c/o Banc of America Securities LLC
Bank of America Corporate Center
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
Nuevo Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell to certain purchasers (the "Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms
set forth in a purchase agreement dated September 19, 2000 (the "Purchase
Agreement"), its 9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010, Series A (the
"Securities") (the "Initial Placement"). As an inducement to the Initial
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a
condition to your obligations thereunder, the Company agrees with you, (i) for
your benefit and the benefit of the other Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the
benefit of the holders from time to time of the Securities (including you and
the other Initial Purchasers) (each of the foregoing a "Holder" and together the
"Holders"), as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall
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have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in
this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following
meanings:
"Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
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regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Affiliate" of any specified person means any other person which,
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directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such specified person. For purposes of this
definition, control of a person means the power, direct or indirect, to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person
whether by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
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"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
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and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Exchange Offer Registration Period" means the 90 day period following
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the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any period
during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the effectiveness
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" means a registration statement
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of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to the
Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchanging Dealer" means any Holder (which may include the Initial
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Purchasers) which is a broker-dealer, electing to exchange Securities
acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities, for New Securities.
"Final Memorandum" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase
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Agreement.
"Holder" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
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"Indenture" means the Indenture relating to the Securities and the New
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Securities dated as of September 26, 2000, between the Company and State
Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, as the same may be amended from
time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Placement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
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"Majority Holders" means the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
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principal amount of securities registered under a Registration Statement.
"Managing Underwriters" means the investment banker or investment
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bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten
offering.
"New Securities" means debt securities of the Company identical in all
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material respects to the Securities (except that interest rate step-up
provisions and the transfer restrictions will be modified or eliminated, as
appropriate), to be issued under the Indenture.
"Offered Notes" means the 9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010,
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Series A.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration
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Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a
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prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance
upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Securities or the New Securities, covered by such Registration Statement,
and all amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-
effective amendments.
"Registered Exchange Offer" means the proposed offer to the Holders to
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issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Securities, a like
principal amount of the New Securities.
"Registration Statement" means any Exchange Offer Registration
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Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities
or the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,
amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-
effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Securities" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
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"Shelf Registration" means a registration effected pursuant to Section
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3 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b)
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hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means a "shelf" registration statement
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of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which covers
some or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an
appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may
be adopted by the Commission, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until (i) the
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date on which such Security has been exchanged for a freely transferable
New Security in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the date on which such Security
has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iii) the date on which
such Offered Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under
the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act.
"Trustee" means the trustee with respect to the Securities and the New
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Securities under the Indenture.
"underwriter" means any underwriter of Securities in connection with
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an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.
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2. Registered Exchange Offer; Resales of New Securities by Exchanging
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Dealers; Private Exchange.
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(a) The Company shall prepare and, not later than 90 days following
the Closing Date, shall file with the Commission the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer. The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to become effective under the Act as promptly as
practicable after the filing thereof, but in any event on or prior to 150
days after the Closing Date.
(b) Unless the Registered Exchange Offer would not be permitted by a
policy of the Commission, the Company will commence the Registered Exchange
Offer and will use its reasonable best efforts to consummate the Registered
Exchange Offer as promptly as practicable, but in any event on or prior to
180 days after the Closing Date.
(c) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange
Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable
each Holder electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming
that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of
the Act, acquires the New Securities in the ordinary course of such
Holder's business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in
the distribution of the New Securities) to trade such New Securities from
and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the
Act.
(d) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company
shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
30 days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date
notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;
(iii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City
of New York; and
(iv) comply in all respects with all applicable laws.
(e) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange
Offer, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
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(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so
accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to
each Holder of Securities New Securities equal in principal amount to
the Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
(f) The Initial Purchasers and the Company acknowledge that, pursuant
to interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Act, and
in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, each Exchanging Dealer
is required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with a sale of any New
Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities.
Accordingly, the Company shall:
(i) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the
cover of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto
in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a
section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, and in Annex C
hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution section of the
Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in
the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer; and
(ii) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Act during the
Exchange Offer Registration Period for delivery by Exchanging Dealers
in connection with sales of New Securities received pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by Section 4(h) below.
(g) In the event that any Initial Purchaser determines that it is not
eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to
the exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment,
at the request of such Initial Purchaser, the Company shall issue and
deliver to such Initial Purchaser or the party purchasing New Securities
registered under a Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section
3 hereof from such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a
like principal amount of New Securities. The Company shall seek to cause
the CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for such New
Securities as for New Securities issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange
Offer.
3. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or applicable
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interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff, the Company determines upon
advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect the Registered
Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof, or (ii) for any other reason
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective within 150
days after the Closing Date or the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated
within 180 days after the Closing Date, or (iii) if any Initial Purchaser so
requests with respect to Securities (or any New Securities received pursuant to
Section 2(f)) not eligible to be exchanged for New
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Securities in a Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Initial
Purchaser that participates in any Registered Exchange Offer, such Initial
Purchaser does not receive freely tradeable New Securities, or (iv) if any
Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the
Registered Exchange Offer or such Holder does not receive freely tradeable New
Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer other than by reason of such Holder
being an affiliate of the Company (it being understood that, for purposes of
this Section 3, (x) the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a
Prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 and/or 508 of
Regulation S-K under the Act in connection with sales of New Securities acquired
in exchange for such Securities shall result in such New Securities being not
"freely tradeable" but (y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a
Prospectus in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities
being not "freely tradeable"), or (v) any applicable law or interpretations do
not permit any Holder of Securities to participate in the Registered Exchange
Offer, or (vi) the Company so elects, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall as promptly as practicable (but in no event
more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section
3) file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause to be declared effective under the Act as promptly as
practicable after the filing thereof, a Shelf Registration Statement
relating to Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders from time to time
in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and
set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, that with respect
to New Securities received by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for
Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Company
may, if permitted by current interpretations by the Commission's staff,
file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement containing the information required by Regulation S-K Items 507
and/or 508, as applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this
paragraph (a) with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and
governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration
Statement.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two
years after the Closing Date or such shorter period that will terminate
when all the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement (in any such case, such period being called the "Shelf
Registration Period"). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its
reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective
during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would
result in Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered thereby not
being able to offer and sell such Transfer Restricted Securities during
that period, unless (i) such action is required by applicable law, or (ii)
such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business
reasons (not including avoidance of the Company's obligations hereunder),
including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company
promptly thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 4(k) hereof,
if applicable.
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For so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities are outstanding, the Company
will continue to provide to holders of the Securities and to prospective
purchasers of the Securities the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under
the Securities Act.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
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Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall furnish to you, prior to the filing thereof
with the Commission, a copy of any Shelf Registration Statement and any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and each
amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein and
shall use its best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed
with the Commission, such comments as you reasonably may propose.
(b) The Company shall ensure that (i) any Registration Statement and
any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any
amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective,
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any
Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus,
does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) (1) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered thereby,
and, if requested by you or any such Holder, confirm such advice in
writing:
(i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become
effective; and
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
included therein or for additional information.
(2) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered thereby,
and, in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any
Exchanging Dealer which has provided in writing to the Company a
telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if
requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, confirm such
advice in writing:
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(i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(ii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities
included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation
or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(iii) of the happening of any event that requires the making
of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so
that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading
and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case
of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made) not misleading (which advice shall be accompanied by
an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the
requisite changes have been made).
(d) The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal
of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement at
the earliest possible time.
(e) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of securities included
within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at
least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if
the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits (including those
incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver
to each Holder of securities included within the coverage of any Shelf
Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
(including each preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may
reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of
securities in connection with the offering and sale of the securities
covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(g) The Company shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so
requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, any documents incorporated by reference
therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer so requests in writing, all exhibits
(including those incorporated by reference).
(h) The Company shall, if required under applicable securities laws,
during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, promptly deliver to each
Exchanging Dealer, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Exchanging Dealer may
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reasonably request in writing for delivery by such Exchanging Dealer in
connection with a sale of New Securities received by it pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer; and the Company consents to the use of the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any such Exchanging
Dealer, as aforesaid.
(i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of
securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall
register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of securities included
therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification of such securities for offer and sale under the securities or
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such Holders reasonably request
in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable
to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the securities
covered by such Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company
will not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which
would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(j) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any
restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names
as Holders may request prior to sales of securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph
(c)(2)(iii) above, the Company shall promptly prepare a post-effective
amendment to any Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to
the related Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered to purchasers of the securities included therein, the
Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Not later than the effective date of any such Registration
Statement hereunder, the Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the
Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under such
Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed certificates
for such Securities or New Securities, in a form eligible for deposit with
The Depository Trust Company.
(m) The Company shall use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and shall make generally
available to its security holders as soon as practicable after the
effective date of the applicable Registration Statement an earnings
statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
(n) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner.
(o) The Company may require each Holder of securities to be sold
pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the
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Holder and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time
to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Registration Statement.
(p) The Company shall, if requested, promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Shelf Registration
Statement, such information as the Managing Underwriters and Majority
Holders reasonably agree should be included therein and shall make all
required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
as soon as notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements) and
take all other appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the
registration or the disposition of the Securities, and in connection
therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to
contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than
those set forth in Section 7 (or such other provisions and procedures
acceptable to the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any),
with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 7 from
Holders of Securities to the Company.
(r) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of
securities to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating in
any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney,
accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter
all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries; (ii) cause the Company's
officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information
reasonably requested by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney,
accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as
is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however,
that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good
faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be
kept confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney,
accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a
court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available
to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying
obligation of confidentiality; (iii) make such representations and
warranties to the Holders of securities registered thereunder and the
underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made
by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering
matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase
Agreement; (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates
thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to
each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any, covering such matters as
are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and
such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and
underwriters; (v) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from
the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for
which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be,
included in the Registration Statement), addressed
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to each selling Holder of securities registered thereunder and the
underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with primary
underwritten offerings; and (vi) deliver such documents and certificates as
may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing
Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence compliance with Section
4(k) and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting
agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The foregoing
actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section 4(r)
shall be performed at (A) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement
and each post-effective amendment thereto and (B) each closing under any
underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.
(s) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by such Initial
Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such
Initial Purchaser, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries;
(ii) cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all
relevant information reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or any
such attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration
Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided,
however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company,
in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information
shall be kept confidential by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney,
accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a
court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available
to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying
obligation of confidentiality; (iii) make such representations and
warranties to such Initial Purchaser, in form, substance and scope as are
customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten
offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set
forth in the Purchase Agreement; (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the
Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and
substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser and
its counsel), addressed to such Initial Purchaser, covering such matters as
are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and
such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser
or its counsel; (v) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from
the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for
which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be,
included in the Registration Statement), addressed to such Initial
Purchaser, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with primary underwritten
offerings, or if requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel in lieu
of a "cold comfort" letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter under
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters requested by such
Initial Purchaser or its counsel; and (vi) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or
its counsel, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and
with conditions customarily contained in underwriting agreements. The
foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this
Section 4(s) shall be performed at the close of the Registered Exchange
Offer and on the
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effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.
5. Special Interest. The parties hereto agree that the Holders of the
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Securities will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain
the extent of such damages with precision, if (i) a Registration Statement is
not filed with the Commission on or prior to 90 days after the Closing Date,
(ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration
Statement, if applicable, is not declared effective on or prior to 150 days
after the Closing Date, (iii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated
on or prior to 180 days after the Closing Date or (iv) a Registration Statement
is filed and declared effective on or prior to 150 days after the Closing Date
but shall thereafter cease to be effective or usable (at any time that the
Company is obligated to maintain the effectiveness thereof) in connection with
resales of Securities or New Securities without being succeeded immediately by a
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure
and that is itself declared effective on or prior to the date specified for such
effectiveness in this Agreement (each such event referred to in clauses (i)
through (iv), a "Registration Default"), Special Interest will accrue on the
Securities and the New Securities (in addition to the stated interest on the
Securities and the New Securities) from and including the date on which the
first such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which
all Registration Defaults have been cured. Special Interest will accrue at a
rate of 0.5% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the
occurrence of the first such Registration Default and shall increase by 0.25%
per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period, but in no event shall
such rate exceed 1.00% per annum. All accrued Special Interest shall be paid to
Holders in the same manner as interest payments on the Securities on semi-annual
payment dates which correspond to interest payment dates for the Securities.
Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of Special Interest
will cease.
The parties hereto agree that the Special Interest provided for in this
Section 5 constitutes a reasonable estimate of the damages that may be incurred
by Holders of Securities by reason of the occurrence of a Registration Default.
6. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses incurred in
---------------------
connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 4
hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the
Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel
designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in
connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel acting in connection therewith.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) In connection with any
--------------------------------
Registration Statement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder of securities covered thereby (including each Initial Purchaser and, with
respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each
Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers, employees and agents of each such
Holder and each person who controls any such Holder within the meaning of either
the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
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claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any
amendment thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or in any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made
therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for inclusion
therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the
Company may otherwise have.
The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute to Losses (as defined
below) of, as provided in Section 7(d), any underwriters of Securities
registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their officers and directors
and each person who controls such underwriters on substantially the same basis
as that of the indemnification of the Initial Purchasers and the selling Holders
provided in this Section 7(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into
an underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(q)
hereof.
(b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement
(including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery
as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Company, (ii) each of its directors,
(iii) each of its officers who signs such Registration Statement and (iv) each
person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to
each such Holder, but only with reference to written information relating to
such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically
for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder
may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 or
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof;
but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the
indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the
indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which
case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and
expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties
except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be
satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's
election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the
indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
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(including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable
fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel (and local counsel) if (i) the
use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified
party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or
potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the
indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it
and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have
employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of
such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party
to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An
indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of
this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, shall have a joint and several obligation
to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
investigating or defending same) (collectively "Losses") to which such
indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and
such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the
Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in
no case shall any Initial Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Security or
New Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the
purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a
New Security, applicable to the Security which was exchangeable into such New
Security, as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, nor shall any
underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount
or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such underwriter under
the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. If the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason,
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also
the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such
indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to
the sum of (x) the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement (before
deducting expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum and
(y) the total amount of additional interest which the Company was not required
to pay as a result of registering the securities covered by the Registration
Statement which resulted in such Losses. Benefits received by the Initial
Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and
commissions as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, and benefits
received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be equal to the value of
receiving Securities or New Securities, as applicable, registered under the Act.
Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be
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equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the
cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which
resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to
whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information provided
by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified party, on the
other hand. The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution were determined by the pro rata allocation or any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who
controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and
each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have the same
rights to contribution as such Holder, and each person who controls the Company
within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the
Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of
the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject
in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
(e) The provisions of this Section 7 will remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or the
Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in
this Section 7, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities covered by a
Registration Statement.
8. Miscellaneous.
-------------
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
--------------------------
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter
into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with
the provisions hereof.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
----------------------
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the
written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the then
outstanding aggregate principal amount of Securities (or, after the
consummation of any Exchange Offer in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of
New Securities); provided, that with respect to any matter that directly or
indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the
Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser
against which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent
is to be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the foregoing
proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof with
respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that
does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be
given by the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of securities being
sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.
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(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
-------
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail, telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 8(c), which address initially is, with respect to each Holder,
the address of such Holder maintained by the registrar under the
Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Banc of America Securities
LLC;
(2) if to you, initially at the respective addresses set forth
in the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company, initially at its address set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received.
The Initial Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
(d) 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 the need for an express assignment or any consent by the
Company thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and/or New Securities.
The Company hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any
Holder of Securities and/or New Securities and any such Holder may
specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original
party hereto.
(e) 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.
(f) Headings. The headings in this agreement are for convenience of
---------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed
-------------
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed in said State.
(h) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
------------
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in
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any way impaired or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the
rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest
extent permitted by law.
(i) Securities Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent or
-----------------------------------
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of
Securities or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New
Securities, as applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other
than subsequent Holders of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent
Holders are deemed to be Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of
such Securities or New Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between the Company and you.
Very truly yours,
NUEVO ENERGY COMPANY
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
September 26, 2000
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES INC.
BY: BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
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Annex A
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of Transmittal
states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer
will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of
the Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New
Securities received in exchange for Securities where such New Securities were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities. The Company has agreed that, if required under applicable
securities laws and upon prior written request, it will make this Prospectus
available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale for a
period of 90 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer. See "Plan of
Distribution."
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Annex B
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account in exchange
for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge
that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New
Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
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Annex C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in
exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 90 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, it
will make this Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-
dealer for use in connection with any such resale, if required under applicable
securities laws and upon prior written request. In addition, until
_______________, ______, all dealers effecting transactions in the New
Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.*
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Securities
by broker-dealers. New Securities received by broker-dealers for their own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or
more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions,
through the writing of options on the New Securities or a combination of such
methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices
related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale
may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may
receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such
broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Securities. Any broker-
dealer that resells New Securities that were received by it for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a
distribution of New Securities may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Act and any profit of any such resale of New Securities and any
commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be
underwriting compensation under the Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that
by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-
dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Act.
For a period of 90 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, the
Company will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests
such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all
expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel
for the holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any
brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Securities (including
any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Act.
[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or
508.]
___________________
* In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer Prospectus.
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Rider A
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Annex D
[_] CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS
THERETO.
Name: ___________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
_______________________________________
Rider B
-------
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New
Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired by
it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Act.
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