EXHIBIT 4.3
EXECUTION COPY
DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
5.15% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2014
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EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
August 27, 2004
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.,
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Sachs & Co. (the "Purchaser")
upon the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) its 5.15%
Senior Notes due 2014. As an inducement to the Purchaser to enter into the
Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the
Purchaser thereunder, the Company agrees with the Purchaser for the benefit of
holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Registrable Securities (as
defined herein) as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective
meanings:
"Base Interest" shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue on
the Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture, without giving
effect to the provisions of this Agreement.
The term "broker-dealer" shall mean any broker or dealer registered
with the Commission under the Exchange Act.
"Closing Date" shall mean the date on which the Securities are
initially issued.
"Commission" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for
the particular purpose.
"Effective Time," in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Exchange Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a Shelf Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Shelf
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Shelf Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective.
"Electing Holder" shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities that
has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company
in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or 3(d)(iii) hereof.
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"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Exchange Offer" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 3(c) hereof.
"Exchange Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(a) hereof.
The term "holder" shall mean the Purchaser and other persons who
acquire Registrable Securities from time to time (including any successors
or assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any Registrable
Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of February 4, 1997,
between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (now known as JPMorgan
Chase Bank), as Trustee, as supplemented by a fourth supplemental indenture
dated as of August 27, 2004, as the same shall be amended from time to
time.
"Notice and Questionnaire" means a Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto.
The term "person" shall mean a corporation, association, partnership,
organization, business, individual, government or political subdivision
thereof or governmental agency.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
August 24, 2004, between the Purchaser and the Company relating to the
Securities.
"Purchaser" shall mean ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) in the
circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has been
exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as contemplated in
Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security that, pursuant to
the last two sentences of Section 2(a), is included in a prospectus for use
in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be deemed to be a
Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9 until resale of
such Registrable Security has been effected within the 180-day period
referred to in Section 2(a)); (ii) in the circumstances contemplated by
Section 2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement registering such
Security under the Securities Act has been declared or becomes effective
and such Security has been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder
thereof pursuant to and in a manner contemplated by such effective Shelf
Registration Statement; (iii) such Security is sold pursuant to Rule 144
under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Security relating to
restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture; (iv)
such Security is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144;
or (v) such Security shall cease to be outstanding.
"Registration Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(c) hereof.
"Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 4 hereof.
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"Resale Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Restricted Holder" shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of the
Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires Exchange
Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder's business, (iii) a
holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to
participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange
Securities and (iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with respect
to Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an
Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the
broker-dealer directly from the Company.
"Rule 144," "Rule 405" and "Rule 415" shall mean, in each case, such
rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as
the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Securities" shall mean, collectively, the 5.15% Senior Notes due 2014
of the Company to be issued and sold to the Purchaser, and securities
issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to the Indenture.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2(b) hereof.
"Special Interest" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(c) hereof.
"Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or
any successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated
thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.
Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a
"Section" or "clause" refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and the words "herein," "hereof" and
"hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or
other subdivision.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company agrees to
file under the Securities Act, as soon as reasonably practicable, but no
later than 120 days after the Closing Date, a registration statement
relating to an offer to exchange (such registration statement, the
"Exchange Registration Statement", and such offer, the "Exchange Offer")
any and all of the Securities for a like aggregate principal amount of debt
securities issued by the Company, which debt securities are substantially
identical in all material respects to the Securities (and are entitled to
the benefits of a trust indenture which is substantially identical in all
material respects to the Indenture or is the Indenture and which has been
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act), except that they have been
registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act and do not contain provisions for the additional interest
contemplated in Section 2(c) below (such new debt securities hereinafter
called "Exchange Securities"). The Company agrees to use its reasonable
best efforts to cause the Exchange Registration Statement to become
effective under the Securities Act as soon as reasonably practicable, but
no later than 180 days after the
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Closing Date. The Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities
Act on the appropriate form and will comply with all applicable tender
offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The Company further
agrees to use its best efforts to commence and complete the Exchange Offer
promptly, but no later than 45 days after such registration statement has
become effective, hold the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days and
exchange Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been
properly tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to the expiration of the
Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have been "completed"
only if the debt securities received by holders other than Restricted
Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are, upon receipt,
transferable by each such holder without restriction under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act and without material restrictions under the blue
sky or securities laws of a substantial majority of the States of the
United States of America. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been
completed upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Company having exchanged the
Exchange Securities for all outstanding Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company having exchanged, pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that
have been properly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration of the
Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is at least 30 days following
the commencement of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees (x) to include
in the Exchange Registration Statement a prospectus for use in any resales
by any holder of Exchange Securities that is a broker-dealer and (y) to
keep such Exchange Registration Statement effective for a period (the
"Resale Period") beginning when Exchange Securities are first issued in the
Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the expiration of the 180th
day after the Exchange Offer has been completed or such time as such
broker-dealers no longer own any Registrable Securities. With respect to
such Exchange Registration Statement, such holders shall have the benefit
of the rights of indemnification and contribution set forth in Sections
6(a), (c), (d) and (e) hereof.
(b) If (i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed
existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the debt
securities received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the
Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are not or would not be, upon
receipt, transferable by each such holder without restriction under the
Securities Act, (ii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 225
days following the Closing Date or (iii) a holder of the Securities
notifies the Company in writing, prior to the 20th day following the time
the Exchange Offer is completed, that the Exchange Offer is not available
to such holder of the Securities, the Company shall, in lieu of (or, in the
case of clause (iii), in addition to) conducting the Exchange Offer
contemplated by Section 2(a), file under the Securities Act as soon as
reasonably practicable, but no later than 60 days after the time such
obligation to file arises, a "shelf" registration statement providing for
the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or delayed basis by the
holders of, all of the Registrable Securities, pursuant to Rule 415 or any
similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission (such filing, the "Shelf
Registration" and such registration statement, the "Shelf Registration
Statement"). The Company agrees to use its reasonable efforts (x) to cause
the Shelf Registration Statement to become or be declared effective no
later than 120 days after such Shelf Registration Statement is filed and to
keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for a period
ending on the earlier of the second anniversary of the Effective Time or
such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding,
provided, however, that no holder shall be entitled to be named as a
selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to use the
prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities
unless such holder is an Electing Holder and has provided the Company the
information required by applicable law to be included in the Shelf
Registration Statement with respect to such Electing Holder, and (y) after
the Effective Time of the Shelf
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Registration Statement, promptly upon the request of any holder of
Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, to take any
action reasonably necessary to enable such holder to use the prospectus
forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities, including,
without limitation, any action necessary to identify such holder as a
selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement, provided,
however, that nothing in this Clause (y) shall relieve any such holder of
the obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to
the Company in accordance with Section 3(d) (ii) or 3(d)(iii) hereof, as
applicable, and to provide the Company with all information required by
applicable law to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement with
respect to such holder. The Company further agrees to supplement or make
amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement, as and when required by the
rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used
by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities
Act or rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration, and the
Company agrees to furnish to each Electing Holder copies of any such
supplement or amendment prior to its being used or promptly following its
filing with the Commission.
(c) In the event that (i) the Company has not filed the Exchange
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement on or before the
date on which such registration statement is required to be filed pursuant
to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (ii) such Exchange Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement has not become effective or been
declared effective by the Commission on or before the date on which such
registration statement is required to become or be declared effective
pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (iii) the Exchange Offer
has not been completed within 45 days after the initial effective date of
the Exchange Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer (if the
Exchange Offer is then required to be made), or (iv) any Exchange
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement required by Section
2(a) or 2(b) hereof is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter
either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject to an effective
stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending
the effectiveness of such registration statement (except as specifically
permitted herein) without being succeeded promptly by an additional
registration statement filed and declared effective, or (v) any Shelf
Registration Statement required by Section 2(b) hereof is filed and
declared effective but shall thereafter be suspended by the Company
pursuant to Section 3(h) hereof (each such event referred to in clauses (i)
through (v), a "Registration Default" and each period during which a
Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, a "Registration
Default Period"), then, as liquidated damages for such Registration
Default, subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), special interest
("Special Interest"), in addition to the Base Interest, shall accrue at a
per annum rate of 0.25% for the first 90 days of the Registration Default
Period, at a per annum rate 0.50% thereafter for the remaining portion of
the Registration Default Period. In no event shall Special Interest in
respect of a Registration Default exceed a per annum rate of 0.50%.
(d) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all
actions necessary or advisable to be taken by it to ensure that the
transactions contemplated herein are effected as so contemplated.
(e) Any reference herein to a registration statement as of any time
shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be
incorporated, therein by reference as of such time and any reference herein
to any post-effective amendment to a registration statement as of any time
shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be
incorporated, therein by reference as of such time.
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3. Registration Procedures.
If the Company files a registration statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Offer or the Shelf
Registration, as the case may be, the Company shall qualify the Indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(b) In the event that such qualification would require the appointment
of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new
trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(c) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 2(a) (the
"Exchange Registration"), if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as
reasonably practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as reasonably
practicable but no later than 120 days after the Closing Date, an
Exchange Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized
by the Company and which shall permit the Exchange Offer and
resales of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale
Period to be effected as contemplated by Section 2(a), and use its
reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Registration
Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable
thereafter, but no later than 180 days after the Closing Date;
(ii) as soon as reasonably practicable prepare and file with
the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Exchange
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may
be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such
Exchange Registration Statement for the periods and purposes
contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof and as may be required by the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the
instructions applicable to the form of such Exchange Registration
Statement, and promptly provide each broker-dealer holding Exchange
Securities with such number of copies of the prospectus included
therein (as then amended or supplemented), in conformity in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, as such broker-dealer reasonably may request
prior to the expiration of the Resale Period, for use in connection
with resales of Exchange Securities;
(iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has requested or
received copies of the prospectus included in such registration
statement, and confirm such advice in writing, (A) when such
Exchange Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein
or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Exchange
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission
and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any
state with respect thereto or any request by the Commission for
amendments or supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement
or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by
the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
such Exchange Registration Statement or the initiation or
threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time
the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by
Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all material respects,
(E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification of
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the Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or
(F) at any time during the Resale Period when a prospectus is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act, that such
Exchange Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment
or supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform in all
material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(iv) in the event that the Company would be required, pursuant
to Section 3(c)(iii)(F) above, to notify any broker-dealers holding
Exchange Securities, without delay prepare and furnish to each such
holder a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented
or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such
Exchange Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus shall
conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of
the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and shall not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances
then existing;
(v) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at
the earliest practicable date;
(vi) use its reasonable best efforts to (A) register or qualify
the Exchange Securities under the securities laws or blue sky laws
of such jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a) no later
than the commencement of the Exchange Offer, (B) keep such
registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with such laws
so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales and dealings
therein in such jurisdictions until the expiration of the Resale
Period and (C) take any and all other actions as may be reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable each broker-dealer holding
Exchange Securities to consummate the disposition thereof in such
jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be
required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section
3(c)(vi), (2) consent to general service of process or subject
itself to material taxation in any such jurisdiction or (3) make
any changes to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any
agreement between it and its stockholders;
(vii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent or
approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal,
state or local, which may be required to effect the Exchange
Registration, the Exchange Offer and the offering and sale of
Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period;
(viii) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, not
later than the applicable Effective Time;
(ix) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as
soon as reasonably practicable but no later than eighteen months
after the effective date of such Exchange Registration Statement,
an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying
with
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Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of
the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).
(d) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as reasonably
practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as reasonably
practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in
Section 2(b), a Shelf Registration Statement on any form which may
be utilized by the Company and which shall register all of the
Registrable Securities for resale by the holders thereof in
accordance with such method or methods of disposition as may be
specified by such of the holders as, from time to time, may be
Electing Holders and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as soon as
reasonably practicable but in any case within the time periods
specified in Section 2(b);
(ii) not less than 30 calendar days prior to the Effective Time
of the Shelf Registration Statement, mail the Notice and
Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable Securities; no holder
shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the
Shelf Registration Statement as of the Effective Time, and no
holder shall be entitled to use the prospectus forming a part
thereof for resales of Registrable Securities at any time, unless
such holder has returned a completed and signed Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company by the deadline for response set forth
therein; provided, however, holders of Registrable Securities shall
have at least 28 calendar days from the date on which the Notice
and Questionnaire is first mailed to such holders to return a
completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities
that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly send a Notice and
Questionnaire to such holder; provided that the Company shall not
be required to take any action to name such holder as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable
such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for
resales of Registrable Securities until such holder has returned a
completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iv) as soon as reasonably practicable prepare and file with
the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Shelf
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may
be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Shelf
Registration Statement for the period specified in Section 2(b)
hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to
the form of such Shelf Registration Statement, and furnish to the
Electing Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment
simultaneously with or prior to its being used or filed with the
Commission;
(v) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
respect to the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Electing Holders provided
for in such Shelf Registration Statement;
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(vi) provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the underwriters
(which term, for purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, shall include a person deemed to be an underwriter
within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), if
any, thereof, (C) any sales or placement agent therefor, (D)
counsel for any such underwriter or agent and (E) not more than one
counsel for all the Electing Holders the opportunity to participate
in the preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, each
prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission and each
amendment or supplement thereto;
(vii) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such Shelf
Registration Statement, and throughout the period specified in
Section 2(b), make available at reasonable times at the Company's
principal place of business or such other reasonable place for
inspection by the persons referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) who shall
certify to the Company in writing that they have a current
intention to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration such financial and other information and books and
records of the Company, and cause the officers, employees, counsel
and independent certified public accountants of the Company to
respond to such inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the
judgment of the respective counsel referred to in such Section, to
conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11
of the Securities Act; provided, however, that each such party
shall be required to maintain in confidence and not to disclose to
any other person any information or records reasonably designated
by the Company as being confidential, until such time as (A) such
information becomes a matter of public record (whether by virtue of
its inclusion in such registration statement or otherwise), or (B)
such person shall be required so to disclose such information
pursuant to a subpoena or order of any court or other governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the
requirements of such order, and only after such person shall have
given the Company prompt prior written notice of such requirement),
or (C) such information is required to be set forth in such Shelf
Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or in an
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or
supplement to such prospectus in order that such Shelf Registration
Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case may be,
complies with applicable requirements of the federal securities
laws and the rules and regulations of the Commission and does not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing;
(viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders, any sales
or placement agent therefor and any underwriter thereof (which
notification may be made through any managing underwriter that is a
representative of such underwriter for such purpose) and confirm
such advice in writing, (A) when such Shelf Registration Statement
or the prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with
respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments
by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or
regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the
Commission for amendments or supplements to such Shelf Registration
Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or the
initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D)
if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company
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contemplated by Section 3(d)(xvii) or Section 5 cease to be true
and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such purpose, or (F) if at any time when a prospectus is required
to be delivered under the Securities Act, that such Shelf
Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or
supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform in all
material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(ix) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal
of any order suspending the effectiveness of such registration
statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest
practicable date;
(x) if requested by any managing underwriter or underwriters,
any placement or sales agent or any Electing Holder, promptly
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information as is required by the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and as such managing underwriter or
underwriters, such agent or such Electing Holder reasonably
specifies should be included therein relating to the terms of the
sale of such Registrable Securities, including information with
respect to the principal amount of Registrable Securities being
sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to any underwriters, the
name and description of such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter,
the offering price of such Registrable Securities and any discount,
commission or other compensation payable in respect thereof, the
purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters and with
respect to any other terms of the offering of the Registrable
Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to such
underwriters; and make all required filings of such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after notification
of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(xi) furnish to each Electing Holder, each placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any, thereof and the
respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi): (A) upon
request therefor, an executed copy (or, in the case of an Electing
Holder, a conformed copy) of such Shelf Registration Statement,
each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including
all exhibits thereto (in the case of an Electing Holder of
Registrable Securities, upon request) and documents incorporated by
reference therein) and (B) such number of copies of such Shelf
Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto and documents
incorporated by reference therein unless specifically so requested
by such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, as the case may be)
and of the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement
(including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus),
in conformity in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and such
other documents, as such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and
underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate
the offering and disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by
such Electing Holder, offered or sold by such agent or underwritten
by such underwriter and to permit such Electing Holder, agent and
underwriter to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act; and the Company hereby consents to the use of
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such prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus)
and any amendment or supplement thereto by each such Electing
Holder and by any such agent and underwriter, in each case in the
form most recently provided to such person by the Company, in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by the prospectus (including such preliminary and summary
prospectus) or any supplement or amendment thereto;
(xii) use reasonable best efforts to (A) register or qualify
the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf
Registration Statement under such securities laws or blue sky laws
of such jurisdictions as any Electing Holder and each placement or
sales agent, if any, therefor and underwriter, if any, thereof
shall reasonably request, (B) keep such registrations or
qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit
the continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such
jurisdictions during the period the Shelf Registration is required
to remain effective under Section 2(b) above and for so long as may
be necessary to enable any such Electing Holder, agent or
underwriter to complete its distribution of Securities pursuant to
such Shelf Registration Statement and (C) take any and all other
actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each
such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, to
consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of such
Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be
required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section
3(d)(xii), (2) consent to general service of process or subject
itself to material taxation in any such jurisdiction or (3) make
any changes to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any
agreement between it and its stockholders;
(xiii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent or
approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal,
state or local, which may be required to effect the Shelf
Registration or the offering or sale in connection therewith or to
enable the selling holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the
disposition of, their Registrable Securities;
(xiv) unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry
only form, subject to the terms of the Indenture, cooperate with
the Electing Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates,
if so required by any securities exchange upon which any
Registrable Securities are listed, shall be penned, lithographed or
engraved, or produced by any combination of such methods, on steel
engraved borders, and which certificates shall not bear any
restrictive legends; and, in the case of an underwritten offering,
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and
registered in such names as the managing underwriters may request
at least two business days prior to any sale of the Registrable
Securities;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, not
later than the applicable Effective Time;
(xvi) enter into one or more underwriting agreements,
engagement letters, agency agreements, "best efforts" underwriting
agreements or similar agreements, as appropriate, including
customary provisions relating to indemnification and contribution,
and take such other actions in connection therewith as any Electing
Holders aggregating at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Securities
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at the time outstanding shall reasonably request in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities;
(xvii) whether or not an agreement of the type referred to in
Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof is entered into and whether or not any
portion of the offering contemplated by the Shelf Registration is
an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales
agent or any other entity, (A) make such representations and
warranties to the Electing Holders and the placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof in
form, substance and scope as are customarily made in connection
with an offering of debt securities pursuant to any appropriate
agreement or to a registration statement filed on the form
applicable to the Shelf Registration; (B) obtain opinions of
outside and in-house counsel to the Company in customary form and
covering such matters, of the type customarily covered by such
opinions, as the managing underwriters, if any, or as any Electing
Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Securities at the time outstanding may reasonably
request, addressed to such Electing Holder or Electing Holders and
the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the
underwriters, if any, thereof and dated the effective date of such
Shelf Registration Statement (and if such Shelf Registration
Statement contemplates an underwritten offering of a part or all of
the Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing under the
underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being agreed that the
matters to be covered by such opinions shall include the due
incorporation and good standing of the Company and its material
subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and its material
subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of
the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof; the due
authorization, execution, authentication and issuance, and the
validity and enforceability, of the Securities; the absence of
material legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company;
the absence of a breach by the Company or any of its material
subsidiaries of, or a default under, material agreements binding
upon the Company or any material subsidiary of the Company; the
absence of governmental approvals required to be obtained in
connection with the Shelf Registration, the offering and sale of
the Registrable Securities, this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement or any agreement of the type referred to in Section
3(d)(xvi) hereof, except such approvals as may be required under
state securities or blue sky laws; the material compliance as to
form of such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents
incorporated by reference therein and of the Indenture with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and of the Shelf
Registration Statement or most recent posteffective amendment
thereto, as the case may be, negative assurance regarding the
absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus
included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from the
documents incorporated by reference therein (in each case other
than the financial statements and other financial information
contained therein) of an untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading (in the case of such documents,
in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such
documents were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act));
(C) obtain a "cold comfort" letter or letters from the independent
certified public accountants of the Company addressed to the
selling Electing Holders, the placement or sales agent, if any,
therefor or the underwriters, if any, thereof, dated (i) the
effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the
effective date of any prospectus supplement to the prospectus
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included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes
unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for a
period subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in
such prospectus (and, if such Shelf Registration Statement
contemplates an underwritten offering pursuant to any prospectus
supplement to the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration
Statement or post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration
Statement which includes unaudited or audited financial statements
as of a date or for a period subsequent to that of the latest such
statements included in such prospectus, dated the date of the
closing under the underwriting agreement relating thereto), such
letter or letters to be in customary form and covering such matters
of the type customarily covered by letters of such type; (D)
deliver such documents and certificates, including officers'
certificates, as may be reasonably requested by any Electing
Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Securities at the time outstanding or the placement or
sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if
any, thereof to evidence the accuracy of the representations and
warranties made pursuant to clause (A) above or those contained in
Section 5(a) hereof and the compliance with or satisfaction of any
agreements or conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or
other agreement entered into by the Company; and (E) undertake such
obligations relating to expense reimbursement, indemnification and
contribution as are provided in Section 6 hereof;
(xviii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable Securities
of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any provision of
this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to Section
9(h) hereof and of any amendment or waiver effected pursuant
thereto, each of which notices shall contain the text of the
amendment or waiver proposed or effected, as the case may be;
(xix) in the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Registrable Securities or
participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling
group or "assist in the distribution" (within the meaning of the
Conduct Rules (the "Conduct Rules) of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") or any successor thereto, as
amended from time to time) thereof, whether as a holder of such
Registrable Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales
agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise,
assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of
such Conduct Rules, including by (A) if such Conduct Rules shall so
require, engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined
in such Conduct Rules) to participate in the preparation of the
Shelf Registration Statement relating to such Registrable
Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect
thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such
Shelf Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made
through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
Registrable Securities, (B) indemnifying any such qualified
independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of
underwriters provided in Section 6 hereof (or to such other
customary extent as may be requested by such underwriter), and (C)
providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required
in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of
the Conduct Rules; and
(xx) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as
soon as reasonably practicable but in any event not later than
eighteen months after the effective date of such Shelf Registration
Statement, an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries
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complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at
the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).
(e) In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 3(d)(viii)(F) above, to notify the Electing Holders, the placement
or sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any,
thereof, the Company shall without delay prepare and furnish to each of the
Electing Holders, to each placement or sales agent, if any, and to each
such underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus
supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of
Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall conform in all material
respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then
existing. Each Electing Holder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from
the Company pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) hereof, such Electing Holder
shall forthwith discontinue the disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement applicable to such Registrable
Securities until such Electing Holder shall have received copies of such
amended or supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the Company, such
Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all
copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Electing Holder's
possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the
time of receipt of such notice.
(f) In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the
information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its Notice
Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to furnish to
the Company such additional information regarding such Electing Holder and
such Electing Holder's intended method of distribution of Registrable
Securities as may be required in order to comply with the Securities Act.
Each such Electing Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as
practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished
by such Electing Holder to the Company or of the occurrence of any event in
either case as a result of which any prospectus relating to such Shelf
Registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a material
fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder's intended
method of disposition of such Registrable Securities or omits to state any
material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder's
intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly to
furnish to the Company any additional information required to correct and
update any previously furnished information or required so that such
prospectus shall not contain, with respect to such Electing Holder or the
disposition of such Registrable Securities, 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 in light
of the circumstances then existing.
(g) Until the expiration of two years after the Closing Date, the
Company will not, and will not permit any of its "affiliates" (as defined
in Rule 144) to, resell any of the Securities that have been reacquired by
any of them except pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act.
(h) Upon the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate
development that, in the reasonable discretion of the Company, makes it
appropriate to suspend the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement
and the related prospectus, the Company shall give written notice to the
Electing Holders that the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement
is suspended (a "Deferral Notice") and, upon receipt of any Deferral
Notice, each Electing
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Holder agrees to immediately suspend the use of any prospectus and not to
sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement
until it is advised in writing by the Company that the prospectus may be
used, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings
that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in such
prospectus. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the
use of the prospectus may be resumed as soon as, in the sole discretion of
the Company, such suspension is no longer appropriate.
4. Registration Expenses.
The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly all
expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including (a) all Commission and any
NASD registration, filing and review fees and expenses including reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel for the placement or sales agent or underwriters in
connection with such registration, filing and review, (b) all fees and expenses
in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in Section 3(d)(xii)
hereof and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of
such jurisdictions as any managing underwriters or the Electing Holders may
designate, including any reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Electing Holders or underwriters in connection with such qualification and
determination, (c) all expenses relating to the preparation, printing,
production, distribution and reproduction of each registration statement
required to be filed hereunder, each prospectus included therein or prepared for
distribution pursuant hereto, each amendment or supplement to the foregoing, the
expenses of preparing the Securities for delivery and the expenses of printing
or producing any underwriting agreements, agreements among underwriters, selling
agreements and blue sky or legal investment memoranda and all other documents in
connection with the offering, sale or delivery of Securities to be disposed of
(including certificates representing the Securities), (d) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses relating to the offering, sale or delivery of Securities
and the preparation of documents referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and
expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Trustee and of any collateral
agent or custodian, (f) internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses
of the Company's officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties),
(g) reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel and independent
certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any
opinions or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance
and compliance), (h) fees, disbursements and expenses of any "qualified
independent underwriter" engaged pursuant to Section 3(d)(xix) hereof, and
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel thereto permitted by the terms of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, (i) reasonable fees, disbursements
and expenses of one counsel for the Electing Holders retained in connection with
a Shelf Registration, as selected by the Electing Holders of at least a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by Electing
Holders (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (j) any
fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities, and (k)
fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons, including special
experts, retained by the Company in connection with such registration
(collectively, the "Registration Expenses"). To the extent that the foregoing
Registration Expenses are incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of Registrable
Securities or any placement or sales agent therefor or underwriter thereof, the
Company shall reimburse such person for the full amount of the Registration
Expenses so incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a request
therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable
Securities being registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and
underwriting discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of such
Registrable Securities and the fees and disbursements of any counsel or other
advisors or
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experts retained by such holders (severally or jointly), other than
the counsel and experts specifically referred to above.
5. Representations and Warranties.
The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Purchaser
and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities that:
(a) Each registration statement covering Registrable Securities and
each prospectus (including any preliminary or summary prospectus) contained
therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) hereof and
any further amendments or supplements to any such registration statement or
prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the Commission, as
the case may be, and, in the case of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities, at the time of the closing under the underwriting
agreement relating thereto, will conform in all material respects to the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; and at all times subsequent to the Effective Time when a
prospectus would be required to be delivered under the Securities Act,
other than from (i) such time as a notice has been given to holders of
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) or Section
3(c)(iii)(F) hereof until (ii) such time as the Company furnishes an
amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to Section 3(e) or Section
3(c)(iv) hereof, each such registration statement, and each prospectus
(including any summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant
to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) hereof, as then amended or supplemented,
will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the
light of the circumstances then existing; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for
use therein.
(b) Any documents incorporated by reference in any prospectus referred
to in Section 5(a) hereof, when they become or became effective or are or
were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform or
conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents will
contain or contained an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for
use therein.
(c) The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement
or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is a
party or by which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is bound or
to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary of
the Company is subject (except for such events that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole), nor will such action
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result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of
incorporation, as amended, or the by-laws of the Company or any statute or
any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or
any of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order,
registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental
agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated by this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, except the registration under the Securities Act of the
Securities, qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act
and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
qualifications as may be required under State securities or blue sky laws
in connection with the offering and distribution of the Securities.
(d) This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold
harmless each of the holders of Registrable Securities included in an
Exchange Registration Statement, each of the Electing Holders of
Registrable Securities included in a Shelf Registration Statement and each
person who participates as a placement or sales agent or as an underwriter
in any offering or sale of such Registrable Securities against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such holder,
agent or underwriter may become subject under the Securities Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the
case may be, under which such Registrable Securities were registered under
the Securities Act, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus
contained therein or furnished by the Company to any such holder, Electing
Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment 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 will reimburse such holder, such
Electing Holder, such agent and such underwriter for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such person in any
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration
statement, or preliminary, final or summary prospectus, or amendment or
supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such person expressly for use
therein; provided further, however, that the Company shall not be liable to
any person in any such case for or in respect of any loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense arising from an offer or sale of Registrable
Securities occurring during a period referred to in Section 3(d)(viii)(C)
or (F) or Section 3(h), if all Electing Holders received the written notice
pursuant to such provision.
(b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and Underwriters. As
a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration
statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof and to entering into any
underwriting agreement with respect thereto, the Company shall have
received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from the Electing
Holder of such Registrable Securities and from each underwriter named in
any such underwriting agreement, severally and not jointly, to (i)
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and all other holders of
Registrable Securities, against any losses, claims,
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damages or liabilities to which the Company or such other holders of
Registrable Securities may become subject, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such
registration statement, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus
contained therein or furnished by the Company to any such Electing Holder,
agent or underwriter, or any amendment 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, in each case to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by such Electing Holder
or underwriter expressly for use therein, and (ii) reimburse the Company
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Electing Holder
shall be required to undertake liability to any person under this Section
6(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds to be
received by such Electing Holder from the sale of such Electing Holder's
Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.
(c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified
party under subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party pursuant to the
indemnification provisions of or contemplated by this Section 6, notify
such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action; but
the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
under the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by Section 6(a) or
6(b) hereof. In case any such action shall be brought against any
indemnified party and it shall notify an indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall
not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, such
indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any
legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No
indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified
party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of
any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in
respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to
such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i)
includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act
by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provisions
contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) are unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in
such proportion as is appropriate to
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reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of
such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or
by such indemnified party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement
or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the holders or any agents or underwriters or
all of them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in this Section 6(d). The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be
deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d),
no holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such holder
from the sale of any Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees,
discounts and commissions applicable thereto) exceeds the amount of any
damages which such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission,
and no underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of
the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages which such underwriter has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities
Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty
of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The holders' and any underwriters'
obligations in this Section 6(d) to contribute shall be several in
proportion to the principal amount of Registrable Securities registered or
underwritten, as the case may be, by them and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 6 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director and
partner of each holder, agent and underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls any holder, agent or underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act; and the obligations of the holders and any agents or
underwriters contemplated by this Section 6 shall be in addition to any
liability which the respective holder, agent or underwriter may otherwise
have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer
and director of the Company (including any person who, with his consent, is
named in any registration statement as about to become a director of the
Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
7. Underwritten Offerings.
(a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to an
underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof
shall be designated by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in
such offering, provided that such designated managing underwriter or
underwriters is or are reasonably acceptable to the Company.
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(b) Participation by Holders. Each holder of Registrable Securities
hereby agrees with each other such holder that no such holder may
participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless such holder (i)
agrees to sell such holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided
in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder
to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements
and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
8. Rule 144.
The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that to
the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company
shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act
or the Securities Act (including the reports under Section 13 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 adopted by the
Commission under the Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by
the Commission thereunder, and shall take such further action as any holder of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption
provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar or successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities in
connection with that holder's sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall
deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with
such requirements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants,
covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant,
registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities or any other
securities which would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
(b) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that there
would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of
its obligations hereunder and that the Purchaser and the holders from time
to time of the Registrable Securities may be irreparably harmed by any such
failure, and accordingly agree that the Purchaser and such holders, in
addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in
equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the obligations
of the Company under this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement, in any court of the United States or any State thereof
having jurisdiction.
(c) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally or by
courier, or three days after being deposited in the mail (registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If
to the Company, to it at ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
and if to a holder, to the address of such holder set forth in the security
register or other records of the Company, or to such other address as the
Company or any such holder may have furnished to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.
(d) Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of this Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the
benefit of and shall be
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enforceable by the parties hereto and the holders from time to time of the
Registrable Securities and the respective successors and assigns of the
parties hereto and such holders. In the event that any transferee of any
holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire Registrable Securities, in
any manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase, operation of law or
otherwise, such transferee shall, without any further writing or action of
any kind, be deemed a beneficiary hereof for all purposes and such
Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and by taking and holding such
Registrable Securities such transferee shall be entitled to receive the
benefits of, and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by all
of the applicable terms and provisions of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement. If the Company shall so request, any such successor,
assign or transferee shall agree in writing to acquire and hold the
Registrable Securities subject to all of the applicable terms hereof.
(e) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations,
warranties and each other provision set forth in this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation (or statement as to the
results thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of Registrable
Securities, any director, officer or partner of such holder, any agent or
underwriter or any director, officer or partner thereof, or any controlling
person of any of the foregoing, and shall survive delivery of and payment
for the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the
transfer and registration of Registrable Securities by such holder and the
consummation of an Exchange Offer.
(f) GOVERNING LAW. THIS EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK.
(g) Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Sections and
paragraphs of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are inserted
for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning
or interpretation of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
(h) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement and the other writings referred to herein (including the
Indenture and the form of Securities) or delivered pursuant hereto which
form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the
parties with respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be waived (either generally
or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only
by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Securities at the time outstanding. Each holder of any Registrable
Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any
amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section 9(h), whether or not
any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or waiver appears
on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.
(i) Inspection. For so long as this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement shall be in effect, this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement and a complete list of the names and addresses of all the holders
of Registrable Securities shall be made available for inspection, upon
reasonable notice and during business hours, and copying on any business
day by any holder of Registrable Securities for proper purposes only (which
shall include any purpose related to the rights of the holders of
Registrable Securities under the
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Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement) at the offices of the Company
at the address thereof set forth in Section 9(c) above and at the office of
the Trustee under the Indenture.
(j) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed by the parties in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us four counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you
this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement
between you and the Company.
Very truly yours,
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President, General Counsel
& Secretary
Accepted as of the date hereof:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Sachs & Co.
-----------------------------------------------
(▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.)
23
EXHIBIT A
DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS
(Date of Mailing)
URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE] *
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") has identified you as a DTC Participant
through which beneficial interests in the Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (the
"Company") [__% Senior Notes due 2014] (the "Securities") are held.
The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the Securities
Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof. In order to have their
Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial owners must
complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement and Selling
Securityholder Questionnaire.
It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a copy of the
enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the Securities
included in the registration statement depend upon their returning the Notice
and Questionnaire by [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Please forward a copy of the
enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the
Securities through you. If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or
have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact Diamond Offshore
Drilling, Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇; Telephone:
[___________].
-----------------
* Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing.
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DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
Notice of Registration Statement
and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
(Date)
Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement") between Diamond Offshore Drilling,
Inc. (the "Company") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Pursuant to the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement
on Form S-[__] (the "Shelf Registration Statement") for the registration and
resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), of the Company's [__% Senior Notes Due 2014] (the "Securities"). A copy
of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto. All
capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below) is entitled
to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included in the
Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities included
in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire ("Notice and Questionnaire") must be
completed, executed and delivered to the Company's counsel at the address set
forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Beneficial owners
of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and return this Notice
and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as selling securityholders
in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use the Prospectus forming
a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in
the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. Accordingly, holders
and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus.
The term "Registrable Securities" is defined in the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement.
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ELECTION
The undersigned holder (the "Selling Securityholder") of Registrable Securities
hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3). The
undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees to
be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and conditions
of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were
an original party thereto.
Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company
and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus and
as Exhibit B to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the
Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and
complete:
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QUESTIONNAIRE
(1) (a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a) above)
of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below:
(c) Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the
same as (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in
Item (3) below are Held:
(2) Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Telephone:
---------------------------------------
Fax:
---------------------------------------
Contact Person:
---------------------------------------
(3) Beneficial Ownership of Securities:
Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not
beneficially own any Securities.
(a) Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:
---------
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:
---------------------------
(b) Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities
beneficially owned:
CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:
---------------------------------
(c) Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the undersigned wishes
to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:
--------------------
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf
Registration Statement:
------------------------------------------------
(4) Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any
other securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed
above in Item (3).
State any exceptions here:
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(5) Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any
of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5%
or more) has held any position or office or has had any other material
relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates)
during the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
(6) Plan of Distribution:
Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder
intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item
(3) only as follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities may be
sold from time to time directly by the undersigned Selling
Securityholder or, alternatively, through underwriters, broker-dealers
or agents. Such Registrable Securities may be sold in one or more
transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time
of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at
negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in transactions (which
may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on any national
securities exchange or quotation service on which the Registered
Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in the
over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such
exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv)
through the writing of options. In connection with sales of the
Registrable Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may
enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn
engage in short sales of the Registrable Securities in the course of
hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Securityholder may also
sell Registrable Securities short and deliver Registrable Securities to
close out such short positions, or loan or pledge Registrable
Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.
State any exceptions here:
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands
its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly
Regulation M.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the
Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such
information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees to
notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and
obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement.
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (6) above and
the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder understands that such information
will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation of the
Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
In accordance with the Selling Securityholder's obligation under Section 3(d) of
the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as
may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the
Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies
or changes in the information provided herein which
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may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration
Statement remains in effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery,
first-class mail, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:
(i) To the Company:
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn:
---------------------------------
(ii) With a copy to:
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and
received by the Company's counsel, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire,
and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be binding on,
shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective
successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the Company and the
Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially
owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above. This
Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New
York.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its
duly authorized agent.
Dated:
----------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selling Securityholder
(Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable Securities)
By:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON
OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY'S COUNSEL AT:
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
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EXHIBIT B
NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[NAME OF TRUSTEE]
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
c/o [NAME OF TRUSTEE]
[ADDRESS OF TRUSTEE]
Attention: Trust Officer
Re: Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (the "Company")
[__% Senior Notes Due 2014]
Dear Sirs:
Please be advised that ______________________________ has transferred $_________
aggregate principal amount of the above-referenced Notes pursuant to an
effective Registration Statement on Form S-[______] (File No. 333-_________)
filed by the Company.
We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named
beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a "Selling Holder" in the Prospectus
dated [DATE] or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate principal amount
of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in such Prospectus opposite such
owner's name.
Dated:
Very truly yours,
-----------------------------------
(Name)
By:
-----------------------------------
(Authorized Signature)
B-1