Aurora Gathering S-3ASR Automatic shelf registration

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2012

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Bill Barrett Corporation

(and the subsidiaries identified below in the Table of Subsidiary Guarantor Registrants)

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	80-0000545
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

1099 18th Street, Suite 2300

Denver, CO 80202

(303) 293-9100

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Francis B. Barron

Executive Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary

Bill Barrett Corporation

1099 18th Street, Suite 2300

Denver, CO 80202

(303) 293-9100

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:

Christine B. LaFollette

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

1111 Louisiana Street, 44th Floor

Houston, TX 77002

(713) 220-5800

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:    ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.    x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer	x	Accelerated filer	¨
Non-accelerated filer	¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered/Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Unit/Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)	Amount of Registration Fee(1)
Debt Securities
Common Stock (including attached preferred share purchase rights)
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares representing Preferred Stock(2)
Securities Warrants
Guarantees of Debt Securities(3)

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or principal amount or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices or upon conversion, exchange or exercise of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, such securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is electing to defer payment of registration fees.

(2) To be represented by Depositary Receipts representing a fractional interest in a share of Preferred Stock.

(3) Subsidiaries of Bill Barrett Corporation may be guarantors of some or all of the debt securities being registered hereunder. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, no additional filing fee is required in connection with the guarantees of the debt securities being registered hereunder.

TABLE OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR REGISTRANTS

Exact Name of Additional Registrant as Specified in its Charter(1)	State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization	I.R.S. Employer Identification Number
Bill Barrett CBM Corporation	Delaware	43-1971288
Circle B Land Company LLC	Colorado	20-3821675
GB Acquisition Corporation	Wyoming	45-2318047
Elk Production Uintah, LLC	Texas	20-1316919
Aurora Gathering, LLC	Texas	81-0673136

(1) The address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, for each co-registrant is 1099 18th Street, Suite 2300, Denver, Colorado 80202, (303) 293-9100.

Common Stock Stock Purchase Units Debt Securities Preferred Stock Stock Purchase Contracts Depositary Shares Securities Warrants Guarantees of Debt Securities

We may offer and sell from time to time:

• debt securities;

• shares of common stock;

• stock purchase contracts;

• stock purchase units;

• shares of preferred stock, which may be issued in the form of depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts; and

• securities warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares.

The debt securities, preferred stock and purchase contracts may be convertible into or exercisable for common or preferred stock or other securities of ours or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities. This prospectus also covers guarantees, if any, of our payment obligations under the debt securities, which may be given from time to time by one or more of our subsidiaries, on terms to be determined at the time of the offering.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time securities are sold, we will provide one or more supplements to this prospectus that contain more specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities. The supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.

Our common stock, and associated preferred stock purchase rights, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BBG.”

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering.

See “Risk Factors” on page 3 for information about factors you should consider before buying our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Prospectus dated June 28, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	1
ABOUT OUR COMPANY	2
RISK FACTORS	3
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	3
USE OF PROCEEDS	4
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES	4
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES	5
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	22
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES	26
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WARRANTS	28
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS	29
LEGAL MATTERS	29
EXPERTS	30

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we or holders of our securities may, over time, sell an indeterminate amount of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or holders of our securities may offer pursuant to this prospectus. Each time we or holders of our securities sell securities, we will provide one or more prospectus supplements that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For a complete understanding of the offering of securities, you should refer to the registration statement relating to this prospectus, including its exhibits. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to provide you with additional or different information. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate and are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in that jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.

Unless the context requires otherwise or unless otherwise noted, all references in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement to “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are to Bill Barrett Corporation and its subsidiaries.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings (File No. 1-32367) are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. We make available free of charge through our website, http://www. billbarrettcorp.com, electronic copies of documents we file with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports. Access to those electronic filings is available as soon as reasonably practical after we file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC. We make our website content available for information purposes only. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or our other securities filings and is not a part of these filings.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. Any information so updated or superseded will not be deemed, except as so updated or superseded, to be a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference (excluding information deemed to have been furnished, and not filed, in accordance with SEC rules) the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the

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Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), before the termination of each offering under this prospectus:

• our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 including the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our definitive proxy statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

• our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012;

• our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 21, 2012, March 2, 2012, March 8, 2012, March 12, 2012 and May 15, 2012;

• the description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A registration statement filed on December 2, 2004, as amended on December 20, 2004; and

• the description of our preferred share purchase rights contained in our Form 8-A registration statement filed on December 2, 2004, as amended on December 20, 2004.

You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing), at no cost, by writing us at the following address or telephoning us at the following number:

Bill Barrett Corporation

Attention: Corporate Secretary

1099 18th Street, Suite 2300

Denver, Colorado 80202

(303) 293-9100

ABOUT OUR COMPANY

Bill Barrett Corporation together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, which may be guarantors of the debt securities described in this prospectus, explores for and develops oil and natural gas in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. For additional information about our business, operations and financial results, please read the documents listed under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We are a Delaware corporation formed in January 2002. Our principal executive offices are located at 1099 18th Street, Suite 2300, Denver, Colorado 80202, and our telephone number at that address is (303) 293-9100.

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K that we have filed or will file, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement before deciding to invest in our securities. The risks described are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks not presently known to us or which we currently consider immaterial also may adversely affect our Company.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and information incorporated into this prospectus contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which may include statements about our:

• business and financial strategy;

• oil and natural gas reserves;

• realized oil and natural gas prices;

• production;

• exploration and development drilling prospects, inventories, projects and programs;

• ability to obtain industry partners for our prospects on favorable terms to reduce our capital risks and accelerate our exploration activities;

• liabilities resulting from litigation concerning alleged damages related to environmental issues, pollution, contamination, personal injury, royalties, marketing, title to properties, validity of leases, trespass, mineral trespass, or other matters that may not be covered by an effective indemnity or insurance;

• ability to receive drilling and other permits, regulatory approvals and required surface access and rights of way;

• identified drilling locations;

• economic and competitive conditions;

• derivative and hedging activities;

• compliance with environmental and other regulations;

• changing regulatory environment, such as initiatives related to drilling and well completion techniques including hydraulic fracturing;

• costs and availability of third party facilities for gathering, processing, refining and transportation;

• hedge counterparties’ ability to fulfill their obligations;

• lease operating expenses and costs related to the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties;

• availability and costs of drilling rigs and field services;

• ability to obtain and the cost of financing;

• general and administrative costs, oilfield services costs and other expenses related to our business;

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• technology;

• ability to retain and attract new employees with industry technical experience;

• future operating results; and

• plans, objectives, expectations and intentions.

All of these types of statements, other than statements of historical fact included in or incorporated into this prospectus, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target,” “seek,” “objective,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology.

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are largely based on our expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. In addition, management’s assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. Management cautions all readers that the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or that the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements due to the many factors including those listed in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this prospectus. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We do not intend to, and do not undertake any obligation to, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may be stated in any prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from any sales of securities by us under this prospectus for general corporate purposes. The specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities will be determined at the time of the offering and will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, (i) earnings are defined as income (loss) before income taxes plus interest expense and amortization of debt related costs and (ii) fixed charges are defined as interest expense, capitalized interest, amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012(1)		Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
			2011		2010			2009		2008		2007
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		3.7		1.9		3.5	��		3.4		8.6		3.9

(1) We discontinued hedge accounting as of January 1, 2012, therefore our financial derivative instruments are marked to market with the resulting changes in fair value recorded in earnings. These mark-to-market adjustments produce a degree of earnings volatility, but have no cash flow impact relative to changes in market prices.

We had no preferred stock outstanding for any period presented, and accordingly our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is the same as our ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES

General

We may issue senior or subordinated debt securities. Neither the senior debt securities nor the subordinated debt securities will be secured by any of our property or assets. Thus, by owning a debt security, you are one of our unsecured creditors.

The senior debt securities will constitute part of our senior debt, will be issued under our senior debt indenture described below and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

The subordinated debt securities will constitute part of our subordinated debt, will be issued under our subordinated debt indenture described below and will be subordinate in right of payment to all of our “senior debt,” as defined in the indenture with respect to subordinated debt securities. The prospectus supplement for any series of subordinated debt securities or the information incorporated in this prospectus by reference will indicate the approximate amount of senior debt outstanding as of the end of our most recent fiscal quarter. Neither indenture limits our ability to incur additional senior debt or other indebtedness.

When we refer to “debt securities” in this prospectus, we mean both the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities.

The debt securities may have the benefit of guarantees (each, a “guarantee”) by one or more existing or future subsidiaries of Bill Barrett Corporation (each, a “guarantor”) specified in the prospectus supplement for that series. If a guarantor issues guarantees, the guarantees will be unsecured and, if guaranteeing senior debt securities, unsubordinated or, if guaranteeing subordinated debt securities, subordinated obligations of the respective guarantors. Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, as used in this section, the term “guaranteed debt securities” means debt securities that, as described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, are guaranteed by one or more guarantors pursuant to the applicable indenture.

The debt indentures and their associated documents, including your debt security, contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section and your prospectus supplement. We have filed forms of the indentures with the SEC as exhibits to our registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” above for information on how to obtain copies of them.

This section and your prospectus supplement summarize material terms of the indentures and your debt security. They do not, however, describe every aspect of the indentures and your debt security. For example, in this section and your prospectus supplement, we use terms that have been given special meaning in the indentures, but we describe the meaning for only the more important of those terms. Your prospectus supplement will have a more detailed description of the specific terms of your debt security and any applicable guarantees.

Indentures

The senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities are each governed by a document each called an indenture. Each indenture is a contract between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. The indentures are substantially identical, except for certain provisions including those relating to subordination, which are included only in the indenture related to subordinated debt securities.

The trustee under each indenture has two main roles:

• First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, which we describe later under “—Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default.”

• Second, the trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending you interest payments and notices.

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When we refer to the indenture or the trustee with respect to any debt securities, we mean the indenture under which those debt securities are issued and the trustee under that indenture.

Series of Debt Securities

We may issue many distinct debt securities or series of debt securities under either indenture as we wish. This section summarizes terms of the securities that apply generally to all debt securities and series of debt securities. The provisions of each indenture allow us not only to issue debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities previously issued under that indenture, but also to “reopen” a previously issued series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series. We will describe most of the financial and other specific terms of your series, whether it be a series of the senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, in the prospectus supplement for that series. Those terms may vary from the terms described here.

As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of your debt security as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are any differences between your prospectus supplement and this prospectus, your prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to your debt security.

When we refer to “debt securities” or a “series of debt securities,” we mean, respectively, debt securities or a series of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture. When we refer to your prospectus supplement, we mean the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the debt security you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.

Amounts of Issuances

Neither indenture limits the aggregate amount of debt securities that we may issue or the number of series or the aggregate amount of any particular series. We may issue debt securities and other securities at any time without your consent and without notifying you.

The indentures and the debt securities do not limit our ability to incur other indebtedness or to issue other securities. Also, unless otherwise specified below or in your prospectus supplement, we are not subject to financial or similar restrictions by the terms of the debt securities.

Principal Amount, Stated Maturity and Maturity

Unless otherwise stated, the principal amount of a debt security means the principal amount payable at its stated maturity, unless that amount is not determinable, in which case the principal amount of a debt security is its face amount.

The term “stated maturity” with respect to any debt security means the day on which the principal amount of your debt security is scheduled to become due. The principal may become due sooner, by reason of redemption or acceleration after a default or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the debt security. The day on which the principal actually becomes due, whether at the stated maturity or earlier, is called the “maturity” of the principal.

We also use the terms “stated maturity” and “maturity” to refer to the days when other payments become due. For example, we may refer to a regular interest payment date when an installment of interest is scheduled to become due as the “stated maturity” of that installment. When we refer to the “stated maturity” or the “maturity” of a debt security without specifying a particular payment, we mean the stated maturity or maturity, as the case may be, of the principal.

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Specific Terms of Debt Securities

Your prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of your debt security, which will include some or all of the following:

• the title of the series of your debt security and whether it is a senior debt security or a subordinated debt security;

• any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities of the same series;

• the stated maturity;

• the currency or currencies for principal and interest, if not U.S. dollars;

• the price at which we originally issue your debt security, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount, and the original issue date;

• whether your debt security is a fixed rate debt security, a floating rate debt security or an indexed debt security;

• if your debt security is a fixed rate debt security, the yearly rate at which your debt security will bear interest, if any, and the interest payment dates;

• if your debt security is a floating rate debt security, the interest rate basis; any applicable index currency or index maturity, spread or spread multiplier or initial base rate, maximum rate or minimum rate; the interest reset, determination, calculation and payment dates; the day count convention used to calculate interest payments for any period; the business day convention; and the calculation agent;

• if your debt security is an indexed debt security, the principal amount, if any, we will pay you at maturity, interest payment dates, the amount of interest, if any, we will pay you on an interest payment date or the formula we will use to calculate these amounts, if any, and the terms on which your debt security will be exchangeable for or payable in cash, securities or other property;

• if your debt security may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for common or preferred stock or other securities of the Company or debt or equity securities of one or more third parties, the terms on which conversion, exercise or exchange may occur, including whether conversion, exercise or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, the period during which conversion, exercise or exchange may occur, the initial conversion, exercise or exchange price or rate and the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common or preferred stock or other securities issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange may be adjusted;

• if your debt security is also an original issue discount debt security, the yield to maturity;

• if applicable, the circumstances under which your debt security may be redeemed at our option or repaid at the holder’s option before the stated maturity, including any redemption commencement date, repayment date(s), redemption price(s) and redemption period(s);

• the authorized denominations, if other than $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;

• the depositary for your debt security, if other than The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), and any circumstances under which the holder may request securities in non-global form, if we choose not to issue your debt security in book-entry form only;

• if applicable, the circumstances under which we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes and under which we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay additional amounts;

• whether your debt security will be guaranteed by any guarantors and, if so, the identity of the guarantors and, to the extent the terms thereof differ from those described in this prospectus, a description of the terms of the guarantees;

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• the names and duties of any co-trustees, depositaries, authenticating agents, paying agents, transfer agents or registrars for your debt security, as applicable; and

• any other terms of your debt security and any guarantees of your debt security, which could be different from those described in this prospectus.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities (and any guarantees thereof) will be governed by New York law.

Form of Debt Securities

We will issue each debt security only in registered form, without coupons, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, we will issue each debt security in global—i.e., book-entry—form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. Debt securities in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the debt securities represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a global debt security will do so through participants in the depositary’s securities clearance system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. References to “holders” in this section mean those who own debt securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in debt securities registered in street name or in debt securities issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries.

Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the following is a summary of the depositary arrangements applicable to debt securities issued in global form and for which DTC acts as depositary.

Each global debt security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, as depositary, or its nominee, and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Except under the limited circumstances described below, global debt securities are not exchangeable for definitive certificated debt securities.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global debt security is limited to institutions that have accounts with DTC or its nominee, or persons that may hold interests through those participants. In addition, ownership of beneficial interests by participants in a global debt security will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee for a global debt security. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global debt security by persons that hold those interests through participants will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership interest within that participant will be effected only through, records maintained by that participant. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the participants through which the beneficial owners entered the transaction. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities they purchase in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global debt security.

We will make payment of principal of, and interest on, debt securities represented by a global debt security registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner and holder of the global debt security representing those debt securities. DTC has advised us that upon receipt of any payment of principal of, or interest on, a global debt security, DTC immediately will credit accounts of participants on its book-entry registration and transfer system with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective interests in the principal amount of that global debt security, as shown in the records of DTC. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security held through

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those participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements that may be in effect from time to time.

Neither we, any trustee nor any of our respective agents will be responsible for any aspect of the records of DTC, any nominee or any participant relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a permanent global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the records of DTC, any nominee or any participant relating to such beneficial interests.

A global debt security is exchangeable for definitive debt securities registered in the name of, and a transfer of a global debt security may be registered to, any person other than DTC or its nominee, only if:

• DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security or has ceased to be a registered clearing agency and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; or

• we notify the trustee that we wish to terminate that global security.

Any global debt security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence will be exchangeable in whole for definitive debt securities in registered form, of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount as the global debt security, in denominations specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if other than $1,000 and multiples of $1,000. The definitive debt securities will be registered by the registrar in the name or names instructed by DTC. We expect that these instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global debt security.

Except as provided above, owners of the beneficial interests in a global debt security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the holders of debt securities for any purpose under the indentures. No global debt security shall be exchangeable except for another global debt security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global debt security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the global debt security or the indentures.

We understand that, under existing industry practices, in the event that we request any action of holders, or an owner of a beneficial interest in a global debt security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the debt securities or the indentures, DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action. Additionally, those participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those participants to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions among its participants in securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants. By doing so, DTC eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., NYSE Amex Equities. Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

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Investors may hold interests in the debt securities outside the U.S. through the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) or Clearstream Banking (“Clearstream”) if they are participants in those systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in those systems. Euroclear and Clearstream will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Euroclear’s and Clearstream’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by the Euroclear S.A./N.V. (the “Euroclear Operator”), under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (the “Cooperative”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers, and other professional financial intermediaries and may include any agents. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear, the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.

Clearstream advises that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance, and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including agents, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations and may include any agents. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream.

We have provided the descriptions herein of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of

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DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream and are subject to change by them from time to time. We believe that the sources from which the information in this section and elsewhere in this prospectus concerning DTC, Euroclear, the Euroclear Operator, the Cooperative, Euroclear’s system, Clearstream and Clearstream’s system has been obtained are reliable, but neither we, any underwriters nor the trustee takes any responsibility for the accuracy of the information.

Initial settlement for the securities will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between Euroclear Participants and/or Clearstream Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, as applicable, and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear Participants and Clearstream Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of securities received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Credits or any transactions in securities settled during this processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream Participants on that following business day. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of debt securities by or through a Euroclear Participant or a Clearstream Participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of securities among participants of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures and these procedures may be discontinued at any time.

Redemption or Repayment

If there are any provisions regarding redemption or repayment applicable to your debt security, we will describe them in your prospectus supplement.

We or our affiliates may purchase debt securities from investors who are willing to sell from time to time, either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Debt securities that we or they purchase may, at our discretion, be held, resold or canceled.

Mergers and Similar Transactions

We are generally permitted under the indenture for the relevant series to merge or consolidate with another corporation or other entity. We are also permitted under the indenture for the relevant series to sell all or

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substantially all of our assets to another corporation or other entity. With regard to any series of debt securities, however, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions, among other things, are met:

• If the successor entity in the transaction is not the Company, the successor entity must be organized as a corporation, partnership or trust and must expressly assume our obligations under the debt securities of that series and the indenture with respect to that series. The successor entity may be organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

• Immediately after the transaction, no default under the debt securities of that series has occurred and is continuing. For this purpose, “default under the debt securities of that series” means an event of default with respect to that series or any event that would be an event of default with respect to that series if the requirements for giving us default notice and for our default having to continue for a specific period of time were disregarded. We describe these matters below under “—Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default.”

If the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to the debt securities of any series, we will not need to obtain the approval of the holders of those debt securities in order to merge or consolidate or to sell our assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if we wish to merge or consolidate with another entity or sell all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock or assets of another entity, any transaction that involves a change of control of the Company but in which we do not merge or consolidate and any transaction in which we sell less than substantially all our assets.

If we sell all or substantially all of our assets, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the debt securities of any series and the indenture with respect to that series.

Subordination Provisions

Holders of subordinated debt securities should recognize that contractual provisions in the subordinated debt indenture may prohibit us from making payments on those securities. Subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the subordinated debt indenture, to all of our senior debt, as defined in the subordinated debt indenture, including all debt securities we have issued and will issue under the senior debt indenture.

The subordinated debt indenture defines “senior debt” as:

• our indebtedness under or in respect of our credit agreement, whether for principal, interest (including interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding pursuant to any bankruptcy law, whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such proceeding), reimbursement obligations, fees, commissions, expenses, indemnities or other amounts; and

• any other indebtedness permitted under the terms of that indenture, unless the instrument under which such indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “senior debt” will not include: (i) equity interests; (ii) any liability for taxes; (iii) any indebtedness to any of our subsidiaries or affiliates; (iv) any trade payables; or (v) any indebtedness incurred in violation of the subordinated debt indenture.

We may modify the subordination provisions, including the definition of senior debt, with respect to one or more series of subordinated debt securities. Such modifications will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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The subordinated debt indenture provides that, unless all principal of and any premium or interest on the senior debt has been paid in full, no payment or other distribution may be made in respect of any subordinated debt securities in the following circumstances:

• in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for creditors or other similar proceedings or events involving us or our assets;

• (a) in the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal, premium or interest on any senior debt beyond any applicable grace period or (b) in the event that any event of default with respect to any senior debt has occurred and is continuing, permitting the holders of that senior debt (or a trustee) to accelerate the maturity of that senior debt, whether or not the maturity is in fact accelerated (unless, in the case of (a) or (b), the payment default or event of default has been cured or waived or ceased to exist and any related acceleration has been rescinded) or (c) in the event that any judicial proceeding is pending with respect to a payment default or event of default described in (a) or (b); or

• in the event that any subordinated debt securities have been declared due and payable before their stated maturity.

If the trustee under the subordinated debt indenture or any holders of the subordinated debt securities receive any payment or distribution that is prohibited under the subordination provisions, then the trustee or the holders will have to repay that money to the holders of the senior debt.

Even if the subordination provisions prevent us from making any payment when due on the subordinated debt securities of any series, we will be in default on our obligations under that series if we do not make the payment when due. This means that the trustee under the subordinated debt indenture and the holders of that series can take action against us, but they will not receive any money until the claims of the holders of senior debt have been fully satisfied.

The subordinated debt indenture allows the holders of senior debt to obtain a court order requiring us and any holder of subordinated debt securities to comply with the subordination provisions.

Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance and Satisfaction and Discharge

When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our obligations under the indenture. If we deposit with the trustee funds or government securities, or if so provided in your prospectus supplement, obligations other than government securities, sufficient to make payments on any series of debt securities on the dates those payments are due and payable and other specified conditions are satisfied, then, at our option, either of the following will occur:

• we will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities of such series and all obligations of any guarantors of such debt securities will also be discharged with respect to the guarantees of such debt securities (“legal defeasance”); or

• we will be discharged from any covenants we make in the applicable indenture for the benefit of such series and the related events of default will no longer apply to us (“covenant defeasance”).

If we defease any series of debt securities, the holders of such securities will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture, except for our obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated securities or maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust. In case of covenant defeasance, our obligation to pay principal, premium and interest on the applicable series of debt securities will also survive.

We will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the applicable series of debt securities to recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.

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Upon the effectiveness of defeasance with respect to any series of guaranteed debt securities, each guarantor of the debt securities of such series will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all of its obligations under its guarantee of the debt securities of such series and all of its other obligations under the applicable indenture in respect of the debt securities of that series, without any action by the Company, any guarantor or the trustee and without the consent of the holders of any debt securities.

In addition, we may satisfy and discharge all our obligations under the indenture with respect to debt securities of any series, other than our obligation to register the transfer of and exchange debt securities of that series, provided that we either:

• deliver all outstanding debt securities of that series to the trustee for cancellation; or

• all such debt securities not so delivered for cancellation have either become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and in the case of this bullet point, we have deposited with the trustee in trust an amount of cash sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness of such debt securities, including interest to the stated maturity or applicable redemption date.

Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default

You will have special rights if an event of default with respect to your series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, as described in this subsection.

Events of Default

Unless your prospectus supplement says otherwise, when we refer to an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities, we mean any of the following:

• we do not pay the principal or any premium on any debt security of that series on the due date;

• we do not pay interest on any debt security of that series within 30 days after the due date;

• we do not deposit a sinking fund payment with regard to any debt security of that series within 60 days after the due date, but only if the payment is required under provisions described in the applicable prospectus supplement;

• we remain in breach of our covenants regarding mergers or sales of substantially all of our assets or any other covenant we make in the indenture for the benefit of the relevant series, for 90 days after we receive a notice of default stating that we are in breach and requiring us to remedy the breach. The notice must be sent by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the relevant series of debt securities;

• we file for bankruptcy or other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to the Company occur;

• if the debt securities of that series are guaranteed debt securities, the guarantee of the debt securities of that series by any guarantor shall for any reason cease to be, or shall for any reason be asserted in writing by such guarantor or the Company, not to be, in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent contemplated or permitted by the indenture or the debt securities of that series; or

• if the applicable prospectus supplement states that any additional event of default applies to the series, that event of default occurs.

We may change, eliminate, or add to the events of default with respect to any particular series or any particular debt security or debt securities within a series, as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs

If you are the holder of a subordinated debt security, all the remedies available upon the occurrence of an event of default under the subordinated debt indenture will be subject to the restrictions on the subordinated debt securities described above under “—Subordination Provisions.”

Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if an event of default has occurred with respect to any series of debt securities and has not been cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all debt securities of that series then outstanding may declare the entire principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be due immediately. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if the event of default occurs because of events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to the Company, the entire principal amount of the debt securities of that series will be automatically accelerated, without any action by the trustee or any holder.

Each of the situations described above is called an acceleration of the stated maturity of the affected series of debt securities. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if the stated maturity of any series is accelerated and a judgment for payment has not yet been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series may cancel the acceleration for the entire series.

If an event of default occurs, the trustee will have special duties. In that situation, the trustee will be obligated to use those of its rights and powers under the relevant indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in doing so, that a prudent person would use in that situation in conducting his or her own affairs.

Except as described in the prior paragraph, the trustee is not required to take any action under the relevant indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability. This is called an indemnity. If the trustee is provided with an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee with respect to that series. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the relevant indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series.

Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to any debt security, all of the following must occur:

• the holder of your debt security must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred with respect to the debt securities of your series, and the event of default must not have been cured or waived;

• the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all debt securities of your series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default, and they or other holders must offer to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action;

• the trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after the above steps have been taken; and

• during those 60 days, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of your series must not have given the trustee directions that are inconsistent with the written request of the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of your series.

You are entitled at any time, however, to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt security on or after its stated maturity (or, if your debt security is redeemable, on or after its redemption date).

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of the maturity.

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Waiver of Default

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series may waive a default for all debt securities of that series. If this happens, the default will be treated as if it has not occurred. No one can waive a payment default on your debt security, however, without the approval of the particular holder of that debt security.

Annual Information about Defaults to the Trustee

We will furnish each trustee every year a written statement of two of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the applicable indenture and the debt securities issued under it, or else specifying any default under the applicable indenture.

Modifications and Waivers

There are four types of changes we can make to either indenture and the debt securities or series of debt securities or any guarantees thereof issued under that indenture.

Changes Requiring Each Holder’s Approval

First, there are changes that cannot be made without the approval of each holder of a debt security affected by the change under the applicable debt indenture, including, among others:

• changing the stated maturity for any principal or interest payment on a debt security;

• reducing the principal amount, the amount payable on acceleration of the maturity after a default, the interest rate or the redemption price for a debt security;

• permitting redemption of a debt security if not previously permitted;

• impairing any right a holder may have to require purchase of its debt security;

• impairing any right that a holder of a convertible debt security may have to convert the debt security;

• changing the currency of any payment on a debt security;

• changing the place of payment on a debt security;

• impairing a holder’s right to sue for payment of any amount due on its debt security;

• releasing any guarantor of a debt security from any of its obligations under its guarantee thereof, except in accordance with the terms of the indenture;

• reducing the percentage in principal amount of the debt securities of any one or more affected series, taken separately or together, as applicable, and whether comprising the same or different series or less than all of the debt securities of a series, the approval of whose holders is needed to change the indenture or those debt securities or waive our compliance with the applicable indenture or to waive defaults; and

• changing the provisions of the applicable indenture dealing with modification and waiver in any other respect, except to increase any required percentage referred to above or to add to the provisions that cannot be changed or waived without approval of the holder of each affected debt security.

Changes Not Requiring Approval

The second type of change does not require any approval by holders of the debt securities affected. These changes are limited to clarifications and changes that would not adversely affect any debt securities of any series in any material respect. Nor do we need any approval to make changes that affect only debt securities to be issued under the applicable indenture after the changes take effect. We may also make changes or obtain waivers

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that do not adversely affect a particular debt security, even if they affect other debt securities. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of the unaffected debt security; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected debt securities. We may also make changes to reflect the addition of, succession to or release of any guarantor of guaranteed debt securities otherwise permitted under the indenture. We may also make changes to conform the text of the applicable indenture or any debt securities or guarantees to any provision of the “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees” in this prospectus or the comparable section in your prospectus supplement, to the extent such provision was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of such indenture or debt securities or guarantees.

Modification of Subordination Provisions

We may not amend the indenture related to subordinated debt securities to alter the subordination of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the written consent of each holder of senior debt then outstanding who would be adversely affected (or the group or representative thereof authorized or required to consent thereto pursuant to the instrument creating or evidencing, or pursuant to which there is outstanding, such senior debt). In addition, we may not modify the subordination provisions of the indenture related to subordinated debt securities in a manner that would adversely affect the subordinated debt securities of any one or more series then outstanding in any material respect, without the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all affected series then outstanding, voting together as one class (and also of any affected series that by its terms is entitled to vote separately as a series, as described below).

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

Any other change to a particular indenture and the debt securities issued under that indenture would require the following approval:

• If the change affects only particular debt securities within a series issued under the applicable indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of such particular debt securities; or

• If the change affects debt securities of more than one series issued under the applicable indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of all such series affected by the change, with all such affected debt securities voting together as one class for this purpose and such affected debt securities of any series potentially comprising fewer than all debt securities of such series,

in each case, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to such indenture for all or any particular debt securities of any series. This means that modification of terms with respect to certain securities of a series could be effectuated without obtaining the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of other securities of such series that are not affected by such modification.

The same majority approval would be required for us to obtain a waiver of any of our covenants in either indenture. Our covenants include the promises we make about merging or selling substantially all of our assets, which we describe above under “—Mergers and Similar Transactions.” If the holders approve a waiver of a covenant, we will not have to comply with it. The holders, however, cannot approve a waiver of any provision in a particular debt security, or in the applicable indenture as it affects that debt security, that we cannot change without the approval of the holder of that debt security as described above in “—Changes Requiring Each Holder’s Approval”, unless that holder approves the waiver.

We may issue particular debt securities or a particular series of debt securities, as applicable, that are entitled, by their terms, to separately approve matters (for example, modification or waiver of provisions in the applicable indenture) that would also, or otherwise, require approval of holders of a majority in principal amount of all affected debt securities of all affected series issued under such indenture voting together as a single class.

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Any such affected debt securities or series of debt securities would be entitled to approve such matters (a) pursuant to such special rights by consent of holders of a majority in principal amount of such affected debt securities or series of debt securities voting separately as a class and (b) in addition, as described above, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to the applicable indenture for such debt securities or series of debt securities, by consent of holders of a majority in principal amount of such affected debt securities or series of debt securities and all other affected debt securities of all series issued under such indenture voting together as one class for this purpose. We may issue series or debt securities of a series having these or other special voting rights without obtaining the consent of or giving notice to holders of outstanding debt securities or series.

References to “holder” mean those who own debt securities registered in their own names and not those who own beneficial interests in debt securities registered in street name or in debt securities issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change an indenture or any debt securities or request a waiver. In particular, with respect to global debt securities for which DTC is depositary, we understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request any action, including any waiver or consent, of holders, DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take such action, and those participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those participants to give or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them, all as described above under “—Form of Debt Securities.”

Special Rules for Action by Holders

Only holders of outstanding debt securities of the applicable series will be eligible to take any action under the applicable indenture, such as giving a notice of default, declaring an acceleration, approving any change or waiver or giving the trustee an instruction with respect to debt securities of that series. Also, we will count only outstanding debt securities in determining whether the various percentage requirements for taking action have been met. Any debt securities owned by us or any of our affiliates or surrendered for cancellation or for payment or redemption of which money has been set aside in trust are not deemed to be outstanding. Any required approval or waiver must be given by written consent.

In some situations, we may follow special rules in calculating the principal amount of debt securities that are to be treated as outstanding for the purposes described above. This may happen, for example, if the principal amount is payable in a non-U.S. dollar currency, increases over time or is not to be fixed until maturity.

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders that are entitled to take action under either indenture. In certain limited circumstances, only the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If we or the trustee sets a record date for an approval or other action to be taken by holders, that vote or action may be taken only by persons or entities who are holders on the record date and must be taken during the period that we specify for this purpose, or that the trustee specifies if it sets the record date. We or the trustee, as applicable, may shorten or lengthen this period from time to time. This period, however, may not extend beyond the 180th day after the record date for the action. In addition, record dates for any global debt security may be set in accordance with procedures established by the depositary from time to time. Accordingly, record dates for global debt securities may differ from those for other debt securities.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

If any debt securities cease to be issued in registered global form, they will be issued:

• only in fully registered form;

• without interest coupons; and

• unless we indicate otherwise in your prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

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Holders may exchange their debt securities for debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. You may not exchange your debt securities for securities of a different series or having different terms, unless your prospectus supplement and the supplemental indenture with respect to your debt securities say you may.

Holders may exchange or transfer their debt securities at the office of the trustee. They may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated debt securities at that office. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring and replacing debt securities. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their debt securities, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may require an indemnity before replacing any debt securities.

If we have designated additional transfer agents for your debt security, they will be named in your prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

If the debt securities of any series are redeemable and we redeem less than all those debt securities, we may block the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or exchange any debt security selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed.

If a debt security is issued as a global debt security, only DTC or other depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this subsection because the depositary will be the sole holder of the debt security.

The rules for exchange described above apply to exchange of debt securities for other debt securities of the same series and kind. If a debt security is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into or for a different kind of security, such as one that we have not yet issued, or for other property, the rules governing that type of conversion, exercise or exchange will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payments

We will pay interest, principal and other amounts payable with respect to the debt securities of any series to the holders of record of those debt securities as of the record dates and otherwise in the manner specified below or in the prospectus supplement for that series.

We will make payments on a global debt security in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will pay directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect owners who own beneficial interests in the global debt security. An indirect owner’s right to receive those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants.

We will make payments on a debt security in non-global, registered form as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder at his or her address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We will make all other payments by check at the paying agent described below, against surrender of the debt security. All payments by check will be made in next-day funds—i.e., funds that become available on the day after the check is cashed.

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Alternatively, if a non-global debt security has a face amount of at least $1,000,000 and the holder asks us to do so, we will pay any amount that becomes due on the debt security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in New York City, on the due date. To request wire payment, the holder must give the paying agent appropriate wire transfer instructions at least five business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person or entity who is the holder on the relevant regular record date. In the case of any other payment, payment will be made only after the debt security is surrendered to the paying agent. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on their debt securities.

Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to a holder will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, the holder may look only to us for payment and not to the trustee, any other paying agent or anyone else.

Guarantees

The debt securities of any series may be guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries. However, the applicable indenture governing the debt securities will not require that any of our subsidiaries be a guarantor of any series of debt securities and will permit the guarantors for any series of guaranteed debt securities to be different from any of the subsidiaries listed above under “—General.” As a result, a series of debt securities may not have any guarantors and the guarantors of any series of guaranteed debt securities may differ from the guarantors of any other series of guaranteed debt securities. If the Company issues a series of guaranteed debt securities, the identity of the specific guarantors of the debt securities of that series will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If the Company issues a series of guaranteed debt securities, a description of some of the terms of guarantees of those debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of guaranteed debt securities, each guarantor of the debt securities of such series will unconditionally guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on each debt security of such series, all in accordance with the terms of such debt securities and the applicable indenture.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of guaranteed debt securities, the applicable indenture will contain provisions to the effect that the obligations of each guarantor under its guarantees and such indenture will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such guarantor, result in the obligations of such guarantor under such guarantees and such indenture not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. However, there can be no assurance that, notwithstanding such limitation, a court would not determine that a guarantee constituted a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. If that were to occur, the court could void the applicable guarantor’s obligations under that guarantee, subordinate that guarantee to other debt and other liabilities of that guarantor or take other action detrimental to holders of the debt securities of the applicable series, including directing the holders to return any payments received from the applicable guarantor.

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of guaranteed debt securities, the applicable indenture will (i) provide that, upon the sale or disposition (by merger or otherwise) of any guarantor, (x) if the transferee is not an affiliate of the Company, such guarantor will automatically be released from all obligations under its guarantee of such debt securities or (y) otherwise, the transferee (if other than the

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Company or another guarantor) will assume the guarantor’s obligations under its guarantee of such debt securities and (ii) permit us to cause the guarantee of any guarantor of such debt securities to be released at any time if we satisfy such conditions, if any, as are specified in the prospectus supplement for such debt securities.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any series of guaranteed debt securities will specify other terms of the applicable guarantees.

If the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of our senior debt securities provides that those senior debt securities will have the benefit of a guarantee by any or all of our subsidiaries, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each such guarantee will be the unsubordinated and unsecured obligation of the applicable guarantor and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of such guarantor.

Any guarantee of any debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future secured indebtedness of the applicable guarantor, including any secured guarantees of other Company debt, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness. Consequently, in the event of a bankruptcy, or similar proceeding with respect to any guarantor that has provided a guarantee of any debt securities, the holders of that guarantor’s secured indebtedness will be entitled to proceed directly against the collateral that secures that secured indebtedness and such collateral will not be available for satisfaction of any amount owed by such guarantor under its unsecured indebtedness, including its guarantees of any debt securities, until that secured debt is satisfied in full. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture will not limit the ability of any guarantor to incur secured indebtedness.

If the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of our subordinated debt securities provides that those subordinated debt securities will have the benefit of a guarantee by any or all of our subsidiaries, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each such guarantee will be the subordinated and unsecured obligation of the applicable guarantor and, in addition to being effectively subordinated to secured debt of such guarantor, will be subordinated in right of payment to all of such guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness, including any guarantee of the senior debt securities, to the same extent and in the same manner as the subordinated debt securities are subordinated to our senior debt. See “—Subordination Provisions” above.

Paying Agents

We may appoint one or more financial institutions to act as our paying agents, at whose designated offices debt securities in non-global entry form may be surrendered for payment at their maturity. We call each of those offices a paying agent. We may add, replace or terminate paying agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. We will specify in the prospectus supplement for your debt security the initial location of each paying agent for that debt security. We must notify the trustee of changes in the paying agents.

Notices

Notices to be given to holders of a global debt security will be given only to the depositary, in accordance with its applicable policies as in effect from time to time. Notices to be given to holders of debt securities not in global form will be sent by mail to the respective addresses of the holders as they appear in the trustee’s records, and will be deemed given when mailed. Neither the failure to give any notice to a particular holder, nor any defect in a notice given to a particular holder, will affect the sufficiency of any notice given to another holder.

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive notices.

Our Relationship With the Trustee

The prospectus supplement for your debt security will describe any material relationships we may have with the trustee with respect to that debt security.

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The same financial institution may initially serve as the trustee for our senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities. Consequently, if an actual or potential event of default occurs with respect to any of these securities, the trustee may be considered to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. In that case, the trustee may be required to resign under one or more of the indentures, and we would be required to appoint a successor trustee. For this purpose, a “potential” event of default means an event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or for the default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

As of the date of this prospectus, we are authorized to issue up to 150,000,000 shares of common stock of $.001 par value, and 75,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.001 per share. As of June 27, 2012, there were 48,130,246 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. In addition, our board of directors has reserved 2,211,083 shares of common stock for issuance upon the exercise of options granted or that may be granted under our stock option and stock incentive plans.

The following summary of certain provisions of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is not intended to give full effect to provisions of statutory or common law. The summary is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, copies of which are listed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and by the provisions of applicable law.

Common Stock

Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters presented to the holders of common stock. Except as otherwise provided in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws or required by law, all matters to be voted on by our stockholders must be approved by a majority, or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality, of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of common stock. Cumulative voting is not allowed in the election of directors or for any other purpose, and the holders of common stock have no preemptive rights, redemption rights or rights of conversion with respect to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available for their payment subject to the rights of holders of any preferred stock outstanding. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably our net assets available after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Our board of directors is authorized to issue additional shares of common stock within the limits authorized by our certificate of incorporation and without stockholder action.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BBG.”

Preferred Stock

The preferred stock may carry such relative rights, preferences and designations as may be determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion upon the issuance of any shares of preferred stock. The shares of preferred stock could be issued from time to time by the board of directors in its sole discretion (without further approval or authorization by the stockholders), in one or more series, each of which series could have any particular distinctive designations as well as relative rights and preferences as determined by the board of directors. The relative rights and preferences that may be determined by the board of directors in its discretion from time to time, include but are not limited to the following:

• the rate of dividend and whether the dividends are to be cumulative and the priority, if any, of dividend payments relative to other series in the class;

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• whether the shares of any such series may be redeemed, and if so, the redemption price and the terms and conditions of redemption;

• the amount payable with respect to such series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation; the priority, if any, of each series relative to other series in the class with respect to amounts payable upon liquidation; and the sinking fund provisions, if any, for the redemption or purchase of the shares of that series; and

• the terms and conditions, if any, on which the shares of a series may be converted into or exchanged for shares of any class, whether common or preferred, or into shares of any series of the same class, and if provision is made for conversion or exchange, the times, prices, rates, adjustments and other terms.

The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock could have anti-takeover effects because we could issue preferred stock with special dividend or voting rights that could discourage potential bidders. Our board of directors adopted a shareholders’ rights plan that became effective upon the completion of our initial public offering, which will give the holders of our common stock the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, in the event of certain unsolicited takeover activities. See “—Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law, our Certificate of Incorporation, and Bylaws—Shareholder Rights Plan.”

Approval by the stockholders of the authorization of the preferred stock gave the board of directors the ability, without stockholder approval, to issue these shares with rights and preferences determined by the board of directors in the future. As a result, the Company may issue shares of preferred stock that have dividend, voting and other rights superior to those of the common stock, or that convert into shares of common stock, without the approval of the holders of common stock. This could result in the dilution of the voting rights, ownership and liquidation value of current stockholders.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our certificate of incorporation provides that none of the directors shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except liability for:

• any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

• acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

• the payment of unlawful dividends and certain other actions prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”); and

• any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit.

The effect of this provision of our certificate of incorporation is to eliminate our rights and the rights of our stockholders to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty of care, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except in the situations described above. This provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care. This provision will not alter a director’s liability under federal securities laws.

Our bylaws also provide that we will indemnify officers and directors against losses that they may incur in investigations and legal proceedings resulting from their services to us.

Our bylaws also provide that:

• we are required to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, subject to limited exceptions;

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• we may indemnify our other employees and agents to the extent that we indemnify our officers and directors, unless otherwise required by law, our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws or agreements to which we are a party;

• we are required to advance expenses, as incurred, to our directors and officers in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, subject to limited exceptions; and

• we are required to pay within 60 days reasonable amounts related to a settlement or judgment, subject to limited exceptions.

We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and officers to give them additional contractual assurances regarding the scope of the indemnification set forth in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and to provide additional procedural protections.

We currently have liability insurance for our directors and officers.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law, our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

General

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain the following additional provisions, some of which are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the policies formulated by our board of directors. In addition, some provisions of the DGCL, if applicable to us, may hinder or delay an attempted takeover without prior approval of our board of directors. Provisions of the DGCL and of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could discourage attempts to acquire us or remove incumbent management even if some or a majority of our stockholders believe this action is in their best interest. These provisions could, therefore, prevent stockholders from receiving a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock they hold.

Filling Board of Directors Vacancies; Removal

Our bylaws provide that vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of our directors then in office, though less than a quorum (and not by stockholders).

Our bylaws provide that directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors, if notice of the intention to act upon such matter is given in the notice calling such meeting.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws preclude stockholders from initiating or effecting any action by written consent and thereby taking actions opposed by the board.

Call of Special Meetings

Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called at any time only by the board of directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by the board and not the stockholders.

Advanced Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before or to nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the

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corporate secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to our corporate secretary at our principal executive offices no later than the 60th day or earlier than the 90th day before the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. If, however, no meeting was held in the prior year or the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date contemplated in the notice of annual meeting, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be received no later than the close of business on the 90th day before the annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which the date of the annual meeting is publicly announced. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may preclude stockholders from bringing matters before an annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at an annual meeting of stockholders or may discourage or defer a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

No Cumulative Voting

The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our certificate of incorporation does not expressly provide for cumulative voting. Under cumulative voting, a majority stockholder holding a sufficient percentage of a class of shares may be able to ensure the election of one or more directors.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

Our certificate of incorporation provides that the authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to various limitations imposed by the New York Stock Exchange. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could make it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Shareholder Rights Plan

Our board of directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan that became effective upon the closing of our initial public offering in December 2004. Generally, shareholder rights plans are designed to encourage potential acquirers to negotiate directly with the company’s elected board, which is in the best position to negotiate on behalf of all stockholders, evaluate the adequacy of any potential offer and protect stockholders against unfair and abusive takeover tactics. Shareholder rights plans may prevent abusive takeovers that include hostile tender offers made at less than fair price and partial and two-tiered offers that discriminate among the company’s stockholders. Because a shareholder rights plan can be an effective tool in a hostile takeover attempt, we believe the adoption of such a plan is appropriately within the scope of our responsibilities. Our board of directors and our stockholders approved a shareholder rights plan designed to prevent any potential acquirer from obtaining control of us without negotiating the terms of the transaction with our board of directors.

Under our shareholder rights plan, among other things, in the event of an acquisition of, or an announced tender offer for, 15% or more of our outstanding common stock, holders of our common stock will have been granted the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, at an expected price of $150 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, subject to adjustment. The plan provides exceptions for acquisitions of up to an additional 1% of our common stock by existing stockholders who held at least 15% of our stock at the time of the approval of the plan. The rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by a majority of our board of directors.

Although the shareholder rights plan is not intended to prevent acquisitions through negotiations with our board of directors, the existence of the shareholder rights plan may nevertheless discourage a third party from

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making a partial tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain a substantial position in our equity securities or seeking to obtain control of us. To the extent any potential acquirers are deterred by our shareholder rights plan, the plan may have the effect of preserving incumbent directors and management in office or preventing acquisitions of us. The shareholder rights plan will expire on June 30, 2014 unless extended by us or unless sooner redeemed or exchanged by us.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law. In general, this section prevents certain Delaware companies under certain circumstances, from engaging in a “business combination” with (1) a stockholder who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (otherwise known as an “interested stockholder”); (2) an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or (3) an associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an “interested stockholder.” A “business combination” includes a merger or sale of 10% or more of our assets. However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if (1) our board approves the transaction; (2) after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder,” that stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by our officers and directors and certain employee benefit plans; or (3) on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by our board and authorized at a meeting of our stockholders by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the “interested stockholder.” This statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other change in control attempts, and thus may discourage attempts to acquire us.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we decide to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, we will issue receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. An accompanying prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a depositary that is a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all of the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.

We have summarized selected provisions of the deposit agreement and the depositary receipts.

Dividends and Other Distributions

If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. If, however, the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the holders of the preferred stock.

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Redemption of Depositary Shares

If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the depositary may determine.

Voting the Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may instruct the depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action that the depositary deems necessary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between the depositary and us. Any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not, however, be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by the depositary or us only if (a) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or (b) there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our Company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.

Charges of Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the deposit agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.

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Miscellaneous

The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the depositary and us under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties thereunder, and we will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering notice to us of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WARRANTS

We may issue securities warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock. Securities warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of securities warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of securities warrants. The securities warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the securities warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of securities warrants or beneficial owners of securities warrants.

We have summarized selected provisions of the securities warrant agreements. A prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of securities warrants will contain the terms of and information relating to that issue of securities warrants, including, where applicable:

• the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of securities warrants to purchase debt securities and the price at which such debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

• the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of securities warrants to purchase common stock and the price at which such number of shares of common stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

• the number of shares and series of preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon the exercise of securities warrants to purchase preferred stock or depositary shares and the price at which such number of shares of such series of preferred stock or depositary shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

• the date on which the right to exercise such securities warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

• United States federal income tax consequences applicable to such securities warrants;

• the amount of securities warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and

• any other terms of such securities warrants.

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Securities warrants will be issued in registered form only. The exercise price for securities warrants will be subject to adjustment in accordance with a prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of securities warranties.

Each securities warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such principal amount of debt securities or such number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, a prospectus supplement relating to the securities warrants, which exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, or such later date to which such expiration date may be extended by us, unexercised securities warrants will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, securities warrants may be exercised shall be specified in a prospectus supplement relating to such securities warrants.

Prior to the exercise of any securities warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares, holders of such securities warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares, as the case may be, purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise or to enforce covenants in any applicable indenture, or to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon such exercise, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to holders, a specified number of shares of common stock or other securities at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as “stock purchase contracts.” The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and debt securities, preferred securities, warrants or other securities that are registered hereunder, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the stock purchase contracts, which we refer to herein as “stock purchase units.” The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the stock purchase contracts in a specified manner. The stock purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis.

An accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase units and the stock purchase contracts will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Francis B. Barron, our Executive Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary, or by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Houston, Texas, our outside legal counsel. The validity of certain of the offered securities and other matters arising under Wyoming law will be passed upon by Beatty, Wozniak & Reese, P.C. As of June 28, 2012, Mr. Barron beneficially owned 78,681 shares of our common stock, 22,310 of which are subject to forfeiture and vesting requirements, and held options to purchase 204,866 shares of our common stock, of which options to purchase 143,535 shares were exercisable. Additional legal matters may be passed on for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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EXPERTS

The financial statements as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011 incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference (which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s adoption of new accounting guidance for the year ended December 31, 2009 for oil and gas reserves disclosures and (2) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting). Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

Certain information regarding our estimates of the oil and gas reserves associated with our oil and gas prospects incorporated by reference in this prospectus is reviewed by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., an independent petroleum engineering firm. The description of the review of such estimates is incorporated by reference into this prospectus upon the authority of said firm as an expert in these matters.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the fees and expenses in connection with the registration and distribution of the securities being registered hereunder, which will be paid by the Company. Except for the SEC registration fee, all amounts are estimates.

SEC registration fee	$	*
Accounting fees and expenses		**
Legal fees and expenses		**
Blue Sky fees and expenses (including legal fees)		**
Printing expenses		**
Trustee, Transfer Agent and Registrar fees and expenses		**
Engineering fees		**
Rating agency fees		**
Miscellaneous expenses		**
Total	$	**

* To be deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and calculated in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r).

** These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation, in its certificate of incorporation, to limit or eliminate, subject to certain statutory limitations, the liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty, except for liability (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Article Eighth of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the personal liability of directors of the registrant is limited to the fullest extent permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL.

Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation has the power to indemnify directors and officers under certain prescribed circumstances and subject to certain limitations against certain costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to which any of them is a party by reason of being a director or officer of the corporation if it is determined that the director or offer acted in accordance with the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such statutory provision. Article VIII of our Amended and Restated Bylaws provides that the registrant will indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity, against certain liabilities, costs and expenses. Article VIII further permits the registrant to maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the registrant would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL. We currently maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and have indemnification agreements with our officers and directors that are intended to provide indemnification rights to

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the fullest extent permitted under applicable indemnification rights statutes in the State of Delaware and in addition to any other rights that the indemnitee may have under our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws or applicable law.

The above discussion of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws, indemnification agreements and the DGCL is not intended to be exhaustive and is respectively qualified in its entirety by reference to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws, such indemnification agreements and the DGCL.

Under the underwriting agreement, the underwriters are obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify directors and officers of the registrant against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Reference is made to the form of underwriting agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto.

Item 16. Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibits
1.1**	Form of Underwriting Agreement between the Company and the Underwriter(s) with respect to the Securities.
1.2**	Form of Agency Agreement.
1.3**	Form of Distribution Agreement.
4.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bill Barrett Corporation. [Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 4, 2012, File No. 001-32367.]
4.2	Amended and Restated Bylaws of Bill Barrett Corporation. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 15, 2012, File No. 001-32367.]
4.3	Specimen Certificate of Common Stock. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on December 20, 2004, File No. 001-32367.]
4.4	Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 28, 2002, among Bill Barrett Corporation and the investors named therein. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-114554.]
4.5	Stockholders’ Agreement, dated March 28, 2002 and as amended to date, among Bill Barrett Corporation and the investors named therein. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-114554.]
4.6	Rights Agreement concerning Shareholder Rights Plan, which includes as Exhibit A thereto the Form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Bill Barrett Corporation, and as Exhibits B thereto the Form of Right Certificate. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on December 20, 2004, File No. 001-32367.]
4.7	Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Bill Barrett Corporation. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on December 20, 2004, File No. 001-32367.]

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Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibits
4.8	Form of Right Certificate, included as Exhibit B to Exhibit 4.6 above.
4.9	Indenture, dated July 8, 2009, between Bill Barrett Corporation and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2009, File No. 001-32367.]
4.10	First Supplemental Indenture, dated July 8, 2009, by Bill Barrett Corporation and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (including form of 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016). [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2009, File No. 001-32367.]
4.11	Second Supplemental Indenture, dated August 3, 2011, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC, Aurora Gathering, LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3(d) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2012, File No. 001-32367.]
4.12	Third Supplemental Indenture, dated September 27, 2011, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC, Aurora Gathering, LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (including form of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2019). [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 27, 2011, File No. 001-32367.]
4.13	Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated March 12, 2012, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC, Aurora Gathering, LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (including form of 7.0% Senior Notes due 2022). [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2012, File No. 001-32367.]
4.14	Indenture, dated March 12, 2008, between Bill Barrett Corporation and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2008, File No. 001-32367.]
4.15	First Supplemental Indenture, dated March 12, 2008, by and between Bill Barrett Corporation and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (including form of 5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028). [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2008, File No. 001-32367.]
4.16	Second Supplemental Indenture, dated July 8, 2009, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM LLC, Circle B Land Company LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2009, File No. 001-32367.]
4.17	Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 3, 2011, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC, Aurora Gathering, LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99(D)(4) of the Company’s Schedule TO filed with the SEC on February 21, 2012.]
4.18	Form of Indenture with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on April 24, 2009, File No. 333-158778.]
4.19**	Form of Designating Amendment for Preferred Stock.
4.20**	Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.

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Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibits
4.21**	Form of Deposit Agreement.
4.22**	Form of Depositary Receipt Certificate.
4.23**	Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company and the Warrant Agent.
4.24**	Form of Warrant Certificate.
4.25**	Form of Stock Purchase Contract.
4.26**	Form of Unit Agreement.
5.1*	Opinion of Francis B. Barron, Executive Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary of Bill Barrett Corporation, regarding legality of securities being registered.
12.1*	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1*	Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2*	Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., Independent Petroleum Engineers.
23.3*	Consent of Francis B. Barron, Executive Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary of Bill Barrett Corporation (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
23.4*	Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
23.5*	Consent of Beatty, Wozniak & Reese, P.C. (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1*	Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this Registration Statement).
25.1*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under the Indenture with respect to Senior Debt Securities.
25.2*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under the Indenture with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities.

* Filed herewith.

** To be filed by amendment or an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

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provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

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(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on June 28, 2012.

BILL BARRETT CORPORATION
By:	/S/    FREDRICK J. BARRETT
	Fredrick J. Barrett, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Fredrick J. Barrett, Robert W. Howard, and Francis B. Barron, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, from such person and in each person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to sign and file any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 28, 2012.

Signature	Title
/S/    FREDRICK J. BARRETT Fredrick J. Barrett	Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer)
/S/    ROBERT W. HOWARD Robert W. Howard	Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)
/S/    DAVID R. MACOSKO David R. Macosko	Senior Vice President—Accounting (Principal Accounting Officer)
/S/    WILLIAM F. OWENS William F. Owens	Director
/S/    KEVIN O. MEYERS Kevin O. Meyers	Director
/S/    JIM W. MOGG Jim W. Mogg	Director
/S/    EDMUND P. SEGNER, III Edmund P. Segner, III	Director
/S/    RANDY STEIN Randy Stein	Director
/S/    MICHAEL E. WILEY Michael E. Wiley	Director

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, each of the co-registrants certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on June 28, 2012.

BILL BARRETT CBM CORPORATION CIRCLE B LAND COMPANY LLC GB ACQUISITION CORPORATION ELK PRODUCTION UINTAH, LLC AURORA GATHERING, LLC
By:	/S/    FREDRICK J. BARRETT
	Fredrick J. Barrett, Chief Executive Officer and President

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Fredrick J. Barrett, R. Scot Woodall, Robert W. Howard, and Francis B. Barron, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, from such person and in each person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to sign and file any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 28, 2012.

Signature	Title
/S/    FREDRICK J. BARRETT Fredrick J. Barrett	Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of Bill Barrett CBM Corporation Chief Executive Officer, President and Manager of Circle B Land Company LLC Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of GB Acquisition Corporation Chief Executive Officer and President of Elk Production Uintah, LLC and of Bill Barrett Corporation, in its capacity as sole member of Elk Production Uintah, LLC Chief Executive Officer, President and Manager of Aurora Gathering, LLC (Principal Executive Officer)
/S/    ROBERT W. HOWARD Robert W. Howard	Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director of Bill Barrett CBM Corporation Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC and Aurora Gathering, LLC (Principal Financial Officer)

/S/    FRANCIS B. BARRON Francis B. Barron	Executive Vice President—General Counsel, Secretary and Director of Bill Barrett CBM Corporation Executive Vice President—General Counsel, Secretary and Manager of Circle B Land Company LLC Executive Vice President—General Counsel, Secretary and Director of GB Acquisition Corporation Executive Vice President—General Counsel, Secretary and Manager of Aurora Gathering, LLC
/S/    DAVID R. MACOSKO David R. Macosko	Senior Vice President—Accounting of Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC and Aurora Gathering, LLC (Principal Accounting Officer)
/S/    R. SCOT WOODALL R. Scot Woodall	Chief Operating Officer and Director of Bill Barrett CBM Corporation Chief Operating Officer and Manager of Circle B Land Company LLC Chief Operating Officer and Director of GB Acquisition Corporation Chief Operating Officer and Manager of Aurora Gathering, LLC

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibits
1.1**	Form of Underwriting Agreement between the Company and the Underwriter(s) with respect to the Securities.
1.2**	Form of Agency Agreement.
1.3**	Form of Distribution Agreement.
4.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bill Barrett Corporation. [Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 4, 2012, File No. 001-32367.]
4.2	Amended and Restated Bylaws of Bill Barrett Corporation. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 15, 2012, File No. 001-32367.]
4.3	Specimen Certificate of Common Stock. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on December 20, 2004, File No. 001-32367.]
4.4	Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 28, 2002, among Bill Barrett Corporation and the investors named therein. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-114554.]
4.5	Stockholders’ Agreement, dated March 28, 2002 and as amended to date, among Bill Barrett Corporation and the investors named therein. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-114554.]
4.6	Rights Agreement concerning Shareholder Rights Plan, which includes as Exhibit A thereto the Form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Bill Barrett Corporation, and as Exhibits B thereto the Form of Right Certificate. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on December 20, 2004, File No. 001-32367.]
4.7	Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Bill Barrett Corporation. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on December 20, 2004, File No. 001-32367.]
4.8	Form of Right Certificate, included as Exhibit B to Exhibit 4.6 above.
4.9	Indenture, dated July 8, 2009, between Bill Barrett Corporation and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2009, File No. 001-32367.]
4.10	First Supplemental Indenture, dated July 8, 2009, by Bill Barrett Corporation and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (including form of 9.875% Senior Notes due 2016). [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2009, File No. 001-32367.]
4.11	Second Supplemental Indenture, dated August 3, 2011, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC, Aurora Gathering, LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3(d) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2012, File No. 001-32367.]

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibits
4.12	Third Supplemental Indenture, dated September 27, 2011, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC, Aurora Gathering, LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (including form of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2019). [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 27, 2011, File No. 001-32367.]
4.13	Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated March 12, 2012, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC, Aurora Gathering, LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (including form of 7.0% Senior Notes due 2022). [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2012, File No. 001-32367.]
4.14	Indenture, dated March 12, 2008, between Bill Barrett Corporation and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2008, File No. 001-32367.]
4.15	First Supplemental Indenture, dated March 12, 2008, by and between Bill Barrett Corporation and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (including form of 5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028). [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2008, File No. 001-32367.]
4.16	Second Supplemental Indenture, dated July 8, 2009, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM LLC, Circle B Land Company LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2009, File No. 001-32367.]
4.17	Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 3, 2011, by Bill Barrett Corporation, Bill Barrett CBM Corporation, Circle B Land Company LLC, GB Acquisition Corporation, Elk Production Uintah, LLC, Aurora Gathering, LLC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99(D)(4) of the Company’s Schedule TO filed with the SEC on February 21, 2012.]
4.18	Form of Indenture with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on April 24, 2009, File No. 333-158778.]
4.19**	Form of Designating Amendment for Preferred Stock.
4.20**	Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.
4.21**	Form of Deposit Agreement.
4.22**	Form of Depositary Receipt Certificate.
4.23**	Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company and the Warrant Agent.
4.24**	Form of Warrant Certificate.
4.25**	Form of Stock Purchase Contract.
4.26**	Form of Unit Agreement.
5.1*	Opinion of Francis B. Barron, Executive Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary of Bill Barrett Corporation, regarding legality of securities being registered.
12.1*	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1*	Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibits
23.2*	Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., Independent Petroleum Engineers.
23.3*	Consent of Francis B. Barron, Executive Vice President—General Counsel and Secretary of Bill Barrett Corporation (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
23.4*	Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
23.5*	Consent of Beatty, Wozniak & Reese, P.C. (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1*	Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this Registration Statement).
25.1*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under the Indenture with respect to Senior Debt Securities.
25.2*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under the Indenture with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities.

* Filed herewith.

** To be filed by amendment or an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K.