REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into April 29, 1999, among COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC., a Nevada
corporation (the "Company"), COMSTOCK OIL & GAS, INC., a Nevada corporation,
COMSTOCK OIL & GAS - LOUISIANA, INC., a Nevada corporation, and COMSTOCK
OFFSHORE LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (each, a "Guarantor," and
collectively, the "Guarantors"), and MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED, BANC ONE
CAPITAL MARKETS, INC., TD SECURITIES (USA) INC. and PARIBAS CORPORATION (each, a
"Placement Agent," and collectively, the "Placement Agents").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Placement Agreement dated April
26, 1999, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Placement Agents (the
"Placement Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the
Placement Agents of an aggregate of $150,000,000 principal amount of the
Company's 11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2007 (the "Securities"). In order to induce
the Placement Agents to enter into the Placement Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors here agreed to provide to the Placement Agents and their direct and
indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The
execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Placement
Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
5. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined
terms shall have the following meanings:
"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time to time.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended from time to time.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the
Placement Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
and shall also include the Company's successors.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the
Company and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for Registrable
Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration
under the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an
exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable,
on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to
such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated
by reference therein.
"Exchange Securities" shall mean securities issued by the
Company (and guaranteed by the Guarantors) under the Indenture
containing terms identical to the Securities (except that (i) interest
thereon shall accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on
the Securities or, if no such interest has been paid, from the Closing
Date and (ii) the Exchange Securities will not contain restrictions on
transfer) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
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"Holder" shall mean the Placement Agents, for so long as
they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors,
assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become registered
owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that
for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term "Holder"
shall include Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section
4(a)).
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the
Securities dated as of April 29, 1999 among the Company, the
Guarantors and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as trustee, and as
the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
thereof.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of
the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities;
provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a
specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its affiliates
(as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) (other than
the Placement Agents or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities
if such subsequent holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by
reason of their holding of such Registrable Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by
the Holders of such required percentage or amount.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, limited
liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization,
or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Placement Agents" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"Placement Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in
the preamble.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any
such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the
terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities
covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments
and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities;
provided, however, that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable
Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such
Securities shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and
such Securities shall have been disposed of pursuant to such
Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities have been sold to
the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in
force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or (iii) when such
Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses
incident to performance of or compliance by the Company and the
Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all
SEC, stock exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred
in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any
underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of
any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all
expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word
processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting
agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating
to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all
rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the
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qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi)
the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors
and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and
disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be
selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel
for the Placement Agent) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the
independent public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors,
including the expenses of any special audits or "cold comfort" letters
required by or incident to such performance and compliance, but
excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the underwriters (other than
fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a
Holder.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration
statement of the Company and the Guarantors that covers any of the
Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in
each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits
thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf"
registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to
the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of
the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by
the Holders whose Registrable Securities are covered by such Shelf
Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under
the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and
all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the
Securities under the Indenture.
"Underwriter" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
"Underwritten Registration" or "Underwritten Offering" shall
mean a registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an
Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
6. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company and the Guarantors shall use
their best efforts to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the
Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and to have such Registration
Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Company
and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and use
their best efforts to have the Exchange Offer consummated not later than 60 days
after such effective date. The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the
Exchange Offer by mailing the related exchange offer Prospectus and accompanying
documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are
required by applicable law:
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(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this
Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities
validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a
period of at least 20 business days from the date such notice is
mailed) (the "Exchange Dates");
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain
outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any
rights under this Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security
exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender
such Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of
transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice
prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their
election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange
Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice a
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities
delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
his election to have such Registrable Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the
Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions
thereof tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange
Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so
accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee
to promptly authenticate and mail to each Holder, an Exchange Security
equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable
Securities surrendered by such Holder.
The Company and the Guarantors shall use their best efforts to complete the
Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and
regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not
be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not
violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC.
The Company shall inform the Placement Agents of the names and addresses of the
Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Placement Agents shall have
the right, subject to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise
facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company and the Guarantors determine
that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not
available or may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last
Exchange Date because it would violate applicable law or the applicable
interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any
other reason consummated by October 29, 1999 or (iii) the Exchange Offer has
been completed and in the opinion of counsel for the Placement Agents a
Registration Statement must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the
Placement Agents in connection with any offering or sale of Registrable
Securities, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their best efforts to cause
to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or notice of
such opinion of counsel is given to the Company, as the case may be, a Shelf
Registration Statement providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the
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Registrable Securities and to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared
effective by the SEC. In the event the Company and the Guarantors are required
to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the matters
referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company and the
Guarantors shall use their best efforts to file and have declared effective by
the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement
(which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable
Securities held by the Placement Agents after completion of the Exchange Offer.
The Company and the Guarantors agree to use their best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective until the expiration of the period
referred to in Rule 144(k) with respect to the Registrable Securities or such
shorter period that will terminate when all of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to
supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the
Company and the Guarantors for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933
Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or
if reasonably requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such
Holder, and to use its best efforts to cause any such amendment to become
effective and such Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as
thereafter practicable. The Company and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the
Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment
promptly after it is used or filed with the SEC.
(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with
the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b). Each Holder shall
pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will
not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by
the SEC; provided, however, that, if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement
will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such
interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume. In the event the Exchange Offer is
not consummated and the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective
on or prior to October 29, 1999, the interest rate on the Securities will be
increased by 0.5% per annum until the Exchange Offer is consummated or the Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Placement Agents
and the Holders, the Company and the Guarantors acknowledge that any failure by
the Company or any Guarantor to comply with their respective obligations under
Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury
to the Placement Agents or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at
law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely
and that, in the event of any such failure, the Placement Agents or any Holder
may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's
and the Guarantors' obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
7. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors
with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section
2(b) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall as expeditiously as possible:
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(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement
on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be
selected by the Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities
by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and
include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed
therewith, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with
Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep each Prospectus
current during the period described under Section 4(3) and Rule 174
under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or
dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange
Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Placement Agents,
to counsel for the Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten
Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many
copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and
any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such
Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request, in order to facilitate
the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities;
and the Company and the Guarantors consent to the use of such
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with
applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable
Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering
and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner
described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in
accordance with applicable law;
(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue
sky" laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably
request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement
is declared effective by the SEC, to cooperate with such Holders in
connection with any filings required to be made with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any and all other acts
and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable
such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of
such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however,
that neither the Company or any Guarantor shall be required to (i)
qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but
for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of
process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction
if it is not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder
of Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the
Placement Agents promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or
counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration
Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment
thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by
the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and
supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for
additional information after the Registration Statement has become
effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a Registration
Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities
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covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company and
the Guarantors contained in any underwriting agreement, securities
sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the
offering cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if
the Company or any Guarantor receives any notification with respect to
the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for
sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such
purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the period a Shelf
Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement made in
such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any
material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such
Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein not misleading and (vi) of any determination by the Company or
any Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement would be appropriate;
(f)make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at
the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each
Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference
or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
(consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in
such names as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least one
business day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable
Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence
of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its best
efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related
Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file
any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
Company and the Guarantors agree to notify the Holders to suspend use
of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of
such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the
Prospectus until the Company and the Guarantors have amended or
supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a
Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or
any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a
Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the
Placement Agents and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make such
of the representatives of the Company and the Guarantors as shall be
reasonably requested by the Placement Agents or their counsel (and, in
the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their
counsel) available for discussion of such document, and shall not at
any time file or make any amendment to the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to a Registration
Statement or a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated
by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which
the Placement Agents and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
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Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) shall not have
previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Placement
Agents or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall object;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the
effective date of a Registration Statement;
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), in connection with the
registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as
the case may be, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect
such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to
be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute,
and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all
documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other
forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for
inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable
Securities, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants
designated by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable
manner, all financial and other records, pertinent documents and
properties of the Company and the Guarantors, and cause the respective
officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such representative,
Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf
Registration Statement;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best
efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any
securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar
securities issued by the Company and the Guarantors are then listed if
requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable
Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(o) use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, to be rated by two
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (as such term
is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act);
(p) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably
requests to be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of
such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as
the Company has received notification of the matters to be
incorporated in such filing; and
(q) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection
therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority of
the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including,
but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection,
(i) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties
to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities
with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries,
including the Guarantors, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and
documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by
reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are
customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings
and confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinions,
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in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed
to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities,
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in
underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company and the
Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant
of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the
Company or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial
data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement)
addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable
Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters
of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
connection with underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such
documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable
Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily
delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued
validity of the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Guarantors made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence
compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting
agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the
Guarantors may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the
Company and the Guarantors such information regarding the Holder and the
proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the
Company and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company or any Guarantor of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant
to a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if
so directed by the Company or any Guarantor, such Holder will deliver to the
Company (at its expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file
copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the
Company or any Guarantor shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition
of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company and
the Guarantors shall extend the period during which the Registration Statement
shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days
during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to
and including the date when the Holders shall have received copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The
Company and the Guarantors may give any such notice only twice during any 365
day period and any such suspensions may not exceed 30 days for each suspension
and there may not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365 day
period.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an
Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker
or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that will
administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering.
8. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer
that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making or other trading activities (a "Participating Broker- Dealer"),
may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the 1933 Act and must
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Securities.
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The Company and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff's
position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above
effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the
Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or
specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may
be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus
delivery obligation under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange
Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the
requirements of the 1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of
this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agree that the provisions of this
Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange
Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto
as may be, reasonably requested by the Placement Agents or by one or more
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by
Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited
in Section 4(a) above; provided that:
(i) the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to
amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as would otherwise be contemplated by Section
3(i), for a period exceeding 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as
such period may be extended pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of
Section 3 of this Agreement) and Participating Broker-Dealers shall
not be authorized by the Company and the Guarantors to deliver and
shall not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with
the resales contemplated by this Section 4; and
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures
set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer
Registration, to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff
of the SEC or the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
will be in conformity with the reasonable request to the Company by
the Placement Agents or with the reasonable request in writing to the
Company by one or more broker-dealers who certify to the Placement
Agents and the Company in writing that they anticipate that they will
be Participating Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in
connection with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures
set forth in Section 3 to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Company
and the Guarantors shall be obligated (x) to deal only with one entity
representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated unless it elects not to act as such
representative, (y) to pay the fees and expenses of only one counsel
representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel
to the Placement Agents unless such counsel elects not to so act and
(z) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, "cold comfort" letter
with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the last
Exchange Date and with respect to each subsequent amendment or
supplement, if any, effected during the period specified in clause (i)
above.
(c) The Placement Agents shall have no liability to the Company, any
Guarantor or any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to
Section 4(b) above.
9. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, severally and jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agents, each Holder and each Person,
if any, who controls any Placement Agent or any Holder within the meaning of
either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or is under
common control with, or is controlled by, any Placement Agent or any Holder,
from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any Placement
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Agent, any Holder or any such controlling or affiliated Person in connection
with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange
Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act,
including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or caused by any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company or any
Guarantor shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they
were made not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to the Placement
Agents or any Holder furnished to the Company or any Guarantor in writing by or
through Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated or any selling Holder expressly for
use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section
3, the Company and the Guarantors, severally and jointly, will also indemnify
the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities
industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and
directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to
the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any
Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors, the Placement Agents and the other
selling Holders, and each of their respective directors, officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any
Guarantor, any Placement Agent and any other selling Holder within the meaning
of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to the
Placement Agents and the Holders, but only with reference to information
relating to such Holder furnished to the Company or any Guarantor in writing by
such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such Person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Placement Agents and all
Persons, if any, who control any Placement Agent within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, (b) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for
the Company and the Guarantors, their respective directors, their respective
officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of either such Section
and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any
local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who control any Holders
within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses
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shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case involving the Placement
Agents and Persons who control the Placement Agents, such firm shall be
designated in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. In such case
involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm shall be
designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In all other cases, such firm
shall be designated by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but,
if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees and expenses of
counsel in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which such indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph
(b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying
party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party
thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company, the Guarantors and the
Holders shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
and the Guarantors or by the Holders and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Holders' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the respective
principal amount of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Company, each Guarantor and each Holder agree that it would
not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does
not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d)
above. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
Registrable Securities were sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this
Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may
otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
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The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Placement Agents, any Holder or any Person controlling any Placement Agent
or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor, or their
respective officers or directors, or any Person controlling the Company or any
Guarantor, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale
of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and the Guarantors have
not entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter
into, any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders
of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way
conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of
the Company's or any Guarantor's other issued and outstanding securities under
any such agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent; provided, however, that no amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5
hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless
consented to in writing by such Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Placement Agents,
the address set forth in the Placement Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company or
any Guarantor, initially at the Company's or the Guarantor's respective address
set forth in the Placement Agreement and thereafter at such other address,
notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on
the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the
parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to
permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities
in violation of the terms of the Placement Agreement. If any transferee of any
Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation
of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of
the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable
Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound
E-141
by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such
Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Placement Agents
(in their capacity as Placement Agents) shall have no liability or obligation to
the Company and the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply
with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder
under this Agreement.
(e) Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company and the Guarantors
shall not, and shall use their best efforts to cause their affiliates (as
defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) not to, purchase and then resell or
otherwise transfer any Securities.
(f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems
such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of
Holders hereunder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
State of New York.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
By /s/ M. JAY ALLISON
Name: M. Jay Allison
--------------------
Title: Chairman of the Board
COMSTOCK OIL & GAS, INC.
By /s/ M. JAY ALLISON
Name: M. Jay Allison
--------------------
Title: Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
COMSTOCK OIL & GAS - LOUISIANA, INC.
By /s/ M. JAY ALLISON
---------------------
Name: M. Jay Allison
Title: Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
COMSTOCK OFFSHORE LLC
By /s/ M. JAY ALLISON
---------------------
Name: M. Jay Allison
Title: Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
TD SECURITIES (USA) INC.
PARIBAS CORPORATION
By: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
By /s/ DANIEL H. KLAUSNER
- -------------------------
Name: Daniel H. Klausner
Title: Vice President
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