EXHIBIT 4.2
EXECUTION COPY
$230,000,000
OFFSHORE LOGISTICS, INC.
6 1/8% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
June 20, 2003
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED
HOWARD WEIL, A DIVISION OF LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
JOHNSON RICE & COMPANY L.L.C.
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010-3629
Dear Sirs:
Offshore Logistics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"),
proposes to issue and sell to you (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), upon
the terms set forth in a purchase agreement, dated June 17, 2003 (the "Purchase
Agreement"), $230,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6 1/8% Senior Notes
due 2013 (the "Initial Securities") to be unconditionally guaranteed (the
"Guarantees") by certain of the Issuer's subsidiaries who are signatories hereto
as guarantors (the "Guarantors" and together with the Issuer, the "Company").
The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of June
20, 2003 (the "Indenture") among the Issuer, the Guarantors named therein and
U.S. Bank N.A. (the "Trustee"). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers, the
Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial
Purchasers and the holders of the Securities (as defined below) (collectively
the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall, at its own cost,
prepare and, not later than 90 days after (or if the 90th day is not a business
day, the first business day thereafter) the date of original issue of the
Initial Securities (the "Issue Date"), file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement (the "Exchange Offer
Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to a proposed offer (the
"Registered Exchange Offer") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
(as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of
the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and
deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like
aggregate principal amount of debt securities (the "Exchange Securities") of the
Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the
Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial
Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6
hereof) that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
to become effective under the Securities Act within 180 days (or if the 180th
day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) after the Issue
Date of the Initial Securities and shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective for not less than 20 business days (or longer, if required
by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is
mailed to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange Offer Registration
Period").
If the Company commences the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company
will be entitled to close the Registered Exchange Offer 20 business days after
the commencement thereof provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial
Securities theretofore validly tendered, and not withdrawn, in accordance with
the terms of the Registered Exchange Offer.
Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities electing to exchange the
Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the
Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities
laws of the several states of the United States; provided, however, that
Exchanging Dealers (as defined below) will be required to deliver a prospectus
in connection with resales of Exchange Securities.
The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer
electing to exchange Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of
market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities
(an "Exchanging Dealer"), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the
information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in
the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer"
section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such
prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by
such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an
Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Exchange Securities acquired in exchange
for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is
required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items
507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in
connection with such sale.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully
delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such
requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that
(i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto
must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period
shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and
the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless
such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company
shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, available to
any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange
Securities for a period of not less than 90 days after the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer.
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the
existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the
securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding
provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial
Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "Securities".
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter
of transmittal and related documents;
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(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20
business days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date
notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange
Offer, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to
the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which the
Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered and not
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private
Exchange; and
(y) deliver promptly to each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in
principal amount to the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for
exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been
paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a
broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto comply in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto do not, when they become effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, do not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated by the
210th day after the Issue Date
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(provided that if the Registered Exchange Offer Registration Statement is
effective on such 210th day and the Registered Exchange Offer is consummated
after such 210th day, then the Company's obligations under this clause (ii)
arising from the failure of the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated
within such 210-day period shall terminate), (iii) within 20 business days
following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser
so requests with respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange
Securities) not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the
Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer)
is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case
of any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the
Registered Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive freely tradeable
Exchange Securities on the date of the exchange, the Company shall take the
following actions:
(a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable (but in
no event more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this
Section 2) file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its reasonable
best efforts to cause to be declared effective a registration statement
(the "Shelf Registration Statement" and, together with the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, a "Registration Statement") on an appropriate form
under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) by the Holders
thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution
set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the
Securities Act (hereinafter, the "Shelf Registration"); provided, however,
that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have
the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement
unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of
this Agreement applicable to such Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the
relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period
if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its
effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold
pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities (as defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule thereof). The
Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to
keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period
if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of
Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities
during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company shall cause (i) the Shelf Registration Statement and
any amendment thereto and any related prospectus and any supplement
thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement,
amendment or supplement, to comply in all material respects with the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) the Shelf
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto not to contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading and (iii) the prospectus related to the Shelf Registration
Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, not to include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to
the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration
Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the
prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser
(with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original
offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such
comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the
information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in
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the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange
Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section
of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the
Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser within a reasonable time after
receipt of any such document, include the information required by Items 507
or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the
prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement;
(iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a
summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of
the Commission with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any
broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of
Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or
policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or
such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial
Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel),
represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in
the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the
Holders, who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, as selling securityholders; provided, however, that each such
Holder shall have furnished to the Company on a timely basis such
information regarding the Holder as the Company may require pursuant to
Section 3(n) hereof.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers,
the Holders of the Securities proposed to be sold under the Shelf
Registration Statement and any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the
Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating
Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to
clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend
the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has
been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included
therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to
make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order
that the Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included
within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one
copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder
so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any,
incorporated by reference).
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(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each
Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge,
at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all
exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to
each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf
Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including
each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement
and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably
request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each
of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering
and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging
Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to
deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without
charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a
prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the
offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or
any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities, pursuant to any
Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate
with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective
counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of
such states of the United States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably
requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions
of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to
do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii)
take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to
taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of
any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such
names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales
of the Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii)
through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company
is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company
shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any
other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the
Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the
Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with
paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the
prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made,
then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such
Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and the
period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in
Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided
for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from
and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the
date when the
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Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known
Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or
supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j) or the Company shall
have notified such Holders that disposition of such Transfer Restricted
Securities may resume under the existing prospectus.
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial
Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as
the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with certificates for
the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The
Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the
Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally
available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days
after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal
year) beginning with the first month of the Company's first fiscal quarter
commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which
statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing
such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the
event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new
trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee
thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as
the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the
Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such
registration the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to
furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
request.
(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including,
if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all
such other action, if any, as the Holders of not less than a majority of
the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be included in the
Shelf Registration Statement shall reasonably request in order to
facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf
Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make
reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any
underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained
by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties
of the Company and (ii) cause the Company's officers, directors, employees,
accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably
requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter,
attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such
persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of
Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing
inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the
Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one
counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in
Section 4 hereof and shall be subject to any confidentiality procedures
reasonably instituted by the Company.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by
the Holders of at least a majority of the Securities covered thereby, shall
cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to
the Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial
opinion, the effective date of such Shelf
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Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be covered
by such opinion shall include, without limitation but subject to reasonable
qualifications and exceptions, the due incorporation and good standing of
the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and its
subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type
referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization, execution,
authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of the
applicable Securities; the absence of material legal or governmental
proceedings involving the Company and its subsidiaries; the absence of
governmental approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the offering and sale of the applicable Securities,
or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the
compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration Statement and any
documents incorporated by reference therein and of the Indenture with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act,
respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of the effective
date of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent post-effective
amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then amended
or supplemented, and from any documents incorporated by reference therein
of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents, in
the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents
were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act); (ii) its officers
to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates
thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and
(iii) its independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders
of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter
in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject
to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if
permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by any
Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the Company
shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such
Participating Broker-Dealer signed opinions in the forms set forth in
Section 6(c), (d) and (e) of the Purchase Agreement with such changes as
are customary in connection with the preparation of a Registration
Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants to deliver to such
Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in
customary form, meeting the requirements as to the substance thereof as set
forth in Section 6(a) and (h) of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate
date changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the
Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange
for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case
may be, the Company shall mark, or cause to be marked, on the Initial
Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in
exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as
the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid
or otherwise satisfied.
(t) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to (a) if the
Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such
Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities
covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities were
not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Registration
Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, but in each
case only if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or by the
managing underwriters, if any.
(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange
Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an
underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the distribution"
(within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "Rules") of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof, whether as a
Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent
or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will
assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules,
including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720,
shall so require, engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as
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defined in Rule 2720) to participate in the preparation of the Registration
Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due
diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering
contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or
is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to
the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5
hereof and (iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be
required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of
the Rules.
(v) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all other
steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1
through 3 hereof (including the reasonable fees and expenses, if any, of Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, incurred in
connection with the Registered Exchange Offer), whether or not the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement is filed or
becomes effective, and, in the event of a Shelf Registration, shall bear or
reimburse the Holders of the Securities covered thereby for the reasonable fees
and disbursements of one firm of counsel, who will be Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
LLP unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Initial Securities covered thereby, to act as counsel
for the Holders of the Initial Securities in connection therewith.
5. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each
person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to
collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof
(including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each
Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a
Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that
(i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus
relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such
purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent or
given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of
such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company
had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such
Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers
and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above
with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if
requested by such Holders.
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(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect
thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may
otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any
liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the
extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of
substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or
(b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and
it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified
party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be
counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party
to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of
investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter
of such action, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of
fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the offering of the Initial
Securities, pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation
provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties 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 on the one hand or
such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be
-10-
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or
claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net
proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person,
if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
indemnified party.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional
interest (the "Additional Interest") with respect to the Initial Securities
shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such
event in clauses (i) through (iv) below a "Registration Default"):
(i) any of the Registration Statements required by this
Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the 90th day
after the Issue Date;
(ii) any of such Registration Statements has not been declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to the 180th day after the
Issue Date (the "Effectiveness Deadline"); or
(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer has not been consummated
on or prior to the 210th day after the Issue Date; or
(iv) any of the Registration Statements required by this
Agreement has been declared effective by the Commission but (A) such
Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective during the
periods specified herein during which it is required to be effective or
(B) such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be
usable (except as permitted in paragraph (b)) in connection with
resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified
herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the
related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (2) it
shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement
the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.
Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason
for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the
control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any
action or inaction by the Commission.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Initial Securities over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on
which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on
which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per
annum (the "Additional Interest Rate") for the first 90-day period immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest
Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.0% per annum. Following the cure of all
Registration Defaults, the accrual of Additional Interest will cease and the
interest rate will revert to the original rate. The Company shall not be
required to pay Additional Interest for more than one Registration Default at
any given time.
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iv)(B) hereof
shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
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Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the
Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such
Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events;
provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a
continuous period in excess of 60 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in
accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default would
have been deemed to occur but for this Section 6(b) until such Registration
Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a)
will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to
the Initial Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by
multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of
the Initial Securities, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during such period
(determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months),
and the denominator of which is 360.
(d) "Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until (i) the
date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a
broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which
such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer
on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has
been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such
Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.
7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not
required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of
Initial Securities, make publicly available other information so long as
necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A.
The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of
Initial Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time
to time to enable such Holder to sell Initial Securities without registration
under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by
Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company
will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial
Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request.
Upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver
to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such
requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be
deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the
Exchange Act.
8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("Managing Underwriters") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements. Except as provided in Section 4, the Holders
participating in any underwritten offering shall be responsible for any expenses
customarily borne by selling securityholders, including underwriting discounts
and commissions and fees and expenses of counsel to selling securityholders.
9. Miscellaneous.
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(a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Company.
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010-3629
Fax No.: (212) 325-8278
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
with a copy to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Fax No.: (212) 455-2502
Attention: John B. Tehan, Esq.
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
Offshore Logistics, Inc.
224 Rue de Jean
P.O. Box 5-C
Lafayette, LA 70505
Fax No.: (337) 233-6678
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Correro Fishman Haygood Phelps Walmsley &
Casteix, L.L.P.
201 St. Charles Avenue, 46th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70170
Fax No.: (504) 310-0264
Attention: S. Scott Willis, Esq.
and
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
2300 First City Tower
1001 Fannin
Houston, TX 77002
Fax No.: (713) 615-5306
Attention: C. Michael Harrington, Esq.
-13-
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.
(c) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Issuer, the Guarantors and their respective successors and assigns.
(d) 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.
(e) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(f) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(g) Severability. If 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.
(h) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.
(i) Submission to Jurisdiction. By the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Company submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any competent
federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New
York, in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
brought under federal or state securities laws.
-14-
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and the Guarantors in
accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
OFFSHORE LOGISTICS, INC.
By: /s/ H. EDDY DUPUIS
----------------------------
Name: H. Eddy Dupuis
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary
AIR LOGISTICS, L.L.C.
By: /s/ H. EDDY DUPUIS
----------------------------
Name: H. Eddy Dupuis
Title: Manager
AIR LOGISTICS OF ALASKA, INC.
GRASSO CORPORATION
GRASSO PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT, INC.
MEDIC SYSTEMS, INC.
By: /s/ H. EDDY DUPUIS
----------------------------
Name: H. Eddy Dupuis
Title: Authorized Officer, acting on behalf of
each of the above named Guarantors
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The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED
HOWARD WEIL, A DIVISION OF LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
JOHNSON RICE & COMPANY L.L.C.
Acting on behalf of themselves
and as the Representatives of
the several Initial Purchasers
By CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
By: /s/ ROME ARNOLD
-------------------------------
Name: Rome Arnold
Title: Managing Director
-16-
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired
by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 200 , all dealers
effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a
prospectus.(1)
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
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(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K
will appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.
ANNEX D
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.