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EXHIBIT 4.12
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A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 22, 1998
by and among
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN
AND
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
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This A/B Exchange Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is
made and entered into as of April 22, 1998 by and among Chesapeake Energy
Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the "COMPANY"), the Guarantors listed on
Schedule A hereto (the "GUARANTORS"), and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation ("DLJ"), Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc.,
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, (each an
"INITIAL PURCHASER" and, collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"), each of whom
has agreed to purchase the Company's 9 5/8% Series A Senior Notes due 2005 (the
"SERIES A NOTES") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
April 17, 1998, (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company, the
Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers with respect to the Series A Notes. In
order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Series A Notes, the
Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the
obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 2 of the Purchase
Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have
the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1998,
between the Company and United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee,
relating to the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes (the "INDENTURE").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
AFFILIATE: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
AFFILIATED MARKET MAKER: A Broker-Dealer who is deemed to be an
Affiliate of the Company.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange
Act.
BUSINESS DAY: Any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open
for trading and which is not a legal United States holiday.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES: Definitive Securities, as defined in the
Indenture.
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
COMMISSION: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSUMMATE: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously
effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than
the period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the
Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of Series B Notes in the same
aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes
tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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EXCHANGE OFFER: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a
principal amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal
amount of Series A Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with
such exchange and issuance.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act.
FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
PERSON: Any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, estate, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at
the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Prospectus.
RECOMMENCEMENT DATE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company
and the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an
Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that
is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the
Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 9 5/8% Series B Senior Notes due 2005
to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as
contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
SUSPENSION NOTICE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each Series A Note, until the
earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Series A Note is exchanged in
the Exchange Offer for a Series B Note which is entitled to be resold to the
public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such Series A Note has been
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the
purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes) or (c) the date on which
such Series A Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Act (and purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes), and each Series B
Note until the date on which such Series B Note is disposed of by a
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including the delivery of the Prospectus
contained therein).
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SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "HOLDER") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 60 days after
the Closing Date (such 60th day being the "FILING DEADLINE"), (ii) use their
best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 180 days
after the Closing Date (such 180th day being the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"),
(iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments
to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to
cause it to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective
amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A
under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with
the registration and qualification of the Series B Notes to be made under the
Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of
the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The
Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting (1) registration of
the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange for the Series A Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Securities and (2) resales of Series B Notes by any
Broker-Dealer that tendered into the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as contemplated by Section
3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective
continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less
than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities
laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event
shall such period be less than 30 days nor more than 60 days. The Company and
the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable
federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Series B Notes
shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company
and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event
later than 60 days after commencement of the Exchange Offer (such 60th day
being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted
Securities that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) may
exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other information
with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may
require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of
Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the
extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or
regulations after the date of this Agreement. See the Shearman & Sterling
no-action letter (available July 2, 1993).
Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and
Guarantors shall permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus
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delivery requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure that the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales
of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to
use their respective best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required
by and subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) and (c) hereof and in
conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies,
rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a
period of 180 days from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as
will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company and the
Guarantors shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such
Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later
than one day after such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted
by applicable law (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the
procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) if any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days
following the Consummation Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law
or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such
Holder may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer
to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for
such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds
Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates,
then the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 days after the earlier
of (i) the date on which the Company determines that the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause
(a)(i) above and (ii) the date on which the Company receives the
notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above, (such earlier date, the
"FILING DEADLINE"), a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule
415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")),
relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) shall use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 180 days
after the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such
180th day the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE").
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is
required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e.,
clause (a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above;
provided that, in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the
Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration
Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other
securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii)
hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts
to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a)
continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and
subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity
with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of
at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the
Closing Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with
the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein.
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No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated
damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof until 30 days after such Holder shall have
provided all such information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish
additional information required to be disclosed in order to make the
information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially
misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii)
any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation
Deadline or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed
and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be
usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded (a) within 5 Business
Days by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures
such failure and that is itself declared effective within 10 days of filing
such post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or (b) within 20
days by the filing of a supplement to the Prospectus under Rule 424 of the Act
or an Exchange Act report incorporated by reference in such Registration
Statement that cures such failure (each such event referred to in clauses (i)
through (iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the Company and the Guarantors
hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to one-half
of one percent (0.5%) per annum of the principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Securities held by such Holder during the first 90-day period
immediately following the occurrence of the first such Registration Default,
increasing by an additional one-half of one percent (0.5%) per annum of the
principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities during each subsequent
90-day period, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages equal to two
percent (2.0%) per annum of the principal amount of such Transfer Restricted
Securities; provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall in no event be
required to pay liquidated damages for more than one Registration Default at
any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1)
upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2)
upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4)
upon the filing of (a) a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement, a Prospectus supplement or an additional Registration Statement or
(b) a Prospectus supplement or an Exchange Act report incorporated by reference
that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable,
the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable
in the case of (iv) above, the liquidated damages payable with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or
(iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture,
on each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Series A Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which
liquidated damages are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all
obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to pay liquidated damages with
respect to securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with
respect to such securities shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply with all
applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use their respective best
efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Series B Notes by
any Broker-Dealer that tendered in the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply
with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a
change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the
Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company
raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is
permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and the
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Guarantors hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable
decision from the Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to
Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities. The
Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a
decision to the Commission staff level. In connection with the foregoing,
the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other actions
as may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection
with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A)
participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission staff, (B)
delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the
Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has
concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C)
diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the
Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer,
each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without
limitation, any Holder who is a Broker Dealer) shall furnish, upon the
request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a
written representation to the Company and the Guarantors (which may be
contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of
the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in,
and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in,
a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer
and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of
business. Each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a
distribution of the Series B Notes hereby acknowledges and agrees that, if
the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for
Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof,
it (1) could not, under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this
Agreement, rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan
Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's
letter to Shearman & Sterling (available July 2, 1993), and similar
no-action letters (including, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained
pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration
and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a
secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction
must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the
selling security holder and plan of distribution information required by
Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental
letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors
are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May
13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as
interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling (available
July 2, 1993), and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant
to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that neither the
Company nor any Guarantor has entered into any arrangement or
understanding with any Person to distribute the Series B Notes to be
received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company's and
each Guarantor's information and belief, each Holder participating in the
Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of
business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to
participate in the distribution of the Series B Notes received in the
Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or representation required by
the Commission as set forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to
clause (i) above, if applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, (i) the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply
with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and (y) use their respective best
efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to
the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company
and the Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration
Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act,
which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution
thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions
hereof; and (ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser of Series A
Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for cancellation; the
Company
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shall register Series A Notes on the Shelf Registration Statement for this
purpose and issue the Series B Notes to the purchaser(s) of securities subject
to the Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such purchaser(s) shall
designate.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration
Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company
and the Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement,
as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain
an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) not to be
effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during
the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors
shall file promptly an appropriate (x) amendment to such Registration
Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required, use
their respective best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared
effective as soon as practicable, (y) supplement pursuant to Rule 424
under the Act curing such default or (z) Exchange Act report incorporated
by reference curing such default;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may
be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may be;
cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under
the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable,
under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the
Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set
forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(iii) advise each Holder and each Initial Purchaser who is
required to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales or market making
activities (an "AFFILIATED MARKET MAKER") promptly and, if requested by
such Person, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when a Registration
Statement or any Prospectus supplement or post- effective amendment has
been filed, and, with respect to any applicable Registration Statement or
any post- effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective,
(B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration
Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional
information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
under the Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of
the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or
sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of
the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening
of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement
thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that
requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities
commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending
the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company
and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred,
prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by
reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the
Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
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(v) upon the request of counsel for the Holders and for any
Affiliated Market Makers, furnish to such counsel or Affiliated Market
Maker before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration
Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or
supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including
all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such
Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and
comment of such counsel for a period of at least five Business Days, and
the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to
which such Persons shall reasonably object within five Business Days after
the receipt thereof. Such Person shall be deemed to have reasonably
objected to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment,
Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or fails to comply
with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) upon the request of any Holder or Affiliated Market Maker,
provide copies of any document filed with the Commission that is
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus, and
make the Company's and the Guarantors' representatives available for
discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters;
(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by
each Holder and each Affiliated Market Maker and any attorney or
accountant retained by such Persons, all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents of the Company and the Guarantors and cause
the Company's and the Guarantors' officers and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such Persons, attorney or
accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and
prior to its effectiveness;
(viii) if requested by any Holders or any Affiliated Market
Maker, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus,
pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such
information as such Persons may reasonably request to have included
therein including, without limitation, information relating to the "Plan
of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities and the use of the
Registration Statement or Prospectus for market making activities; and
make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post- effective
amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the
matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment;
(ix) upon the request of any Holder or Affiliated Market Maker,
furnish to such Holder or Affiliated Market Maker, without charge, at
least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the
Commission, and of each amendment thereto;
(x) deliver to each Holder and each Affiliated Market Maker
without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each
preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
Persons reasonably may request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby
consent to the use (in accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto by each selling Person in connection with
the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and all market
making activities of such Affiliated Market Maker, as the case may be;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder or Affiliated Market Maker,
enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make
such representations and warranties and take all such other actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of
the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any applicable Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by
any Holder in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any
applicable Registration Statement. In such connection, and also in
connection with market making activities by any Affiliated Market Maker,
the Company and the Guarantors shall:
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(A) upon request of such Holder or Affiliated Market
Maker, furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its
best efforts to cause to be furnished) to each Person, upon
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or upon the effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed
on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor by (x) the Chairman
of the Board, President or any Vice President and (y) a
principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and
such Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters
set forth in Sections 6(y), 9(a) and 9(b) of the Purchase
Agreement and such other similar matters as such Person may
reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness
of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, of
counsel for the Company and the Guarantors covering matters
similar to those set forth in paragraph (e) of Section 9 of the
Purchase Agreement and such other matter as such Holder or
Affiliated Market Maker may reasonably request, and in any event
including a statement to the effect that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company and the Guarantors,
representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company and the Guarantors and has considered the matters
required to be stated therein and the statements contained
therein, although such counsel has not independently verified
the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and
that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing
(relying as to materiality to the extent such counsel deems
appropriate upon the statements of officers and other
representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and without
independent check or verification), no facts came to such
counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe that the
applicable Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto, at the time such Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto became effective and, in
the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the
date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, or that the Prospectus
contained in such Registration Statement as of its date and, in
the case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which there were made,
not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing, such counsel
may state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility
for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the financial statements, notes and
schedules and other financial data included in any Registration
Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related
Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the
date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be, from the Company's independent accountants, in the
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with
underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in
the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 9(i) of the
Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as
may be reasonably requested by such Persons to evidence compliance
with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary
conditions contained in the any agreement entered into by the Company
and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Holders may request and do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither the
Company nor any Guarantor
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shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it
is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the
service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and
transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction
where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and, subject to the Indenture, delivery of certificates
representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any
restrictive legends; and, subject to the Indenture, to register such
Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as the
selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale
of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use their respective best efforts to cause the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be required to enable the
seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xii)
above;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for the Series B Notes not later
than the effective date of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under
the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted
Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository
Trust Company;
(xvi) otherwise use their respective best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make
generally available to its security holders with regard to any applicable
Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings
statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited)
covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule
158 under the Act); and
(xvii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required
by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee
and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required
for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the
TIA; and execute and use their best efforts to cause the Trustee to
execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all
other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to
enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security and each Affiliated Market Maker agrees that, upon
receipt of (i) the notice referred to in Section 6(c)(iii)(C), (ii) any notice
from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section
6(c)(iii)(D) hereof or (ii) any notice from the Company that (a) sales under
any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement would require the
disclosure of material information which the Company has a bona fide business
purpose for preserving as confidential, or (b) such disclosure would impede the
Company's ability to consummate a material transaction (in each case, a
"SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Person will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration
Statement until (A) such Holder or Affiliated Market Maker has received copies
of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv)
hereof, or (B) such Holder or Affiliated Market Maker is advised in writing by
the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received
copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the "RECOMMENCEMENT DATE"),
provided, that any suspension pursuant to clause (iii) above shall not exceed
60 days in any twelve-month period. Each Holder or Affiliated Market Maker
receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will either (x) destroy any
Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in such Person's
possession which have been replaced by the Company with more recently dated
Prospectuses or (y) deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all
copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder's or Affiliated
Market Maker's possession of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted
Securities that was current at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice.
The time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set
forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by a number of
days equal to the number of days in the period from and including the date of
delivery of the Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the Recommencement
Date.
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SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's and the Guarantors'
performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including
without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all
fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or
securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing
certificates for the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and
printing of Prospectuses whether for exchanges, sales, market making or
otherwise), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, and not more than
one counsel for the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities as described in
Section 7(b) below; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with
listing the Series B Notes on a national securities exchange or automated
quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and
disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company and
the Guarantors (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors' internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of
any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special
experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors will reimburse the Initial Purchasers
and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering Series A
Notes into in the Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling Series A Notes or
Series B Notes pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as
applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one
counsel, who shall be Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., unless another firm shall be
chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being
prepared.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each
Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation,
any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or
defending any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto) provided by the Company to any Holder or any prospective
purchaser of Series B Notes or registered Series A Notes, 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,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are
caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission that is based upon information relating to any of the Holders
furnished in writing to the Company by any of the Holders.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors,
and their respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who
controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act) the Company or the Guarantors to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors set forth in section (a) above,
but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in
writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration
Statement. In no event shall any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person
who controls such Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of
the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to
its sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted
Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages that such Holder,
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its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any Person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the Person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PERSON") in
writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred
(except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required
to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may
employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense
of the Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party
unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party
shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to
any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been
advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party).
In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one
action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys
(in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be
designated in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the
case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party
shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any
settlement of any action (i) effected with its written consent or (ii) effected
without its written consent if the settlement is entered into more than twenty
business days after the indemnifying party shall have received a request from
the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel
(in any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the
indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such settlement, the indemnifying
party shall have failed to comply with such reimbursement request. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of
judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which
the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or
contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified
party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are or could have been 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 the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this
Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other
hand, from their sale of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company
and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, 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 or such
Guarantor, on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the other hand, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments
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referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth in the second paragraph of Section 7(a), any legal or other fees or
expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or
defending any action or claim.
The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in
the immediately preceding paragraph 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
matter, including any action that could have given rise to such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 8, no Holder, its directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who
controls such Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder with
respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such
Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages which such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant
to this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not
joint.
(e) The Company and Guarantors agree that the indemnity and contribution
provisions of this Section 8 shall apply to Affiliated Market Makers to the
same extent, on the same conditions, as it applies to Holders.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company and each Guarantor agree with each Holder, for so long as
any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in
which the Company or such Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such
Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with
any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii) is subject to
Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby
in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144 (if available).
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SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree
that any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their
respective obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material
irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders or Affiliated
Market Makers 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 Initial Purchasers or any Holder or Affiliated Market
Makers may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the
Company's and the Guarantors' obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The
Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantor will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its
securities to any Person, except as disclosed in the Purchase Agreement. 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 and
the Guarantors' securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) No Piggybacks on Shelf Registration Statement. The Company
shall not grant to any of its security holders (other than the holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities in such capacity) the right to include any of
its securities in any Registration Statement provided for in this Agreement
other than the Transfer Restricted Securities.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may
not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or
departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case
of Section 5 hereof and this Section 10(d)(i), the Company has obtained the
written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities
and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained
the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted
Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Transfer Restricted
Securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and that does not
affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose Transfer
Restricted Securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer,
may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount
of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.
(e) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders and Affiliated Market
Makers shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder
between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial
Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such
agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or
advisable to protect their rights hereunder.
(f) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of
either the Registrar under the Indenture or The Depository Trust
Company, as the case may be, with a copy to the Registrar under
the Indenture, with a copy to Andrews & Kurth, 4200 Chase Tower,
Houston, Texas 77002;
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors: to Chesapeake Energy
Corporation, 6100 North Western Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
73118, Attention: Corporate Secretary, with a copy to McAfee &
Taft A Professional Corporation, Leadership Square, 211 North
Robinson, 10th Floor, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102, Attention:
Connie Stamets; and
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(iii) if the Initial Purchasers: to Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, 277 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10172, Attention: Syndicate Department; to Morgan Stanley
& Co. Incorporated, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036,
Attention: Corporate Finance Department; to Bear, Stearns & Co.
Inc., 245 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172, Attention:
Corporate Finance Department; to Lehman Brothers Inc., 200 Vesey
Street, New York, New York 10285, Attention: Corporate Finance
Department; and to J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street,
New York, New York 10260, Attention: High Yield Capital Markets;
or in any case to such other address as the person to be
notified may have requested in writing, with a copy to Andrews &
Kurth, 4200 Chase Tower, Houston, Texas 77002.
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 receipt 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.
Upon the date of filing of the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, notice shall be delivered to Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, on behalf of the Initial Purchasers (in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A) and shall be addressed to: Attention:
Louise Guarneri (Compliance Department), 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10172.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including without 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 Transfer Restricted
Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the
Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted
Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of
this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities
such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to
perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the
restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement, the Indenture and, if
applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to
receive the benefits hereof.
(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 AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(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.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as
a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
By: /s/ AUBREY K. McCLENDON
-------------------------------------
Name: Aubrey K. McClendon
Title: Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
AMGAS CORPORATION
CHESAPEAKE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
CHESAPEAKE GOTHIC CORP.
CHESAPEAKE MERGER CORP.
CHESAPEAKE MID-CONTINENT CORP.
HEC TRADING COMPANY
HUGOTON EXPLORATION CORPORATION
TIFFANY GATHERING, INC.
By: /s/ AUBREY K. McCLENDON
-------------------------------------
Name: Aubrey K. McClendon
Title: President
CHESAPEAKE CANADA CORPORATION
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA
CORPORATION
CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, INC.
By: /s/ AUBREY K. McCLENDON
-------------------------------------
Name: Aubrey K. McClendon
Title: Chief Executive Officer
18
CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP
CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P.
By: CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, INC.,
General Partner
By: /s/ AUBREY K. MCCLENDON
---------------------------------
Name: Aubrey K. McClendon
Title: Chief Executive Officer
ANSON GAS MARKETING
MID-CONTINENT GAS PIPELINE
COMPANY
By: CHESAPEAKE MID-CONTINENT
CORP., General Partner
By: /s/ AUBREY K. MCCLENDON
---------------------------------
Name: Aubrey K. McClendon
Title: President
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
By: DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ RALPH EADS
-------------------------------------
Name: Ralph Eads
Title: Managing Director
19
SCHEDULE A
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
Amgas Corporation
Chesapeake Acquisition Corporation
Chesapeake Canada Corporation
Chesapeake Energy Louisiana Corporation
Chesapeake Gothic Corp.
Chesapeake Merger Corp.
Chesapeake Mid-continent Corp.
Chesapeake Operating, Inc.
HEC Trading Company
Hugoton Exploration Corporation
Tiffany Gathering, Inc.
Chesapeake Exploration Limited Partnership
Chesapeake Louisiana, L.P.
Anson Gas Marketing
Mid-Continent Gas Pipeline Company
20
EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF FILING OF
A/B EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT
To: Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
277 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10172
Attention: Louise Guarneri (Compliance Department)
Fax: (212) 892-7272
From: Chesapeake Energy Corporation
9 5/8% Series B Senior Notes due 2005
Date: _____, 1998
For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):
Today, ______, 199_, we filed [an A/B Exchange Registration
Statement/a Shelf Registration Statement] with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We currently expect this registration statement to be declared
effective within __ business days of the date hereof.