EXHIBIT 10.12
BELDEN & BLAKE CORPORATION
8.75% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2012
UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED AS TO THE
PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM,
IF ANY, AND INTEREST BY
THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
July 7, 2004
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Belden & Blake Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to Goldman, Sachs & Co. (the "Purchaser") upon the
terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) its 8.75% Senior
Secured Notes due 2012, which are unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors
named on Schedule I hereto. As an inducement to the Purchaser to enter into the
Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the
Purchaser thereunder, the Company and the Guarantors agree with the Purchaser
for the benefit of holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the
Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement (this "Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement"), the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
"Base Interest" shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue
on the Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture, without
giving effect to the provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement.
The term "broker-dealer" shall mean any broker or dealer registered
with the Commission under the Exchange Act.
"Closing Date" shall mean the date on which the Securities are
initially issued.
"Commission" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for
the particular purpose.
"DTC" shall mean The Depository Trust Company.
"Effective Time," in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Exchange Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a Shelf Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Shelf
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Shelf Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective.
"Electing Holder" shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities
that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the
Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(i) or 3(d)(ii) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or
any successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Exchange Offer" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 3(c) hereof.
"Exchange Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(a) hereof.
"Guarantors" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Indenture.
The term "holder" shall mean the Purchaser and other persons who
acquire Registrable Securities from time to time (including any successors
or assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any Registrable
Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of July 7, 2004,
among the Company, the Guarantors and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as
Trustee, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Majority Electing Holders" means the Electing Holders of a majority
of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities.
"Notice and Questionnaire" means a Notice of Registration Statement
and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto.
The term "person" shall mean a corporation, association,
partnership, organization, business, individual, government or political
subdivision thereof or governmental agency.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
July 1, 2004, among the Purchaser, the Guarantors and the Company,
relating to the Securities.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided,
however, that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i)
in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has
been exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as
contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security
that, pursuant to the last two sentences of Section 2(a), is included in a
prospectus for use in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be
deemed to be a Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9
until resale of such Registrable Security has been effected within the
180-day period referred to in Section 2(a); (ii) in the circumstances
contemplated by Section 2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement
registering such
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Security under the Securities Act has been declared or becomes effective
and such Security has been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder
thereof pursuant to and in a manner contemplated by such effective Shelf
Registration Statement; (iii) such Security is sold pursuant to Rule 144
under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Security relating to
restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture; (iv)
such Security is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule
144; or (v) such Security shall cease to be outstanding.
"Registration Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(c) hereof.
"Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 4 hereof.
"Resale Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(a) hereof.
"Restricted Holder" shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of
the Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires
Exchange Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder's business,
(iii) a holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to
participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange
Securities and (iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with
respect to Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to
an Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the
broker-dealer directly from the Company.
"Rule 144," "Rule 405" and "Rule 415" shall mean, in each case, such
rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as
the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Securities" shall mean, collectively, the 8.75% Senior Secured
Notes due 2012 of the Company to be issued and sold to the Purchaser, and
securities issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to the
Indenture. Each Security is entitled to the benefit of the guarantee
provided for in the Indenture (the "Guarantee") and, unless the context
otherwise requires, any reference herein to a "Security," an "Exchange
Security" or a "Registrable Security" shall include a reference to the
related Guarantee.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2(b) hereof.
"Special Interest" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(c) hereof.
"Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or
any successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated
thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.
Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a
"Section" or "clause" refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and the words "herein," "hereof" and
"hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or
other subdivision.
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2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company agrees to
file under the Securities Act, as soon as practicable, but no later than
90 days after the Closing Date, a registration statement relating to an
offer to exchange (such registration statement, the "Exchange Registration
Statement", and such offer, the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the
Securities for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities issued
by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors, which debt securities and
guarantee are substantially identical to the Securities and the related
Guarantee, respectively (and are entitled to the benefits of a trust
indenture which is substantially identical to the Indenture or is the
Indenture and which has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act),
except that they have been registered pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act and do not contain
provisions for the additional interest contemplated in Section 2(c) below
(such new debt securities hereinafter called "Exchange Securities"). The
Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
Exchange Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities
Act as soon as practicable, but no later than 180 days after the Closing
Date. The Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act on
the appropriate form and will comply with all applicable tender offer
rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The Company further agrees
to use its commercially reasonable efforts to commence and complete the
Exchange Offer promptly, but no later than 30 business days after such
registration statement has become effective, hold the Exchange Offer open
for at least 20 business days and exchange Exchange Securities for all
Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn
on or prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer
will be deemed to have been "completed" only if the debt securities and
related guarantee received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the
Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are, upon receipt, transferable
by each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act and without material restrictions under the blue sky or
securities laws of a substantial majority of the States of the United
States of America. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been
completed upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Company having exchanged
the Exchange Securities for all outstanding Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company having exchanged,
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for all Registrable
Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn before the
expiration of the Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is at
least 20 business days following the commencement of the Exchange Offer.
The Company agrees (x) to include in the Exchange Registration Statement a
prospectus for use in any resales by any holder of Exchange Securities
that is a broker-dealer and (y) to keep such Exchange Registration
Statement effective for a period (the "Resale Period") beginning when
Exchange Securities are first issued in the Exchange Offer and ending upon
the earlier of the expiration of the 180th day after the Exchange Offer
has been completed or such time as such broker-dealers no longer own any
Registrable Securities. With respect to such Exchange Registration
Statement, such holders shall have the benefit of the rights of
indemnification and contribution set forth in Sections 6(a), (c), (d) and
(e) hereof.
(b) If on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed, the
Company and the Guarantors are not (i) required to file the Exchange
Registration Statement; or (ii) permitted to consummate the Exchange Offer
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or
Commission policy; or (iii) any holder of Registrable Securities notifies
the Company prior to the 20th business day following consummation of the
Exchange Offer that: (A) it is prohibited by law or Commission policy from
participating in the Exchange Offer; (B)
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it may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange
Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Registration Statement is not appropriate or
available for such resales; or (C) it is a broker-dealer and owns
Securities acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the
Company, the Company shall, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause (iii),
in addition to) conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by Section
2(a), file under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no later
than the later of 30 days after the time such obligation to file arises, a
"shelf" registration statement providing for the registration of, and the
sale on a continuous or delayed basis by the holders of, all of the
Registrable Securities, pursuant to Rule 415 or any similar rule that may
be adopted by the Commission (such filing, the "Shelf Registration" and
such registration statement, the "Shelf Registration Statement"). The
Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts (x) to cause the
Shelf Registration Statement to become or be declared effective no later
than 120 days after such Shelf Registration Statement is filed and to keep
such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for a period
ending on the earlier of the second anniversary of the Effective Time or
such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding,
provided, however, that no holder shall be entitled to be named as a
selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to use the
prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities
unless such holder is an Electing Holder, and (y) after the Effective Time
of the Shelf Registration Statement, promptly upon the request of any
holder of Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, to
take any action reasonably necessary to enable such holder to use the
prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities,
including, without limitation, any action necessary to identify such
holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement,
provided, however, that nothing in this Clause (y) shall relieve any such
holder of the obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) hereof.
The Company further agrees to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf
Registration Statement, as and when required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for
such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or rules and
regulations thereunder for shelf registration, and the Company agrees to
furnish to each Electing Holder copies of any such supplement or amendment
prior to its being used or promptly following its filing with the
Commission.
(c) In the event that (i) the Company has not filed the Exchange
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement on or before the
date on which such registration statement is required to be filed pursuant
to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (ii) such Exchange Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement has not become effective or been
declared effective by the Commission on or before the date on which such
registration statement is required to become or be declared effective
pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (iii) the Exchange
Offer has not been completed within 30 business days after the initial
effective date of the Exchange Registration Statement relating to the
Exchange Offer (if the Exchange Offer is then required to be made) or (iv)
any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement
required by Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof is filed and declared effective
but shall thereafter either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become
subject to an effective stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the
Securities Act suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement
(except as specifically permitted herein) without being succeeded
immediately by an additional registration statement filed and declared
effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a
"Registration Default" and each period during which a Registration Default
has occurred and is continuing, a "Registration Default Period"), then, as
liquidated damages for such Registration Default, subject to the
provisions of Section 9(b), special interest ("Special Interest"), in
addition to the Base Interest, shall accrue at a per annum rate
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of 0.25% for the first 90 days of the Registration Default Period and will
increase by an additional per annum rate of 0.25% with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured,
up to a maximum per annum rate of 1.00%. In no event will the Company be
required to pay Special Interest for more than one Registration Default at
any given time.
(d) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts, and shall
cause the Guarantors to use commercially reasonable efforts, to ensure
that the transactions contemplated herein are effected as so contemplated,
including actions to register the Guarantee under the registration
statement contemplated in Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof, as applicable.
(e) Any reference herein to a registration statement as of any time
shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be
incorporated, therein by reference as of such time and any reference
herein to any post-effective amendment to a registration statement as of
any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed
to be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time.
3. Registration Procedures.
If the Company files a registration statement pursuant to
Section 2(a) or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Offer or the
Shelf Registration, as the case may be, the Company shall qualify the
Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(b) In the event that such qualification would require the
appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall
appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of
the Indenture.
(c) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 2(a) (the
"Exchange Registration"), if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the
Commission such amendments and supplements to such Exchange
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as
may be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of
such Exchange Registration Statement for the periods and
purposes contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof and as may be
required by the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such
Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly provide each
broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such number of
copies of the prospectus included therein (as then amended or
supplemented), in conformity in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as
such broker-dealer reasonably may request prior to the
expiration of the Resale Period, for use in connection with
resales of Exchange Securities;
(ii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has
requested or received copies of the prospectus included in
such registration statement, (A) when such Exchange
Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or
any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with
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respect to such Exchange Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective,
(B) with respect to counsel for Goldman, Sachs & Co., of any
comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities
commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or
any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to
such Exchange Registration Statement or prospectus or for
additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such
Exchange Registration Statement or the initiation or
threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any
time the representations and warranties of the Company
contemplated by Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all
material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Exchange Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose, or (F) at any time during the
Resale Period when a prospectus is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act, that such Exchange Registration
Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or
post-effective amendment does not conform in all material
respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act
and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(iii) in the event that the Company would be required,
pursuant to Section 3(c)(ii)(F) above, to notify any
broker-dealers holding Exchange Securities, promptly prepare
and furnish to each such holder a reasonable number of copies
of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter
delivered to purchasers of such Exchange Securities during the
Resale Period, such prospectus shall conform in all material
respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act
and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder and shall not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing;
(iv) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such
Exchange Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;
(v) use commercially reasonable efforts to (A) register
or qualify the Exchange Securities under the securities laws
or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are contemplated by
Section 2(a) no later than the commencement of the Exchange
Offer, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect
and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions until
the expiration of the Resale Period and (C) enable each
broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities to consummate the
disposition thereof in such jurisdictions; provided, however,
that neither the Company nor the Guarantors shall be required
for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation
in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required
to qualify but for the requirements of this Section 3(c)(v),
(2) consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or any agreement between it and its
stockholders;
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(vi) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the
consent or approval of each governmental agency or authority,
whether federal, state or local, which may be required to
effect the Exchange Registration, the Exchange Offer and the
offering and sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers
during the Resale Period;
(vii) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange
Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time;
(viii) comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of the Commission, and make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable but no later than
eighteen months after the effective date of such Exchange
Registration Statement, an earning statement of the Company
and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule
158 thereunder).
As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each
holder of Registrable 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
(which may be contained in the letter of transmittal or agent's message
contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that
(A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company, (B) unless such holder is a
broker-dealer, 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 Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and
(C) it is acquiring the Exchange Securities in its ordinary course of business.
As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer each holder using the
Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Securities shall
acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Exchange Securities obtained
by such holder in exchange for Exchange Securities acquired directly from the
Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission policy as in
effect on the date of this Exchange and Registration Rights 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
dated 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 Securities 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 information required by Item 507 or 508,
as applicable, of Regulation S-K.
(d) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) not less than 30 calendar days prior to the
Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, mail the
Notice and Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable
Securities; no holder shall be entitled to be named as a
selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement as
of the Effective Time, and no holder shall be entitled to use
the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities at any time, unless such holder has
returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to
the Company by the deadline for response set forth therein;
provided, however, holders of Registrable Securities shall
have at least 20 calendar days from the date on which the
Notice and Questionnaire is first mailed to such holders to
return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the
Company;
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(ii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, upon the request of any holder of Registrable
Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly send
a Notice and Questionnaire to such holder; provided that the
Company shall not be required to take any action to name such
holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement or to enable such holder to use the prospectus
forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities
until such holder has returned a completed and signed Notice
and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iii)as soon as practicable prepare and file with the
Commission such amendments and supplements to such Shelf
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as
may be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of
such Shelf Registration Statement for the period specified in
Section 2(b) hereof and as may be required by the applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions
applicable to the form of such Shelf Registration Statement,
and furnish to the Electing Holders copies of any such
supplement or amendment simultaneously with or prior to its
being used or filed with the Commission;
(iv) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
with respect to the disposition of all of the Registrable
Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the
Electing Holders provided for in such Shelf Registration
Statement;
(v) provide (A) a representative of the Majority
Electing Holders, (B) the underwriters (which term, for
purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement,
shall include a person deemed to be an underwriter within the
meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), if any,
thereof, (C) any sales or placement agent therefor, (D)
counsel for any such underwriter of the Majority Electing
Holders or agent and (E) not more than one counsel for all the
Electing Holders the opportunity to participate in the
preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, each
prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission and
each amendment or supplement thereto;
(vi) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such
Shelf Registration Statement, and throughout the period
specified in Section 2(b), make available at reasonable times
at the Company's principal place of business or such other
reasonable place for inspection by the persons referred to in
Section 3(d)(v) who shall certify to the Company that they
have a current intention to sell the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration such financial and other
information and books and records of the Company, and cause
the officers, employees, counsel and independent certified
public accountants of the Company to respond to such
inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the judgment
of the respective counsel referred to in such Section, to
conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of
Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that each
such party shall be required to maintain in confidence and not
to disclose to any other person any information or records
reasonably designated by the Company as being confidential,
until such time as (A) such information becomes a matter of
public record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such
registration statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall
be required so to disclose such information pursuant to a
subpoena or order of any court or other governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the
requirements of such order, and only after
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such person shall have given the Company prompt prior written
notice of such requirement), or (C) such information is
required to be set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement
or the prospectus included therein or in an amendment to such
Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to
such prospectus in order that such Shelf Registration
Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case
may be, complies with applicable requirements of the federal
securities laws and the rules and regulations of the
Commission and does not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing;
(vii) promptly notify a representative of the Majority
Electing Holders, DTC, any sales or placement agent therefor
and any underwriter thereof (which notification may be made
through any managing underwriter that is a representative of
such underwriter for such purpose) (A) when such Shelf
Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or
any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Shelf
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when
the same has become effective, (B) in the case of any managing
underwriter, its counsel and counsel for the Electing Holders,
of any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or
securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect
thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus
or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
such Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation or
threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any
time the representations and warranties of the Company
contemplated by Section 3(d)(xvi) or Section 5 cease to be
true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt
by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities
for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening
of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F) if at any time when
a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act, that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus,
prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment
does not conform in all material respects to the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing;
(viii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such
registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
at the earliest practicable date;
(ix) if reasonably requested by any managing underwriter
or underwriters, any placement or sales agent or any Electing
Holder with respect to information relating to such Electing
Holder, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information as is required by
the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and as
such managing underwriter or underwriters, such agent or such
Electing Holder specifies should be included therein relating
to the terms of the sale of such Registrable Securities,
including information with respect to the principal amount of
Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder or
agent or to any underwriters, the name and description of such
Electing
10
Holder, agent or underwriter, the offering price of such
Registrable Securities and any discount, commission or other
compensation payable in respect thereof, the purchase price
being paid therefor by such underwriters and with respect to
any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities
to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to such
underwriters; and make all required filings of such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(x) furnish to the representative of the Majority
Electing Holders, DTC, each placement or sales agent, if any,
therefor, each underwriter, if any, thereof and the respective
counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(v) an executed copy (or,
in the case of an Electing Holder, a conformed copy) of such
Shelf Registration Statement, each such amendment and
supplement thereto (and, if requested in writing by an
Electing Holder, placement or sales agent or underwriter, all
exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference
therein) and of the prospectus included in such Shelf
Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus
and any summary prospectus), in conformity in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder, and such other documents, as
such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any,
may reasonably request in order to facilitate the offering and
disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Electing Holder, offered or sold by such agent or underwritten
by such underwriter and to permit such Electing Holder, agent
and underwriter to satisfy the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act; and the Company hereby
consents to the use of such prospectus (including such
preliminary and summary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto by each such Electing Holder and by any
such agent and underwriter, in each case in the form most
recently provided to such person by the Company, in connection
with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by the prospectus (including such preliminary and
summary prospectus) or any supplement or amendment thereto;
(xi) use commercially reasonable efforts to (A) register
or qualify the Registrable Securities to be included in such
Shelf Registration Statement under such securities laws or
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Electing Holder and
each placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and
underwriter, if any, thereof shall reasonably request, (B)
keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply
with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers,
sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the
period the Shelf Registration is required to remain effective
under Section 2(b) above and for so long as may be necessary
to enable any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter to
complete its distribution of Securities pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement and (C) enable each such Electing
Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, to consummate
the disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable
Securities; provided, however, that neither the Company nor
the Guarantors shall be required for any such purpose to (1)
qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein
it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for the
requirements of this Section 3(d)(xi), (2) consent to general
service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) make any
changes to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any
agreement between it and its stockholders;
11
(xii)use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the
consent or approval of each governmental agency or authority,
whether federal, state or local, which may be required to
effect the Shelf Registration or the offering or sale in
connection therewith or to enable the selling holder or
holders to offer, or to consummate the disposition of, their
Registrable Securities;
(xiii) Unless any Registrable Securities shall be in
book-entry only form, cooperate with the representative of the
Majority Electing Holders and the managing underwriters, if
any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold,
which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends;
and, in the case of an underwritten offering, enable such
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and
registered in such names as the managing underwriters may
request at least two business days prior to any sale of the
Registrable Securities;
(xiv)provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable
Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time;
(xv) enter into one or more underwriting agreements,
engagement letters, agency agreements, "best efforts"
underwriting agreements or similar agreements, as appropriate,
including customary provisions relating to indemnification and
contribution, and take such other actions in connection
therewith as the Majority Electing Holders shall request in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such
Registrable Securities;
(xvi) whether or not an agreement of the type referred
to in Section 3(d)(xv) hereof is entered into and whether or
not any portion of the offering contemplated by the Shelf
Registration is an underwritten offering or is made through a
placement or sales agent or any other entity, (A) make such
representations and warranties to the Electing Holders and the
placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the
underwriters, if any, thereof in form, substance and scope as
are customarily made in connection with an offering of debt
securities pursuant to any appropriate agreement or to a
registration statement filed on the form applicable to the
Shelf Registration; (B) obtain an opinion or opinions of
counsel to the Company in customary form and covering such
matters, of the type customarily covered by such an opinion,
as the managing underwriters, if any, or as the Majority
Electing Holders may reasonably request, addressed to such
Electing Holder or Electing Holders and the placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof
and dated the effective date of such Shelf Registration
Statement (and if such Shelf Registration Statement
contemplates an underwritten offering of a part or all of the
Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing under
the underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being agreed
that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include,
subject to customary exceptions to be agreed, 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(d)(xv) hereof;
the due authorization, execution, authentication and issuance,
and the validity and enforceability, of the Securities; the
absence of material legal or governmental proceedings
involving the Company; the absence of a breach by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries of, or a default under, material
agreements binding upon the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf
12
Registration, the offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities, this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement or
any agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xv)
hereof, except such approvals as may be required under state
securities or blue sky laws; the material compliance as to
form of such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents
incorporated by reference therein and of the Indenture with
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion
and of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent
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 the documents incorporated by reference therein (in
each case other than the financial statements and other
financial and accounting and reserve information contained
therein) of an untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading (in the case of such
documents, in the light of the circumstances existing at the
time that such documents were filed with the Commission under
the Exchange Act)); (C) obtain a "cold comfort" letter or
letters from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company addressed to the selling Electing Holders, the
placement or sales agent, if any, therefor or the
underwriters, if any, thereof, dated (i) the effective date of
such Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the effective date
of any prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in
such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective amendment
to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited
or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period
subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in
such prospectus (and, if such Shelf Registration Statement
contemplates an underwritten offering pursuant to any
prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in such Shelf
Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to such
Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited or
audited financial statements as of a date or for a period
subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in
such prospectus, dated the date of the closing under the
underwriting agreement relating thereto), such letter or
letters to be in customary form and covering such matters of
the type customarily covered by letters of such type; (D)
deliver such documents and certificates, including officers'
certificates, as may be reasonably requested by the Majority
Electing Holders and the managing underwriters, if any,
thereof to evidence the accuracy of the representations and
warranties made pursuant to clause (A) above or those
contained in Section 5(a) hereof and the compliance with or
satisfaction of any agreements or conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the
Company or the Guarantors; and (E) undertake such obligations
relating to expense reimbursement, indemnification and
contribution as are provided in Section 6 hereof;
(xvii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable
Securities of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive
any provision of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement pursuant to Section 9(h) hereof and of any amendment
or waiver effected pursuant thereto, each of which notices
shall contain the text of the amendment or waiver proposed or
effected, as the case may be;
(xviii) in the event that any broker-dealer registered
under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Registrable
Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting
syndicate or selling group or "assist in the distribution"
(within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "Conduct Rules)
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD") or any successor thereto, as amended from time to
time)
13
thereof, whether as a holder of such Registrable Securities or
as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or
dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist such
broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such
Conduct Rules, including by (A) if such Conduct Rules shall so
require, engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as
defined in such Conduct Rules) to participate in the
preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement relating to
such Registrable Securities, to exercise usual standards of
due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the
offering contemplated by such Shelf Registration Statement is
an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or
sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Registrable
Securities, (B) indemnifying any such qualified independent
underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of
underwriters provided in Section 6 hereof (or to such other
customary extent as may be requested by such underwriter), and
(C) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be
required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the
requirements of the Conduct Rules; and
(xix)comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission, and make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable but in any event not
later than eighteen months after the effective date of such
Shelf Registration Statement, an earning statement of the
Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of
the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company,
Rule 158 thereunder).
(e) In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 3(d)(vii)(F) above, to notify the Electing Holders, the placement
or sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any,
thereof, the Company shall without delay prepare and furnish to each of
the Electing Holders, to each placement or sales agent, if any, and to
each such underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a
prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to
purchasers of Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall conform in all
material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and
the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing. Each Electing Holder agrees that upon receipt
of any notice from the Company pursuant to Section 3(d)(vii)(F) hereof,
such Electing Holder shall forthwith discontinue the disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement
applicable to such Registrable Securities until such Electing Holder shall
have received copies of such amended or supplemented prospectus, and if so
directed by the Company, such Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company
(at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies,
then in such Electing Holder's possession of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.
(f) In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the
information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its Notice
Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to furnish to
the Company such additional information regarding such Electing Holder and
such Electing Holder's intended method of distribution of Registrable
Securities as may be required in order to comply with the Securities Act.
Each such Electing Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as
practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously
furnished by such Electing Holder to the Company or of the occurrence of
any event in either case as a result of which any prospectus relating to
such Shelf Registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a
material fact regarding
14
such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder's intended method of
disposition of such Registrable Securities or omits to state any material
fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder's intended
method of disposition of such Registrable Securities required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly to furnish to the
Company any additional information required to correct and update any
previously furnished information or required so that such prospectus shall
not contain, with respect to such Electing Holder or the disposition of
such Registrable Securities, an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing.
(g) Until the expiration of two years after the Closing Date, the
Company will not, and will not permit any of its "affiliates" (as defined
in Rule 144) to, resell any of the Securities that have been reacquired by
any of them except pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act.
4. Registration Expenses.
The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid
promptly all expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance
with this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including (a) all
Commission and any NASD registration, filing and review fees and expenses
including fees and disbursements of counsel for the placement or sales agent or
underwriters in connection with such registration, filing and review, (b) all
fees and expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for
offering and sale under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in
Section 3(d)(xi) hereof and determination of their eligibility for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as any managing underwriters or the
Electing Holders may designate, including any fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Electing Holders or underwriters in connection with such qualification
and determination, (c) all expenses relating to the preparation, printing,
production, distribution and reproduction of each registration statement
required to be filed hereunder, each prospectus included therein or prepared for
distribution pursuant hereto, each amendment or supplement to the foregoing, the
expenses of preparing the Securities for delivery and the expenses of printing
or producing any underwriting agreements, agreements among underwriters, selling
agreements and blue sky or legal investment memoranda and all other documents in
connection with the offering, sale or delivery of Securities to be disposed of
(including certificates representing the Securities), (d) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses relating to the offering, sale or delivery of Securities
and the preparation of documents referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and
expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and any
counsel for the Trustee and of any collateral agent or custodian, (f) internal
expenses (including all salaries and expenses of the Company's officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), (g) fees, disbursements and
expenses of counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company
(including the expenses of any opinions or "cold comfort" letters required by or
incident to such performance and compliance), (h) fees, disbursements and
expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter" engaged pursuant to Section
3(d)(xviii) hereof, (i) fees, disbursements and expenses of one counsel for the
Majority Electing Holders and one local counsel retained in connection with a
Shelf Registration, as selected by the Electing Holders of at least a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by Electing
Holders (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (j) any
fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities, and (k)
fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons, including special
experts, retained by the Company in connection with such registration
(collectively, the "Registration Expenses"). To the extent that any Registration
Expenses are incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of Registrable Securities
or any
15
placement or sales agent therefor or underwriter thereof, the Company shall
reimburse such person for the full amount of the Registration Expenses so
incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a request therefor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable Securities being
registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and underwriting discounts
and commissions attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities and the
fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisors or experts retained by
such holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel and experts
specifically referred to above.
5. Representations and Warranties.
Each of the Company and the Guarantors represents and warrants
to, and agrees with, the Purchaser and each of the holders from time to time of
Registrable Securities that:
(a) Each registration statement covering Registrable Securities and
each prospectus (including any preliminary or summary prospectus)
contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c)
hereof and any further amendments or supplements to any such registration
statement or prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the
Commission, as the case may be, and, in the case of an underwritten
offering of Registrable Securities, at the time of the closing under the
underwriting agreement relating thereto, will conform in all material
respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will
not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; and at all times subsequent to the
Effective Time when a prospectus would be required to be delivered under
the Securities Act, other than from (i) such time as a notice has been
given to holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
3(d)(vii)(F) or Section 3(c)(ii)(F) hereof until (ii) such time as the
Company furnishes an amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to
Section 3(e) or Section 3(c)(iii) hereof, each such registration
statement, and each prospectus (including any summary prospectus)
contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c)
hereof, as then amended or supplemented, will conform in all material
respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will
not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
existing; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall
not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by a
holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(b) Any documents incorporated by reference in any prospectus
referred to in Section 5(a) hereof, when they become or became effective
or are or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform
or conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such
documents will contain or contained an untrue statement of a material fact
or will omit or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply
to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of
Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(c) The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of,
16
or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or
any subsidiary of the Company is a party or by which the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company is bound or to which any of the property or
assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is subject, nor
will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
certificate of incorporation, as amended, or the by-laws of the Company or
any Guarantor or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court
or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties; and no consent,
approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with
any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the
consummation by the Company and the Guarantors of the transactions
contemplated by this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, except
the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities, qualification
of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and such consents,
approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
required under State securities or blue sky laws in connection with the
offering and distribution of the Securities.
(d) This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company and the Guarantors. The Company
and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold
harmless each of the holders of Registrable Securities included in an
Exchange Registration Statement, each of the Electing Holders of
Registrable Securities included in a Shelf Registration Statement and each
person who participates as a placement or sales agent or as an underwriter
in any offering or sale of such Registrable Securities against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such holder,
agent or underwriter may become subject under the Securities Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the
case may be, under which such Registrable Securities were registered under
the Securities Act, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus
contained therein or furnished by the Company to any such holder, Electing
Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse such holder,
such Electing Holder, such agent and such underwriter for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantors
shall be liable to any such person in any such case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in such registration statement, or preliminary, final or
summary prospectus, or amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
such person expressly for use therein.
(b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and Underwriters.
The Company may require, as a condition to including any Registrable
Securities in any registration statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b)
hereof and to entering into any underwriting agreement with respect
thereto, that the Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably
satisfactory to it from the Electing Holder of such Registrable Securities
and from
17
each underwriter named in any such underwriting agreement, severally and
not jointly, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the
Guarantors, and all other holders of Registrable Securities, against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company, the
Guarantors or such other holders of Registrable Securities may become
subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in such registration statement, or any
preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by
the Company to any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Electing Holder or
underwriter expressly for use therein, and (ii) reimburse the Company and
the Guarantors for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Company and the Guarantors in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however,
that no such Electing Holder shall be required to undertake liability to
any person under this Section 6(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar
amount of the proceeds to be received by such Electing Holder from the
sale of such Electing Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such
registration.
(c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified
party under subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party pursuant to
the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by this Section 6,
notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such
action; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by
Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof. In case any such action shall be brought
against any indemnified party and it shall notify an indemnifying party of
the commencement thereof, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with
any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party
(who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be
counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume
the defense thereof, such indemnifying party shall not be liable to such
indemnified party for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other
expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of
the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent
to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened
action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be
sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or
potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement,
compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim
and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provisions
contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) are unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the
18
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party
and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by such indemnifying party or by such indemnified
party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the holders or any agents or underwriters or all of
them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method
of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in this Section 6(d). The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be
deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section
6(d), no holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of
the amount by which the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such
holder from the sale of any Registrable Securities (after deducting any
fees, discounts and commissions applicable thereto) exceeds the amount of
any damages which such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason
of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission, and no underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable
Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered
to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such underwriter has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities
Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty
of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The holders' and any underwriters'
obligations in this Section 6(d) to contribute shall be several in
proportion to the principal amount of Registrable Securities registered or
underwritten, as the case may be, by them and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this
Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company or the
Guarantors may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each officer, director and partner of each holder, agent
and underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any holder, agent or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act; and the obligations
of the holders and any agents or underwriters contemplated by this Section
6 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective holder, agent
or underwriter may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms
and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company or the
Guarantors (including any person who, with his consent, is named in any
registration statement as about to become a director of the Company or the
Guarantors) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act.
7. Underwritten Offerings.
(a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to an
underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof
shall be designated by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in
19
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in
such offering, provided that such designated managing underwriter or
underwriters is or are reasonably acceptable to the Company.
(b) Participation by Holders. Each holder of Registrable Securities
hereby agrees with each other such holder that no such holder may
participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless such holder (i)
agrees to sell such holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided
in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled
hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements
and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
8. Rule 144.
Until such time as Registrable Securities cease to be
outstanding, the Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that
to the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company
shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act
or the Securities Act (including the reports under Section 13 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 adopted by the
Commission under the Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by
the Commission thereunder, and shall take such further action as any holder of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption
provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar or successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities in
connection with that holder's sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall
deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with
such requirements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants,
covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant,
registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities or any other
securities which would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
(b) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that there
would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of
its obligations hereunder and that the Purchaser and the holders from time
to time of the Registrable Securities may be irreparably harmed by any
such failure, and accordingly agree that the Purchaser and such holders,
in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in
equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the
obligations of the Company under this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, in any court of the United States or any
State thereof having jurisdiction.
(c) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally or by
courier, or three days after being deposited in the mail (registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If
to the Company, to it at 5200 Stoneham Road, North Canton, Ohio 44720, and
if to a holder, to the address of such holder set forth in the security
register or other records of the Company, or to such other address as the
Company or any such holder may have furnished to the other
20
in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of
address shall be effective only upon receipt.
(d) Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, shall
inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and
the holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities and the
respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto and such holders.
In the event that any transferee of any holder of Registrable Securities
shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by gift,
bequest, purchase, operation of law or otherwise, such transferee shall,
without any further writing or action of any kind, be deemed a beneficiary
hereof for all purposes and such Registrable Securities shall be held
subject to all of the terms of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such
transferee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of, and be
conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by all of the applicable
terms and provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
If the Company shall so request, any such successor, assign or transferee
shall agree in writing to acquire and hold the Registrable Securities
subject to all of the applicable terms hereof.
(e) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements,
representations, warranties and each other provision set forth in this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall
remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation (or
statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of
Registrable Securities, any director, officer or partner of such holder,
any agent or underwriter or any director, officer or partner thereof, or
any controlling person of any of the foregoing, and shall survive delivery
of and payment for the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement and the transfer and registration of Registrable Securities by
such holder and the consummation of an Exchange Offer.
(f) GOVERNING LAW. THIS EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
(g) Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Sections and
paragraphs of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are inserted
for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning
or interpretation of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
(h) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement and the other writings referred to herein (including the
Indenture and the form of Securities) or delivered pursuant hereto which
form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the
parties with respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be waived (either generally
or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively)
only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Securities at the time outstanding. Each holder of any Registrable
Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any
amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section 9(h), whether or not
any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or waiver appears
on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.
(i) Inspection. For so long as this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement shall be in effect, this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement and a complete list of the
21
names and addresses of all the holders of Registrable Securities shall be
made available for inspection and copying on any business day by any
holder of Registrable Securities for proper purposes only (which shall
include any purpose related to the rights of the holders of Registrable
Securities under the Securities, the Indenture and this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement) at the offices of the Company at the
address thereof set forth in Section 9(c) above and at the office of the
Trustee under the Indenture.
(j) Counterparts. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement
may be executed by the parties in counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall
together constitute one and the same instrument.
22
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please
sign and return to us six counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by
you, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement
among the Purchaser, the Guarantors and the Company.
Very truly yours,
Belden & Blake Corporation
By: /s/ Robert W. Peshek
-----------------------------
Name: Robert W. Peshek
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
The Canton Oil & Gas Company
By: /s/ Robert W. Peshek
-----------------------------
Name: Robert W. Peshek
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Ward Lake Drilling, Inc.
By: /s/ Robert W. Peshek
-----------------------------
Name: Robert W. Peshek
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
By: /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.
---------------------------
(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)
Schedule I
Guarantors
The Canton Oil & Gas Company, an Ohio corporation
Ward Lake Drilling, Inc., a Michigan corporation
EXHIBIT A
BELDEN & BLAKE CORPORATION
INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS
(Date of Mailing)
URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE] *
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") has identified you as a DTC Participant
through which beneficial interests in Belden & Blake Corporation (the "Company")
8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 (the "Securities") are held.
The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the Securities
Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof. In order to have their
Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial owners must
complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement and Selling
Securityholder Questionnaire.
It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a copy of the
enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the Securities
included in the registration statement depend upon their returning the Notice
and Questionnaire by [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Please forward a copy of the
enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the
Securities through you. If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or
have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact Belden & Blake
Corporation, 5200 Stoneham Road, North Canton, Ohio 44720, (330) 499-1660.
- ---------------
*Not less than 20 calendar days from date of mailing.
A-1
BELDEN & BLAKE CORPORATION
Notice of Registration Statement
and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
(Date)
Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement") among Belden & Blake Corporation
(the "Company"), the Guarantors named therein and the Purchaser named therein.
Pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form [__] (the "Shelf Registration
Statement") for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the Company's 8.75% Senior
Secured Notes due 2012 (the "Securities"). A copy of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto. All capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below) is entitled
to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included in the
Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities included
in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire ("Notice and Questionnaire") must be
completed, executed and delivered to the Company's counsel at the address set
forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Beneficial owners
of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and return this Notice
and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as selling securityholders
in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use the Prospectus forming
a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in
the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. Accordingly, holders
and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus.
The term "Registrable Securities" is defined in the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement.
A-2
ELECTION
The undersigned holder (the "Selling Securityholder") of Registrable Securities
hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3). The
undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees to
be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and conditions
of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were
an original party thereto.
Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company
and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus and
as Exhibit B to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the
Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and
complete:
A-3
QUESTIONNAIRE
(1) (a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a)
above) of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below:
(c) Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the
same as (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in
Item (3) below are Held:
(2) Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
________________
________________
________________
Telephone: ____________________
Fax: ____________________
Contact Person: ____________________
(3) Beneficial Ownership of Securities:
Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not
beneficially own any Securities.
(a) Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:
____________________________________________________________________
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:________________________
(b) Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities
beneficially owned:_________________________________________________
CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:______________________________
(c) Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the undersigned
wishes to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:
___________________________________________________________________
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the
Shelf Registration Statement:______________________________________
(4) Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any
other securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed
above in Item (3).
State any exceptions here:
(5) Relationships with the Company:
A-4
Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor
any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity
holders (5% or more) has held any position or office or has had any
other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or
affiliates) during the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
(6) Plan of Distribution:
Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder
intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in
Item (3) only as follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities
may be sold from time to time directly by the undersigned Selling
Securityholder or, alternatively, through underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents. Such Registrable Securities may be sold in
one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market
prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time
of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in
transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i)
on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which
the Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of
sale, (ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions
otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the
over-the-counter market, or (iv) through the writing of options. In
connection with sales of the Registrable Securities or otherwise,
the Selling Securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with
broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
Registrable Securities in the course of hedging the positions they
assume. The Selling Securityholder may also sell Registrable
Securities short and deliver Registrable Securities to close out
such short positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to
broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.
State any exceptions here:
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands
its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly
Regulation M.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the
Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such
information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees to
notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and
obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement.
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (6) above and
the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder understands that such information
will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation of the
Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
In accordance with the Selling Securityholder's obligation under Section 3(d) of
the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as
may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the
Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies
or changes in the information provided herein which
A-5
may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration
Statement remains in effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery,
first-class mail, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:
(i) To the Company:
Belden & Blake Corporation
5200 Stoneham Road
North Canton, Ohio 44720
Attn: [ ]
(ii) With a copy to:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and
received by the Company's counsel, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire,
and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be binding on,
shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective
successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the Company and the
Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially
owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above. This Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws
of the State of New York.
A-6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its
duly authorized agent.
Dated:_________________
____________________________________________________________________
Selling Securityholder
(Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable
Securities)
By:_________________________________________________________________
Name:
Title:
PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON
OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY'S COUNSEL AT:
Belden & Blake Corporation
5200 Stoneham Road
North Canton, Ohio 44720
Attn: [ ]
With a copy to:
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
A-7
EXHIBIT B
NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
BNY Midwest Trust Company
2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Attention: Trust Officer
Re: Belden & Blake Corporation (the "Company")
8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2012
Dear Sirs:
Please be advised that ____________ has transferred $_________________ aggregate
principal amount of the above-referenced Notes pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement on Form [____] (File No. 333-___) filed by the Company.
We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named
beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a "Selling Holder" in the Prospectus
dated [DATE] or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate principal amount
of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in such Prospectus opposite such
owner's name.
Dated:
Very truly yours,
__________________________
(Name)
By: ________________________
(Authorized Signature)
B-1