Exhibit
4.2
Hornbeck
Offshore Services, Inc.
$250,000,000
8%
Senior Notes due 2017
unconditionally
guaranteed as to the
payment
of principal, premium,
if
any, and interest by
Energy Services
Puerto Rico, LLC
Hornbeck
Offshore Services, LLC
Hornbeck
Offshore Transportation, LLC
Hornbeck
Offshore Operators, LLC
HOS-IV,
LLC and
Hornbeck
Offshore Trinidad & Tobago, LLC
Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement
August 17,
2009
J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc.
As
representative of the
several
Purchasers listed in
Schedule 1 to
the Purchase Agreement
c/o J.P.
Morgan Securities Inc.
270 Park
Avenue
New York, New
York 10017
Ladies and
Gentlemen:
Hornbeck
Offshore Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the
Purchasers (as defined herein) upon the terms set forth in the
Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) $250,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Company’s 8% Senior Notes due 2017,
which are unconditionally guaranteed by Energy Services Puerto
Rico, LLC, Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC, Hornbeck Offshore
Transportation, LLC, Hornbeck Offshore Operators, LLC, HOS-IV, LLC
and Hornbeck Offshore Trinidad & Tobago, LLC. As an
inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement
and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the
Purchasers thereunder, the Company (as defined herein) and the
Guarantors agree with the Purchasers 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, 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 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.
“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)(ii) or 3(d)(iii) 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 each of the Purchasers 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 August 17, 2009, among the Company
, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Trustee, as the same shall be amended from time to
time.
“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, limited
liability company, association, partnership, organization,
business, individual, government or political subdivision thereof
or governmental agency.
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“Purchase
Agreement” shall mean the
Purchase Agreement, dated August 12, 2009, among the
Purchasers, the Guarantors and the Company relating to the
Securities.
“Purchasers”
shall mean the
Purchasers named in Schedule 1 to the Purchase
Agreement.
“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 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 (d) of Rule 144 but
only after the expiration of one year from the Closing
Date; or (v) such Security shall cease to be
outstanding.
“Registration
Default” shall have the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c) hereof.
“Registration
Default Period” 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 the 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% Senior Notes due 2017 of the Company to be
issued and sold to the Purchasers on the Closing Date, and
securities issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant
to the Indenture. Each Security is entitled to the benefit of the
guarantees provided for in the Indenture (the
“Guarantees”) 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
Guarantees.
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“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.
2.
Registration Under the Securities Act .
(a) Except as
set forth in Section 2(b)(i) 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
guarantees are substantially identical to the Securities and the
related Guarantees, 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 Special
Interest contemplated in Section 2(c) below (such new debt
securities hereinafter called “Exchange Securities”).
The Company agrees to use its reasonable best 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 reasonable best efforts
to commence and complete the Exchange Offer promptly, but no later
than 30 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 validly tendered and not validly
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 guarantees 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
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all
Registrable Securities that have been validly tendered and not
validly withdrawn before the expiration 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
(i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed
existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the debt
securities or the related guarantees received by holders other than
Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities
are not or would not be, upon receipt, transferable by each such
holder without restriction under the Securities Act, (ii) the
Exchange Offer has not been completed within 210 days following the
Closing Date or (iii) the Exchange Offer is not available to
any holder of the Securities, 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 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 reasonable best 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)(iii) 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
5
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 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 or post-effective amendment
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, special
interest (“Special Interest”), in addition to the Base
Interest, shall accrue on the outstanding Securities at a per annum
rate of 0.25% for the first 90 days of the Registration Default
Period, at a per annum rate of 0.50% for the second 90 days of the
Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.75% for the
third 90 days of the Registration Default Period and at a per annum
rate of 1.0% thereafter for the remaining portion of the
Registration Default Period.
(d) The
Company shall take, and shall cause each Guarantor to take, all
actions necessary or advisable to be taken by it to ensure that the
transactions contemplated herein are effected as so contemplated,
including all actions necessary or desirable to register the
Guarantees 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.
(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) prepare
and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable but no later
than 90 days after the Closing Date, an Exchange Registration
Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and
which shall permit the Exchange Offer and resales of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale
6
Period to be
effected as contemplated by Section 2(a), and use its
reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Registration
Statement to become effective as soon as practicable thereafter,
but no later than 180 days after the Closing Date;
(ii) 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;
(iii) promptly
notify each broker-dealer that has requested or been provided, by
or on behalf of the Company, copies of the prospectus included in
the Registration Statement, and confirm such advice in writing,
(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
respect to such Exchange Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective,
(B) 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 prior to
consummation of the Exchange Offer 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;
(iv) in the
event that the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 3(e)(iii)(F) above, to notify any broker-dealers
holding Exchange Securities, without delay 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
7
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;
(v) use its
reasonable best 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;
(vi) use its
reasonable best 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) take any and all other actions as may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each broker-dealer
holding Exchange Securities to consummate the disposition thereof
in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that neither the
Company nor any Guarantor 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)(vi), (2) consent to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction or
(3) make any changes to its certificate of incorporation,
by-laws or other organizational document or to any agreement
between it and its stockholders or other equity interest
holders;
(vii) use its
reasonable best 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;
(viii) provide
a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, not later than the
applicable Effective Time; and
(ix) 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).
(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) prepare
and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable but in any
case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b), a
Shelf Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by
the Company and which shall register all of the Registrable
Securities for resale by the holders thereof in accordance with
such method or methods of disposition as may be specified by such
of the holders as, from time to time, may be Electing Holders and
use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
Statement to become effective as soon as practicable but in any
case within the time periods specified in
Section 2(b);
8
(ii) 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
28 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;
(iii) 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;
(iv) 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;
(v) 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;
(vi) provide
(A) the 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 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;
(vii) 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)(vi) 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
9
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 or otherwise
improperly use 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 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;
(viii)
promptly notify each of the Electing Holders, 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) and confirm
such advice in writing, (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) 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) so long as any
Registrable Securities are outstanding, if the representations and
warranties of the Company contemplated by Section 3(d)(xvii)
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;
10
(ix) use its
reasonable best 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;
(x) if
requested by any managing underwriter or underwriters, any
placement or sales agent or any 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 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;
(xi) furnish
to each Electing Holder, each placement or sales agent, if any,
therefor, each underwriter, if any, thereof and the respective
counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) 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
(in each case including all exhibits thereto (in the case of an
Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and
documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number of
copies of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding exhibits
thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein unless
specifically so requested by such Electing Holder, agent or
underwriter, as the case may be) 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;
(xii) use its
reasonable best 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
11
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 reasonably
necessary to enable any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter
to complete its distribution of Securities pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement and (C) take any and all other actions
as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to 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 any Guarantor 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)(xii), (2) consent to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction or
(3) make any changes to its certificate of incorporation,
by-laws or other organizational document or to any agreement
between it and its stockholders or other equity interest
holders;
(xiii) use its
reasonable best 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
Electing Holder or Holders to offer, or to consummate the
disposition of, their Registrable Securities;
(xiv) unless
any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry only form,
cooperate with the Electing Holders and the managing underwriters,
if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, and
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;
(xv) provide a
CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities that are sold pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement, not later than the applicable
Effective Time, which CUSIP number shall be the same as the one
used by the Company in connection with its outstanding 8% Series B
Senior Notes due 2017, unless the CUSIP Service Bureau requires the
Company to use a different CUSIP number;
(xvi) 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 any Electing
Holders aggregating at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding shall request in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities;
(xvii) whether
or not an agreement of the type referred to in
Section 3(d)(xvi) 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
12
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 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 any Electing Holders of
at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Securities at the time outstanding 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 generally shall include the
due incorporation or formation 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)(xvi) 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 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)(xvi) hereof,
except such approvals as may be required under the Securities Act
to declare the Shelf Registration effective or 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 legal
counsel will confirm its belief, 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, as to 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 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
13
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 any Electing
Holders of at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Securities at the time outstanding or the placement or
sales agent, if any, therefor 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 comp