REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit
4.1
This
Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is dated as of March 3, 2006, by
and between BOOTS & XXXXX INTERNATIONAL WELL CONTROL, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the “Corporation”), and HWC ENERGY SERVICES, INC., a
Texas
corporation (including its successors and any assignee of rights hereunder
permitted by Section 17 hereof, “HWC”).
WHEREAS,
in connection with, and as partial consideration for, the Corporation’s
acquisition of the Target Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the Transaction
Agreement, HWC will receive shares of Common Stock of the Corporation in a
transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act; and
WHEREAS,
the Corporation and HWC deem it to be in their respective best interests to
enter into this Agreement to set forth the rights and obligations of the parties
in connection with public offerings and resales of such shares.
ACCORDINGLY,
in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and obligations
hereinafter set forth, the Corporation and HWC hereby agree as
follows:
SECTION
1.
|
DEFINITIONS.
|
As
used
in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) “Closing
Date” means the closing date of the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement.
(b) “Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other Federal agency at
the
time administering the Securities Act.
(c) “Common
Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.00001, of the
Corporation.
(d) “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any successor Federal statute,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all
as
the same shall be in effect from time to time.
(e) “Miscellaneous
Shares” means at any time those shares of Common Stock which do not constitute
Primary Shares or Registrable Shares.
(f) “Person”
shall be construed broadly and shall include an individual, a partnership,
a
corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a limited liability company,
a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental
entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
(g) “Primary
Shares” means at any time the authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock and
shares of Common Stock held by the Corporation in its treasury.
(h) “Registrable
Shares” means (i) the 26,462,137 shares of Common Stock acquired by HWC pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, (ii) any other securities of the Corporation into
or
for which the Registrable Shares may be exchanged, converted or reclassified
or
which may be issued or issuable with respect to the Registrable Shares or such
other securities by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection
with
a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other
reorganization or otherwise, (iii) any shares of Common Stock acquired
subsequent thereto, and (iv) any securities received in respect of the
foregoing, in each case in clauses (i) through (iv) which at any time are held
by HWC. As to any particular Registrable Shares, once issued, such Registrable
Shares shall cease to be Registrable Shares when (A) they have been registered
under the Securities Act, the registration statement in connection therewith
has
been declared effective, and the Registrable Shares have been disposed of
pursuant to and in the manner described in such effective registration
statement, (B) the Registrable Shares are sold or distributed pursuant to Rule
144, or (C) the Registrable Shares have ceased to be outstanding.
(i) “Rule
144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor rule
thereto.
(j) “Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor Federal statute, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be
in
effect from time to time.
(k) “Shelf
Registration Statement” means the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement.
(l) “Transaction
Agreement” means that certain Transaction Agreement dated as of November 21,
2005 by and among the Corporation, HWC Acquisition LLC, HWC Merger Corporation,
Hydraulic Well Control, LLC and HWC.
(m) “Target
Subsidiaries” means HWCES International, a Cayman Islands corporation, HWC
Limited, a Louisiana corporation, and Hydraulic Well Control, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company.
SECTION
2.
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REQUIRED
SHELF REGISTRATION.
|
(a) The
Corporation shall file with the SEC a shelf registration statement covering
the
Registrable Shares for an offering to be made on a continuous or delayed basis
pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (the “Initial Shelf
Registration Statement”) by HWC in the manner designated by it (including,
without limitation, a plan of distribution specified by HWC which shall provide
HWC broad latitude in the manner of disposing of the Registrable Shares,
including through block trades, “bought deals,” traditional underwritten
offerings, ordinary brokerage sales and sales outside the Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 144). The Corporation shall not permit any
securities other than the Registrable Shares to be included in the Initial
Shelf
Registration Statement or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement.
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(b) The
Corporation will cause, by the 30th
day
after the Closing Date, the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to be prepared
and filed with the Commission and use its reasonable best efforts to have such
Initial Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission as
soon as practicable thereafter. The Corporation shall use its reasonable best
efforts to keep the Initial Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective
under the Securities Act (the “Effectiveness Period”) until the earlier of
(i) the later of (A) the date which is 24 months from the Closing Date and
(B) such time as HWC ceases to own at least 5% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Corporation, and (ii) the later of (x) the fourth
anniversary of the Closing Date and (y) the earliest date that HWC may then
dispose of all its Registrable Shares without restriction under Rule 144(k)
promulgated under the Securities Act). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Corporation’s obligations under this Section 2(b) shall immediately terminate
upon the sale of all Registrable Shares covered by any Shelf Registration
Statement in the manner set forth and as contemplated in such Shelf Registration
Statement.
(c) If
the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any Subsequent Shelf Registration
Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the
Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of the securities
registered thereunder), the Corporation shall, in addition to fulfilling its
obligations under Section 2(d) below, within five Business Days of such
cessation of effectiveness or, if such cessation is reasonably foreseeable,
prior to such cessation, as appropriate either (i) amend such Shelf Registration
Statement in a manner to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the
effectiveness thereof (ii) or file an additional shelf registration statement
pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (each, a
“Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement”) covering all of the Registrable
Shares covered by and not sold under the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
or
an earlier Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement. If a Subsequent Shelf
Registration Statement is filed, the Corporation will cause the Subsequent
Shelf
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
soon
as practicable after such filing and to keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration
Statement continuously effective during the remainder of the Effectiveness
Period.
(d) The
Corporation shall promptly supplement and amend each Shelf Registration
Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable
to
the registration form used for such Shelf Registration Statement, if required
by
the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested by HWC or by any underwriter
of
the Registrable Shares acting on behalf of HWC. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Corporation shall not be obligated to prepare more than three supplements
or
amendments for use in traditional underwritten public offerings of Registrable
Shares under the Shelf Registration Statement which would involve a “road show”
or similar activity on the part of management of the Corporation (a “Traditional
Underwritten Public Offering”) nor more than one such supplement or amendment in
any twelve month period. Additionally, the Corporation may delay for a period
of
up to 60 days the filing or effectiveness of any supplement or amendment to
the
Shelf Registration Statement required in connection with an underwritten public
offering if at the time of such request (i) the Corporation is engaged, or
intends to engage within 60 days of the time of such request, in a firm
commitment underwritten public offering of Primary Shares in which the holders
of Registrable Shares may include Registrable Shares pursuant to Section 3
and
such plans or intentions have been approved by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation prior to the time of such request (and the Corporation notifies
HWC
as soon as practicable after such request but in no event later than the second
business day after such request) or (ii) on account of a suspension in
accordance with Section 6 hereof.
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(e) Any
Shelf
Registration Statement filed in accordance with this Agreement shall be on
such
appropriate registration form of the Commission (i) as shall be selected by
the
Corporation and as shall be reasonably acceptable to HWC and (ii) as shall
permit the disposition of the Registrable Shares in accordance with Section
2(a).
SECTION
3.
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PIGGYBACK
REGISTRATION.
|
If
the
Corporation at any time proposes for any reason to register Primary Shares
or
Miscellaneous Shares under the Securities Act (other than on Form S-4 or Form
S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor forms thereto), it
shall promptly give written notice to HWC of its intention to so register such
shares. Upon the written request, delivered to the Corporation within 30 days
after delivery of any such notice by the Corporation, of HWC to include in
such
registration Registrable Shares held by HWC (which request shall specify the
number of Registrable Shares requested to be included in such registration),
the
Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts, subject to any limitations
contained in registration rights agreements existing as of the date hereof,
to
cause all such Registrable Shares to be included in such registration on the
same terms and conditions as the securities otherwise being sold in such
registration; provided, however, that if the managing underwriter advises the
Corporation that the inclusion of all Registrable Shares requested to be
included in such registration would interfere with the successful marketing
(including pricing) of the shares proposed to be registered, then the Primary
Shares, Registrable Shares, and Miscellaneous Shares proposed to be included
in
such registration shall be included in the following
order: (x) first, the Primary Shares; and (y) second, the Registrable Shares
and
Miscellaneous Shares
sought
to be included in the registration on a pro rata basis (based, for each holder
of such shares, on the percentage derived by dividing (A) the number of
Registrable Shares or Miscellaneous Shares beneficially owned by such holder
on
a fully diluted basis; by (B) the aggregate number of Registrable Shares and
Miscellaneous Shares beneficially owned by all such holders on a fully diluted
basis).
SECTION
4.
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HOLDBACK
AGREEMENT.
|
If
the
Corporation at any time shall register shares of Common Stock under the
Securities Act (including any registration pursuant to Sections 2 or 3) for
sale
to the public in an underwritten public offering, HWC shall not sell publicly,
make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise
dispose publicly of, any Common Stock (other than those shares of Common Stock
included in such registration pursuant to Sections 2 or 3) without the prior
written consent of the Corporation, for a period designated by the Corporation
in writing to HWC, which period shall begin not more than 10 days prior to
the
date of the final prospectus pursuant to which such public offering shall be
made and shall not last more than 90 days after the date of such final
prospectus (but in no event longer than the period to which the Corporation
and
all executive officers and directors of the Corporation have agreed). The
Corporation shall obtain the agreement of any person permitted to sell shares
of
Common Stock in a registration to be bound by and to comply with this Section
4
as if such person was a party to this Agreement. The Corporation will not seek
to register shares that would trigger the provisions of this Section 4 for
at
least 90 days after the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf Registration
Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 4
shall
not apply to any stockholder that could then dispose of all of its Registrable
Shares without restriction under Rule 144(k) promulgated under the
Securities Act.
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SECTION
5.
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PREPARATION
AND FILING.
|
(a) If
and
whenever the Corporation effects the registration of any Registrable Shares,
the
Corporation shall, as expeditiously as practicable and subject to the
limitations set forth herein, effect such registration so as to permit the
sale
of the applicable Registrable Shares in accordance with the intended method
or
methods of distribution thereof and in conformity with any required time periods
set forth herein, and in connection therewith (but not in limitation thereof)
the Corporation shall:
(i) furnish,
at least five business days before filing any Shelf Registration Statement
that
registers such Registrable Shares or any prospectus contained therein, or any
amendments or supplements thereto and in connection therewith, furnish to HWC
and to one counsel selected by HWC (such counsel is referred to herein as “HWC’s
Counsel”), copies of all such documents proposed to be filed (it being
understood that such five-business-day period need not apply to successive
drafts of the same document proposed to be filed so long as such successive
drafts are supplied to HWC’s Counsel in advance of the proposed filing by a
period of time that is customary and reasonable under the circumstances), which
documents will be subject to the review and comment of HWC and HWC’s Counsel,
make such changes as are reasonably requested by HWC or HWC’s Counsel and,
following such changes, file with the Commission such documents;
(ii) prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such
registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may
be
(A) reasonably requested by HWC (to the extent such request relates to
information relating to HWC); (B) necessary to keep such registration statement
effective for the period required under this Agreement (extended by any period
during which such registration statement or related prospectus is not available
for sales) or until all of such Registrable Shares have been disposed of (if
earlier); and (C) necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities
Act
with respect to the sale or other disposition of such Registrable
Shares;
(iii) notify
in
writing HWC’s Counsel promptly of (A) the filing or effectiveness, as
applicable, of such registration statement or prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto; (B) the receipt by the Corporation of any notification
with
respect to any comments by the Commission with respect to such registration
statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any request
by
the Commission for the amending or supplementing thereof or for additional
information with respect thereto; (C) the receipt by the Corporation of any
notification with respect to the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or prospectus or
any
amendment or supplement thereto or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for that purpose; and (D) the receipt by the Corporation of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of such
Registrable Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening
of any proceeding for such purposes;
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(iv) make
every reasonable effort to prevent or obtain at the earliest possible moment
the
withdrawal of any stop order with respect to such registration statement or
other order suspending the use of any preliminary or final
prospectus;
(v) cooperate
with HWC and HWC’s Counsel in connection with any filings required to be made
with the NASD;
(vi) use
its
reasonable efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Shares under such
other securities or blue sky laws of such United States jurisdictions as HWC
may
reasonably request and do any and all other acts and things which may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to enable HWC to consummate the disposition
in
such United States jurisdictions of the Registrable Shares; provided, however,
that the Corporation will not be required to qualify generally to do business,
subject itself to general taxation, or consent to general service of process
in
any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to do so but for
this
clause (vi) or to make any changes in its bylaws or Certificate of
Incorporation;
(vii) furnish
to HWC such number of copies of any prospectus, including a preliminary
prospectus, and such other documents as HWC may reasonably request in order
to
facilitate the public sale or other disposition of such Registrable
Shares;
(viii) use
its
reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Shares to be registered with or
approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary
by virtue of the business and operations of the Corporation to enable HWC to
consummate the disposition of such Registrable Shares;
(ix) notify
HWC on a timely basis at any time when a prospectus relating to such Registrable
Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act within the
appropriate period mentioned in clause (ii) of this Section 5(a), of the
happening of any event as a result of which the applicable registration
statement or the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then
in
effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading (in the case of such prospectus or any preliminary
prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) and,
at
the request of HWC, prepare and furnish to HWC a reasonable number of copies
of
a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus or preliminary prospectus
as
may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the offerees of such
shares, such prospectus or preliminary prospectus shall not include 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 under which they were made;
(x) subject
to the execution of customary confidentiality agreements in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation, make available upon reasonable
notice and during normal business hours, for inspection by HWC, any underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and
any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by HWC or any underwriter
(collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Corporation (collectively,
the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise
their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Corporation’s officers,
directors and employees to supply all information (together with the Records,
the “Information”) reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with
such registration statement;
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(xi) use
its
reasonable best efforts to obtain from its independent certified public
accountants comfort letters and bring-down comfort letters in customary form
and
at customary times and covering matters of the type customarily covered by
such
letters;
(xii) use
its
reasonable best efforts to obtain from its counsel an opinion or opinions in
customary form, at customary times and covering customary matters and naming
HWC
as an additional addressee or party that may rely thereon;
(xiii) use
its
reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of
the Commission and make generally available to its securityholders consolidated
earnings statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under
the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period
(or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal
year), commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Corporation after the effective date of a registration statement, which
statements shall cover said 12-month periods;
(xiv) provide
a
transfer agent and registrar (which may be the same entity and which may be
the
Corporation) for such Registrable Shares;
(xv) not
later
than the effective date of the applicable registration statement, provide a
CUSIP number for all Registrable Shares and provide the applicable transfer
agent with printed certificates for the Registrable Shares which certificates
shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company;
(xvi) issue
certificates evidencing any Registrable Shares to be sold pursuant to any
registration statement contemplated by Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and not
bearing any restrictive legends;
(xvii) list
such
Registrable Shares on any national securities exchange or automated quotation
system on which any shares of the Common Stock are listed; or, if the Common
Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, use its reasonable
efforts to qualify such Registrable Shares for inclusion on the automated
quotation system of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
“NASD”), or any national securities exchange;
(xviii) in
connection with any underwritten public offering initiated pursuant to Section
2(a), cooperate and participate in the marketing of such offering as if such
registration was an underwritten primary registration (including causing its
appropriate executive officers to participate in an appropriate “road show”);
and
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(xix) enter
into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and
substance as is customary in underwritten offerings, including customary lock-up
provisions) and, whether or not the distribution is an underwritten public
offering, take all such other actions reasonably requested by HWC or the
underwriters, if any, to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Shares.
(b) HWC,
upon
receipt of any notice from the Corporation of any event of the kind described
in
Section 5(a)(ix) hereof, shall forthwith discontinue disposition of the
Registrable Shares pursuant to the registration statement covering such
Registrable Shares until its receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 5(a)(ix) hereof, and, if so directed
by the Corporation, such holder shall deliver to the Corporation all copies,
other than permanent file copies then in such holder’s possession, of the
prospectus covering such Registrable Shares at the time of receipt of such
notice.
SECTION
6.
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SUSPENSION
PERIOD.
|
(a) Subject
to the provisions of this Section 6 and a good faith determination by a majority
of the Board of Directors of the Corporation that it is in the best interests
of
the Corporation to suspend the use of any Shelf Registration Statement following
the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement (and the filings with
any
international, federal or state securities commissions), the Corporation, by
written notice to HWC, may direct HWC to suspend sales of the Registrable Shares
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement for such times as the Corporation
reasonably may determine is necessary and advisable (but in no event for more
than 60 days in any 12-month period and in no event may the Corporation give
such notice during the 14 days following the second business day following
receipt by the Corporation of notice by HWC that HWC desires to promptly sell
Registrable Shares), if the Corporation is engaged in confidential negotiations
or other confidential business activities or upon the occurrence of an event,
in
each case (x) that would require additional disclosure of material non-public
information by the Corporation in such Shelf Registration Statement (or such
filings) not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law and which
has not been so disclosed, (y) as to which the Company has a bona fide business
purpose for preserving confidentiality, or (z) that renders the Company unable
to comply with Commission requirements, in each case under circumstances that
would make it impractical or inadvisable to promptly amend or supplement such
Shelf Registration Statement on a post-effective basis, as applicable. Upon
the
earlier to occur of (i) the Corporation delivering to HWC an End of Suspension
Notice, as hereinafter defined, and (ii) the end of the maximum permissible
suspension period, the Corporation shall promptly amend or supplement such
Shelf
Registration Statement on a post-effective basis, if necessary, or take such
action as is necessary to permit the resumed use of such Shelf Registration
Statement by HWC in compliance with applicable law. The Corporation may suspend
the effectiveness and use of any Piggyback Registration Statement at any time
for an unlimited amount of time.
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(b) In
the
case of an event that causes the Corporation to suspend the use of a
Registration Statement (a “Suspension
Event”), the Corporation shall give written notice (a “Suspension Notice”) to
HWC to suspend sales of the Registrable Shares included on such Registration
Statement, and such notice shall state that such suspension shall continue
only
for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing and the
Corporation is using its best efforts and taking all reasonable steps to
terminate suspension of the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement
as promptly as possible. HWC shall not effect any sales of the Registrable
Shares pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement at any time after it has
received a Suspension Notice from the Corporation and prior to receipt of an
End
of Suspension Notice (as defined below) with respect to such Shelf Registration
Statement. If so directed by the Corporation, HWC will deliver to the
Corporation (at the expense of the Corporation) all copies other than permanent
file copies then in HWC’s possession of the prospectus covering the Registrable
Shares at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. HWC may recommence
effecting sales of the Registrable Shares pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement following further notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension
Notice”) from the Corporation, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by
the Corporation to HWC in the manner described above promptly following the
conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect.
SECTION
7.
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EXPENSES.
|
All
expenses (other than discounts, fees and commissions of underwriters, selling
brokers, dealer managers, sales agents and similar securities industry
professionals, expenses of HWC’s Counsel, and applicable transfer taxes, if any,
which shall be borne by HWC) incurred by the Corporation in complying with
this
Agreement, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees
(including all expenses incident to filing with the NASD), fees and expenses
of
complying with securities and blue sky laws, printing expenses, and fees and
expenses of the Corporation’s counsel and accountants shall be paid by the
Corporation.
SECTION
8.
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INDEMNIFICATION.
|
(a) The
Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless HWC and its officers, directors,
employees, partners, attorneys and agents, each underwriter, broker or any
other
Person acting on behalf of HWC, and each other Person, if any, who controls
(within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) any of the
foregoing Persons (collectively, the “HWC Indemnified Persons”) against any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, joint or several (or actions
in respect thereof), to which any HWC Indemnified Person may become subject
under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon (i) an untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the registration statement under which such Registrable Shares
were registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus or final
prospectus contained therein or otherwise filed with the Commission, any
amendment or supplement thereto, any document incorporated by reference therein,
any “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433 promulgated under
the Securities Act) or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed
pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act (in each case relating to
the
Registrable Shares) or any other document incident to registration or
qualification of such Registrable Shares, (ii) 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 or, with respect to any preliminary
prospectus or final prospectus, necessary to make the statements therein in
light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (iii)
any violation by the Corporation of the Securities Act or state securities
or
blue sky laws applicable to the Corporation and relating to action or inaction
required of the Corporation in connection with such registration or
qualification under the Securities Act or such state securities or blue sky
laws
(collectively, “Losses”); and shall reimburse each HWC Indemnified Person for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection
with investigating or defending any such Loss; provided, however, that the
Corporation shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
Loss (including any legal or other expenses incurred) arises out of or is based
upon an untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in said registration statement, preliminary prospectus, final
prospectus, amendment, supplement, issuer free writing prospectus or document
incident to registration or qualification of any Registrable Shares in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Corporation
by
HWC or such underwriter, or an agent or representative thereof, specifically
for
use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity shall be in addition to any
liability the Corporation may otherwise have.
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(b) HWC
shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation, each director of the Corporation,
each officer of the Corporation who shall sign such registration statement
and
each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act) any of the foregoing Persons against any Loss, to the extent,
but
only to the extent, that such Loss is caused by any information furnished in
writing by HWC to the Corporation specifically for inclusion in any preliminary
prospectus relating to the Registrable Shares. The liability of HWC under this
Section 8(b) shall in no event exceed the amount by which the proceeds received
by HWC from sales of Registrable Shares giving rise to such obligations exceed
the amount of any Loss that HWC has otherwise been required to pay by reason
of
such untrue statement or omission. This indemnity shall be in addition to any
liability HWC may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party (an “Indemnified Party”) of notice of the
commencement of any action involving a claim referred to in the preceding
paragraphs of this Section 8, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party (an “Indemnifying Party”),
give written notice to the latter of the commencement of such action; provided,
however, that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve
it of any obligation or liability which it may have hereunder or otherwise
except to the extent it is materially prejudiced by such failure. In case any
such action is brought against an indemnified party, the Indemnifying Party
will
be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense thereof, jointly with
any other Indemnifying Party similarly notified to the extent that it may wish,
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and after notice
from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to
assume the defense thereof, the Indemnifying Party shall not be responsible
for
any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party
in
connection with the defense thereof (other than reasonable costs of
investigation); provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall have the
right to select and employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense
of
such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of
the Indemnified Party unless (A) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing
to
pay such fees or expenses, (B) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed to
assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after having received
notice of such claim from the Indemnified Party and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, or (C) in the reasonable judgment of
the
Indemnified Party, based upon advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest
may
exist between the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party with respect
to
such claims or the Indemnified Party has defenses separate and apart from the
defenses of the Indemnifying Party with respect to such claims (in which case,
if the Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that the
Indemnified Party intends to employ separate counsel at the expense of the
Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume
the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person). If such defense is assumed
by the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not be subject to any
liability for any settlement made without its consent, but such consent may
not
be unreasonably withheld; provided, that an Indemnifying Party shall not be
required to consent to any settlement involving the imposition of equitable
remedies or involving the imposition of any material obligations on such
Indemnifying Party other than financial obligations for which such Indemnified
Party will be indemnified hereunder. If the Indemnifying Party assumes the
defense, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to settle such action
without the consent of the Indemnified Party; provided, that the Indemnifying
Party shall be required to obtain such consent (which consent may be withheld
in
the Indemnified Party’s sole discretion) if the settlement includes any
admission of wrongdoing on the part of the Indemnified Party or any equitable
remedies or restriction on the Indemnified Party or its officers, directors
or
employees or if the Indemnified Party reasonably believes that the Indemnifying
Party may not be able to satisfy its obligations thereunder. No Indemnifying
Party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which
does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant
or
plaintiff to each Indemnified Party of an unconditional release from all
liability in respect of such claim or litigation. The Indemnifying Party shall
not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges
of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at
any
one time from all Indemnified Parties unless the employment of more than one
counsel has been authorized in writing by the Indemnifying Party, in each of
which cases the Indemnifying Party shall be obligated to pay the reasonable
fees
and expenses of such additional counsel or counsels. The indemnification
provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or an behalf of the Indemnified Party
or
any officer, director or controlling Person of such Indemnified Party and shall
survive the transfer of securities.
-10-
(d) If
the
indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party with respect to any
Loss
or is insufficient to hold it harmless as contemplated by Section 8(a) or
Section 8(b), then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party hereunder, shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable
by
such Indemnified Party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the
one
hand and of the Indemnified Party on the other in connection with the statements
or omissions which resulted in such Loss as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and of the
Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party and the parties’
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct
or
prevent such statement or omission. Notwithstanding anything in this Section
8(d) to the contrary, no Indemnifying Party (other than the Corporation) shall
be required pursuant to this Section 8(d) to contribute any amount in excess
of
the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Indemnifying Party from
the sale of Registrable Shares in the offering to which the Losses of the
Indemnified Parties relate exceed the amount of any damages that such
Indemnifying Party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by
pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to in the third preceding sentence.
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. If indemnification
is
available under this Section 8, the Indemnifying Parties shall indemnify each
Indemnified Party to the full extent provided in Sections 8(a) and 8(b) hereof
without regard to the relative fault of said Indemnifying Parties or Indemnified
Party.
-11-
SECTION
9.
|
UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT.
|
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 8, to the extent that HWC shall enter into an
underwriting or similar agreement, which agreement contains provisions
covering
one or more issues addressed in such Section, the provisions contained
in such
agreement addressing such issue or issues shall control with respect to
HWC and
the other parties to such agreement; provided, however, that any such agreement
to which the Corporation is not a party shall not be binding upon the
Corporation.
SECTION
10.
|
SELECTION
OF UNDERWRITER.
|
If
any of
the Registrable Shares covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be
sold in a Traditional Underwritten Public Offering, the investment banker or
bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected
by HWC with the consent of the Corporation, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
SECTION
11.
|
INFORMATION
FROM HWC.
|
HWC
shall
furnish to the Corporation such written information regarding HWC and the
distribution proposed by HWC as the Corporation may reasonably request
in
writing and as shall be reasonably required in connection with any registration,
qualification or compliance referred to in this
Agreement.
SECTION
12.
|
EXCHANGE
ACT COMPLIANCE.
|
The
Corporation shall comply with all of the reporting requirements of the Exchange
Act required to be complied with by it and shall comply with all other public
information reporting requirements of the Commission required to be complied
with by it which are conditions to the availability of Rule 144 for the sale
of
the Common Stock. The Corporation shall cooperate with HWC in supplying such
information as may be necessary for HWC to complete and file any information
reporting forms presently or hereafter required by the Commission as a condition
to the availability of Rule 144.
-12-
SECTION
13.
|
MERGERS,
ETC.
|
The
Corporation shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into any merger,
consolidation or reorganization in which the Corporation shall not be the
surviving corporation unless the surviving corporation shall, prior to such
merger, consolidation or reorganization, agree in writing to assume the
obligations of the Corporation under this Agreement, and for that purpose
references hereunder to “Registrable Shares” shall be deemed to include the
shares of common stock or other securities, if any, which HWC would be entitled
to receive in exchange for the Registrable Shares under any such merger,
consolidation or reorganization, provided that, to the extent HWC receives
securities that are by their terms convertible into shares of common stock
or
other securities of the issuer thereof, then any such shares of common stock
or
other securities as are issued or issuable upon conversion of said convertible
securities shall be included within the definition of “Registrable
Shares.”
SECTION
14.
|
NO
CONFLICT OF RIGHTS.
|
The
Corporation shall not, after the date hereof, grant any registration rights
which conflict with or are superior to the registration rights granted hereby.
SECTION
15.
|
TERMINATION.
|
This
Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect when there shall
no longer be any securities outstanding that meet the definition of “Registrable
Shares”; provided, however, that Sections 7, 8, 20 and 24 shall not be so
terminated but shall survive without limitation.
SECTION
16.
|
SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS.
|
This
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Corporation and HWC and,
subject to Section 17, the respective successors and assigns of the Corporation
and HWC.
SECTION
17.
|
ASSIGNMENT.
|
HWC
may
assign its rights hereunder to any transferee of Registrable Shares constituting
5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation at the time of
such transfer; provided, however, that such transferee shall, as a condition
to
the effectiveness of such assignment, be required to execute a counterpart
to
this Agreement agreeing to be treated as a party to this Agreement, whereupon
such transferee shall have the benefits of and shall be subject to the
restrictions contained in this Agreement as if such transferee had originally
been a party hereto.
SECTION
18.
|
SEVERABILITY.
|
It
is the
desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement
be
enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies
applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if
any
particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any
reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without
invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be
invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to
such
jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of
such
provision in any other jurisdiction.
-13-
SECTION
19.
|
ENTIRE
AGREEMENT.
|
This
Agreement, the Merger Agreement, and the other writings referred to herein
or
delivered pursuant hereto, contain the entire agreement among the parties with
respect to the subject matter thereof and supersede all prior and
contemporaneous arrangements or understandings with respect thereto.
SECTION
20.
|
NOTICES.
|
All
communications hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if
contained in a written instrument delivered in person or sent by facsimile
transmission (with receipt confirmed), nationally-recognized overnight courier
or first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed to such party at its address below or such other address
as
such party may hereafter designate in writing:
(a)
|
if
to the Corporation, to:
|
Boots
& Xxxxx International Well Control,
Inc.
|
00000
X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
Attention:
General Counsel
|
Telephone:
(000)
000-0000
|
Facsimile:
|
(b)
|
with
a copy (which shall not constitute notice)
to:
|
Xxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxx LLP
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, XX
|
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
(c)
|
if
to HWC, to:
|
HWC
Energy Services, Inc.
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
-14-
(d)
|
with
copies (which shall not constitute notice)
to:
|
Oil
States International, Inc.
|
00000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
Attention:
Vice President - Legal
|
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
and
|
Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxx LLP
|
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
|
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
|
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
All
such
notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have
been delivered (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such
delivery, (ii) in the case of delivery by facsimile transmission, on the date
of
confirmation of receipt, (iii) in the case of dispatch by nationally-recognized
overnight courier, on the next business day following such dispatch and (iv)
in
the case of mailing, on the third business day after the posting
thereof.
SECTION
21.
|
MODIFICATIONS;
AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS.
|
The
terms
and provisions of this Agreement may not be modified or amended, nor may any
provision be waived, except pursuant to a writing signed by the Corporation
and
HWC.
SECTION
22.
|
COUNTERPARTS;
FACSIMILE SIGNATURES.
|
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such
counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such
counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement. Facsimile counterpart
signatures to this Agreement shall be acceptable at the Closing (as defined
in
the Merger Agreement) if the originally executed counterpart is delivered within
a reasonable period thereafter.
SECTION
23.
|
HEADINGS.
|
The
headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of this
Agreement.
SECTION
24.
|
GOVERNING
LAW; JURISDICTION.
|
(a) This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly
therein.
-15-
(b) The
parties hereto agree that the appropriate, exclusive and convenient forum for
any disputes between any of the parties hereto arising out of this Agreement
or
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be in any state or federal court
in
Houston, Texas, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the
jurisdiction of such courts solely in respect of any legal proceeding arising
out of or related to this Agreement. The parties further agree that the parties
shall not bring suit with respect to any disputes arising out of this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby in any court or jurisdiction other
than
the above specified courts; provided,
however,
that
the foregoing shall not limit the rights of the parties to obtain execution
of
judgment in any other jurisdiction. The parties further agree, to the extent
permitted by law, that a final and unappealable judgment against a party in
any
action or proceeding contemplated above shall be conclusive and may be enforced
in any other jurisdiction within or outside the United States by suit on the
judgment, a certified or exemplified copy of which shall be conclusive evidence
of the fact and amount of such judgment. Except to the extent that a different
determination or finding is mandated due to the applicable law being that of
a
different jurisdiction, the parties agree that all judicial determinations
or
findings by a state or federal court in Houston, Texas with respect to any
matter under this Agreement shall be binding.
(c) To
the
extent that any Party hereto has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from
jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service
or
notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution
or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, each such party hereby
irrevocably (i) waives such immunity in respect of its obligations with respect
to this Agreement and (ii) submits to the personal jurisdiction of any court
described in Section 24(b).
(d) THE
PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT THEY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL
BY
JURY IN ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE OR INTERPRET THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
AGREEMENT.
-16-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, THE undersigned have duly executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
BOOTS
& XXXXX INTERNATIONAL WELL CONTROL, INC.
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
||
HWC
ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
-17-