REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT between PNM RESOURCES, INC., as Issuer and CASCADE INVESTMENT, L.L.C., as Initial Holder Dated as of October 7, 2005
Exhibit
4.10
EXECUTION
COPY
between
PNM
RESOURCES, INC.,
as
Issuer
and
CASCADE
INVESTMENT, L.L.C.,
as
Initial Holder
Dated
as of October 7, 2005
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
Definitions
|
1
|
|
SECTION
2.
|
Shelf
Registration; Demand Registration
|
5
|
SECTION
3.
|
Piggyback
Registration Rights
|
8
|
SECTION
4.
|
Registration
Procedures
|
10
|
SECTION
5.
|
Holder’s
Obligations
|
15
|
SECTION
6.
|
Registration
Expenses
|
15
|
SECTION
7.
|
Indemnification
and Contribution
|
16
|
(a) Indemnification
by the Company
|
16
|
|
(b) Indemnification
by Holders
|
17
|
|
(c) Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings
|
18
|
|
(d) Contribution
|
19
|
|
SECTION
8.
|
Information
Requirements
|
19
|
SECTION
9.
|
Purchase
Right in Certain Instances
|
19
|
SECTION
10.
|
Miscellaneous
|
20
|
(a) No
Conflicting Agreements
|
20
|
|
(b) Amendments
and Waivers
|
20
|
|
(c) Notices
|
20
|
|
(d) Approval
of Holders
|
21
|
|
(e) Successors
and Assigns
|
21
|
|
(f) Counterparts;
Facsimile Execution
|
22
|
|
(g) Headings
|
22
|
|
(h) Governing
Law
|
22
|
|
(i) Severability
|
22
|
|
(j) Entire
Agreement
|
22
|
|
(k) Termination
|
22
|
Exhibit
A Notice
of
Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
Exhibit
B Notice
of
Transfer Pursuant to Registration Statement
Exhibit
C Lock
up
Letter
This
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
dated as
of October 7, 2005 (this “Agreement”)
is
between PNM Resources, Inc., a New Mexico corporation (the “Company”),
and
Cascade Investment, L.L.C., a Washington limited liability company (the
“Initial
Holder”).
The
Company agrees with the Initial Holder, (i) for its benefit as Initial Holder
and (ii) for the benefit of the beneficial owners (including the Initial Holder)
from time to time of the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) (each of
the
foregoing a “Holder”
and
together the “Holders”),
as
follows:
SECTION
1. Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Affiliate”
means
with respect to any specified person, an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 144, of
such person.
“Agreement”
has
the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this agreement.
“Amendment
Effectiveness Deadline Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2(d)(i)
hereof.
“Business
Day”
means
each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which
banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by
law
or executive order to close.
“Closing
Prices”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9
hereof.
“Common
Stock”
means
the shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company.
“Company”
has the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Current
Market Price Per Share”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9
hereof.
“Company
Registration”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
3(a)
hereof.
“Deferral
Notice”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
4(h)
hereof.
“Deferral
Period”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
4(h)
hereof.
“Demand
Effectiveness Deadline Date”
means
the date that is 90 days after the Demand Filing Date.
“Demand
Filing Date”
means
forty-five (45) days after receipt by the Company of the Demand Registration
Request.
“Demand
Registration”
means
a
registration of Registrable Common Stock pursuant to the Demand Registration
Statement.
“Demand
Registration Request”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2(e)
hereof.
“Demand
Registration Statement”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2(e)
hereof.
“Effective
Time”
means
the time at which the SEC declares the Registration Statement effective or
at
which the Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective.
“Effectiveness
Deadline Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2(a)
hereof.
“Effectiveness
Period”
means
the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date that all
Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor Federal
statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same shall be
in
effect at the time. Reference to a particular section of, or rule or regulation
under, the Exchange Act shall include a reference to the comparable section,
rule or regulation, if any, and as the case may be, of or under the successor
Federal statute.
“Filing
Deadline Date”
means
the date sixty (60) days after the Shelf Registration Request is received by
the
Company.
“Holder”
has
the
meaning set forth in the second paragraph of this Agreement.
“indemnified
party”
is
defined in Section
7(c).
“indemnifying
party”
is
defined in Section
7(c).
“Indenture”
means
the Indenture, dated as of October 7, 2005, between the Company and U.S. Bank
National Association, as trustee, as amended and supplemented from time to
time
in accordance with its terms.
“Initial
Holder”
has
the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Initial
Shelf Registration Statement”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2(a)
hereof.
“Material
Event”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
4(h)
hereof.
“Notice
and Questionnaire”
means
a
written notice delivered to the Company containing substantially the information
called for by the Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder
Questionnaire attached as Exhibit
A
hereto.
“Notice
Holder”
means,
on any date, any Holder that has delivered a Notice and Questionnaire to the
Company on or prior to such date.
“Offered
Common Stock”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9
hereof.
“Piggyback
Registration”
has the
meaning set forth in Section
3(a)
hereof.
“Preferred
Shares”
means
the Preferred Shares of the Company created by the Statement of Resolutions,
convertible into shares of Common Stock as provided in the Statement of
Resolutions.
2
“Prospectus”
means
the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without
limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from
a
prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance
upon
Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented
by
any amendment or prospectus supplement, including post-effective amendments,
and
all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated
by reference in such Prospectus.
“Purchase
Contract Agreement”
means
the purchase contract agreement dated as of October 7, 2005 between the Company
and U.S. Bank National Association, as purchase contract agent.
“Purchase
Contract”
shall
have the meaning specified in the Purchase Contract Agreement.
“Purchase
Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9
hereof.
“Purchase
Notice”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9
hereof.
“Registrable
Common Stock”
means
shares of Common Stock that are Registrable Securities.
“Registrable
Securities”
means
(i) the Units, (ii) the Senior Notes, (iii) the Underlying Common Stock, (iv)
any other securities of the Company currently held by the Initial Holder and
(v)
any shares of Common Stock or other securities convertible into Common Stock
issued with respect to the securities listed in (iii) and (iv) above upon any
stock dividend, split or similar event, so long as such securities remain
Registrable Securities, provided,
however,
that a
security ceases to be a Registrable Security when it is no longer a Restricted
Security.
“Registration
Statement”
means
any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the
Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including
post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all materials incorporated by
reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
registration statement.
“Restricted
Security”
means
(i) the Units, (ii) the Senior Notes, (iii) the Preferred Stock, (iv) the
Underlying Common Stock and any shares of Common Stock or other securities
convertible into Common Stock issued with respect to the Underlying Common
Stock
upon any stock dividend, split or similar event, so long as such securities
remain Registrable Securities, except any security that (x) has been effectively
registered under the Securities Act and sold in a manner contemplated by the
Registration Statement, or (y) has been transferred in compliance with Rule
144
under the Securities Act (or any successor provision thereto), is transferable
within the volume limitations of paragraph (e) of such Rule 144 (or any
successor provision) even if aggregated with all other Registrable Securities
held by the Holder thereof, or is transferable pursuant to paragraph (k) of
such
Rule 144 (or any successor provision thereto).
“Rule
144”
means
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule 144 may be amended from time
to
time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
3
“Rule
144A”
means
Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule 144A may be amended from time
to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
“Sales
Notice”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
5
hereof.
“SEC”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and
the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at
the
time. Reference to a particular section of, or rule or regulation under, the
Securities Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, rule or
regulation, if any, and as the case may be, of or under the successor Federal
statute.
“Senior
Notes”
means
the 5.1% Senior Notes due 2010 issued pursuant to the Indenture and initially
forming a component of the Units.
“Shelf
Registration Request”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2(a)
hereof.
“Shelf
Registration Statement”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2(b)
hereof.
“Special
Counsel”
means
Xxxxxx Xxxx & Priest LLP or one such other successor counsel as shall be
specified by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, but which
may, with the written consent of the Initial Holder (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld), be another nationally recognized law firm experienced
in
securities law matters designated by the Company, the reasonable fees and
expenses of which will be paid by the Company pursuant to Section
6
hereof.
For purposes of determining the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities in this definition, Holders of Units shall be deemed to be the
Holders of the number of shares of Underlying Common Stock which the Purchase
Contracts that are a component of such Units obligate such Holders to purchase
as of the date the consent is requested.
“Statement
of Resolutions”
means
the Statement of Resolutions Establishing a Series of Preferred Stock of PNM
Resources, Inc. adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on September
28, 2004, to be filed by the Company with the New Mexico Public Regulation
Commission prior to the Purchase Contract Settlement Date (as defined in the
Purchase Contract Agreement).
“Subsequent
Shelf Registration Statement”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
2(b)
hereof.
“Trading
Days”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9
hereof.
“Triggering
Notice”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section
9
hereof.
“Trust
Indenture Act”
means
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or any successor Federal statute,
and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect
at
the time. Reference to a particular section of, or rule or regulation under,
the
Trust Indenture Act shall include a reference to the comparable section, rule
or
regulation, if any, and as the case may be, of or under the successor Federal
statute.
4
“Underlying
Common Stock”
means
(i) the Common Stock that Holders of Units are obligated to purchase pursuant
to
the Purchase Contracts that are a component of such Units and (ii) to the extent
that, as provided in Section
8.8
of the
Unit Purchase Agreement, Preferred Shares shall have been issued, the Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of such Preferred Shares.
“Unit
Purchase Agreement” means
the
Unit Purchase Agreement dated August 13, 2004, between the Company and the
Initial Holder, as modified by the First Supplement to Unit Purchase Agreement
dated June 4, 2005, the Second Supplement to the Unit Purchase Agreement dated
July 1, 2005, the Third Supplement to the Unit Purchase Agreement dated August
12, 2005 and the Fourth Supplement to the Unit Purchase Agreement dated
September 30, 2005.
“Units”
means
the 6.625% Hybrid Income Term Security Units of the Company issued to the
Initial Holder pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement.
SECTION
2. Shelf
Registration; Demand Registration.
(a)
Upon
receipt of a written request from the Initial Holder (a “Shelf
Registration Request”)
made
not less than 180 days after the date hereof, the Company shall prepare and
file
or cause to be prepared and filed with the SEC, not later than the Filing
Deadline Date, a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a delayed
or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act relating to
(i)
the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities (other than Underlying Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Contracts) by the Holders from
time
to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders
and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the offer and sale
by the Company from time to time to the Holders of Purchase Contracts of the
Underlying Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Purchase Contracts,
(the “Initial
Shelf Registration Statement”).
The
Initial Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 or another appropriate
form permitting registration of such Registrable Securities for sale in
accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under
the Securities Act by the date that is 90 days after the Filing Deadline Date
(the “Effectiveness
Deadline Date”),
and
to keep the Initial Shelf Registration Statement (or any Subsequent Shelf
Registration Statement) continuously effective under the Securities Act until
the expiration of the Effectiveness Period. At the time the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective, each Holder that became a Notice
Holder on or prior to the date ten (10) Business Days prior to such time of
effectiveness shall be named as a selling securityholder in the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit
such Holder to deliver such Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities
in accordance with applicable law. None of the Company’s security holders (other
than the Holders of Registrable Securities) shall have the right to include
any
of the Company’s securities in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) 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 all Registrable Securities registered
thereunder shall have been resold pursuant thereto or shall have otherwise
ceased to be Registrable Securities), the Company shall use its reasonable
best
efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
5
effectiveness
thereof, and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of such cessation of
effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration Statement in a manner reasonably
expected to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness
thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration Statement covering all of
the
securities that as of the date of such filing are Registrable Securities (a
“Subsequent
Shelf Registration Statement”).
If a
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement
to
become effective as promptly as is reasonably practicable, but in any event
by
the date that is forty-five (45) days after such filing and to keep such
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the
expiration of the Effectiveness Period. As used herein, “Shelf
Registration Statement”
means
the Initial Shelf Registration Statement and any Subsequent Shelf Registration
Statement.
(c) The
Company shall supplement and amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required
by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form
used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the
Securities Act or as necessary to name a Notice Holder as a selling
securityholder pursuant to Section
2(d)
below.
(d) Each
Holder agrees that if such Holder wishes to sell Registrable Securities pursuant
to a Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus, it will do so only
in
accordance with this Section
2(d)
and
Sections
4(h)
and
5
of this
Agreement. Following the date that the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
is
declared effective, each Holder wishing to sell Registrable Securities pursuant
to a Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus agrees to deliver
a
Notice and Questionnaire to the Company at least ten (10) Business Days prior
to
any intended distribution of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration
Statement. From and after the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
is
declared effective, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable after the
date
a Notice and Questionnaire is delivered pursuant to Section
10(c),
and in
any event upon the later of (x) fifteen (15) Business Days after such date
or
(y) fifteen (15) Business Days after the expiration of any Deferral Period
in
effect when the Notice and Questionnaire is delivered or put into effect within
five (5) Business Days of such delivery date:
(i) if
required by applicable law or policy of the SEC staff, file with the SEC a
post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or file a
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement or prepare and, if required by
applicable law, file a supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement
or
amendment to any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other
required report or document so that the Holder delivering such Notice and
Questionnaire is named as a selling securityholder in a Shelf Registration
Statement and the related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder
to deliver such Prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in
accordance with applicable law and, if the Company shall file a post-effective
amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or file a Subsequent Shelf
Registration Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
post-effective amendment or Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably
practicable, but in any event by the date (the “Amendment
Effectiveness Deadline Date”)
that
is forty-five (45) days after the date such post-effective amendment or
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is required by this clause to be
filed;
6
(ii) provide
such Holder copies of any documents filed pursuant to Section
2(d)(i);
and
(iii) notify
such Holder as promptly as practicable after the effectiveness under the
Securities Act of any post-effective amendment or subsequent Shelf Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section
2(d)(i);
provided,
that if
such Notice and Questionnaire is delivered during a Deferral Period, the Company
shall so inform the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire and shall,
to the extent required, take the actions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) above upon expiration of the Deferral Period in accordance with
Section
4(h).
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, (x) the Company
shall
be under no obligation to name any Holder that is not a Notice Holder as a
selling securityholder in any Registration Statement or related Prospectus
and
(y) the Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date shall be extended by up to ten
(10) Business Days from the expiration of a Deferral Period if such Deferral
Period shall be in effect on the Amendment Effectiveness Deadline
Date.
(e) In
the
event that the Company shall become ineligible to use Form S-3, such that
preparation of a Shelf Registration Statement would be impracticable, at any
time between the Filing Deadline Date and the expiration of the Effectiveness
Period, then:
(i) From
and
after the later of (A) the Filing Deadline Date and (B) 270 days after the
date
hereof, upon receipt of a written request from the Initial Holder (a
“Demand
Registration Request”)
to
register under the Securities Act for purposes of a public offering all of
the
Registrable Securities held by all Holders, the Company shall as expeditiously
as reasonably possible (but in any event not later than the Demand Filing Date
prepare and file, and use its best efforts to cause to become effective as
soon
thereafter as practicable (but in no event later than the Demand Effectiveness
Filing Date), a Registration Statement (a “Demand
Registration Statement”)
under
the Securities Act to effect the offering of such Registrable Common Stock
in
the manner specified in such request.
(ii) Holders
shall be entitled to select and retain one or more investment bankers or
managers reasonably acceptable to the Company in connection with any
underwritten offerings made pursuant to this Section
2(e).
(iii) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained elsewhere herein, the registration rights
granted to the Holders in this Section
2(e)
are
expressly subject to the following terms and conditions:
(A) The
Holders, collectively, shall only be entitled to one (1) request to register
Registrable Securities under the terms of this Section
2(e).
A
“request” as it is used in this Section
2(e)(iii)
shall be
deemed to have occurred only upon completion of a requested registration and
the
subsequent sale of Registrable Common Stock.
7
(B) The
Company shall be entitled to defer for a reasonable period of time, but not
in
excess of ninety (90) days, the filing of any Demand Registration Statement
otherwise required to be prepared and filed by it under this Section
2(e)
if the
Company notifies the Holders, within five (5) business days after the Holders
requested the registration under this Section
2(e)
that the
Company (i) is at such time conducting or about to conduct an underwritten
public offering of its securities for its own account and the Board of Directors
of the Company determines in good faith that such offering would be materially
adversely affected by such registration requested by the Holders or (ii) would,
in the opinion of its counsel, be required to disclose in such registration
statement information not otherwise then required by law to be publicly
disclosed and, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the
Company, such disclosure might materially adversely affect any material business
transaction or negotiation in which the Company is then engaged; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be permitted to so defer the filing of a Registration
Statement pursuant to this Section
2(e)(iii)(B)
more
than once. If the Company elects to defer the filing of a registration statement
pursuant to this Section
2(e)(iii)(B),
the
Holder may withdraw its request, in writing, during the time of such deferral
and such request shall not be counted toward the limit set forth in Section
2(e)(iii)(A).
(C) The
Holders shall not exercise their rights pursuant to this Section
2(e)
during
the shorter of (1) the 30-day period immediately following the effective date
of
any registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act (other
than on Form S-8 or another similar form) in respect of an offering or sale
of
Common Stock (or securities convertible into, or otherwise linked to, Common
Stock) of the Company by or on behalf of the Company if in the written opinion
of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Company
to
act as an underwriter for such Company offering, the registration of the
Registrable Securities at such time would significantly impede the success
of
the Company’s offering or (ii) 90 days following the request of the Holders to
file a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section
2(e);
provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be permitted to so delay the filing of a Registration
Statement pursuant to this Subsection
(C)
on more
than one occasion in any period of 365 consecutive days.
SECTION
3. Piggyback
Registration Rights.
(a)
If at
any time or from time to time between the Filing Deadline Date and the
expiration of the Effectiveness Period the Company shall propose to register
any
Common Stock for public sale under the Securities Act (a “Company
Registration”),
the
Company shall give the Holders prompt written notice of the proposed
registration and shall include in such registration on the same terms and
conditions as the other securities included in such registration such number
of
shares of Registrable Common Stock as the Holders shall request within five
(5)
business days after the giving of such notice (a “Piggyback
Registration”);
provided,
however,
that
the Company may at any time prior to the effectiveness of any such registration
statement, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders,
abandon the proposed offering in which the Holders had requested to participate
(provided
that the
Company gives the Holders prompt notice of such decision); and provided further
that the
Holders shall be entitled to withdraw any or all of its shares of Registrable
Common Stock to be included in a registration statement under this Section
3(a)
at any
time prior to the date on which the registration statement with respect to
such
shares of Underlying
8
Common
Stock is declared effective by the SEC. The Company shall be entitled to select
the investment bankers and/or managers, if any, to be retained in connection
with any registration referred to in this Section
3(a),
provided
such
investment bankers and/or managers are reasonably acceptable to the
Holders.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained elsewhere herein, the registration rights
granted to Stockholder in Section
3(a)
are
expressly subject to the following terms and conditions:
(i) The
Company shall not be obligated to include shares of Registrable Common Stock
in
an offering as contemplated by Section
3(a)
if the
Company is advised in writing by the managing underwriter or underwriters of
such offering (with a copy to the Initial Holder), that the success of such
offering would in its or their good faith judgment be jeopardized by such
inclusion (after consideration of all relevant factors, including without
limitation, the impact of any delay caused by including such shares);
provided,
however,
that
the Company shall in any case be obligated to include such number of shares
of
Registrable Common Stock in such offering, if any, as such underwriter or
underwriters shall determine will not jeopardize the success of such
offering.
(ii) The
Company shall not be obligated to include any shares of Underlying Common Stock
in any registration by the Company of any Common Stock in connection with any
merger, acquisition, exchange offer, or any other business combination,
including any transaction within the scope of Rule 145 promulgated pursuant
to
the Securities Act, subscription offer, dividend reinvestment plan or stock
option or other director or employee incentive or benefit plan.
(iii) The
Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing
underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the
Registrable Common Stock requested to be included in a registration of Common
Stock pursuant to this Section
3
to be
included on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities included
therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to
include the Holders’ Registrable Common Stock in such offering unless the
Holders accept the terms of the underwriting agreement between the Company
and
the managing underwriter or underwriters and otherwise complies with the
provisions of Section
7
hereof.
If the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering
advise the Company in writing that in its or their good faith judgment the
total
amount of securities, including securities requested to be included in a
registration of Common Stock pursuant to this Section
3
and
other similar securities, to be included in such offering is sufficiently large
to jeopardize the success of such offering, then in such event the securities
to
be included in such offering shall be allocated first to the Company and then,
to the extent that any additional securities can, in the good faith judgment
of
such managing underwriter or underwriters, be sold without creating any such
jeopardy to the success of such offering, to the Holders based upon the number
of shares of Registrable Common Stock requested to be included in such
registration.
9
(iv) In
the
event that some but less than all of the Holders’ shares of Underlying Common
Stock are included in an offering contemplated by a registration statement
pursuant to this Section
3,
the
Holders shall execute one or more “lockup” letters in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit
C,
setting
forth an agreement by the Holders not to offer for sale, sell, grant any option
for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares
of
Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable into or
exercisable for any shares of Common Stock, for a period of 90 days from the
date such offering commences; provided,
however,
that if
the period of any such “lockup” applicable to the Company or any director,
officer or affiliate of the Company with respect to any such registration
statement shall be less than ninety (90) days, then the period of time
applicable to the Holders shall be such lesser period of time.
SECTION
4. Registration
Procedures.
In
connection with the registration obligations of the Company under Sections
2
and
3
hereof,
during the Effectiveness Period, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare
and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on
Form X-0, X-0 or another appropriate form under the Securities Act available
for
the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof in accordance
with
the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and use its reasonable
best efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective
and
remain effective as provided herein; provided
that
before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto with the SEC, furnish to the Initial Holder and the Special
Counsel of such offering, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to
be
filed prior to the filing of such Registration Statement or amendment thereto
or
Prospectus or supplement thereto so as to permit the Holder and such Special
Counsel sufficient time to review and comment upon the same.
(b) Subject
to Section
4(h),
prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective for the applicable period specified in Section
2(a)
or
Section
3(a);
cause
the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar
provisions then in force) under the Securities Act; and use its reasonable
best
efforts to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act applicable to it
with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration
Statement during the Effectiveness Period in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration
Statement as so amended or such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) As
promptly as practicable give notice to the Notice Holders, the Initial Holder
and the Special Counsel, (i) when any Prospectus, prospectus supplement,
Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement
has been filed with the SEC and, with respect to a Registration Statement or
any
post-effective amendment, when the same has been declared effective, (ii) of
any
request, following the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
under the Securities Act, by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental
authority for amendments or supplements to any Registration Statement or related
Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC
or
any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening
of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the receipt
10
by
the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
in
any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose, (v) of the occurrence of, but not the nature of or details concerning,
a Material Event and (vi) of the determination by the Company that a
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement will be filed with the
SEC,
which notice may, at the discretion of the Company (or as required pursuant
to
Section
4(h)),
state
that it constitutes a Deferral Notice, in which event the provisions of
Section
4(h)
shall
apply.
(d) Use
its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the lifting of any suspension
of
the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction in which they have been qualified for
sale, in either case at the earliest possible moment, and provide immediate
notice to each Notice Holder and the Initial Holder of the withdrawal of any
such order.
(e) As
promptly as practicable furnish to each Notice Holder, the Special Counsel
and
the Initial Holder, upon request and without charge, at least one (1) conformed
copy of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, including exhibits
and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference.
(f) During
the Effectiveness Period, deliver to each Notice Holder, the Special Counsel,
if
any, and the Initial Holder, in connection with any sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies
of the Prospectus or Prospectuses relating to such Registrable Securities
(including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto
as such Notice Holder may reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents
(except during such periods that a Deferral Notice is outstanding and has not
been revoked) to the use of such Prospectus or each amendment or supplement
thereto by each Notice Holder in connection with any offering and sale of the
Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto in the manner set forth therein.
(g) Prior
to
any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate
with the Notice Holders and the Special Counsel in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States
as
any Notice Holder reasonably requests in writing (which request may be included
in the Notice and Questionnaire); prior to any public offering of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, use its
reasonable best efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period in connection
with such Notice Holder’s offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to
such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) and do any and
all
other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition
in such jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities in the manner set forth
in
the relevant Registration Statement and the related Prospectus; provided
that the
Company will not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as
a
dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
required to qualify but for this Agreement or (ii) take any action that would
subject it to general service of process in suits or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
11
(h) Upon
(A)
the issuance by the SEC of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement or the initiation of proceedings with respect to any
Registration Statement under Section 9(d) or 9(e) of the Securities Act, (B)
the
occurrence of any event or the existence of any fact (a “Material
Event”)
as a
result of which any Registration Statement shall contain any untrue statement
of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any Prospectus
shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, or (C) the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate
development that, in the sole judgment of the Company, makes it appropriate
to
suspend the availability of any Registration Statement and the related
Prospectus in order to avoid a violation of applicable securities
laws:
(i) in
the
case of clause (B) above, subject to the next sentence, as promptly as
reasonably practicable prepare and file, if necessary pursuant to applicable
law, a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement
to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference
or
file any other required document or report that would be incorporated by
reference into such Registration Statement and Prospectus so that such
Registration Statement does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to
make the statements therein not misleading, and such Prospectus does not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being
sold
thereunder, and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement, subject to the next sentence, use its reasonable best efforts to
cause it to be declared effective as promptly as is practicable,
and
(ii) give
notice to the Notice Holders, and the Special Counsel, if any, that the
availability of any Registration Statement is suspended (a “Deferral
Notice”)
and,
upon receipt of any Deferral Notice, each Notice Holder agrees not to sell
any
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Notice
Holder’s receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus provided
for in clause (i) above, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that
the Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference
in such Prospectus.
The
Company will use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the use of the
Prospectus may be resumed (x) in the case of clause (A) above, as promptly
as is
reasonably practicable, (y) in the case of clause (B) above, as soon as, in
the
sole judgment of the Company, public disclosure of such Material Event would
not
be prejudicial to or contrary to the interests of the Company or, if necessary
to avoid unreasonable burden or expense, as soon as reasonably practicable
thereafter and (z) in the case of clause (C) above, as soon as in the good
faith
12
judgment
of the Company (after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel),
such suspension is no longer appropriate. The Company shall be entitled to
exercise its right under this Section
4(h)
to
suspend the availability of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus, and
any such period during which the availability of the Registration Statement
and
any Prospectus is suspended (the “Deferral
Period”)
shall
not exceed 45 days; provided
that the
aggregate duration of any Deferral Periods shall not exceed 45 days in any
90-day period (or 75 days in any 90-day period in the event of a Material Event
pursuant to which the Company has delivered a second notice as permitted below)
or 90 days in any 360-day period; provided
further
that in
the case of a Material Event relating to an acquisition or a probable
acquisition or financing, recapitalization, business combination or other
similar transaction, the Company may deliver to Notice Holders a second notice
to the effect set forth above, which shall have the effect of extending the
Deferral Period by up to an additional 30 days, or such shorter period of time
as is specified in such second notice. Each Notice Holder agrees to hold any
notice by the Company in respect of any Deferral Period or Material Event
described in the last clause of the preceding sentence in confidence.
(i) Comply
in
all material respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC
and
make generally available to its securityholders earning statements (which need
not be audited) satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act
and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities
Act) for a 12-month period commencing on the first day of the first fiscal
quarter of the Company commencing after the effective date of a Registration
Statement, which statements shall be made available no later than 45 days after
the end of the 12-month period or 90 days if the 12-month period coincides
with
the fiscal year of the Company.
(j) Cooperate
with each Notice Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Registrable Securities sold or to be sold pursuant
to
a Registration Statement, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive
legends, and cause such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
as
are permitted by the Purchase Contract Agreement, Indenture or the Company’s
certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as applicable, and registered in
such
names as such Notice Holder may request in writing at least one (1) Business
Day
prior to any sale of such Registrable Securities.
(k) Provide
a
CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities covered by each Registration
Statement not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement
and
provide the transfer agent for the Company’s Common Stock with printed
certificates for the Registrable Securities that are in a form eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) Not
later
than the Effective Time of the Registration Statement, the Company shall cause
the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; in connection
with
such qualification, the Company shall cooperate with the Trustee under the
Indenture and the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) to effect such changes
to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in
accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and the Company shall
execute, and shall use all reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to
execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all
other
forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner. In the event that any such
amendment or modification referred to in this Section
4(l)
involves
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.
13
(m) The
Company will use its best efforts to cause the Underlying Common Stock (and,
if
so requested by the Initial Holder, the Units) to be listed on the New York
Stock Exchange or other stock exchange or trading system on which the Common
Stock primarily trades on or prior to the Effective Time of the Shelf
Registration Statement hereunder.
(n) Cooperate
and assist in any filings required to be made with the National Association
of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
(o) Upon
(i)
the filing of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the
effectiveness of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement, announce the same,
in
each case by release to Reuters Economic Services and Bloomberg Business
News.
(p) Use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be
necessary to enable the Holder or Holders thereof to consummate the distribution
of the Registrable Securities;
(q) Enter
into such customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary
form), which may include indemnification provisions in favor of underwriters
and
other persons in addition to, or in substitution for the provisions of
Section
7
hereof,
and take such other actions as the Holders or the underwriters, if any,
reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the distribution of such
Registrable Securities;
(r) Obtain
a
“cold comfort” letter or letters from the Company’s independent public
accountants in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered by “cold comfort” letters as the Holders of such Registrable Securities
shall reasonably request;
(s) Make
available for inspection by any Holder, by any underwriter participating in
any
distribution to be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement and by any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such Holder or any such
underwriter all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company, and cause all of the Company’s
officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested
by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection
with such Registration Statement;
(t) Use
the
Company’s best efforts to obtain for delivery to the Holders and to the managing
underwriter or agent, if any, any opinion or opinions from counsel for the
Company reasonably requested by any Holder and in customary form and in form,
substance and scope reasonably satisfactory to such Holders, the managing
underwriter or agent and their counsel;
(u) Use
the
Company’s best efforts to make available the executive officers of the Company
to participate with the Holders of Registrable Securities and any underwriters
in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by
the Holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable
Securities;
14
(v) Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated
to
participate in more than one underwritten offering during the period that any
Registration Statement is required to be effective pursuant to this Agreement,
and if an underwritten offering pursuant to a Registration Statement is
withdrawn or abandoned at the request of any Holder after the Shelf
Registration, Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration has been requested
by the Holders, the Company shall not be obligated to participate in any further
underwritten offerings during the period that any Registration Statement is
required to be effective pursuant to this Agreement.
SECTION
5. Holder’s
Obligations.
Each
Holder agrees, by acquisition of the Registrable Securities, that no Holder
shall be entitled to sell any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Shelf
Registration Statement or to receive a Prospectus relating thereto, unless
such
Holder has furnished the Company with a Notice and Questionnaire as required
pursuant to Section
2(d)
hereof
(including the information required to be included in such Notice and
Questionnaire and the information set forth in the next sentence and a sales
notice (a “Sales
Notice”)
setting forth the amount of Registrable Securities to be sold and the proposed
sales date not later than five (5) Business Days prior to the proposed sales
date).
Each
Notice Holder agrees promptly to furnish to the Company all information required
to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the
Company by such Notice Holder not misleading and any other information regarding
such Notice Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the
Company may from time to time reasonably request.
Each
Holder acknowledges and agrees that a Sales Notice will only be valid for a
period of five (5) Business Days commencing with the proposed sales date and
that if any of the Registrable Securities to which such Sales Notice relates
are
not sold during such period, a new Sales Notice will need to be submitted to
the
Company not later than three (3) Business Days prior to the new proposed sales
date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Sales Notice may be submitted, or if
submitted will be of no force and effect, and no Registrable Securities may
be
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement if a Deferral Period is then
in effect.
SECTION
6. Registration
Expenses.
The
Company shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in connection with or that
are
otherwise incidental to the performance by the Company of its obligations under
Sections
2,
3
and
4
of this
Agreement whether or not any Registration Statement is declared effective.
Such
fees and expenses shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and
filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (x) with respect
to filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. and (y) of compliance with federal and state securities or Blue
Sky laws (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented fees and
disbursements of the Special Counsel in connection with Blue Sky qualifications
of the Registrable Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as Notice
Holders may designate pursuant to Section
4(g)
of this
Agreement and any filings required to be made with the National Association
of
Securities Dealers, Inc.), (ii) printing expenses (including, without
limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in
a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company), (iii) duplication
expenses relating to copies of any Registration Statement or Prospectus
delivered to any Holders hereunder, (iv) reasonable and documented fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company
15
and
of
Special Counsel in connection with any Registration Statement, (v) reasonable
and documented fees and disbursements of the registrar and transfer agent for
the classes of the Company’s securities to which the Registrable Securities
belong and (vi) any Securities Act liability insurance obtained by the Company
in its sole discretion. In addition, the Company shall pay the internal expenses
of the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense
of
any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing
by the Company of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on
which
similar securities of the Company are then listed and the fees and expenses
of
any person, including special experts, retained by the Company. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section
6,
each
seller of Registrable Securities shall pay selling expenses, including any
underwriting discount and commissions, and all registration expenses to the
extent required by applicable law.
SECTION
7. Indemnification
and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification
by the Company.
The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, each person, if
any,
who controls any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any
Holder within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without
limitation, reasonable legal fees or other expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused
by
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in
any Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus
or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have
furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), caused by any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they are made, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission
or
alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any
Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use
therein; provided
that the
indemnification contained in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit
of
any Holder (or to the benefit of any such affiliate of such Holder within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) on account of any such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary prospectus
if
the Company has performed its obligations under Section
4
hereof
and if (x) such Holder failed to send or deliver a copy of the Prospectus with
or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of the sale by such Holder
to
the person asserting the claim from which such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities arise and (y) the Prospectus would have corrected such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or such omission or alleged omission.
(b) Indemnification
by Holders.
Each
Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who controls
the Company (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act
or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and each affiliate of the Company within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any other Holder, to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Holder, but only
with
reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in
writing by such Holder expressly for use in such Registration
16
Statement
or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the
liability of any Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount
of
the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement giving rise to such
indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings.
In case
any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted
involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
Section
7(a)
or
7(b)
hereof,
such person (the “indemnified
party”)
shall
promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
“indemnifying
party”)
in
writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party,
shall
retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent
the
indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such
proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel
related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall
have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to
the
retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.
It
is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal
expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such
indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed
as
they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by, in the case
of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section
7(a)
hereof,
the Holders of a majority (with Holders of Units deemed to be the Holders,
for
purposes of determining such majority, of the number of shares of Underlying
Common Stock that such Holders are obligated to purchase pursuant to the
Purchase Contracts that are a component of such Units) as of the date on which
such designation is made) of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement held by Holders that are indemnified parties pursuant
to
Section
7(a)
hereof
and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
7(b)
hereof,
the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement
of
any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested
an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of the first
paragraph of this subsection, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request
prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without
the
prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party
is or
could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release
of
such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
of such proceeding and does not include a statement as to, or an admission
of,
fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
17
(d) Contribution.
To the
extent that the indemnification provided for in Section
7(a)
or
7(b)
hereof
is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party
under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as
a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion
as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the
other hand or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative
fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the
indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements
or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of
the
Holders on the one hand and the Company on the other hand shall be determined
by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact
relates to information supplied by the Holders or by the Company, and the
parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Holders’ respective
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section
7
are
several in proportion to the respective number of Registrable Securities they
have sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, and not joint.
The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section
7(d)
were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that
does
not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to
in
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to
the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding this Section
7,
no
indemnifying party that is a selling Holder shall be required to contribute
any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable
Securities sold by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages that such indemnifying party has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled
to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
(e) The
remedies provided for in this Section
7
are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to an indemnified party at law or in equity, hereunder, under the
Unit
Purchase Agreement or otherwise.
18
(f) The
indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section
7
shall
remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination
of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder,
any person controlling any Holder or any Affiliate of any Holder or by or on
behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling
the
Company and (iii) the sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder.
SECTION
8. Information
Requirements.
The
Company covenants that, if at any time before the end of the Effectiveness
Period the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange
Act, it will cooperate with any Holder and take such further commercially
reasonable action as any Holder may reasonably request in writing (including,
without limitation, making such reasonable representations as any such Holder
may reasonably request), all to the extent required from time to time to enable
such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the
Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144
and
Rule 144A under the Securities Act and customarily taken in connection with
sales pursuant to such exemptions. Upon the written request of any Holder,
the
Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has
complied with such filing requirements, unless such a statement has been
included in the Company’s most recent report filed pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Section
8
shall be
deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities (other than
the
Common Stock) under any section of the Exchange Act.
SECTION
9. Purchase
Right in Certain Instances. In the event that (i) (a) a Shelf Registration
Statement or Demand Registration Statement is in effect and (b) the Initial
Holder or any of its Affiliates desires to sell Common Stock under such
Registration Statement, the Initial Holder shall give notice to the Company
of
the number of shares of Common Stock it and its Affiliates desire to sell at
such time pursuant to the Registration Statement or (ii) the Initial Holder
or
any of its Affiliates shall have given notice of their request to participate
in
the sale of Common Stock in a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section
3,
specifying the number of shares of their Common Stock to be included in such
Piggyback Registration (such Common Stock, or the shares of Common Stock
specified in clause (i)(b), as the case may be, the “Offered
Common Stock”,
and
either such notice, the “Triggering
Notice”),
the
Company may at its option give notice (the “Purchase
Notice”)
to the
Initial Holder and such Affiliates (such notice to be given within ten (10)
days
of the date the Triggering Notice was given) that the Company will purchase
(on
a purchase date to be specified in the Purchase Notice, the “Purchase
Date”,
to be
within five (5) days of the date of the Purchase Notice) all, but not less
than
all, of the Offered Common Stock of the Initial Holder and such Affiliates
at
the Current Market Price Per Share (as defined below). On the Purchase Date,
the
Initial Holder shall sell, and shall cause each of its Affiliates to sell,
all
of the Offered Common Stock to the Company at the Current Market Price Per
Share
for each share of such Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company’s right to purchase Offered Common Stock pursuant to this Section
9
shall
not apply to, and neither the Initial Holder nor its Affiliates shall be
obligated to provide a Triggering Notice to the Company prior to, any sales
of
Common Stock by the Initial Holder or any of its Affiliates pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement or a Demand Registration Statement in an amount not
to
exceed two percent (2%) of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock in any
calendar quarter. As used in this Section
9,
“Current
Market Price Per Share”
means
the average of the daily Closing Prices per share of Common Stock on the ten
Trading Days ending on the Trading Day next preceding the date the Triggering
Notice is given and “Closing
Prices”
and
“Trading
Days”
have the
respective meanings specified in the Purchase Contract Agreement.
19
SECTION
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) No
Conflicting Agreements.
The
Company is not, as of the date hereof, a party to, nor shall it, on or after
the
date of this Agreement, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities
that conflicts with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement. The
Company represents and warrants that the rights granted to the Holders hereunder
do not in any way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the
Company’s securities under any other agreements.
(b) Amendments
and Waivers.
The
provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may
not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures
from
the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the
written consent of Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Underlying
Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities (with Holders of Units deemed
to be the Holders, for purposes of this Section, of the number of shares of
Underlying Common Stock that such Holders are obligated to purchase pursuant
to
the Purchase Contracts that are a component of such Units as of the date on
which such consent is requested). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly
affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a
majority of the Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant
to
such Registration Statement; provided
that the
provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented except
in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, this Agreement may be amended by written
agreement signed by the Company and the Initial Holder, without the consent
of
the Holders of Registrable Securities, to cure any ambiguity or to correct
or
supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provision contained herein, or to make such other provisions
in
regard to matters or questions arising under this Agreement that shall not
adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Registrable Securities. Each
Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the time of any such amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consent or thereafter shall be bound by
any
such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant
to
this Section
10(b),
whether
or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is
delivered to such Holder.
(c) Notices.
All
notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall
be
made in writing by hand delivery, by telecopier, by courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery or by first-class mail, return receipt requested, and shall
be deemed given (i) when made, if made by hand delivery, (ii) upon confirmation,
if made by telecopier, (iii) one (1) Business Day after being deposited with
such courier, if made by overnight courier or (iv) on the date indicated on
the
notice of receipt, if made by first-class mail, to the parties as follows:
(i) if
to a
Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company in
a
Notice and Questionnaire or any amendment thereto;
20
(ii) if
to the
Company, to:
PNM
Resources, Inc.
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX-0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Facsimile
No.: 000-000-0000
Attention:
Treasurer
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxx LLP
1177
Avenue of the Americas
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile
No: 212-508-6101
Attention: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxx
(iii) if
to the
Initial Holder, to:
Cascade
Investment, L.L.C.
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and General Counsel
or
to
such other address as such person may have furnished to the other persons
identified in this Section
10(c)
in
writing in accordance herewith.
(d) Approval
of Holders.
Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by
the
Company or its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) (other than the Initial Holder or subsequent Holders if such
Initial Holder or subsequent Holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely
by
reason of their holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted
in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
(e) Successors
and Assigns.
Any
person who purchases any Registrable Securities from the Initial Holder shall
be
deemed, for purposes of this Agreement, to be an assignee of the Initial Holder.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors
and assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon each Holder of any Registrable Securities, provided
that
nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other
disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase
Contract Agreement, Indenture or the Company’s certificate of incorporation and
by-laws, as applicable. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire
Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise,
such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities, such person
shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all
of
the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such person shall be entitled
to
receive the benefits hereof.
21
(f) Counterparts;
Facsimile Execution.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed
to be original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same
agreement. Facsimile execution and delivery of this Agreement is legal, valid
and binding for all purposes.
(g) Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing
Law.
THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE
OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT.
(i) Severability.
If any
term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held to be
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, and
the
parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to find and employ an
alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that
contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction, it being intended
that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to
the
fullest extent permitted by law.
(j) Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement
and is intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the registration rights
granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings among the parties
with respect to such registration rights. No party hereto shall have any rights,
duties or obligations with respect to registration rights for the Registrable
Securities other than those specifically set forth in this Agreement.
(k) Termination.
This
Agreement and the obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate upon
the
end of the Effectiveness Period, except for any liabilities or obligations
under
Section
5,
6
or
7
hereof,
each of which shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank; Signature page follows]
22
[Signature
page to Registration Rights Agreement]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement
as
of the date first written above.
PNM
RESOURCES, INC.
By: /s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Title:
Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Acting Chief Financial
Officer
Confirmed
and accepted as of the
date
first above written:
By:
CASCADE INVESTMENT, L.L.C.
By: /s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Business
Manager
23
Exhibit
A
PNM
Resources, Inc.
Notice
of
Registration Statement
and
Selling
Securityholder Questionnaire
(Date)
Reference
is hereby made to the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration
Rights Agreement”)
between PNM Resources, Inc. (the “Company”)
and
Cascade Investment, L.L.C. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
a
registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Shelf
Registration Statement”)
for
the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933
(the “Securities
Act”),
of
the Company’s Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Units (the “Securities”).
A
copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto. All capitalized
terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto
in
the Registration Rights Agreement.
Each
beneficial owner of Registrable Securities is entitled to have the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by it included in the Shelf Registration
Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities included in the Shelf
Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration Statement and Selling
Securityholder Questionnaire (“Notice
and Questionnaire”)
must
be completed, executed and delivered to the Company’s counsel at the address set
forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [Deadline
for Response].
Beneficial owners of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and
return this Notice and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as
selling securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may
not use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable
Securities.
Certain
legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the
Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. Accordingly, holders and
beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus.
A-1
ELECTION
The
undersigned holder (the “Selling
Securityholder”)
of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration
Statement the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below
in Item (3). The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and
Questionnaire, agrees to be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities
by
the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration
Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, Section
7
of the
Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder
were
an original party thereto.
Upon
any
sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement,
the
Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company and transfer
agent for the Company’s Common Stock the Notice of Transfer set forth as
Exhibit
B
to the
Registration Rights Agreement.
The
Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the Company
expressly for use in the Shelf Registration Statement and represents and
warrants that such information is accurate and complete:
A-2
QUESTIONNAIRE
(1) (a) Full
Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
(b)
|
Full
Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a) above)
of
Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3)
below:
|
(c)
|
Full
Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same
as (b)
above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3)
are
Held:
|
(2) Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Telephone:________________________________
Fax:______________________________________
Contact
Person:_____________________________
(3) Beneficial
Ownership of Securities:
Except
as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not beneficially
own any Securities.
(a)
|
Principal
amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:
|
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities: |
(b)
|
Principal
amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
|
CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities: |
(c)
|
Principal
amount of Registrable Securities which the undersigned wishes
to be
included in the Shelf Registration Statement:
|
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement: |
(4) Beneficial
Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
Except
as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling Securityholder
is not the beneficial or registered owner of any other securities of the
Company, other than the Securities listed above in
Item (3).
State
any
exceptions here:
A-3
(5) Relationships
with the Company:
Except
as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any of its
affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5% or more)
has
held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with
the
Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three
years.
State
any
exceptions here:
(6) Plan
of
Distribution:
Except
as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder intends to distribute
the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3) only as follows (if at
all):
Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to time directly by the
undersigned Selling Securityholder or, alternatively, through underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents. Such Registrable Securities may be sold in one
or more
transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of
sale,
at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.
Such
sales may be effected in transactions (which may involve crosses or block
transactions) (i) on any national securities exchange or quotation service
on
which the Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale,
(ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than
on
such exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market or (iv) through
the
writing of options. In connection with sales of the Registrable Securities
or
otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may enter into hedging transactions
with
broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Registrable
Securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
Securityholder may also sell Registrable Securities short and deliver
Registrable Securities to close out such short positions, or loan or pledge
Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such
securities.
State
any exceptions here:
By
signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands
its
obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of
the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly Regulation
M.
In
the
event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the
Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which
such information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees
to notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and
obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration Rights
Agreement.
A-4
By
signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (6) above
and the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder understands that such information
will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation of the
Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
In
accordance with the Selling Securityholder’s obligation under Section 5
of the
Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as may be required
by
law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Selling
Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or
changes in the information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the
date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in
effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement
shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery, first-class mail, or air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:
(i) To
the
Company:
PNM
Resources, Inc.
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX-0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Facsimile
No.: 000-000-0000
Attention:
Treasurer
(ii) With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxx LLP
1177
Avenue of the Americas
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile
No: 212-508-6101
Attention: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxx
Once
this
Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and received
by the Company’s counsel, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire, and the
representations and warranties contained herein, shall be binding on, shall
inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors,
heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the Company and the Selling
Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially owned
by
such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above). This Agreement shall
be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York without giving
effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
A-5
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by
its
duly authorized agent.
Dated:
_____________
Selling
Securityholder
(Print/type
full legal name
of beneficial owner of Registrable Securities)
By:
__________________________________________________
Name:
Title:
PLEASE
RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON OR
BEFORE [DEADLINE
FOR RESPONSE]
TO THE
COMPANY’S COUNSEL AT:
Xxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxx LLP
1177
Avenue of the Americas
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile
No: 212-508-6101
Attention: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxx
A-6
Exhibit
B
NOTICE
OF
TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[Transfer
Agent’s Name]
PNM
Resources, Inc.
c/o
[Transfer Agent’s Name]
[Transfer
Agent’s Address]
Attention:
Trust Officer
Re:
|
PNM
Resources, Inc. (the “Company”)
|
[Hybrid Income Term Security Units] |
[Common Stock] |
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Please
be
advised that __________ has transferred $__________ aggregate amount of the
above-referenced [Hybrid Income Term Security Units] [Common Stock] pursuant
to
an effective Registration Statement on Form S-[ ] (File No. 333- )
filed
by the Company.
We
hereby
certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the Securities
Act
of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named beneficial
owner of the [Hybrid Income Term Security Units] [Common Stock] is named as
a
“Selling Holder” in the Prospectus dated [date]
or in
supplements thereto, and that the aggregate amount of the [Hybrid Income Term
Security Units] [Common Stock] transferred are the [Hybrid Income Term Security
Units] [Common Stock] listed in such Prospectus opposite such owner’s
name.
Dated:
Very
truly yours,
____________________________
(Name)
By: ____________________________
(Authorized
Signature)
B-1
Exhibit
C
LOCK
UP LETTER
[Letterhead
of PNM Resources, Inc.]
_________,
200_
Re:
Lock Up Agreement
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference
is made to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 7, 2005
(the “Registration
Rights Agreement”),
between PNM Resources, Inc. (the “Company”)
and
Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (the “Initial
Holder”).
Capitalized terms that are used, but not otherwise defined, herein have the
meanings ascribed to those terms in the Registration Rights Agreement or as
specified herein, as the case may be.
The
Company has proposed to undertake a Company Registration and you have elected
not to include your Registrable Common Stock in the related Piggyback
Registration requested by other Holders. Pursuant to Section
3(b)(iv)
of the
Registration Rights Agreement, you are required to enter into this letter
agreement (this “Agreement”)
which
will impose transfer limitations on any shares of Common Stock, or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares
of Common Stock held by you, which are not included in the Piggyback
Registration (collectively, the “Securities”)
during
the Lock Up Period.
Accordingly,
you and the Company agree as follows:
1. Lock
Up
(a) Lock-up;
Lock-up Period.
Except
for Transfers permitted by Section
2
hereof
(each a “Permitted
Transfer”),
you
agree that you will not, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, assign,
pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise transfer, or enter into any contract,
option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale,
assignment, pledge or other disposition of (collectively, "Transfer")
any
rights with respect to the Securities for a period commencing on the date that
the Company Registration commences and ending on the ninetieth (90th)
day
following the commencement of the Company Registration (such ninety day period
being referred to herein as the “Lock
Up Period”).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lock Up Period shall automatically terminate
if (i) neither the Company (with respect to Securities other than those included
in the Company Registration) nor any director, officer or affiliate of the
Company holding more than 50,000 shares of Common Stock is subject to
substantially similar Transfer restrictions on securities of the Company held
by
such persons at any time during the Lock Up Period, or (ii) any other Holder
holding more than 50,000 shares of Common Stock that is not participating in
the
Piggyback Registration (a “Non-Participating
Holder”)
does
not execute a lock-up agreement substantially similar to this Agreement or
if
any Non-Participating Holder is released from its obligations under its lock-up
agreement.
C-1
(b) No
Hedging or Similar Transactions.
The
Transfer restriction contained in Section
1(a)
precludes you from engaging in any hedging or other transaction during the
Lock-up Period that is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result
in a Transfer of the Securities. Such prohibited hedging or other transaction
would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not against the
box) or any purchase, sale, or grant of any right (including, without
limitation, any put or call option) with respect to the Securities or with
respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that
includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from the
Common Stock.
(c) Stop
Transfer Order.
You
also
agree and consent to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's
transfer agent and registrar against the Transfer of the Securities except
in
compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(d) Invalid
Transfers.
Any
purported Transfer of Securities that is not in accordance with this Agreement
shall be null and void, and shall not operate to Transfer any right, title
or
interest in such Securities to the purported transferee.
2. Permitted
and Involuntary Transfers.
(a) Permitted
Transfers.
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section
1
hereof,
you may Transfer the Securities to any Affiliate (as such term is defined in
Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933) or to any other person
as
long as any such Transfer to such other person is effected in a private
transaction and not over the exchange, quotation system or other market where
securities of the Company are then traded or quoted; provided, however, that
in
each case
the
transferee first agrees in writing to be bound by the provisions of this
Agreement applicable to you.
(b) Involuntary
Transfers.
If
any
Securities are subject to any involuntary Transfer during the Lock Up Period,
such involuntary Transfer shall constitute a Permitted Transfer and the
transferee of such Securities shall take such Securities subject to this
Agreement.
3. Representations
and Warranties of the Company.
The
Company hereby represents and warrants to you that the Company (with respect
to
Securities other than those included in the Company Registration) every
Non-Participating Holder, and every director, officer and Affiliate of the
Company, in each case holding more than 50,000 shares of Common Stock is subject
to a “lock-up” agreement with respect to the Company Registration that is
substantially similar to this Agreement.
4. Miscellaneous.
(a) Termination.
This
Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the expiration of the Lock-up
Period.
(b) Governing
Law.
The
internal law, without regard for conflicts of law principles, of the State
of
New York will govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and
interpretation of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations imposed
by this Agreement.
C-2
(c) Counterparts;
Facsimile Execution.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, any one of which need
not
contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile execution
and
delivery of this Agreement is legal valid and binding for all
purposes.
Please
acknowledge your agreement to the foregoing by executing this Agreement in
the
space provided below.
Sincerely,
PNM
RESOURCES, INC.
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
ACCEPTED
AND AGREED TO
AS
OF THE
DATE FIRST ABOVE
WRITTEN:
HOLDER:
For
Individuals:
_________________________________
Print
Name Above
_________________________________
Sign
Name
Above
For
Entities:
__________________________________
Print
Name of Entity Above
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
C-3