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Exhibit No. 4.4
COGENTRIX ENERGY, INC.
8.75% Senior Notes Due 2008
REGISTRATION AGREEMENT
New York, New York
October 20, 1998
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
CIBC Oppenheimer Corp.
c/o Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc.
Seven Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
Cogentrix Energy, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers (the "Initial
Purchasers"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement, dated October
15, 1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), its 8.75% Senior Notes due 2008 (the
"Securities") (the "Initial Placement"). As an inducement to the Initial
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a
condition to your obligations thereunder, the Company agrees with you, (i) for
your benefit and the benefit of the other Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the
benefit of the holders from time to time of the Securities (including you and
the other Initial Purchasers) (each of the foregoing a "Holder" and together the
"Holders"), as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As
used in this Registration Agreement (the "Agreement"), the following capitalized
defined terms shall have the following meanings:
"Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Affiliate" of any specified person means any other person which,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is
under common control with, such specified person. For purposes of this
definition, control of a person means the power, direct or indirect,
to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such person whether by contract or otherwise; and the terms
"controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
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"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.
"Exchange Offer Registration Period" means the 1 year period
following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive
of any period during which any stop order shall be in effect
suspending the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" means a registration
statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with
respect to the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective
amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein,
all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Exchanging Dealer" means any Holder (which may include the
Initial Purchasers) which is a broker-dealer, electing to exchange
Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, for New Securities.
"Final Memorandum" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Holder" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Indenture" means the Indenture as supplemented by the First
Supplemental Indenture thereto relating to the Securities, each dated
as of October 20, 1998, each between the Company and First Union
National Bank of North Carolina, as trustee, as the same may be
amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms
thereof.
"Initial Placement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"Letter of Transmittal" means the letter of transmittal to be
prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Securities for
use by such Holders in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer.
"Majority Holders" means the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of securities registered under a
Registration Statement.
"Managing Underwriters" means the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten
offering.
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"New Securities" means debt securities of the Company identical
in all material respects to the Securities (except that the interest
rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions will be modified
or eliminated, as appropriate), to be issued under the Indenture or
the New Securities Indenture.
"New Securities Indenture" means an indenture between the Company
and the New Securities Trustee, identical in all material respects
with the Indenture.
"New Securities Trustee" means a bank or trust company reasonably
satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as trustee with respect to the
New Securities under the New Securities Indenture.
"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 under the
Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Securities
or the New Securities, covered by such Registration Statement, and all
amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments.
"Registered Exchange Offer" means the proposed offer to the
Holders to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the
Securities, a like principal amount of the New Securities.
"Registration Statement" means any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the
Securities or the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
"Securities" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Shelf Registration" means a registration effected pursuant to
Section 3 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Period" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3
hereof which covers some or all of the Securities or New Securities,
as applicable, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Act, or
any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission, amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective
amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein,
all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Trustee" means the trustee with respect to the Securities under
the Indenture.
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"Underwriter" means any underwriter of securities in connection
with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.
2. Registered Exchange Offer; Resales of New Securities by
Exchanging Dealers; Private Exchange. (a) The Company shall prepare and, not
later than 90 days following the Closing Date, shall file with the Commission
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered
Exchange Offer. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Act within 150 days
of the Closing Date.
(b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it
being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming that such Holder is
not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Act, acquires the New
Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution
(within the meaning of the Act) of the New Securities) to trade such New
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of a
substantial proportion of the several states of the United States.
(c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company
shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
days and not more than 45 days after the date notice thereof is mailed
to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);
(iii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City
of New York; and
(iv) comply in all material respects with all applicable laws.
(d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered
Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so
accepted for exchange; and
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(iii) cause the Trustee or the New Securities Trustee, as the
case may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of
Securities, New Securities equal in principal amount to the Securities
of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
(e) The Initial Purchasers and the Company acknowledge that,
pursuant to interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Act,
and in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, each Exchanging Dealer
is required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with a sale of any New
Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Accordingly, the
Company shall:
(i) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the
cover of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto
in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a
section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, and in Annex C
hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution section of the
Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in
the letter of transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer; and
(ii) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Act during the Exchange
Offer Registration Period for delivery by Exchanging Dealers in
connection with sales of New Securities received pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by Section 4(h) below. The
Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to keep the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective during the requisite
period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders
of securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such
securities during that period, unless (i) such action is required by
applicable law or (ii) such action is taken by the Company in good
faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the
Company's obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or
divestiture of assets, so long as the Company promptly thereafter
complies with the requirements of Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.
(f) In the event that any Initial Purchaser determines that it is
not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the
exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the
request of such Initial Purchaser, the Company shall issue and deliver to such
Initial Purchaser or the party purchasing New Securities registered under a
Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such
Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a like principal amount of
New Securities. The Company shall seek to cause the CUSIP Service Bureau to
issue the same CUSIP number for such New Securities as for New Securities issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
3. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff, the Company
determines upon advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect
the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof, or (ii) for
any reason the Securities validly tendered pursuant to the Registered Exchange
Offer are not exchanged for New Securities within 180 days of the Closing Date,
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or (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to Securities held by it
following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, or (iv) if any Holder
(other than an Initial Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the
Registered Exchange Offer or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser that
participates in the Registered Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities
pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, such Initial Purchaser does not receive freely
tradeable New Securities in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of
an unsold allotment (it being understood that, for purposes of this Section 3,
(x) the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing
the information required by Items 507 and/or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Act
in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in exchange for such
Securities shall result in such New Securities being not "freely tradeable" but
(y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection
with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities being not
"freely tradeable"), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall as promptly as practicable (but in no event
more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this
Section 3), file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best
efforts to cause to be declared effective under the Act a Shelf
Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the
Securities or the New Securities, as applicable, 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;
provided, that with respect to New Securities received by an Initial
Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an
unsold allotment, the Company may, if permitted by current
interpretations by the Commission's staff, file a post-effective
amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the
information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or 508, as
applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this paragraph
(a) with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed
by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration
Statement.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period
of two years from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective by the Commission or such shorter period that will
terminate when all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable,
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being
called the "Shelf Registration Period"). The Company shall be deemed
not to have used its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration
Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily
takes any action that would result in Holders of securities covered
thereby not being able to offer and sell such securities during that
period, unless (i) such action is required by applicable law or (ii)
such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid
business reasons (not including avoidance of the Company's obligations
hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so
long as the Company promptly thereafter complies with the requirements
of Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.
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4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall furnish to you, prior to the filing thereof
with the Commission, a copy of any Shelf Registration Statement and
any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof
and each amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included
therein and shall use its best efforts to reflect in each such
document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as you and
your counsel reasonably may propose.
(b) The Company shall ensure that (i) any Registration Statement
and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and
any amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects
with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it
becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any
Prospectus forming part of any Registration Statement, and any
amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, does not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) (1) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered thereby,
and, if requested by you or any such Holder, confirm such advice in
writing:
(i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become
effective; and
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
included therein or for additional information.
(2) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered thereby,
and, in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any
Exchanging Dealer which has provided in writing to the Company a
telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if
requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, confirm such
advice in writing:
(i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
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(ii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities
included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation
or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(iii) of the happening of any event that requires the making
of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so
that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading
and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case
of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made) not misleading (which advice shall be accompanied by
an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the
requisite changes have been made).
(d) The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement at the earliest possible time.
(e) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of securities
included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement,
without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement
and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing,
all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
deliver to each Holder of securities included within the coverage of
any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) included in
such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such Holder may reasonably request; and the Company
consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders of securities in connection
with the offering and sale of the securities covered by the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(g) The Company shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so
requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, any documents
incorporated by reference therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer so
requests in writing, all exhibits (including those incorporated by
reference).
(h) The Company shall, during the Exchange Offer Registration
Period, promptly deliver to each Exchanging Dealer, without charge, as
many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
Exchanging Dealer may reasonably request for delivery by such
Exchanging Dealer in connection with a sale of New Securities received
by it pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and the Company
consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by any such Exchanging Dealer, as aforesaid.
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(i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering
of securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company
shall register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of securities
included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the
registration or qualification of such securities for offer and sale
under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any
such Holders reasonably request in writing and do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in
such jurisdictions of the securities covered by such Registration
Statement;
provided, however, that the Company will not be required to qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general
service of process or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject.
(j) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration
Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations
and registered in such names as Holders may request prior to sales of
securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph
(c)(2)(iii) above, the Company shall promptly prepare a post-effective
amendment to any Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement
to the related Prospectus or file any other required document so that,
as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the securities included
therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(l) Not later than the effective date of any such Registration
Statement hereunder, the Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the
Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under
such Registration Statement, and provide the applicable trustee with
printed certificates for such Securities or New Securities, in a form
eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(m) The Company shall use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and shall make
generally available to Holders as soon as practicable after the
effective date of the applicable Registration Statement an earnings
statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
(n) The Company shall cause the Indenture or the New Securities
Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act in a timely manner.
(o) The Company may require each Holder of securities to be sold
pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company
such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such
securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for
inclusion in such Registration Statement.
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(p) The Company shall, if requested, promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Shelf
Registration Statement, such information as the Managing Underwriters
and Majority Holders reasonably agree should be included therein and
shall make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment as soon as notified of the matters to be
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements)
and take all other appropriate actions in order to expedite or
facilitate the registration or the disposition of the securities, and
in connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into,
cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no
less favorable than those set forth in Section 7 (or such other
provisions and procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the
Managing Underwriters, if any) with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to Section 7 from Holders of Securities to the
Company.
(r) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of
securities to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating
in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any
such underwriter such financial and other books and records of the
Company as shall be necessary to conduct a reasonable investigation;
(ii) cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply
all relevant information reasonably requested by such Holders or any
such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any
such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence
examinations; provided, however, that any information that is
designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential
at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential
by such Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or
agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court
proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available
to the public generally or through a third party without an
accompanying obligation of confidentiality; (iii) make such
representations and warranties to the Holders of securities registered
thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope
as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary
underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited
to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (iv) obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions
(in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to each selling Holder and
the underwriters, if any, covering such matters as are customarily
covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other
matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and
underwriters; (v) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof
from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and,
if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of
any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are
required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to
each selling Holder of securities registered thereunder and the
underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the
type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
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primary underwritten offerings; and (vi) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders
and the Managing Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence
compliance with Section 4(k) and with any customary conditions
contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered
into by the Company. The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii),
(iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section 4(r) shall be performed at (A) the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement and each post-effective
amendment thereto and (B) each closing under any underwriting or
similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.
(s) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the
Initial Purchasers, and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by the Initial Purchasers, such financial and other
information and books and records of the Company as shall be necessary
to conduct a reasonable investigation; (ii) cause the Company's
officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information
reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney,
accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement
as is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided,
however, that any information that is designated in writing by the
Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of
such information shall be kept confidential by such Initial Purchaser
or any such attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is
made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such
information becomes available to the public generally or through a
third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;
(iii) make such representations and warranties to such Initial
Purchaser, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by
issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering
matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase
Agreement; (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates
thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance)
shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser and its
counsel, addressed to such Initial Purchaser, covering such matters as
are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten
offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by
such Initial Purchaser or its counsel; (v) obtain "cold comfort"
letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of
any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements
and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the
Registration Statement), addressed to such Initial Purchaser, in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
"cold comfort" letters in connection with primary underwritten
offerings, or if requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel in
lieu of a "cold comfort" letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter
under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters
requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel; and (vi) deliver
such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such
Initial Purchaser or its counsel, including those to evidence
compliance with Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily contained
in underwriting agreements. The foregoing actions set forth in clauses
(iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this Section 4(s) shall be performed at
the close of the Registered Exchange Offer and the effective date of
any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
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5. Special Interest Under Certain Circumstances. In the event
that (i) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, has not been filed with the Commission on or
prior to the 90th day following the Closing Date (or in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to clause (i) of the first
paragraph of Section 3, within 60 days after publication of the change in law or
interpretation); (ii) either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, has not been declared
effective prior to the 150th day following the Closing Date (or in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to clause (i) of the
first paragraph of Section 3, if later, within 60 days after publication of the
change in law or interpretation); (iii) the Registered Exchange Offer has not
been consummated prior to the 180th day following the Closing Date; or (iv)
after the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective, such Shelf
Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or usable in connection
with resales of Securities or New Securities in accordance with and during the
periods specified in Section 3(b) hereof (because either (A) any event occurs as
a result of which the related Prospectus forming part of such Shelf Registration
Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading or (B) it shall be
necessary to amend such Shelf Registration Statement or supplement the related
prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the
respective rules thereunder) without, in the case of (A) or (B), being succeeded
within 30 days by an amended or an additional Shelf Registration Statement filed
and declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv)
a "Registration Default"), interest ("Special Interest") will accrue and be
payable semi-annually on the Securities and the New Securities which are the
subject of such Registration Default (in addition to the stated interest on the
Securities and the New Securities) from and including the date such Registration
Default occurs to but excluding the date, as applicable, on which the applicable
Registration Statement is filed or is declared effective, the Registered
Exchange Offer is consummated or the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes
effective, as the case may be. During the time that Special Interest is accruing
continuously the rate of such Special Interest shall be 0.25% per annum during
the 30-day period immediately following the occurence of any Registration
Default and shall increase by 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 30-day period,
but in no event shall such rate exceed 1.50% per annum in the aggregate
regardless of the number of Registration Defaults. If, after the cure of a
Registration Default, there is a subsequent Registration Default, the Special
Interest rate for such subsequent Registration Default shall initially be 0.25%,
regardless of the Special Interest Rate in effect with respect to any prior
Registration Default at the time of the cure of such Registration Default.
6. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2,
3 and 4 hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will
reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or
counsel designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in
connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel acting in connection therewith. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Holders of any Securities or New Securities being registered on
the Shelf Registration Statement shall pay all agency or brokerage fees and
commissions and underwriting discounts and commissions attributable to the sale
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of such Securities or New Securities and the fees and disbursements of any
counsel retained by such Holders other than counsel referred to above.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) In connection with any
Registration Statement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder of securities covered thereby (including each Initial Purchaser and, with
respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each
Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers, employees and agents of each such
Holder and each person who controls any such Holder within the meaning of either
the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or
in any preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse
each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for inclusion therein
(the "Holder's Purchase Information"). This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute to Losses of,
as provided in Section 7(d), any underwriters of Securities registered under a
Shelf Registration Statement, their officers and directors and each person who
controls such underwriters on substantially the same basis as that of the
indemnification of the Initial Purchaser and the selling Holders provided in
this Section 7(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an
underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(q)
hereof.
(b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement
(including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery
as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Company, (ii) each of its directors,
(iii) each of its officers who signs such Registration Statement and (iv) each
person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to
each such Holder, but only with reference to written information relating to
such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically
for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity (together
with the Holder's Purchase Information, the "Written Information"). This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder
may otherwise have.
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(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in is respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i)
will not relieve the indemnifying party from liability under paragraph (a) or
(b) above unless and to the extent the indemnifying party did not otherwise
learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the
indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the
indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which
case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and
expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties
except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified
party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall
bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel (and local
counsel) if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent
the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest,
(ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal
defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different
from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the
indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time
after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party
shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense
of the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified
party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or
(b) of this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall have a joint and several
obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending same) (collectively, "Losses") to which such
indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and
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such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the
Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in
no case shall any Initial Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Security or
New Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the
purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a
New Security, applicable to the Security which was exchangeable into such New
Security, as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, nor shall any
underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount
or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such underwriter under
the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. If the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason,
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also
the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such
indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to
the sum of (x) the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement (before
deducting expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum and
(y) the total amount of additional interest which the Company was not required
to pay as a result of registering the securities covered by the Registration
Statement which resulted in such Losses. Benefits received by the Initial
Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and
commissions as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, and benefits
received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be equal to the value of
receiving Securities or New Securities, as applicable, registered under the Act.
Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total
underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the
Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which resulted in such
Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether any alleged
untrue statement or omission relates to information provided by the indemnifying
party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified party, on the other hand. The
parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were
determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does
not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. No person whose loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon such person's Written Information shall be
entitled to contribution. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who
controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and
each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have the same
rights to contribution as such Holder, and each person who controls the Company
within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the
Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of
the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject
in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
(e) The provisions of this Section 7 will remain in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder
or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred
to in Section 7 hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities
covered by a Registration Statement.
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8. Underwritten Offerings. No Holder may participate in any
underwritten Shelf Registration Statement hereunder unless such Holder (i)
agrees to sell such Holder's Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements entered into in connection therewith and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the
date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter
into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified,
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 the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding aggregate
principal amount of Securities (or, after the consummation of any Exchange Offer
in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of Securities and New Securities); provided
that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights
of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent
of each such Initial Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification,
supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing
(except the foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure 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 the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of
securities being sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 9(c), which address initially is, with respect to each Holder,
the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the
Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Salomon Brothers Inc;
(2) if to you, initially at the respective addresses set forth in
the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company, initially at its address set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
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All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given when received.
The Initial Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by
the Company thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and/or New Securities. The
Company hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of
Securities and/or New Securities and any such Holder may specifically enforce
the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said State.
(h) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired
or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of
the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(i) Securities Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities
or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New Securities, as
applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than subsequent Holders
of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities or New
Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval
was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the
agreement between the Company and the Initial Purchasers.
Very truly yours,
COGENTRIX ENERGY, INC.,
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
---------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President -
Finance and Treasurer
Accepted in New York, New York
October 20, 1998
XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX INC.
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.
CIBC XXXXXXXXXXX CORP.
By: XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX INC.
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
-------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
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ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
Prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a Prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such
New Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on
the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business on
the first anniversary of the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus
available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See
"Plan of Distribution."
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ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own
account in exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such New Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
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ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
--------------------
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in
exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business on the
first anniversary of the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New
Securities by broker-dealers. New Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the New Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells New Securities that were received by
it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer
that participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any
such resale of New Securities and any commissions or concessions received by any
such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities
Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that
it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 1 year after the Expiration Date, the Company
will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items
507 and/or 508.]
22
ANNEX D
Rider A
CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY
AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name: __________________________________
Address: __________________________________
__________________________________
Rider B
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned
represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a
distribution of New Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will
receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, it
represents that the Securities to be exchanged for New Securities were acquired
by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
