1
EXHIBIT 4.4
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
October 15, 1997, is among Newfield Exploration Company, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co., Chase Securities Inc., Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation and Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc., (the
"Purchasers") of the 7.45% Senior Notes due 2007, of the Company.
The Company proposes to issue and sell the Securities (as
defined herein) to the Purchasers upon the terms set forth in the Note Purchase
Agreement. As an inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Note Purchase
Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the
Purchasers thereunder, the Company agrees with the Purchasers for the benefit
of holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Registrable Securities
(as defined herein) as follows:
1. Certain Definitions.
For purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
"Base Interest" shall mean the interest that would otherwise
accrue on the Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture,
without giving effect to the provisions of this Agreement.
The term "broker-dealer" shall mean any broker or dealer
registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act.
"Commission" shall mean the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time
administering the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the
relevant statute for the particular purpose.
"Effective Time," in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration,
shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the
Exchange Registration Statement effective or as of which the Exchange
Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a Shelf
Registration, shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission
declares the Shelf Registration Statement effective or as of which the
Shelf Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective.
"Electing Holder" shall mean any holder of Registrable
Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or
3(d)(iii) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
or any successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to
time.
2
"Exchange Offer" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Registration" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 3(c) hereof.
"Exchange Registration Statement" shall have the meaning
assigned thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2(a) hereof.
The term "holder" shall mean each of the Purchasers and other
persons who acquire Registrable Securities from time to time
(including any successors or assigns), in each case for so long as
such person owns any Registrable Securities.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of October 15,
1997, among the Company and First Union National Bank as Trustee, as
the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated
as of October 9, 1997, between the Purchasers and the Company relating
to the Securities.
"Notice and Questionnaire" means a Notice of Registration
Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in
the form of Exhibit A hereto.
The term "person" shall mean a corporation, association,
partnership, trust, organization, business, individual, limited
liability company or other entity, government or political subdivision
thereof or governmental agency.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided,
however, that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when
(i) in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the
Security has been exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange
Offer as contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any
Exchange Security received by a broker-dealer in an Exchange Offer in
exchange for a Registrable Security that was not acquired by the
broker-dealer directly from the Company will also be a Registrable
Security through and including the earlier of the 90th day after the
Exchange Offer is completed and such time as such broker-dealer no
longer owns such Security); (ii) in the circumstances contemplated by
Section 2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement registering such
Security under the Securities Act has been declared or becomes
effective and such Security has been sold or otherwise transferred by
the holder thereof pursuant to and in a manner contemplated by such
effective Shelf Registration Statement; (iii) such Security is sold
pursuant to Rule 144 under circumstances in which any legend borne by
such Security relating to restrictions on transferability thereof,
under the Securities Act or otherwise, is
-2-
3
removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture; (iv) such
Security is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144;
or (v) such Security shall cease to be outstanding.
"Registration Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2(c) hereof.
"Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 4 hereof.
"Registration Statement" shall mean the Exchange Registration
Statement and/or the Shelf Registration Statement.
"Resale Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(a) hereof.
"Restricted Holder" shall mean (i) a holder that is an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder
who acquires Exchange Securities outside the ordinary course of such
holder's business, (iii) a holder who has arrangements or
understandings with any person to participate in the Exchange Offer
for the purpose of distributing Exchange Securities and (iv) a holder
that is a broker-dealer, but only with respect to Exchange Securities
received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer in
exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the broker-dealer
directly from the Company.
"Rule 144," "Rule 405" and "Rule 415" shall mean, in each
case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor
provision), as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Securities" shall mean, collectively, the 7.45% Senior Notes
due 2007 of the Company to be issued and sold to the Purchasers, and
securities issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to
the Indenture.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2(b) hereof.
"Special Interest" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(c) hereof.
"Time of Delivery" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
the Purchase Agreement.
-3-
4
"Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, or any successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms
promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to
time.
Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to
a "Section" or "clause" refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of
this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and the words "herein,"
"hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
Section or other subdivision.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the
Company agrees to file under the Securities Act within 90 days following the
Time of Delivery, a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange
(such registration statement, the "Exchange Registration Statement," and such
offer, the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Securities for a like aggregate
principal amount of debt securities issued by the Company, which debt
securities are substantially identical to the Securities (and are entitled to
the benefits of a trust indenture which is substantially identical to the
Indenture or is the Indenture and which has been qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act), except that they have been registered pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act and do not contain provisions
for the additional interest contemplated in Section 2(c) below (such new debt
securities hereinafter called "Exchange Securities"). The Company agrees to
use all reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Registration Statement to
become effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no later
than 180 days after the Time of Delivery. The Exchange Offer will be
registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate form and will comply
with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act.
The Company further agrees to use all reasonable efforts to commence and
complete the Exchange Offer promptly, but no later than 45 days after such
registration statement has become effective, hold the Exchange Offer open for
at least 30 days and issue Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities
that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to the
expiration of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have
been "completed" only if the debt securities received by holders other than
Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are, upon
receipt, transferable by each such holder without need for further compliance
with Section 5 of the Securities Act (except for the requirement to deliver a
prospectus included in the Exchange Registration Statement applicable to
resales by broker-dealers of Exchange Securities received by such
broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable
Securities other than those acquired by the broker-dealer directly from the
Company), and, subject to the proviso to Section 3(c)(vi) below, without
material restrictions under the blue sky or securities laws of a substantial
majority of the States of the United States of America. The Exchange Offer
shall be deemed to have been completed upon the earlier to occur of (i) the
Company having exchanged the Exchange Securities for all outstanding
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company
having exchanged, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for all
Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn
before the expiration of the Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is
at least 30 days following the commencement
-4-
5
of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees (x) to include in the Exchange
Registration Statement a prospectus for use in connection with any resales of
Exchange Securities by a broker-dealer, other than resales of Exchange
Securities received by a broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer in
exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the broker-dealer directly
from the Company, and (y) to keep such Exchange Registration Statement
effective for a period (the "Resale Period") beginning when Exchange Securities
are first issued in the Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the
expiration of the 180th day after the Exchange Offer has been completed and
such time as such broker-dealers no longer own any Registrable Securities. With
respect to such Exchange Registration Statement, each broker-dealer that holds
Exchange Securities received in an Exchange Offer in exchange for Registerable
Securities not acquired by it directly from the Company shall have the benefit
of the rights of indemnification and contribution set forth in Sections 6(a),
(c), (d) and (e) hereof.
(b) If prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed
existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the Securities
received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for
Registrable Securities are not or would not be, upon receipt, transferable by
each such holder without need for further compliance with Section 5 of the
Securities Act (except for the requirement to deliver a prospectus included in
the Exchange Registration Statement applicable to resales by broker-dealers of
Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange
Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities other than those acquired by the
broker-dealer directly from the Company), in lieu of conducting the Exchange
Offer contemplated by Section 2(a) the Company shall file under the Securities
Act as soon as practicable, but no later than the later of 90 days after the
time such obligation to file arises and 180 days after the Time of Delivery, a
"shelf" registration statement providing for the registration of, and the sale
on a continuous or delayed basis by the holders of, all of the Registrable
Securities, pursuant to Rule 415 or any similar rule that may be adopted by the
Commission (such filing, the "Shelf Registration" and such registration
statement, the "Shelf Registration Statement"). In addition, in the event that
the Purchasers shall not have resold all of the Securities initially purchased
by them from the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement prior to the
consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall file under the Securities
Act as soon as practicable a Shelf Registration Statement. The Company agrees
to use all reasonable efforts (i) to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to
become or be declared effective no later than 90 days after such Shelf
Registration Statement is filed and to keep such Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus forming a part thereof
to be usable by holders for resales of Registrable Securities for a period
ending on the earlier of the second anniversary of the Effective Time and such
time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding, provided,
however, that no holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to use the prospectus
forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities unless such holder
is an Electing Holder, and (ii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf
Registration Statement, promptly upon the request of any holder of Registrable
Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, to enable such holder to use
the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities,
including, without limitation, any action necessary to identify such holder as
a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement, provided,
however, that nothing in this clause (ii) shall relieve any such holder of the
obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the
-5-
6
Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(iii) hereof. The Company further agrees
to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement, as and
when required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or
by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder for shelf
registration, and the Company agrees to furnish to each Electing Holder copies
of any such supplement or amendment prior to its being used or promptly
following its filing with the Commission.
(c) In the event that (i) the Company has not filed the
Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement on or before
the date on which such registration statement is required to be filed pursuant
to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (ii) such Exchange Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement has not become effective or been
declared effective by the Commission on or before the date on which such
registration statement is required to become or be declared effective pursuant
to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been
completed within 45 days after the initial effective date of the Exchange
Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer (if the Exchange Offer is
then required to be made) or (iv) any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf
Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof is filed and
declared or becomes effective but shall thereafter either be withdrawn by the
Company or shall become subject to an effective stop order issued pursuant to
Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending the effectiveness of such
registration statement (except as specifically permitted herein) without being
succeeded immediately by an additional registration statement filed and
declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a
"Registration Default" and each period beginning on the date on which a
Registration Default occurred and continuing until cured, a "Registration
Default Period"), then, as liquidated damages for such Registration Default,
subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), special interest ("Special
Interest"), in addition to the Base Interest, shall accrue at a per annum rate
of 0.25% for the first 90 days of any Registration Default Period and at a per
annum rate of 0.50% thereafter for the remaining portion of such Registration
Default Period.
(d) The Company shall take all reasonable actions
necessary or advisable to be taken by it to ensure that the transactions
contemplated herein are effected as so contemplated.
(e) Any reference herein to a registration statement as
of any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to
be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time and any reference herein
to any post-effective amendment to a registration statement as of any time
shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be
incorporated, therein by reference as of such time.
3. Registration Procedures.
If the Company files a registration statement pursuant to
Section 2(a) or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply:
-6-
7
(a) At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange
Registration or the Shelf Registration, as the case may be, the Company shall
qualify the trust indenture described in Section 2(a) or the Indenture, as the
case may be, under the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) In the event that such qualification would require
the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint
a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
Indenture.
(c) In connection with the Company's obligations with
respect to the registration of the Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section
2(a) (the "Exchange Registration"), if applicable, the Company shall:
(i) prepare and file with the Commission within
the time period specified in Section 2(a), an Exchange Registration
Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and which
shall permit the Exchange Offer and resales of Exchange Securities by
broker-dealers during the Resale Period to be effected as contemplated
by Section 2(a), and use all reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable
thereafter, but in any case within the time period specified in
Section 2(a);
(ii) as soon as practicable prepare and file with
the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Exchange
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be
necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Exchange
Registration Statement for the periods and purposes contemplated in
Section 2(a) hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the
form of such Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly provide
each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such number of
copies of the prospectus included therein (as then amended or
supplemented), in conformity in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as such
broker-dealer reasonably may request prior to the expiration of the
Resale Period, for use in connection with resales of Exchange
Securities;
(iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has
requested or received from the Company copies of the prospectus
included in such registration statement, and confirm such advice in
writing, (A) when such Exchange Registration Statement or the
prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement
or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such
Exchange Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when
the same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission
and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any
state with respect thereto or any request by the Commission for
amendments or supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement or
prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such
Exchange Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of
any proceedings for that
-7-
8
purpose, (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the
Company contemplated by Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all
material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to (1) the suspension of the qualification
of the Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or (2) the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F)
if at any time during the Resale Period when a prospectus is required
to be delivered under the Securities Act, such Exchange Registration
Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or
post-effective amendment does not conform in all material respects to
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing;
(iv) if the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 3(c)(iii)(F) above, to notify any broker-dealers holding
Exchange Securities, without unreasonable delay prepare and furnish to
each such holder a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus
supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers
of such Exchange Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus
shall conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements
of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and shall not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(v) use all reasonable efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the
earliest practicable date;
(vi) use all reasonable efforts to (A) register or
qualify the Exchange Securities under the securities laws or blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a) no
later than the commencement of the Exchange Offer, (B) keep such
registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so
as to permit the continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in
such jurisdictions until the expiration of the Resale Period and (C)
take any and all other actions as may be reasonably necessary or
advisable to enable each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities to
consummate the disposition thereof in such jurisdictions; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required for any such purpose
to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it
would not otherwise be required to qualify but for the requirements of
this Section 3(c)(vi), (2) consent to general service of process in
any such jurisdiction or (3) take any action that would subject the
Company to taxation as doing business in any jurisdiction in which it
is not now so subject.
(vii) use all reasonable efforts to obtain the
consent or approval, other than those required under nonfederal
securities laws or blue sky laws (which are subject to the provisions
of Section 3(c)(vi)), of each governmental agency or authority,
whether federal,
-8-
9
state or local, that may be required to effect the Exchange
Registration, the Exchange Offer and the offering and sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period;
(viii) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange
Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time;
(ix) comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable but in any event not later than
18 months after the effective date of such Exchange Registration
Statement, an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries
complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the
option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).
(d) In connection with the Company's obligations with
respect to the Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company shall:
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon
as practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in
Section 2(b), a Shelf Registration Statement on any form that may be
utilized by the Company and that shall register the offer and resale
of all of the Registrable Securities for resale by the holders thereof
in accordance with such method or methods of disposition as may be
specified by such of the holders as, from time to time, may be
Electing Holders and use all reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective within the time periods
specified in Section 2(b);
(ii) not less than 30 calendar days prior to the
Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, mail the Notice
and Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable Securities; no holder
shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf
Registration Statement as of the Effective Time, and no holder shall
be entitled to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales
of Registrable Securities at any time, unless such holder has returned
a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company by the
deadline for response set forth therein; provided, however, holders of
Registrable Securities shall have at least 28 calendar days from the
date on which the Notice and Questionnaire is first mailed to such
holders to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to
the Company;
(iii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf
Registration Statement, upon the request of any holder of Registrable
Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly send a Notice
and Questionnaire to such holder; provided that the Company shall not
be required to take any action to name such holder as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such
holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities until such holder has returned a completed and
signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iv) as soon as practicable prepare and file with
the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Shelf
Registration Statement and the prospectus
-9-
10
included therein as may be necessary to effect and maintain the
effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement for the period
specified in Section 2(b) hereof and as may be required by the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the
instructions applicable to the form of such Shelf Registration
Statement, and furnish to the Electing Holders copies of any such
supplement or amendment prior to its being used or promptly following
its filing with the Commission;
(v) comply with the provisions of the Securities
Act applicable to the Company with respect to the disposition of all
of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the Electing Holders provided for in such Shelf Registration
Statement;
(vi) provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the
underwriters (which term, for purposes of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, shall include a person deemed to be an
underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities
Act), if any, thereof, (C) any sales or placement agent therefor, (D)
counsel for any such underwriter or agent and (E) not more than one
counsel for all the Electing Holders the opportunity to participate in
the preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, each prospectus
included therein or filed with the Commission and each amendment or
supplement thereto;
(vii) for a reasonable period prior to the filing
of such Shelf Registration Statement, and throughout the period
specified in Section 2(b), make available at reasonable times at the
Company's principal place of business or such other reasonable place
for inspection by the persons referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) who
shall certify to the Company that they have a current intention to
sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
such financial and other information and books and records of the
Company, and cause the officers, employees, counsel and independent
certified public accountants of the Company to respond to such
inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the judgment of the
respective counsel referred to in such Section, to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the
Securities Act; provided, however, that each such party shall be
required to maintain in confidence and not to disclose to any other
person any information or records reasonably designated by the Company
as being confidential, until such time as (A) such information becomes
a matter of public record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such
registration statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall be
required so to disclose such information pursuant to a subpoena or
order of any court or other governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the requirements of such
order, and only after such person shall have given the Company prompt
prior written notice of such requirement), or (C) such information is
required to be set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement or the
prospectus included therein or in an amendment to such Shelf
Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to such
prospectus in order that such Shelf Registration Statement,
prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case may be, complies with
applicable requirements of the federal securities laws and the rules
and regulations of the Commission and does not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact
-10-
11
or omit to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of
the circumstances then existing;
(viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders,
any sales or placement agent therefor and any underwriter thereof
(which notification may be made through any managing underwriter that
is a representative of such underwriter for such purpose), and confirm
such advice in writing, (A) when such Shelf Registration Statement or
the prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with
respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments by
the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or
regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the
Commission for amendments or supplements to such Shelf Registration
Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation
or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time
the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by
Section 3(d)(xvii) or Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all
material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to (1) the suspension of the qualification
of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or (2) the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F)
if at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act, such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus,
prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment does
not conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of
the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder or contains an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(ix) use all reasonable efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such
registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto at the
earliest practicable date;
(x) if requested by any managing underwriter or
underwriters, any placement or sales agent or any Electing Holder,
promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment such information as is required by the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and as such managing underwriter or
underwriters, such agent or such Electing Holder specifies should be
included therein relating to the terms of the sale of such Registrable
Securities, including information with respect to the principal amount
of Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder or agent
or to any underwriters, the name and description of such Electing
Holder, agent or underwriter, the offering price of such Registrable
Securities and any discount, commission or other compensation payable
in respect thereof, the purchase price being paid therefor by such
underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the offering of
the Registrable Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent
or to such underwriters; and make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after
-11-
12
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment;
(xi) furnish to each Electing Holder, each
placement or sales agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any,
thereof and the respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) an
executed copy (or, in the case of an Electing Holder, a conformed
copy) of such Shelf Registration Statement, each such amendment and
supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto (in
the case of an Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon
request) and documents incorporated by reference therein) and such
number of copies of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding
exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein
unless specifically so requested by such Electing Holder, agent or
underwriter, as the case may be) and of the prospectus included in
such Shelf Registration Statement (including each preliminary
prospectus and any summary prospectus), in conformity in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and
the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and such other documents, as such Electing
Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, may reasonably request
in order to facilitate the offering and disposition of the Registrable
Securities owned by such Electing Holder, offered or sold by such
agent or underwritten by such underwriter and to permit such Electing
Holder, agent and underwriter to satisfy the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act; and the Company hereby consents
(subject to notification pursuant to Sections 3(d)(viii)(C), (E) or
(F)) to the use of such prospectus (including such preliminary and
summary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto by each
such Electing Holder and by any such agent and underwriter, in each
case in the form most recently provided to such person by the Company,
in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by the prospectus (including such preliminary and summary
prospectus) or any supplement or amendment thereto;
(xii) use all reasonable efforts to (A) register or
qualify the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf
Registration Statement under such securities laws or blue sky laws of
such jurisdictions as any Electing Holder and each placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor and underwriter, if any, thereof shall
reasonably request, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in
effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the
period the Shelf Registration is required to remain effective under
Section 2(b) above and for so long as may be necessary to enable any
such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter to complete its
distribution of Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement and (C) take any and all other actions as may be reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable each such Electing Holder, agent, if
any, and underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition in such
jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify
as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for the requirements of this
Section 3(d)(xii), (2) consent to general service of process in any
such jurisdiction or (3) take any action that would subject the
Company to taxation as doing business in any jurisdiction in which it
is not now so subject;
-12-
13
(xiii) use all reasonable efforts to obtain the
consent or approval, other than those required under nonfederal
securities laws or blue sky laws (which are subject to the provisions
of Section 3(c)(vi)), of each governmental agency or authority,
whether federal, state or local, that may be required to effect the
Shelf Registration or the offering or sale in connection therewith or
to enable the selling holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the
disposition of, their Registrable Securities;
(xiv) cooperate with the Electing Holders and the
managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be
sold, which certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved,
or produced by any combination of such methods, and which shall not
bear any restrictive legends; and, in the case of an underwritten
offering, enable such Registrable Securities, subject to the terms of
the Indenture, to be in such denominations and registered in such
names as the managing underwriters may request at least two business
days prior to any sale of the Registrable Securities;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable
Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time;
(xvi) enter into one or more underwriting
agreements, engagement letters, agency agreements, "best efforts"
underwriting agreements or similar agreements, as appropriate,
including customary provisions relating to indemnification and
contribution, and take such other actions in connection therewith as
any Electing Holder shall reasonably request in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(xvii) whether or not an agreement of the type
referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof is entered into and whether or
not any portion of the offering contemplated by the Shelf Registration
is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales
agent or any other entity, (A) make such representations and
warranties to the Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent,
if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof in form,
substance and scope as are customarily made in connection with an
offering of debt securities pursuant to any appropriate agreement or
to a registration statement filed on the form applicable to the Shelf
Registration; (B) obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company in
customary form and covering such matters, of the type customarily
covered by such an opinion, as the managing underwriters, if any, or
as any Electing Holders may reasonably request, addressed to such
Electing Holder or Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent,
if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof and dated the
effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (and if such Shelf
Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten offering of a part
or all of the Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing
under the underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being agreed
that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include the due
incorporation and good standing of the Company; the due authorization,
execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred
to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof; the due authorization, execution,
authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of
the Securities; the absence of material legal
-13-
14
or governmental proceedings involving the Company; the absence of
governmental approvals required to be obtained in connection with the
Shelf Registration, the offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities, this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement or any
agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof, except
such approvals as may be required under state securities or blue sky
laws; the material compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration
Statement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and of
the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and of
the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent post-effective
amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then
amended or supplemented, and from the documents incorporated by
reference therein (in each case other than the financial statements
and other financial or reserve information contained therein) of an
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
(in the case of such documents, in the light of the circumstances
existing at the time that such documents were filed with the
Commission under the Exchange Act)); (C) obtain a "cold comfort"
letter or letters from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company addressed to the selling Electing Holders, the placement
or sales agent, if any, therefor or the underwriters, if any, thereof,
dated (1) the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement and
(2) the effective date of any prospectus supplement to the prospectus
included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes
unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period
subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in such
prospectus (and, if such Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an
underwritten offering pursuant to any prospectus supplement to the
prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement or
post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which
includes unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for
a period subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in
such prospectus, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting
agreement relating thereto), such letter or letters to be in customary
form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by
letters of such type; (D) deliver such documents and certificates,
including officers' certificates, as may be reasonably requested by
any Electing Holder or the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor
and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof to evidence the
accuracy of the representations and warranties made pursuant to clause
(A) above or those contained in Section 5(a) hereof and the compliance
with or satisfaction of any agreements or conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company;
and (E) undertake such obligations relating to expense reimbursement,
indemnification and contribution as are provided in Section 6 hereof;
(xviii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable
Securities of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any
provision of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement pursuant
to Section 9(h) hereof and of any amendment or waiver effected
pursuant thereto, each of which notices shall contain the text of the
amendment or waiver proposed or effected, as the case may be;
-14-
15
(xix) in the event that any broker-dealer
registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Registrable
Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or
selling group or "assist in the distribution" (within the meaning of
the Rules of Fair Practice and the By-Laws of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or any successor thereto, as
amended from time to time) thereof, whether as a holder of such
Registrable Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales
agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist
such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules
and By-Laws, including by (A) if such Rules or By-Laws shall so
require, engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in
such Schedule (or any successor thereto)) to participate in the
preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement relating to such
Registrable Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence
in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by
such Shelf Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is
made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of
such Registrable Securities, (B) indemnifying any such qualified
independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of
underwriters provided in Section 6 hereof (or to such other customary
extent as may be requested by such underwriter), and (C) providing
such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for
such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Rules of
Fair Practice of the NASD; and
(xx) comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable but in any event not later than
18 months after the effective date of such Shelf Registration
Statement, an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries
complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the
option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).
(e) In the event that the Company would be required,
pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) above, to notify the Electing Holders, the
placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if
any, thereof, as soon as practicable the Company shall prepare and furnish to
each of the Electing Holders, to each placement or sales agent, if any, and to
each such underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus
supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of
Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall conform in all material respects
to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and shall not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing. Each Electing Holder
agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company pursuant to Section
3(d)(viii)(F) hereof, such Electing Holder shall forthwith discontinue the
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement applicable to such Registrable Securities until such Electing Holder
shall have received copies of such amended or supplemented prospectus, and if
so directed by the Company, such Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company
(at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then
in such Electing Holder's possession of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.
-15-
16
(f) In the event of a Shelf Registration, in
addition to the information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in
its Notice Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to
furnish to the Company such additional information regarding such Electing
Holder and such Electing Holder's intended method of distribution of
Registrable Securities as may be required in order to comply with the
Securities Act. Each such Electing Holder agrees to notify the Company as
promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously
furnished by such Electing Holder to the Company or of the occurrence of any
event in either case as a result of which any prospectus relating to such Shelf
Registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a material fact
regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder's intended method of
disposition of such Registrable Securities or omits to state any material fact
regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder's intended method of
disposition of such Registrable Securities required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing, and promptly to furnish to the Company any
additional information required to correct and update any previously furnished
information or required so that such prospectus shall not contain, with respect
to such Electing Holder or the disposition of such Registrable Securities, an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
in light of the circumstances then existing.
(g) Until the expiration of one year after the Time of
Delivery, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its "affiliates" (as
defined in Rule 144) to, resell any of the Securities that have been reacquired
by any of them except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act.
4. Registration Expenses.
The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid
promptly all expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance
with this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including (a) all
Commission and any NASD registration, filing and review fees and expenses
including fees and disbursements of counsel for the placement or sales agent or
underwriters in connection with such registration, filing and review, (b) all
fees and expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for
offering and sale under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in
Section 3(d)(xii) hereof and determination of their eligibility for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as any managing underwriters or the
Electing Holders may designate, including any fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Electing Holders or underwriters in connection with such qualification
and determination, (c) all expenses relating to the preparation, printing,
production, distribution and reproduction of each registration statement
required to be filed hereunder, each prospectus included therein or prepared
for distribution pursuant hereto, each amendment or supplement to the
foregoing, the expenses of preparing the Securities for delivery and the
expenses of printing or producing any underwriting agreements, agreements among
underwriters, selling agreements and blue sky or legal investment memoranda and
all other documents in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of
Securities to be disposed of (including certificates representing the
Securities), (d) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses relating to the
offering, sale or delivery of Securities and the preparation of documents
referred in clause (c)
-16-
17
above, (e) fees and expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, any agent of
the Trustee and any counsel for the Trustee and of any collateral agent or
custodian, (f) internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of the
Company's officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (g)
fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel and independent certified public
accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any opinions or "cold
comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance),
(h) fees, disbursements and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter"
engaged pursuant to Section 3(d)(xix) hereof, (i) fees, disbursements and
expenses of one counsel for the Electing Holders retained in connection with a
Shelf Registration, as selected by the Electing Holders of at least a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by Electing
Holders (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (j)
any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities, and
(k) fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons, including special
experts, retained by the Company in connection with such registration
(collectively, the "Registration Expenses"). To the extent that any
Registration Expenses are reasonably incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of
Registrable Securities or any placement or sales agent therefor or underwriter
thereof, the Company shall reimburse such person for the full amount of the
Registration Expenses so incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a
request therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable
Securities being registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and
underwriting discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of such
Registrable Securities and the fees and disbursements of any counsel or other
advisors or experts retained by such holders (severally or jointly), other than
the counsel and experts specifically referred to above.
5. Representations and Warranties.
The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
Purchaser and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities
that:
(a) Each registration statement covering Registrable
Securities and each prospectus (including any preliminary or summary
prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section
3(c) hereof and any further amendments or supplements to any such registration
statement or prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the
Commission, as the case may be, and, in the case of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Securities, at the time of the closing under the underwriting
agreement relating thereto, will conform in all material respects to the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; and at all times subsequent to the Effective Time when a prospectus
would be required to be delivered under the Securities Act, other than from (i)
such time as a notice has been given to holders of Registrable Securities
pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) or Section 3(c)(iii)(F) hereof until (ii)
such time as the Company furnishes an amended or supplemented prospectus
pursuant to Section 3(e) or Section 3(c)(iv) hereof, each such registration
statement, and each prospectus (including any summary prospectus) contained
therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) hereof, as then
amended or supplemented, will conform in
-17-
18
all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and
the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall
not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of
Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(b) Any documents incorporated by reference in any
prospectus referred to in Section 5(a) hereof, when they become or became
effective or are or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will
conform or conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents
will contain or contained an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(c) The compliance by the Company with all of the
provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or
result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other
agreement or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
is a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is bound or
to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation, as amended, or the by-laws of
the Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties; and no consent, approval,
authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court
or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated by this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, except the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities,
qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and such consents,
approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required
under state securities or blue sky laws in connection with the offering and
distribution of the Securities.
(d) This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall
indemnify and hold harmless each of the holders of Registrable Securities
included in an Exchange Registration Statement, each of the Electing Holders of
Registrable Securities included in a Shelf Registration Statement and each
person who participates as a placement or sales agent or as an underwriter in
any
-18-
19
offering or sale of such Registrable Securities against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such holder, agent or
underwriter may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, under which the offer and sale of
such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act, or any
preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the
Company to any such holder, Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the
Company shall, and it hereby agrees to, reimburse such holder, such Electing
Holder, such agent and such underwriter for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be liable to any such person in any such case to the extent
that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon
an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in such registration statement, or preliminary, final or summary
prospectus, or amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such person
expressly for use therein;
(b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and
Underwriters. The Company may require, as a condition to including any
Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed pursuant to Section
2(b) hereof and to entering into any underwriting agreement with respect
thereto, that the Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably
satisfactory to it from the Electing Holder of such Registrable Securities and
from each underwriter named in any such underwriting agreement, severally and
not jointly, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and all other
holders of Registrable Securities, against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which the Company or such other holders of Registrable
Securities may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in such registration statement, or any
preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the
Company to any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Electing
Holder or underwriter expressly for use therein, and (ii) reimburse the Company
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Electing Holder shall be
required to undertake liability to any person under this Section 6(b) for any
amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds to be received by such
Electing Holder from the sale of such Electing Holder's Registrable Securities
pursuant to such registration.
-19-
20
(c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party pursuant to the
indemnification provisions of or contemplated by this Section 6, promptly
notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action;
but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from
any liability that it may have to any indemnified party other than under the
indemnification provisions of or contemplated by Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof.
In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it
shall notify an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, such
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent
that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory
to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to
assume the defense thereof, such indemnifying party shall not be liable to such
indemnified party for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other
expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the
indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or
claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party
to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i)
includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of
any indemnified party.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification
provisions contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) are unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to
therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof),
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of
such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates
to information supplied by such indemnifying party or by such indemnified
party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties
hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant
to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the
holders or any agents or underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity
for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6(d). The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to
above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or
defending any such action
-20-
21
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no holder shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
dollar amount of the proceeds received by such holder from the sale of any
Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions
applicable thereto) exceeds the amount of any damages which such holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission, and no underwriter shall be required
to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at
which the Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the
public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The holders' and any underwriters'
obligations in this Section 6(d) to contribute shall be several in proportion
to the principal amount of Registrable Securities registered or underwritten,
as the case may be, by them and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 6
shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have and
shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director and
partner of each holder, agent and underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls any holder, agent or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities
Act; and the obligations of the holders and any agents or underwriters
contemplated by this Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability that the
respective holder, agent or underwriter may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company
(including any person who, with his consent, is named in any registration
statement as about to become a director of the Company) and to each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act.
7. Underwritten Offerings.
(a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to an
underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof shall
be designated by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in such offering,
provided that such designated managing underwriter or underwriters is or are
reasonably acceptable to the Company.
(b) Participation by Holders. Each holder of Registrable
Securities hereby agrees with each other such holder that no such holder may
participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless such holder (i)
agrees to sell such holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in
any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to
approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires,
powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents
reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
-21-
22
8. Rule 144.
The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities
that to the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the
Company shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act (including the reports under Section 13 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144
adopted by the Commission under the Securities Act) and the rules and
regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, and shall take such further
action as any holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to
the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations
of the exemption provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar or successor rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder
of Registrable Securities in connection with that holder's sale pursuant to
Rule 144, the Company shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents,
warrants, covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant,
registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities or any other
securities that would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement.
(b) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge
that there would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform
any of its obligations hereunder and that the Purchasers and the holders from
time to time of the Registrable Securities may be irreparably harmed by any
such failure, and accordingly agree that the Purchasers and such holders, in
addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity,
shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the respective obligations
of the Company under this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement, in any court of the United States or any State thereof having
jurisdiction. Other than Special Interest provided for herein, the Purchaser
shall have no other recourse for money damages for a Registration Default.
(c) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands,
waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally
or by courier, or three days after being deposited in the mail (registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If to
the Company, to it at 000 Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000, Attention: Secretary, with a copy to Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P., 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000, Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, and if to a holder, to the address of such holder set forth in
the security register or other records of the Company, or to such other address
as the Company or any such holder may have furnished to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.
-22-
23
(d) Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of
this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, shall
inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and the
holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities and the respective
successors and assigns of the parties hereto and such holders. In the event
that any transferee of any holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire
Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase,
operation of law or otherwise, such transferee shall, without any further
writing or action of any kind, be deemed a beneficiary hereof for all purposes
and such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of
this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and by taking and holding such
Registrable Securities such transferee shall be entitled to receive the
benefits of, and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by, all of
the applicable terms and provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement. If the Company shall so request, any such successor, assign or
transferee shall agree in writing to acquire and hold the Registrable
Securities subject to all of the applicable terms hereof.
(e) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements,
representations, warranties and each other provision set forth in this Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation (or statement as to the
results thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of Registrable Securities,
any director, officer or partner of such holder, any agent or underwriter or
any director, officer or partner thereof, or any controlling person of any of
the foregoing, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the transfer and registration
of Registrable Securities by such holder and the consummation of the Exchange
Offer.
(f) LAW GOVERNING. THIS EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
(g) Headings. The descriptive headings of the several
Sections and paragraphs of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are
inserted for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
(h) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement and the other writings referred to herein
(including the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities) or
delivered pursuant hereto, which form a part hereof, contain the entire
understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be
amended and the observance of any term of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and
either retroactively or prospectively) only by a written instrument duly
executed by the Company and the holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding. Each
holder of any Registrable Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding
shall be bound by any amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section
9(h),
-23-
24
whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or
waiver appears on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.
(i) Inspection. For so long as this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement shall be in effect, this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement and a complete list of the names and addresses of
all the holders of Registrable Securities shall be made available for
inspection and copying on any business day by any holder of Registrable
Securities for proper purposes only (which shall include any purpose related to
the rights of the holders of Registrable Securities under the Securities, the
Indenture and this Agreement) at the offices of the Company at the address
thereof set forth in Section 9(c) above and at the office of the Trustee under
the Indenture.
(j) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed by the
parties in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.
-24-
25
Agreed to and accepted as of the date referred to above.
NEWFIELD EXPLORATION COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Vice President -
Finance and International
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
Securities Corporation
XXXXXXXXX & COMPANY, INC.
As Representatives of the
several Purchasers
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
------------------------
(Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.)
On behalf of each of
the Purchasers
-25-
26
Exhibit A
NEWFIELD EXPLORATION COMPANY
INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS
(Date of Mailing)
URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE]*
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") has identified you as a
DTC Participant through which beneficial interests in the Newfield Exploration
Company (the "Company") 7.45% Senior Notes due 2007 (the "Securities") are
held.
The Company is in the process of registering the Securities
under the Securities Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof.
In order to have their Securities included in the registration statement,
beneficial owners must complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration
Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire.
It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities
receive a copy of the enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to
have the Securities included in the registration statement depend upon their
returning the Notice and Questionnaire by [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Please
forward a copy of the enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds
interests in the Securities through you. If you require more copies of the
enclosed materials or have any questions pertaining to this matter, please
contact Newfield Exploration Company, 000 Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx
0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, Attention: Secretary, (000) 000-0000.
__________________________________
* Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing.
A-1
27
Newfield Exploration Company
Notice of Registration Statement
and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
(Date)
Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement (the "Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement") between
Newfield Exploration Company (the "Company") and the Purchasers named therein.
Pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form ___ (the "Shelf Registration
Statement") for the registration of the offer and resale under Rule 415 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the Company's
7.45% Senior Notes due 2007 (the "Securities"). A copy of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto. All capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined
below) is entitled to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it
included in the Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable
Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of
Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire ("Notice and
Questionnaire") must be completed, executed and delivered to the Company's
counsel at the address set forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR
RESPONSE]. Beneficial owners of Registrable Securities who do not complete,
execute and return this Notice and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be
named as selling securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii)
may not use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable
Securities.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are
advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences
of being named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf
Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
The term "Registrable Securities" is defined in the Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement.
A-2
28
ELECTION
The undersigned holder (the "Selling Securityholder") of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration
Statement the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below
in Item (3). The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and
Questionnaire, agrees to be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities
by the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of
the Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder
were an original party thereto.
Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver
to the Company and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to
the Prospectus and as Exhibit B to the Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement.
The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following
information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is
accurate and complete:
A-3
29
QUESTIONNAIRE
(1) (a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
---------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in
(a) above) of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below:
---------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not
the same as (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities
Listed in Item (3) below are Held:
---------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone:
-------------------------
Fax:
-------------------------
Contact Person:
-------------------------
(3) Beneficial Ownership of Securities:
Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not
beneficially own any Securities.
(a) Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:
---------------------------------------------------------------
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:
-------------------
(b) Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable
Securities beneficially owned:
---------------------------------
CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:
-------------------------
(c) Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the
undersigned wishes to be included in the Shelf Registration
Statement:
-----------------------------------------------------
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in
the Shelf Registration Statement:
------------------------------
A-4
30
(4) Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any other
securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed above in Item (3).
State any exceptions here:
(5) Relationships with the Company:
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:
A-5
31
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it
understands its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the
provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
particularly Regulation M.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any
portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date
on which such information is provided to the Company, the Selling
Securityholder agrees to notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer
of its rights and obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the
disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1)
through (6) above and the inclusion of such information in the Shelf
Registration Statement and related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder
understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in
connection with the preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement and related
Prospectus.
In accordance with the Selling Securityholder's obligation under
Section 3(d) of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to provide such
information as may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of
any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur
subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration
Statement remains in effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by
hand-delivery, first-class mail, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery
as follows:
(i) To the Company:
Newfield Exploration Company
000 Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
(000) 000-0000
(ii) With a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
(000) 000-0000
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.
A-6
32
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:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
(000) 000-0000
A-7
33
Exhibit B
NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
First Union National Bank
Newfield Exploration Company
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Trust Officer
Re: Newfield Exploration Company (the "Company")
7.45% Senior Notes due 2007
Dear Sirs:
Please be advised that _____________________ has transferred
$___________ aggregate principal amount of the above-referenced Notes pursuant
to an effective Registration Statement on Form __ (File No. 333-____) filed by
the Company.
We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements,
if any, of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that
the above-named beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a "Selling Holder" in
the Prospectus dated ___________, 199_ or in supplements thereto, and that the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in
such Prospectus opposite such owner's name.
Dated:
Very truly yours,
----------------------------------------
(Name)
By:
-------------------------------------
(Authorized Signature)
B-1