EXHIBIT 4(b)
AVISTA CORPORATION
9.75% SENIOR NOTES DUE JUNE 1, 2008
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EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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April 3, 2001
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Avista Corporation, a Washington corporation (the "Company"), proposes
to issue and sell to the Purchasers (as defined herein) upon the terms set forth
in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) its 9.75% Senior Notes due June 1,
2008. As an inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement
and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Purchasers
thereunder, the Company 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.
"Closing Date" shall mean the date on which the Securities are
initially issued.
"Commission" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for
the particular purpose.
"Effective Time," in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Exchange Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a Shelf Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Shelf
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Shelf Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective.
"Electing Holder" shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities that
has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company
in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or 3(d)(iii) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Exchange Offer" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 3(c) hereof.
"Exchange Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(a) hereof.
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 April 3, 2001,
between the Company and Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust Company, National
Association, as Trustee, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"Liquidated Damages" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(c) hereof.
"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,
organization, business, individual, government or political subdivision
thereof or governmental agency.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
March 29, 2001, between the Purchasers and the Company relating to the
Securities.
"Purchasers" shall mean the Purchasers named in Schedule I to the
Purchase Agreement.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) in the
circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has been
exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as contemplated in
Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security that, pursuant to
the next to last sentence of Section 2(a), is included in a prospectus for
use in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be deemed to be a
Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9 until resale of
such Registrable Security has been effected within the 180-day period
referred to in Section 2(a)(4)); (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
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restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture; (iv)
such Security is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph (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.
"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 9.75% Senior Notes due June
1, 2008 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.
"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, as soon as practicable, but no later than 90
days after the Closing Date, a registration statement relating to an offer
to exchange (such registration statement, the "Exchange Registration
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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 liquidated damages
contemplated in Section 2(c) below (such new debt securities hereinafter
called "Exchange Securities"). The Company agrees to use all commercially
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 Closing Date. The Exchange Offer will be registered
under the Securities Act on the appropriate form and will comply with all
applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The
Company further agrees to use its best 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 exchange 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 in the Exchange Offer
by holders other than Restricted Holders are, upon receipt, transferable by
each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act and without material restrictions under the blue sky or
securities laws of a substantial majority of the states of the United
States of America. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been
completed upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Company having exchanged the
Exchange Securities for all outstanding Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company having exchanged, pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for 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 of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees (x) to include
in the Exchange Registration Statement a prospectus for use in any resales
by any holder of Exchange Securities that is a broker-dealer and (y) to
keep such Exchange Registration Statement effective for a period (the
"Resale Period") beginning when Exchange Securities are first issued in the
Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the expiration of the 180th
day after the Exchange Offer has been completed or such time as such
broker-dealers no longer own any Registrable Securities. With respect to
such Exchange Registration Statement, such holders shall have the benefit
of the rights of indemnification and contribution set forth in Sections
6(a), (c), (d) and (e) hereof.
(b) If (i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed,
existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the debt
securities received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the
Exchange Offer are not or would not be, upon receipt, transferable by each
such holder without restriction under the Securities Act, (ii) the Exchange
Offer has not been completed within 225 days following the Closing Date or
(iii) the Exchange Offer is not available to any holder of the Securities,
the Company shall, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause (iii), in addition
to) conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 2(a), file under
the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days after
the time such obligation to file arises, a "shelf" registration statement
providing for the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or delayed
basis by the holders of, all of the Registrable Securities, pursuant to
Rule 415 or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission (such
filing, the "Shelf Registration" and such registration statement, the
"Shelf Registration Statement"). The Company agrees to use all commercially
reasonable efforts (x) to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become
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or be declared effective no later than 120 days after such Shelf
Registration Statement is filed and to keep such Shelf Registration
Statement continuously effective for a period ending on the earlier of the
second anniversary of the Effective Time or such time as there are no
longer any Registrable Securities outstanding, provided, however, that no
holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the
Shelf Registration Statement or to use the prospectus forming a part
thereof for resales of Registrable Securities unless such holder is an
Electing Holder, and (y) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, promptly upon the request of any holder of Registrable
Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, to take any action
reasonably necessary to enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a
part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities, including, without
limitation, any action necessary to identify such holder as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement, provided, however, that
nothing in this Clause (y) shall relieve any such holder of the obligation
to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in
accordance with Section 3(d)(iii) hereof. The Company further agrees to
supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement, as and
when required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement
or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder for shelf
registration, and the Company agrees to furnish to each Electing Holder
copies of any such supplement or amendment prior to its being used or
promptly following its filing with the Commission. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good
faith that it is in the best interests of the Company not to disclose the
existence of or facts surrounding any proposed or pending material
corporate transaction involving the Company, the Company may allow the
Shelf Registration Statement to fail to be effective and usable as a result
of such nondisclosure for up to 60 days during the two year period of
effectiveness required by Section 2 hereof, but in no event for any period
in excess of 30 consecutive days.
(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 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 during which a Registration Default has occurred and is continuing,
a "Registration Default Period"), then, as liquidated damages for such
Registration Default, subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), liquidated
damages ("Liquidated Damages"), in addition to the Base Interest, shall
accrue at a per annum rate of 0.25% for the first 90 days of the
Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.50% for the second 90
days of the Registration Default Period, at a per annum rate of 0.75% for
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the third 90 days of the Registration Default Period and at a per annum
rate of 1.0% thereafter for the remaining portion of the Registration
Default Period.
(d) The Company shall take all 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:
(a) At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, the
Company shall qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(b) In the event that such qualification would require the appointment
of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new
trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(c) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 2(a) (the
"Exchange Registration"), if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable
but no later than 90 days after the Closing Date, an Exchange
Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by the
Company and which shall permit the Exchange Offer and resales of
Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period to be
effected as contemplated by Section 2(a), and use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Registration Statement to
become effective as soon as practicable thereafter, but no later than
180 days after the Closing Date;
(ii) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and supplements to such Exchange Registration
Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to
effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration
Statement for the periods and purposes contemplated in Section 2(a)
hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations
of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such
Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly provide each
broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such number of copies
of the prospectus included therein (as then amended or supplemented),
in conformity in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, as such broker-dealer
reasonably may request in writing to the Company prior to the
expiration of the Resale Period, for use in connection with resales of
Exchange Securities;
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(iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has requested or
received 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 purpose,
(D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company
contemplated by Section 5 or contained in any underwriting agreement
or similar agreement relating to the offering cease to be true and
correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
of the Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F)
at any time during the Resale Period when a prospectus is required to
be delivered under the Securities Act, that such Exchange Registration
Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or
post-effective amendment does not conform in all material respects to
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing;
(iv) in the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 3(c)(iii)(F) above, to notify any broker-dealers holding
Exchange Securities, the Company shall without delay prepare and
furnish to each such holder a reasonable number of copies of a
prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to
purchasers of such Exchange Securities during the Resale Period, such
prospectus shall conform in all material respects to the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission 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 commercially 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 commercially 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,
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however, that the Company shall not be responsible for any filing
obligations that such broker-dealer may incur as such under the laws
of such jurisdiction; and provided further, 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) make any changes to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or
any agreement between it and its stockholders;
(vii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent
or approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal,
state or local, which may be required in order for the Company 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 no 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, as soon as
practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable
but in any case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b), a
Shelf Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by the
Company and which shall register all of the Registrable Securities for
resale by the holders thereof in accordance with such method or
methods of disposition as may be specified by such of the holders as,
from time to time, may be Electing Holders and use its best efforts to
cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as soon as
practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in
Section 2(b);
(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
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required to take any action to name such holder as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such
holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities until such holder has returned a completed and
signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iv) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement
and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and
maintain the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement for
the period specified in Section 2(b) hereof and as may be required by
the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the
instructions applicable to the form of such Shelf Registration
Statement, and furnish to the Electing Holders copies of any such
supplement or amendment simultaneously with or prior to its being used
or filed with the Commission;
(v) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all of the
Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Electing
Holders provided for in such Shelf Registration Statement;
(vi) provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the underwriters
(which term, for purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, shall include a person deemed to be an underwriter within
the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), if any,
thereof, (C) any sales or placement agent therefor, (D) not more than
one counsel for all such underwriters or agents 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
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in such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included
therein or in an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an
amendment or supplement to such prospectus in order that such Shelf
Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the
case may be, complies with applicable requirements of the federal
securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Commission and
does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of
the circumstances then existing;
(viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders, any sales or
placement agent therefor and any underwriter thereof (which
notification may be made through any managing underwriter that is a
representative of such underwriter for such purpose) and confirm such
advice in writing, (A) when such Shelf Registration Statement or the
prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement
or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when such Shelf
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment 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 or contained in any
underwriting agreement or similar agreement relating to the offering
cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the
receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale
in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding
for such purpose, or (F) if at any time when a prospectus is required
to be delivered under the Securities Act, that such Shelf Registration
Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or
post-effective amendment does not conform in all material respects to
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances then existing;
(ix) use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;
(x) if requested by any managing underwriter or underwriters, any
placement or sales agent or any Electing Holder, promptly incorporate
in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as is required by the applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission and as such managing underwriter or underwriters, such
agent or such Electing Holder specifies should be included therein
relating to the terms of the sale of such Registrable Securities,
including information with respect to the principal amount of
Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder or agent or
to any underwriters, the name and description of such Electing Holder,
agent or underwriter, the offering price of such Registrable
Securities and any discount, commission or other compensation payable
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in respect thereof, the purchase price being paid therefor by such
underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the offering of
the Registrable Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent
or to such underwriters; and make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment;
(xi) furnish to each Electing Holder, each placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any, thereof and the
respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) an executed copy
(or, in the case of an Electing Holder, a conformed copy) of such
Shelf Registration Statement, each such amendment and supplement
thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto (in the case of
an Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and
documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number of copies
of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto and
documents incorporated by reference therein unless specifically so
requested by such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, as the case
may be) and of the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration
Statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary
prospectus), in conformity in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and
such other documents, as such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and
underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
offering and disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Electing Holder, offered or sold by such agent or underwritten by such
underwriter and to permit such Electing Holder, agent and underwriter
to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
and the Company hereby consents to the use of such prospectus
(including such preliminary and summary prospectus) and any amendment
or supplement thereto by each such Electing Holder and by any such
agent and underwriter, in each case in the form most recently provided
to such person by the Company, in connection with the offering and
sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus
(including such preliminary and summary prospectus) or any supplement
or amendment thereto;
(xii) use commercially 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 and, (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
11
such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or any agreement between it and its
stockholders;
(xiii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent
or approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal,
state or local, which may be required to effect the Shelf Registration
or the offering or sale in connection therewith or to enable the
selling holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the disposition
of, their Registrable Securities;
(xiv) Unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry
only form, cooperate with the Electing Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be
sold, which certificates, if so required by any securities exchange
upon which any Registrable Securities are listed, shall be penned,
lithographed or engraved, or produced by any combination of such
methods, on steel engraved borders, and which certificates shall not
bear any restrictive legends; and, in the case of an underwritten
offering, enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the managing
underwriters may request at least two business days prior to any sale
of the Registrable Securities;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, 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 Holders aggregating at
least 20% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities
at the time outstanding shall request in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(xvii) whether or not an agreement of the type referred to in
Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof is entered into and whether or not any
portion of the offering contemplated by the Shelf Registration is an
underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent or
any other entity, (A) make such representations and warranties to the
Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor
and the underwriters, if any, thereof in form, substance and scope as
are customarily made 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 or opinions of counsel to the Company in customary form and
covering such matters, of the type customarily covered by such an
opinion, as the managing underwriters, if any, or as any Electing
Holders of at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Securities at the time outstanding may reasonably request,
addressed to such Electing Holder or Electing Holders and the
placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the underwriters, if
any, thereof and dated the effective date of such Shelf Registration
Statement (and if such Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an
underwritten offering of a part or all of the Registrable Securities,
dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement
relating thereto) (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by
such opinion shall include the due incorporation and good standing of
12
the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and
its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the
type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof; the due authorization,
execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and
enforceability, of the Securities; the absence of material legal or
governmental proceedings involving the Company; the absence of a
breach by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of, or a default
under, material agreements binding upon the Company or any subsidiary
of the Company; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration, the offering and
sale of the Registrable Securities, this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement or any agreement of the type referred to in Section
3(d)(xvi) hereof, except such approvals as may be required under 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 information contained
therein) of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to
state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading (in the case of such documents, in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed with
the Commission under the Exchange Act)); (C) obtain a "cold comfort"
letter or letters from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company addressed to the selling Electing Holders, the placement
or sales agent, if any, therefor or the underwriters, if any, thereof,
dated (i) the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement and
(ii) the effective date of any prospectus supplement to the prospectus
included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes
unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period
subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in such
prospectus (and, if such Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an
underwritten offering pursuant to any prospectus supplement to the
prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement or
post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which
includes unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for
a period subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in
such prospectus, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting
agreement relating thereto), such letter or letters to be in customary
form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by
letters of such type; (D) deliver such documents and certificates,
including officers' certificates, as may be reasonably requested by
any Electing Holders of at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding or the placement or
sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any,
thereof to evidence the accuracy of the representations and warranties
made pursuant to clause (A) above or those contained in Section 5(a)
hereof and the 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;
13
(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; and
(xix) comply in all material respects 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, the Company shall without delay 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.
(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
14
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 two years after the Closing Date, 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) 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 one
counsel for the Electing Holders retained in connection with a Shelf
Registration, as selected by the Electing Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by Electing Holders (which
counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (i) any fees charged
by securities rating services for rating the Securities, and (j) 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
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.
15
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
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 all material respects to the 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 then existing; 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 by the
Company of the transactions herein contemplated will not result in a breach
or violation 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 is a party or by which any of
the property or assets of the Company is subject, nor will such action
result in any violation of the provisions of any statute or the Restated
Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Bylaws, as amended, of the
Company or any order, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
16
properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any 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 for
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 will 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 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 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 will 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 losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions 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; and provided, further, that the Company shall
not be liable to any such person with respect to any preliminary prospectus
to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such person
results from the fact that such person participated in a sale of
Registrable Securities to a person as to whom it shall be established that
there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of
such sale, a copy of the final prospectus as then amended or supplemented
if the Company has previously furnished copies thereof in sufficient
quantity to such person and sufficiently in advance of the time of delivery
of such Registrable Securities to allow for distribution by such time of
delivery and the loss, claim, damage or liability of person results from an
untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in or omitted
from the preliminary prospectus which was identified in writing at such
time to person and corrected in the final prospectus as then amended or
supplemented and each correction would have cured the defect giving rise to
such loss, claim, damage or liability.
17
(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 losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions 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.
(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, 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 which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise 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
18
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 losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions. 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 which 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 which the respective holder, agent or underwriter may otherwise
19
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 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.
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 which 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 obligations
20
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.
(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 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
00000, 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.
(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 an Exchange Offer.
(f) GOVERNING LAW. THIS EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS 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
Indenture and the form of Securities) or delivered pursuant hereto which
21
form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the
parties with respect to its subject matter. 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 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), 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.
22
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us four counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by
you, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement
between you and the Company.
Very truly yours,
Avista Corporation
By: /s/ XXX X. XXXXXXXX
------------------------------------
Name: XXX X. XXXXXXXX
Title: SR. VP & CFO
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
XXXXXXX, SACHS & CO.
--------------------
23
EXHIBIT A
AVISTA CORPORATION
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 Avista Corporation (the "Company") 9.75%
Senior Notes due June 1, 2008 (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 Avista Corporation,
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: [ ],
Telephone No. [ ].
------------------------
*Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing.
A-1
AVISTA CORPORATION
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 Avista Corporation (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 and
resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), of the Company's _____% Notes due __________ (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 in the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement) is entitled to have the Registrable Securities
beneficially owned by it included in the Shelf Registration Statement. In order
to have Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement,
this Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
("Notice and Questionnaire") must be completed, executed and delivered to the
Company's counsel at the address set forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE
[DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE]. Beneficial owners of Registrable Securities who do not
complete, execute and return this Notice and Questionnaire by such date (i) will
not be named as selling securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and
(ii) may not use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in
the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. Accordingly, holders
and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus.
A-2
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 Exchange and
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
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:
----------------------------------------
(4) Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any other
securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed above in
Item (3).
State any exceptions here:
A-4
(5) Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any
of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5%
or more) has held any position or office or has had any other material
relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates)
during the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
(6) Plan of Distribution:
Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder
intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item
(3) only as follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities may be
sold from time to time directly by the undersigned Selling
Securityholder or, alternatively, through underwriters, broker-dealers
or agents. Such Registrable Securities may be sold in one or more
transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time
of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at
negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in transactions (which
may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on any national
securities exchange or quotation service on which the Registered
Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in the
over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such
exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv)
through the writing of options. In connection with sales of the
Registrable Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may
enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn
engage in short sales of the Registrable Securities in the course of
hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Securityholder may also
sell Registrable Securities short and deliver Registrable Securities
to close out such short positions, or loan or pledge Registrable
Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.
State any exceptions here:
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands
its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly
Regulation M.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the
Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such
information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees to
notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and
obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the 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
A-5
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 which may occur subsequent to the
date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in
effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the 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:
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
(ii) With a copy to:
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
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
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:
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
-------------------------
A-7
EXHIBIT B
NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust Company, National Association
Avista Corporation
c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank
000 Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Trust Officer
Re: Avista Corporation (the "Company")
9.75% Senior Notes due June 1, 2008
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 [date] 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
