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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated March 7, 2002
among
XXXXXXXX RESOURCES, INC.,
XXXXXXXX OIL & GAS, INC.,
XXXXXXXX OIL & GAS HOLDINGS, INC.,
XXXXXXXX OIL & GAS - LOUISIANA, LLC.,
XXXXXXXX OFFSHORE, LLC,
DEVX ENERGY, INC.,
DEVX ENERGY, INC.,
DEVX OPERATING COMPANY
and
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into March 7, 2002, among XXXXXXXX RESOURCES, INC., a Nevada corporation (the
"Company"), XXXXXXXX OIL & GAS, INC., a Nevada corporation, XXXXXXXX OIL & GAS
HOLDINGS, INC., a Nevada corporation, XXXXXXXX OIL & GAS - LOUISIANA, LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company, XXXXXXXX OFFSHORE, LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company, DEVX ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation, DEVX ENERGY, INC.,
a Nevada corporation, and DEVX OPERATING COMPANY, a Nevada corporation (each, a
"Guarantor," and collectively, the "Guarantors"), and XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO.
INCORPORATED, TD SECURITIES (USA) INC. and BMO XXXXXXX XXXXX CORP. (each a
"Placement Agent," and collectively, the "Placement Agents").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Placement Agreement dated February
28, 2002, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Placement Agents (the
"Placement Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the
Placement Agents of an aggregate of $75,000,000 principal amount of the
Company's 11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2007 (the "Securities"). In order to induce
the Placement Agents to enter into the Placement Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors here agreed to provide to the Placement Agents and their direct and
indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The
execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Placement
Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms
shall have the following meanings:
"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Placement
Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall
also include the Company's successors.
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"Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company and the
Guarantors of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the 1933
Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another
appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all
exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchange Securities" shall mean securities issued by the Company (and
guaranteed by the Guarantors) under the Indenture containing terms
identical to the Securities (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue
from the last date on which interest was paid on the Securities or, if no
such interest has been paid, from the Closing Date and (ii) the Exchange
Securities will not contain restrictions on transfer) and to be offered to
Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange
Offer.
"Holder" shall mean the Placement Agents, for so long as they own any
Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct
and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable
Securities under the Indenture; provided that for purposes of Sections 4
and 5 of this Agreement, the term "Holder" shall include Participating
Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated
as of April 29, 1999 among the Company, the Guarantors and U.S. Trust
Company of Texas, N.A., as trustee, as amended and supplemented by the
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 7, 2002, among the Company,
the Guarantors and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as trustee, and as
the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
thereof.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; provided
that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified
percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable
Securities held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as such term is
defined in Rule 405 under the 0000 Xxx) (other than the Placement Agents or
subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent holders are
deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their holding of such
Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such
consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or
amount.
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"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability
company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government
or agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Placement Agents" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
"Placement Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a
prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus,
and in each case including all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a
Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been
declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been
disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such
Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any
similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or
(iii) when such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Company and the Guarantors with this
Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing
fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance
with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with
blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in
preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any
underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents
relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all
rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the
qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the
fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and, in the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one
counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority
Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Placement Agent) and
(viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of
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the Company and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special
audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
performance and compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to
the underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii)
above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and
transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable
Securities by a Holder.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all
amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable
Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Holders whose
Registrable Securities are covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on
an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule
that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under
the Indenture.
"Underwriter" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.
"Underwritten Registration" or "Underwritten Offering" shall mean a
registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company and the Guarantors shall use
their best efforts to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the
Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and to have such Registration
Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Company
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and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and use
their best efforts to have the Exchange Offer consummated not later than 60 days
after such effective date. The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the
Exchange Offer by mailing the related exchange offer Prospectus and accompanying
documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are
required by applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Registration
Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered will be
accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at
least 20 business days from the date such notice is mailed) (the "Exchange
Dates");
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding
and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this
Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged
pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable
Security, together with the enclosed letters of transmittal, to the institution
and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York)
specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the last Exchange
Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, not later
than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to the
institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York) specified in the notice a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or
letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of
Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder
is withdrawing his election to have such Registrable Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof tendered
and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all
Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the
Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and mail to
each Holder, an Exchange Security equal in principal amount to the principal
amount of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder.
The Company and the Guarantors shall use their best efforts to complete the
Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and
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regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not
be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not
violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC.
The Company shall inform the Placement Agents of the names and addresses of the
Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Placement Agents shall have
the right, subject to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise
facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company and the Guarantors determine that the
Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available
or may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date
because it would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the
Staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason
consummated by September 3, 2002 or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed
and in the opinion of counsel for the Placement Agents a Registration Statement
must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Placement Agents in
connection with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities, the Company and
the Guarantors shall use their best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as
practicable after such determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel
is given to the Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement
providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities and
to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. In the
event the Company and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration
Statement solely as a result of the matters referred to in clause (iii) of the
preceding sentence, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their best efforts
to file and have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable
Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined
Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with
respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Placement
Agents after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company and the Guarantors
agree to use their best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective until the expiration of the period referred to in Rule
144(k) with respect to the Registrable Securities or such shorter period that
will terminate when all of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to supplement or amend
the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company and the
Guarantors for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any
other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably
requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder, and
to use its best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such
Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable.
The Company and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the Holders of Registrable
Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after it is used
or filed with the SEC.
(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the
registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b). Each Holder shall pay
all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating
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to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will
not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by
the SEC; provided, however, that, if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement
will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such
interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume. In the event the Exchange Offer is
not consummated and the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective
on or prior to September 3, 2002, the interest rate on the Securities will be
increased by 0.5% per annum until the Exchange Offer is consummated or the Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Placement Agents and the
Holders, the Company and the Guarantors acknowledge that any failure by the
Company or any Guarantor to comply with their respective obligations under
Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury
to the Placement Agents or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at
law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely
and that, in the event of any such failure, the Placement Agents or any Holder
may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's
and the Guarantors' obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors with
respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)
hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the
appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the
Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the
sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall
comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be
filed therewith, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement
to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and cause each
Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so
supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep each
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Prospectus current during the period described under Section 4(3) and Rule 174
under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with
respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Placement Agents, to counsel for the
Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable
Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including
each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such
other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request, in order
to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable
Securities; and the Company and the Guarantors consent to the use of such
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable
law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such
Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities
under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions
as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement
shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to cooperate with such Holders in
connection with any filings required to be made with the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any and all other acts and things which may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the
disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by
such Holder; provided, however, that neither the Company or any Guarantor shall
be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities
in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for
this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of process or (iii)
subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable
Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the Placement Agents
promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in
writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any
post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of
any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and
supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional
information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the
issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of
any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a
Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities
covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Guarantors contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement
or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true
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and correct in all material respects or if the Company or any Guarantor receives
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any
proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the period
a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement made in
such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material
respect or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration
Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading
and (vi) of any determination by the Company or any Guarantor that a
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of
any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without
documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless
requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders
of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any
restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered
in such names as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least one
business day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event
contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its best efforts to prepare and file
with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by
reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered
to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The Company and the Guarantors agree to
notify the Holders to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable
after the occurrence of such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend
use of the Prospectus until the Company and the Guarantors have amended or
supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement,
any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or
supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by
reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of
a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Placement
Agents and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement,
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the Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the
Company and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Placement
Agents or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the
Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document, and shall
not at any time file or make any amendment to the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a
Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Placement Agents and their
counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and
their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to
which the Placement Agents or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall object;
(k) cause all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case
may be, to have the same CUSIP number as the $150,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of the Company's 11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2007 which were issued on April
29, 1999;
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "TIA"), in connection with the registration of the
Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, cooperate
with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may
be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of
the TIA and execute, and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute,
all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and
documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so
qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a
representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities, any Underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement,
and attorneys and accountants designated by the Holders, at reasonable times and
in a reasonable manner, all financial and other records, pertinent documents and
properties of the Company and the Guarantors, and cause the respective officers,
directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in
connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to cause all
Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated
quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company and the
Guarantors are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent
such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(o) use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities, as the case may be, to be rated by two nationally recognized
statistical rating organizations (as such term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2)
under the 0000 Xxx);
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(p) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered
by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such
Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and (ii) make all required
filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon
as the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in
such filing; and
(q) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary
agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including
those requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being
sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such
connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties
to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect
to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the Guarantors,
the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference
or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance
and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten
offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinions, in form,
scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such
Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and
Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered
in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain "cold comfort"
letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company and the
Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any
subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company or any
Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required
to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder
and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form
and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters
in connection with underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters,
and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the
continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Guarantors made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any
customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the
Guarantors may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the
Company and the Guarantors such information regarding the Holder and the
proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the
Company and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company or any Guarantor of the happening of
any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
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Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if
so directed by the Company or any Guarantor, such Holder will deliver to the
Company (at its expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file
copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the
Company or any Guarantor shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition
of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company and
the Guarantors shall extend the period during which the Registration Statement
shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days
during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to
and including the date when the Holders shall have received copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The
Company and the Guarantors may give any such notice only twice during any 365
day period and any such suspensions may not exceed 30 days for each suspension
and there may not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365 day
period.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an
Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker
or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that will
administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering.
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer that
receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making or other trading activities (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), may
be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the 1933 Act and must
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff's position
that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and
the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange
Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the
amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by
Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation
under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their
own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the
1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agree that the provisions of this
Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange
Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto
as may be, reasonably requested by the Placement Agents or by one or more
13
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by
Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited
in Section 4(a) above; provided that:
(i) the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to amend or
supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period
exceeding 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended
pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and
Participating Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company and the
Guarantors to deliver and shall not deliver such Prospectus after such period in
connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4; and
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in
Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, to the extent not
required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or the 1933 Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder, will be in conformity with the reasonable request to
the Company by the Placement Agents or with the reasonable request in writing to
the Company by one or more broker-dealers who certify to the Placement Agents
and the Company in writing that they anticipate that they will be Participating
Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in connection with such application
of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3 to an Exchange Offer
Registration, the Company and the Guarantors shall be obligated (x) to deal only
with one entity representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated unless it elects not to act as such
representative, (y) to pay the fees and expenses of only one counsel
representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel to the
Placement Agents unless such counsel elects not to so act and (z) to cause to be
delivered only one, if any, "cold comfort" letter with respect to the Prospectus
in the form existing on the last Exchange Date and with respect to each
subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected during the period specified
in clause (i) above.
(c) The Placement Agents shall have no liability to the Company, any
Guarantor or any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to
Section 4(b) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, severally and jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agents, each Holder and each Person,
if any, who controls any Placement Agent or any Holder within the meaning of
either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or is under
common control with, or is controlled by, any Placement Agent or any Holder,
from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any Placement
Agent, any Holder or any such controlling or affiliated Person in connection
with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue
14
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange
Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act,
including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or caused by any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company or any
Guarantor shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they
were made not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to the Placement
Agents or any Holder furnished to the Company or any Guarantor in writing by or
through Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated or any selling Holder expressly for
use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section
3, the Company and the Guarantors, severally and jointly, will also indemnify
the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities
industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and
directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the
1933 Act and the 0000 Xxx) to the same extent as provided above with respect to
the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any
Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, the Guarantors, the Placement Agents and the other selling
Holders, and each of their respective directors, officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any
Guarantor, any Placement Agent and any other selling Holder within the meaning
of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to the
Placement Agents and the Holders, but only with reference to information
relating to such Holder furnished to the Company or any Guarantor in writing by
such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall
be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought
pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such Person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
15
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Placement Agents and all
Persons, if any, who control any Placement Agent within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Xxxxxxx 00 xx xxx 0000 Xxx, (x) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for
the Company and the Guarantors, their respective directors, their respective
officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of either such Section
and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any
local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who control any Holders
within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses
shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case involving the Placement
Agents and Persons who control the Placement Agents, such firm shall be
designated in writing by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated. In such case
involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm shall be
designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In all other cases, such firm
shall be designated by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but,
if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees and expenses of
counsel in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which such indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b)
of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying
party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party
thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
16
considerations. The relative fault of the Company, the Guarantors and the
Holders shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
and the Guarantors or by the Holders and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Holders' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the respective
principal amount of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Company, each Guarantor and each Holder agree that it would not be
just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by
pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
Registrable Securities were sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Holder 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 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this
Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may
otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall
remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination
of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Placement
Agents, any Holder or any Person controlling any Placement Agent or any Holder,
or by or on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor, or their respective officers
or directors, or any Person controlling the Company or any Guarantor, (iii)
acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and the Guarantors have not
entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into,
any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way
17
conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of
the Company's or any Guarantor's other issued and outstanding securities under
any such agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the
provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and
waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given
unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent;
provided, however, that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or
consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be
effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in
writing by such Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class
mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if
to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by
means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c),
which address initially is, with respect to the Placement Agents, the address
set forth in the Placement Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company or any
Guarantor, initially at the Company's or the Guarantor's respective address set
forth in the Placement Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of
which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on
the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the
parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Placement Agreement. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The
Placement Agents (in their capacity as Placement Agents) shall have no liability
18
or obligation to the Company and the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a
Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of
such Holder under this Agreement.
(e) Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company and the Guarantors shall not, and shall
use their best efforts to cause their affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the 0000 Xxx) not to,
purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any Securities.
(f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the
agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Placement
Agents, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it
deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and
shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or
the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
XXXXXXXX RESOURCES, INC.
By: /s/ M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: President and CEO
---------------------
XXXXXXXX OIL & GAS, INC.
By: /s/ M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: President and CEO
---------------------
XXXXXXXX OIL & GAS HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: President and CEO
---------------------
XXXXXXXX OIL & GAS-LOUISIANA, LLC
By: /s/ M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: President, CEO and Manager
------------------------------
XXXXXXXX OFFSHORE, LLC
By: /s/ M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: Manager
------------------------------
20
DEVX ENERGY, INC. (DELAWARE)
By: /s/ M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: President and CEO
---------------------
DEVX ENERGY, INC. (NEVADA)
By: /s/ M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: President and CEO
---------------------
DEVX OPERATING COMPANY
By: /s/ M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: M. Xxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: President and CEO
---------------------
21
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
TD Securities (USA) Inc.
BMO Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Corp.
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and
the several Placement Agents named in
Schedule I hereto.
By: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx
------------------
Title: E.D.
-----------------
22
