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Exhibit 10.20    
    

 
 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT    
    

        This Indemnification Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as
of                            , 2006, is made by and between Willdan Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporation"), and Linda L. Heil, Trustee of the 1994 Dan W. Heil and Linda Lee Heil Revocable Trust (the "Indemnitee"). 

 
 

RECITALS    
    

        A.    On
or about the date hereof, the Corporation, the Indemnitee and Wedbush Morgan Securities, Inc. ("Wedbush"), on behalf of the underwriters named therein (the
"Underwriters"), have entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") pursuant to which the Company and Indemnitee are selling to the Underwriters shares of the Company's Common
Stock pursuant to the Company's initial public offering (the "Offering"). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. 

        B.    In
order to agree to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, Wedbush requires that, in the Underwriting Agreement, Indemnitee make certain representations and warranties
relating to the Corporation and to agree to indemnify the Underwriters for certain liabilities under the Act in connection with the Offering. 

        C.    In
order to induce Indemnitee to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and make representations, warranties and covenants to the Underwriters relating to the Corporation,
and to agree to indemnify the Underwriters, the Corporation is willing to make certain representations, warranties and covenants to the Indemnitee, and to indemnify the Indemnitee for certain
liabilities, all on the terms provided more specifically herein. 

 
 

AGREEMENT    
    

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows: 

        Section 1.    Representations, Warranties and Covenants.    The Corporation represents, warrants and covenants
that (a) the representations and warranties made to the Underwriters by the Corporation set forth in Section 1(b) of the Underwriting Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof
and will be true and correct as of the Time of Delivery and (b) the covenants of the Corporation under the Underwriting Agreement to be performed by the Corporation will be fully performed by
the Corporation by the time such performance is due under the Underwriting Agreement. 

        Section 2.    Indemnification.    

        (a)   The
Corporation agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Indemnitee from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including any legal or other
expenses incurred in connection with investigating any claims and defending any actions) which, jointly or severally, the Indemnitee may incur under the Act, the Exchange Act, any other statute, the
common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (i) arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any "issuer
information" filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, 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, (ii) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in any material prepared by or on behalf or with the consent of the Corporation for distribution to Directed Share 

 

Participants
in connection with the Directed Share Program 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, (iii) is or was caused by the failure of any Directed Share Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved Shares that the Directed Share Participant
has agreed to purchase, or (iv) otherwise arises out of or is based upon the Directed Share Program; provided, however, that with respect to
clause (i) of this paragraph, the Corporation shall not be liable 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 the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Corporation by Indemnitee expressly for use therein, as described
in Section 14(b) of the Underwriting Agreement. 

        (b)   In
case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving the Indemnitee in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof, the Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Corporation in writing, provided that the omission of the Indemnitee so to notify the Corporation of any such proceeding shall not
relieve the Corporation from any liability which it may have to the Indemnitee on account of the indemnity agreement contained in Section 2(a) or otherwise. The Corporation, upon request of the
Indemnitee, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee to represent the Indemnitee and any others the Corporation may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, the Indemnitee shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
the expense of the Indemnitee, unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been authorized by the Corporation in connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the Indemnitee shall
have been advised by such counsel that there are material legal defenses available to it, which are different from, conflicting with, or additional to those available to the Corporation,
(iii) a conflict of interest arises between the Corporation and the Indemnitee, or (iv) the Corporation shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee within a
reasonable time after notice of commencement of such action, in any of which event, such fees and expenses shall be borne by the Corporation. It is understood that the Corporation shall not, in
respect of the legal expenses of the Indemnitee in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for the Indemnitee and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Indemnitee. The
Corporation shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its consent, which shall not be unreasonably delayed or denied, but if settled with such consent or if there be a
final judgment for the plaintiff, the Corporation agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. The Corporation shall not, without
the prior consent of the Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnitee is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by the Indemnitee, unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of the Indemnitee from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the Indemnitee. 

        (c)   To
the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 2(a) is unavailable to the Indemnitee or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to therein, then the Corporation under such Section, in lieu of indemnifying the Indemnitee thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnitee as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault 

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of
the Corporation, on the one hand, and of the Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Corporation, on the one hand, and the Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Corporation or by the Indemnitee
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. 

        (d)   The
parties agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2 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 Section 2(c). 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 remedies provided for in this Section 2 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. 

        (e)   The
indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 2 and the representations, warranties and covenants of the Corporation contained in
Section 1 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Indemnitee or any person controlling the Indemnitee and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the shares of the Corporation's Common Stock pursuant to the Offering. 

        Section 3.    Savings Clause.    If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be invalidated on any
ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the full
extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated and to the full extent permitted by applicable law. 

        Section 4.    Form and Delivery of Communications.    Any notice, request or other communication required or
permitted to be given to the parties under this Agreement shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or
registered
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses for a party as shall be specified by like notice): 

If
to the Corporation:

Willdan Group, Inc.

2401 East Katella Avenue, Suite 300

Anaheim, California 92806

Attn: President

Facsimile: (714) 940-4920 

If
to Indemnitee:

Linda Heil, Trustee

1994 Dan W. Heil and Linda Lee Heil Revocable Trust

1670 Amate Drive

La Habra Heights, California 90631

Facsimile: 

        Section 5.    Nonexclusivity.    The provisions for indemnification and other rights of Indemnitee set forth in
this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights ("Other Rights") which 

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Indemnitee
or Indemnitee's trustees or persons in control of Indemnitee within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act which Indemnitee may have under any
other agreements, provision of law, the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, in any court in which a proceeding is brought, the vote of the Corporation's stockholders or disinterested
directors, or otherwise, and Indemnitee's rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the trustees, successors and assigns of Indemnitee. The rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement shall be
cumulative with, and supplemental to, such Other Rights and shall not be interpreted to restrict or limit such Other Rights, and vice versa. 

        Section 6.    Enforcement.    The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding that
the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable. The Corporation agrees that its execution of this Agreement shall constitute a stipulation by which it shall
be irrevocably bound in any court of competent jurisdiction in which a proceeding by Indemnitee for enforcement of Indemnitee rights hereunder shall have been commenced, continued or appealed, that
its obligations set forth in this Agreement are unique and special, and that failure of the Corporation to comply with the provisions of this Agreement will cause irreparable and irremediable injury
to Indemnitee, for which a remedy at law will be inadequate. As a result, in addition to any other right or remedy Indemnitee may have at law or in equity with respect to breach of this Agreement,
Indemnitee
shall be entitled to injunctive or mandatory relief directing specific performance by the Corporation of its obligations under this Agreement. 

        Section 7.    Interpretation of Agreement.    It is understood that the parties hereto intend this Agreement to
be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to Indemnitee to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law. 

        Section 8.    Entire Agreement.    This Agreement and the documents expressly referred to herein constitute the
entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or agreements with respect to the matters
covered hereby are expressly superseded by this Agreement, provided, however, that this Agreement does supersede or affect the Other Rights and all
other agreements and documents related thereto as provided above. 

        Section 9.    Modification and Waiver.    No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be
binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. 

        Section 10.    Successor and Assigns.    All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding
upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, trustees, administrators and legal representatives. The
Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation,
by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation
would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. 

        Section 11.    Service of Process and Venue.    For purposes of any claims or proceedings to enforce this
agreement, the Corporation consents to the jurisdiction and venue of any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the state of California, and waives and agrees not to raise any defense
that any such court is an inconvenient forum or any similar claim. 

        Section 12.    Governing Law.    This Agreement shall be governed exclusively by and construed according to the
laws of the State of California, as applied to contracts between California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California. If a court of competent jurisdiction shall 

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make
a final determination that the provisions of the law of any state other than California govern indemnification by the Corporation under these circumstances, then the indemnification provided
under this Agreement shall in all instances be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under such law, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary. 

        Section 13.    Legal Representation.    Indemnitee acknowledges that, although Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. has
advised and represented the Indemnitee in connection with the entering into of the Underwriting Agreement, Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. has only represented the Corporation and the interests of the
Corporation with respect to the preparation and execution of this Agreement. The Indemnitee acknowledges Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. is not representing the Indemnitee with respect to this Agreement.
The Indemnitee further acknowledges that it is entitled to, has been encouraged to and has been afforded the opportunity to consult with its own independent legal counsel of its choice regarding the
terms, conditions and legal effects of this Agreement, as well as the advisability and propriety thereof. Indemnitee hereby acknowledges its understanding of, and consent to, the representation of the
Corporation by Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. as described above. 

        Section 14.    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, notwithstanding that both parties are not signatories to the original or same counterpart. 

        Section 15.    Headings.    The section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of the date first above written. 

	 	 	Willdan Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
	

 	
 	

By	
 	

    

	 	 	Name:	 	 
	 	 	Title:	 	 
	

 	
 	

    
 Linda Lee Heil Revocable Trust

Linda L. Heil as Trustee of the 1994 Dan W. Heil and

Linda Lee Heil Revocable Trust

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QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.20

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

RECITALS

AGREEMENTExhibit 4(d)

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is made and entered into as of June 14, 2006 by and among Illinois Power
Company, d/b/a AmerenIP, an Illinois corporation (the “Company”), and the
Initial Purchasers (as hereinafter defined).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement dated June 7, 2006 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company,
as issuer of $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.25% Senior Secured
Notes due 2016 (the “Notes”), and the Initial Purchasers, which provides for,
among other things, the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of the
aggregate principal amount of Notes specified therein. In order to induce the
Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed
to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees
the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase 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:

 

“Additional Interest”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(i) hereof.

 

“Advice” shall have the
meaning set forth in the last paragraph of Section 3 hereof.

 

“Affiliate” has the
meaning given to that term in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any
successor rule thereunder.

 

“Agreement” shall have
the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Applicable Period” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(u) hereof.

 

“Business Day” shall mean
any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions
in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to
remain closed or a day on which the corporate trust office of the Trustee is
closed for business.

 

“Closing Date” shall mean
June 14, 2006, the initial date of delivery of the Notes from the Company to
the Initial Purchasers.

 

“Company” shall have the
meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and also includes the
Company’s successors and permitted assigns.

 

“Depositary” shall mean
The Depository Trust Company, or any other depositary appointed by the Company;
provided, however, that such depositary
must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

 

 

“Effectiveness Period”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

“Exchange Notes” shall
mean the 6.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 issued by the Company under the
Indenture containing terms identical in all material respects to the Notes
(except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which
interest was paid or duly provided for on the Notes or, if no such interest has
been paid, from the date of their original issue, (ii) they will not contain
terms with respect to transfer restrictions under the Securities Act, and (iii)
they will not provide for any Additional Interest thereon).

 

“Exchange Offer” shall
mean the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable
Notes held by each such Holder for a like amount of Exchange Notes pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof.

 

“Exchange Offer
Registration” shall mean a registration under the Securities 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 documents incorporated
by reference therein.

 

“Exchange Period” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.

 

“Holder” shall mean any
Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any Registrable Notes, and each of
its successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become
registered owners of Registrable Notes under the Indenture.

 

“Indenture” shall mean
the Indenture dated as of June 1, 2006 between the Company and the Trustee
(including the terms of the Notes to be set forth in an order of the Company
thereunder), as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.

 

“Initial Purchasers”
shall mean Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers Inc., and UBS Securities
LLC.

 

“Inspectors” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 3(p) hereof.

 

“Majority Holders” shall
mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be.

 

“NASD” shall mean the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

 

“Notes” shall have the
meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Participating
Broker-Dealer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(u) hereof.

 

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“Person” shall mean an
individual, partnership, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization,
limited liability company, or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof or other legal entity.

 

“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 Notes covered by a
Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to a
prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and in each case including all
documents incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Purchase Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Records” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3(p) hereof.

 

“Registrable Notes” shall
mean the Notes, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which any Note
has been exchanged by a Person other than a Participating Broker-Dealer for
Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer, (b) following the exchange by a Participating
Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of any Note for one or more Exchange Notes,
the date on which such Exchange Notes are sold to a purchaser in accordance with
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (c) the date on which any Note has
been registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the
Shelf Registration Statement and (d) the date on which any Note is
eligible to be distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act.

 

“Registration Expenses”
shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the
Company with this Agreement, including without limitation:  (i) all SEC or NASD registration and
filing fees, including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified
independent underwriter” (and its counsel) that is required to be retained by
any Holder of Registrable Notes in accordance with the rules and regulations of
the NASD, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees
and disbursements of one counsel for all underwriters and Holders as a group in
connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Notes or the Registrable
Notes) and compliance with the rules of the NASD, (iii) all expenses of
any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing
and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments
or supplements thereto, and in preparing or assisting in preparing, printing
and distributing any underwriting agreements, securities sale agreements and
other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this
Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and of the independent registered
public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any “cold comfort”
letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this
Agreement, (vi) all reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee and its
counsel and any exchange agent or custodian, and (vii) all reasonable fees
and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with
any Registration Statement.

 

“Registration Statement”
shall mean any registration statement of the Company which covers any of the
Exchange Notes or the Registrable Notes pursuant to the provisions of this 

 

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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 documents
incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Rule 144(k) Period”
shall mean the period of two years (or such shorter period as may hereafter be
referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or similar successor
rule)) commencing on the Closing Date.

 

“SEC” shall mean the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Securities Act” shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

“Shelf Registration”
shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

 

“Shelf Registration Event”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

“Shelf Registration Event
Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

“Shelf Registration
Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof which covers all of the Registrable Notes
(except Registrable Notes which the Holders have elected not to include in such
Shelf Registration Statement or the Holders of which have not complied with
their obligations under the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 hereof or under
the first paragraph of Section 2(b) hereof) on an appropriate form under Rule
415 under the Securities 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 documents incorporated by
reference therein.

 

“TIA” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3(m) hereof.

 

“Trustee” shall mean the
trustee under the Indenture.

 

2.             Registration Under the Securities Act.

 

(a)           Exchange Offer.  Except
as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company shall, for the benefit of the
Holders, at the Company’s cost, (i) prepare and file with the SEC as soon
as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 120 calendar
days after the Closing Date, an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Offer,
(ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act by the
SEC as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 180
calendar days after the Closing Date, (iii) provided such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act by
the SEC, use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective until the completion of the Exchange Offer,
and (iv) provided such Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared
effective under the Securities Act by the SEC, commence the Exchange Offer and
keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 business days, or longer if
required by applicable law, after the date on which such Registration Statement
was declared effective by the SEC (such period referred to herein as the

 

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“Exchange Period”), use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer to be completed not later than 45 calendar days after the date
on which such Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC, and at
the termination thereof issue Exchange Notes in exchange for all Registrable Notes
tendered prior thereto in the Exchange Offer.

 

In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company
shall:

 

(i)            mail
to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and
related documents;

 

(ii)           use
the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer with respect to Notes
represented by a global certificate;

 

(iii)          permit
Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Notes at any time prior to the close
of business, New York City time, on the last Business Day of the Exchange
Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice to Holders, a
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of
such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Notes delivered for exchange,
and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such
Registrable Notes exchanged;

 

(iv)          notify
each Holder that any Registrable Note not tendered by such Holder in the
Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will
not retain any rights under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial
Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and

 

(v)           otherwise
comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations
relating to the Exchange Offer.

 

As soon as practicable after the completion of the
Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

 

(i)            accept
for exchange all Registrable Notes or portions thereof duly tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and letter of transmittal;

 

(ii)           deliver,
or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Notes
or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company; and

 

(iii)          issue,
and cause the Trustee under the Indenture to promptly authenticate and deliver
to each Holder, Exchange Notes equal in principal amount to the principal
amount of the Notes as are surrendered by such Holder.

 

Interest on each Exchange Note issued pursuant to the
Exchange Offer will accrue from the last date on which interest was paid or
duly provided for on the Note surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no
interest has been paid on such Note, from the date of original issue of such
Note. To the extent not prohibited by any judicial order, judgment, law,
regulation or applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company
shall use its reasonable best efforts 

 

5

 

to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above, and shall comply with
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other
applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The
Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions other than the conditions
referred to in Section 2(b)(i) and (ii) below and those conditions that are
customary in similar exchange offers, except as may be required by applicable
law. Each Holder of Registrable Notes who wishes to exchange such Registrable Notes
for Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer will be required, as a condition to
participating in the Exchange Offer, to make certain customary representations
in connection therewith, including, in the case of any Holder, representations
that (i) it is not an Affiliate of the Company, (ii) it is not a broker-dealer
tendering Registrable Notes acquired directly from the Company for its own
account, (iii) the Notes being exchanged, and the Exchange Notes to be
received, by it have been or are being acquired in the ordinary course of its
business and (iv) at the time of the Exchange Offer, it has no arrangements or
understandings with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes. The Company shall inform
the Initial Purchasers, after consultation with the Trustee, of the names and
addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial
Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders in order to facilitate
the tender of Registrable Notes in the Exchange Offer.

 

Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance
with this Section 2(a), the provisions of this
Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis,
solely with respect to Notes or Exchange Notes held by Initial Purchasers and
Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Company shall have no further obligation
to register the Registrable Notes held by any other Holder pursuant to
Section 2(b) of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Shelf Registration.  If
(i) because of any change in law, regulation or in currently prevailing
interpretations thereof by the staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted
to effect the Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, (ii) the
Exchange Offer is not consummated within 210 calendar days after the Closing
Date or (iii) any Holder of Registrable Notes that is a “qualified
institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) shall
notify the Company prior to the 20th calendar day following the consummation of
the Exchange Offer (A) that such Holder was prohibited by applicable law or SEC
policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, or (B) that such Holder may
not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales by such Holder, or (C) that such Holder is a Participating
Broker-Dealer and holds Notes acquired directly from the Company or one of its
Affiliates (any of the events specified in (i), (ii) or (iii) being a “Shelf
Registration Event”, and the date of occurrence thereof, the “Shelf
Registration Event Date”), then in addition to or in lieu of conducting the
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 2(a) of this Agreement, as the case may
be, the Company shall promptly notify the Holders in writing thereof and shall,
at its cost, file with the SEC as promptly as practicable after such Shelf
Registration Event Date and, in any event, within 45 calendar days after such
Shelf Registration Event Date, or, if later, the 120th calendar day after the
Closing Date, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale by the
Holders of all of the Registrable Notes (other than Registrable Notes owned by
Holders who have elected not to include such Registrable Notes in such Shelf
Registration Statement or who have not complied with their obligations under
the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 hereof or under this

 

6

 

paragraph), and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as soon as
practicable and in any event, on or before the 120th calendar day after the
Shelf Registration Event Date or, if later, the 210th calendar day after the
Closing Date. No Holder of Registrable Notes shall be entitled to include any
of its Registrable Notes in any Shelf Registration pursuant to this Agreement
unless and until such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the
provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder and furnishes to the Company
in writing, within 15 calendar days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information as the Company may, after conferring with counsel with regard to
information relating to Holders that would be required by the SEC to be
included in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein,
reasonably request for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus included therein. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration is
being effected agrees to furnish to the Company, without request and as soon as
practicable, all information with respect to such Holder necessary to make the
information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially
misleading.

 

The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts
to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective and the
Prospectus usable for resales for the earlier of: (x) the expiration of the Rule
144(k) Period and (y) such time as all of the Notes covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement or cease to be Registrable Notes (the period from the effective date
of the Shelf Registration Statement until the earlier of the events described
in clauses (x) and (y) being the “Effectiveness Period”). The Company shall not
permit any securities other than Registrable Notes to be included in the Shelf
Registration. The Company will, in the event a Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective, provide to each Holder of Registrable Notes covered
thereby, a reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus which is a part of the
Shelf Registration Statement, notify each such Holder when the Shelf Registration
has become effective and take any other action required to permit unrestricted
resales of the Registrable Notes. The Company further agrees 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 for
such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other
rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registrations, and the Company
agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Notes covered by such Shelf
Registration Statement copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly
after its being used or filed with the SEC.

 

(c)           Expenses.  The Company
shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2(a) and/or 2(b) hereof and will reimburse the
Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements incurred by the
firm of counsel in connection with the Exchange Offer. Except as provided
herein, each Holder shall pay all expenses of its counsel, underwriting
discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or
disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Notes pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement.

 

(d)           Effective Registration Statement.  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 Notes
pursuant to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration
Statement is

 

7

 

interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or
requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement will be deemed not
to have been effective during the period of such interference, until the
offering of Registrable Notes pursuant to such Registration Statement may
legally resume. The Company will be deemed not to have used its reasonable best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to remain, effective
during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would
result in any such Registration Statement not being declared effective or that
would result in the otherwise eligible Holders of Registrable Notes covered
thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Notes
during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law or
regulation or otherwise permitted by provisions of this Agreement.

 

(e)           Additional Interest.  In
the event that:

 

(i)            the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior to
the 120th calendar day after the Closing Date, then, commencing on the 121st
calendar day after the Closing Date, additional interest (the “Additional
Interest”) shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes over and above the
otherwise applicable interest rate at a rate of 0.25% per annum, plus an
additional 0.25% per annum from and during any period in which such event has
continued for more than 90 calendar days;

 

(ii)           the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC on
or prior to the 180th calendar day after the Closing Date, then, commencing on
the 181st calendar day after the Closing Date, Additional Interest shall accrue
on the principal amount of the Notes over and above the otherwise applicable
interest rate at a rate of 0.25% per annum, plus an additional 0.25% per annum
from and during any period in which such event has continued for more than 90
calendar days;

 

(iii)          (A)
the Company has not exchanged Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered, in
accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer, on or prior to the 210th
calendar day after the Closing Date or (B) if the Shelf Registration Statement
is required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Agreement but is not
declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the 210th calendar day after the
Closing Date, then, commencing on the 211th calendar day after the Closing
Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes
over and above the otherwise applicable interest rate at the rate of 0.25% per
annum, plus an additional 0.25% per annum from and during any period in which
such event has continued for more than 90 calendar days;

 

(iv)          the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective and such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement ceases to be continuously effective or
the Prospectus contained in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement ceases to
be usable for its intended purpose (A) at any time prior to the expiration of
the Applicable Period or (B) if related to corporate developments, public
filings with the SEC or similar events or because the Prospectus contains an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, and such failure continues for more than 45 days (whether or not
consecutive and whether or not arising out of a single or multiple

 

8

 

circumstances) in
any twelve-month period, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal
amount of the Notes over and above the otherwise applicable interest rate at a
rate of 0.25% per annum commencing on the day that (in the case of (A) above),
or the 46th (cumulative) day after (in the case of (B) above), such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement ceases to be effective or the Prospectus ceases to
be usable for its intended purposes, plus an additional 0.25% per annum from
and during any period in which such event has continued for more than 90
calendar days; or

 

(v)           the
Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective and such Shelf
Registration Statement ceases to be continuously effective or the Prospectus
contained in such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be usable for resales
(A) at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period or (B) if
related to corporate developments, public filings with the SEC or similar
events or because the Prospectus contains an untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and such
failure continues for more than 45 days (whether or not consecutive and whether
or not arising out of a single or multiple circumstances) in any twelve-month
period, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes
over and above the otherwise applicable interest rate at a rate of 0.25% per
annum commencing on the day that (in the case of (A) above), or the 46th
(cumulative) day after (in the case of (B) above), such Shelf Registration
Statement ceases to be effective or the Prospectus ceases to be usable for
resales, plus an additional 0.25% per annum from and during any period in which
such event has continued for more than 90 calendar days;

 

provided, however, that the
aggregate amount of Additional Interest in respect of the Notes may not exceed
0.50% per annum (regardless of whether multiple events triggering Additional
Interest under this subsection (e) exist); provided, further,
however, that (1) upon the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (in the case of clause (i) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in the case of clause (ii) above), (3)
upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered (in the case
of clause (iii)(A) above) or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement (in the case of clause (iii)(B) above), (4) upon the earlier of (x)
such time as the Exchange Offer Registration Statement which had ceased to
remain effective or the Prospectus which had ceased to be usable for its
intended purpose again becomes effective and usable for its intended purpose,
as applicable, and (y) the expiration of the Applicable Period (each in the
case of clause (iv) above), and (5) upon the earlier of (x) such time as the
Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective or the
Prospectus which had ceased to be usable for resales again becomes effective
and usable for resales, as applicable, and (y) the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period (each in the case of clause (v) above), Additional
Interest on the principal amount of the Notes as a result of such clause (or
the relevant subclause thereof) shall cease to accrue;

 

provided, further, however, that
if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective by the
SEC on or prior to the 180th calendar day after the Closing Date and the Company
shall request Holders to provide the information required by the SEC for
inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Notes owned by Holders who
do not

 

9

 

provide such information when required pursuant to
Section 2(b) of this Agreement will not be entitled to any Additional Interest
for any day after the 180th calendar day after the Closing Date, regardless of
the existence of any events which would otherwise trigger a Additional Interest
under this subsection (e) for such Holders.

 

Any Additional Interest
due pursuant to Section 2(e)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above will be payable
in cash on the next succeeding June 15 or December 15, as the case may be, to
eligible Holders (as determined under this subsection (e)) on the relevant
record dates for the payment of interest pursuant to the Indenture.

 

(f)            Specific Enforcement. 
Without limiting the remedies available to the Holders, the Company
acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations
under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable
injury to the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it
would not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that,
in the event of any such failure, any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Section 2(a)
and Section 2(b) hereof.

 

3.             Registration Procedures. 
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the
Registration Statements pursuant to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company
shall:

 

(a)           prepare and file with the SEC a
Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections
2(a) and 2(b) hereof within the relevant time period specified in Section 2
hereof on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form shall (i)
be selected by the Company, (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, be
available for the sale of the Registrable Notes by the selling Holders thereof
and, in the case of an Exchange Offer, be available for the exchange of
Registrable Notes, and (iii) 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 reasonable best efforts
to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective
(and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Prospectus to be
usable for resales) in accordance with Section 2 hereof; provided,
however, that if (1) such filing is pursuant to Section 2(b) of
this Agreement, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) of this Agreement is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus
or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to and
afford the Holders of the Registrable Notes and each such Participating Broker-Dealer,
as the case may be, covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and
the managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of
all such documents (including, upon request, copies of any documents to be
incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be
filed; and the Company shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus
or any amendments or supplements thereto in respect of which the Holders must
be afforded an opportunity to review prior to the filing of such document if
the Majority Holders of the Registrable Notes, depending solely upon which
Holders must be afforded the opportunity of such review, or such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel or the managing underwriters,
if any, shall reasonably object in a timely manner;

 

10

 

(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
Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be, and cause
each Prospectus to be supplemented, if so determined by the Company or
requested by the SEC, by any required prospectus supplement and as so
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provision then in
force) under the Securities Act, and comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all Notes
covered by each Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period or the
Applicable Period, as the case may be, in accordance with the intended method
or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof described in this
Agreement (including sales by any Participating Broker-Dealer);

 

(c)           in the case of an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company
there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable
law, seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the SEC allowing
the Company to consummate an Exchange Offer for such Notes. The Company hereby
agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the SEC staff level but
shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a
change of SEC policy. The Company hereby agrees, however, to (i) participate in
telephonic conferences with the SEC, (ii) deliver to the SEC staff an analysis
prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon
which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be
permitted and (iii) diligently pursue a resolution (which need not be
favorable) by the SEC staff of such submission;

 

(d)           in the case of an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, prior to the effectiveness of such statement, provide a
supplemental letter to the SEC (i) stating that the Company is registering the
Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the SEC enunciated in Exxon
Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley
and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991), Brown & Wood LLP
(available February 7, 1997) and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained
pursuant to Section 3(c) of this Agreement and (ii) including a representation
that the Company has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any
Person to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer
and that, to the best of the Company’s information and belief, each Holder
participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its
ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the
Exchange Offer;

 

(e)           in the case of a Shelf Registration,
(i) notify each Holder of Registrable Notes included in the Shelf Registration
Statement, at least five Business Days prior to filing, that a Shelf
Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Notes is being filed and
advising such Holder that the distribution of Registrable Notes will be made in
accordance with the method selected by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Notes,
(ii) furnish to each Holder of Registrable Notes included in the Shelf
Registration Statement and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of
Registrable Notes, 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 Notes
and (iii) consent to the use

 

11

 

of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders of Registrable Notes included in the Shelf Registration
Statement in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes
covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(f)            in the case of a Shelf Registration,
register or qualify the Registrable Notes under all applicable state securities
or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions by the time the applicable
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC as any Holder of
Registrable Notes covered by a Registration Statement and each underwriter of
an underwritten offering of Registrable Notes shall reasonably request in
writing in advance of such date of effectiveness, and do any and all other acts
and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder
and underwriter to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such
Registrable Notes owned by such Holder; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation
or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise
be required to qualify but for this Section 3(f), (ii) file any general consent
to service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
subject to such service of process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any
such jurisdiction if it is not then so subject;

 

(g)           (1) in the case of a Shelf
Registration or (2) if Participating Broker-Dealers from whom the Company
has received prior written notice that they will be using the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as provided in Section
3(u) hereof, are seeking to sell Exchange Notes and are required to deliver
Prospectuses, promptly notify each Holder of Registrable Notes, or such
Participating Broker-Dealers, as the case may be, their counsel and the
managing underwriters, if any, and promptly confirm such notice in writing (i)
when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective
amendments thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any
state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement
or 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 qualification of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes
to be offered or sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer in any jurisdiction
described in Section 3(f) hereof or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, if, between the effective
date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Notes
covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
any purchase agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement
cease to be true, correct and complete in all material respects, (v) of
the happening of any event or the failure of any event to occur or the
discovery of any facts, during the Effectiveness Period, which makes any
statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue
in any material respect or which causes such Registration Statement or
Prospectus to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, as well as any other corporate developments, public
filings with the SEC or similar events causing such Registration Statement not
to be effective or the Prospectus not to be useable for resales and (vi) of
the reasonable determination of the Company that a post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement would be appropriate;

 

12

 

(h)           obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement as soon as
practicable;

 

(i)            in the case of a Shelf Registration,
furnish to each Holder of Registrable Notes included within the coverage of
such Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy
of each Registration Statement relating to such Shelf Registration and any post-effective
amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or
exhibits thereto, unless requested);

 

(j)            in the case of a Shelf Registration,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes
to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends (except any customary legend
borne by securities held through The Depository Trust Company or any similar
depositary) and in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the
Indenture and the officer’s certificate establishing the forms and the terms of
the Notes pursuant to the Indenture) and registered in such names as the
selling Holders or the underwriters may reasonably request (provided such names
are consistent with the names of the selling security holders set forth in the
Shelf Registration Statement) at least two Business Days prior to the closing
of any sale of Registrable Notes pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(k)           in the case of a Shelf Registration
or an Exchange Offer Registration, promptly after the occurrence of any event
specified in Section 3(g)(ii), 3(g)(iii), 3(g)(v) (subject to the 45-day cumulative
grace period within any twelve-month period provided for in Section 2(e)(iv)(B)
and Section 2(e)(v)(B)) and 3(g)(vi) hereof, prepare a supplement or
post-effective amendment to such 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 Notes, such Prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and the Company shall notify each Holder to suspend use of the
Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event,
and each Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company
has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or
omission;

 

(l)            obtain a CUSIP number, and any other
appropriate security identification number, for the Exchange Notes or the
Registrable Notes, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a
Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with certificates for the
Exchange Notes or the Registrable Notes, as the case may be, in a form eligible
for deposit with the Depositary;

 

(m)          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 Notes or Registrable Notes, as the case
may be, and effect such changes to such documents as may be required for them
to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute, and
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 such documents to be so qualified in a timely manner;

 

13

 

(n)           in the case of a Shelf Registration,
enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements) as are customary
in underwritten offerings and take all such other appropriate actions in
connection therewith as are reasonably requested by the Holders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes in order to expedite or
facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Registrable Notes;

 

(o)           in the case of a Shelf Registration,
whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the
registration is an underwritten registration, if requested by (x) an Initial
Purchaser, in the case where such Initial Purchaser holds Notes acquired by it
as part of its initial placement, or (y) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Notes covered thereby: (i) make such
representations and warranties to Holders of such Registrable Notes and the
underwriters (if any), with respect to the business of the Company as then
conducted and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any,
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case,
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 updates thereof (which may be in the form of a reliance letter)
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters (if
any) and the Holders of a majority in amount of the Registrable Notes being
sold, addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters (if any) covering
the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings
and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such underwriters (it
being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion may be subject to
customary qualifications and exceptions); (iii) obtain “cold comfort”
letters and updates thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the managing underwriters from the independent registered public accountants of
the Company, addressed to each of the underwriters, 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 such other
matters as reasonably requested by such underwriters in accordance with
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72; and (iv) if an underwriting
agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions
and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 4 hereof (or
such other provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such Registration
Statement and the managing underwriters) customary for such agreements with
respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section (including,
without limitation, such underwriters and selling Holders); and in the case of
an underwritten registration, the above requirements shall be satisfied at each
closing under the related underwriting agreement or as and to the extent
required thereunder;

 

(p)           if (1) a Shelf Registration is filed
pursuant to Section 2(b) or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, make reasonably available
for inspection by any selling Holder of Registrable Notes or Participating
Broker-Dealer, as applicable, who certifies to the Company that it has a
current intention to sell Registrable Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration,
any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Notes, if
any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling
Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter
(collectively, the “Inspectors”), at the offices where normally kept, during
the Company’s normal business hours,

 

14

 

all financial and other records, pertinent organizational and
operational documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”)
as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to conduct due diligence
activities, and cause the officers, trustees and employees of the Company to
supply all relevant information in each case reasonably requested by any such
Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement; Records and
information which the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and
any Records and information which it notifies the Inspectors are confidential
shall not be disclosed to any Inspector except where (i) the disclosure of
such Records or information is necessary to avoid or correct a material
misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement, (ii) the release
of such Records or information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court of competent jurisdiction or is necessary in connection with any
action, suit or proceeding or (iii) such Records or information previously
has been made generally available to the public; each selling Holder of such
Registrable Notes and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to
agree in writing that Records and information obtained by it as a result of
such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as
the basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Company unless
and until such is made generally available to the public through no fault of an
Inspector or a selling Holder; and each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes
and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to further agree in
writing that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records or
information is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, or in connection
with any action, suit or proceeding, give notice to the Company and allow the Company
at its expense to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the
Records and information deemed confidential;

 

(q)           comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC so long as any provision of this Agreement shall be
applicable and make generally available to its security holders earning
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and
Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act)
no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after
the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year)
(i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Notes
are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten
offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering,
commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after
the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover
said 12-month periods, provided that
the obligations under this paragraph (q) shall be satisfied by the timely
filing of quarterly and annual reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K under the
Exchange Act;

 

(r)            if an Exchange Offer is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Company (or to such
other Person as directed by the Company), in exchange for the Exchange Notes,
the Company shall mark, or cause to be marked, on such Notes delivered by such
Holders that such Notes are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes;
it being understood that in no event shall such Notes be marked as paid or
otherwise satisfied;

 

(s)           cooperate with each seller of
Registrable Notes covered by any Registration Statement and each underwriter,
if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Notes and their
respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the
NASD;

 

15

 

(t)            take all other steps reasonably
necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Notes covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby;

 

(u)           (A)  in the case of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (i) include in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” which section
shall be reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers or another
representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, and which shall contain a
summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the
SEC with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer
that holds Registrable Notes acquired for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”)
and that will be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes to be received by such broker-dealer in the
Exchange Offer, whether such positions or policies have been publicly
disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the
reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers or such other representative,
represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC, including a statement
that any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange Notes for Registrable Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory underwriter and must
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes, (ii) furnish to each
Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the Company the notice
referred to in Section 3(g) of this Agreement, without charge, as many copies
of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
including any preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto,
as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably request (the Company hereby
consents to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Person
subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act,
including all Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or
transfer of the Exchange Notes covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto), (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
Prospectus contained therein in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully
delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time as such Persons must comply with such
requirements under the Securities Act and applicable rules and regulations in
order to resell the Exchange Notes; provided, however,
that such period shall not be required to exceed one year following the
completion of the Exchange Offer (or such longer period if extended pursuant to
the last sentence of Section 3 hereof) (the “Applicable Period”), and (iv)
include in the transmittal letter or similar documentation to be executed by an
exchange offeree in order to participate in the Exchange Offer (x) the
following provision:

 

“If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding
Registrable Notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities
or other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of Exchange Notes
received in respect of such Registrable Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer”;

 

and (y) a statement to
the effect that by a Participating Broker-Dealer making the acknowledgment
described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in connection with the
exchange of Registrable Notes, the Participating Broker-Dealer will not be
deemed to admit that

 

16

 

it is an underwriter
within the meaning of the Securities Act; and (B) in the case of any Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, the Company agrees to deliver to the Initial
Purchasers or to another representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, if
reasonably requested by an Initial Purchaser or such other representative of
Participating Broker-Dealers, on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers
upon consummation of the Exchange Offer (i) an opinion of counsel in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser or such other
representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions requested in connection with Exchange Offer Registration
Statements and such other matters as may be reasonably requested (it being
agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion may be subject to
customary qualifications and exceptions), (ii) an officer’s certificate
substantially similar to that specified in Section 6(e) of the Purchase
Agreement and such additional certifications as are customarily delivered in a
public offering of debt and (iii) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, comfort letters, in each case, in customary form if
permitted by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72.

 

The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes
as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such
information regarding such seller as may be required by the staff of the SEC to
be included in a Registration Statement. The Company may exclude from such
registration the Registrable Notes of any seller who fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. The Company
shall have no obligation to register under the Securities Act the Registrable Notes
of a seller who so fails to furnish such information.

 

In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, or if
Participating Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company that they will be
using the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as
provided in this Section 3(u) are seeking to sell Exchange Notes and are
required to deliver Prospectuses, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event specified in Section
3(g)(ii), 3(g)(iii), 3(g)(v) or 3(g)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Registration
Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof or until it is advised
in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable
Prospectus may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will
deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies in such Holder’s
possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession,
of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the
case may be, current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company
shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Notes or
Exchangeable Notes, as the case may be, pursuant to a Registration Statement,
the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and have declared
effective (if an amendment), as soon as practicable after the resolution of the
related matters, an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and
shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement is required to
be maintained effective and the Prospectus usable for resales pursuant to this
Agreement by the number of days in the period from and including the date of
the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Company shall have
made available to the Holders (x) copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions or (y) the Advice.

 

17

 

4.             Indemnification and Contribution.  (a)  In
connection with a Shelf Registration Statement or in connection with any
delivery of a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
by any Participating Broker-Dealer or Initial Purchaser, as applicable, who
seeks to sell Exchange Notes, the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes included within any such Shelf
Registration Statement and each Participating Broker-Dealer or Initial
Purchaser selling Exchange Notes, underwriters, their officers and employees, and
each Person, if any, who controls any such Person within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which that
Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, Initial Purchaser, underwriter, officer,
employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or any
other statute or common law and shall reimburse each Holder, Participating
Broker-Dealer, Initial Purchaser, underwriter, officer, employee or controlling
person for any legal or other expenses (including to the extent hereinafter
provided, reasonable counsel fees) incurred by that Holder, Participating
Broker-Dealer, Initial Purchaser, underwriter, officer, employee or controlling
person in connection with investigating any such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or in connection with defending any action, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arise out of, or are based
upon, (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), covering Registrable Notes
or Exchange Notes, as applicable, (B) the omission or alleged omission to state
in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (C) any
act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Holder,
Participating Broker-Dealer, Initial Purchaser, underwriter, officer, employee
or controlling person in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Notes
or the transactions contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or
referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or
based upon matters covered by clause (A) or (B) above (provided that the Company
shall not be liable under this clause (C) to the extent that it is determined
in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action resulted directly from any acts or failures to act
under taken or omitted to be taken such by such Holder, Participating
Broker-Dealer, Initial Purchaser or underwriter through its gross negligence or
willful misconduct); provided, however,
that this indemnity does not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability,
expense or action arising out of (i) an untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished in writing to the Company by the Initial
Purchasers or any Holder, underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer for use in
a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) or (ii) the failure of any Holder to comply
with the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement; provided, further, however, that no indemnity by the Company
to any Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, Initial Purchaser, underwriter,
officer, employee or controlling person shall apply in respect of any final
Prospectus furnished by such person to a person who receives the Exchange Notes
or the Registrable Notes, insofar as such indemnity relates to any untrue or
misleading statement or omission made in such final Prospectus but eliminated
or remedied prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Exchange Notes or
Registrable Notes in any amendment or supplement thereto, unless a copy of such
amendment or supplement (excluding any documents incorporated by

 

18

 

reference in such final Prospectus) is furnished by such person on or
before the confirmation of such sale.

 

(b)           Each of the Initial Purchasers and
each Holder, underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer agrees, severally and
not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers and
employees, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which the Company, its officers, employees or controlling persons may become
subject, under the Securities Act or any other statute or common law, and shall
reimburse the Company and any such officer, employee or controlling person for
any legal or other expenses (including, to the extent hereinafter provided,
reasonable counsel fees) incurred by them in connection with investigating any
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or in connection with defending any
action insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions
arise out of, or are based upon, (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto),
covering Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as applicable, or (B) the
omission or alleged omission to state in any Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such
Initial Purchaser, Holder, underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer
specifically for inclusion therein; provided, however,
that in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, no such Holder shall be
liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds
received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Notes pursuant to such
Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(c)           In case any
action shall be brought against any party in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to any of the preceding paragraphs, such party (hereinafter
called the indemnified party) shall promptly notify the party or parties
against whom indemnity shall be sought hereunder (hereinafter called the
indemnifying party) in writing, and the indemnifying party shall have the right
to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume
(in conjunction with any other indemnifying party) the defense thereof,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all fees and expenses. If the indemnifying party shall
elect not to assume the defense of any such action, the indemnifying party
shall reimburse the indemnified party for the reasonable fees and expenses of
any counsel retained by such indemnified party. Such indemnified party shall
have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action in which the
defense has been assumed by the indemnifying party and participate in the
defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel has been
specifically authorized by the indemnifying party or (ii) the named parties to
any such action (including any impleaded parties) include each of such indemnified
party and the indemnifying party and such indemnified party shall have been
advised by such counsel that a conflict of interest between the indemnifying
party and such indemnified party may arise and for this reason it is not
desirable for the same counsel to represent both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but

 

19

 

substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the
reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys for
such indemnified party (plus any local counsel retained by such indemnified
party in its reasonable judgment)). The indemnified party shall be reimbursed
for all such fees and expenses as they are incurred. The indemnifying party
shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its
consent, but if any such action is settled with the consent of the indemnifying
party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action,
suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity has or 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 action, suit or proceeding.

 

(d)           If the indemnification provided for
under this Section 4 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company from the initial offering
and sale of the Notes, on the one hand, and by a Holder from receiving
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act, on the
other, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted
by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and such Holder on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other
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 or by
any of the Initial Purchasers and such parties’ relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.

 

The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable to an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4, an
indemnifying party that is a Holder of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which
the total price at which the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes sold by
such indemnifying party to any purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages
which such indemnifying party has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by
reason of any untrue or alleged

 

20

 

untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. The Holders’
obligations in this Section 4 to contribute shall be several in proportion to
the principal amount of Registrable Notes and Exchange Notes registered for
them and not joint. 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. For purposes of this Section 4, each Affiliate of a
Holder, and each director, officer and employee and Person, if any, who
controls a Holder or such Affiliate within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights
to contribution as such Holder and each Person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company .

 

5.             Participation in an Underwritten Registration.  No Holder may participate in an underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s
Registrable Notes on the basis provided in the underwriting arrangement
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and
(b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other
documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements.

 

6.             Selection of Underwriters. 
The Holders of Registrable Notes covered by the Shelf Registration
Statement who desire to do so may sell the Notes covered by such Shelf
Registration in an underwritten offering, subject to the provisions of Section
3(n) hereof. In any such underwritten offering, the underwriter or underwriters
and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
included in such offering; provided, however,
that such underwriters and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

7.             Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           Rule 144 and Rule 144A. 
For so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of
Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act and any Registrable Notes remain outstanding,
the Company will file the reports required to be filed by it under the
Securities Act and Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder; provided, however,
that if the Company ceases to be so required to file such reports, it will,
upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Notes, (a) make publicly
available such information as is necessary to permit sales of its securities
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (b) deliver such information to
a prospective purchaser as is necessary to permit sales of its securities
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and (c) take such further
action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in each case, to the extent
required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its Registrable Notes
without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the
exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may
be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such
rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any similar rules or
regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder of
Registrable Notes, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as
to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

21

 

(b)           No Inconsistent Agreements. 
The Company has not entered into, nor will the Company on or after the
date of this Agreement enter into, any agreement which is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof without the written consent of
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable
Notes. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict
with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s
other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.

 

(c)           Amendments and Waivers. 
The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this
sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company
has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Notes affected by such
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or departure; provided
that no amendment, modification or supplement or waiver or consent to the
departure with respect to the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall be
effective as against any Holder of Registrable Notes unless consented to in
writing by such Holder of Registrable Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, (i) this Agreement may be amended, without the consent of any Holder
of Registrable Notes, by written agreement signed by the Company and the
Initial Purchasers, to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision
of this Agreement that may be inconsistent with any other provision of this
Agreement or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions
arising under this Agreement which shall not be inconsistent with other
provisions of this Agreement, (ii) this Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers and consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may be given, by written agreement signed by the Company and the Initial
Purchasers to the extent that any such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent is, in their reasonable judgment, necessary or appropriate to
comply with applicable law and regulation (including any interpretation of the
staff of the SEC) or any change therein and (iii) to the extent any provision
of this Agreement relates to an Initial Purchaser, such provision may be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
such provisions may be given, by written agreement signed by such Initial
Purchaser and the Company.

 

(d)           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 7(d), which
address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers:

 

c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.

85 Broad Street

New York, New York 
10004

Attention: 
Registration Department

 

and

 

Lehman Brothers Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

 

22

 

New York, New York 
10019

Attention: Debt Capital Markets, Global Power with a
copy to its General Counsel at the same address

 

 and (ii) if to the Company, initially at
the Company c/o Ameren Corporation:

 

P.O. Box 66149

St. Louis, Missouri 63166-6149

Attention: Treasurer

 

and thereafter at such
other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 7(d).

 

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.

 

(e)           Successors and Assigns. 
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
successors, assigns and transferees of the Initial Purchasers, including,
without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent
Holders; provided, however, that nothing herein
shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of
Registrable Notes in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the
Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Notes in
any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Notes
shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and
holding such Registrable Notes, 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.

 

(f)            Third Party Beneficiaries. 
Each Holder and any Participating Broker-Dealer shall be third party
beneficiaries of the agreements made hereunder among the Initial Purchasers and
the Company, and the Initial Purchasers 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.

 

23

 

(i)            GOVERNING LAW.  THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE
VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET
FORTH HEREIN, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 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.

 

(k)           Notes Held by the Company or its Affiliates.  Whenever the consent or approval of Holders
of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is required hereunder,
Registrable Notes held by the Company or its Affiliates shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.

 

(l)            Entire Agreement.  This
Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Company
and each of the Initial Purchaser relating to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
among the parties hereto with respect to this subject matter.

 

[continued on next page]

 

24

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
   

  	
   

  	
  ILLINOIS POWER COMPANY

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  D/B/A AMERENIP

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  By: 

  	
  /s/ Jerre E.
  Birdsong

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name: Jerre E.
  Birdsong

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title: Vice
  President and Treasurer

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Confirmed and accepted as of

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  the date first above written:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  UBS SECURITIES LLC

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
  GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  For itself and as representative of the

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  several Initial Purchasers

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
  LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  For itself and as representative of the

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  several Initial Purchasers

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By: 

  	
  /s/ Martin Goldberg

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Name: Martin Goldberg

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Title: Senior
  Vice President

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00110-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00110-of-00352.parquet"}]]