PANACO INC
S-4/A, 1997-11-14
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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  As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 1997


                          Registration Number 333-39919

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM S-4/A
                        Pre-Effective Amendment Number 1
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                  PANACO, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                      1311                   43-1593374
(State or other jurisdiction of  Primary Standard Industrial  (I.R.S. Employer)
incorporation or organization)   Classification Code Number) Identification No.)

                         1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard
                        Kansas City, Missouri 64145-1216
                                 (816) 942-6300
(Address,  including  zip code and  telephone  number,  including  area code, of
Registrant's principal executive offices)


                    H. James Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer
                                  PANACO, Inc.
                         1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard
                        Kansas City, Missouri 64145-1216
                                 (816) 942-6300
     (Name, address, including zip code and telephone number, including area
                          code, of agent for service)

                                   Copies to:

                            Robert T. Schendel, Esq.
                        Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.
                             Twelve Wyandotte Plaza
                        120 West 12th Street, Suite 1600
                           Kansas City, Missouri 64105


        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
 As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement


     If the  securities  being  registered  on this  Form are being  offered  in
     connection  with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance
     with General Instruction G, check the following box. Q
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

- ------------------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------

                                                    Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum
Title of Each Class of Securities Amount to be       Offering Price            Aggregate             Amount of
to be Registered                   Registered         Per Note (1)        Offering Price (1)     Registration Fee
- ------------------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------

10 5/8% Series B Senior Notes
<S> <C>                           <C>                    <C>                 <C>                      <C>
due 2004..................        $100,000,000           100.00%             $100,000,000           $30,303.03

- ------------------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------

Guarantees  of 10 5/8% Series B Senior  Notes due 2004 by  subsidiaries  of PANACO,
Inc.
                                       ---                 ---                    ---                   (2)
- ------------------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

(1)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2)      Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
         no registration fee is payable with respect to the Guarantees.

         The Registrant hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its  effective  date until the  Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically  states that this Registration
Statement shall  thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  or until the  Registration  Statement
shall become  effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said
Section 8(a), may determine.



<PAGE>

                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     The Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  provides that no director or
officer  of the  Company  shall  be  personally  liable  to the  Company  or its
stockholders  for monetary  damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a
director or officer,  except for liability (i) for any breach of the director or
officer's duty of loyalty to the Company or its  stockholders,  (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve  intentional  misconduct or knowing
violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the General  Corporation Law of the
State of  Delaware,  or (iv) for any  transaction  from  which the  director  or
officer derived an improper personal benefit.  The effect of these provisions is
to  eliminate   the  rights  of  the  Company  and  its   stockholder   (through
stockholders'  derivative  suits on behalf of the  Company) to recover  monetary
damages  against a director or officer for breach of fiduciary  duty,  except in
the situations described above.

     The Company entered into indemnification  agreements with its directors and
executive  officers  as of  July  15,  1997.  Pursuant  to  the  Indemnification
Agreements,  the  Company  has  agreed  to  hold  harmless  and  indemnify  such
individuals to the fullest extent permitted by law and to advance  expenses,  if
the  director  or  executive  officer  becomes  a party to or  witness  or other
participant in any threatened,  pending or completed action,  suit or proceeding
by  reason of any  occurrence  related  to the fact that the  person is or was a
director or executive  officer of the Company or a subsidiary  of the Company or
another  entity at the  Company's  request,  unless a  reviewing  party  (either
majority  of  disinterested  directors,  independent  legal  counsel,  or by the
stockholders)   determines   that  the   person   would  not  be   entitled   to
indemnification  under the  Agreement  or  applicable  law. The Company has also
agreed to purchase and maintain insurance for its directors and officers and has
purchased a policy providing such insurance.

     Depending upon the character of the  proceeding,  the Company may indemnify
against  expenses,   including  attorneys'  fees,  judgments,  amounts  paid  in
settlement,  ERISA excise taxes or penalties,  finds and other expenses actually
and  reasonably  incurred  by the  indemnified  person  in  connection  with any
threatened,  pending or completed  action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether civil,
criminal,  administrative,  investigative or appellate to which director is, was
or at any time  becomes a party by reason of his or her service as a director or
executive officer.
<PAGE>

Item 21.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

     (a)  Exhibits

          Exhibit
          Number    Description

     3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,  filed with the Commission
as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement  on Form S-4 on December 13, 1991,
and incorporated herein by this reference.

     3.2 Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated November
19, 1991, filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration  Statement
on Form S-4 on December 13, 1991, and incorporated herein by this reference.

     3.3 By-laws of the Company,  filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 on December 13, 1991, and incorporated herein
by this reference.

     3.4  Amendment  to  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company  dated
September  24,  1996,  filed with the  Commission  as an exhibit to the  Amended
Current  Report on Form 8-K/A on November 18, 1996, and  incorporated  herein by
this reference.

     4.1  Article Fifth of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
in Exhibit 3.1.

     4.2 Indenture dated October 9, 1997,  among the Company and UMB Bank, N.A.,
as Trustee.

     4.3  Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 9, 1997, among
PANACO, Inc., and BT Alex. Brown, First Union Capital Markets Corp, A.G.
Edwards & Sons Inc. and Gaines, Berland Inc.

     4.4  Form of 10  % Series B Senior Note due 2004.

                 *5.1    Opinion of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.

     10.1 PANACO, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, filed with the Commission as an
exhibit on the  Registration  Statement on Form S-4 on December  13,  1991,  and
incorporated by reference.

     10.9  Purchase  and Sale  Agreement,  dated July 12, 1995,  between  Zapata
Exploration  Company,  Zapata  Offshore  Gathering Co., Inc., and PANACO,  Inc.,
filed with the  Commission  as an exhibit to the  Current  Report on Form 8-K on
August 1, 1995, and incorporated herein by this reference.

     10.11  Assignment/East  Breaks 110,  effective October 1, 1994, from Zapata
Exploration Company to PANACO,  Inc. The Assignment/East  Breaks 109 document is
identical,  filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on August 1, 1995, and incorporated herein by this reference.

     10.12  Purchase and Sale Agreement  dated November 30, 1995,  between Shell
Western E&P, Inc. and PANACO,  Inc.,  filed with the Commission as an exhibit to
the Current Report on Form 8-K on January 31, 1996, and  incorporated  herein by
this reference.

     10.13 PANACO,  Inc.  Employee Stock Ownership Plan & Trust,  filed with the
Commission  as an exhibit on Form S-1 on December  19,  1996,  and  incorporated
herein by this reference.

     10.14  Purchase and Sale  Agreement,  dated August 26, 1996,  between Amoco
Production Company and PANACO,  Inc., filed with the Commission as an exhibit to
the Current Report on Form 8-K, on October 28, 1996, and incorporated  herein by
this reference.

     10.17 Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated November 11, 1996 between National
Energy Group, Inc. and PANACO,  Inc., filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.14
to the Current Report on Form 8-K on January 29, 1997, and  incorporated  herein
by this reference.

     10.18     Restated Merger Agreement dated July 30, 1997 between PANACO,
Inc., The Union Companies, inc., Leonard C. Tallerine, Jr. and Mark C.
Licata, filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Current Report on
Form 8-K on August 15, 1997, and incorporated herein by this reference.

     10.19 Form of  Executive  Officer and Director  Indemnification  Agreement,
filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company's Form 10-Q on August 15,
1997, and incorporated herein by this reference.

     10.20 Form of Warrant to Purchase  Shares of Common  Stock of PANACO,  Inc.
issued by the  Company on October 9, 1997 to  Offense  Group  Associates,  L.P.,
Kayne,  Anderson  Non-Traditional  Investments,  L.P., ARBCO  Associates,  L.P.,
Opportunity  Associates,   L.P.,  Kayne,  Anderson  Offshore  Limited,  Foremost
Insurance Company, TOPA Insurance Company, and EOS Partners,  L.P., with respect
to an aggregate of 2,060,606 shares.

     10.21 Amended and Restated Credit  Agreement,  dated October 9, 1997, among
First Union National Bank of North Carolina, as agent, and the lenders signatory
thereto, and PANACO, Inc.

     21.1 List of subsidiaries of PANACO Inc.

    *23.1   Consent of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.(included in its opinion
filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

     23.2 Consent of Ryder Scott Company.

     23.3 Consent of W.D. Von Gonten & Co., Petroleum Engineers

     23.4 Consent of McCune Engineering, P.E.

     23.5 Consent of Arthur Andersen, LLP

     23.6 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

     24.1 Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages to the
Registration Statement).

     25.1 Statement of Eligibility of UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee, on Form
T-1.

     99.1 Form of Letter of Transmittal
- -------------
  * Filed with this amendment.

     (b)  Financial Statement Schedules.
<PAGE>




Item 22.  Undertakings

     (a) The  undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that, for purposes of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to section  13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is  incorporated by reference in this  Registration  Statement
shall be deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities
offered  therein,  and the  offering  of such  securities  at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          Insofar  as   indemnification   for  liabilities   arising  under  the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons
of the  Registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions,  or  otherwise,  the
Registrant  has been advised that in the opinion of the  Securities and Exchange
Commission  such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
 In the event that a claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the Registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a directors,
officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification  by it is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in  the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

     (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for
information  that is incorporated  by reference into the Prospectus  pursuant to
Items 4, 10(b),  11 or 13 of this form,  within one  business  day of receipt of
such  request,  and to send the  incorporated  documents  by first class mail or
other equally  prompt means.  This includes  information  contained in documents
filed subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement through the
date of responding to the request.

     (c) The undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes to supply by means of a
post-effective amended all information concerning a transaction, and the company
being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the
Registration Statement when it became effective.




<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Company has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Kansas City, State of Missouri, on the 14th day of November, 1997.

                                                            PANACO, INC.


                                             By:
                                             H. James Maxwell
                                             Chief Executive Officer
                                             Chairman of the Board



      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.


     Signatures                           Title                      Date


/s/ H. James Maxwell               Chief Executive Officer,   November 14, 1997
H. James Maxwell                   Chairman of the Board, and
                                   Director



/s/ Todd Bart                      Chief Financial Officer,   November 14, 1997
Todd Bart                          Treasurer, and Director



/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney          Director           November 14,1997
Larry M. Wright


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney          Director           November 14,1997
Leonard C. Tallerine, Jr



/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney          Director           November 14,1997
Mark C. Licata


<PAGE>

     Signatures                               Title                Date


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney          Director           November 14,1997
A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr.



/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney          Director           November 14,1997
Donald W. Chesser



/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney          Director           November 14,1997
James B. Kreamer



/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney          Director           November 14,1997
Mark C. Barrett



/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney          Director           November 14,1997
Michael Springs



/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney          Director           November 14,1997
Harold First




<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
Goldking  Acquisition  Corp.  has  duly  caused  this  Amendment  No.  1 to  the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized,  in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri, on the 14th day
of November, 1997.

                                                      GOLDKING ACQUISITION CORP.


                                                   By:
                                                       H. James Maxwell
                                                       President


      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signatures                                Title                Date

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney      Chairman of the Board   November 14, 1997
Leonard C. Tallerine, Jr.              Chief Executive Officer
                                       Director

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney      Director                November 14, 1997
H. James Maxwell


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney      Director                November 14, 1997
Larry M. Wright


/s/ Todd R. Bart                       Chief Financial Officer November 14, 1997
Todd R. Bart

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
Goldking  Companies,   Inc.  has  duly  caused  this  Amendment  No.  1  to  the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized,  in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri, on the 14th day
of November, 1997.

                                                        GOLDKING COMPANIES, INC.


                                                        By:
                                                            H. James Maxwell
                                                            President

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signatures                             Title                   Date

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney    Chairman of the Board     November 14, 1997
Leonard C. Tallerine, Jr.            Chief Executive Officer
                                     Director

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney    Director                  November 14, 1997
H. James Maxwell


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney    Director                  November 14, 1997
Larry M. Wright


/s/ Todd R. Bart                     Chief Financial Officer   November 14, 1997
Todd R. Bart

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
Goldking  Oil  &  Gas  Corp.  has  duly  caused  this  Amendment  No.  1 to  the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized,  in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri, on the 14th day
of November, 1997.

                                                        GOLDKING OIL & GAS CORP.


                                                         By:
                                                            H. James Maxwell
                                                            President

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signatures                            Title                    Date

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney  Chairman of the Board      November 14, 1997
Leonard C. Tallerine, Jr.          Chief Executive Officer
                                   Director

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney  Director                   November 14, 1997
H. James Maxwell


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney  Director                   November 14, 1997
Larry M. Wright


/s/ Todd R. Bart                   Chief Financial Officer    November 14, 1997
Todd R. Bart

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
Goldking  Trinity  Bay  Corp.  has  duly  caused  this  Amendment  No.  1 to the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized,  in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri, on the 14th day
of November, 1997.

                                                      GOLDKING TRINITY BAY CORP.


                                                       By:
                                                            H. James Maxwell
                                                            President


      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signatures                            Title                     Date

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney     Chairman of the Board    November 14, 1997
Leonard C. Tallerine, Jr.             Chief Executive Officer
                                      Director

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney     Director                 November 14, 1997
H. James Maxwell


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney     Director                 November 14, 1997
Larry M. Wright


/s/ Todd R. Bart                      Chief Financial Officer  November 14, 1997
Todd R. Bart

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
Goldking  Production  Company  has  duly  caused  this  Amendment  No.  1 to the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized,  in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri, on the 14th day
of November, 1997.

                                                     GOLDKING PRODUCTION COMPANY


                                                       By:
                                                            H. James Maxwell
                                                            President

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signatures                             Title                       Date

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney  Chairman of the Board       November 14, 1997
Leonard C. Tallerine, Jr.          Chief Executive Officer
                                   Director

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney  Director                    November 14, 1997
H. James Maxwell


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney  Director                    November 14, 1997
Larry M. Wright


/s/ Todd R. Bart                   Chief Financial Officer     November 14, 1997
Todd R. Bart

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Act of 1933, as
amended, Hill Transportation Company, Inc. has duly caused this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
 undersigned,  thereunto duly  authorized,  in the City of Kansas City, State of
Missouri, on the 14th day of November, 1997.

                                               HILL TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, INC.


                                                       By:
                                                           H. James Maxwell
                                                           President

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signatures                            Title                    Date

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney     Chairman of the Board    November 14, 1997
Leonard C. Tallerine, Jr.             Chief Executive Officer
                                      Director

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney     Director                 November 14, 1997
H. James Maxwell


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney     Director                 November 14, 1997
Larry M. Wright


/s/ Todd R. Bart                      Chief Financial Officer  November 14, 1997
Todd R. Bart

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Act of 1933, as
amended, Umbrella Point Gathering Co., L.L.C. has duly caused this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
 undersigned,  thereunto duly  authorized,  in the City of Kansas City, State of
Missouri, on the 14th day of November, 1997.

                                            UMBRELLA POINT GATHERING CO., L.L.C.


                                               By:
                                                  H. James Maxwell
                                                  President

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration  Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signatures                         Title                      Date

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney  Chairman of the Board       November 14, 1997
Leonard C. Tallerine, Jr.          Chief Executive Officer
                                   Director

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney  Director                    November 14, 1997
H. James Maxwell


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as attorney  Director                    November 14, 1997
Larry M. Wright


/s/ Todd R. Bart                   Chief Financial Officer     November 14, 1997
Todd R. Bart

<PAGE>

  Exhibit 5.1

     November 14, 1997


PANACO, Inc.
PANACO Building
1050 West Blue Ridge Blvd.
Kansas City, Missouri  64145-1216

     Re:  Senior Notes

Dear Sirs:

     We have  acted as  counsel to PANACO,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  in connection  with the Company's  offer (the "Exchange  Offer") to
exchange  its 10 % Series B Senior  Notes  due 2004 to be  registered  under the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1933  (the  "New  Notes")  for  any and all of its
outstanding 10 % Series A Senior Notes due 2004 (the "Old Notes"). The Old Notes
are, and the New Notes will be,  guaranteed (the  "Subsidiary  Guarantees,"  and
together with the Old Notes,  the  "Securities") on a joint and several basis by
Goldking Acquisition Corp., Goldking Companies,  Inc., Goldking Oil & Gas Corp.,
Goldking Trinity Bay Corp.,  Goldking  Production  Company,  Hill Transportation
Company,  Inc. and Umbrella  Point  Gathering  Co.,  L.L.C.  (collectively,  the
"Subsidiary  Guarantors").  The Old Notes have been,  and the New Notes will be,
issued pursuant to an Indenture  dated as of October 9, 1997 (the  "Indenture"),
among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee.

     In connection with such matters, we have examined the Indenture  (including
the Subsidiary Guarantees contained therein), the Registration Statement on Form
S-4 filed by the Company and the Subsidiary  Guarantors  with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission for the registration of the Securities under the Securities
Act of 1933 (as  amended,  the  "Registration  Statement")  and  such  corporate
records  of the  Company,  certificates  of  public  officials  and  such  other
documents  as we have deemed  necessary or  appropriate  for the purpose of this
opinion.

     Based upon the foregoing,  subject to the  qualifications  hereinafter  set
forth, and having regard for such legal  considerations as we deem relevant,  we
are of the opinion  that the  Securities  proposed to be issued  pursuant to the
Exchange  Offer  have been duly  authorized  for  issuance  and,  subject to the
Registration  Statement becoming effective under the Securities Act of 1933, and
delivered in accordance  with the Exchange Offer and the Indenture,  (i) the New
Notes will  constitute  valid and legally  binding  obligations  of the Company,
entitled  to the  benefits  of  the  Indenture  and  the  Subsidiary  Guarantees
contained therein, and (ii) the Subsidiary  Guarantees will constitute valid and
binding legal obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors.


     The opinions  expressed  above are limited by,  subject to and based on the
assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth below:

          (a)  The  validity  and  binding  effect  of the  New  Notes  and  the
Subsidiary Guarantees may be limited or affected by bankruptcy,  reorganization,
insolvency,  fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws relating to
or affecting  creditors'  rights generally and by general  equitable  principles
(regardless  of whether such  validity and binding  effect are  considered  in a
proceeding  in  equity  or at law),  and  except  as  rights  to  indemnity  and
contribution under the Indenture (including the Subsidiary  Guarantees contained
therein) may be limited by applicable laws or policies underlying such laws.

          (b) We are members of the bar of the States of Missouri and Kansas and
do not hold ourselves out as being  conversant with the laws of any jurisdiction
other than those of such states and the United States of America, and we express
no opinion herein with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction. Insofar as
the opinions  expressed  herein  relate to matters  governed by New York law, we
have assumed, without knowing and without making any investigation to determine,
that such laws are the same as the laws of the State of Missouri.

     We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  Exhibit  to the
Registration  Statement  and to the  reference  to us under the  caption  "Legal
Matters" in the  Prospectus  forming a part of the  Registration  Statement.  In
giving this consent,  we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of
persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933
and  the  rules  and  regulations  of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
thereunder.


                                   Sincerely,

                                   SHUGHART THOMSON & KILROY, P.C.



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