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EXHIBIT 4.4
COGENTRIX ENERGY, INC.
8.75% Senior Notes Due 2008
REGISTRATION AGREEMENT
New York, New York
September 22, 2000
Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
CIBC World Markets Corp.
c/o Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
390 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013
Dear Sirs:
Cogentrix Energy, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers (the "Initial
Purchasers"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement, dated September
19, 2000 (the "Purchase Agreement"), its 8.75% Senior Notes due 2008 (the
"Securities") (the "Initial Placement"). As an inducement to the Initial
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a
condition to your obligations thereunder, the Company agrees with you, (i) for
the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the holders
from time to time of the Securities (including the Initial Purchasers) (each of
the foregoing a "Holder" and together the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase
Agreement. As used in this Registration Agreement (the "Agreement"), the
following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
"Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Affiliate" of any specified person means any other person
which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such specified person. For purposes of this definition,
control of a person means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such person whether by contract or
otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Closing Date" means September 22, 2000.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Exchange Offer Registration Period" means the 1 year period
following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any
period during which any stop
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order shall be in effect suspending the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" means a registration
statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to
the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchanging Dealer" means any Holder (which may include the
Initial Purchasers) which is a broker-dealer, electing to exchange Securities
acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities, for New Securities.
"Holder" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of October 20, 1998,
as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto relating to the
Securities dated as of October 20, 1998, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto
dated as of November 25, 1998, each between the Company and First Union National
Bank of North Carolina, as trustee, as the same may be amended or supplemented
from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Placement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"Letter of Transmittal" means the letter of transmittal to be
prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Securities for use by
such Holders in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer.
"Majority Holders" means the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of securities registered under a Registration
Statement.
"Managing Underwriters" means the investment banker or
investment bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten
offering.
"New Securities" means debt securities of the Company
identical in all material respects to the Securities (except that the interest
rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions will be modified or
eliminated, as appropriate), to be issued under the Indenture or the New
Securities Indenture.
"New Securities Indenture" means an indenture between the
Company and the New Securities Trustee, identical in all material respects with
the Indenture.
"New Securities Trustee" means a bank or trust company
reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as trustee with respect to
the New Securities under the New Securities Indenture.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities, covered by such
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Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements to the Prospectus,
including post-effective amendments.
"Registered Exchange Offer" means the proposed offer to the
Holders to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Securities, a
like principal amount of the New Securities.
"Registration Statement" means any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or
the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments,
in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto
and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Securities" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Shelf Registration" means a registration effected pursuant to
Section 3 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Period" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which
covers some or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an
appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be
adopted by the Commission, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated
by reference therein.
"Trustee" means the trustee with respect to the Securities
under the Indenture.
"Underwriter" means any underwriter of securities in
connection with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.
2. Registered Exchange Offer; Resales of New Securities by
Exchanging Dealers; Private Exchange. (a) The Company shall prepare and, not
later than 90 days following the Closing Date, shall file with the Commission
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered
Exchange Offer. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Act within 150 days
of the Closing Date.
(b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it
being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming that such Holder is
not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Act, acquires the New
Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution
(within the meaning of the Act) of the New Securities) to trade such New
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of a
substantial proportion of the several states of the United States.
(c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the
Company shall:
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(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) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
30 days and not more than 45 days after the date notice thereof is
mailed to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);
(iii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York; and
(iv) comply in all material respects with all applicable laws.
(d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered
Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so
accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee or the New Securities Trustee, as the
case may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of
Securities, New Securities equal in principal amount to the Securities
of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
(e) The Initial Purchasers and the Company acknowledge that,
pursuant to interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Act,
and in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, each Exchanging Dealer
is required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with a sale of any New
Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Accordingly, the
Company shall:
(i) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the
cover of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto
in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a
section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, and in Annex C
hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution section of the
Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the letter
of transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and
(ii) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Act during the
Exchange Offer Registration Period for delivery by Exchanging Dealers
in connection with sales of New Securities received pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by Section 4(h) below. The
Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to keep the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective during the requisite
period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders
of securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such
securities during that period, unless (i) such action is required by
applicable
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law or (ii) such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for
valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the Company's
obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of
assets, so long as the Company promptly thereafter complies with the
requirements of Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.
(f) In the event that any Initial Purchaser determines that it
is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to
the exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at
the request of such Initial Purchaser, the Company shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser or the party purchasing New Securities registered under a
Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such
Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a like principal amount of
New Securities. The Company shall seek to cause the CUSIP Service Bureau to
issue the same CUSIP number for such New Securities as for New Securities issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
3. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff, the Company
determines upon advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect
the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof, or (ii) for
any reason the Securities validly tendered pursuant to the Registered Exchange
Offer are not exchanged for New Securities within 180 days of the Closing Date,
or (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to Securities held by it
following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, or (iv) if any Holder
(other than an Initial Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the
Registered Exchange Offer or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser that
participates in the Registered Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities
pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, such Initial Purchaser does not receive freely
tradeable New Securities in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of
an unsold allotment (it being understood that, for purposes of this Section 3,
(x) the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing
the information required by Items 507 and/or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Act
in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in exchange for such
Securities shall result in such New Securities being not "freely tradeable" but
(y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection
with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities being not
"freely tradeable"), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall as promptly as practicable (but in no
event more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section
3), file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts to cause
to be declared effective under the Act a Shelf Registration Statement relating
to the offer and sale of the Securities or the New Securities, as applicable, by
the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution
elected by such Holders and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement;
provided, that with respect to New Securities received by an Initial Purchaser
in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the
Company may, if permitted by current interpretations by the Commission's staff,
file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
containing the information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or 508, as
applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this paragraph (a) with
respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as so
amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed by the provisions herein
applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.
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(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the Prospectus
forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years from the
date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or
such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities or New
Securities, as applicable, covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (in any such case, such period
being called the "Shelf Registration Period"). The Company shall be deemed not
to have used its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective
during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result
in Holders of securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such
securities during that period, unless (i) such action is required by applicable
law or (ii) such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid
business reasons (not including avoidance of the Company's obligations
hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the
Company promptly thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 4(k)
hereof, if applicable.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall furnish to you, prior to the filing
thereof with the Commission, a copy of any Shelf Registration Statement and any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and each
amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein and shall
use its best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the
Commission, such comments as you and your counsel reasonably may propose.
(b) The Company shall ensure that (i) any Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and
any amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Registration Statement
and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
(iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Registration Statement, and any
amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, does not include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(c) (1) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered thereby, and, if
requested by you or any such Holder, confirm such advice in writing:
(i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
has become effective; and
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments
or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
included therein or for additional information.
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(2) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of
a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered
thereby, and, in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
any Exchanging Dealer which has provided in writing to the Company a
telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if
requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, confirm such
advice in writing:
(i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose;
(ii) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the securities included therein for sale in
any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and
(iii) of the happening of any event that requires the
making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein
are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading
(which advice shall be accompanied by an instruction to
suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes
have been made).
(d) The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement at the earliest possible time.
(e) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of securities
included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without
charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules,
and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits (including those
incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
deliver to each Holder of securities included within the coverage of any Shelf
Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
(including each preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably
request; and the Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of securities in connection
with the offering and sale of the securities covered by the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto.
(g) The Company shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which
so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, any documents incorporated by reference
therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer so requests in writing, all exhibits
(including those incorporated by reference).
(h) The Company shall, during the Exchange Offer Registration
Period, promptly deliver to each Exchanging Dealer, without charge, as many
copies of the Prospectus included in
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such Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such Exchanging Dealer may reasonably request for delivery by such
Exchanging Dealer in connection with a sale of New Securities received by it
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and the Company consents to the use
of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any such Exchanging
Dealer, as aforesaid.
(i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other
offering of securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall
register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of securities included therein
and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification of such securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such Holders reasonably request in writing
and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the securities covered by such
Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company will not be required to qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified
or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to
taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(j) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of securities
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any
restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as
Holders may request prior to sales of securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph
(c)(2)(iii) above, the Company shall promptly prepare a post-effective amendment
to any Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related
Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered
to purchasers of the securities included therein, the Prospectus will not
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Not later than the effective date of any such Registration
Statement hereunder, the Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the Securities
or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under such Registration
Statement, and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for such
Securities or New Securities, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository
Trust Company.
(m) The Company shall use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and shall make generally
available to Holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the
applicable Registration Statement an earnings statement satisfying the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
(n) The Company shall cause the Indenture or the New
Securities Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act in a timely manner.
(o) The Company may require each Holder of securities to be
sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the
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Holder and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to
time reasonably require for inclusion in such Registration Statement.
(p) The Company shall, if requested, promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Shelf Registration
Statement, such information as the Managing Underwriters and Majority Holders
reasonably agree should be included therein and shall make all required filings
of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as notified of
the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the
Company shall enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements) and
take all other appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the
registration or the disposition of the securities, and in connection therewith,
if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to contain
indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth
in Section 7 (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to the Majority
Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any) with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to Section 7 from Holders of Securities to the Company.
(r) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the
Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of
securities to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating in any
disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney,
accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter such
financial and other books and records of the Company as shall be necessary to
conduct a reasonable investigation; (ii) cause the Company's officers, directors
and employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by such
Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection
with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence
examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated in
writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery
of such information shall be kept confidential by such Holders or any such
underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in
connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information
becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an
accompanying obligation of confidentiality; (iii) make such representations and
warranties to the Holders of securities registered thereunder and the
underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by
issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters
including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (iv)
obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and
opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to each selling Holder and the
underwriters, if any, covering such matters as are customarily covered in
opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be
reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters; (v) obtain "cold comfort"
letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public
accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required
to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each selling Holder
of securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in customary
form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort"
letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings; and (vi) deliver such
documents and certificates as may be
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reasonably requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if
any, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with any
customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement
entered into by the Company. The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii),
(iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section 4(r) shall be performed at (A) the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment
thereto and (B) each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and
to the extent required thereunder.
(s) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by any Initial
Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any Initial
Purchaser, such financial and other information and books and records of the
Company as shall be necessary to conduct a reasonable investigation; (ii) cause
the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant
information reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney,
accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is
customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any
information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as
confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept
confidential by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or
agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or
required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally
or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;
(iii) make such representations and warranties to such Initial Purchaser, in
form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in
primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited
to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (iv) obtain opinions of counsel
to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope
and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser and
its counsel, addressed to such Initial Purchaser, covering such matters as are
customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such
other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or its
counsel; (v) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any
other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company
or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement), addressed to such Initial Purchaser, in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection
with primary underwritten offerings, or if requested by such Initial Purchaser
or its counsel in lieu of a "cold comfort" letter, an agreed-upon procedures
letter under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters requested
by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel; and (vi) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or its
counsel, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with
conditions customarily contained in underwriting agreements. The foregoing
actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this Section 4(s)
shall be performed at the close of the Registered Exchange Offer and the
effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.
5. Special Interest Under Certain Circumstances. In the event
that (i) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, has not been filed with the Commission on or
prior to the 90th day following the Closing Date (or in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to clause (i) of the first
paragraph of Section 3, within 60 days after publication of the change in law or
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interpretation); (ii) either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, has not been declared
effective prior to the 150th day following the Closing Date (or in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to clause (i) of the
first paragraph of Section 3, if later, within 60 days after publication of the
change in law or interpretation); (iii) the Registered Exchange Offer has not
been consummated prior to the 180th day following the Closing Date; or (iv)
after the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective, such Shelf
Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or usable in connection
with resales of Securities or New Securities in accordance with and during the
periods specified in Section 3(b) hereof (because either (A) any event occurs as
a result of which the related Prospectus forming part of such Shelf Registration
Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading or (B) it shall be
necessary to amend such Shelf Registration Statement or supplement the related
prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the
respective rules thereunder) without, in the case of (A) or (B), being succeeded
within 30 days by an amended or an additional Shelf Registration Statement filed
and declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv)
a "Registration Default"), interest ("Special Interest") will accrue and be
payable semi-annually on the Securities and the New Securities which are the
subject of such Registration Default (in addition to the stated interest on the
Securities and the New Securities) from and including the date such Registration
Default occurs to but excluding the date, as applicable, on which the applicable
Registration Statement is filed or is declared effective, the Registered
Exchange Offer is consummated or the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes
effective, as the case may be. During the time that Special Interest is accruing
continuously the rate of such Special Interest shall be 0.25% per annum during
the 30-day period immediately following the occurence of any Registration
Default and shall increase by 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 30-day period,
but in no event shall such rate exceed 1.50% per annum in the aggregate
regardless of the number of Registration Defaults. If, after the cure of a
Registration Default, there is a subsequent Registration Default, the Special
Interest rate for such subsequent Registration Default shall initially be 0.25%,
regardless of the Special Interest Rate in effect with respect to any prior
Registration Default at the time of the cure of such Registration Default.
6. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2,
3 and 4 hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will
reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or
counsel designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in
connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel acting in connection therewith. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Holders of any Securities or New Securities being registered on
the Shelf Registration Statement shall pay all agency or brokerage fees and
commissions and underwriting discounts and commissions attributable to the sale
of such Securities or New Securities and the fees and disbursements of any
counsel retained by such Holders other than counsel referred to above.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) In connection with
any Registration Statement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder of securities covered thereby (including each Initial Purchaser and,
with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof,
each Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers,
<PAGE> 12
12
employees and agents of each such Holder and each person who controls any such
Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and
all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or
any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal
or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed
or in any amendment thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or
in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided,
however, that the Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein (the "Holder's Purchase Information"). This indemnity
agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise
have.
The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute to Losses
of, as provided in Section 7(d), any underwriters of Securities registered under
a Shelf Registration Statement, their officers and directors and each person who
controls such underwriters on substantially the same basis as that of the
indemnification of the Initial Purchasers and the selling Holders provided in
this Section 7(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an
underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(q)
hereof.
(b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration
Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus
delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer)
severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Company, (ii) each of
its directors, (iii) each of its officers who signs such Registration Statement
and (iv) each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the
Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
Company to each such Holder, but only with reference to written information
relating to such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder
specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing
indemnity (together with the Holder's Purchase Information, the "Written
Information"). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which any such Holder may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in is respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i)
will not relieve the indemnifying party from liability under paragraph (a) or
(b) above unless and to the extent the indemnifying party did not otherwise
learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
<PAGE> 13
13
above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the
indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the
indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which
case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and
expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties
except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified
party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall
bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel (and local
counsel) if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent
the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest,
(ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal
defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different
from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the
indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time
after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party
shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense
of the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified
party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a)
or (b) of this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall have a joint and several
obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending same) (collectively, "Losses") to which such
indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and
such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the
Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in
no case shall any Initial Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Security or
New Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the
purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a
New Security, applicable to the Security which was exchangeable into such New
Security, as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, nor shall any
underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount
or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such underwriter under
the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. If the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason,
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
<PAGE> 14
14
relative benefits but also the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the
one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the sum of (x) the total net proceeds from the Initial
Placement (before deducting expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the
Final Memorandum and (y) the total amount of additional interest which the
Company was not required to pay as a result of registering the securities
covered by the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Benefits
received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total
purchase discounts and commissions as set forth on the cover page of the Final
Memorandum, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be
equal to the value of receiving Securities or New Securities, as applicable,
registered under the Act. Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed
to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on
the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement
which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference
to whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information
provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified
party, on the other hand. The parties agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. No person whose loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon such person's Written Information
shall be entitled to contribution. For purposes of this Section 7, each person
who controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act
and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have the
same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each person who controls the
Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer
of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each
director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this
paragraph (d).
(e) The provisions of this Section 7 will remain in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder
or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred
to in Section 7 hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities
covered by a Registration Statement.
8. Underwritten Offerings. No Holder may participate in any
underwritten Shelf Registration Statement hereunder unless such Holder (i)
agrees to sell such Holder's Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements entered into in connection therewith and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the
date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter
into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof.
<PAGE> 15
15
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified,
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 the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding aggregate
principal amount of Securities (or, after the consummation of any Exchange Offer
in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of Securities and New Securities); provided
that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights
of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent
of each such Initial Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification,
supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing
(except the foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from the
provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other
Holders may be given by the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of
securities being sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail, telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given
by such holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 9(c), which address initially is, with respect to each Holder,
the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the
Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Salomon Brothers Inc;
(2) if to you, initially at the respective addresses
set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company, initially at its address set
forth in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given when received.
The Initial Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other
may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by
the Company thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and/or New Securities. The
Company hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of
Securities and/or New Securities and any such Holder may specifically enforce
the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.
(e) 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.
<PAGE> 16
16
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said State.
(h) Severability.In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired
or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of
the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(i) Securities Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent
or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of
Securities or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New
Securities, as applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent Holders
are deemed to be Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such
Securities or New Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such
consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
<PAGE> 17
17
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the
agreement between the Company and the Initial Purchasers.
Very truly yours,
COGENTRIX ENERGY, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Name: Thomas F. Schwartz
Title: Group Senior Vice President -
Chief Financial Officer
Accepted in New York, New York
September 22, 2000
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY, INC.
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
By: SALOMON SMITH BARNEY, INC.
By:
------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 18
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
Prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a Prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such
New Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on
the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business on
the first anniversary of the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus
available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See
"Plan of Distribution."
<PAGE> 19
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own
account in exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such New Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
<PAGE> 20
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in
exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business on the
first anniversary of the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New
Securities by broker-dealers. New Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the New Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells New Securities that were received by
it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer
that participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any
such resale of New Securities and any commissions or concessions received by any
such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities
Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that
it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 1 year after the Expiration Date, the Company
will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K
Items 507 and/or 508.]
<PAGE> 21
ANNEX D
Rider A
CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY
AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:
Address:
--------------------
Rider B
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned
represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a
distribution of New Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will
receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, it
represents that the Securities to be exchanged for New Securities were acquired
by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
