(a)           In connection with the registration of the Transfer Restricted Securities, the Issuer shall comply with all the provisions of Section 4(b) hereof and shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto, shall as expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the Commission a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Securities Act.

(b)           In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Issuer shall:

(i)            Subject to any notice by the Issuer in accordance with this Section 4(b) of the existence of any fact or event of the kind described in Section 4(b)(iii)(D), use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective during the Effectiveness Period; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause the Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the Effectiveness Period, the Issuer shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, a supplement to the Prospectus or a report filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use its reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purposes as soon as practicable thereafter.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer may suspend the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement by written notice to the Holders for a period not to exceed an aggregate of 45 days in any 90-day period (each such period, a “Suspension Period”) and not to exceed an aggregate of 90 days in any 360-day period if:

(x)   an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the Shelf Registration Statement would, in the Issuer’s reasonable judgment, 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

(y)   the Issuer reasonably determines that the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material adverse effect on the business of the Issuer (and its subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole);

7

provided that in the event the disclosure relates to a previously undisclosed proposed or pending material business transaction, the disclosure of which would impede the Issuer’s ability to consummate such transaction, the Issuer may extend a Suspension Period from 45 days to 60 days in any 90-day period.

(ii)           Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Effectiveness Period; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus; provided, however, that in no event will such method(s) of distribution take the form of an Underwritten Offering without the prior written agreement of the Issuer.

(iii)          Advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly (but in any event within five Business Days of becoming aware of such event) and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in writing:

(A)  when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective,

(B)   of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto,

(C)   of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, or

(D)  of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event, during the Effectiveness Period, that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

8

If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Issuer shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time and will provide to the Initial Purchasers and each Holder who is named in the Shelf Registration Statement prompt notice of the withdrawal of any such order.

(iv)          Furnish to one counsel for the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, a copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and copies of any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus (other than documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or any amendments or supplements the sole purpose of which is to name additional selling Holders), which documents will be subject to the review of such counsel and underwriter(s), if any, for a period of at least two Business Days but no more than five Business Days (in the case of the Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus) and no more than two Business Days (in the case of any such amendment or supplement thereto), and the Issuer will not file the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus (other than documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or any amendments or supplements the sole purpose of which is to name additional selling Holders) to which such counsel or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object prior to the filing thereof; provided, however, that such objection is provided in writing and specifies in reasonable detail the reason for such objection.

(v)           In connection with an Underwritten Offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, make available at reasonable times for inspection by one or more representatives of the selling Holders, designated in writing by a Majority of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are included in the Shelf Registration Statement, any underwriter participating in any distribution pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and any attorney or accountant retained by such selling Holders or any of the underwriter(s), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Issuer as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors, managers and employees of the Issuer to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative or representatives of the selling Holders, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement after the filing thereof and before its effectiveness, provided, however, that any information designated by the Issuer as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the recipient thereof and shall be subject, upon request of the Issuer, to the execution

9

by such persons of a confidentiality agreement in a form that is reasonable in the context of a registered public offering.

(vi)          If requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation: (1) information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities, (2) information with respect to the principal amount of the Notes or number of shares of Common Stock being sold to such underwriter(s), (3) the purchase price being paid therefor and (4) any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Issuer is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.

(vii)         Furnish to each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, upon their request, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto (and any documents incorporated by reference therein or exhibits thereto (or exhibits incorporated in such exhibits by reference) as such Person may request).

(viii)        Deliver to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; subject to any notice by the Issuer in accordance with this Section 4(b) of the existence of any fact or event of the kind described in Section 4(b)(iii)(D), the Issuer hereby consents to the use (in accordance with applicable law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

(ix)           The Issuer shall:

(A)          upon request, furnish to each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, in such substance and scope as they may reasonably request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings for selling security holders, upon the date of closing of any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Registration:

(1)           a certificate, dated the date of such closing, signed by the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer covering such matters as are customarily covered in closing certificates delivered to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings of securities;

10

(2)           an opinion, dated the date of such closing, of counsel to the Issuer covering such of the matters as are customarily covered in legal opinions to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings of securities; and

(3)           a customary comfort letter, dated the date of such closing, from the independent public accountant of the Issuer (and from any other accountants whose report is contained or incorporated by reference in the Shelf Registration Statement) in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings of securities;

(B)           set forth in full in the underwriting agreement, if any, indemnification provisions and procedures which provide rights no less protective than those set forth in Section 6 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified; and

(C)           deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the selling Holders pursuant to this clause (ix).

(x)            Before any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required (A) to register or qualify as a foreign corporation or a dealer of securities where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject or (B) to subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not now so subject.

(xi)           Unless recorded in book-entry form, cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends (unless required by applicable securities laws); and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two Business Days before any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such underwriter(s); provided however, such selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, provide issuer with a certificate containing representations, warranties and covenants that are reasonable and customary in connection with such transactions.

11

(xii)          Use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other U.S. governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities.

(xiii)         Subject to Section 4(b)(i) hereof, if any fact or event contemplated by Section 4(b)(iii)(D) hereof shall exist or have occurred, use its reasonable best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other reasonably required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(xiv)        Provide CUSIP numbers for all Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with certificates for the Notes that are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

(xv)         Cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD.

(xvi)        Otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and all reporting requirements under the Exchange Act.

(xvii)       Cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the holders of the Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee thereunder to execute all documents that may be required by Trustee to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

(xviii)      Cause all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement to be listed or quoted, as the case may be, on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Issuer are then listed or quoted.

12

(xix)         Provide to each Holder upon written request each document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and Section 15 of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement.

(xx)          If requested in writing in connection with a disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, make reasonably available for inspection during normal business hours by a representative for the Holders of such Transfer Restricted Securities and any Broker-Dealers, attorneys and accountants retained by such Holders, all relevant financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, and cause the appropriate officers, directors and employees of the Issuer and its subsidiaries to make reasonably available for inspection during normal business hours on reasonable notice all relevant information reasonably requested by such representative for the Holders or any such Broker-Dealers, attorneys or accountants in connection with such disposition, in each case as is customary for similar “due diligence” examinations; provided, however, that such persons shall first agree in writing with the Issuer that any information that is reasonably and in good faith designated by the Issuer in writing as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such persons and shall be used solely for the purposes of exercising rights under this Agreement, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure of such information is required by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to federal securities laws in connection with the filing of any Shelf Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus referred to in this Agreement), (iii) such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by any such person or (iv) such information becomes available to any such person from a source other than the Issuer and such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement, and provided, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall, to the greatest extent possible, be coordinated on behalf of all the Holders and the other parties entitled thereto by the counsel referred to in Section 5 and provided further, that the Issuer shall not be required to disclose any information subject to the attorney-client or attorney work product privilege if and to the extent such disclosure would constitute a waiver of such privilege.

(xxi)         Use all reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.

(xxii)        Make generally available to its securityholders earning statements (which need not be audited) satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 40 days after the end of any 3-month period (or 75 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Issuer commencing after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said periods; provided, however, that such requirement shall be deemed satisfied

13

if the Issuer timely files its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K (as applicable) pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(c)           Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any notice (a “Suspension Notice”) from the Issuer of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 4(b)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause any underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Offering to, forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until:

(i)            such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 4(b)(xiii) hereof; or

(ii)           such Holder is advised in writing by the Issuer that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.

If so directed by the Issuer, each Holder will deliver to the Issuer (at the Issuer’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice of suspension.

5.             Registration Expenses.