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EXHIBIT 4.3
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated March 4, 1999
among
CKE RESTAURANTS, INC.,
THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN and
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
U.S. BANCORP INVESTMENTS, INC.
PARIBAS CORPORATION
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into March 4, 1999, among CKE RESTAURANTS, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined) and MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
INCORPORATED, BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC., BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC., U.S.
BANCORP INVESTMENTS, INC. and PARIBAS CORPORATION (collectively, the "Initial
Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated
February 24, 1999, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial
Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the
Company to the Initial Purchasers of an aggregate of $200,000,000 principal
amount of the Company's 9 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2009 (the
"Securities"). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the
Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have agreed to
provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement
is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined
terms shall have the following meanings:
"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the
Purchase Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and
shall also include the Company's successors.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of
Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the
1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
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"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange
offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another
appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Exchange Securities" shall mean securities issued by the Company
under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except
that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which
interest was paid on the Securities or, if no such interest has been
paid, from May 1, 1999 and (ii) the Exchange Securities will not contain
restrictions on transfer) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in
exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they
own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns
and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of
Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that for purposes
of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term "Holder" shall include
Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities
dated as of March 4, 1999 among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors
and Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust Company, National Association, as
trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance
with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities;
provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified
percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable
Securities held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as such term is
defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) (other than the Initial
Purchasers or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such
subsequent holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of
their holding of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of
such required percentage or amount.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability
company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a
government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
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"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus
as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a
prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such
prospectus, and in each case including all material incorporated by
reference therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided,
however, that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities
(i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall
have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities
shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement,
(ii) when such Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule
144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under
the 1933 Act or (iii) when such Securities shall have ceased to be
outstanding.
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident
to performance of or compliance by the Company or the Subsidiary
Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all
SEC, stock exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any
underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any
of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all
expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word
processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting
agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to
the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating
agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the
qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi)
the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii)the fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees
and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be
selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel
for the Initial Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the
independent public accountants of the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or "cold
comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance and
compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the
underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii)
above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions
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and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of
Registrable Securities by a Holder.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of
the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors that covers any of the
Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions
of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such
Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto
and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant
to Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the
Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the
Holders whose Registrable Securities are covered by such Shelf
Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the
1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all
amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.
"Subsidiary Guarantors" shall mean the following entities: Carl
Karcher Enterprises, Inc., a California corporation, Boston Pacific,
Inc., a California corporation, CBI Restaurants, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, Taco Bueno West, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Carl's Jr.
Region VIII, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Taco Bueno Restaurants, Inc.,
a Texas corporation, Taco Bueno Equipment Company, a Texas corporation,
Taco Bueno Texas, L.P., a Texas limited partnership, Hardee's Food
Systems, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, Burger Chef Systems, Inc.,
a North Carolina corporation, HED, Inc., a North Carolina corporation,
HFS Ventures, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, Hardee's at Onslow
Mall, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, Central Iowa Food Systems,
Inc., an Iowa corporation, Fast Food Restaurants, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation, HFS Georgia, Inc., a Georgia corporation, 1233 Corporation,
an Ohio corporation, Flagstar Enterprises, Inc., an Alabama corporation
and Spardee's Realty, Inc., an Alabama corporation.
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities
under the Indenture.
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"Underwriter" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
"Underwritten Registration" or "Underwritten Offering" shall mean
a registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an
Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or
applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall use their best efforts to cause to be filed an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the offer by the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable
Securities for Exchange Securities and to have such Registration Statement
remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and
use its best efforts to have the Exchange Offer consummated not later than 60
days after such effective date. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall
commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related exchange offer Prospectus and
accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other
disclosures as are required by applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this
Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities
validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a
period of at least 20 business days from the date such notice is mailed)
(the "Exchange Dates");
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain
outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any
rights under this Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security
exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender
such Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of
transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice
prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, not
later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending
to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such
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Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for
exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to
have such Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company
and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions
thereof tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange
Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted
for exchange and issue by the Company, and cause the Trustee to promptly
authenticate and mail to each Holder, an Exchange Security equal in
principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities
surrendered by such Holder.
The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall use their best efforts to
complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the
applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws
and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall
not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not
violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC.
The Company shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of
the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall
have the right, subject to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise
facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in
Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be consummated as soon as
practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate applicable law
or the applicable interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange
Offer is not for any other reason consummated by September 4, 1999 or (iii) the
Exchange Offer has been completed and in the opinion of counsel for the Initial
Purchasers a Registration Statement must be filed and a Prospectus must be
delivered by the Initial Purchasers in connection with any offering or sale of
Registrable Securities, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall use
their best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such
determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the
Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the
sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities and to have such Shelf
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. In the event the Company
and the Subsidiary Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration
Statement solely as a result of the matters referred to in clause (iii) of the
preceding sentence, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall use their
best efforts to file and have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all
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Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a
combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement)
with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial
Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors agree to use their best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective until the expiration of the period
referred to in Rule 144(k) with respect to the Registrable Securities or such
shorter period that will terminate when all of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors further agree
to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the
rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by
the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any
other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably
requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder, and
to use its best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such
Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable.
The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agree to furnish to the Holders of
Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after
its being used or filed with the SEC.
(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection
with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b). Each Holder
shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section
2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof
will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared
effective by the SEC; provided, however, that, if, after it has been declared
effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other
order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such
Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the
period of such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume. In the event the
Exchange Offer is not consummated and the Shelf Registration Statement is not
declared effective on or prior to September 4, 1999, the interest rate on the
Securities will be increased by 0.5% per annum until the Exchange Offer is
consummated or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the
SEC.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors
acknowledge that any failure by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to
comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the
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Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be
possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event
of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief
as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's and the Subsidiary
Guarantors' obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to
Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor
shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the
appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the
Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the
sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall
comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be
filed therewith, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement
to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to
keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and cause
each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as
so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep
each Prospectus current during the period described under Section 4(3) and Rule
174 under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers
with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder
of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for
the Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable
Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including
each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such
other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request, in order
to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable
Securities; and the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by
and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto in accordance with applicable law;
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(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable
Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such
jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to cooperate with such
Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any and all other acts and things
which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to
consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable
Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that neither the Company nor
any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be required to (i) qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any
general consent to service of process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any
such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of
Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the Initial
Purchasers promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm
such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective
and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes
effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for
amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for
additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective,
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation
of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a
Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities
covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales
agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to
be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company or the Subsidiary
Guarantors receive any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event
during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any
statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue
in any material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such
Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not
misleading and (vi) of any determination by the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be
appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of
any such order;
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(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder
of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without
documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless
requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and
not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be
in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and
registered in such names as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least
one business day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of
any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its best efforts to
prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated
therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. The Company agrees to notify the
Holders to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the
occurrence of such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the
Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to
correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or
amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after
initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to
the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make such of the
representatives of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors as shall be
reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) available
for discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make any
amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendment of or
supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or any document which is
to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus,
of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously
been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their
counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or
their counsel) shall reasonably object;
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(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of
a Registration Statement;
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), in connection with the registration of the
Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, cooperate
with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may
be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of
the TIA and execute, and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute,
all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and
documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so
qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for
inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities, any
Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the Holders, at
reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all financial and other records,
pertinent documents and properties of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors,
and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company and
the Subsidiary Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any
such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a
Shelf Registration Statement;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to
cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any
automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are
then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable
Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(o) use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, to be rated by two nationally
recognized statistical rating organizations (as such term is defined in Rule
436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act);
(p) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect
to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and
(ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such
post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such filing; and
(q) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith
(including those requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of
such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten
Offering
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and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such representations
and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable
Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the
Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or
deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and
scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten
offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (which counsel and
opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each
selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii)
obtain "cold comfort" letters from the independent certified public accountants
of the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant 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 and Underwriter of
Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection
with underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as
may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are
customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued
validity of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any
customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and
the Subsidiary Guarantors may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to
furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the proposed
distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company or a
Subsidiary Guarantor may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event
of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed by
the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at its expense) all copies
in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at
the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give any such notice to
suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which the Registration
Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number
of days during
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the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and
including the date when the Holders shall have received copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The
Company may give any such notice only twice during any 365 day period and any
such suspensions may not exceed 30 days for each suspension and there may not be
more than two suspensions in effect during any 365 day period.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities
in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment
banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that
will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering.
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer"), may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements
of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors understand that it is
the Staff's position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to
the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell
the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or
specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may
be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus
delivery obligation under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange
Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the
requirements of the 1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions
of this Agreement, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agree that the
provisions of this agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also
apply to an Exchange Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable
modifications thereto as may be, reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers
or by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in
clause (ii) below, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any
Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the
positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above; provided that:
(i) the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as
would otherwise be
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contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period exceeding 90 days after the
last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to the
penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and Participating
Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company to deliver and
shall not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with
the resales contemplated by this Section 4; and
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set
forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration,
to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or
the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, will be in
conformity with the reasonable request to the Company by the Initial
Purchasers or with the reasonable request in writing to the Company by
one or more broker-dealers who certify to the Initial Purchasers and the
Company in writing that they anticipate that they will be Participating
Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in connection with such
application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3
to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Company shall be obligated (x) to
deal only with one entity representing the Participating Broker-Dealers,
which shall be Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated unless it elects not to
act as such representative, (y) to pay the fees and expenses of only one
counsel representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be
counsel to the Initial Purchasers unless such counsel elects not to so
act and (z) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, "cold comfort"
letter with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the last
Exchange Date and with respect to each subsequent amendment or
supplement, if any, effected during the period specified in clause (i)
above.
(c) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company
and the Subsidiary Guarantors or any Holder with respect to any request that it
may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agree to indemnify
and hold harmless the Initial Purchasers, each Holder and each Person, if any,
who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or is under common
control with, or is controlled by, any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, from and
against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Initial
Purchasers, any Holder or any such controlling or affiliated Person in
connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange
Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act,
including all documents incorporated therein by
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reference, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement
or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information
relating to the Initial Purchasers or any Holder furnished to the Company in
writing by any Initial Purchaser or any selling Holder expressly for use
therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3,
the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will, jointly and severally, also
indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar
securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their
officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the
meaning of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act) to the same extent as provided above
with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection
with any Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers
and the other selling Holders, and each of their respective directors, officers
who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the
Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, any Initial Purchaser and any other
selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from
the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Initial Purchasers and the
Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder
furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above,
such Person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the Person against
whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the
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indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Initial Purchasers and all
Persons, if any, who control any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, (b) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for
the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, its directors, its officers who sign
the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company or
any of its Subsidiary Guarantors within the meaning of either such Section and
(c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any
local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who control any Holders
within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses
shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case involving the Initial
Purchasers and Persons who control the Initial Purchasers, such firm shall be
designated in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. In such case
involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm shall be
designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In all other cases, such firm
shall be designated by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but,
if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees and expenses of
counsel in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which such indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or
paragraph (b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or
insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each
indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities in such
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proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors,
on the one hand, or by the Holders, on the other hand, shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, on
the one hand, or by the Holders, on the other hand, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Holders' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the respective
principal amount of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and each Holder agree
that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section
5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation
that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in
paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph
(d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Holder shall be required to
indemnify or contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which Registrable Securities were sold by such Holder exceeds the
amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies
provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights
or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or
in equity.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf
of the Initial Purchasers, any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial
Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors, its officers or directors or any Person controlling the Company or
any of its Subsidiary Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange
Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement.
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6. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors have not entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement
will not enter into, any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted
to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise
conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's and the Subsidiary Guarantors'
other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent; provided, however, that no amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5
hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless
consented to in writing by such Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial
Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the
Company, initially at the Company's address set forth in the Purchase Agreement
and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and
on the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at
the address specified in the Indenture.
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(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each
of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an
express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The
Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no
liability or obligation to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors with
respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder
of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
(e) Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company and each
Subsidiary Guarantor shall not, and shall use its best efforts to cause its
affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) not to, purchase and then
resell or otherwise transfer any Securities.
(f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other
hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent
it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the
rights of Holders hereunder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws
of the State of New York.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.
CKE RESTAURANTS, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
CARL KARCHER ENTERPRISES, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
BOSTON PACIFIC, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
CBI RESTAURANTS, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
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TACO BUENO WEST, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
CARL'S JR. REGION VIII, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
TACO BUENO RESTAURANTS, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
TACO BUENO EQUIPMENT COMPANY
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title Executive Vice President
TACO BUENO TEXAS, L.P.
By: TACO BUENO RESTAURANTS, INC.
By: ___________________________________
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Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title Executive Vice President
HARDEE'S FOOD SYSTEMS, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
BURGER CHEF SYSTEMS, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
HED, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
HFS VENTURES, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
HARDEE'S AT ONSLOW MALL, INC.
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By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
CENTRAL IOWA FOOD SYSTEMS, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
HFS GEORGIA, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
1233 CORPORATION
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
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FLAGSTAR ENTERPRISES, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
SPARDEE'S REALTY, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: Carl A. Strunk
Title: Executive Vice President
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Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
U.S. BANCORP INVESTMENTS, INC.
PARIBAS CORPORATION
By: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
By: ___________________________________
Name: Bryan W. Andrzejewski
Title: Vice President