EXHIBIT 4.20
A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 16, 2000
by and among
Tenet Healthcare Corporation
and
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation,
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
Banc of America Securities LLC,
and
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and entered
into as of June 16, 2000, by and among Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a Nevada
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation ("DLJ"), J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC
and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (collectively, the
"INITIAL PURCHASERS"). Each of the Initial Purchasers has agreed to purchase the
Company's 9 1/4% Senior Notes due 2010 (thE "SERIES A Notes"), pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated June 13,
2000 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company and the Initial
Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Series A
Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in
this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to
the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 2 of the Purchase
Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have
the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated as of June 16, 2000,
between the Company and the Bank of New York, as Trustee (the "INDENTURE")
relating to the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes (as defined below).
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the
following meanings:
ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
AFFILIATE: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
COMMISSION: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSUMMATE: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for purposes of
this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and effectiveness under the
Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Series B Notes
to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange
Offer open for a period not less than the period required pursuant to Section
3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the
Indenture of Series B Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the
aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes tendered by Holders thereof
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
CONTROLLING PERSON: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal
amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of
Series A Notes that are tendered by Holders in connection with such exchange and
issuance.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration Statement relating
to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose to
sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers," as such
term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, and pursuant to Regulation S under
the Act.
FILING DATE: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
INDEMNIFIED PERSON: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
LIABILITIES: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
OFFERING MEMORANDUM: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the time
such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or supplemented by
any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including
post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such
Prospectus.
RECOMMENCEMENT DATE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company relating
to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the
registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included therein,
all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and
all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
REGULATION S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
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RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SERIES B NOTES: The Company's 9 1/4 Senior Notes due 2010 to be issued
pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by
Section 4 hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
SUSPENSION NOTICE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as in
effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each Series A Note, until the earliest to
occur of (a) the date on which such Series A Note is exchanged in the Exchange
Offer for a Series B Note which is entitled to be resold to the public by the
Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of
the Act, (b) the date on which such Series A Note has been disposed of in
accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the purchasers thereof have
been issued Series B Notes), or (c) the date on which such Series A Note may be
resold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (k) under the Act and each Series B
Note until the date on which such Series B Note is disposed of by a
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including the delivery of the Prospectus
contained therein).
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each,
a "HOLDER") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable federal
law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied
with), the Company shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable after the date of the filing
(the "FILING DATE") of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ending May 31, 2000, but in no event later than 30 days after the Filing Date
(such 30th day being the "FILING DEADLINE"), (ii) use its commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 180 days
after the Filing Date (such 180th day being the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"), (iii)
in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it
to become effective and (B) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection
with the registration and qualification of the Series B Notes to be made under
the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation
of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to commence and
Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate
form permitting (i) registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange
for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales
of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer
Series A
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Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as contemplated by
Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall
keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period
required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the
Exchange Offer; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall such period be less
than 20 Business Days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with
all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the
Series B Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange
Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 30
business days thereafter (such 30th day being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that
were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with respect to
such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to
permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the
date of this Agreement.
Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company shall
permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement.
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Series B Notes by
Broker-Dealers, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to
keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective,
supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions
of Section 6(a) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this
Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as
announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from the Consummation
Deadline or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant
thereto. The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of
such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event
later than one business day after such request, at any time during such period.
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SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) SHELF REGISTRATION. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
applicable law (after the Company has complied with the procedures set forth in
Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days following the Consummation
Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy from
participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the Series
B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a
prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C)
such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from
the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the Company shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 days after the
earlier of (i) the date on which the Company determines that the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of
clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date on which the Company receives the
notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above, (such earlier date, the
"FILING DEADLINE"), a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415
under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")), relating
to all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 60
days after the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement
(such 60th day, the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE").
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is required
to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the
Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e., clause
(a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above; PROVIDED that,
in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the Effectiveness
Deadline set forth in clause (y).
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is
available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof
entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required
to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company shall
use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement
required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented, amended and
current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c)
hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and
the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to
time, for a period of at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section
6(c)(i)) following the Closing Date, or such shorter period as will terminate
when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement have been sold pursuant thereto.
(b) PROVISION BY HOLDERS OF CERTAIN INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor,
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the information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable,
of the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein and such other information
as the Company may reasonably request. No Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof
unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such information. Each
selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional information required to be
disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company
by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed
with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii) any such
Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or
prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not
been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline or (iv) any
Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared
effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for
its intended purpose without being succeeded by a post-effective amendment or a
Prospectus supplement to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and
that is itself declared effective promptly (each such event referred to in
clauses (i) through (iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the Company hereby
agrees to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities affected thereby
liquidated damages in an amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or
portion thereof that the Registration Default continues for the first 90-day
period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The
amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an additional $.05 per week
per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to
each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured,
up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages of $.35 per week per $1,000 in
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; PROVIDED that the Company
shall in no event be required to pay liquidated damages for more than one
Registration Default at any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i)
above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii)
above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above,
or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement)
to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the
liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as
a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Series A Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which
liquidated damages are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all
obligations of the Company to pay liquidated damages with respect to such
securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to
such securities shall have been satisfied in full.
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SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT. In connection with the Exchange
Offer, the Company shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions of Section
6(c) below, (y) use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange
and to permit the resale of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered, in
the Exchange Offer, Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own
account as a result of its market making activities or other trading activities
(other than Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates) being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a
change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the
Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the
Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer
is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company hereby agrees to
seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer
Restricted Securities. In connection with the foregoing, the Company
hereby agrees, if commercially reasonable, to take all such other
actions as may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in
connection with the issuance of such decision, including without
limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences with the
Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared
by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon
which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be
permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be
favorable) by the Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including,
without limitation, any Holder who is a Broker Dealer) shall furnish,
upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company (which may be
contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an
Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend
to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person
to participate in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in
the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its
ordinary course of business. Each Holder using the Exchange Offer to
participate in a distribution of the Series B Notes hereby acknowledges
and agrees that, if the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such
Holder in exchange for Series A Notes acquired directly from the
Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission
policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position
of the Commission enunciated in MORGAN STANLEY AND CO. INC. (available
June 5, 1991) and EXXON CAPITAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION (available May 13,
1988), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to SHEARMAN & STERLING
dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if
applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i)
above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale
transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must be
covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling
security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable,
of Regulation S-K.
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(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter
to the Commission (A) stating that the Company is registering the
Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated
in EXXON CAPITAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION (available May 13, 1988), MORGAN
STANLEY AND CO. INC. (available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the
Commission's letter to SHEARMAN & STERLING dated July 2, 1993, and, if
applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above,
(B) including a representation that the Company has not entered into
any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the
Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the
best of the Company's information and belief, each Holder participating
in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary
course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Series B Notes
received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or
representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.
(b) SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. In connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, if any, the Company shall (i) (x) comply with all the provisions of
Section 6(c) below and (y) use its commercially reasonable 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
(as indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section
4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company will prepare and file with the
Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in
accordance with the provisions hereof; and
(ii) issue, subject to compliance with the applicable
Indenture, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser of Series A
Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by
this Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes sold
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the
Company for cancellation; the Company shall register Series B Notes
on the Shelf Registration Statement for this purpose and issue the
Series B Notes to the purchaser(s) of securities subject to the
Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such purchaser(s) shall
designate; PROVIDED, that the Holder shall pay any transfer taxes or
other fees charged in connection with such registration of Series B
Notes.
(c) GENERAL PROVISIONS. In connection with any Registration Statement and
any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company shall:
(i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite
financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this
Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would
cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained
therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer
Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the
Company
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shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file promptly an
appropriate amendment or Prospectus supplement to such Registration
Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required,
use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be
declared effective as soon as practicable;
(ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and
file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments
to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep
such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set
forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may be; cause the
Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act,
and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under
the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Act
in connection with the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with
the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof
set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus;
(iii) advise each Holder promptly and, if requested by such
Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and,
with respect to any applicable 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 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
Registration Statement under the 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, (D) of the
existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement of a material fact made in the 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 Registration Statement in order
to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the
making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. If at any time the Commission
shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
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 Company shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of
such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have
occurred, use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare a supplement
or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related
Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file
any other 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
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material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange or
sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any
Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any
amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be
subject to the review and comment of such Holders in connection with
such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business Days if
practicable, or such shorter time period as is practicable, and the
Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to
which such Holders shall reasonably object within five Business Days
after the receipt thereof. A Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably
objected to such filing only if such Registration Statement, amendment,
Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed,
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by
one Holder designated by a majority of the Holders and any attorney or
accountant retained by such Holders, all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents of the Company and cause the Company's
officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such Holder, attorney or accountant in connection with
such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
(vii) if requested by any Holders in connection with such
exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if
necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to
have included therein, including, without limitation, information
relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted
Securities; PROVIDED, that the Company shall not be required to
participate in a distribution of any derivative security by or on
behalf of any Holder; and make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the
Company is notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment;
(viii) deliver to each Holder without charge, as many copies
of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request;
the Company hereby consents to the use (in accordance with law) of the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling
Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto;
(ix) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such
commercially reasonable agreements (including underwriting agreements)
and make such customary representations
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and warranties and take all such other commercially reasonable actions
in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any
applicable Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may
be reasonably requested by any Holder in connection with any sale or
resale pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement. In such
connection, the Company shall:
(A) upon request of any Holder or underwriter of a resale of
Series A Notes or Series B Notes, furnish (or in the case of paragraphs
(2) and (3), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be
furnished) to each such Holder or underwriter upon the effectiveness of
the Shelf Registration Statement:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf
of the Company by (x) the President or any Vice President and
(y) a principal financial or accounting officer of the
Company, confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set
forth in Sections 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) of the Purchase
Agreement and such other similar matters as such Holders may
reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the
Company covering matters similar to those set forth in
paragraph (e) of Section 8 of the Purchase Agreement and such
other matters as such Holder may reasonably request, and in
any event including a statement to the effect that such
counsel has participated in conferences with officers and
other representatives of the Company, representatives of the
independent public accountants for the Company and have
considered the matters required to be stated therein and the
statements contained therein, although such counsel has not
independently verified the exhibits to the Registration
Statement or the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such
statements; and that such counsel advises that, on the basis
of the foregoing, no facts came to such counsel's attention
that caused such counsel to believe that the applicable
Registration Statement, at the time such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became
effective and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
that the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement
as of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date
of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the date of
Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. Without limiting
the foregoing, such counsel may state further that such
counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not
independently verified, the exhibits to the Registration
Statement or the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial
data included in any Registration Statement contemplated by
this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
-11-
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be, from the Company's independent accountants, in the
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily
covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with
underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in
the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 8(h) of the
Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance with
the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary
conditions contained in the any agreement entered into by the Company
pursuant to this clause (ix);
(x) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Holders may 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 applicable Registration Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign
corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation,
other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration
Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xi) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer
Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive
legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such
denominations and such names as the selling Holders may request at
least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities;
(xii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such
Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in
clause (x) above;
(xiii) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration
Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the
Trustee under the Indenture with typed certificates for the Transfer
Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with a
custodian for the Depository Trust Company;
(xiv) otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to
comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and
make generally available to its security holders with regard to any
applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable,
-12-
a consolidated earning statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158
(which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such term is
defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act); and
(xv) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement
required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with
the Trustee and the Holders 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 to execute, all documents that
may be required 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.
(d) RESTRICTIONS ON HOLDERS. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact
of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement
until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is
advised in writing by the Company 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 (in each case, the "RECOMMENCEMENT
DATE"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will
either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in
such Holder's possession which have been replaced by the Company with more
recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to the Company (at the Company'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 the Suspension Notice. The time period
regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section
3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by a number of days equal to the
number of days in the period from and including the date of delivery of the
Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the Recommencement Date.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance
with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a
Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all
registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and expenses of
compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii)
all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Series B Notes
to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and
delivery services and telephone; (iv) all reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; and
(v) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of
the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
required by or incident to such performance).
-13-
The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the
fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the
Company.
(b) In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement required by this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities who are selling or reselling Series A Notes or Series B Notes
pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the Shelf Registration
Statement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one
counsel, who shall be Sullivan & Cromwell, unless another firm shall be chosen
by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted
Securities for whose benefit such Shelf Registration Statement is being
prepared.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each of the
Holders and their respective affiliates, (ii) each person, if any, who controls
(within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
any of the Holders or any of their respective affiliates (any of the persons
referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a "Controlling
Person"), and (iii) each of the respective officers, directors, partners,
employees, representatives and agents of any of the Holders or any Controlling
Person, and each of their respective officers, directors, partners, employees,
representatives and agents (any person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii)
of this Section 8(a) may hereinafter be referred to as an "Indemnified Person")
to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, judgments, actions, costs, assessments, expenses and other liabilities
(collectively, "Liabilities"), including without limitation and as incurred,
reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing or
defending any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by any
foreign, Federal, state or local authority, regulatory body, administrative
agency, court or other governmental or quasi-governmental body, commenced or
threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any
Indemnified Person, to the extent such Liabilities are directly or indirectly
caused by, related to, based upon or arising out of, or in connection with, any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any supplement
or amendment thereto) provided by the Company to any Holder or prospective
purchaser of Series B Notes or registered Series A Notes, or 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, except insofar as
such Liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission that is (x) made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the
Company by or on behalf of a Holder expressly for use therein, or (y) with
respect to the Holder from whom the person asserting the Liabilities purchased
Transfer Restricted Securities, made in any Preliminary Prospectus if a copy of
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company shall have furnished
the Holders with such amendments or supplements thereto on a timely basis) was
not delivered by or on behalf of such Holder to the person asserting the
Liabilities, if required by law to have been so delivered by the Holder seeking
indemnification, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities, and it shall be determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction or binding mediation or arbitration tribunal, in a
judgment or determination not subject
-14-
to appeal or review, that the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would
have completely corrected such untrue statement or omission in all material
respects. The foregoing indemnity shall be in addition to any liability that the
Company might otherwise have to any of the Holders and such other Indemnified
Persons. The Company shall notify you promptly after becoming aware of the
institution, threat or assertion of any claim, proceeding (including any
governmental investigation) or litigation in connection with the matters
addressed by this Agreement which involves the Company or an Indemnified Person.
(b) In case any action or proceeding (for all purposes of this Section 8,
including any governmental or quasi-governmental investigation) shall be brought
or asserted against any of the Indemnified Persons with respect to which
indemnity under this Section 8 may be sought against the Company, such
Indemnified Person promptly shall notify the Company in writing and the Company
shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Person and payment of all reasonable fees and
expenses; PROVIDED, that the delay or failure to give such notice shall not
relieve the Company from any liability that it may have on account of the
indemnity under this Section 8, except to the extent that such delay or omission
materially adversely affects the ability of the Company to defend or assume the
defense of such action or proceeding. Upon receiving such notice, the Company
shall be entitled to participate in any such action or proceeding and/or to
assume, at its sole expense, the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Person (who shall not, except with the consent
of the Indemnified Person to be represented, be counsel to the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries) and, after written notice from the Company to such Indemnified
Person of its election so to assume the defense thereof promptly after receipt
of the notice from the Indemnified Person of such action or proceeding, the
Company shall not be liable to such Indemnified Person hereunder for legal
expenses of other counsel subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Person in
connection with the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of
investigation, unless (i) the Company agrees in writing to pay such fees and
expenses, or (ii) the Company fails promptly to assume such defense or fails to
employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, or (iii) the
named parties to any such action or proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both such Indemnified Person and the Company or an affiliate of the
Company, and that Indemnified Person shall have been advised in writing by
counsel, with a copy of such writing to the Company, that either (x) there may
be one or more legal defenses available to such Indemnified Person that are
different from or additional to those available to the Company or such affiliate
or (y) a conflict may exist between such Indemnified Person and the Company or
such affiliate. In the event of any of clause (i), (ii) and (iii) of the
immediately preceding sentence, the Company shall not have the right to assume
the defense thereof on behalf of the Indemnified Person and such Indemnified
Person shall have the right to employ its own counsel (who shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company and shall not, except with the Company's consent, be
counsel to the Company) in any such action and the reasonable fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Company, subject to repayment
to the Company if it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Person is not
entitled to indemnification hereunder, it being understood, however, that the
Company shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding or
separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the
fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to
any local counsel) for all of the Indemnified Persons, which firm shall be
designated in writing by a majority of the Holders. The Company shall not be
liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected without the
-15-
Company's written consent, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, but
if settled with the written consent of the Company, the Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Person from and against any loss or
liability incurred in such settlement. The Company shall not, without the prior
written consent of each Indemnified Person, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action,
claim, suit, investigation or other proceeding in respect of which any
Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification or
contribution could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless
such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional
release of each Indemnified Person from all liability on claims that are the
subject matter of such proceeding.
(c) Each of the Holders agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers, and any person
controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act) the Company, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from
the Company to each of the Indemnified Persons, but only with respect to claims
and actions based on information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by
or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In
case any action shall be brought against the Company, any of its directors, any
such officer, or any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity is
sought against any Holder pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the Holder shall
have the rights and duties given to the Company (except that if a Holder shall
have assumed the defense thereof, the Company shall not be required to do so,
but may employ separate counsel therein and participate in the defense thereof,
but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the
Company), and the Company, its directors, any such officers, and each such
controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to the Indemnified
Person by Section 7(b) above. In no event shall any Holder, its directors,
officers or any Person who controls such Holder be liable or responsible for any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder
with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such
Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages that such
Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an
Indemnified Person in respect of any Liabilities referred to herein, then the
Company, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person, shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such
Liabilities: (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Indemnified Person on
the other hand from the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities, or (ii) if
the allocation provided by clause (i), above, is not permitted by applicable
law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause (i), above, but also the relative fault of the
Company and the Indemnified Person in connection with the actions, statements or
omissions that resulted in such Liabilities, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Holder 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 related to information supplied by the Company or the Holder and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
-16-
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The indemnity and
contribution obligations of the Company set forth herein shall be in addition to
any liability or obligation the Company may otherwise have to any Indemnified
Person.
The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by PRO RATA
allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or
by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the Liabilities referred
to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to
the limitations set forth above, any reasonable 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 8, none of the Holders (or any of their related Indemnified Persons
referred to in Section 8 above) shall be required to contribute, in the
aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by
such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant
to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such
Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages or liabilities
which such Holder (and its related Indemnified Persons referred to in Section 8
above) has otherwise been required to pay or incur by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission or other indemnified
action or proceeding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
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. The Holders' obligations to
contribute pursuant to this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to the
respective aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by
each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted
Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the Company (i) is
not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon
request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted
Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of
such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial
owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to
permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and
(ii) is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to make all filings required thereby in a timely
manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to Rule 144.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company will not, on or after the date
of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that
is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders 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 securities under any
agreement in effect on the date hereof.
-17-
(b) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(b)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered
pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to
such Exchange Offer.
(c) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries
to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, 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 they may deem such enforcement necessary or
advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(d) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
Tenet Healthcare Corporation
3820 State Street
Santa Barbara, California 93105
Telecopier No.: (805) 563-7070
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400
Los Angeles, California 90071
Telecopier No.: (213) 687-5600
Attention: Nicholas P. Saggese
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 receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
-18-
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(e) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors and assigns 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 Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of
the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by
taking and holding such Transfer Restricted 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, including the restrictions on resale set
forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such
Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(f) 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.
(g) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(i) 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.
(j) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final
expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
-19-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
/s/ Stephen D. Farber
-----------------------------------------
By:
Name: Stephen D. Farber
Title: Senior Vice President and
Treasurer
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
/s/ Chet Mehta
- --------------------------------
By:
Name: Chet Mehta
Title: Senior Vice President
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
/s/ Maria Sramek
- --------------------------------
By:
Name: Maria Sramek
Title: Vice President
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
/s/ Charles J. Dithoff
- --------------------------------
By:
Name: Charles J. Dithoff
Title: Managing Director
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
/s/ James D. Forbes
- --------------------------------
By:
Name: James D. Forbes
Title: Director
-20-
EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF FILING OF
A/B EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT
To: Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
277 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10172
Attention: Louise Guarneri (Compliance Department)
Fax: (212) 892-7272
From: Tenet Healthcare Corporation
9 1/4% Senior Notes due 2010
Date: _________, 2000
For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):
Today, __________, 2000, [we filed an A/B Exchange Registration
Statement/a Shelf Registration Statement] with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We currently expect this registration statement to be declared
effective within ___ business days of the date hereof.
-21-