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EXHIBIT 10.16
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of March 26, 1997
by and among
RALPHS GROCERY COMPANY,
THE GUARANTORS
named herein
and
BT SECURITIES CORPORATION
BANKERS TRUST INTERNATIONAL, PLC
CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
and
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION
as Initial Purchasers
-----------------------------
$155,000,000
11% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2005
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
1. Definitions.......................................................................1
2. Exchange Offer....................................................................5
3. Shelf Registration................................................................9
4. Liquidated Damages...............................................................10
5. Registration Procedures..........................................................12
6. Registration Expenses............................................................23
7. Indemnification..................................................................24
8. Rules 144 and 144A...............................................................28
9. Underwritten Registrations.......................................................28
10. Miscellaneous....................................................................29
(a) Remedies..................................................................29
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements................................................29
(c) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes...................................29
(d) Amendments and Waivers....................................................29
(e) Notices...................................................................30
(f) Successors and Assigns....................................................31
(g) Counterparts..............................................................31
(h) Headings..................................................................32
(i) Governing Law.............................................................32
(j) Severability..............................................................32
(k) Notes Held by an Issuer or Its Affiliates.................................32
(l) Third Party Beneficiaries.................................................32
(m) Joint and Several Obligations.............................................32
(n) Entire Agreement..........................................................33
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of March 26, 1997, by and among Ralphs Grocery Company, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Alpha Beta Company, Bay Area Warehouse
Stores, Inc., Bell Markets, Inc., Cala Co., Cala Foods, Inc., Falley's, Inc.,
Food 4 Less of California, Inc., Food 4 Less Merchandising, Inc., Food 4 Less
GM, Inc., Food 4 Less of Southern California, Inc. and Crawford Stores, Inc.
(collectively, the "Guarantors") and BT Securities Corporation, Bankers Trust
International, plc, CIBC Wood Gundy Securities Corp., Credit Suisse First Boston
and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation (collectively, the
"Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase
Agreement, dated March 21, 1997, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and
the Initial Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement") relating to the sale by the
Company to the Initial Purchasers of $155,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
the Company's 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005 (the "Notes"). In order to
induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company
and the Guarantors have agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in
this Agreement for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Notes (as defined),
including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers' obligation
to purchase the Notes under the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
Advice: See the last paragraph of Section 5.
Agreement: See the first introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.
Applicable Period: See Section 2(b).
Business Day: A day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on
which banking institutions in New York, New York are required to be closed.
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Closing Date: The Closing Date as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
Company: See the first introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Effectiveness Date: The 120th day after the Filing Date.
Effectiveness Period: See Section 3(a).
Event Date: See Section 4(b).
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Notes: See Section 2(a).
Exchange Offer: See Section 2(a).
Exchange Registration Statement: See Section 2(a).
Filing Date: The 75th day after the Issue Date.
Guarantors: See the first introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.
Holder: Any registered holder of Registrable Notes.
Indemnified Person: See Section 7(c).
Indemnifying Person: See Section 7(c).
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of March 26, 1997, by and
among the Company, the Guarantors and United States Trust Company of New York,
as trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are being issued, as amended or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchasers: See the first introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.
Initial Shelf Registration: See Section 3(a).
Inspectors: See Section 5(o).
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Issue Date: The date on which the original Notes were sold to the
Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Issuers: The Company and the Guarantors.
Liquidated Damages: See Section 4(a).
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes: See the second introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Participant: See Section 7(a).
Participating Broker-Dealer: See Section 2(b).
Person: An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association,
union, business association, firm or other legal entity.
Private Exchange: See Section 2(b).
Private Exchange Notes: See Section 2(b).
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus
filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A
promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion
of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all other
amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
Purchase Agreement: See the second introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.
Records: See Section 5(o).
Registrable Notes: Each Note upon original issuance thereof and
at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note
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as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable upon original issuance thereof
and at all times subsequent thereto and each Private Exchange Note upon original
issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto, until, in the case of any
such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, the
earliest to occur of (i) a Registration Statement (other than with respect to
any Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable) covering
such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been
declared effective by the SEC and such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange
Note, as the case may be, has been disposed of in accordance with such effective
Registration Statement, (ii) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note,
as the case may be, is sold in compliance with Rule 144, (iii) in the case of
any Note, such Note has been exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for an
Exchange Note or Exchange Notes which may be resold without restriction under
federal securities laws, or (iv) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange
Note, as the case may be, ceases to be outstanding for purposes of the
Indenture.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the
Company, including, but not limited to, the Exchange Registration Statement,
that covers any of the Registrable Notes pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such registration statement.
Rule 144: Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
Rule 415: Rule 415 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the SEC.
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SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Notice: See Section 2(c).
Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).
Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the
trustee under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange
Notes (if any).
Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A
registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.
2. Exchange Offer
Each of the Issuers agrees to file with the SEC no later than the
Filing Date, an offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the
Registrable Notes (other than Private Exchange Notes, if any) for a like
aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company, guaranteed by the
Guarantors, which are identical in all material respects to the Notes (the
"Exchange Notes") (and which are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or a
trust indenture which is identical in all material respects to the Indenture
(other than such changes to the Indenture or any such identical trust indenture
as are necessary to comply with any requirements of the SEC to effect or
maintain the qualification thereof under the TIA) and which, in either case, has
been qualified under the TIA), except that the Exchange Notes shall have been
registered pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities
Act and shall contain no restrictive legend thereon. The Exchange Offer shall be
registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate form (the "Exchange
Registration Statement") and shall comply with all applicable tender offer rules
and regulations under the Exchange Act. Each of the Issuers agrees to use its
best efforts to (x) cause the Exchange Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act on or before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep
the Exchange Offer
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open for at least 20 Business Days (or longer if required by applicable law)
after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is first mailed to Holders; and
(z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 60th day following the date
on which the Exchange Registration Statement is declared effective. If after
such Exchange Registration Statement is initially declared effective by the SEC,
the Exchange Offer or the issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Exchange Registration
Statement shall be deemed not to have become effective for purposes of this
Agreement. Each Holder who participates in the Exchange Offer will be required
to represent that any Exchange Notes received by it will be acquired in the
ordinary course of its business, that at the time of the consummation of the
Exchange Offer such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes, that such
Holder is not an affiliate of any of the Issuers within the meaning of the
Securities Act, and any additional representations that in the written opinion
of counsel to the Issuers are necessary under then-existing interpretations of
the SEC in order for the Exchange Registration Statement to be declared
effective. Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this
Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis
mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Notes that are Private Exchange
Notes and Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Issuers
shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Notes (other than
Private Exchange Notes and other than in respect of any Exchange Notes as to
which clause 2(c)(iv) hereof applies) pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement.
(b) The Issuers shall include within the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary
statement of the positions taken or policies made by the Staff of the SEC with
respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange
Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a "Participating
Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies have been publicly
disseminated by the Staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the
judgment of the Initial Purchasers, represent the prevailing views of the Staff
of the SEC. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also allow, to the extent
permitted
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by applicable policies and regulations of the SEC, the use of the Prospectus by
all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act, including, to the extent so permitted, all Participating Broker-Dealers,
and include a statement describing the manner in which Participating
Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.
Each of the Issuers shall use its best efforts to keep the
Exchange Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
Prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully
delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time as such Persons must comply with such
requirements in connection with offers and sales of the Exchange Notes, provided
that such period shall not exceed 180 days after the Exchange Registration
Statement is declared effective (or such longer period if extended pursuant to
the last paragraph of Section 5.) (the "Applicable Period").
If, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial
Purchasers hold any Notes acquired by them and having the status of an unsold
allotment in the initial distribution, the Issuers upon the request of any such
Initial Purchaser shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes
in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to the Initial Purchasers, in exchange
(the "Private Exchange") for the Notes held by the Initial Purchasers, a like
principal amount of debt securities of the Company that are identical in all
material respects to the Exchange Notes except for the existence of restrictions
on transfer thereof under the Securities Act and securities laws of the several
states of the U.S. (the "Private Exchange Notes") (and which are issued pursuant
to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes). The Private Exchange Notes shall
bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes. Interest on the Exchange Notes
and Private Exchange Notes will accrue from the last interest payment date on
which interest was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no
interest has been paid on the Notes, from the Issue Date.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall:
(1) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part
of the Exchange Registration Statement, together with an appropriate
letter of transmittal and related documents;
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(2) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange
Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
which may be the Trustee or an affiliate thereof;
(3) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Notes at
any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last
business day on which the Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(4) otherwise comply in all material respects with all
applicable laws.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or
the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Issuers shall:
(1) accept for exchange all Registrable Notes validly
tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange;
(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable
Notes so accepted for exchange; and
(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly
to each Holder tendering such Registrable Notes, Exchange Notes or
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to
the Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes may be issued
under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects
to the Indenture, which in either event will provide that the Exchange Notes
will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and
that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes, if any, will
vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the
Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes, if any, will have the
right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
(c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently
prevailing interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted
to effect an Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within
285 days of the Issue Date, (iii) any holder of Private Exchange Notes so
requests in writing to the Company or (iv) in the case of any Holder that
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participates in the Exchange Offer (and tenders its Registrable Notes prior to
the expiration thereof), such Holder does not receive Exchange Notes on the date
of the exchange that may be sold without restriction under federal securities
laws (other than due solely to the status of such Holder as an affiliate of any
of the Issuers within the meaning of the Securities Act) and so notifies the
Company within 30 days following the consummation of the Exchange Offer (and
providing a reasonable basis for its conclusions), in the case of each of
clauses (i)-(iv), then the Issuers shall promptly deliver to the Holders and the
Trustee written notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") and shall file a Shelf
Registration pursuant to Section 3.
3. Shelf Registration
If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c),
then:
(a) Shelf Registration. The Issuers shall as promptly as
reasonably practicable file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an
offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of
the Registrable Notes (the "Initial Shelf Registration"). If the Issuers shall
not have yet filed the Exchange Registration Statement, each of the Issuers
shall use its best efforts to file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration
on or prior to the Filing Date and shall use its best efforts to cause such
Initial Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on
or prior to the Effectiveness Date. Otherwise, each of the Issuers shall use its
best efforts to file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration within 30 days
of the delivery of the Shelf Notice and shall use its best efforts to cause such
Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly
as practicable thereafter. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1
or another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes
for resale by Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including,
without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). No Issuers shall permit
any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in any Shelf
Registration. Each of the Issuers shall use its best efforts to keep the Initial
Shelf Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act until the
date which is 24 months from the Issue Date (or, if Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act is amended to permit unlimited resales by non-affiliates within a
lesser period, such lesser period) (subject to extension pursuant to the last
paragraph of Section 5 hereof) or such shorter period ending when
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(i) all Registrable Notes covered by the Initial Shelf Registration have been
sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf
Registration or (ii) a Subsequent Shelf Registration covering all of the
Registrable Notes has been declared effective under the Securities Act (the
"Effectiveness Period").
(b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Initial Shelf
Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any
reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the
sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), each of the Issuers shall
use its best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 30 days of such cessation
of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration in a manner to obtain the
withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an
additional "shelf" Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of
the Registrable Notes (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration"). If a Subsequent Shelf
Registration is filed, each of the Issuers shall use its best efforts to cause
the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and to keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration
continuously effective for a period equal to the number of days in the
Effectiveness Period less the aggregate number of days during which the Initial
Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registrations was previously
continuously effective. As used herein the term "Shelf Registration" means the
Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registration.
(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Issuers shall promptly
supplement and amend any Shelf Registration if required by the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such
Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably
requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Shelf Registration or by any underwriter of
such Registrable Notes.
4. Liquidated Damages
(a) The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers agree that the
Holders of Registrable Notes will suffer damages if the Issuers fail to fulfill
their obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly,
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the Issuers agree to pay liquidated damages ("Liquidated Damages") to holders of
the Registrable Notes under the circumstances and to the extent set forth below
(each of which shall be given independent effect):
(i) if neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the
Initial Shelf Registration has been filed on or prior to the Filing
Date, then commencing on the day after the Filing Date, Liquidated
Damages shall accrue on the Registrable Notes at a rate of 0.50% per
annum of the principal amount of the Registrable Notes for the first 90
days immediately following the Filing Date, such Liquidated Damages
increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of
the Registrable Notes at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period;
(ii) if neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the
Initial Shelf Registration is declared effective on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date applicable thereto, then commencing on the day after
such Effectiveness Date, Liquidated Damages shall accrue on the
Registrable Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount
of the Registrable Notes for the first 90 days immediately following the
day after the Effectiveness Date, such Liquidated Damages rate
increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of
the Registration Notes at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day
period; and
(iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Notes for
all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
Offer on or prior to 60 days after the date on which the Exchange
Registration Statement was declared effective or (B) if applicable, a
Shelf Registration has been declared effective and such Shelf
Registration ceases to be effective at any time during the Effectiveness
Period, then Liquidated Damages shall accrue on the Registrable Notes at
a rate of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Registrable
Notes for the first 90 days commencing on the (x) 61st day after such
effective date in the case of (A) above or (y) the day such Shelf
Registration ceases to be effective in the case of (B) above, such
Liquidated Damages increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum of the
principal amount of the Registrable Notes at the beginning of each such
subsequent 90-day period;
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provided, however, that Liquidated Damages on the Registrable Notes may not
exceed in the aggregate 1.0% per annum of the principal amount of the
Registrable Notes; provided further that (1) upon the filing of the Exchange
Registration Statement or the Initial Shelf Registration (in the case of (i)
above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Registration Statement or the
Initial Shelf Registration, as the case may be (in the case of (ii) above), or
(3) upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all Registrable Notes tendered (in
the case of (iii)(A) above) or upon the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration
which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (iii)(B) above), Liquidated
Damages on any Registrable Notes then accruing Liquidated Damages as a result of
such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease
to accrue.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one business day
after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which
Liquidated Damages are required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Any Liquidated
Damages due pursuant to (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section 4 will be
payable in cash semi-annually on each regular interest payment date specified in
the Indenture (to the Holders of Registrable Notes of record on the regular
record date therefor (as specified in the Indenture) immediately preceding such
dates), commencing with the first such regular interest payment date occurring
after any such Liquidated Damages commence to accrue. The amount of Liquidated
Damages will be determined by multiplying the applicable Liquidated Damages rate
by the principal amount of the Notes subject thereto, multiplied by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of days such Liquidated Damages rate was
applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year
comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.
5. Registration Procedures
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement
pursuant to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Issuers shall effect such registrations
to permit the sale of such securities covered thereby in accordance with the
intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in
connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Issuers hereunder, each
of the Issuers shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC prior to the Filing Date,
the Ex-
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change Registration Statement or if the Exchange Registration Statement is not
filed or is unavailable, a Shelf Registration as prescribed by Section 2 or 3,
and use its best efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become
effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided that, if (1) a Shelf
Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an
Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period and has advised the Company
that it is a Participating Broker-Dealer, before filing any Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Issuers
shall, if requested, furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Notes
to be registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, covered by such Registration Statement, their
counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to
review copies of all such documents (including copies of any documents to be
incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed
(in each case at least five business days prior to such filing). The Issuers
shall not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments
or supplements thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, or any
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel, or the
managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration or Exchange Registration
Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable
Period, as the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by
any Prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to
be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under
the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so
supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any securities being
sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus. The
Issuers shall be deemed not to have used their best efforts to keep a
Registration Statement effective during the Applicable Period if any of them
voluntarily takes any action that would result in selling Holders of the
Registrable Notes cov-
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ered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking to sell Exchange Notes not
being able to sell such Registrable Notes or such Exchange Notes during that
period unless such action is required by applicable law, rule or regulation or
unless each of the Issuers complies with this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the provisions of paragraph 5(k) hereof and the last paragraph of
Section 5.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by
any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period from whom the Company has received written notice that it will
be a Participating Broker-Dealer, notify the selling Holders of Registrable
Notes, and each such Participating Broker-Dealer, their counsel and the managing
underwriters, if any, promptly (but in any event within two business days), and
confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective (including in such notice a written statement that any Holder may,
upon request, obtain, without charge, one conformed copy of such Registration
Statement or post-effective amendment including financial statements and
schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference and
exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a prospectus is required
by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the
Registrable Notes the representations and warranties of any Issuer contained in
any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section
5(n) hereof cease to be true and correct in any material respect, (iv) of the
receipt by any Issuer of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification or exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any
of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating
Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any
event, the existence of any condition or any information becoming known that
makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or
any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference
untrue in any
17
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material respect or that requires the making of any changes in, or amendments or
supplements to, such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in
the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in
the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the Company's reasonable
determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would
be appropriate.
(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by
any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification
(or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Notes or the
Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any
jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to use its best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible date.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3
and if requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold in
connection with an underwritten offering, (i) as promptly as practicable
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information or revisions to information therein relating to such underwriters or
selling Holders as the managing underwriters, if any, or such Holders or their
counsel reasonably request to be included or made therein, (ii) make all
required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment, and (iii) supplement or make amendments to such Registration
Statement.
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Regis-
18
-16-
tration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under
the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange
Notes during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling Holder of
Registrable Notes and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so requests
and to counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, one
conformed copy of the Registration Statement or Registration Statements and each
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules,
and, if requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference and all exhibits.
(g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by
any Participating Broker-Dealer, deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable
Notes or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their
respective counsel, and the underwriters, if any, without charge, as many copies
of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary
prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and any documents
incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and,
subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Issuers hereby consent to
the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of
the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer,
and the underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers (if any), in connection with
the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes covered by, or the sale by
Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any
delivery of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration Statement by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, use its best efforts to register or qualify, and cooperate
with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such
registration or qualification) of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as
the case may be, for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of
such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder, Participating
Broker-Dealer, or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, reasonably
request in writing;
19
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provided that where Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or
Registrable Notes are offered pursuant to an underwritten offering, counsel to
the underwriters shall, at the cost and expense of the Issuers, perform the Blue
Sky investigations and file registrations and qualifications required to be
filed pursuant to this Section 5(h); keep each such registration or
qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such
Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all other
acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers or the
Registrable Notes covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided
that no Issuer shall be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would
subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal
dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes, any Participating
Broker-Dealer and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Notes to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive
legends and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company; and enable such Registrable Notes to be in such denominations and
registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or
Holders may reasonably request.
(j) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes
covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or
sellers thereof or the underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of
such Registrable Notes, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the
nature of such selling holder's business, in which case the Issuers will
cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such Registration
Statement and the granting of such approvals.
(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by
any Participating Bro-
20
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ker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, upon
the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi)
hereof, as promptly as practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof)
file with the SEC, at the Issuers' sole expense, a supplement or post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered
to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes being sold thereunder or to the
purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom such Prospectus will be delivered by a
Participating Broker-Dealer, any such Prospectus will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes
covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating
agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any.
(m) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration
Statement relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with
printed certificates for the Registrable Notes in a form eligible for deposit
with The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the
Registrable Notes.
(n) In connection with an underwritten offering of
Registrable Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting
agreement as is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar
to the Notes and take all such other actions as are reasonably requested by the
managing underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the
registration or the disposition of such Registrable Notes and, in such
connection, (i) make such representations and warranties to the underwriters,
with respect to the business of the Issuers and their subsidiaries and the
Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made
by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar
to the Notes, and confirm the same in writing if and when requested; (ii) obtain
the
21
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opinion of counsel to the Issuers and updates thereof in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed
to the underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in opinions
requested in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes and
such other matters as may be reasonably requested by underwriters; (iii) obtain
"cold comfort" letters and updates thereof in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters from the independent
certified public accountants of the Issuers (and, if necessary, any other
independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Issuers or of
any business acquired by any of the Issuers for which financial statements and
financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to be in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold
comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings of debt securities
similar to the Notes and such other matters as reasonably requested by the
managing underwriter or underwriters; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is
entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures
no less favorable than those set forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other
provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement and
the managing underwriter or underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties
to be indemnified pursuant to said Section. The above shall be done at each
closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required
thereunder.
(o) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
3, or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by
any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any selling Holder of such
Registrable Notes being sold, and each Participating Broker-Dealer, any
underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Notes, if any,
and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder,
each Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter
(collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept, during
reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of any of the Issuers and their subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to
22
-20-
exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers,
directors and employees of each Issuer and its subsidiaries to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such
Registration Statement. Records which an Issuer determines, in good faith, to be
confidential and any Records which it notifies the Inspectors are confidential
shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such
Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in such
Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to
a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) the
information in such Records has been made generally available to the public
other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Inspector
or (iv) disclosure of such information is, in the opinion of counsel for any
Inspector, necessary or advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit or
proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving or potentially involving such
Inspector and arising out of, based upon, related to, or involving this
Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or arising hereunder. Each
selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer
will be required to agree that information obtained by it as a result of such
inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as the
basis for any market transactions in the securities of any Issuer unless and
until such is made generally available to the public. Each Inspector, each
selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer
will be required to further agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of
such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction or is deemed
necessary or advisable pursuant to clauses (ii) or (iv) of the previous sentence
or otherwise, give notice to the Company and allow the Company to undertake
appropriate action to obtain a protective order or otherwise prevent disclosure
of the Records deemed confidential at its expense.
(p) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes
or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust
indenture provided for in Section 2(a), as the case may be, to be qualified
under the TIA not later than the effective date of the Exchange Offer or the
first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Notes; and in
connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture and
the Holders of the Registrable Notes, to effect such changes to such 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 best efforts to cause such trus-
23
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tee 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 such
indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(q) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC and make generally available to its securityholders earnings statements
satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158
thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later
than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of
any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end
of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Notes are sold to underwriters in a
firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to
underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first
fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a Registration
Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods.
(r) Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer or a Private
Exchange, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Issuers, in a form customary for
underwritten transactions, addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all
Holders of Registrable Notes participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange, as the case may be, that the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange
Notes, as the case may be, and the related indenture constitute legally valid
and binding obligations of the Issuers, enforceable against each Issuer in
accordance with their respective terms.
(s) If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Issuers
(or to such other Person as directed by the Issuers) in exchange for the
Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Issuers
shall mark, or caused to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such
Registrable Notes are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in no event shall such Registrable
Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered
by any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in connection
with any filings required to be made with the NASD.
24
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(u) Use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps
reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Notes covered
by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
The Issuers may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to
which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Issuers such
information regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes
as the Issuers may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Issuers may
exclude from such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller who fails to
furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected
agrees to furnish promptly to the Issuers all information required to be
disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Issuers
by such seller not materially misleading.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes
to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon
receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi), such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Holder
or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and, in each case,
dissemination of such Prospectus until such Holder's or Participating
Broker-Dealer's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 5(k), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice")
by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has
received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto. In the event the
Company shall give any such notice, each of the Effectiveness Period and the
Applicable Period shall be extended by the number of days during such periods
from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the
date when each seller of Registrable Notes covered by such Registration
Statement or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as
the case may be, shall have received (x) the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) or (y) the Advice.
25
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6. Registration Expenses
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Issuers shall be borne by the Issuers
whether or not the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes
effective, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be
made with the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and
expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection
with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes and
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the holders of
Registrable Notes are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as
provided in Section 5(h) hereof, in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes to be sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable
Period)), (ii) printing expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes in a form eligible
for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if
the printing of prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Registrable Notes included in any Registration Statement or by any
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, (iii) messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuers and
fees and disbursements of special counsel for the sellers of Registrable Notes
(subject to the provisions of Section 6(b)), (v) fees and disbursements of all
independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(n)(iii)
(including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and "cold
comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance), (vi) rating
agency fees, (vii) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Issuers desire
such insurance, (viii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the
Issuers, (ix) internal expenses of the Issuers (including, without limitation,
all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of any Issuers performing
legal or accounting duties), (x) the expense of any annual or special audit,
(xi) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
securities to be registered on any securities exchange, (xii) the fees and
disbursements of underwriters, if any, customarily paid by issuers or sellers of
securities (but not including any underwriting discounts or com-
26
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missions or transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of the Registrable
Notes which discounts, commissions or taxes shall be paid by Holders of such
Registrable Notes) and (xiii) the expenses relating to printing, word processing
and distributing all Registration Statements, underwriting agreements,
securities sales agreements, indentures and any other documents necessary in
order to comply with this Agreement.
(b) In connection with any Shelf Registration hereunder, the
Issuers, jointly and severally, shall reimburse the Holders of the Registrable
Notes being registered in such registration for the fees and disbursements of
not more than one counsel (in addition to appropriate local counsel) chosen by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
to be included in such Registration Statement.
7. Indemnification
(a) Each of the Issuers agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer, the officers and directors of each such Person, and each Person,
if any, who controls any such Person within the meaning of either Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a "Participant"),
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including,
without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and other reasonable expenses
actually incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim
asserted) caused by, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if any Issuer shall have
furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or caused by, arising out of or
based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or 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 untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information relating to any Participant furnished to
any Issuer in writing by or on behalf of such Participant expressly for use
therein; provided, however, that the Issuers shall not be liable if such untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was contained or
made in (A) any preliminary prospectus and corrected in the Prospectus or any
amend-
27
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ment or supplement thereto and the Prospectus does not contain any other untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a material fact
that was the subject matter of the related proceeding and any such loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense suffered or incurred by the Participants
resulted from any action, claim or suit by any Person who purchased Registrable
Notes or Exchange Notes which are the subject thereof from such Participant and
it is established in the related proceeding that such Participant failed to
deliver or provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) to such
Person with or prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Notes
or Exchange Notes sold to such Person if required by applicable law, unless such
failure to deliver or provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented) was a result of noncompliance by any Issuer with Section 5 of this
Agreement or (B)(i) any preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may
be, (or an amendment or supplement thereto) which is the subject of a notice
delivered by the Issuers pursuant to, and in accordance with Section 5(c)(ii),
5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi), and (ii) any such losses arise out of the breach
by such Indemnified Person of the obligations of such Indemnified Person
contained in the last paragraph of Section 5, unless the Issuers fail to deliver
a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 5(k).
(b) Each Participant will be required to agree, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, their respective directors
and officers and each Person who controls any Issuer within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Issuers to each Participant, but only
with reference to information relating to such Participant furnished to any
Issuer in writing by such Participant expressly for use in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary
prospectus. The liability of any Participant under this paragraph shall in no
event exceed the proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable
Notes or Exchange Notes giving rise to such obligations.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the
two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly
notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying
Person") in writing, and the
28
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Indemnifying Person, upon request of the Indemnified Person, shall retain
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the
Indemnified Person and any others the Indemnifying Person may reasonably
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses
incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding; provided, however, that the
failure to so notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it of any
obligation or liability which it may have hereunder or otherwise, except to the
extent the Indemnifying Person is actually damaged by such failure. In any such
proceeding, any Indemnified Person 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 Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified
Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the
Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the named parties in
any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the
Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person 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, unless there is a
conflict among Indemnified Persons, the Indemnifying Person shall not, in
connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition
to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for
the Participants and such control Persons of Participants shall be designated in
writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest of Registrable Notes
sold by all such Participants and any such separate firm for the Issuers, their
respective directors, officers and such control Persons of the Issuers shall be
designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final non-appealable
judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify any
Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could
have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release
of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance satisfactory to such
Indem-
29
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nified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault,
culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of an Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in the first and second
paragraphs of this Section 7 is unavailable to, or insufficient to hold
harmless, an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such
paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder and in
order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative fault of the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the
Indemnified Person or Persons on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions (or alleged statements or omissions) that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties 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 Issuers on the one hand
or by the Participants or such other Indemnified Person, as the case may be, on
the other, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission and any other
equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation
(even if the Participants 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 Person as a result of the losses, claims,
damages and 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 actually incurred by such Indemnified Person in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall a
Participant be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or
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Exchange Notes, as the case may be, exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Participant 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
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons
may otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.
8. Rules 144 and 144A
Each of the Issuers covenants that it will file the reports
required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner and, if
at any time it is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request
of any Holder of Registrable Notes, make publicly available other information so
long as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the
Securities Act. Each of the Issuers further covenants, for so long as any
Registrable Notes remain outstanding, to make available to any Holder or
beneficial owner of Registrable Notes in connection with any sale thereof and
any prospective purchaser of such Registrable Notes from such Holder or
beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the
Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Notes pursuant to
Rule 144A.
9. Underwritten Registrations
If any of the Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf Registration
are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable
Notes included in such offering and reasonably acceptable to the Issuers.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any
underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such
Holder's Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting
arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such
arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attor-
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ney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the
terms of such underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by any Issuer of any of its
obligations under this Agreement, each Holder of Registrable Notes and each
Participating Broker-Dealer holding Exchange Notes, in addition to being
entitled to exercise all rights provided herein, in the Indenture or, in the
case of each of the Initial Purchasers, in the Purchase Agreement, or granted by
law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of
its rights under this Agreement. Each Issuer agrees that monetary damages would
not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it
of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in
the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it
shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. None of the Issuers has entered, as
of the date hereof, and none of the Issuers shall enter, after the date of this
Agreement, into any agreement with respect to any of its securities that is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this
Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. None of the Issuers
has entered or will enter into any agreement with respect to any of its
securities which will grant to any Person piggy-back rights with respect to a
Registration Statement.
(c) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. None of the Issuers
shall, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable
Notes as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of
Registrable Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration undertaken
pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written
consent of (A) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the then outstanding Registrable Notes and (B) in circumstances that
would adversely affect Participating Broker-Dealers, the Participating
Broker-Dealers holding not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Ex-
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change Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however, that
Section 7 and this Section 10(d) may not be amended, modified or supplemented
without the prior written consent of each Holder and each Participating
Broker-Dealer (including any person who was a Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be,
disposed of pursuant to any Registration Statement). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect
to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable
Notes whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer or sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly
affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable
Notes may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Registrable Notes being tendered or being sold by such Holders
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day air courier or telecopier:
1. if to a Holder of Registrable Notes or any Participating
Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the
records of the registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner
to the Initial Purchasers as follows:
BT SECURITIES CORPORATION
Bankers Trust Plaza
130 Liberty Street
New York, New York 10006
Facsimile No.: (212) 250-7200
Attention: Corporate Finance Department
with a copy to:
Cahill Gordon & Reindel
80 Pine Street
New York, New York 10005
Facsimile No.: (212) 269-5420
Attention: William M. Hartnett, Esq.
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(2) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the addresses specified
in Section 10(e)(1);
(3) if to the Company, as follows:
Ralphs Grocery Company
1100 West Artesia Boulevard
Compton, California 90220
Facsimile No.: (310) 884-2610
Attention: Jan Charles Gray, Esq.
with copies to:
Latham & Watkins
633 West Fifth Street
Suite 4000
Los Angeles, California 90071
Facsimile: (213) 891-8763
Attention: Thomas C. Sadler, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one business day
after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery; and when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if telecopied.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall
be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee under the
Indenture at the address specified in such Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto
and the Holders.
(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.
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(i) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS
MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(j) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared
to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that
may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(k) Notes Held by an Issuer or Its Affiliates. Whenever the consent
or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is
required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by an Issuer or its affiliates (as
such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted
in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
(l) Third Party Beneficiaries. Holders of Registrable Notes and
Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third party beneficiaries of this
Agreement and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.
(m) Joint and Several Obligations. Unless otherwise stated herein,
each of the obligations of the Issuers under this Agreement shall be joint and
several obligations of each of them.
(n) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase
Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral
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or written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts,
understandings, correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Initial
Purchasers on the one hand and the Company on the other, or between or among any
agents, representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in
interest or successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof are merged herein and replaced hereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.
RALPHS GROCERY COMPANY
By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
ALPHA BETA COMPANY, BAY AREA
WAREHOUSE STORES, INC. BELL MARKETS,
INC., CALA CO., CALA FOODS, INC.,
FALLEY'S, INC., FOOD 4 LESS OF
CALIFORNIA, INC., FOOD 4 LESS
MERCHANDISING, INC., FOOD 4 LESS OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, INC., FOOD 4
LESS GM, INC. CRAWFORD STORES, INC.
as Subsidiary Guarantors
By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BT SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ CHRISTINE B. FOGGIA
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST INTERNATIONAL, PLC
By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
37
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CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP.
By: /s/ PATRICE DANIELS
--------------------------------
Name: Patrice Daniels
Title: Managing Director
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
By: /s/ G. DAVID M. MALETTA, II
--------------------------------
Name: G. David M. Maletta, II
Title: Managing Director
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
--------------------------------
Name:
Title: