EXHIBIT 4.1
Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
$265,000,000
6.25 % Senior Notes due 2001
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
October 2, 1998
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
c/o Chase Securities Inc.
270 Park Avenue, 8th floor
New York, New York 10017
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Jones Apparel Group, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to Chase Securities Inc. ("CSI"),
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Bear, Stearns & Co.
Inc. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers") upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in a purchase agreement dated September 29, 1998
(the "Purchase Agreement"), $265,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its
6.25% Senior Notes due 2001 (the "Securities"). Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the
Purchase Agreement.
As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the
Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of
the Initial Purchasers thereunder, the Company agrees with the Initial
Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders (including the Initial
Purchasers) of the Securities, the Exchange Securities (as defined herein)
and the Private Exchange Securities (as defined herein) (collectively, the
"Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall (i) prepare
and, not later than 90 days following the date of original issuance of the
Securities (the "Issue Date"), file with the Commission a registration
statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration Statement") on an appropriate
form under the Securities Act with respect to a proposed offer to the
Holders of the Securities (the "Registered Exchange Offer") to issue and
deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Securities, a like aggregate
principal amount of debt securities of the Company (the "Exchange
Securities") that are identical in all material respects to the Securities,
except that the liquidated damages provisions and the transfer restrictions
relating to the Securities will be eliminated, (ii) use its reasonable best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective under the Securities Act no later than 180 days after the Issue
Date and the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated no later than 210
days after the Issue Date and (iii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by
applicable law) after the date on which notice of the Registered Exchange
Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange
Offer Registration Period"). The Exchange Securities will be issued under
the Indenture or an indenture (the "Exchange Securities Indenture") between
the Company and the Trustee or such other bank or trust company that is
reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as trustee (the
"Exchange Securities Trustee"), such indenture to be identical in all
material respects to the Indenture, except for the liquidated damages
provisions and the transfer restrictions relating to the Securities (as
described above).
Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange
Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable
each Holder electing to exchange Securities for Exchange Securities
(assuming that such Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the Company (within
the meaning of the Securities Act) or an Exchanging Dealer (as defined
herein) not complying with the requirements of the next sentence, (b) is
not an Initial Purchaser holding Securities that have, or that are
reasonably likely to have, the status of an unsold allotment in an initial
distribution, (c) acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course
of such
Holder's business and (d) has no arrangements or understandings with any
person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities) and
to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any
limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material
restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United
States. The Company, the Initial Purchasers and each Exchanging Dealer (as
defined below) acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by the
Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, and in the absence
of an applicable exemption therefrom, each Holder (which may include the
Initial Purchasers) that is a broker-dealer electing to exchange
Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an
"Exchanging Dealer"), may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act and must therefore, deliver a prospectus
containing substantially the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the
cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the
"Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan
of Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of
any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to
the Registered Exchange Offer.
If, prior to the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer,
any Holder holds any Securities acquired by it that have, or that are
reasonably likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold
allotment in an initial distribution, or any Holder is not entitled to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall, upon the
request of any such Holder, simultaneously with the delivery of the
Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to
any such Holder, in exchange for the Securities held by such Holder (the
"Private Exchange"), a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities
of the Company (the "Private Exchange Securities") that are identical in
all material respects to the Exchange Securities, except for the transfer
restrictions relating to such Private Exchange Securities. The Private
Exchange Securities will be issued under the same indenture as the Exchange
Securities, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause
the Private Exchange Securities to bear the same CUSIP number as the
Exchange Securities.
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company
shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date on
which notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the
Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City
of New York;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
prior to the close of business, New York City time, on the last
business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open;
and
(e) otherwise comply in all respects with all laws that are
applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange
Offer and any Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(a) accept for exchange all Securities validly tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the
Private Exchange (it being understood that all questions as to
validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance
of Securities tendered for exchange shall be determined by the Company
in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and
binding);
(b) deliver to the Trustee for cancelation all Securities so
accepted for exchange; and
(c) cause the Trustee or the Exchange Securities Trustee, as the
case may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may
be, equal in principal amount to the Securities of such Holder so
accepted for exchange.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement
the prospectus contained therein in order to permit such prospectus to be
used 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 order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided that
(i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer, such period shall be the
lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers have sold
all Exchange Securities held by them and (ii) the Company shall make such
prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange
Securities for a period of not less than 90 days after the consummation of
the Registered Exchange Offer.
The Indenture or the Exchange Securities Indenture, as the case
may be, shall provide that the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the
Private Exchange Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters
as one class and that none of the Securities, the Exchange Securities or
the Private Exchange Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a
separate class on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security
issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private
Exchange will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest
was paid on the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no
interest has been paid on the Securities, from the Issue Date.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall
be required to represent to the Company that at the time of the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities
received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of
business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with
any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the
Exchange Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and (iii) such
Holder is not an affiliate of the Company or, if it is such an affiliate,
such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will
ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto
complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes
effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of
any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such
prospectus, does not, as of the consummation of the Registered Exchange
Offer, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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.
2. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff the Company is
not permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, or (ii) any Securities validly tendered pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer are not exchanged for Exchange Securities within
210 days after the Issue Date, or (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests
with respect to Securities or Private Exchange Securities not eligible to
be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and
held by it following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, or
(iv) any applicable law or interpretations do not permit any Holder to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (v) any Holder that
participates in the Registered Exchange Offer does not receive freely
transferable Exchange Securities in exchange for tendered Securities, other
than by reason of such Holder being an Affiliate of the Company (it being
understood that, for purposes of this Section 2, the requirement that an
Exchanging Dealer deliver a prospectus in connection with sales of Exchange
Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for
Securities acquired as a result of marketmaking activities or other trading
activities shall not result in such Exchange Securities being not "freely
tradeable"), or (vi) the Company so elects, then the following provisions
shall apply:
(a) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file as
promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 90 days after so
required or requested pursuant to this Section 2) with the Commission,
and thereafter shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be
declared effective, a shelf registration statement on an appropriate
form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined below) by the Holders
thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of
distribution set forth in such
registration statement (hereafter, a "Shelf Registration Statement"
and, together with any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a
"Registration Statement"); provided, however, that, with respect to
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities received by an
Initial Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion
of an unsold allotment, the Company may, if permitted by current
interpretations by the Commission's staff, file a posteffective
amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the
information required by Regulation SK Items 507 and/or 508, as
applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this paragraph
(a) with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed
by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration
Statement.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit
the prospectus forming part thereof to be used by Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities for a period ending on the earlier of (i) two
years from the Issue Date or such shorter period that will terminate
when all the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto and (ii) the
date on which the Securities become eligible for resale without volume
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in any
such case, such period being called the "Shelf Registration Period").
The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best
efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the
requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result
in Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered thereby not being
able to offer and sell such Transfer Restricted Securities during that
period, unless (i) such action is required by applicable law or (ii)
such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid
business reasons (not including avoidance of the Company's obligation
hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets and
other material transactions involving the Company, so long as the
Company promptly thereafter complies with the requirements of Section
4(j) hereof, if applicable.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will
ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement
thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Shelf
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto (in either case,
other than with respect to information included therein in reliance
upon or in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of any Holder specifically for use therein
(the "Holders' Information")) does 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 not misleading and
(iii) any prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement,
and any supplement to such prospectus (in either case, other than with
respect to Holders' Information), does not include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit 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.
3. Liquidated Damages. (a) The parties hereto agree that the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities will suffer damages if the
Company fails to fulfill its obligations under Section 1 or Section 2, as
applicable, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of
such damages. Accordingly, if (i) the applicable Registration Statement is
not filed with the Commission on or prior to 90 days after the Issue Date,
(ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, is not declared effective within 180 days
after the Issue Date (or in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement
required to be filed in response to a change in law or the applicable
interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within 90 days after
publication of the change in law or interpretation), (iii) the Registered
Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to 210 days after the Issue
Date, or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared
effective within 180 days after the Issue Date (or in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law
or the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within
90 days after publication of the change in law or interpretation) but shall
thereafter cease to be effective (at any time that the Company is obligated
to maintain the effectiveness thereof) without being succeeded within 90
days by an additional Registration Statement filed and declared effective
(each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration
Default"), the Company will be obligated to pay liquidated damages to each
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, during the period of one or more
such Registration Defaults, at a rate of 0.25% per annum, determined daily,
on the principal amount of the Securities constituting Transfer Restricted
Securities held by such holder until (i) the applicable Registration
Statement is filed, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is
declared effective and the Registered Exchange Offer is consummated, (iii)
the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective or (iv) the Shelf
Registration
Statement again becomes effective, as the case may be. Following the cure
of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of liquidated damages will cease.
As used herein, the term "Transfer Restricted Securities" means (i) each
Security until the date on which such Security has been exchanged for a
freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer,
(ii) each Security or Private Exchange Security until the date on which it
has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iii) each Security or
Private Exchange Security until the date on which it is distributed to the
public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable
pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Section 3(a), the Company shall not be required to
pay liquidated damages to a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities if
such Holder failed to comply with its obligations to make the
representations set forth in the second to last paragraph of Section 1 or
failed to provide the information required to be provided by it, if any,
pursuant to Section 4(n).
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent
under the Indenture promptly upon the happening of each and every
Registration Default. The Company shall pay the liquidated damages due on
the Transfer Restricted Securities by depositing with the Paying Agent
(which may not be the Company for these purposes), in trust, for the
benefit of the Holders thereof, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
the next interest payment date specified by the Indenture and the
Securities, sums sufficient to pay the liquidated damages then due. The
liquidated damages due shall be payable on each interest payment date
specified by the Indenture and the Securities to the record holder entitled
to receive the interest payment to be made on such date. Each obligation to
pay liquidated damages shall be deemed to accrue from and including the
date of the applicable Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided
for in this Section 3 constitute a reasonable estimate of and are intended
to constitute the sole and exclusive remedy for damages that will be
suffered by Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities by reason of the
failure of (i) the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be filed, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement
to remain effective or (iii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
be declared effective and the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated,
in each case to the extent required by this Agreement.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Registration
Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser,
prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the
Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement,
if any, to the prospectus included therein and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so
filed with the Commission, such comments as any Initial Purchaser may
reasonably propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A
hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer
Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section
and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the
prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in
the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer; and (iii) if requested by any Initial Purchaser,
include the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K,
as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.
(b) The Company shall advise each Initial Purchaser, each
Exchanging Dealer which has provided in writing to the Company a
telephone or facsimile number and address for notice (in the case of
clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) only) and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders of the securities covered thereby
and, if requested by any such person, confirm such advice in writing
(which advice pursuant to clauses (iii)-(v) hereof shall be
accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when any Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto has been filed with the Commission and when such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to any Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities,
the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities for
sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the making
of any changes in any Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein in order that such document does 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 the case of the prospectus included
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading.
(c) The Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time of any order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
(d) The Company will furnish to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities included within the coverage of any Shelf
Registration Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of
such Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules and, if any such
Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those,
if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company will, during the Shelf Registration Period,
promptly deliver to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement,
without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each
preliminary prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration Statement
and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably
request; and the Company consents to the use of such prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with the offer and sale
of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto.
(f) The Company will furnish to each Initial Purchaser and each
Exchanging Dealer and to any other Holder who so requests in writing,
without charge, at least one conformed copy of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules and, if any Initial
Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer or any such Holder so requests in
writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated
by reference).
(g) The Company will, during the Exchange Offer Registration
Period or the Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly
deliver to each Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and such
other persons that are required to deliver a prospectus following the
Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final
prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such Initial Purchaser, Exchanging Dealer or other persons
may reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of such
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any such Initial
Purchaser, Exchanging Dealer or other persons, as applicable, as
aforesaid.
(h) Prior to the effective date of any Registration Statement,
the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to register or
qualify, or cooperate with the Holders of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities included therein and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification of, such Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such Holder reasonably requests
in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or
advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities covered
by such Registration Statement; provided that the Company will not be
required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where
it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject
it to general service of process or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Subject to the provisions of the Indenture or the Exchange
Securities Indenture, as the case may be, and applicable law, the
Company will cooperate with the Holders of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant
to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in
such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders thereof
may request in writing prior to sales of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
(j) If any event contemplated by Section 4(b)(iii) through (v)
occurs during the period for which the Company is required to maintain
an effective Registration Statement, the Company will promptly prepare
and file with the Commission a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to
purchasers of the Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities from a Holder, the prospectus will not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit 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.
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for
the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee
with printed certificates for the Securities, the Exchange Securities
or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a form
eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission to the
extent and so long as they are applicable to the applicable
Registration Statement, Registered Exchange Offer or the shelf
registration described in the Shelf Registration Statement and will
make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement an earning statement satisfying the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act; provided that in no event shall such
earning statement be delivered later than 45 days after the end of a
12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year)
beginning with the first month of the Company's first fiscal quarter
commencing after the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company will cause the Indenture or the Exchange
Securities Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act as required by applicable law in a timely manner.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities to be registered pursuant to any Shelf Registration
Statement to furnish to the Company such information concerning the
Holder and the distribution of such Transfer Restricted Securities as
the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in
such Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from
such registration the Transfer Restricted Securities of any Holder
that fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after
receiving such request.
(o) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities to be registered pursuant thereto
agrees by acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Securities that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company pursuant to Section
4(b)(iii) through (v), such Holder will discontinue disposition of
such Transfer Restricted Securities until such Holder's receipt of
copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus contemplated by
Section 4(j) or until advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company
that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed. If the
Company shall give any notice under Section 4(b)(iii) through (v)
during the period that the Company is required to maintain an
effective Registration Statement (the "Effectiveness Period"), such
Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the number of days during
such period from and including the date of the giving of such notice
to and including the date when each seller of Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall have received
(x) the copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus contemplated
by Section 4(j) (if an amended or supplemental prospectus is required)
or (y) the Advice (if no amended or supplemental prospectus is
required).
(p) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested,
an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other
action, if any, as Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities
being sold or the managing underwriters (if any) shall reasonably
request in order to facilitate any disposition of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement.
(q) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall as may reasonably be requested by any Holder (i) make reasonably
available for inspection by a representative of, and Special Counsel
(as defined below) acting for, Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private
Exchange Securities being sold and any underwriter participating in
any disposition of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, all relevant
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries and (ii) use its
reasonable best efforts to have its officers, directors, employees,
accountants and counsel supply all relevant information reasonably
requested by such representative, Special Counsel or any such
underwriter (an "Inspector") in connection with such Shelf
Registration Statement; provided, however, that each such person shall
first agree in writing if requested by the Company that any
information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good
faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information
shall be kept confidential by the Holders or any Inspector, unless
such disclosure is required by law or by court or administrative
order, or to assert any defenses available under the state and federal
securities laws, including without limitation, "due diligence"
defenses, or such information becomes available to the public
generally other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to
safeguard such information by such Holder or Inspector or to such
person from a source other than the Company and such source is not
known, after due inquiry, by such person to be bound by any obligation
of confidentiality.
(r) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall, if requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange
Securities being sold, their Special Counsel or the managing
underwriters (if any) in connection with such Shelf Registration
Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to cause (i) its counsel to
deliver an opinion relating to the Shelf Registration Statement and
the Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as
applicable, in customary form, (ii) its officers to execute and
deliver all customary documents and certificates requested by Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities,
Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold, their
Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) and (iii) its
independent public accountants to provide a comfort letter or letters
in customary form, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as
contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72.
5. Registration Expenses. The Company will bear all expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under
Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the Company will reimburse the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one
firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) chosen by the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange
Securities and the Private Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant to each
Registration Statement (the "Special Counsel") acting for the Initial
Purchasers or Holders in connection therewith.
6. Indemnification. (a) In the event of a Shelf Registration
Statement or in connection with any prospectus delivery pursuant to an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement by an Initial Purchaser or Exchanging
Dealer, as applicable, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder (including any such Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer), its
affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, and
each person, if any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes
of this Section 6 and Section 7 as a Holder) from and against any loss,
claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect
thereof (including, without limitation, any loss, claim, damage, liability
or action relating to purchases and sales of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities), to which that Holder may become
subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, any other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration
Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse each Holder
promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
that Holder in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to
defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of
such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders'
Information; and provided, further, that with respect to any such untrue
statement in or omission from any related preliminary prospectus, the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(a) shall not inure to the
benefit of any Holder from whom the person asserting any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action received Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities to the extent that such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action of or with respect to such Holder results from the fact
that both (A) a copy of the final prospectus was not sent or given to such
person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to such
person and (B) the untrue statement in or omission from the related
preliminary prospectus was corrected in the final prospectus unless, in
either case, such failure to deliver the final prospectus was a result of
non-compliance by the Company with Section 4(d), 4(e), 4(f) or 4(g). This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company
may otherwise have.
(b) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder
(including any Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer) shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, their respective officers,
directors, employees, representatives and agents, and each person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes of this Section 6(b)
and Section 7 as the Company), from and against any loss, claim, damage or
liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the
Company may become subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal or state statutory law
or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
such Registration Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in
any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case
only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with any Holders' Information furnished to the Company by such Holder, and
shall reimburse the Company promptly upon demand for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with
investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however, that no such Holder shall be liable for any indemnity claims
hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such Holder
from the sale of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement. This indemnity
agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder may
otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made
against the indemnifying party pursuant to Section 6(a) or 6(b), notify the
indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that
action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying
party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this
Section 6 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced
(through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure;
and provided, further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party
shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified
party otherwise than under this Section 6. If any such claim or action
shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the
indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any
other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice
from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to
assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall
not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof other than the reasonable costs of
investigation; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the
right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses
and other charges of such counsel for the indemnified party will be at the
expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by
the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying
party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based
upon advice of counsel to the indemnified party) that there may be legal
defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different
from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a
conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon advice of counsel to the
indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party
(in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the
defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the
indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a
reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action,
in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges
of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It
is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other
charges of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any
local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties.
Each indemnified party, as a condition of the indemnity agreements
contained in Sections 6(a) and 6(b), shall use all reasonable efforts to
cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or
claim. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any such
action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there
be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6
is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 6(a) or 6(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage
or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall
be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company
from the offering and sale of the Securities, on the one hand, and a Holder
with respect to the sale by such Holder of Securities, Exchange Securities
or Private Exchange Securities, on the other, 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,
on the one hand, and such Holder, on the other, with respect to the
statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or
liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on
the one hand, and a Holder, on the other, with respect to such offering and
such sale shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net
proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses)
received by or on behalf of the Company as set forth in the table on the
cover of the Offering Memorandum, on the one hand, bear to the total
proceeds received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on the other. The
relative fault 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 the
Company or information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or to any
Holders* Information supplied by such Holder, on the other, the intent of
the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contributions pursuant to this Section 7 were to be determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or
liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section
7 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with investigating or defending or preparing to defend any such action or
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, an indemnifying
party that is a Holder of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities sold by such
indemnifying party to any purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages which
such indemnifying party has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by
reason of any 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.
8. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and,
if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will,
upon the written request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities,
make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit
sales of such Holder's securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The
Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer
Restricted Securities without registration under the Securities Act within
the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including,
without limitation, the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). Upon the written
request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Company shall
deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied
with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Section 8 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its
securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
9. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and
manager or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities included in such offering, subject to the consent of
the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and such
Holders shall be responsible for all underwriting commissions and discounts
in connection therewith.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer
Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting
arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such
arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents
reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous. (a) 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, unless
the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and
the Private Exchange Securities, taken as a single class. 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
whose Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities are
being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly
or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange
Securities and the Private Exchange Securities being sold by such Holders
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 10(b), which address initially is, with respect to each
Holder, the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under
the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Chase Securities Inc.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Bear, Stearns
& Co. Inc.;
(2) if to an Initial Purchaser, initially at its address set
forth in the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company, initially at the address of the Company
set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business
day after being delivered to a next-day air courier; five business days
after being deposited in the mail; and when receipt is acknowledged by the
recipient's telecopier machine, if sent by telecopier.
(c) Successors And Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon
the Company and its successors and assigns.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or by telecopier) 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.
(e) Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a)
the term "business day" means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc. is open for trading, (b) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set
forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and (c) except where otherwise
expressly provided, the term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule
405 under the Securities Act.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(h) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by any
Holder of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law, including recovery of damages (other than the
recovery of damages for a breach by the Company of its obligations under
Sections 1 or 2 hereof for which liquidated damages have been paid pursuant
to Section 3 hereof), will be entitled to specific performance of its
rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree 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 agree 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.
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants
and agrees for the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the
date on which there are no Transfer Restricted Securities outstanding that
(i) it has not entered into, shall not, on or after the date of this
Agreement, enter into any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof, (ii) it has not previously entered into any agreement
which remains in effect granting any registration rights with respect to
any of its debt securities to any person and (iii) without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, without the written consent of the Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Transfer
Restricted Securities, it shall not grant to any person the right to
request the Company to register any debt securities of the Company under
the Securities Act unless the rights so granted are not in conflict or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
(j) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of
its security holders (other than the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities in such capacity) shall have the right to include any securities
of the Company in any Shelf Registration or Registered Exchange Offer other
than Transfer Restricted Securities.
(k) Severability. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and
not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. 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 reasonable 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.
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the
agreement among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.
Very truly yours,
JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC.
by: /s/ Wesley R. Card
-----------------------
Wesley R. Card
Chief Financial Officer
Accepted:
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
by: /s/ John W. Judson
-----------------------------
Authorized Signatory
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER &
SMITH INCORPORATED
by: /s/ Cynthia L. Bates
-----------------------------
Authorized Signatory
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
by: /s/ Jacques de Saint Phalle
-----------------------------
Authorized Signatory
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange
Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and
by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit
that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be
used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities
received in exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired by
such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on the date hereof and
ending on the close of business on the earlier to occur of (i) the date on
which all Exchange Securities held by broker-dealers eligible to use the
Prospectus to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligations under the
Securities Act have been sold and (ii) the date 180 days after the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (the "Expiration Date"), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution".
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by
such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of
Distribution".
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange
Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of
Exchange Securities received in exchange for Securities where such
Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on the date
hereof and ending on the close of business on the earlier to occur of (i)
the date on which all Exchange Securities held by broker-dealers eligible
to use the Prospectus to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligations
under the Securities Act have been sold and (ii) the date 180 days after
the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (the "Expiration Date"),
it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition,
until [ ] 199[ ], all dealers effecting
transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a
prospectus.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of
Exchange Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by
broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Registered Exchange
Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the
over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of
options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of
resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices
related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any such
resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or
dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such
Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities
that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution
of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange
Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such persons
may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The
Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit
that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period starting on the date hereof and ending on the close
of business on the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which all Exchange
Securities held by broker-dealers eligible to use the Prospectus to satisfy
their prospectus delivery obligations under the Securities Act have been
sold and (ii) the Expiration Date, the Company will promptly send
additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to
this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the
Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident
to the Registered Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for
the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any
broker-dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including
any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act.
ANNEX D
CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR
SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:
Address:
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that
it is (i) acquiring the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of its
business, (ii) has no arrangement or understanding with any person, nor
does it intend to engage in, a distribution (as that term is interpreted by
the Securities and Exchange Commission) of Exchange Securities and (iii) it
is not an affiliate (as that term is interpreted by the Securities and
Exchange Commission) of the Company. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer
that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for
Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so
acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be
deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act.