EXHIBIT 1.1
EXECUTION COPY
$300,000,000
CVS CORPORATION
3 7/8% NOTES DUE NOVEMBER 1, 2007
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
October 30, 2002
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Dear Sirs:
CVS Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes to
issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co.
Inc., X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
(collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase
agreement of even date herewith (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), $300,000,000
aggregate principal amount of its 3 7/8% Notes due November 1, 2007 (the
"INITIAL SECURITIES"). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an
Indenture, dated as of November 4, 2002 (the "INDENTURE"), between the Company
and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). As an inducement to the
Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees with
the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities
(including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers), the Exchange Securities
(as defined below) and the Private Exchange Securities (as defined below)
(collectively the "HOLDERS"), as follows:
1. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER. The Company shall, at its own cost,
prepare and, not later than 90 days after (or if the 90th day is not a business
day, the first business day thereafter) the date of original issue of the
Initial Securities (the "ISSUE DATE"), file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "COMMISSION") a registration statement (the "EXCHANGE OFFER
REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), with respect to a proposed offer (the
"REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
(as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of
the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and
deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like
aggregate principal amount of debt securities (the "EXCHANGE SECURITIES") of the
Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the
Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial
Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6
hereof) that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use
its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible, but in no event
later than 180 days (or if the 180th day is not a business day, the first
business day thereafter) after the Issue Date of the Initial Securities and
shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than
30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the
Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION PERIOD") and shall use its best efforts to issue on
or prior to 30 business days after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is
declared effective the Exchange Securities in exchange for all such Initial
Securities.
If the Company effects the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company will
be entitled to close the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after the
commencement thereof; provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial
Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the
Registered Exchange Offer.
Following the declaration of 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 of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6
hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities
(assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning
of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course
of such Holder's business and has no arrangements with any person to participate
in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law
or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer)
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 acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer
electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a
result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange
Securities (an "EXCHANGING DEALER"), is required to deliver a prospectus
containing information substantially to the effect set forth in (a) Annex A
hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the
Exchange Offer" section, and (b) Annex B 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 and (ii) the Initial Purchaser electing to sell Securities (as
defined below) acquired in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any
portion of an unsold allotment is required to deliver a prospectus containing
the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the
Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.
The Company shall, subject to Section 6(b) hereof, use its 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 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 order to resell the Exchange
Securities; provided, however, that (i) in the case where such prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or
an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be the lesser of 135 days and the date
on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers have sold all
Exchange Securities held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to
Section 3(j) below) 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 135 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the
existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the
securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding
provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial
Securities (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "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;
2
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof 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, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which
the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange
Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered and not
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange;
(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial
Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class
separate from one another 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 Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has
been paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the
Initial Securities.
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, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a
broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.
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
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 include an untrue
3
statement of a material fact or omit to state 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.
If following the date hereof there has been announced a change in
Commission policy with respect to exchange offers that in the reasonable opinion
of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the
Registered Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company
will seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer. The Company
will pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In
connection with the foregoing, the Company will take all such other actions as
may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the
issuance of such decision, including without limitation (i) participating in
telephonic conferences with the Commission, (ii) delivering to the Commission
staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal
bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that the Registered
Exchange Offer should be permitted and (iii) diligently pursuing a resolution
(which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff.
2. SHELF REGISTRATION. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to any
Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not eligible to be
exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by
it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, (iii) any Holder
(other than an Exchanging Dealer) of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined
in Section 6 hereof) notifies the Company in writing prior to consummation of
the Exchange Offer that, based upon an opinion of counsel, it is not eligible to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder
(other than an Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange
Offer, such Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the
date of the exchange and any such Holder so requests, or (iv) the Registered
Exchange Offer is not consummated within 220 days of the Issue Date, the Company
shall take the following actions:
(a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable (but
in no event more than 90 days after so required or requested pursuant to this
Section 2 file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts to
cause to be declared effective a registration statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION
STATEMENT" and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act
relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution
set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities
Act (hereinafter, the "SHELF REGISTRATION"); provided, however, that no Holder
(other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held
by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in
writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such
Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the
relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period if
extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its effectiveness or
such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the
Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no
longer restricted securities (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
or any successor rule thereof). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its
best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the
requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action (other than an action
permitted by Section 6(b)) that would result in Holders of Securities covered
thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period,
unless such action is required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the
related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective
date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply
in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
4
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with any Shelf
Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any
Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, 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, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to
any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating
in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the
Company shall use its best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so
filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably
may propose; (ii) include information substantially to the effect set forth in
Annex A hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of
the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex B 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 C hereto in the Letter
of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if
requested by an Initial Purchaser in connection with any Shelf Registration,
include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the
Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement; and (iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, include the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling securityholders.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial
Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities (if pursuant to clause (i) hereof,
only in the event of a Shelf Registration Statement) and any Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it
will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which
notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an
instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes
have been made):
(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has
been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements
to the 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 the Registration Statement or the initiation of
any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
the 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 Company to make
changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that
the Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall, upon request, furnish to each Holder of
Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without
charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and
5
any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto
(including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each
Initial Purchaser and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at
least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules,
and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto
(including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf
Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each
preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The
Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders
of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities
covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in
the Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons
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 and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions
of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer
and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered
Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange
Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any
Registration Statement the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate with
the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer
and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of such states of the United
States as any Holder of the Securities 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 covered by such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified
or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or
to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
the 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 may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs
(ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company
is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall,
subject to Section 6(b), promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any
other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the
Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company
notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known
Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of
Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite
changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the
Holders of the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall
suspend use of such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by
the number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice to
and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders
6
of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received
such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and provide
the applicable trustee with printed certificates for 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 will comply with all rules and regulations of the
Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered
Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to
its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of
the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act, no 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 Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such
changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that
such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the
Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the
applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the
Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf
Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the
Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
(o) 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 any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any
Shelf Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i)
make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any
underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of
the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the
Company's officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all
relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or
any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable
such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of
Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing
inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the
Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel
designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 4
hereof.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if
requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its
counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in
customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any,
thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of
such Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be
covered by such opinion shall include, without limitation, the due incorporation
and good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the
Company and its subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations; the
due authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type
referred to
7
in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization and the validity and
enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of governmental
approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, the offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement
of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of
such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by reference
therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and as of
the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent
post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such
Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein (including any
documents incorporated by reference therein), as then amended or supplemented,
of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading), (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary
documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of
the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants to
provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter
therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten
offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and
only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by
any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the Company
shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such
Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the form set forth in Section
6(c)-(d) of the Purchase Agreement with such changes as are customary in
connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement and (ii) its
independent public accountants to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such
Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the
requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Section 6(a) of the
Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the Company
(or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the
Company shall xxxx, or caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities so
exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in
no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) The Company will use its best efforts to, if the Initial
Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so
requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters,
if any.
(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an
underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the distribution" (within
the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "RULES") of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof, whether as a Holder of such
Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or
dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will assist such
broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including,
without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require,
engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720) to
participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such
Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and,
if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an
underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to
recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified
independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters
provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such
broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with
the requirements of the Rules.
(v) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Registration
Statement contemplated hereby.
4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. The Company shall bear all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under
Sections 1 through 3 hereof (including the reasonable fees and expenses, if any,
of one firm of counsel designated by the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Securities) incurred in connection with the Registered Exchange
Offer or a Shelf Registration, whether or not
8
the Registered Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes
effective, but not for underwriting fees or commissions.
5. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder
of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who
controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating
Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") from and against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but
not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to
purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may
become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf
Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that
(i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus
relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such
purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent or
given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of
such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company
had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such
Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers
and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above
with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if
requested by such Holders.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect
thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may
otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.
9
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; provided that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above 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 omission so to notify
the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party
from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification
obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of
the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying
party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent
of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so
to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other
than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened action 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 (i) includes
an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any
claims that are the subject matter of such action, and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or
on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities,
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) 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 indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the
indemnified party on the other in connection with the 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 Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified
party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of
this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the
Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages
which such Holders have 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. For purposes of this paragraph (d),
each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Company.
10
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the
sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in
full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
6. ADDITIONAL INTEREST UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
(a) Additional interest (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST") with respect to
the Initial Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following
events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iv) below a "REGISTRATION
DEFAULT":
(i) If by February 3, 2003, neither the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement has been filed with the
Commission;
(ii) If by June 12, 2003, neither the Registered Exchange Offer is
consummated nor, if required in lieu thereof, the Shelf Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission; or
(iii) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (A) such
Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) such
Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable
in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during
the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a
result of which the related prospectus forming part of such
Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary to amend such
Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply
with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules
thereunder.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Initial Securities over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on
which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on
which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.50% per
annum (regardless of the number of Registration Defaults).
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iii) hereof
shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the
Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such
Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events;
provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a
continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in
accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default
occurs until such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i),
(ii) or (iii) of Section 6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular
interest payment dates with respect to the Securities. The amount of Additional
Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest
rate by the principal amount of the Initial Securities, as the case may be,
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such
Additional Interest 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.
(d) "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" means each Security until (i)
the date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a
broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange
11
Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which such
Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or
prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has
been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such
Security 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.
7. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities 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 administer the offering ("MANAGING UNDERWRITERS") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.
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.
8. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) REMEDIES. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure
by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 1 and 2 hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders
for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Sections 1 and
2 hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company will not on or after
the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its
securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this
Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted
to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not
inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities
under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) 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, except by the Company and the
written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or
consents. Without the consent of the Holder of each Security, however, no
modification may change the provisions relating to the payment of Additional
Interest.
(d) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address
given by such Holder to the Company.
12
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
with a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
CVS Corporation
Xxx XXX Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.
(e) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders
hereunder.
(f) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon
the Company and its successors and assigns.
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) GOVERNING Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD
TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
13
(j) SEVERABILITY. If any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) SECURITIES HELD BY THE COMPANY. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities
is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other
than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to
be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not
be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the
Holders of such required percentage.
14
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
between the Initial Purchaser and the Company in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
CVS CORPORATION
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
The foregoing Registration
Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
BEAR, XXXXXXX & CO. INC.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
BY CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
Acting on behalf of itself and as Representative of
the several Purchasers
By:
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial 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 B
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the 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 Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 135 days after 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, 2003, 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 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 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 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 of 135 days after 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 Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
----------
* In addition, the legend required by Item 502(b) of Regulation
S-K will appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer Prospectus.
ANNEX C
[ ] 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
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial 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.
