United States Attorneys Office Northern District of New York Syracuse, NY 13261-7198 October 23, 2008 William J. Schwartz, Esq. Cooley Godward Kronish LLP New York, NY 10036-7796 RE: The Penn Traffic Company Dear Mr. Schwartz:
U.S. Department of
Justice
United States Attorneys
Office
Northern District of New
York
P.O. Box 7198
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Syracuse, NY 13261-7198
000-000-0000
000-000-0000 (fax)
October
23, 2008
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx
Godward Kronish LLP
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
New York,
NY 10036-7796
RE: The Penn Traffic
Company
Dear Xx.
Xxxxxxxx:
This letter sets forth the agreement
between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New
York (the “USAO”), and The Penn Traffic Company (“Penn Traffic”).
Introduction
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1.
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The
USAO, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), is
conducting a criminal investigation (the “Investigation”) into matters
relating to Penn Traffic’s fiscal year 2002 and 2003 disclosures to the
Securities and Exchanges Commission (“SEC”) and investors, including its
financial filings, reports and statements, press releases, investor
conference calls and related accounting practices, activities and policies
concerning promotional allowances (“Investigated
Disclosures”). During the course of the Investigation, the USAO
notified Penn Traffic and its Audit Committee of its belief that one or
more Penn Traffic employees or former employees violated federal criminal
law in connection with the Investigated Disclosures during the course of
their employment beginning in 2001 and continuing through 2004 (the
“relevant time period”).
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2.
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Penn
Traffic acknowledges that the USAO has developed evidence that one or more
Penn Traffic employees or former employees violated federal criminal law
in connection with the Investigated Disclosure during the relevant time
period. Penn Traffic accepts responsibility for the conduct of
these employees during the relevant time period. Penn Traffic
does not endorse, ratify or condone criminal conduct and, as set forth
below, has taken steps to prevent such conduct from occurring in the
future.
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Agreement
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3.
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Conditioned
upon Penn Traffic’s acceptance of responsibility in the preceding
paragraph and paragraph 7 below, its adoption of the remedial measures set
forth in paragraph 8 and 9 below, its implementation and auditing of such
remedial measures and its continued cooperation with the USAO in its
investigation and prosecutions of Penn Traffic employees or former
employees as set forth in paragraphs 4 and 6 below, the USAO agrees that
it will not prosecute Penn Traffic for any crimes committed by its
employees during the relevant time period relating to the Investigated
Disclosures. Penn Traffic understands and agrees that if it
violates this Agreement, the USAO will no longer be bound by this
Agreement and it will be free to prosecute Penn Traffic for any crimes
committed by its employees relating to the Investigated
Disclosures. This Agreement does not provide any protection to
any individual or any entity other than Penn Traffic and its successors,
and, in particular, this Agreement does not limit in any way the USAO’s
ability to prosecute any individual or entity other than Penn Traffic and
its successors for any crime.
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4.
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Penn
Traffic agrees that it and its successors shall truthfully disclose to the
USAO all information with respect to the activities of Penn Traffic, its
officers and employees concerning all matters about which the USAO shall
inquire, and shall fully cooperate with the USAO throughout its
investigation and through the conclusion of any and all criminal trials
concerning the Investigated Disclosures. This obligation of
truthful disclosure and cooperation includes an obligation upon Penn
Traffic and its successors to provide to the USAO, on request, any
document, record or other tangible evidence about which the USAO shall
inquire of Penn Traffic and any successor including any document, record
or tangible evidence created, found or otherwise developed by any
attorneys, consultants and agents for or on behalf of Penn Traffic, its
Board of Directors or the Audit Committee of its Board of Directors,
subject to any existing attorney-client, work product or other applicable
privilege recognized under federal law. This obligation of
truthful disclosure and cooperation includes an obligation to provide to
the USAO and the FBI access to Penn Traffic facilities, documents,
employees, and to third party contractors and vendors and includes
directing its attorneys, consultants and agents, including Xxxxxx Godward
Kronish LLP, Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx XXX, Xxxx, Xxxxx, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxx LLP and Alix Partners to provide assistance in connection
with the Investigation, trials or other legal proceedings concerning the
Investigated Disclosures, subject to any existing attorney-client, work
product or other applicable privilege recognized under federal
law.
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5.
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Penn
Traffic agrees that upon request of the USAO, with respect to any issue
relevant to its investigation of Penn Traffic, Penn Traffic and its
successors shall, upon reasonable notice and without requiring service of
a subpoena, designate knowledgeable employees, agents or attorneys to
provide information and/or materials on Penn Traffic’s behalf to the USAO
and the FBI. Penn Traffic agrees that it must at all times give
to the USAO and the FBI complete, truthful and accurate
information.
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6.
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With
respect to any information, testimony, document, record or other tangible
evidence relating to Penn Traffic provided to the USAO or a grand jury,
Penn Traffic consents to any and all disclosures to Governmental
investigative, regulatory and enforcement entities of such materials that
constitute “matters occurring before the grand jury” within the meaning of
Rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Penn
Traffic further consents to a) any order sought by the USAO permitting
such disclosure and b) the USAO’s ex parte or in camera application for
such orders.
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7.
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Penn
Traffic agrees that it will not, through its attorneys, Board of
Directors, agents, officers or employees make any statement in any SEC
filing or any press release that contradicts Penn Traffic’s acceptance of
responsibility as set forth in paragraph 2 above. Any such
contradictory statement by Penn Traffic, its attorneys, Board of
Directors, agents, officers or employees shall constitute a breach of this
Agreement, and Penn Traffic thereafter would be subject to prosecution as
set forth in paragraph 3 of this Agreement – provided, however, that upon
the USAO’s notifying Penn Traffic of such a contradictory statement, Penn
Traffic may avoid a breach of this Agreement by publicly repudiating such
statement with 72 hours after notification by the USAO. This
paragraph is not intended to apply, and does not apply, to any statement
made by any person who has been charged by the USAO with a crime relating
to the Investigated Disclosures.
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8.
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The
USAO acknowledges that Penn Traffic previously has provided the USAO with
information substantiating certain remedial actions it has taken to ensure
the integrity of its financial reporting, including an active
investigation by its Audit Committee, amending its company code of ethics,
implementation of new policies for proper recognition of revenues and
expenses, implementation of new policies and procedures for financial
reporting and disclosure, and development of an education program designed
to train all employees involved with financial reporting on financial
reporting matters.
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9.
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Penn
Traffic agrees that, as of the date of execution of this agreement, it is,
and thereafter shall remain, in compliance with all SEC rules and
regulations referenced in the “Final Judgment as to the Penn Traffic
Company” (the “Final Judgment”), executed and entered in Civil Action No.
08-Civ.-1035 (FJS) on October 1, 2008. Penn Traffic further
agrees that, as a central component of its obligations under this
Agreement, it and its successors shall fully comply with all requirements
set forth in Sections V, VI and VII of the Final Judgment (copy
attached).
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10.
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Penn
Traffic agrees that, should the USAO, in its sole discretion, determine
that Penn Traffic has deliberately given false, incomplete, or misleading
information under this Agreement, or has hereafter committed any crime, or
has otherwise knowingly, intentionally and materially violated any
provision of this Agreement, Penn Traffic shall, in the USAO’s sole
discretion, thereafter be subject to prosecution for any federal criminal
violation of which the USAO has knowledge, including any federal criminal
violation relating to the Investigated Disclosures. Penn
Traffic agrees that any such prosecutions may be premised on information
provided by Penn Traffic, including information provided prior to this
Agreement. Moreover, Xxxx Traffic agrees that any such
prosecutions that are not time-barred by the applicable statute of
limitations on the date of this Agreement may be commenced against Penn
Traffic in accordance with this Agreement, notwithstanding the expiration
of the statute of limitations after the effective date of this
Agreement. By this Agreement, Xxxx Traffic expressly intends to
and does waive any rights in this
respect.
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11.
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Penn
Traffic further agrees that in the event that the USAO, in its sole
discretion, determines that Penn Traffic or any successor has violated any
provision of this Agreement: a) all statements made by or on
behalf of Penn Traffic to the USAO, or any testimony given by Penn Traffic
before a grand jury, the SEC, or elsewhere, whether prior or subsequent to
this Agreement, or any leads derived from such statements or testimony,
shall be admissible in evidence in any and all criminal proceedings
brought by the USAO against Penn Traffic and b) Penn Traffic shall not
assert any claims under the United States Constitution, Rule 11(f) of the
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 410 of the Federal Rules of
Evidence, or any other federal rule, that statements made by or on behalf
of Penn Traffic prior to or subsequent to this Agreement, or any leads
therefrom, should be suppressed.
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12.
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Penn
Traffic agrees that the decision whether conduct or statements of any
individual will be imputed to Penn Traffic for the purpose of determining
whether Penn Traffic has violated any provision of this Agreement shall be
in the sole discretion of the USAO.
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13.
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The
USAO and Penn Traffic agree that this Agreement is binding only on the
USAO and Penn Traffic, and any successor to Penn
Traffic.
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14.
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The
USAO and Penn Traffic agree that Penn Traffic’s, and its successors’,
obligations contained in paragraphs 4 and 5 above shall continue until
such time as the USAO informs Penn Traffic that its Investigation and/or
related prosecutions are complete. Should Penn Traffic fail to
comply with its obligations under paragraphs 4 and 5, after notice of
noncompliance from the USAO, Penn Traffic and any successor shall be
liable for all expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by the USAO
to enforce compliance with paragraph 4 and/or 5, as well as liquidated
damages of $25,000 per day.
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15.
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The
USAO and Penn Traffic agree that this Agreement constitutes the full and
complete agreement between them and may not be modified except in a
writing signed by all the parties.
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Very
truly yours,
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XXXXXX
X. XXXXXX
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Acting
United States Attorney
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By:
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Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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Assistant
United States Attorney
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Date: October
28,
2008
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THE PENN TRAFFIC COMPANY
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By:
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Date: October
28, 2008
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Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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Chief
Executive Officer
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The
Penn Traffic Company
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Date: October
25, 2008
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Counsel
to The Penn Traffic Company
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