EXHIBIT 4.3
VICAR OPERATING, INC.
9.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2009
UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED AS TO THE
PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM,
IF ANY, AND INTEREST BY
THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON THE SCHEDULE 1
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
November 27, 2001
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.,
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Vicar Operating, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to the Purchaser (as defined herein) upon the terms
set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) $170,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of its 9.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009, which will be
unconditionally guaranteed by its parent company, VCA Antech, Inc., and certain
of its subsidiaries listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto. As an inducement to
the Purchaser to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a
condition to the obligations of the Purchaser thereunder, the Company and the
Guarantors (as defined herein) agree with the Purchaser for the benefit of
holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Registrable Securities (as
defined herein) as follows:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
respective meanings:
"BASE INTEREST" shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue
on the Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture, without
giving effect to the provisions of this Agreement.
The term "BROKER-DEALER" shall mean any broker or dealer registered
with the Commission under the Exchange Act.
"CLOSING DATE" shall mean the date on which the Securities are
initially issued.
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"COMMISSION" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for
the particular purpose.
"EFFECTIVE TIME," in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Exchange Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a Shelf Registration, shall
mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Shelf
Registration Statement effective or as of which the Shelf Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective.
"ELECTING HOLDER" shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities
that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the
Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or 3(d)(iii) hereof.
"EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or
any successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"EXCHANGE OFFER" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE REGISTRATION" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 3(c) hereof.
"EXCHANGE REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE SECURITIES" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(a) hereof.
"GUARANTORS" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Indenture.
The term "HOLDER" shall mean the Purchaser and other persons who
acquire Registrable Securities from time to time (including any successors
or assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any Registrable
Securities.
"INDENTURE" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of November 27, 2001
among the Company, the Guarantors and Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust
Company, National Association, as Trustee, as the same shall be
supplemented or amended from time to time.
"NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE" means a Notice of Registration Statement
and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto.
The term "PERSON" shall mean a corporation, association,
partnership, organization, business, individual, government or political
subdivision thereof or governmental agency.
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"PURCHASE AGREEMENT" shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
November 20, 2001 among the Purchaser, the Guarantors and the Company
relating to the Securities.
"PURCHASER" shall mean Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean the Securities; provided,
however, that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i)
in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has
been exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as
contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security
that, pursuant to the last two sentences of Section 2(a), is included in a
prospectus for use in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be
deemed to be a Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9
until resale of such Registrable Security has been effected within the
180-day period referred to in Section 2(a)); (ii) in the circumstances
contemplated by Section 2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement
registering such Security under the Securities Act has been declared or
becomes effective and such Security has been sold or otherwise transferred
by the holder thereof pursuant to and in a manner contemplated by such
effective Shelf Registration Statement; (iii) such Security is sold
pursuant to Rule 144 under circumstances in which any legend borne by such
Security relating to restrictions on transferability thereof, under the
Securities Act or otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the
Indenture; (iv) such Security is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph
(k) of Rule 144; or (v) such Security shall cease to be outstanding.
"REGISTRATION DEFAULT" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(c) hereof.
"REGISTRATION EXPENSES" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 4 hereof.
"RESALE PERIOD" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2(a) hereof.
"RESTRICTED HOLDER" shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of
the Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires
Exchange Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder's business,
(iii) a holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to
participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange
Securities and (iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with
respect to Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to
an Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the
broker-dealer directly from the Company.
"RULE 144," "RULE 405" and "RULE 415" shall mean, in each case, such
rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as
the same shall be amended from time to time.
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"SECURITIES" shall mean, collectively, the 9.875% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2009 of the Company to be issued and sold to the
Purchasers, and securities issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof
pursuant to the Indenture. Each Security is entitled to the benefit of the
guarantees provided for in the Indenture (the "Guarantees") and, unless
the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a "Security," an
"Exchange Security" or a "Registrable Security" shall include a reference
to the related Guarantees.
"SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any
successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.
"SHELF REGISTRATION" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(b) hereof.
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2(b) hereof.
"SPECIAL INTEREST" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(c) hereof.
"TRUST INDENTURE ACT" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or
any successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated
thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.
Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a
"Section" or "clause" refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and the words "herein," "hereof" and
"hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or
other subdivision.
2. REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company agrees to
file under the Securities Act, as soon as practicable, but no later than 90 days
after the Closing Date, a registration statement relating to an offer to
exchange (such registration statement, the "Exchange Registration Statement",
and such offer, the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Securities for a like
aggregate principal amount of debt securities issued by the Company and
guaranteed by the Guarantors which debt securities and guarantees are
substantially identical to the Securities and the related Guarantees,
respectively (and are entitled to the benefits of a trust indenture which is
substantially identical to the Indenture or is the Indenture and which has been
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act), except that they have been registered
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and do
not contain registration requirements or provisions for the additional interest
contemplated in Section 2(c) below (such new debt securities hereinafter called
"Exchange Securities"). The Company agrees to use its best efforts to cause the
Exchange Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as
soon as practicable, but no later than 180 days after the Closing Date. The
Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act
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on the appropriate form and will comply with all applicable tender offer rules
and regulations under the Exchange Act. The Company further agrees to use its
best efforts to commence and complete the Exchange Offer promptly, but no later
than 30 days after such registration statement has become effective, hold the
Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days (or such other longer period as may be
required by applicable law) and exchange Exchange Securities for all Registrable
Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to the
expiration of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have been
"completed" only if the debt securities and related guarantees received by
holders other than Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable
Securities are, upon receipt, transferable by each such holder without
restriction under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and without material
restrictions under the blue sky or securities laws of a substantial majority of
the States of the United States of America. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed
to have been completed upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Company having
exchanged the Exchange Securities for all outstanding Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company having exchanged, pursuant
to the Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that
have been properly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration of the
Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is at least 30 days (or such other
longer period as may be required by applicable law) following the commencement
of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees (x) to include in the Exchange
Registration Statement a prospectus for use in any resales by any holder of
Exchange Securities that is a broker-dealer and (y) to keep such Exchange
Registration Statement effective for a period (the "Resale Period") beginning
when Exchange Securities are first issued in the Exchange Offer and ending upon
the earlier of the expiration of the 180th day after the Exchange Offer has been
completed or such time as such broker-dealers no longer own any Registrable
Securities. With respect to such Exchange Registration Statement, such holders
shall have the benefit of the rights of indemnification and contribution set
forth in Sections 6(a), (c), (d) and (e) hereof.
(b) If (i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed
existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the debt securities or
the related guarantees received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the
Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are not or would not be, upon receipt,
transferable by each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act,
(ii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 210 days following the
Closing Date or (iii) the Exchange Offer is not available to any holder of the
Securities, the Company shall, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause (iii), in
addition to) conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 2(a), file
under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no later than the later of
30 days after the time such obligation to file arises, a "shelf" registration
statement providing for the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or
delayed basis by the holders of, all of the Registrable Securities, pursuant to
Rule 415 or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission (such filing,
the "Shelf Registration" and such registration statement, the "Shelf
Registration Statement"). The Company agrees to use its best efforts (x) to
cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become or be declared effective no
later than 150 days after such Shelf Registration Statement is filed and to keep
such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for a period ending on
the earlier of the second anniversary of the Effective Time or such time as
there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding, provided, however,
that no holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in
Page S-5
the Shelf Registration Statement or to use the prospectus forming a part thereof
for resales of Registrable Securities unless such holder is an Electing Holder,
and (y) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, promptly
upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is not then an
Electing Holder, to take any action reasonably necessary to enable such holder
to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable
Securities, including, without limitation, any action necessary to identify such
holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement,
provided, however, that nothing in this Clause (y) shall relieve any such holder
of the obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to
the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(iii) hereof. The Company further
agrees to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement, as
and when required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or
by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder for shelf
registration, and the Company agrees to furnish to each Electing Holder copies
of any such supplement or amendment prior to its being used or promptly
following its filing with the Commission.
(c) In the event that (i) the Company has not filed the Exchange
Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement on or before the date on
which such registration statement is required to be filed pursuant to Section
2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (ii) such Exchange Registration Statement or
Shelf Registration Statement has not become effective or been declared effective
by the Commission on or before the date on which such registration statement is
required to become or be declared effective pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b),
respectively, or (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 30 days
after the initial effective date of the Exchange Registration Statement relating
to the Exchange Offer (if the Exchange Offer is then required to be made) or
(iv) any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement
required by Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof is filed and declared effective but
shall thereafter either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject to
an effective stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act
suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement (except as
specifically permitted herein) without being succeeded immediately by an
additional registration statement filed and declared effective (each such event
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default" and each
period during which a Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, a
"Registration Default Period"), then, as liquidated damages for such
Registration Default, subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), special
interest ("Special Interest"), in addition to the Base Interest, shall accrue at
a per annum rate of 0.50% for the first 90 days of the Registration Default
Period, at a per annum rate of 1.00% for the second 90 days of the Registration
Default Period, at a per annum rate of 1.50% for the third 90 days of the
Registration Default Period and at a maximum per annum rate of 2.00% thereafter
for the remaining portion of the Registration Default Period.
(d) The Company shall take, and shall cause the Guarantors to take,
all actions necessary or advisable to be taken by it to ensure that the
transactions contemplated herein are effected as so contemplated, including all
actions necessary or desirable to register the Guarantees under the registration
statement contemplated in Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof, as applicable.
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(e) Any reference herein to a registration statement as of any time
shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be
incorporated, therein by reference as of such time and any reference herein to
any post-effective amendment to a registration statement as of any time shall be
deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated,
therein by reference as of such time.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
If the Company files a registration statement pursuant to Section
2(a) or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Offer or the
Shelf Registration, as the case may be, the Company shall qualify the Indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(b) 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.
(c) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 2(a) (the
"Exchange Registration"), if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable (or as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as
practicable but no later than 90 days after the Closing Date, an
Exchange Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by
the Company and which shall permit the Exchange Offer and resales of
Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period to be
effected as contemplated by Section 2(a), and use its best efforts
to cause such Exchange Registration Statement to become effective as
soon as practicable thereafter, but no later than 180 days after the
Closing Date;
(ii) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the
Commission such amendments and supplements to such Exchange
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be
necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Exchange
Registration Statement for the periods and purposes contemplated in
Section 2(a) hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to
the form of such Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly
provide each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such
number of copies of the prospectus included therein (as then amended
or supplemented), in conformity in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as such
broker-dealer reasonably may request prior to the expiration of the
Resale Period, for use in connection with resales of Exchange
Securities;
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(iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has requested or
received copies of the prospectus included in such registration
statement, and confirm such advice in writing, (A) when such
Exchange Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein
or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Exchange
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission and
by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state
with respect thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments
or supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement or prospectus
or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange
Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any
proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time the representations
and warranties of the Company contemplated by Section 5 cease to be
true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Exchange Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such purpose, or (F) at any time during the Resale Period when a
prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act,
that such Exchange Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus
amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform
in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder or contains an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(iv) in the event that the Company would be required, pursuant
to Section 3(e)(iii)(F) above, to notify any broker-dealers holding
Exchange Securities, without delay prepare and furnish to each such
holder a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or
amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such
Exchange Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus shall
conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of
the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and shall 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 in light of the circumstances then existing;
(v) use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable
date;
(vi) use its best efforts to (A) register or qualify the
Exchange Securities under the securities laws or blue sky laws of
such jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a) no later than
the commencement of the
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Exchange Offer, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in
effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions until the
expiration of the Resale Period and (C) take any and all other
actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each
broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities to consummate the
disposition thereof in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
neither the Company nor the Guarantors shall be required for any
such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any
jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for the requirements of this Section 3(c)(vi), (2) consent to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) make any
changes to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any
agreement between it and its stockholders;
(vii) use its best efforts to obtain the consent or approval
of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or
local, which may be required to effect the Exchange Registration,
the Exchange Offer and the offering and sale of Exchange Securities
by broker-dealers during the Resale Period;
(viii) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, not
later than the applicable Effective Time;
(ix) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as
soon as practicable but no later than eighteen months after the
effective date of such Exchange Registration Statement, an earning
statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section
11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the
Company, Rule 158 thereunder).
(d) In connection with the Company's obligations with respect to the
Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as practicable (or
as otherwise specified):
(i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as
practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in
Section 2(b), a Shelf Registration Statement on any form which may
be utilized by the Company and which shall register all of the
Registrable Securities for resale by the holders thereof in
accordance with such method or methods of disposition as may be
specified by such of the holders as, from time to time, may be
Electing Holders and use its best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable
but in any case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b);
(ii) not less than 30 calendar days prior to the Effective
Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, mail the Notice and
Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable Securities; no holder
shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the
Shelf Registration Statement as of the Effective
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Time, and no holder shall be entitled to use the prospectus forming
a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities at any time,
unless such holder has returned a completed and signed Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company by the deadline for response set forth
therein; provided, however, holders of Registrable Securities shall
have at least 28 calendar days from the date on which the Notice and
Questionnaire is first mailed to such holders to return a completed
and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration
Statement, upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities
that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly send a Notice and
Questionnaire to such holder; provided that the Company shall not be
required to take any action to name such holder as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such
holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities until such holder has returned a completed
and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;
(iv) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the
Commission such amendments and supplements to such Shelf
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be
necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Shelf
Registration Statement for the period specified in Section 2(b)
hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the
form of such Shelf Registration Statement, and furnish to the
Electing Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment
simultaneously with or prior to its being used or filed with the
Commission;
(v) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
respect to the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Electing Holders provided for
in such Shelf Registration Statement;
(vi) provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the underwriters
(which term, for purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, shall include a person deemed to be an underwriter within
the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), if any,
thereof, (C) any sales or placement agent therefor, (D) counsel for
any such underwriter or agent and (E) not more than one counsel for
all the Electing Holders the opportunity to participate in the
preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, each prospectus
included therein or filed with the Commission and each amendment or
supplement thereto;
(vii) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such
Shelf Registration Statement, and throughout the period specified in
Section 2(b), make available at reasonable times at the Company's
principal place of business or such other reasonable place for
inspection by the persons referred to in
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Section 3(d)(vi) who shall certify to the Company that they have a
current intention to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Shelf Registration such financial and other information and books
and records of the Company, and cause the officers, employees,
counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company
to respond to such inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary, in
the judgment of the respective counsel referred to in such Section,
to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section
11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that each such party
shall be required to maintain in confidence and not to disclose to
any other person any information or records reasonably designated by
the Company as being confidential, until such time as (A) such
information becomes a matter of public record (whether by virtue of
its inclusion in such registration statement or otherwise), or (B)
such person shall be required so to disclose such information
pursuant to a subpoena or order of any court or other governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the
requirements of such order, and only after such person shall have
given the Company prompt prior written notice of such requirement),
or (C) such information is required to be set forth in such Shelf
Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or in an
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or
supplement to such prospectus in order that such Shelf Registration
Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case may be,
complies with applicable requirements of the federal securities laws
and the rules and regulations of the Commission and does not contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then
existing;
(viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders, any sales
or placement agent therefor and any underwriter thereof (which
notification may be made through any managing underwriter that is a
representative of such underwriter for such purpose) and confirm
such advice in writing, (A) when such Shelf Registration Statement
or the prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with
respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments
by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or
regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the
Commission for amendments or supplements to such Shelf Registration
Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation
or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any
time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated
by Section 3(d)(xvii) or Section 5 cease to be true and correct in
all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F)
if at any time when a prospectus is
Page S-11
required to be delivered under the Securities Act, that such Shelf
Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or
supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform in all
material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
in light of the circumstances then existing;
(ix) use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable
date;
(x) if requested by any managing underwriter or underwriters,
any placement or sales agent or any Electing Holder, promptly
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information as is required by the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and as such managing underwriter or
underwriters, such agent or such Electing Holder specifies should be
included therein relating to the terms of the sale of such
Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the
principal amount of Registrable Securities being sold by such
Electing Holder or agent or to any underwriters, the name and
description of such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, the
offering price of such Registrable Securities and any discount,
commission or other compensation payable in respect thereof, the
purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters and with
respect to any other terms of the offering of the Registrable
Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to such
underwriters; and make all required filings of such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after notification
of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(xi) furnish to each Electing Holder, each placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any, thereof and the
respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) an executed copy
(or, in the case of an Electing Holder, a conformed copy) of such
Shelf Registration Statement, each such amendment and supplement
thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto (in the case of
an Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and
documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number of
copies of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding exhibits
thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein unless
specifically so requested by such Electing Holder, agent or
underwriter, as the case may be) and of the prospectus included in
such Shelf Registration Statement (including each preliminary
prospectus and any summary prospectus), in conformity in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and such other documents, as such Electing
Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the
Page S-12
offering and disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Electing Holder, offered or sold by such agent or underwritten by
such underwriter and to permit such Electing Holder, agent and
underwriter to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act; and the Company hereby consents to the use of such
prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus) and
any amendment or supplement thereto by each such Electing Holder and
by any such agent and underwriter, in each case in the form most
recently provided to such person by the Company, in connection with
the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the
prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus) or
any supplement or amendment thereto;
(xii) use best efforts to (A) register or qualify the
Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration
Statement under such securities laws or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any Electing Holder and each placement or sales
agent, if any, therefor and underwriter, if any, thereof shall
reasonably request, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in
effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the
period the Shelf Registration is required to remain effective under
Section 2(b) above and for so long as may be necessary to enable any
such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter to complete its
distribution of Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement and (C) take any and all other actions as may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such Electing
Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, to consummate the
disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities;
provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantors shall
be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be
required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section
3(d)(xii), (2) consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or any agreement between it and its
stockholders;
(xiii) use its best efforts to obtain the consent or approval
of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or
local, which may be required to effect the Shelf Registration or the
offering or sale in connection therewith or to enable the selling
holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the disposition of,
their Registrable Securities;
(xiv) Unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry
only form, cooperate with the Electing Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be
sold, which certificates, if so required by any securities exchange
upon which any Registrable Securities are listed, shall be penned,
lithographed or engraved, or produced by any combination of such
methods, on steel engraved borders, and which certificates shall not
bear any restrictive legends; and, in the case of an underwritten
offering, enable such
Page S-13
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the managing underwriters may request at least two
business days prior to any sale of the Registrable Securities;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities,
not later than the applicable Effective Time;
(xvi) enter into one or more underwriting agreements,
engagement letters, agency agreements, "best efforts" underwriting
agreements or similar agreements, as appropriate, including
customary provisions relating to indemnification and contribution,
and take such other actions in connection therewith as any Electing
Holders aggregating at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding shall request in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities;
(xvii) whether or not an agreement of the type referred to in
Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof is entered into and whether or not any
portion of the offering contemplated by the Shelf Registration is an
underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent
or any other entity, (A) make such representations and warranties to
the Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any,
therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof in form, substance
and scope as are customarily made in connection with an offering of
debt securities pursuant to any appropriate agreement or to a
registration statement filed on the form applicable to the Shelf
Registration; (B) obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company in
customary form and covering such matters, of the type customarily
covered by such an opinion, as the managing underwriters, if any, or
as any Electing Holders of at least 20% in aggregate principal
amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding may
reasonably request, addressed to such Electing Holder or Electing
Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the
underwriters, if any, thereof and dated the effective date of such
Shelf Registration Statement (and if such Shelf Registration
Statement contemplates an underwritten offering of a part or all of
the Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing under the
underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being agreed that the
matters to be covered by such opinion shall include 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 in
Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof; the due authorization, execution,
authentication and issuance, and the validity and enforceability, of
the Securities; the absence of material legal or governmental
proceedings involving the Company; the absence of a breach by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries of, or a default under, material
agreements binding upon the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration, the offering and
sale of the Registrable Securities, this Exchange and
Page S-14
Registration Rights Agreement or any agreement of the type referred
to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof, except such approvals as may be
required under state securities or blue sky laws; the material
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 and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and 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, as then
amended or supplemented, and from the documents incorporated by
reference therein (in each case other than the financial statements
and other financial information contained therein) of an untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading (in the case of such documents, in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed
with the Commission under the Exchange Act)); (C) obtain a "cold
comfort" letter or letters from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company addressed to the selling Electing
Holders, the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor or the
underwriters, if any, thereof, dated (i) the effective date of such
Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the effective date of any
prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in such Shelf
Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to such Shelf
Registration Statement which includes unaudited or audited financial
statements as of a date or for a period subsequent to that of the
latest such statements included in such prospectus (and, if such
Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten offering
pursuant to any prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in
such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to
such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited or
audited financial statements as of a date or for a period subsequent
to that of the latest such statements included in such prospectus,
dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement
relating thereto), such letter or letters to be in customary form
and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by letters
of such type; (D) deliver such documents and certificates, including
officers' certificates, as may be reasonably requested by any
Electing Holders of at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding or the placement
or sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if
any, thereof to evidence the accuracy of the representations and
warranties made pursuant to clause (A) above or those contained in
Section 5(a) hereof and the compliance with or satisfaction of any
agreements or conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or
other agreement entered into by the Company or the Guarantors; and
(E) undertake such obligations relating to expense reimbursement,
indemnification and contribution as are provided in Section 6
hereof;
(xviii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable
Securities of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any
provision of this Exchange
Page S-15
and Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to Section 9(h) hereof
and of any amendment or waiver effected pursuant thereto, each of
which notices shall contain the text of the amendment or waiver
proposed or effected, as the case may be;
(xix) in the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Registrable 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 "Conduct Rules) of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") or any successor thereto, as
amended from time to time) thereof, whether as a holder of such
Registrable Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales
agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist
such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such
Conduct Rules, including by (A) if such Conduct Rules shall so
require, engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined
in such Conduct Rules) to participate in the preparation of the
Shelf Registration Statement relating to such Registrable
Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect
thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such
Shelf Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made
through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
Registrable Securities, (B) indemnifying any such qualified
independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of
underwriters provided in Section 6 hereof (or to such other
customary extent as may be requested by such underwriter), and (C)
providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required
in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of
the Conduct Rules; and
(xx) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as
soon as practicable but in any event not later than eighteen months
after the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, an
earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the
Company, Rule 158 thereunder).
(e) In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to
Section 3(d)(viii)(F) above, to notify the Electing Holders, the placement or
sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof,
the Company shall without delay prepare and furnish to each of the Electing
Holders, to each placement or sales agent, if any, and to each such underwriter,
if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so
that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of Registrable Securities, such
prospectus shall conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements
of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder and shall 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 in light of the
circumstances then existing. Each Electing Holder agrees that upon receipt of
any notice from the Company pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) hereof, such
Electing Holder shall forthwith discontinue the disposition of
Page S-16
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement applicable
to such Registrable Securities until such Electing Holder shall have received
copies of such amended or supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the
Company, such Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company's
expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Electing
Holder's possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at
the time of receipt of such notice.
(f) In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the
information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its Notice
Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to furnish to the
Company such additional information regarding such Electing Holder and such
Electing Holder's intended method of distribution of Registrable Securities as
may be required in order to comply with the Securities Act. Each such Electing
Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy
or change in information previously furnished by such Electing Holder to the
Company or of the occurrence of any event in either case as a result of which
any prospectus relating to such Shelf Registration contains or would contain an
untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such
Electing Holder's intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities
or omits to state any material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such
Electing Holder's intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly to furnish
to the Company any additional information required to correct and update any
previously furnished information or required so that such prospectus shall not
contain, with respect to such Electing Holder or the disposition of such
Registrable Securities, 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 in light of the circumstances then existing.
(g) Until the expiration of two years after the Closing Date, the
Company will not, and will not permit any of its "affiliates" (as defined in
Rule 144) to, resell any of the Securities that have been reacquired by any of
them except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act.
4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES.
The Company agrees, subject to the last sentence of this section, to
bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly all expenses incident to the
Company's performance of or compliance with this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement, including (a) all Commission and any NASD registration, filing
and review fees and expenses including fees and disbursements of counsel for the
placement or sales agent or underwriters in connection with such registration,
filing and review, (b) all fees and expenses in connection with the
qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under the State securities
and blue sky laws referred to in Section 3(d)(xii) hereof and determination of
their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as any
managing underwriters or the Electing Holders may designate, including any fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Electing Holders or underwriters in
connection with such qualification and determination, (c) all expenses relating
to the preparation, printing, production, distribution and reproduction of each
registration statement required to be filed hereunder, each prospectus included
therein or prepared for
Page S-17
distribution pursuant hereto, each amendment or supplement to the foregoing, the
expenses of preparing the Securities for delivery and the expenses of printing
or producing any underwriting agreements, agreements among underwriters, selling
agreements and blue sky or legal investment memoranda and all other documents in
connection with the offering, sale or delivery of Securities to be disposed of
(including certificates representing the Securities), (d) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses relating to the offering, sale or delivery of Securities
and the preparation of documents referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and
expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and any
reasonable fees and expenses for counsel for the Trustee and of any collateral
agent or custodian, (f) internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses
of the Company's officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties),
(g) fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel and independent certified public
accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any opinions or "cold
comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance),
(h) fees, disbursements and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter"
engaged pursuant to Section 3(d)(xix) hereof, (i) reasonable fees, disbursements
and expenses of one counsel for the Electing Holders retained in connection with
a Shelf Registration, as selected by the Electing Holders of at least a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by Electing
Holders (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (j) any
fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities, and (k)
reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons, including
special experts, retained by the Company in connection with such registration
(collectively, the "Registration Expenses"). To the extent that any Registration
Expenses are incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of Registrable Securities
or any placement or sales agent therefor or underwriter thereof, the Company
shall reimburse such person for the full amount of the Registration Expenses so
incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a request therefor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable Securities being
registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and underwriting discounts
and commissions attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities and the
fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisors or experts retained by
such holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel and experts
specifically referred to above.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
Except with respect to clauses (a) and (b) below, each of the
Company and the Guarantors represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
Purchaser and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities
the information set forth in this Section 5.
With respect to clauses (a) and (b) below, the Company and the
Guarantors covenant that:
(a) Each registration statement covering Registrable Securities and
each prospectus (including any preliminary or summary prospectus) contained
therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) hereof and any
further amendments or supplements to any such registration statement or
prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the Commission, as the
case may be, and, in the case of an underwritten offering of
Page S-18
Registrable Securities, at the time of the closing under the underwriting
agreement relating thereto, will conform in all material respects to the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and
at all times subsequent to the Effective Time when a prospectus would be
required to be delivered under the Securities Act, other than from (i) such time
as a notice has been given to holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to
Section 3(d)(viii)(F) or Section 3(c)(iii)(F) hereof until (ii) such time as the
Company furnishes an amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to Section 3(e)
or Section 3(c)(iv) hereof, each such registration statement, and each
prospectus (including any summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished
pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) hereof, as then amended or
supplemented, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances
then existing; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall
not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable
Securities expressly for use therein.
(b) Any documents incorporated by reference in any prospectus
referred to in Section 5(a) hereof, when they become or became effective or are
or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform or conformed
in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents will contain or
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation
and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by a
holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.
(c) The compliance by the Company and the Guarantors with all of the
provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or
result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material
agreement or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is
a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is bound or to
which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation, as amended, or the by-laws of
the Company or the Guarantors or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of
any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or
any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties; and no consent,
approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any
such court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by
the Company and the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated by this Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement, except the registration under the Securities
Act of the Securities, qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act and such
Page S-19
consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
required under State securities or blue sky laws in connection with the offering
and distribution of the Securities.
(d) This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS. The Company
and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold harmless each
of the holders of Registrable Securities included in an Exchange Registration
Statement, each of the Electing Holders of Registrable Securities included in a
Shelf Registration Statement and each person who participates as a placement or
sales agent or as an underwriter in any offering or sale of such Registrable
Securities against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several,
to which such holder, agent or underwriter may become subject under the
Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may
be, under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities
Act, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein or
furnished by the Company to any such holder, Electing Holder, agent or
underwriter, or any amendment or supplement thereto, 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 will reimburse such holder, such Electing Holder, such agent and
such underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any
Guarantor shall be liable to any such person in any such case to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in such registration statement, or preliminary, final or summary
prospectus, or amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such person
expressly for use therein.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE HOLDERS AND ANY AGENTS AND UNDERWRITERS.
The Company may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities
in any registration statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof and to
entering into any underwriting agreement with respect thereto, that the Company
shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from the
Electing Holder of such Registrable Securities and from each underwriter named
in any such underwriting agreement, severally and not jointly, to (i) indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors and all other holders of
Registrable Securities, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to
which the Company, the Guarantors or such other holders of Registrable
Securities may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in such registration statement, or any
Page S-20
preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the
Company to any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, 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, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Electing
Holder or underwriter expressly for use therein, and (ii) reimburse the Company
and the Guarantors for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Company and the Guarantors in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no
such Electing Holder shall be required to undertake liability to any person
under this Section 6(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the
proceeds to be received by such Electing Holder from the sale of such Electing
Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.
(c) NOTICES OF CLAIMS, ETC. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified
party under subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice of the commencement of
any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be
made against an indemnifying party pursuant to the indemnification provisions of
or contemplated by this Section 6, notify such indemnifying party in writing of
the commencement of such action; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying
party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any
indemnified party otherwise than under the indemnification provisions of or
contemplated by Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof. In case any such action shall be
brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify an indemnifying party
of the commencement thereof, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it shall 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, such indemnifying party shall
not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal expenses of other counsel
or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified
party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the
indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim
in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such
action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of
such action or claim 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) CONTRIBUTION. If for any reason the indemnification provisions
contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) are unavailable to or insufficient
to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to
Page S-21
reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
in connection with the statements or omissions which 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 such indemnifying
party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d)
were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders or any agents or
underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by
any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in this Section 6(d). The amount paid or payable by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any
legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no holder shall be required
to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the dollar amount of
the proceeds received by such holder from the sale of any Registrable Securities
(after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions applicable thereto) exceeds
the amount of any damages which such holder has otherwise been required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission, and no underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable
Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages which such underwriter has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The holders' and any underwriters' obligations in this
Section 6(d) to contribute shall be several in proportion to the principal
amount of Registrable Securities registered or underwritten, as the case may be,
by them and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this
Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company or the
Guarantors may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each officer, director and partner of each holder, agent and
underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any holder, agent or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act; and the obligations of the
holders and any agents or underwriters contemplated by this Section 6 shall be
in addition to any liability which the respective holder, agent or underwriter
may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each
officer and director of the Company or the Guarantors (including any person who,
with his consent, is named in any registration statement as about to become a
director of the Company or the Guarantors) and to each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act.
Page S-22
7. UNDERWRITTEN OFFERINGS.
(a) SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS. If any of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to an underwritten
offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof shall be designated
by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Securities to be included in such
offering, provided that such designated managing underwriter or underwriters is
or are reasonably acceptable to the Company.
(b) PARTICIPATION BY HOLDERS. Each holder of Registrable Securities
hereby agrees with each other such holder that no such holder may participate in
any underwritten offering hereunder unless such holder (i) agrees to sell such
holder's Registrable Securities on the basis 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. RULE 144.
The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that
to the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company
shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act
or the Securities Act (including the reports under Section 13 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 adopted by the
Commission under the Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by
the Commission thereunder, and shall take such further action as any holder of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption
provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar or successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities in
connection with that holder's sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall
deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with
such requirements.
9. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company represents, warrants,
covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant, registration
rights with respect to Registrable Securities or any other securities which
would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement.
(b) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto acknowledge that there
would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of its
obligations hereunder and that the Purchasers and the holders from time to time
of the Registrable Securities may be irreparably harmed by any such failure, and
accordingly agree that the Purchasers and such holders, in addition to any other
remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to
compel specific performance of the obligations of the
Page S-23
Company under this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement in accordance with
the terms and conditions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, in
any court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction.
(c) NOTICES. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally or by courier,
or three days after being deposited in the mail (registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If to the Company, to it
at 00000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000 and if to a
holder, to the address of such holder set forth in the security register or
other records of the Company, or to such other address as the Company or any
such holder may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith,
except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
(d) PARTIES IN INTEREST. All the terms and provisions of this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to
the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and the holders
from time to time of the Registrable Securities and the respective successors
and assigns of the parties hereto and such holders. In the event that any
transferee of any holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire Registrable
Securities, in any manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase, operation of law
or otherwise, such transferee shall, without any further writing or action of
any kind, be deemed a beneficiary hereof for all purposes and such Registrable
Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable
Securities such transferee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of, and be
conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by all of the applicable terms
and provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement. If the
Company shall so request, any such successor, assign or transferee shall agree
in writing to acquire and hold the Registrable Securities subject to all of the
applicable terms hereof.
(e) SURVIVAL. The respective indemnities, agreements,
representations, warranties and each other provision set forth in this Exchange
and Registration Rights Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation (or statement as to the results
thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of Registrable Securities, any
director, officer or partner of such holder, any agent or underwriter or any
director, officer or partner thereof, or any controlling person of any of the
foregoing, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the transfer and registration
of Registrable Securities by such holder and the consummation of an Exchange
Offer.
(f) GOVERNING LAW. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York.
(g) HEADINGS. The descriptive headings of the several Sections and
paragraphs of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are inserted for
convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
Page S-24
(h) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS. This Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement and the other writings referred to herein (including the
Indenture and the form of Securities) or delivered pursuant hereto which form a
part hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to its
subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to its
subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be amended
and the observance of any term of this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively) only by a written instrument duly executed by
the Company and the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding. Each holder of any
Registrable Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by
any amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section 9(h), whether or not
any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or waiver appears on
such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.
(i) INSPECTION. For so long as this Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement shall be in effect, this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement
and a complete list of the names and addresses of all the holders of Registrable
Securities shall be made available for inspection and copying on any business
day by any holder of Registrable Securities for proper purposes only (which
shall include any purpose related to the rights of the holders of Registrable
Securities under the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement) at the
offices of the Company at the address thereof set forth in Section 9(c) above
and at the office of the Trustee under the Indenture.
(j) COUNTERPARTS. This agreement may be executed by the parties in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
Page S-25
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please
sign and return to us five counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof
by you, on behalf of the Purchaser, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall
constitute a binding agreement between the Purchaser, the Guarantors and the
Company.
Very truly yours,
VICAR OPERATING, INC.
By: /S/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
VCA ANTECH, INC.
By: /S/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
AAH MERGER CORPORATION
ACADEMY ANIMAL, INC.
XXXXXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
ANIMAL CLINIC OF SANTA XXXX, INC.
BERWYN VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL, INC.
ANIMAL CENTER, INC.
CLARMAR ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
CACOOSING ANIMAL HOSPITAL, LTD.
DETWILER VETERINARY CLINIC, INC.
DIAGNOSTIC VETERINARY SERVICE, INC.
EAGLE PARK ANIMAL CLINIC, INC.
EAGLE RIVER VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
EDGEBROOK, INC.
Page S-26
FLORIDA VETERINARY LABORATORIES, INC.
FOX CHAPEL ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
FREEHOLD VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
XXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
GOLDEN MERGER CORPORATION
H.B. ANIMAL CLINICS, INC.
HIGHLANDS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
KIRKWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL-LEA M.E.
XXXXX, V.M.D., P.A.
KIRKWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL BOARDING AND
GROOMING, INC.
LAKE XXXXXXX VETERINARY CLINIC, INC.
LAKEWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
XXXXXXX VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
XXXXXXXXX VETERINARY CLINIC, INC.
MAIN STREET SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
M.S. ANIMAL HOSPITALS, INC.
XXXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL
NEWARK ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
NORTH ROCKVILLE VETERINARY HOSPITAL,
INC.
NORTHERN ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
NORTHSIDE ANIMAL HOSPITAL, P.C.
XXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
OAK HILL VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
Page S-27
OLD TOWN VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
PETS' RX NEVADA, INC.
PETS' RX, INC.
PPI OF PENNSYLVANIA, INC.
PRINCETON ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY SERVICES, INC.
RIVIERA ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
SILVER SPUR ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
SOUTH COUNTY VETERINARY CLINIC, INC.
SOUTHEAST AREA VETERINARY MEDICAL
CENTER, P.C.
SPANISH RIVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
TAMPA ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC.
THE PET PRACTICE (FLORIDA), INC.
THE PET PRACTICE (ILLINOIS), INC.
THE PET PRACTICE (MASSACHUSETTS), INC.
THE PET PRACTICE OF MICHIGAN, INC.
VCA - XXXXX, INC.
VCA ALBANY ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA KANEOHE ANIMAL HOSPITAL
VCA - ROSSMOOR, INC.
VCA ALABAMA, INC.
VCA ALBUQUERQUE, INC.
VCA ALL PETS ANIMAL COMPLEX, INC.
Page S-28
VCA ALPINE ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA XXXXXXXX OF CALIFORNIA ANIMAL
HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA ANIMAL HOSPITALS, INC.
VCA APAC ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA CACOOSING ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA CASTLE XXXXXXX VETERINARY
HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA CENTERS-TEXAS, INC.
VCA CENVET, INC.
VCA CLARMAR ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA CLINICAL VETERINARY LABS, INC.
VCA CLINIPATH LABS, INC.
VCA CLOSTER, INC.
VCA DETWILER ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA DOVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA EAGLE RIVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA EAST ANCHORAGE ANIMAL HOSPITAL,
INC.
VCA GREATER SAVANNAH ANIMAL HOSPITAL,
INC.
VCA HOWELL BRANCH ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA LAMB AND XXXXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL,
INC.
VCA XXXXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA XXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA MARINA ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
Page S-29
VCA XXXXXX-XXXXXXXXX #152
VCA MISSION, INC.
VCA NORTHBORO ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA NORTHWEST VETERINARY DIAGNOSTICS,
INC.
VCA OF COLORADO-XXXXXXXX, INC.
VCA OF NEW YORK, INC.
VCA OF SAN XXXX, INC.
VCA OF XXXXXXXX, INC.
VCA PROFESSIONAL ANIMAL LABORATORY,
INC.
VCA REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION
CORPORATION
VCA REFERRAL ASSOCIATES ANIMAL
HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA XXXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA SILVER SPUR ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA SOUTH SHORE ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA ST. PETERSBERG ANIMAL HOSPITAL,
INC.
VCA TEXAS MANAGEMENT, INC.
VCA WYOMING ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
Page S-30
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA-TEXAS,
L.P.
VETERINARY HOSPITALS, INC.
W.E. XXXXXXXX, D.V.M., WORTH ANIMAL
HOSPITAL, CHARTERED
WEST LOS ANGELES VETERINARY MEDICAL
GROUP, INC.
XXXXXXX X. XXXXX, LTD.
XXXXXXX, INC.
By: /S/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer and
President
Page S-31
Accepted as of the date hereof:
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.
By: /S/ XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.
-----------------------------
(Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.)
Page S-32
SCHEDULE I
LIST OF GUARANTORS
VCA ANTECH, INC.
AAH MERGER CORPORATION
ACADEMY ANIMAL, INC.
XXXXXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
ANIMAL CENTER, INC.
ANIMAL CLINIC OF SANTA XXXX, INC.
BERWYN VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL, INC.
CACOOSING ANIMAL HOSPITAL, LTD.
CLARMAR ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
DETWILER VETERINARY CLINIC, INC.
DIAGNOSTIC VETERINARY SERVICE, INC.
EAGLE PARK ANIMAL CLINIC, INC.
EAGLE RIVER VETERINARY
HOSPITAL, INC.
EDGEBROOK, INC.
FLORIDA VETERINARY
LABORATORIES, INC.
FOX CHAPEL ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
FREEHOLD VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
XXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
GOLDEN MERGER CORPORATION
H.B. ANIMAL CLINICS, INC.
HIGHLANDS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
KIRKWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL-
LEA M.E. XXXXX, V.M.D., P.A.
KIRKWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL
BOARDING AND GROOMING, INC.
LAKE XXXXXXX VETERINARY CLINIC, INC.
LAKEWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
XXXXXXX VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
Page S-I-1
XXXXXXXXX VETERINARY CLINIC, INC.
MAIN STREET SMALL ANIMAL
HOSPITAL, INC.
M.S. ANIMAL HOSPITALS, INC.
XXXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL
NEWARK ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
NORTH ROCKVILLE VETERINARY
HOSPITAL, INC.
NORTHERN ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
NORTHSIDE ANIMAL HOSPITAL, P.C.
XXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
OAK HILL VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
OLD TOWN VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
PETS' RX NEVADA, INC.
PETS' RX, INC.
PPI OF PENNSYLVANIA, INC.
PRINCETON ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY
SERVICES, INC.
RIVIERA ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
SILVER SPUR ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
SOUTH COUNTY VETERINARY CLINIC, INC.
SOUTHEAST AREA VETERINARY
MEDICAL CENTER, P.C.
SPANISH RIVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
TAMPA ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC.
THE PET PRACTICE (FLORIDA), INC.
THE PET PRACTICE (ILLINOIS), INC.
THE PET PRACTICE OF
MASSACHUSETTS, INC.
THE PET PRACTICE OF MICHIGAN, INC.
VCA - XXXXX, INC.
VCA ALBANY ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA KANEOHE ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Page S-I-2
VCA - ROSSMOOR, INC.
VCA ALABAMA, INC.
VCA ALBUQUERQUE, INC.
VCA ALL PETS ANIMAL COMPLEX, INC.
VCA ALPINE ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA XXXXXXXX OF CALIFORNIA
ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA ANIMAL HOSPITALS, INC.
VCA APAC ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA CACOOSING ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA CASTLE XXXXXXX
VETERINARY HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA CENTERS-TEXAS, INC.
VCA CENVET, INC.
VCA CLARMAR ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA CLINICAL VETERINARY LABS, INC.
VCA CLINIPATH LABS, INC.
VCA CLOSTER, INC.
VCA DETWILER ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA DOVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA EAGLE RIVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA EAST ANCHORAGE
ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA GREATER SAVANNAH ANIMAL
HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA HOWELL BRANCH
ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA LAMB AND XXXXXXX ANIMAL
HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA XXXXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA XXXXX ANIMAL
HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA MARINA ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA XXXXXX-XXXXXXXXX #152
Page S-I-3
VCA MISSION, INC.
VCA NORTHBORO ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA NORTHWEST VETERINARY
DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
VCA OF COLORADO - XXXXXXXX, INC.
VCA OF NEW YORK, INC.
VCA OF SAN XXXX, INC.
VCA OF XXXXXXXX, INC.
VCA PROFESSIONAL ANIMAL
LABORATORY, INC.
VCA REAL PROPERTY
ACQUISITION CORPORATION
VCA REFERRAL ASSOCIATES
ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA XXXXXX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA SILVER SPUR ANIMAL
HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA SOUTH SHORE ANIMAL
HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA ST. PETERSBURG ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VCA TEXAS MANAGEMENT, INC.
VCA WYOMING ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
VETERINARY CENTERS OF
AMERICA-TEXAS, L.P.
VETERINARY HOSPITALS, INC.
W.E. XXXXXXXX, D.V.M., WORTH
ANIMAL HOSPITAL, CHARTERED
WEST LOS ANGELES VETERINARY
MEDICAL GROUP, INC.
XXXXXXX X. XXXXX, LTD.
XXXXXXX, INC.
Page S-I-4
Exhibit A
Vicar Operating, Inc.
INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS
(Date of Mailing)
URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE](a)
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") has identified you as a DTC Participant
through which beneficial interests in the Vicar Operating, Inc. (the "Company")
9.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Securities") are held.
The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the Securities
Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof. In order to have their
Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial owners must
complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement and Selling
Securityholder Questionnaire.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THE SECURITIES RECEIVE A COPY OF THE
ENCLOSED MATERIALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE as their rights to have the Securities
included in the registration statement depend upon their returning the Notice
and Questionnaire by [Deadline For Response]. Please forward a copy of the
enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the
Securities through you. If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or
have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact Vicar Operating,
Inc., 00000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000,
telephone (000) 000-0000, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
------------------------
a Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing.
Page A-1
Vicar Operating, Inc.
Notice of Registration Statement
and
SELLING SECURITYHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE
(Date)
Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement") between Vicar OPERATING, Inc. (the
"Company"), the Guarantors named therein and the Purchaser named therein.
Pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form [____] (the "Shelf Registration
Statement") for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the Company's 9.875% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Securities"). A copy of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto. All capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below) is entitled
to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included in the
Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities included
in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration Statement and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire ("Notice and Questionnaire") must be
completed, executed and delivered to the Company's counsel at the address set
forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [ Deadline for Response ]. Beneficial
owners of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and return this
Notice and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as selling
securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use the
Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in
the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. Accordingly, holders
and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus.
The term "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" is defined in the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement.
Page A-2
ELECTION
The undersigned holder (the "Selling Securityholder") of Registrable Securities
hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3). The
undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees to
be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and conditions
of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were
an original party thereto.
Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company
and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus and
as Exhibit B to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the
Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and
complete:
Page A-3
QUESTIONNAIRE
(1) (a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a)
above) of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below:
(c) Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the
same as (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in
Item (3) below are Held:
(2) Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
Telephone:
--------------------------------
Fax:
--------------------------------
Contact Person:
--------------------------------
(3) Beneficial Ownership of Securities:
Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not
beneficially own any Securities.
(a) Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned: ____________________
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:
---------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable
Securities beneficially owned: ________________________________
CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:
---------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the
undersigned wishes to be included in the Shelf Registration
Statement: ______________
CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in
the Shelf Registration Statement:
(4) Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:
Page A-4
Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any other
securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed above in
Item (3).
State any exceptions here:
(5) Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any of
its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5% or
more) has held any position or office or has had any other material
relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during
the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
(6) Plan of Distribution:
Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder intends
to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3) only as
follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to
time directly by the undersigned Selling Securityholder or, alternatively,
through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. Such Registrable
Securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at
prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined
at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected
in transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on
any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in
the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such
exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv) through
the writing of options. In connection with sales of the Registrable
Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may enter into hedging
transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales
of the Registrable Securities in the course of hedging the positions they
assume. The Selling Securityholder may also sell Registrable Securities
short and deliver Registrable Securities to close out such short
positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that
in turn may sell such securities.
State any exceptions here:
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands
its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly
Regulation M.
In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the
Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such
information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees to
notify the transferee(s) at the time of the
Page A-5
transfer of its rights and obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and
the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (6) above and
the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder understands that such information
will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation of the
Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
In accordance with the Selling Securityholder's obligation under Section 3(d) of
the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as
may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the
Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies
or changes in the information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the
date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in
effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Exchange and Registration
Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:
(i) To the Company:
Vicar Operating, Inc.
c/o VCA Antech, Inc.
00000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
(000) 000-0000
(ii) With a copy to:
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
Attention: [ ]
( ) [ - ]
Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and
received by the Company's counsel, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire,
and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be binding on,
shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective
successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the Company and the
Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially
owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above. This
Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New
York.
Page A-6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its
duly authorized agent.
Dated:
----------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
Selling Securityholder
(Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable
Securities)
By:
----------------------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Page A-7
PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON
OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY'S COUNSEL AT:
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
Attention: [ ]
( ) [ - ]
Page A-8
Exhibit B
NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust
Company, National Association
Vicar Operating, Inc.
c/o Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust
Company, National Association
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Trust Officer
Re: Vicar Operating, Inc. (the "Company")
9.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please be advised that ______________ has transferred $____________ aggregate
principal amount of the above-referenced Notes pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement on Form [ ] (File No. 333- ) filed by the Company.
We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named
beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a "Selling Holder" in the Prospectus
dated [date] or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate principal amount
of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in such Prospectus opposite such
owner's name.
Dated:
Very truly yours,
------------------------------------
(Name)
By:
---------------------------------
(Authorized Signature)
Page F-1
