EXHIBIT 4.3
Weight Watchers International, Inc.
$150,000,000
13% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
Euro 100,000,000
13% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
September 22, 1999
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Scotia Capital Markets (USA) Inc.
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Dear Sirs:
Weight Watchers International, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
and Scotia Capital Markets (USA) Inc. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"),
upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement of even date herewith (the
"Purchase Agreement"), $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 13% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Dollar Securities") and Euro 100,000,000 of
its 13% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Euro Securities" and together
with the Dollar Securities, the "Initial Securities"). The Initial Securities
will be issued pursuant to two Indentures, dated as of September 29, 1999 (the
"Indentures"), between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National
Association, as trustee (the "Trustee"). As an inducement to the Initial
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees with the
Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the holders of
the Securities (as defined below) (collectively the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. Unless not permitted by applicable law
(after the Company has complied with the ultimate paragraph of this Section 1),
the Company shall prepare and, not later than 90 days (such 90th day being a
"Filing Deadline") after the date on which the Initial Purchasers purchase the
Initial Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the "Closing Date"), file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration
statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration Statement") on an appropriate form
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with
respect to a proposed offer (the "Registered Exchange Offer") to the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not
prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the
Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for
the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of
the Company issued under the Indentures, identical in all material respects to
the Initial Securities and registered under the Securities Act (the "Exchange
Securities"). The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) cause such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within
180 days after the Closing Date (such 180th day being an "Effectiveness
Deadline") and (ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for
not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date
notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period
being called the "Exchange Offer Registration Period").
If the Company commences the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company (i)
will be entitled to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after such
commencement (provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial Securities
theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Registered
Exchange Offer) and (ii) will be required to consummate the Registered Exchange
Offer no later than 40 days after the date on which the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is declared effective (such 40th day being the
"Consummation Deadline").
Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities electing to exchange the
Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the
Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Xxxxxx's business and has no
arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities
laws of the several states of the United States.
The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by the
Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder that is a broker-dealer electing
to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of
market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities
(an "Exchanging Dealer"), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the
information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in
the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer"
section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such
prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by
such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an
Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired in
exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment,
is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items
507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in
connection with such sale.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that (i) in the
case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be
delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be
the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the
Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such
period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall
make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities
for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the Registered
Exchange Offer.
If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company
issued under the Indentures and identical in all material respects to the
Initial Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities"). The Initial Securities,
the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein
collectively called the "Securities".
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter
of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice
thereof is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange
Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior
to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which
the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
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As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or
the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered and not
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private
Exchange;
(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial
Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial
Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Indentures will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indentures and that all
the Dollar Securities and the Euro Securities will each vote and consent
together on all matters as one class and that none of the Dollar Securities or
the Euro Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate
from other Dollar Securities or Euro Securities, as applicable, on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been
paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder
will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a
broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a
broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in
exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that
(i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any
prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
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2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company
is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated by the
220th day after the Closing Date, (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with
respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange
Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or
(iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate
in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an
Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such
Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the
exchange and any such Holder so requests, the Company shall take the following
actions (the date on which any of the conditions described in the foregoing
clauses (i) through (iv) occur, including in the case of clauses (iii) or (iv)
the receipt of the required notice, being a "Trigger Date"):
(a) The Company shall promptly (but in no event more than 60 days
after the Trigger Date (such 60th day being a "Filing Deadline")) file
with the Commission and thereafter use its best efforts to cause to be
declared effective no later than 180 days after the Trigger Date (such
180th day being an "Effectiveness Deadline") a registration statement (the
"Shelf Registration Statement" and, together with the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, a "Registration Statement") on an appropriate form
under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in
accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf
Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter,
the "Shelf Registration"); provided, however, that no Holder (other than
an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it
covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Xxxxxx agrees in
writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to
such Holder.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the
relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period
if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its
effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold
pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities (as defined
in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule thereof);
provided, however, the Company shall not be obligated to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective to the extent set forth
below if (i) the Company determines, in its reasonable judgment, upon
advice of counsel, that the continued effectiveness and usability of the
Shelf Registration Statement would (x) require the disclosure of material
information, which the Company has a bona fide business reason for
preserving as confidential, or (y) interfere with any financing,
acquisition, corporate reorganization or other material transaction
involving the Company or any of it subsidiaries or its parent, provided
that the failure to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective and
usable for offers and sales of Securities for such reason shall last no
longer than 45 days in any 12-month period (whereafter Additional Interest
(as defined in Section 6(a) shall accrue and be payable), and (ii) the
Company promptly thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 3(j)
hereof, if applicable; provided further that the number of days of any
actual Suspension Period shall be added on to the end of the two-year
period specified above. Any such period during which the Company is
excused from keeping the Shelf Registration Statement effective and usable
for offers and sales of Securities is referred to herein as a "Suspension
Period." A Suspension Period shall commence on and include the date that
the Company gives notice that the Shelf Registration Statement is no
longer effective or the prospectus included therein is no longer usable
for offers and sales of Securities and shall end on the earlier to occur
of (1) the date on which each seller of Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement either receives the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(j) hereof or is advised in
writing by the Company that the use of the prospectus may be resumed and
(2) the expiration of 45 days in any 12-month period during which one or
more Suspension Periods has been in effect. The Company shall be deemed
not to have used its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action
that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able
to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action
is required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the
related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the
effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission and (ii) not to contain any
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untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior
to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration
Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the
prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser
(with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original
offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such
comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include
the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B
hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the
Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of
Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement and include the information set forth in
Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser,
include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K
under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within the
prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a
section entitled "Plan of Distribution," reasonably acceptable to the
Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the
positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with
respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is
the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of Exchange
Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer
(a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies have
been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such
positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial
Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel),
represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in
the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the
Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement as selling securityholders.
(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers,
the Holders of the Securities and any Participating Broker-Dealer from
whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a
Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which notice
pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction
to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been
made):
(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become
effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included
therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to
make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in
order that the Registration Statement or the prospectus do not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
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(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included
within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least
one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if
the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those,
if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each
Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without
charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all
exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver
to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf
Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including
each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement
and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably
request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection
with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or
any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration
Statement.
(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons
required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer,
without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents,
subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if
necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required
to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in
connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered
by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in
such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any
Registration Statement the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate
with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective
counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of
such states of the United States as any Holder of the Securities
reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions
of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally
to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or
(ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process
or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration
Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and
registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of
time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii)
through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company
is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company
shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any
other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the
Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the
Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with
paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of
the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been
made, then the Initial
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Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such Participating
Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and the period of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section
2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in
Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from and
including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date
when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known
Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or
supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial
Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as
the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with printed
certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the
Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the
Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make
generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in
accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement
satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later
than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such
period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company's
first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the
Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company shall cause each of the Indentures to be qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and
containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
appointment of a new trustee under any of the Indentures, the Company
shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable
provisions of such Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company
such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the
Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for
inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude
from such registration the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably
fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving
such request.
(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
(including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and
take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall
reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i)
make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities,
any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter all
relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company's officers,
directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant
information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any
such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably
necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation
within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however,
that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be
coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of
the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such
other parties as described in Section 4 hereof; provided, further, that
any persons to whom information is provided under this Section 3(p) agrees
in writing to maintain the confidentiality of such information to the
extent such information is not in the public domain.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested
by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel
to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in
customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if
any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective
date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the
matters to be covered by such opinion shall include, without limitation,
the due incorporation and good standing of the Company and its
subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and its subsidiaries to
transact business as foreign
7
corporations; the due authorization, execution and delivery of the
relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due
authorization, execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity
and enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material
legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company and its
subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the offering
and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the type
referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of such
Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by reference
therein and of each of the Indentures with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of the
date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration
Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may
be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus
included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from any documents
incorporated by reference therein of an untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
(in the case of any such documents, in the light of the circumstances
existing at the time that such documents were filed with the Commission
under the Exchange Act); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all
customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any
underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public
accountants and the independent public accountants with respect to any
other entity for which financial information is provided in the Shelf
Registration Statement to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable
Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form
and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in
connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of
appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by
any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the
Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser
or such Participating Broker-Dealer signed opinions in the form set forth
in Section 6(c) and (d) of the Purchase Agreement with such changes as are
customary in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement
and (ii) its independent public accountants and the independent public
accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial
information is provided in the Registration Statement to deliver to such
Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in
customary form, meeting the requirements as to the substance thereof as
set forth in Section 6(a) of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date
changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the
Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange
for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the
case may be, the Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the
Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being
canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities
be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) The Company will use its best efforts to if the Initial
Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Initial
Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a
Registration Statement.
(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of
an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the distribution"
(within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "Rules") of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof, whether as a
Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent
or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will
assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such
Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule
2720, shall so require, engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as
defined in Rule 2720) to participate in the preparation of the
Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual
standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the
offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten
offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the
yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent
underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided
in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such
broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply
with the requirements of the Rules.
8
(v) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses. (a) All expenses incident to the Company's
performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes
effective, including without limitation;
(i) all registration and filing fees and expenses;
(ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal
securities and state "blue sky" or securities laws;
(iii) all expenses of printing (including printing
certificates for the Securities to be issued in the Registered
Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange and printing of
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone;
(iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing
the Exchange Securities on a national securities exchange or
automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and
(vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified
public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any
special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such
performance).
The Company will bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses
of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering Initial Securities in the
Registered Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling Securities pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Xxxxxxx, Swaine & Xxxxx
unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration
Statement is being prepared.
5. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person,
if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to
collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof
(including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each
Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a
Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that
(i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus
relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or
9
Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such
purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent or
given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of
such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company
had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such
Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers
and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above
with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if
requested by such Holders.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect
thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may
otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of
notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental
investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to
be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify
the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party
from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification
obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of
the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying
party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent
of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so
to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other
than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims
that are the subject matter of such action, and does not include a statement as
to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of
any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) or
(b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b)
above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the
indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities, pursuant to
the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the
foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
(i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on
the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or
such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
10
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this
subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall
not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant
to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders
have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person,
if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale of
the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional
interest (the "Additional Interest") with respect to the Securities shall be
assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in
clauses (i) through (iv) below being herein called a "Registration Default"):
(i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed
with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline;
(ii) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable
Effectiveness Deadline;
(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer has not been consummated on or prior
to the Consummation Deadline; or
(iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been
declared effective by the Commission but (A) such Registration
Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) such Registration
Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable (except as
permitted by paragraph (b)) in connection with resales of Transfer
Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because
either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related
prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or
(2) it shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or
supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act
or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.
Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason
for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the
control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any
action or inaction by the Commission.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the Securities over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on
which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on
which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.50% per
annum (the "Additional Interest Rate") for the first 90-day period immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest
Rate shall increase by an additional 0.50% per annum with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 2.0% per annum.
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iv) hereof shall be
deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the
11
case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to
amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to
describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration
Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest
shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such
Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a) will
be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the
Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying
the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of the
Securities and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during such period
(determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months),
and the denominator of which is 360.
(d) "Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Security until (i) the
date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a
broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which
such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer
on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has
been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such
Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.
7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its best efforts to file the
reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such
reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Securities, make publicly
available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of their
securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will
take such further action as any Holder of Securities may reasonably request, all
to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of
Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to
prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the
Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Initial
Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any
of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten
offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers
that will administer the offering ("Managing Underwriters") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering and shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
12
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure by the
Company to comply with its obligations under Section 1 and 2 hereof may result
in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for
which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Sections 1 and
2 hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not on or after the date
of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that
is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the
Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with
the rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any
agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address
given by such Holder to the Company.
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx, Swaine & Xxxxx
Worldwide Plaza
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-7475
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
Weight Watchers International, Inc.
c/o The Invus Group, Ltd.
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
with a copy to:
Simpson, Thacher & Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Rise Xxxxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage
13
prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile
machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered,
if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders
hereunder.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
(j) Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained herein,
or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision
in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall
not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.
14
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the several Initial Purchasers and the Company in accordance with its
terms.
Very truly yours,
WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
by
/s/ Xxxxxx X. XxXxxx
Name: Xxxxxx X. XxXxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
The foregoing Registration
Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
SCOTIA CAPITAL MARKETS (USA) INC.
By: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
by
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Managing Director
15
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
1
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired
by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
1
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 199 , all
dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to
deliver a prospectus.(1)
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
----------
(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.
1
ANNEX D
|_| CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:
Address:
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
1
