EX-4.4
NBTY, INC.
$150,000,000
8-5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
------------------------------------------
September 23, 1997
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
NBTY, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes to issue
and sell to Chase Securities Inc. (the "Initial Purchaser"), upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in a purchase agreement dated September 17,
1997 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT") between the Company and the Initial Purchaser
$150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8-5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2007 (the "SECURITIES"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.
As an inducement to the Initial Purchaser to enter into the Purchase
Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Initial
Purchaser thereunder, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchaser, for the
benefit of the holders (including the Initial Purchaser) of the Securities, the
Exchange Securities (as defined herein) and the Private Exchange Securities (as
defined herein) (collectively, the "HOLDERS"), as follows:
1. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER. The Company shall (i) prepare and, not
later than 60 days following the date of original issuance of the Securities
(the "ISSUE DATE"), file with the Commission a registration statement (the
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate form under the
Securities Act with respect to a proposed offer to the Holders of the Securities
(the "REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER") to issue and deliver to such Holders, in
exchange for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of the Company that are identical in all material respects to the
Securities (the "EXCHANGE SECURITIES"), except for the transfer restrictions
relating to the Securities, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities
Act no later than 150 days after the Issue Date and the Registered Exchange
Offer to be consummated no later than 185 days after the Issue Date and (iii)
keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 30
days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date on which notice
of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being
called the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION PERIOD"). The Exchange Securities will
be issued under the Indenture or an indenture (the "EXCHANGE SECURITIES
INDENTURE") between the Company and the Trustee or such other bank or trust
company that is reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser, as trustee
(the "EXCHANGE SECURITIES TRUSTEE"), such indenture to be identical in all
material respects to the Indenture, except for the transfer restrictions
relating to the Securities (as described above).
Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the
objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to
exchange Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is
not an affiliate of the Company, or an Exchanging Dealer (as defined herein) not
complying with the requirements of the next sentence, (b) is not the Initial
Purchaser holding Securities that have, or that are reasonably likely to have,
the status of an unsold allotment in an initial distribution, (c) acquires the
Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business, and (d)
has no arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Securities) and to trade such Exchange Securities
from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the
Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of
the several states of the United States. The Company, the Initial Purchaser and
each Exchanging Dealer acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, each Holder that is a
broker-dealer electing to exchange Securities acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities for Exchange
Securities (an "EXCHANGING DEALER"), is required to deliver a prospectus
containing substantially the information set forth in ANNEX A hereto on the
cover of such prospectus, in ANNEX B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures"
and "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" sections of such prospectus, and in ANNEX C
hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection
with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
If, prior to the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any
Holder holds any Securities acquired by it that have, or that are reasonably
likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in an initial
distribution, or any Holder is not entitled to participate in the Registered
Exchange Offer, the Company shall, upon the request of any such Holder,
simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities in the Registered
Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to any such Holder, in exchange for the
Securities held by such Holder (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE"), a like aggregate
principal amount of debt securities of the Company that are identical in all
material respects to the Exchange Securities (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE
SECURITIES"), except for the transfer restrictions relating to such Private
Exchange Securities. The Private Exchange Securities will be issued under the
same indenture as the Exchange Securities, and the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Private Exchange Securities to bear the
same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities.
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
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(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter
of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days
(or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date on which notice
of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange
Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to
the close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on
which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply in all respects with all laws that are applicable
to the Registered Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
and any Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(a) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private
Exchange;
(b) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so accepted
for exchange; and
(c) cause the Trustee or the Exchange Securities Trustee, as the case
may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in
principal amount to the Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
prospectus contained therein in order to permit such prospectus to be used by
all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities; PROVIDED that (i) in the case where
such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an
Exchanging Dealer, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on
which all Exchanging Dealers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them and
(ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of
any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 180 days after the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.
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The Indenture or the Exchange Securities Indenture, as the case may be,
shall provide that the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private
Exchange Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class
and that none of the Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any
matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on
the Securities, from the Issue Date.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act and (iii) such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company or,
if it is such an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
(iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
and any supplement to such prospectus, does not, as of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer, include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
2. SHELF REGISTRATION. If (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff the Company is not
permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 1
hereof, or (ii) any Securities validly tendered pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer are not exchanged for Exchange Securities within 300 days after
the Issue Date, or (iii) the Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to
Securities or Private Exchange Securities not eligible to be exchanged for
Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following
the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, or (iv) any applicable laws
or interpretations do not permit any Holder to participate in the Registered
Exchange Offer, or (v) any Holder that participates in the Registered Exchange
Offer does not receive freely transferable Exchange Securities in exchange for
tendered Securities (other than due solely to the status of a Holder (other than
the Initial Purchaser) as an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the
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Securities Act, and other than any state securities law restrictions which,
individually or in the aggregate, do not materially adversely affect the ability
of any such Holder to resell the securities held by such Holder), or (vi) the
Company so elects, then the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file as
promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 30 days after so required or
requested, in each case pursuant to this Section 2) with the Commission, and
thereafter shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared
effective, a shelf registration statement on an appropriate form under the
Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted
Securities (as defined below) by the Holders thereof from time to time in
accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in such registration
statement (hereafter, a "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" and, together with any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a "REGISTRATION STATEMENT").
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus
forming part thereof to be used by Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities for
a period ending on the earlier of (i) two years from the Issue Date or such
shorter period that will terminate when all the Transfer Restricted Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto and
(ii) the date on which the Securities become eligible for resale without volume
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in any such case,
such period being called the "SHELF REGISTRATION PERIOD"). The Company shall be
deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily
takes any action that would result in Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities
covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Transfer Restricted
Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing shall not apply to actions taken by the
Company in good faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of
their obligations hereunder), including, without limitation, the acquisition or
divestiture of assets, so long as the Company within 60 days thereafter complies
with the requirements of Section 4(j) hereof. Any such period during which the
Company fails to keep the registration statement effective and usable for offers
and sales of Securities and Exchange Securities is referred to as a "SUSPENSION
PERIOD." A Suspension Period shall commence on and include the date that the
Company gives notice to the Holders to the effect that, in the reasonable
judgment of the Company, the use of the Shelf Registration Statement would
materially interfere with a valid business purpose of the Company and 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 Exchange
Securities and shall end on the date when each Holder of Securities and Exchange
Securities covered by such registration statement either receives the copies of
the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j) hereof or is
advised in writing by the Company that use of the prospectus may be resumed. If
one or more Suspension Periods occur, the two year time period referenced above
shall be extended by the number of days included in each such Suspension Period;
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PROVIDED that the aggregate number of days of any Suspension Periods shall not
exceed 60 days in any 12-month period.
(c) The Company will ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement
and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any
supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Shelf
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto (in either case, other than
with respect to information included therein in reliance upon or in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder
specifically for use therein (the "HOLDERS' INFORMATION")) does not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
(iii) any prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any
supplement to such prospectus (in either case, other than with respect to
Holders' Information), does not include an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
3. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES. (a) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities will suffer damages if the Company fails to
fulfill its obligations under Section 1 or Section 2, as applicable, and that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, if
(i) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, is not filed with the Commission on or prior to
60 days after the Issue Date, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, is not declared effective
on or prior to 150 days after the Issue Date, (iii) the Registered Exchange
Offer is not consummated on or prior to 185 days after the Issue Date, or (iv)
the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared effective on or prior to
150 days after the Issue Date but shall thereafter cease to be effective (at any
time that the Company is obligated to maintain the effectiveness thereof)
without being succeeded within 60 days by an additional Registration Statement
filed and declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through
(iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), the Company will be obligated to pay liquidated
damages to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, during the period of
one or more such Registration Defaults, in an amount equal to $ 0.192 per week
per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such
Holder until (a) the applicable Registration Statement is filed, (b) the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and the Registered
Exchange Offer is consummated, (c) the Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective or (d) the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective, as
the case may be. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of
liquidated damages will cease. As used herein, the term "TRANSFER RESTRICTED
SECURITIES" means (i) each Security until the date on which such Security has
been exchanged for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) each Security or Private Exchange Security until the date
on which it has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and
disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iii) each
Security or Private Exchange Security until the date on which it is distributed
to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable
pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Section 3(a), the Company shall not be required to pay
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liquidated damages to a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities if such Holder
failed to comply with its obligations to make the representations set forth in
the second to last paragraph of Section 1 or failed to provide the information
required to be provided by it, if any, pursuant to Section 4(n). Liquidated
damages shall not accrue during any Suspension Period permitted pursuant to
Section 2(b).
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent under the
Indenture immediately upon the happening of each and every Registration Default.
The Company shall pay the liquidated damages due on the Transfer Restricted
Securities by depositing with the Paying Agent (which may not be the Company for
these purposes), in trust, for the benefit of the Holders thereof, prior to
10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next interest payment date specified by
the Indenture and the Securities, sums sufficient to pay the liquidated damages
then due. The liquidated damages due shall be payable on each interest payment
date specified by the Indenture and the Securities to the record holder entitled
to receive the interest payment to be made on such date. Each obligation to pay
liquidated damages shall be deemed to accrue from and including the date of the
applicable Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided for
in this Section 3 constitute a reasonable estimate of and are intended to
constitute the sole damages that will be suffered by Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities by reason of the failure of (i) the Shelf Registration
Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed, (ii) the
Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or (iii) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be declared effective and the Registered Exchange
Offer to be consummated, in each case to the extent required by this Agreement.
4. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with any Registration
Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to
the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and
each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included
therein and shall use its reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such
document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as the Initial
Purchaser may reasonably propose; (ii) include the information set forth in
ANNEX A hereto on the cover, in ANNEX B hereto in the "Exchange Offer
Procedures" and "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" sections and in ANNEX C hereto
in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and include the information set forth in
ANNEX D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer; and (iii) if requested by the Initial Purchaser, include the
information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in
the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
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(b) The Company shall advise the Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging
Dealer and the Holders (if applicable) and, if requested by any such person,
confirm such advice in writing (which advice 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 any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has
been filed with the Commission and when such Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to any Registration Statement or the prospectus included
therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities, the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the making of any
changes in any Registration Statement or the prospectus included
therein in order that the statements therein are not misleading and do
not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) The Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time of any order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
(d) The Company will, during the Shelf Registration Period, furnish to
each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the coverage of
any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of
such Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules and, if any such Holder so requests
in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by
reference).
(e) The Company will, during the Shelf Registration Period, promptly
deliver to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities included within the
coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of
the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in such Shelf
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder
may reasonably request; and the Company consents (except during the continuance
of any event described in Sections 4(b)(ii) through and including (v)) to the
use of such prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
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selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with the offer
and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto.
(f) The Company will furnish to the Initial Purchaser and each
Exchanging Dealer, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at
least one conformed copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules
and, if the Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer or any such Holder so
requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated
by reference).
(g) The Company will, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period or
the Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly deliver to the Initial
Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and such other persons that are required to
deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as
many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto as such Initial Purchaser, Exchanging Dealer or other persons may
reasonably request; and the Company consents (except during the continuance of
any event described in Sections 4(b)(ii) through and including (v))to the use of
such prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the Initial Purchaser
or such Exchanging Dealer or other persons, as applicable, as aforesaid.
(h) Prior to the effective date of any Registration Statement, the
Company will use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, or
cooperate with the Holders of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
Exchange Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection
with the registration or qualification of, such Securities, Exchange Securities
or Private Exchange Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such Holder reasonably requests in writing
and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities covered by such Registration Statement; PROVIDED
that the Company will not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would
subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any such jurisdiction
where it is not then so subject.
(i) The Company will cooperate with the Holders of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement
free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such
names as the Holders thereof may request in writing prior to sales of
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
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(j) If any event contemplated by Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) occurs
during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective
Registration Statement, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the related prospectus or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities from a Holder, the prospectus will not
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and
provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the Securities, the
Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of the Commission and will make generally available to its security holders as
soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement an earning statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act; PROVIDED that in no event shall such earning statement be
delivered later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if
such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company's
first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company will cause the Indenture or the Exchange Securities
Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act as
required by applicable law in a timely manner.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities to be registered pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to
furnish to the Company such information concerning the Holder and the
distribution of such Transfer Restricted Securities as the Company may from time
to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Shelf Registration Statement,
and the Company may exclude from such registration the Transfer Restricted
Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information within a
reasonable time after receiving such request.
(o) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities to be registered pursuant thereto agrees by
acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Securities that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Company pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii) through (v), such Holder
will discontinue disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities until such
Holder's receipt of copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus
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contemplated by Section 4(j) or until advised in writing (the "ADVICE") by the
Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed. If the Company
shall give any notice under Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) during the period that
the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement (the
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD"), such Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the
number of days during such period from and including the date of the giving of
such notice to and including the date when each seller of Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall have received (x) the
copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j)
(if an amended or supplemental prospectus is required) or (y) the Advice (if no
amended or supplemental prospectus is required).
(p) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall
enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting
agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities, Exchange
Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold or the managing
underwriters (if any) shall reasonably request in order to facilitate any
disposition of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(q) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by a representative of, and Special
Counsel (as defined below) acting for, Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange
Securities being sold and any underwriter participating in any disposition of
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such
Shelf Registration Statement, all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries
and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to have its officers, directors,
employees, accountants and counsel supply all relevant information reasonably
requested by such representative, Special Counsel or any such underwriter (an
"INSPECTOR") in connection with such Shelf Registration Statement; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in
good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be
kept confidential by such Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant
or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding
or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public
generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of
confidentiality and the Company may require that such Holders or any such
underwriter, attorney, accountant and agent execute a confidentiality agreement
with respect to such information.
(r) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall,
if requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities being sold,
their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) in connection with
such Shelf Registration Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to cause (i)
its counsel to deliver an opinion relating to the Shelf Registration Statement
and the Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as
applicable, in customary form, (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all
customary documents and certificates requested by Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and Private
Exchange Securities being sold, their Special Counsel or the managing
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underwriters (if any) and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide a
comfort letter or letters in customary form, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriters subject to receipt of appropriate
documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72.
5. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. The Company will bear all expenses incurred
in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1, 2, 3 and
4 and the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchaser and the Holders for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of attorneys (in addition to any
local counsel) chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities
to be sold pursuant to each Registration Statement (the "SPECIAL COUNSEL")
acting for the Initial Purchaser or Holders in connection therewith.
6. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement
or in connection with any prospectus delivery pursuant to an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement by the Initial Purchaser or an Exchanging Dealer, as
applicable, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder
(including, without limitation, the Initial Purchaser or any such Exchanging
Dealer), its affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such Holder
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively
referred to for purposes of this Section 6 and Section 7 as a Holder) from and
against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in
respect thereof (including, without limitation, any loss, claim, damage,
liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities), to which that Holder may become
subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, any other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out
of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any such Registration Statement or any prospectus
forming part thereof or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and shall
reimburse each Holder promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by that Holder in connection with investigating or defending
or preparing to defend against or appearing as a third party witness in
connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action arises out of, or is based upon, an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in
reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders' Information; and PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that with respect to any such untrue statement in or omission from any
related preliminary prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person
asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action received Securities,
Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to the extent that such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action of or with respect to such Holder results
12
from the fact that both (A) a copy of the final prospectus was not sent or given
to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities to such person
and (B) the untrue statement in or omission from the related preliminary
prospectus was corrected in the final prospectus unless, in either case, such
failure to deliver the final prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the
Company with Section 4(d), 4(e), 4(f) or 4(g).
(b) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder,
severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and
agents, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes of
this Section 6(b) and Section 7 as the Company), from and against any loss,
claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof,
to which the Company may become subject, whether commenced or threatened, under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal or state statutory law
or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration
Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders' Information furnished to
the Company by such Holder, and shall reimburse the Company promptly upon demand
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection
with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against or appearing as a
third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action as such expenses are incurred; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such Holder
shall be liable for any indemnity claims hereunder in excess of the amount of
net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration
Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6
of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party pursuant to Section 6(a) or 6(b), notify the indemnifying party in writing
of the claim or the commencement of that action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have under this Section 6 except to the extent that it has been
materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses)
by such failure; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the failure to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to
an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 6. If any such claim or
action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the
13
indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than the reasonable costs of investigation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that an indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any
such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel for the
indemnified party will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1)
the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in
writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably
concluded (based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified party) that there may
be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are
different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3)
a conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon advice of counsel to the
indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in
which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense
of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party
has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after
receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the
reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the
expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the
indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees,
disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party or
parties. Each indemnified party, as a condition of the indemnity agreements
contained in Sections 6(a) and 6(b), shall use all reasonable efforts to
cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or
claim. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any such
action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there be a
final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any
loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the
immediately preceding sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have
requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for the fees,
disbursements and other charges of counsel as contemplated by the third sentence
of this paragraph (c), the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for
any settlement of any action without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 30 days after receipt of such indemnifying party of
the aforesaid request for reimbursement and (ii) such indemnifying party shall
not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior
to the date of such settlement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such indemnifying party
shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its consent pursuant to
this sentence if such indemnifying party is contesting, in good faith, the
request for reimbursement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
14
party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
7. CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section
6(a) or 6(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company from the offering and sale of the Securities,
on the one hand, and a Holder with respect to the sale by such Holder of
Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on the other, or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Company on the one hand and such Holder on the other with respect to the
statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability,
or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and a Holder on the other with respect to such offering and such sale shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering
of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by or on behalf of the
Company as set forth in the table on the cover of the Offering Memorandum, on
the one hand, bear to the total proceeds received by such Holder with respect to
its sale of Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, on
the other. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to the Company or
information supplied by the Company on the one hand or to any Holders'
Information supplied by such Holder on the other, the intent of the parties and
their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7 were
to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation
that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss,
claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in
this Section 7 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, an
indemnifying party that is a Holder of Securities, Exchange Securities or
Private Exchange Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities sold by such indemnifying party to any
purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages which such indemnifying party has
otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
15
8. RULES 144 AND 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not
required to file such reports, it shall, upon the written request of any Holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities, provide other information so long as
necessary to permit sales of such Holder's securities pursuant to Rules 144 and
144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further reasonable action as
any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the
extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer
Restricted Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the
limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including, without
limitation, the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any
of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
9. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager
or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities
included in such offering, subject to the consent of the Company (which shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and such Holders shall be responsible
for all underwriting commissions and discounts in connection therewith.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.
10. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this
Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company
has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange
Securities, taken as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Securities, Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities are being sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly materially
affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the
Private Exchange Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
16
(b) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
telecopier or air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10(b), which
address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of such
Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like
manner to Chase Securities Inc.;
(2) if to the Initial Purchaser, initially at its address set forth in
the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company, initially at the address of the Company set
forth in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business day after
being delivered to a next-day air courier; five business days after being
deposited in the mail; and when receipt is acknowledged by the recipient's
telecopier machine, if sent by telecopier.
(c) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company, the Initial Purchaser and the Holders and their respective successors
and assigns.
(d) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or by telecopier) and by
the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed
shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.
(e) DEFINITION OF TERMS. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term
"business day" means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open
for trading, (b) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405
under the Securities Act and (c) except where otherwise expressly provided, the
term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(f) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(h) REMEDIES. In the event of a breach by the Company or by any Holder
of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as
the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by
law, including recovery of damages (other than the recovery of damages for a
breach by the Company of its obligations under Sections 1 or 2 hereof for which
17
liquidated damages have been paid pursuant to Section 3 hereof), will be
entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company
and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation
for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of
this Agreement and hereby further agree that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(i) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company represents, warrants and
agrees that (i) it has not entered into, and shall not, on or after the date of
this Agreement, enter into any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof, (ii) it has not previously entered into any agreement which
remains in effect granting any registration rights with respect to any of its
debt securities to any person and (iii) without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, without the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, it
shall not grant to any person the right to request the Company to register any
debt securities of the Company under the Securities Act unless the rights so
granted are not in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement.
(j) NO PIGGYBACK ON REGISTRATIONS. Neither the Company nor any of its
security holders (other than the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities in
such capacity) shall have the right to include any securities of the Company in
any Shelf Registration or Registered Exchange Offer other than Transfer
Restricted Securities.
(k) SEVERABILITY. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not
exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
18
S-1
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.
Very truly yours,
NBTY, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary
Accepted:
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Managing Director
ANNEX A
-------
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer
in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for
Securities where such Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, 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."
ANNEX B
-------
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."
ANNEX C
-------
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be
used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities
received in exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that, 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.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer may be sold from
time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in
negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange
Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices
prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to
purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in
the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the
purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells
Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a
distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of
Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such
persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.
The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and
by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period 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 Registered Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel
for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any
broker-dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act. The Company will be indemnified by the Holders, severally,
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
ANNEX D
-------
o CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
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 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.
