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EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 17, 1997
By and Among
DEL MONTE FOODS COMPANY
and
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.,
BANCAMERICA ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
and
BT ALEX. ▇▇▇▇▇ INCORPORATED,
as Initial Purchasers
12 1/2 Senior Discount Notes due 2007
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is dated
as of December 17, 1997, by and between DEL MONTE FOODS COMPANY, a Maryland
corporation (the "Company"), on the one hand, and BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.,
BANCAMERICA ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and BT ALEX. ▇▇▇▇▇ INCORPORATED (the "Initial
Purchasers") on the other hand.
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of December 9, 1997, by and among the Company and the
Initial Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale by
the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $230,000,000 aggregate principal
amount at maturity of its 12 1/2% Senior Discount Notes due 2007 (the "Notes").
The Notes will be issued pursuant an Indenture, dated as of December 17, 1997,
among the Company and Marine Midland Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"). In
order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and
the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and any subsequent holder
or holders of the Notes. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the Initial Purchasers' obligations to purchase the Notes under
the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
Acquisition Date: The date, prior to May 12, 1998, on which
the Contadina Acquisition is closed.
Advice: See the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof.
Affiliate: An affiliate of any specified person shall mean
any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under
direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For the purposes
of this definition, "control," when used with respect to any person, means the
power to direct the management and polices of such person, directly or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise, and the terms "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Agreement: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
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Applicable Period: See Section 2(b) hereof.
Business Day: A day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a day on
which the banking institutions in the State and City of New York are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close or a day that is declared a
national or New York state holiday.
Company: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
Contadina Acquisition: Shall have the meaning set forth in
the Final Memorandum.
Effectiveness Date: The 150th day after the Acquisition Date.
Effectiveness Period: See Section 3(a) hereof.
Event Date: See Section 4(b) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Notes: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Exchange Offer: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: See Section 2(a)
hereof.
Filing Date: The 75th day after the Acquisition Date.
Final Memorandum: The Final Offering Memorandum dated
December 9, 1997, pursuant to which the Company originally offered and sold the
Notes.
Holder: Any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable
Notes.
Indemnified Person: See Section 7(c) hereof.
Indemnifying Person: See Section 7(c) hereof.
Indenture: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
Initial Purchasers: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
Initial Shelf Registration: See Section 3(a) hereof.
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Inspectors: See Section 5(n) hereof.
Issue Date: December 17, 1997, the date of original issuance
of the Notes.
Liquidated Damages: See Section 4(a) hereof.
NASD: See Section 5(s) hereof.
Notes: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
Participant: See Section 7(a) hereof.
Participating Broker-Dealer: See Section 2(b) hereof.
Person: An individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, union,
business association, firm or governmental agency or political subdivision
thereof.
Private Exchange: See Section 2(b) hereof.
Private Exchange Notes: See Section 2(b) hereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion
and a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a
prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance
upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act and any term sheet filed pursuant to
Rule 434 under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
Purchase Agreement: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
Records: See Section 5(n) hereof.
Registrable Notes: Each Note upon its original issuance and
at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note as to which Section 2 (c)
(iv) hereof is applicable upon original issuance and at all times subsequent
thereto and each Private Exchange Note upon original issuance thereof and at
all times subsequent thereto, until (i) a Registration Statement (other than,
with respect to any Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c) (iv) hereof is
applicable, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) covering such Note,
Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note has been declared effective by the SEC
and such Note, Exchange Note or such Private Exchange Note, as the case may be,
has been disposed of in accordance with such
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effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Note has been exchanged pursuant to
the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Note or Exchange Notes that may be resold
without restriction under the Federal securities laws, (iii) such Note, Exchange
Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, ceases to be outstanding for
purposes of the Indenture, or (iv) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange
Note, as the case may be, may be resold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the
Company that covers any of the Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private
Exchange Notes filed with the SEC under the Securities Act, including the
Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
registration statement.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of securities made
in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by subsequent holders
that are not Affiliates of the Company of such securities being free of the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the SEC.
Rule 415: Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Notice: See Section 2(c) hereof.
Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b) hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: Any Registration Statement
relating to a Shelf Registration.
Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and in effect
on the date of the Indenture.
Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture.
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Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A
registration with the SEC in which securities of the Company are sold to an
underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Exchange Offer
(a) To the extent not prohibited by applicable
law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the Division of Corporation
Finance of the SEC, the Company shall file with the SEC, no later than the
Filing Date, a Registration Statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration
Statement") on an appropriate registration form with respect to a registered
offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange any and all of the Registrable Notes
for a like aggregate principal amount at maturity of notes (the "Exchange
Notes") of the Company that are identical in all material respects to the
Notes, except that the Exchange Notes shall contain no restrictive legend
thereon. The Exchange Offer shall comply in all material respects with all
applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and other applicable
laws. The Company shall use its respective best efforts to (x) cause the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective under the
Securities Act on or before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the Exchange Offer
open for at least 30 days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the
date that notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders; and (z) consummate
the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 30th day following the date on which the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC. If,
after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is initially declared effective
by the SEC, the Exchange Offer or the issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder
is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement
of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement shall be deemed not to have become effective for
purposes of this Agreement, unless and until such stop order, injunction or
other order or requirement is stayed, lifted or otherwise reversed and the
Exchange Offer is permitted to proceed.
Each Holder who participates in the Exchange Offer will be
required to represent that any Exchange Notes to be received by it will be
acquired in the ordinary course of its business, that at the time of the
consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder will have no arrangement or
understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the
Exchange Notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, and that
such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, and, if it is a Participating Broker-Dealer, it acknowledges
that it will deliver a prospectus prepared by the Company in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement in connection with any resale of any Exchange Notes
received in respect of such Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with
this Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply,
solely with respect to Registrable Notes that are Private Exchange Notes,
Exchange Notes as to which Section 2(c) (iv) is applicable and Exchange Notes
held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Company shall have no further
obligation to register Registrable Notes (other than Private Exchange Notes and
other than in respect of any Exchange Notes as to which clause 2(c) (iv) hereof
applies) pursuant to Section 3
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hereof. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(b) The Company shall include within the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section
entitled "Plan of Distribution," reasonably acceptable to the Holders, which
shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by
the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any
broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange
Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies
have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or
policies represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also expressly permit, to the extent permitted by
applicable policies and regulations of the SEC, the use of the Prospectus by
all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act, including, to the extent permitted by applicable policies and regulations
of the SEC, all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a statement
describing the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the
Exchange Notes in compliance with the Securities Act.
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 lawfully
delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act for such period of time as is necessary to comply with
applicable law in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes covered
thereby; provided, however, that such period shall not exceed 30 days after
such Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective (or such
longer period if extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof)
(the "Applicable Period").
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds any Notes 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
Exchange Offer, the Company upon the request of any such Holder shall
simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer,
issue and deliver to any such Holder, in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for
such Notes held by any such Holder, a like principal amount at maturity of
notes (the "Private Exchange Notes") of the Company that are identical in all
material respects to the Exchange Notes (except that they may bear a customary
legend with respect to restrictions on transfer). The Company shall use its
best efforts to cause the Private Exchange Notes to bear the same CUSIP number
as the Exchange Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be
obligated to issue and deliver the Private Exchange Notes if it is not possible
for the Company, notwithstanding its best efforts, to cause the Private
Exchange Notes to bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes. In the
event that the Private Exchange Notes cannot, for any reason, bear the same
CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes, the Company will, as soon as the Private
Exchange Notes become freely transferable and are no longer required to bear
any restrictive legend, issue and deliver the Private Exchange Notes and
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use their best efforts to cause the Private Exchange Notes to bear the same
CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes. The Private Exchange Notes shall, in any
event, be issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(1) mail, or cause to be mailed, to each Holder
entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer a copy of the Prospectus
forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together
with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(2) keep the Exchange Offer open for not less
than 30 days after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is
mailed to Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);
(3) utilize the services of a depositary for the
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City
of New York;
(4) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at
any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last
Business Day on which the Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(5) otherwise comply in all material respects with
all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer
and the Private Exchange, if any, the Company and Holdings shall:
(l) accept for exchange all Registrable Notes
validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange
Offer and the Private Exchange, if any;
(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all
Registrable Notes so accepted for exchange; and
(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver
promptly to each Holder, in respect of Notes va1idly tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer, Exchange Notes or
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, equal in principal amount
at maturity to such Notes of such Holder.
The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be
subject to any conditions, other than that (i) the Exchange Offer or Private
Exchange, as the case may be, does not violate applicable law or any applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) no action or proceeding shall have
been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency which
might materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange
Offer or
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the Private Exchange, and no material adverse development shall have occurred in
any existing action or proceeding with respect to the Company and (iii) all
governmental approvals shall have been obtained, which approvals the Company
deems necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes shall be
issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material
respects to the Indenture and which, in either case, has been qualified under
the TIA or is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the
Exchange Notes shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in
the Indenture. The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange
Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall vote and consent together
on all matters as one class and that none of the Exchange Notes, the Private
Exchange Notes or the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a
separate class on any matter.
(c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in
currently prevailing interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Company is
not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not
consummated within 180 days of the Acquisition Date, (iii) the Representative
or any holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests in writing to the Company
at any time after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, or (iv) in the case
of any Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer, such Holder does not
receive Exchange Notes on the date of the exchange that may be sold without
restriction under the Federal securities laws (other than due solely to the
status of such Holder as an Affiliate of the Company or Holdings within the
meaning of the Securities Act) and so notifies the Company within 30 days after
such Holder first becomes aware of such restrictions, in the case of each of
clauses (i) to and including (iv) of this sentence, then the Company shall
promptly deliver to the Holders and the Trustee written notice thereof (the
"Shelf Notice") and shall file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 3 hereof.
3. Shelf Registration
If at any time a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by
Section 2(c) hereof, then:
(a) Shelf Registration. The Company shall file
with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes not
permitted to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, Private Exchange Notes and Exchange Notes as to which Section
2(c) (iv) is applicable (the "Initial Shelf Registration"). The Company shall
use its best efforts to file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration on or
before the applicable Filing Date. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on
Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting registration of such
Registrable Notes for resale by Holders in the manner or manners designated by
them (including, without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The
Company shall not permit any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be
included in the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration
(as defined below).
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The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Initial
Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or
prior to the Effectiveness Date and to keep the Initial Shelf Registration
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which is two
years from the Issue Date, subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph
of Section 5 hereof (the "Effectiveness Period"), or such shorter period ending
when all Registrable Notes covered by the Shelf Registration have been sold in
the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf Registration or,
if applicable, a Subsequent Shelf Registration; provided, however, that the
Effectiveness Period in respect of the Initial Shelf Registration shall be
extended to the extent required to permit dealers to comply with the applicable
prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174 under the Securities Act and as
otherwise provided herein and shall be subject to reduction to the extent that
the applicable provisions of Rule 144(k) are amended or revised to reduce the
two-year holding period set forth therein.
No holder of Registrable Notes may include any of its
Registrable Notes in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this
Agreement, unless and until such holder furnishes to the Company in writing,
within 15 Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, such information
as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary prospectus included
therein. No holder of Registrable Notes shall be entitled to Liquidated
Damages pursuant to Section 4 hereof, unless and until such holder shall have
provided all such reasonably requested information. Each holder of Registrable
Notes as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to
furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in
order to make information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder
not materially misleading.
(b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the
Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be
effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other
than because of the sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the
Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 30 days of
such cessation of effectiveness amend the Initial Shelf Registration in a
manner to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness
thereof, or, if in the reasonable judgment of the Representative it is likely
to accomplish the desired effect, file an additional Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes covered by
and not sold under the Initial Shelf Registration or an earlier Subsequent
Shelf Registration (each, a "Subsequent Shelf Registration"). If a Subsequent
Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause
the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities
Act as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such subsequent Shelf
Registration continuously effective for a period equal to the number of days in
the Effectiveness Period, less the aggregate number of days during which the
Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration was previously
continuously effective. As used herein the term "Shelf Registration" means the
Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registration.
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(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Company
shall promptly supplement and amend any Shelf Registration if required by the
rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for
such Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably
requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount at
maturity of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or by
any underwriter of such Registrable Notes.
(d) Withdrawal of Stop Orders. If the Shelf
Registration ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the
Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of the securities
registered thereunder), the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the
prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof.
4. Liquidated Damages
(a) The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree
that the Holders will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its
obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly,
the Company agrees to pay certain amounts as liquidated damages ("Liquidated
Damages") under the circumstances and to the extent set forth below (each of
which shall be given independent effect):
(i) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement nor the Initial Shelf Registration has been
filed on or prior to the Filing Date applicable thereto or (B)
notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or will consummate
the Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a Shelf
Registration and such Shelf Registration is not filed on or prior to
the Filing Date applicable thereto, then, commencing on such Filing
Date, Liquidated Damages shall accrue on the Accreted Value
(determined as of the more recent of June 1 or December 1 immediately
preceding the relevant Event Date (as defined below) or if prior to
June 1, 1998, as of the Issue Date) of the Notes at a rate of 0.50%
per annum for the first 90 days immediately following such applicable
Filing Date, and such Liquidated Damages shall increase by an
additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day
period; and
(ii) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement nor the Initial Shelf Registration is declared
effective by the SEC on or prior to the Effectiveness Date applicable
thereto or (B) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or
will consummate the Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a
Shelf Registration and such Shelf Registration is not declared
effective by the SEC on or prior to the Effectiveness Date applicable
to such Shelf Registration, then, commencing on such Effectiveness
Date, Liquidated Damages shall accrue on the Accreted Value
(determined as of the more recent of June 1 or December 1 immediately
preceding the relevant Event Date (as defined below) or if prior to
June 1, 1998, as of the Issue Date) of the Notes at a rate of 0.50%
per annum for the first 90 days immediately following the day after
such Effec-
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tiveness Date, and such Liquidated Damages shall increase by an
additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day
period; and
(iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged
Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the
terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 30th day after the date
on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating thereto was
declared effective or (B) if applicable, a Shelf Registration has been
declared effective and such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective
at any time during the Effectiveness Period, then Liquidated Damages
shall accrue on the Accreted Value (determined as of the more recent of
June 1 or December 1 immediately preceding the relevant Event Date (as
defined below) or if prior to June 1, 1998, as of the Issue Date) of
the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days commencing
on the (x) 30th day after such effective date, in the case of (A)
above, or (y) the day such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective in
the case of (B) above, and such Liquidated Damages shall increase by an
additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each such subsequent 90-
day period;
provided, however, that the Liquidated Damages payable on the Notes may not
exceed in the aggregate 1.0% per annum; provided, further, however, that (x)
upon the filing of the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
applicable Shelf Registration as required hereunder (in the case of clause (i)
above of this Section 4), (y) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or the applicable Shelf Registration Statement as
required hereunder (in the case of clause (ii) of this Section 4), or (z) upon
the exchange of the Exchange Notes for all Notes tendered (in the case of
clause (iii) (A) of this Section 4), or upon the effectiveness of the
applicable Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective
(in the case of (iii) (B) of this Section 4), Liquidated Damages in respect of
which such events relate as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause
thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue.
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within
one Business Day after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect
of which Liquidated Damages are required to be paid (an "Event Date") . Any
amounts of Liquidated Damages due pursuant to (a) (i), (a) (ii) or (a) (iii) of
this Section 4 will be payable in cash semi-annually on each June l5 and
December 15 (to the holders of record on the June 1 and December 1 immediately
preceding such dates), commencing with the first such date occurring after any
such Liquidated Damages commence to accrue. The amount of Liquidated Damages
will be determined by multiplying the applicable Liquidated Damages by the
Accreted Value (determined as of the relevant date as set forth above) of the
Registrable Notes, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days such Liquidated Damages were applicable during such period
(determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months
and, in the case of a partial month, the actual number of days elapsed), and
the denominator of which is 360.
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5. Registration Procedures
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement
pursuant to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall effect such registrations
to permit the sale of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the
intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in
connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Company hereunder the
Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC prior to the
applicable Filing Date, a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as
prescribed by Sections 2 or 3 hereof, and use its best efforts to cause each
such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
provided herein; provided, however, that, if (1) such filing is pursuant to
Section 3 hereof or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period relating thereto, before
filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel and the managing
underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such
documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference
therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each case at least
five Business Days prior to such filing, or such later date as is reasonable
under the circumstances). The Company shall not file any Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto if the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Registrable
Notes covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing
underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
and post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep
such Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period
or the Applicable Period or until consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the
case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus
supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated
under the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such
Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any
securities being sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such
Prospectus. The Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to
keep a Registration Statement effective during the Effective Period or the
Applicable Period, as the case may be, relating thereto if the Company
voluntarily takes any action that would result in selling Holders of the
Registrable Notes covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking to
sell Exchange Notes not being able to sell
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such Registrable Notes or such Exchange Notes during that period, unless (i)
such action is required by applicable law, or (ii) the Company complies with
this Agreement, including without limitation, the provisions of Section 5(k) or
the last paragraph of this Section 5.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant
to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period relating thereto from whom
the Company has received written notice that it will be a Participating
Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, notify the selling Holders of Registrable
Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their
counsel and the managing underwriters, if' any, promptly (but in any event
within two Business Days) of senior management becoming aware of any event
specified in clause (i) through (vi) of the paragraph 5(c), and confirm such
notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective
under the Securities Act (including in such notice a written statement that any
Holder may, upon request, obtain, at the sole expense of the Company, one
conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment
including financial statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference therein and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by
the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary
prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at
any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in
connection with sales of the Registrable Notes or resales of Exchange Notes by
Participating Broker-Dealers the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated
by Section 5(m) hereof cease to be true and correct in all material respects,
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of a
Registration Statement or any of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to
be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the existence of any condition or
any information becoming known that makes any statement made in such
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect
or that requires the making of any changes in or amendments or supplements to
such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of
the Registration Statement, it will not contain any 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 not misleading, and that in the
case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any 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, and (vi) of any of the Company's
determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would
be otherwise necessary or appropriate.
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(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant
to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, use its best efforts to
prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of a
Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of
any of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any
Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such
order is issued, to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such
order at the earliest possible date.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to
Section 3 and if requested by the Initial Purchasers or the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Registrable Notes
being sold in connection with an underwritten offering or by any Participating
Broker-Dealer, (i) promptly as practicable incorporate in a prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing
underwriter or underwriters (if any), such Holders, any Participating
Broker-Dealer or counsel for any of them reasonably request to be included
therein, (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such
post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
post- effective amendment, and (iii) supplement or make amendments to such
Registration Statement, to the extent required by law or reasonably requested
by the Initial Purchasers or such Holders.
(f) If (l) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant
to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling
Holder of Registrable Notes and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so
requests and to counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, at the sole
expense of the Company, one conformed copy of the Registration Statement or
Registration Statements and each post-effective amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, and, if requested, one copy of all
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and
all exhibits.
(g) If (l) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant
to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling
Holder of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the
case may be, their respective counsel, and the underwriters, if any, at the sole
expense of the Company, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses
(including each form of preliminary prospectus) and each amendment or supplement
thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may
reasonably request; and, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the
Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may
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be, and the underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers (if any), in connection
with the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes covered by, or the sale by
Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable
Notes or any delivery of a Pro spectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell
Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, to use its best efforts to register
or qualify, and to cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection
with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Notes for offer and sale under the securities
or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling
Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the managing underwriter or underwriters
reasonably request in writing; provided, however, that where Exchange Notes held
by Participating Broker-Dealers or Registrable Notes are offered other than
through an underwritten offering, the Company agrees to cause its counsel to
perform Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and qualifications
required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5 (h); keep each such registration
or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such
Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all other
acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or
the Registrable Notes covered by the applicable Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified,
(B) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any
such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (C) subject itself to
taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to
Section 3 hereof, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and
the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be
sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends (other than any
customary legend required by the applicable depositary or any or any legend that
would be required by an Exchange Note held by an Affiliate of the Company) and
shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; and
enable such Registrable Notes to be in such denominations (subject to the terms
of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or Holders may request.
(j) Use its respective best efforts to cause the
Registrable Notes covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or
approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be reasonably
necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Notes,
except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling
Holder's business, in which case the Company will cooperate in all reasonable
respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such
approvals.
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(k) If (l) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant
to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any
event contemplated by paragraph 5(c) (v) or 5(c) (vi) hereof, as promptly as
practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file with the SEC, at
the sole expense of the Company, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any
other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of
the Registrable Notes being sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange
Notes to whom such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating
Broker-Dealer, any such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Prior to the effective date of the first
Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the
Trustee with certificates for the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the
case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company
and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as
the case may be.
(m) In connection with any underwritten offering
of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an
underwriting agreement as is customary in underwritten offerings of debt
securities similar to the Notes in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Company and take all such other actions as are reasonably requested by the
managing underwriter or underwriters in order to facilitate the registration or
the disposition of such Registrable Notes and, in such connection, (i) make such
representations and warranties to, and covenants with, the underwriters with
respect to the business of the Company, DMC and their respective subsidiaries
and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are
customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings of debt
securities similar to the Notes, and confirm the same in writing if and when
requested in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company; (ii)
obtain the written opinions of counsel to the Company and written updates
thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing
underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the underwriters covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions to underwriters in primary underwritten
offerings and as are reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters; (iii) use its best efforts to obtain "cold comfort" letters and
updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
managing underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified
public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired
by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are
required to be, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement), addressed to the underwriter, such letters to be in customary form
and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "comfort" letters in
connection with primary under-
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written offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes and as are reasonably
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters as permitted by the
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement
is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and
procedures no less favorable to the sellers and underwriters, if any, than
those set forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures
acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity
of Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
underwriter or underwriters or agents, if any). The above shall be done at
each closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent
required thereunder.
(n) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant
to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, make available for
inspection by any selling Holder of such Registrable Notes being sold, or each
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter
participating in any such disposition of Registrable Notes, if any, and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter
(collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept, during
reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and instruments of the Company, DMC and their respective subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable the
Inspectors to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause
the officers, directors and employees of the Company, DMC and their respective
subsidiaries to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement and Prospectus. Each
Inspector shall agree in writing that it will keep the Records and any such
information confidential and that it will not disclose any of the Records or any
such information, unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary, in the
reasonable written opinion of counsel to such Inspector, to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the
release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a
court of competent jurisdiction or (iii) disclosure of such information is
necessary or advisable, in the reasonable written opinion of counsel for any
Inspector, in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding, directly or
indirectly, involving or potentially involving such Inspector and arising out
of, based upon, relating to, or involving this Agreement or the Purchase
Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or arising
hereunder or thereunder, or (iv) the information in such Records has been made
generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes
and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree that all
Records and any such information obtained by it as a result of such inspections
shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any
market transactions in the securities of the Company or any other entity unless
and until such is made generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of
such Registrable Notes and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be
required further to agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such
Records or any such information is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction,
give notice to the Company and allow the Company to
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undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records or any such
information deemed confidential at the Company's expense.
(o) Provide an indenture trustee for the
Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the
Indenture or the trust indenture provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the
case may be, to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of
the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Notes; and in
connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture and
the Holders of the Registrable Notes to effect such changes to such indenture as
may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the
terms of the TIA; and execute, and use all reasonable efforts to cause such
trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and
all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable such
indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(p) Comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC and make generally available to their respective
securityholders consolidated earnings statements satisfying the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule
promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any
12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period
is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which
Registrable Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts
underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering,
commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the
effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said
12-month periods.
(q) If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is
to be consummated, upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the
Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the
Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Company
shall ▇▇▇▇, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such
Registrable Notes are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in no event shall such Registrable
Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(r) Use their respective best efforts to cause the
Registrable Notes covered by a Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as
the case may be, to be rated by each of the rating agencies which rated the
Notes at the time of their initial issuance, if so requested by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of Registrable Notes covered
by such Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, or the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any.
(s) Cooperate, to the extent reasonable, with each
seller of Registrable Notes covered by any Registration Statement and each
underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Notes
and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made
with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
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(t) Use their respective best efforts to take all
other steps reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Exchange
Notes and/or Registrable Notes covered by a Registration Statement contemplated
hereby.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to
which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such
information regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable
Notes as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company
may exclude from any such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller so
long as such seller fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
after receiving such request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration
is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information
required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished
to the Company by such seller not materially misleading.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that,
upon actual receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any
event of the kind described in Section 5(c) (ii) , 5(c) (iv) , 5(c)(v), or
5(c)(vi) hereof, such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer will forthwith
discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered by such Registration
Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such Holder's or
Participating Broker-Dealer's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or until it is advised
in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable
Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or
supplements thereto. In the event that the Company shall give any such notice,
each of the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall be extended by
the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable
Notes covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be sold by
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have received (x)
the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section
5(k) hereof, or (y) the Advice.
6. Registration Expenses
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company
whether or not the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any Shelf
Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective or the Exchange Offer is
consummated, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing
fees (including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required
to be made with the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering and (B)
fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws
(including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in
connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the holders
of Registrable Notes are
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located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section 5(h)
hereof, in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by a
Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing
expenses, if any, including, without limitation, expenses of printing
certificates for Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes in a form eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the
printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount at maturity of the Registrable Notes included in any Registration
Statement or in respect of Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating
Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, as the case may be, (iii)
messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, reasonable
and documented fees and disbursements of one special counsel for all of the
sellers of Registrable Notes (exclusive of any counsel retained pursuant to
Section 7 hereof), (v) fees and disbursements of all independent certified
public accountants referred to in Section 5(m) (iii) hereof (including, without
limitation, the expenses of any special audit and "comfort" letters required by
or incident to such performance), (vi) Securities Act liability insurance, if
the Company desires such insurance, (vii) fees and expenses of all other
Persons retained by the Company, (viii) internal expenses of the Company
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and
employees of the Company performing legal or accounting duties), (ix) the
expense of any annual audit, (x) the fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange,
and the obtaining of a rating of the securities, in each case, if applicable,
and (xi) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and distributing
all Registration Statements, underwriting agreements, indentures and any other
documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement.
7. Indemnification
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer
selling Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, the officers, directors,
employees and agents of each such Person, and each Person, if any, who controls
any such Person within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a "Participant"), from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses
(including, without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and other expenses
actually incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any
claim asserted) caused by, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented
if the Company or Holdings shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or caused by, arising out of or based
upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case
of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused primarily by, arise primarily out of or are based
primarily upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating
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to any Participant furnished to the Company in writing by such Participant
expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the Company will not be so
liable if such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission was contained or made in any preliminary prospectus and corrected in
the final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and any such loss,
liability, claim, or damage or expense suffered or incurred by the Participants
resulted from any action, claim or suit by any Person who purchased Registrable
Notes or Exchange Notes which are the subject thereof from such Participant and
it is established in the related proceeding that such Participant failed to
deliver or provide a copy of the final Prospectus (as amended or supplemented)
to such Person with or prior to the confirmation of the sale of such
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes sold to such Person, unless such failure to
deliver or provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) was a
result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) Each Participant agrees, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, its
officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company
to each Participant, but only with reference to information relating to such
Participant furnished to the Company in writing by such Participant expressly
for use in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus. The liability of any
Participant under this paragraph shall in no event exceed the proceeds received
by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes giving
rise to such obligations.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including
any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought
or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought
pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the
"Indemnified Person") shall promptly notify the Persons against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying Persons") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Persons, upon request of the Indemnified Person, shall retain
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the
Indemnified Person and any others the Indemnifying Persons may reasonably
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses
actually incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding; provided,
however, that the failure so to notify the Indemnifying Persons shall not
relieve any of them of any obligation or liability which any of them may have
hereunder or otherwise except to the extent it is materially prejudiced by such
failure. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right
to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
at the expense of such Indemnified Person, unless (i) the Indemnifying Persons
and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary, (ii) the
Indemnifying Persons shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to
retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person, or (iii) the
named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both any Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person or any Affiliate
thereof and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicting interests between them.
It is understood that, unless there exists a conflict among Indemnified
Persons, the
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Indemnifying Persons shall not, in connection with such proceeding or separate
but substantially similar related proceeding in the same jurisdiction arising
out of the same general allegations, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all
Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed
promptly as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Participants and
such control Persons of Participants shall be designated in writing by
Participants who sold a majority in interest of Registrable Notes and Exchange
Notes sold by all such Participants and any such separate firm for the Company
and its directors, its officers and such control Persons of the Company shall
be designated in writing by the Company and shall be reasonably acceptable to
the Holders. The Indemnifying Persons shall not be liable for any settlement
of any proceeding effected without their prior written consent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final non-appealable judgment for the plaintiff for
which the Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this
Agreement, each of the Indemnifying Persons agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by
reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence,
if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested an Indemnifying
Person to reimburse the Indemnified Person for reasonable fees and expenses
actually incurred by counsel as contemplated by the third sentence of this
paragraph, the Indemnifying Person agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such Indemnifying
Person of the aforesaid request and (ii) such Indemnifying Person shall not
have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to
the date of such settlement; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Person
shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its consent pursuant to
this sentence if the Indemnifying Person is contesting, in good faith, the
request for reimbursement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Persons (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), effect any settlement or compromise of any
pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is
or could have been a party, or indemnity could have been sought hereunder by
such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional
written release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are
the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as
to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of such
Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in
clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to, or
insufficient to hold harmless, an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying
Person under such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person
thereunder and in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying
Person or Persons on the one hand and the Indemnified Person or Persons on the
other from the offering of the Notes, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the
foregoing clause (i) is not permitted
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by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault
of the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the Indemnified
Person or Persons on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
or alleged 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 benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Participants on the other shall be deemed to be
in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (net of
discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) of the Notes received
by the Company, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Offering
Memorandum dated December 9, 1997 in respect of the sale of the Notes, bears to
the total proceeds received by such Participant from the sale of Registrable
Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be. 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 Participant or such other Indemnified Person, as the case may
be, on the other, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission,
and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just
and equitable if the amount of any contribution pursuant to this Section 7 was
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Participants were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other
expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall a Participant be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which proceeds received by
such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case
may be, exceeds the amount of any damages that such Participant has otherwise
been required to pay or has paid 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.
(f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or
contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party to
the Indemnified Party as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
are incurred. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 and the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless
of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or any person who
controls a Holder, the Company and its directors, officers,
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employees or agents or any person controlling the Company and (ii) any
termination of this Agreement.
(g) The indemnity and contribution agreements
contained in this Section 7 will be in addition to any liability which the
Indemnifying Persons may otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to
above.
8. Rules 144 and 144A
The Company covenants and agrees that, so long as Registrable
Notes remain outstanding, it will file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time the
Company is not permitted to file such reports, the Company will, upon the
request of any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Notes, make publicly
available annual reports and such information, documents and other reports of
the type specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company
further covenants for so long as any Registrable Notes remain outstanding, to
make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Notes in
connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such
Registrable Notes from such Holder or beneficial owner the information required
by Rule 144A(d) (4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such
Registrable Notes pursuant to Rule 144A.
9. Underwritten Registrations
If any of the Registrable Notes 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 manage the offering
will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount at
maturity of such Registrable Notes included in such offering and shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Company.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any
underwritten registration hereunder, unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such
Holder's Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting
arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such
arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required
under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has
not entered into, and neither will enter into, any agreement with respect to any
of its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Notes in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way
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conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders
of any of the Company's or Holdings' other issued and outstanding securities.
As of the date hereof, the Company has not entered into and will not enter into
any agreement with respect to any of its securities which will grant to any
Person piggy-back registration rights with respect to any Registration
Statement required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. The
Company shall not directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the
Registrable Notes as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the
Holders of Registrable Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration
undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
(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, otherwise than with
the prior written consent of (I) the Company and (II) (A) the Holders of not
less than a majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of the then
outstanding Registrable Notes and (B) in circumstances that would adversely
affect the Participating Broker-Dealers, the Participating Broker-Dealers
holding not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of
the Exchange Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however,
that Section 7 and this Section 10(d) may not be amended, modified or
supplemented without the prior written consent of each Holder and each
Participating Broker-Dealer (including any person who was a Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case
may be, disposed of pursuant to any Registration Statement) affected by any such
amendment, modification or supplement. 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 of Registrable Notes whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not
directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other
Holders of Registrable Notes may be given by Holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Registrable Notes being sold
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications
(including, without limitation, any notices or other communications to the
Trustee) provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by
hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:
(i) if to a Holder of the Registrable Notes or
any Participating Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such
Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth
on the records of the registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in
like manner to the Initial Purchasers as follows:
Bear, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.,
As representative of the Initial Purchasers
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇
▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No: (212) 272- 6594
Attention: General Counsel
(ii) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the address
specified in Section 10 (e) (i);
(iii) if to the Company, at the address as follows:
Del Monte Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Vice President-Lega1 Affairs
Facsimile No. : (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
and to:
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Facsimile No. : 415-983-1200
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one
Business Day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and upon
receiving confirmation receipt by the addressee, if sent by facsimile.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at
the address and in the manner specified in such Indenture.
(a) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each
of the parties hereto, the Holders and the Participating Broker-Dealers,
provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer
or other disposition of Registrable Notes in violation of the terms of the
Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.
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(b) 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.
(b) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are
for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(c) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
(d) Severability. 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 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.
(e) Entire Agreement. This Agreement,
together with the Indenture, the Notes and the Purchase Agreement, is intended
by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a
complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the
parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no
restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth
or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the
Company with respect to the Registrable Notes. This Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.
(f) Securities Held by the Company or its
Affiliates. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified
percentage of Registrable Notes is required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by
the Company, or any of its Affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or
approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
(g) Third Party Beneficiaries. Beneficial and
registered holders of Registrable Notes and Participating Broker-Dealers are
intended third party beneficiaries of this Agreement, and this Agreement may be
enforced by such Persons.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
DEL MONTE FOODS COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President and
Secretary
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.
as Initial Purchaser
By: /s/ J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name. J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Managing Director
BANCAMERICA ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
as Initial Purchaser
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
BT ALEX. ▇▇▇▇▇ INCORPORATED
as Initial Purchaser
By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
---------------------------------
Name.
Title: