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EXHIBIT 4.3
RICHMONT MARKETING SPECIALISTS INC.
$100,000,000
10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
December 19, 1997
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
Richmont Marketing Specialists Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to you (the "Initial Purchaser"), upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a purchase agreement dated
December 16, 1997 (the "Purchase Agreement"), $100,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of its 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Securities") to
be guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by certain of the Company's
subsidiaries (the "Guarantor Subsidiaries") listed on the signature pages
hereto. 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 your obligations thereunder, the
Company and the Guarantor Subsidiaries agree with you, 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 16 months 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 (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
(the "Exchange Securities") that are identical in all material respects to the
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 17 months
after the Issue Date and the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated no
later than 18 months 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 that notice of the Registered
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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") among the
Company, the Guarantor Subsidiaries and the Trustee or such other bank or trust
company reasonably satisfactory to you, 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.
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 below) not
complying with the requirements of the next sentence, (b) is not an 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 Securities or 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 Purchasers and each Exchanging Dealer acknowledge that, pursuant to
current interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities
Act, (i) 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 the information set forth in Annex A
hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures"
section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in
the "Plan of Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a sale
of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to
the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) if any Initial Purchaser elects to sell
Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for Securities constituting any portion
of an unsold allotment, it is required to deliver a prospectus containing the
information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act ("Regulation S-K"), as applicable, in connection with
such a sale.
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 and the Guarantors shall, upon the written 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 (the "Private
Exchange Securities") that are identical in all material respects to the
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:
(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;
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(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
days after the date that notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed
to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);
(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 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 cancelation 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 of
Securities, 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 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. The Company shall make available, for a period
of 180 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, a copy of
the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities.
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 (other
than an Exchanging Dealer) will have no arrangements or understanding with any
person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the Exchange
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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 and the
Guarantor Subsidiaries 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
include, as of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, 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 of the Commission's staff the Company determines that
it is not permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, or (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is
not consummated within 18 months after the Issue Date, or (iii) the Initial
Purchaser so requests with respect to 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 law 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 (it being expressly understood that the
requirement that the Initial Purchaser deliver a prospectus in connection with
sales of Exchange Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities shall not result in such Exchange Securities being
deemed not "freely tradeable" for the purposes of this Section 2), 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 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
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"); provided, however, that no Holder (other than the Initial
Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such
Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by
all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.
(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 for a period of two years
from the Issue Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all the
Securities and Exchange Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement
have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (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 Securities or Exchange
Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities
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or Exchange Securities during that period, unless (i) such action is required by
applicable law or (ii) such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for
valid business reasons (not including avoidance of their obligations hereunder),
provided that the Company within 120 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, Private Exchange 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 that the Shelf Registration
Statement is no longer effective or the prospectus included therein is no longer
usable for offers and sales of Securities, Private Exchange Securities and
Exchange Securities and shall end on the date when each Holder of Securities,
Private Exchange 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..
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, 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, 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 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 Securities will suffer damages if the Company and the Guarantor Subsidiaries
fail to fulfill their 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 applicable Registration Statement is not filed with the
Commission on or prior to 16 months after the Issue Date, (ii) the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be, is not declared effective within 17 months after the Issue Date (or in
the case of a Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a
change in law or the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later,
within 45 days after publication of the change in law or interpretation), (iii)
the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to 18 months after
the Issue Date, or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared
effective within 18 months after the Issue Date (or in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law or
the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within 45 days
after publication of the change in law or interpretation) 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 and the
Guarantor Subsidiaries will be jointly and severally 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 the Securities constituting Transfer Restricted
Securities held by such Holder until (i) the applicable Registration Statement
is filed, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective
and the Registered Exchange Offer is consummated, (iii) the Shelf Registration
Statement is
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declared effective or (iv) 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 Exchange Security following the exchange by
a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of a Security for an Exchange
Security, until the date on which such Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser
who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy
of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii)
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 (iv) each Security or Private Exchange
Security until the date on which it has been distributed to the public pursuant
to Rule 144 under the Act. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 3(a), the Company and the Guarantor Subsidiaries shall not be required
to pay liquidated damages to the 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).
(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 and the Guarantor Subsidiaries 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 you, prior to the filing
thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each
amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included
therein and, in the event that the Initial Purchaser (with respect to any
portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration,
shall use its reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such document,
when so filed with the Commission, such comments as you reasonably may
propose; (ii) if applicable, include the information set forth in Annex A
hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures"
section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C
hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a
part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and include the
information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange
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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.
(b) The Company shall advise you, each Exchanging Dealer and the
Holders (if applicable) and, if requested by you or 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 so that, as of such date, 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 of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement at the earliest possible time.
(d) The Company will furnish to each holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration
Statement, without charge upon request, at least one copy of such Shelf
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules and all exhibits (including those
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 to
the use of such prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each
of the 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.
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(f) The Company will furnish to each Exchanging Dealer or the
Initial Purchaser, as applicable, which so requests, without charge, at
least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules and, if the Exchanging Dealer or the Initial Purchaser, as
applicable, so requests in writing, all exhibits (including those
incorporated by reference).
(g) The Company will, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period
or the Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly deliver to each
Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and such other persons that are
required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer,
as applicable, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus included
within the coverage of 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, as applicable,
may reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of such
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any such Initial
Purchaser, Exchanging Dealer or other persons, as applicable, as
aforesaid.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Securities or Exchange
Securities pursuant to 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.
(j) If (i) any event contemplated by paragraphs (b)(ii) through (v)
above occurs during the period for which the Company is required to
maintain an effective Registration Statement or (ii) any Suspension Period
remains in effect more than 120 days after the occurrence thereof, 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 or an Exchanging Dealer, 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,
Exchange Securities and
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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 and containing such
changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification.
(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 (including supplements thereto)
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 (including supplements
thereto) 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)
hereof, such holder will discontinue disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Securities until such holder's receipt of copies of the
supplemental or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j) hereof 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.
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(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.
(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 underwriters (if any) and
(iii) its independent public accountants to provide a comfort letter in
customary form, 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, Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities to
be sold pursuant to such 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 an Exchanging Dealer or the Initial Purchaser,
as applicable, the Company and the Guarantor Subsidiaries shall jointly and
severally indemnify and hold harmless each Holder (including, without
limitation, any such Initial Purchaser or 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
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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
from the fact that both (A) to the extent required by applicable law, 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
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 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 indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly
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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 and which would be material to the defense of the indemnified party and
adverse 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 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. 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 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, in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the
other with respect to the actions, 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 fault of such indemnifying
party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by,
such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the intent of the parties and
their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such action, 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
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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.
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 will, upon the written request of any holder
of Transfer Restricted Securities, make publicly available other information so
long as necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and
144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any holder
of 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)). Upon the written request of any holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities, the Company shall deliver to such holder a
written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 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 affect the
rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of a majority in aggregate
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principal amount of the Securities, Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange
Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(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 you, initially at your 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 Guarantor Subsidiaries 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.
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(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 a Guarantor
Subsidiary, or by any Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement,
each Holder or the Company or a Guarantor Subsidiary, 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 liquidated
damages have been paid pursuant to Section 3 hereof), will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company, the
Guarantor Subsidiaries 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 and the Guarantor
Subsidiaries represent, warrant and agree that (i) they have 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) they have not previously
entered into any agreement which remains in effect granting any registration
rights with respect to any of their 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, they 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.
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
among the Company, the Guarantor Subsidiaries and you.
Very truly yours,
RICHMONT MARKETING SPECIALISTS
INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
MARKETING SPECIALISTS SALES
COMPANY,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
MSSC CAROLINA, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
FERRO & ASSOCIATES, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
BROMAR, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ASSOCIATES, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
SERVICE ASSETS CORP.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
BROKERAGE SERVICES, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
BATESTAS & CO.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
TOWER MARKETING, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
T-BAR BROKERAGE,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
18
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T'NT NATIONAL CONVENIENCE STORE
BROKERS, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
ATLAS MARKETING COMPANY, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
CENTURY FOOD BROKERS OF HICKORY,
INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
EAST COAST FOOD BROKERAGE, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
ULTIMATE FOOD SALES, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
CUMBERLAND FOOD BROKERS, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
MEATMASTER BROKERAGE, INC.,
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
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Accepted:
CHASE SECURITIES INC.,
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------
Authorized Signatory
Address for notices pursuant to Section 6(c):
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Legal Department
20
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."
21
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."
22
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.(1)
Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantor Subsidiaries 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.
----------
(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K
will appear on the back cover page of the Registered Exchange Offer
prospectus.
23
ANNEX D
|_| CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS
OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:______________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________
___________________________________________
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for 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.