RITE AIDCORPORATION 8.5% ConvertibleNotes Due 2015 UnderwritingAgreement
Exhibit 1.1
RITE AID CORPORATION
8.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015
Underwriting Agreement
May 22, 2008
To the Representatives
named in Schedule I
hereto of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Rite Aid Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the Underwriters), for whom you (the Representatives) are acting as representatives, $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.5% Convertible Notes due 2015 (the Notes)(the Underwritten Securities). The Company also proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional principal amount of Notes set forth in Schedule I hereto to cover over-allotments (the Option Securities, together with the Underwritten Securities, the Securities). The Securities are convertible into shares (the Shares) of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the Common Stock), of the Company at the conversion price set forth in the Final Prospectus. The Securities are to be issued under an indenture (the Base Indenture) to be dated as of May 29, 2008, between the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the Trustee), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture (the Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture), to be dated as of May 29, 2008. To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.
The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:
1. Registration Statement. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement, as defined in Rule 405 (file number 333-140537), on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, became effective upon filing. The Company may have filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more preliminary prospectus supplements relating to the Securities, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus supplement shall
contain all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Representative shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond those contained in the Base Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).
Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms amend, amendment or supplement with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 13 hereof.
2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters. (a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters as provided in this underwriting agreement (this Agreement), and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto the principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite such Underwriters name in Schedule I hereto. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to the aggregate principal amount of Option Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto at the same purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto for the Underwritten Securities. Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten Securities by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 30th day after the date of the Final Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the aggregate principal amount of the Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date for the Option Securities. The aggregate principal amount of Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total aggregate principal amount of the Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Underwritten Securities, subject to such adjustments as you in your absolute discretion shall make to ensure that the Option Securities are not issued in minimum denominations of less than $1,000 or whole multiples thereof.
(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representative is advisable, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Final Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell
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Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Securities purchased by it to or through any Underwriter.
(c) Delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for in Section 2(a) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date) shall be made on May 29, 2008 at offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP at 10:00 A.M. New York City time or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the Closing Date). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to one or more accounts specified by the Company. Delivery of the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
(d) If the option provided for in Section 2(a) hereof is exercised after the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Company will deliver the Option Securities (at the expense of the Company) to the Representatives, at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be within three Business Days after exercise of said option) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the Representatives on the settlement date for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5 hereof.
3. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:
(a) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 6(b) hereof.
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(b) The Company meets the requirements for using Form S-3 under the Act and would have met the requirements for using Form S-3 under the Act, as in effect prior to October 21, 1992, had such standards been in effect as of the date hereof. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission. On each Effective Date since and including the date of the filing of the 2008 10-K (as defined herein), the Registration Statement did, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein) and on any settlement date, if such date is not the Closing Date, for the Option Securities, the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder; on each Effective Date since and including the date of the filing of the 2008 10-K and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules thereunder; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and on any settlement date for the Option Securities, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any 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; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 6(b) hereof.
(c) (i) The Disclosure Package and (ii) any electronic road show, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 6(b) hereof.
(d) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company
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or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163, and (iv) at the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii), the Company was or is (as the case may be) a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. The Company agrees to pay the fees required by the Commission relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).
(e) (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Act and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.
(f) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including the Pricing Term Sheet attached hereto as Schedule III, does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated therein by reference and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 6(b) hereof.
(g) The Company is subject to and in compliance, in all material respects, with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The documents incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents at the time of such filings or effectiveness contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not at the time of such filing or effectiveness contain any 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.
(h) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will not be, an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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(i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any Securities (except as contemplated by this Agreement).
(j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly (it being understood that the Company makes no representations as to the activities of any Underwriter), any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(k) On the Closing Date, the Indenture and the Shares will conform in all material respects to the respective descriptions thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to indentures qualified thereunder.
(l) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or organized, is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized with full corporate or limited liability company power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited liability company and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a Material Adverse Effect).
(m) The Companys authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and, except for Rx USA, Inc., Rite Aid Lease Management Company and Reads, Inc., all outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries of the Company are owned by the Company either directly or
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through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.
(n) The statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the headings Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences, Description of Notes and Description of Other Indebtedness and in the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 1, 2008 (the 2008 10-K) under the headings BusinessRegulation and Legal Proceedings, fairly summarize the matters therein described.
(o) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; the Indenture has been duly authorized and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, when executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute a legal, valid and binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity); the Securities have been duly authorized, and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee) will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture (subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity or good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether in a proceeding at law or in equity); the Shares have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, when issued upon conversion of the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the description thereof in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares will not be subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights.
(p) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein or in the Indenture, except such as will be obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act, the securities laws of any jurisdiction outside the U.S. in which the Securities are offered and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein, in the Disclosure Package and in the Final Prospectus.
(q) On the Closing Date, none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Indenture, the issue and sale of the Securities, or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to (i) the charter or by-laws of either of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties, as
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applicable, or (iii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein); the summary financial data set forth under the caption Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus fairly present, on the basis stated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, the information included therein. The pro forma financial statements included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial statements included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus. The pro forma financial statements included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements.
(s) To the Companys knowledge, without independent investigation, the historical consolidated financial statements of The Jean Coutu Group (PJC) USA, Inc. (Jean Coutu USA), together with the related schedules and notes, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act; the Company is not aware, without independent investigation, of any reason why such historical consolidated financial statements would not fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Jean Coutu USA at the respective dates indicated and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the respective periods indicated, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, except as otherwise expressly stated therein, as consistently applied throughout such periods.
(t) No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
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(u) The Company and each of its subsidiaries own or lease all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of their respective operations as presently conducted, except where the failure to own or lease such property could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or bylaws; (ii) the terms of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject; or (iii) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties, as applicable, except in the case of (ii) and (iii), such violation or default that could not reasonably by expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included in or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, are, to the knowledge of the Company, independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act.
(x) There are no stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties or other similar fees or charges required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Securities.
(y) The Company has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto)) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(z) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, contractors or customers that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(aa) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects, except where noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew
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or replace its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(bb) No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiarys capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiarys property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(cc) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(dd) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (Environmental Laws); (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto); except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), neither the Company nor any of the subsidiaries has been named as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, which, if the subject of any unfavorable ruling, decision or finding could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and such regulations and published interpretations) in which employees of the Company and its
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subsidiaries are eligible to participate; the Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred any unpaid liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for the payment of premiums in the ordinary course) or to any such plan under Title IV of ERISA.
(ff) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the Intellectual Property) necessary for the conduct of the Companys business as now conducted or as proposed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus to be conducted, except as otherwise referenced in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or where the failure to own, possess, license or have other rights to such Intellectual Property could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any charge, complaint, claim, demand or notice alleging any interference, infringement, misappropriation or violation of a third partys right in Intellectual Property (including any claim that the Company or any of its subsidiaries must license or refrain from using such Intellectual Property), which, if the subject of any unfavorable ruling, decision or finding could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(gg) The Company maintains, and has maintained during the periods covered by the financial statements of the Company included in or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-14 under the Exchange Act) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information relating to the Company required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported with the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be so described is accumulated and communicated to the Companys management, including its principal executive officer or officers, and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(hh) The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) the Companys financial records, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) transactions of the Company are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Companys assets that could have a material effect on the Companys financial statements. Except as described in, or incorporated by reference into, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, since the most recent audit of the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Companys internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Companys internal control over financial reporting that has materially adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
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(ii) To the Companys knowledge, the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the Money Laundering Laws) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
4. Further Agreements. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:
(a) The Company will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representative with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representative of such timely filing. The Company will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Final Prospectus and during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below); and the Company will furnish copies of the Final Prospectus to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the second business day succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably request.
(b) The Company will deliver, without charge, to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, other than reports under the Exchange Act available on EDGAR) as the Representative may reasonably request. As used herein, the term Prospectus Delivery Period means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer (including delivery pursuant to Rule 172).
(c) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will, before filing any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus, furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed amendment or supplement for review and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably object.
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(d) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will advise the Representative promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed; (ii) when any supplement to the Final Prospectus or any amendment to the Final Prospectus has been filed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Final Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any notice objecting to the use of the Registration Statement or any order suspending its effectiveness or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any 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 existing when the Final Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such notice objecting to the use of the Registration Statement or order suspending its effectiveness, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such objection or order is issued, will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof. The Representatives shall promptly notify the Company if the completion of the sale of the Securities by the Underwriter does not occur on the Closing Date and shall promptly notify the Company upon completion of the sale of the Securities by the Underwriter.
(e) The Company will prepare a Pricing Term Sheet, containing solely a description of the final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form approved by you and attached as Schedule III hereto and will file such Pricing Term Sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.
(f) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representative so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.
(g) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Final Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Final Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any
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document incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Final Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Final Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Final Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Final Prospectus will comply with law.
(h) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representative, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free Writing Prospectus required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433, other than a free writing prospectus containing the information contained in the Pricing Term Sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 4(e) hereto; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses listed in Schedule II hereto and any electronic road show. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representative or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. The Company agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.
(i) The Company will qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities and the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify or where it is not now so qualified, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) take any action that would subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
(j) The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representative as soon as practicable an earnings statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the effective date (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.
(k) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing)
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of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 90 days from the date hereof; provided, however, that the Company may grant shares of Common Stock or options to purchase Common Stock or issue and sell Common Stock pursuant to any employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the Execution Time and the Company may issue Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the Execution Time, or in lieu of cash payment of dividends on the preferred stock of the Company and the Company may file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 or other appropriate form and any related prospectus with respect to securities to be offered pursuant to the Companys employee benefits plans existing as of the date hereof.
(l) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Final Prospectus under the heading Use of Proceeds.
(m) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly (it being understood that the Company makes no covenant or agreement as to the activities of any Underwriter), any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.
(n) The Company has reserved and will keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, the full number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities.
(o) Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Company will not do or authorize any act or thing that would result in an adjustment of the conversion price of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities described in the Preliminary Prospectus under the caption Description of NotesAnti-dilution AdjustmentsAdjustment Events.
5. Conditions to the Underwriters Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date for the Option Securities pursuant to Section 1 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement (or if a post-effective amendment thereto is required to be filed under the Act, such post-effective amendment) shall have become effective, and the Representative shall have received notice thereof, not later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date hereof; no notice objecting to the use of the Registration Statement shall have been issued, no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Act and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; the Pricing Term Sheet contemplated
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by Section 4(e) hereto and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative.
(b) The Representative shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Robert B. Sari, Esq., general counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto or as otherwise agreed to by the parties hereto.
(c) The Representative shall have received two opinions and a letter, dated the Closing Date, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, substantially in the forms set forth in Exhibits B, C and D hereto or as otherwise agreed to by the parties hereto.
(d) The Representative shall have received from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus (as amended or supplemented at the Closing Date) and other related matters as the Representative may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate of the Company, signed by an executive officer of the Company and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date; and
(ii) since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.
(f) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, the Company shall have requested and caused Deloitte & Touche LLP to furnish to the Representative letters, dated respectively as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance
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satisfactory to the Representative, confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, and stating in effect that:
(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and financial statement schedules of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission;
(ii) on the basis of a reading of the latest unaudited financial statements made available by the Company and its subsidiaries; carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, directors and audit, executive and compensation committees of the Company and its subsidiaries; and inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its subsidiaries as to transactions and events subsequent to March 1, 2008, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that:
(1) with respect to the period subsequent to March 1, 2008, there were any changes, at a specified date not more than five days prior to the date of the letter, in the long-term debt less current maturities of the Company and its subsidiaries or common stock of the Company or increases in the stockholders deficit of the Company as compared with the amounts shown on the March 1, 2008 consolidated balance sheet included or incorporated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, or for the period from March 2, 2008 to such specified date there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in revenues, increases in net loss or loss from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change or in net loss per share of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in all instances for changes, increases or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Representative; or
(2) the information included in response to Regulation S-K, Item 301 (Selected Financial Data), Item 302 (Supplementary Financial Information), Item 402 (Executive Compensation) and Item 503(d) (Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges) is not in conformity with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K; and
(iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature
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(which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries) set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, including the information set forth under the captions Summary, Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data, Risk Factors, Use of Proceeds, Capitalization, Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges, Description of Other Indebtedness and Description of Notes, and set forth in the 2008 10-K, including the information set forth under the captions Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Business and Selected Financial Data, agrees with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation; and
(iv) on the basis of a reading of the unaudited pro forma financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus (the pro forma financial statements); carrying out certain specified procedures; inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters; and proving the arithmetic accuracy of the application of the pro forma adjustments to the historical amounts in the pro forma financial statements, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that the pro forma financial statements do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X or that the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of such statements.
(g) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, the Company shall have requested and caused Deloitte & Touche LLP to furnish to the Representative letters, dated respectively as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to Jean Coutu USA within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, and stating in effect that:
(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and financial statement schedules of Jean Coutu USA included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission; and
(ii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of Jean Coutu USA and its subsidiaries) set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus agrees with the accounting records of Jean Coutu USA and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.
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References to the Final Prospectus in Sections 5(f) and 5(g) include any amendment or supplement thereto at the date of the applicable letter.
(h) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been, other than any repurchase of indebtedness, (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (f) of this Section 5; or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representative, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Securities as contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(i) The Securities shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.
(j) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Companys debt securities by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating (including notice of an adverse change in the outlook for such rating) or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.
(k) The Shares shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Representatives.
(l) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the settlement date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the settlement date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.
(m) The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the settlement date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company in its jurisdiction of organization in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdiction.
(n) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative such further information, certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.
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(o) At the Execution Time, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto from the persons and entities listed on Schedule IV hereto addressed to the Representatives and all such letters shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or the settlement date, as the case may be.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representative. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
6. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including the Pricing Term Sheet (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.
(b) Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession figure appearing in the third paragraph under the caption
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Underwriting and the information contained in the eighth, ninth and tenth paragraphs under the caption Underwriting and, in the Preliminary Prospectus only, the information contained in the thirteenth paragraph under the caption Underwriting.
(c) Notice and Procedures. 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 indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the Indemnified Person) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the Indemnifying Person) in writing of the commencement of such suit, action, claim or demand; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that 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 Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 6. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 6 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. 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 use of counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Person to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Persons which are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Person; (iii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the Indemnifying Person shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Person. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, 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 paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party
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and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional 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 (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Final Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other 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 or by the Underwriters and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters 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 paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The
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Underwriters obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 6 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
7. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
8. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Securities, prior to the settlement date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representative, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date or the settlement date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Final Prospectus.
9. Defaulting Underwriter. (a) If, on the Closing Date or the settlement date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date or the settlement date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term Underwriter includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section 9, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities that remain
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unpurchased on the Closing Date or the settlement date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriters pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the settlement date, as the case may be, exceeds one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any settlement date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Securities on the settlement date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 10 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 6 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
10. Payment of Expenses. (a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the preparation of the Indenture, the issuance of the Securities, and the fees of the Trustee (other than the legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with the foregoing); (ii) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (iii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iv) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (v) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) listing the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange; (viii) the transportation and other expenses reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with
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presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Companys accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, under the Indenture. It being understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 10 and Sections 6 and 9 of this Agreement, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel.
(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.
11. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to in Section 6 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
12. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.
13. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Act, except where otherwise expressly provided.
Base Prospectus shall mean the base prospectus referred to in paragraph 1 above contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.
business day means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City.
Commission shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Disclosure Package shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Execution Time, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto and (iv) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.
Effective Date shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Execution Time shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.
Final Prospectus shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Base Prospectus.
Free Writing Prospectus shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.
Preliminary Prospectus shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus referred to in paragraph 1 above which is used prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectus.
Registration Statement shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1 above, including exhibits, financial statements and documents incorporated by reference therein and any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.
Rule 158, Rule 163, Rule 164, Rule 172, Rule 405, Rule 415, Rule 424, Rule 430B, Rule 433, Rule 456 and Rule 457 refer to such rules under the Act.
Trust Indenture Act shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Well-Known Seasoned Issuer shall mean a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405.
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subsidiary has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Act.
14. Miscellaneous. (a) Authority of the Representative. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. shall be binding upon the Underwriters.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representative c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc. General Counsel, 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013 (fax: (212) 816-7912); Attention: General Counsel. Notices to the Company shall be given to them at Rite Aid Corporation, 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011, (fax: (717) 760-7867); Attention: Robert B. Sari, Esq.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(e) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(f) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
(g) Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
15. Absence of Fiduciary Relationships. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arms-length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company. Additionally, neither the Representative nor any other Underwriter (solely in their capacity as such) is advising the Company as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction in connection with the offering of Securities contemplated hereby. In connection with the offering of Securities contemplated hereby, the Company shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto, except as otherwise set forth herein. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to
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such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
[signature page follows]
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| Very truly yours, | ||
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| RITE AID CORPORATION, | ||
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| By | /s/ Robert B. Sari | |
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| Name: | Robert B. Sari |
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| Title: | Executive Vice President, |
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The foregoing Agreement is hereby | |||
confirmed and accepted as of the | |||
date first above written. |
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
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By | /s/ Guy Seebohn |
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| Name: | Guy Seebohn |
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| Title: | MD |
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For themselves and on behalf of the other | |||
several Underwriters, if any, listed | |||
in Schedule I. |
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SCHEDULE I
Underwriter |
| Principal Amount of |
| Maximum Principal Amount of |
| ||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
| $ | 150,000,000.00 |
| $ | 8,000,000 |
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Total |
| $ | 150,000,000.00 |
| $ | 8,000,000 |
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Representatives: | Citigroup Global Markets Inc. | |
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Purchase Price of Underwritten Securities: | 97% of principal amount of Underwritten Securities plus accrued interest, if any, from May 29, 2008 | |
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