EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of November 15, 1996, by and among Central Garden & Pet Company, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Alex. ▇▇▇▇▇ & Sons Incorporated, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities, Inc. (the "Initial Purchasers") pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 15, 1996 (the "Purchase Agreement"),
between the Company and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to
provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of
this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
The Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, (i) for their benefit as
Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of
the Notes (including the Initial Purchasers) and the holders from time to time
of the Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes (each of the foregoing a
"Holder" and together the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall
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have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in
this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Affiliate: "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified person, (i)
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any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under
direct or indirect common control with, such specified person or (ii) any
officer or director of such other person. For purposes of this definition. the
term "control" (including the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under
common control with") of a person means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power (whether or not exercised) to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract, or otherwise.
Business Day: Each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is
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not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Common Stock: The shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of the Company
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and any other shares of common stock as may constitute "Common Stock" for
purposes of the Indenture, in each case, as issuable or issued upon conversion
of the Notes.
Damages Accrual Period: See Section 2(d) hereof.
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Damages Payment Date: Each of the semi-annual interest payment dates
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provided in the Indenture, whether or not Liquidated Damages are payable on such
date.
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Effectiveness Period: The period commencing with the date hereof and
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ending on the earlier of the date that is three years after the latest date of
original issuance of the Notes and the date that all Registrable Securities have
ceased to be Registrable Securities.
Effectiveness Target Date: See Section 2(a) hereof.
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Event: See Section 2(d) hereof.
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Event Date: See Section 2(d) hereof.
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Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
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rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Filing Date: See Section 2(a) hereof.
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Holder: See the second paragraph of this Agreement.
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Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1996, between the
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Company and Chemical Trust Company of California, as trustee, pursuant to which
the Notes are being issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchasers: See the first paragraph of this Agreement.
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Initial Shelf Registration: See Section 2(a) hereof.
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Liquidated Damages: See Section 2(d) hereof.
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Losses: See Section 5 hereof.
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Managing Underwriters: The investment banking firm or firms that shall
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manage or co-manage an Underwritten Offering.
Notes: The 6% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2003 of the Company being
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issued and sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
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(including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any amendment or prospectus supplement, including
post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed
to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
Purchase Agreement: See the first paragraph of this Agreement.
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Record Holder: (i) with respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to
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the Notes, each Person who is a registered holder of such Notes on the record
date with respect to the interest payment date under the Indenture on which such
Damages Payment Date shall occur and (ii) with respect to any Damages Payment
Date relating to the Common Stock, each Person who is a registered holder of
such Common Stock 15 days prior to such Damages Payment Date.
Registrable Securities: Each Note and each share of Common Stock into
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which the Notes are convertible or converted upon original issuance thereof, and
at all times subsequent thereto, and any Common Stock issued with respect
thereto upon any stock dividend, split or similar event, until, in the case of
any such Note or share of Common Stock, (i) it is effectively registered under
the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Registration Statement
covering it, (ii) it is saleable by the holder thereof pursuant to Rule 144(k)
or (iii) it is sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144, and, as a result of the
event or circumstance described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through
(iii), the legends with respect to transfer restrictions required under the
Indenture (other than any such legends required solely as the consequences or
the fact that the Registrable Securities are owned by, or were previously owned
by, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) are removed or removable in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
Registration Expenses: See Section 5 hereof.
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Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company which
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covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such registration statement.
Rule 144: Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended
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from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the
SEC.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended
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from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the
SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
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regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
Shelf Registration: See Section 2(a) hereof.
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Special Counsel: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, or such other successor
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counsel as shall be specified by the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities, the fees and expenses of which will be paid by the Company pursuant
to Section 5 hereof.
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Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 2(b) hereof.
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Suspension Period: See Section 2(d).
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TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
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Trustee: The Trustee under the Indenture.
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Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in
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which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
2. Shelf Registration.
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(a) Shelf Registration. The Company shall prepare and file with the
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SEC, as soon as practicable but in any event on or prior to the date ninety (90)
days following the latest date of original issuance of the Notes (the "Filing
Date"), a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous
basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act (a "Shelf Registration")
registering the resale from time to time by Holders thereof of all of the
Registrable Securities (the "Initial Shelf Registration"). The Initial Shelf
Registration shall be on Form S-3 or another appropriate form permitting
registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such Holders in the
manner or manners designated by them (including, without limitation, one or more
Underwritten Offerings). The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Initial Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
soon as practicable but in any event on or prior to the date one hundred and
twenty (120) days following the Filing Date (the "Effectiveness Target Date"),
and shall use its best efforts to keep the Initial Shelf Registration
continuously effective under the Securities Act, subject to the provisions of
Section 2(c), until the earlier of the expiration of the Effectiveness Period or
the date a Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below) covering all of the
Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act.
Subject to the right of the Company to have the Initial Shelf Registration not
be effective, or not to be updated, amended or supplemented, for periods of time
set forth in Section 2(c), the Company further agrees to use its best efforts to
prevent the happening of any event that would cause the Initial Shelf
Registration to contain a material misstatement or omission or to be not
effective and usable for resale of the Registrable Securities during the
Effective Period.
(b) If the Initial Shelf Registration or any subsequent Shelf
Registration ceases to be effective for any reason as a result of the issuance
of a stop order by the SEC at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the
Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within thirty (30)
days of such cessation of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration in a manner
reasonably expected to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration covering all of
the Registrable Securities (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration"). If a Subsequent
Shelf Registration is filed, the
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Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to
be declared effective as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective until the end of the Effectiveness
Period.
(c) In the event (A) of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv), 3(c)(v) or 3(c)(vi) hereof
or (B) that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, it is advisable to
suspend the use of the Prospectus for a discrete period of time due to pending
material corporate developments or similar material events that have not yet
been publicly disclosed and as to which the Company believes public disclosure
will be prejudicial to the Company, the Company shall deliver a certificate in
writing, signed by an authorized executive officer of the Company, to the
Special Counsel, the Initial Purchasers and the Managing Underwriters, if any,
to the effect of the foregoing and thereafter the use of the Prospectus shall be
suspended, and the Company, subject to the terms of this Section 2(c), shall
thereafter not be required to maintain the effectiveness or update the Shelf
Registration. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of
the Prospectus may be resumed as soon as practicable, in the case of suspension
under Section 2(c)(A), and, in the case of a pending development or event
referred to in Section 2(c)(B) hereof, as soon as, in the good faith judgment of
the Company, public disclosure of such material corporate development or similar
material event would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not under any circumstances be
entitled to exercise its right under this Section 2(c) to suspend the use of the
Prospectus (whether as a result of events referred to in Section 2(c)(A) hereof
or as a result of the pending development or event referred to in Section
2(c)(B) hereof) more than one (1) time in any three (3) month period, and the
periods in which the use of the Prospectus is suspended shall not exceed fifteen
(15) days in any three-month period (a "Suspension Period").
(d) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Registrable
Securities will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain
the extent of such damages with precision, if (i) the Initial Shelf Registration
has not been filed on or prior to the Filing Date, (ii) the Initial Shelf
Registration has not been declared effective by the Effectiveness Target Date,
(iii) prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, the SEC shall have issued a
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration or proceedings
have been initiated with respect to the Shelf Registration under Section 8(d) or
8(e) of the Securities Act, (iv) the aggregate number of days in any one
Suspension Period exceeds the period permitted pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof
or (v) the number of Suspension Periods exceeds the number permitted pursuant to
Section 2(c) hereof (each of the events of a type described in any of the
foregoing clauses (i) through (v) are individually referred to herein as an
"Event," and the Filing Date in the case of clause (i), the Effectiveness Target
Date in the case of clause (ii), the date on which the effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration has been suspended or proceedings with respect to the Shelf
Registration under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act have been
commenced in the case of clause (iii), the date on which the duration of a
Suspension Period exceeds the period permitted by Section 2(c) hereof in the
case of clause (iv), and the date of the commencement of a Suspension Period
that causes the
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limit on the number of Suspension Periods under Section 2(c) hereof to be
exceeded in the case of clause (v), being referred to herein as an "Event
Date"). Events shall be deemed to continue until the date of the termination of
such Event, which shall be the following dates with respect to the respective
types of Events: the date the Initial Registration Statement is filed in the
case of an Event of the type described in clause (i), the date the Initial Shelf
Registration is declared effective in the case of clause (ii), the date that all
stop orders suspending effectiveness of the Shelf Registration have been removed
and the proceedings initiated with respect to the Shelf Registration under
Section 8(d) or 8(e) or the Securities Act have terminated, as the case may be,
in the case of Events of the types described in clause (iii), termination of the
Suspension Period which caused the aggregate number of days in any one
Suspension Period to exceed the number permitted by Section 2(c) to be exceeded
in the case of Events of the types described in clause (iv), and termination of
the Suspension Periods the commencement of which caused the number of Suspension
Periods permitted by Section 2(d) to be exceeded in the case of Events of the
type described in clause (v).
Accordingly, upon the occurrence of any Event and until such time as
there are no Events which have occurred and are continuing (a "Damages Accrual
Period"), commencing on the Event Date on which such Damages Accrual Period
began, the Company agrees to pay, as liquidated damages, and not as a penalty,
an additional amount (the "Liquidated Damages"): (i) to each holder of Notes
that are Registrable Securities, accruing at a rate equal to one-half of one
percent per annum (50 basis points) on the aggregate principal amount of Notes
that are Registrable Securities held by such Holder and (ii) to each holder of
shares of Common Stock that are Registrable Securities, accruing at a rate equal
to one-half of one percent per annum (50 basis points) calculated on an amount
equal to the product of (x) the then-applicable Conversion Price (as defined in
the Indenture), times (y) the number of shares of Common Stock that are
Registrable Securities held by such holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
Liquidated Damages shall accrue as to any Registrable Securities from and after
the earlier of (x) the date such securities are no longer Registrable
Securities, and (y) the expiration of the Effectiveness Period. The rate of
accrual of the Liquidated Damages with respect to any period shall not exceed
the rate provided for in this paragraph notwithstanding the occurrence of
multiple concurrent Events.
The Company shall pay the Liquidated Damages due on any Notes or
Common Stock by depositing with the Trustee under the Indenture, in trust, for
the benefit of the holders of Notes or Common Stock, as the case may be,
entitled thereto, at least one Business Day prior to the applicable Damages
Payment Date, sums sufficient to pay the Liquidated Damages accrued or accruing
since the last preceding Damages Payment Date through such Damages Payment Date.
The Liquidated Damages shall be paid by the Company to the Record Holders on
each Damages Payment Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
account specified by them or by mailing checks to their registered addresses as
they appear in the Note register (as defined in the Indenture), in the case of
the Notes, and in the register of the Company for the Common Stock, in the case
of the Common Stock, if no such accounts have been specified on or before the
Damage Payment Date; provided, however, that any Liquidated Damages accrued with
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respect to any
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Note or portion thereof called for redemption on a redemption date, or
repurchased in connection with a Change in Control (as defined in the Indenture)
on a repurchase date, or converted into Common Stock on a conversion date prior
to the Damages Payment Date, shall, in any such event, be paid instead to the
holder who submitted such Note or portion thereof for redemption, repurchase or
conversion on the applicable redemption date, repurchase date or conversion
date, as the case may be, on such date (or promptly following the conversion
date, in the case of conversion of a Note). If a holder of a Note submits a
Note for conversion during the period between a record date for the payment of
Liquidated Damages and the related Damages Payment Date, Liquidated Damages for
the period from the conversion date through the next succeeding Damages Payment
Date shall accrue and be payable to the holder of Common Stock received on
conversion on the next succeeding Damages Payment Date, notwithstanding that
such holder was not a Record Holder with respect to such Damages Payment Date.
The Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of the holders of Notes and Common
Stock to seek any available remedy for the enforcement of this Agreement,
including for the payment of such Liquidated Damages. Nothing shall preclude a
holder of Registrable Securities from pursuing or obtaining specific performance
or other equitable relief with respect to this Agreement.
All of the Company's obligations set forth in this Section 2(d) which
are outstanding with respect to any Registrable Securities at the time such
security ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such time as
all such obligations with respect to such security have been satisfied in full
(notwithstanding termination of the Agreement pursuant to Section 7(o)).
The parties hereto agree that the Liquidated Damages provided for in
this Section 2(d) constitute a reasonable estimate of the damages that may be
incurred by holders of Registrable Securities (other than the Initial
Purchasers) by reason of the failure of the Shelf Registration to be filed or
declared effective or unavailable (absolutely or as a practical matter) for
effecting resales of Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in accordance
with the provisions hereof:
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the Company's
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registration obligations under Section 2 hereof, the Company shall effect such
registrations to permit the sale of the Registrable Securities in accordance
with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto
the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
Registration Statements on any appropriate form under the Securities Act
available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof and shall
include all required financial statements, and use its best efforts to cause
each such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
provided herein; provided, that before filing, any such Registration Statement
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or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto the Company shall furnish
within a reasonable time period to each selling Holder (if requested by such
Selling Holder), the
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Initial Purchasers, the Special Counsel and the Managing Underwriters of such
offering, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which
documents will be subject to the review of each selling Holder (if requested by
such Selling Holder), the Initial Purchasers, the Special Counsel and such
Managing Underwriters, and the Company shall not file any such Registration
Statement or amendment thereto or any Prospectus or any supplement thereto to
which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement, the Initial Purchasers or the Special Counsel shall
reasonably object in writing within five Business Days after the receipt
thereof. In addition, the Company shall use its best efforts to reflect in each
such document referenced in this paragraph so filed with the SEC such comments
as the Initial Purchasers, Special Counsel and the Managing Underwriters, if
any, may propose.
(b) Subject to Section 2(c), prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may
be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the
applicable period specified in Section 2; cause the related Prospectus to be
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the
Securities Act and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect
to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement
during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods or
disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as
so amended or such Prospectus as so supplemented. The Company shall ensure that
(i) any Shelf Registration and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming
a part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material
respects with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Shelf
Registration and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective,
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration, and
any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, does not include an untrue
statement or 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.
(c) Notify the Holders, the Initial Purchasers, the Special Counsel
and the Managing Underwriters, if any, promptly, and (if requested by any such
person) confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus, any Prospectus
supplement, a Registration Statement or a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC, and, with respect to a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state
governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement
or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by
the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation or
threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
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any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose, (v) of the existence of any fact or happening of any event which makes
any statement of a material fact in such Registration Statement or related
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference untrue or which would require the making of any changes in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus in order that, in the case of the
Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of
the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the Company's determination that a post-
effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.
(d) Use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any
suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest possible
moment.
(e) If requested by the Initial Purchasers or the Managing
Underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
being sold, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-
effective amendment to a Registration Statement such information as the Initial
Purchaser, the Special Counsel, the Managing Underwriters, if any, or such
Holders agree should be included therein, and (ii) make all required filings of
such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as
practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.
(f) Furnish to each selling Holder (if requested by such selling
Holder), the Special Counsel, the Initial Purchasers, and each Managing
Underwriter, if any, without charge, at least one conformed copy of the
Registration Statement or Statements and any amendment thereto, including
financial statements but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits.
(g) Deliver to each selling Holder, the Special Counsel, the initial
Purchasers and each Managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with any
offering of Registrable Securities, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus or Prospectuses relating to such Registrable Securities (including
each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
persons may reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents to the use of
such Prospectus or each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities and the Underwriters, if any, in connection
with any offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
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(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, to
register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders, the Managing
Underwriters, if any, and the Special Counsel in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as
any selling Holder or Managing Underwriter reasonably requests in writing; keep
each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective
and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the
applicable Registration Statement; provided, that the Company will not be
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required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is
not then so qualified (ii) take any action that would subject it to general
service of process in suits or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject.
(i) Cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies in addition to the SEC or authorities within the United
States as may be necessary to enable the selling Holder or Holders thereof or
the Managing Underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such
Registrable Securities.
(j) During the Effectiveness Period (subject to the provisions of
Section 2(c)), immediately upon the existence of any fact or the occurrence of
any event as a result of which a Registration Statement shall contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or a
Prospectus shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to
each Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any
document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
(such as a Current Report on Form 8-K) that would be incorporated by reference
into the Registration Statement so that the Registration Statement shall not
contain any untrue statement or a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and so that the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact or omit to state any
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, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
Securities being sold thereunder, and in the case of a post-effective amendment
to a Registration Statement use its best efforts to cause it to become effective
as soon as practicable.
(k) Enter into such agreements (including, in the event of an
Underwritten Offering, an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as
is customary in Underwritten Offerings) and take all such other actions in
connection therewith (including, in
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the event of an the Underwritten Offering, those reasonably requested by the
Managing Underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of
such Registrable Securities and in such connection, whether or not an
underwriting agreement is entered into, and if the registration is an
underwritten registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the
Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters with respect to the
business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration Statement,
Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by
reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily
made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same
if and when requested; (ii) use its reasonable efforts to obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form,
scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing
Underwriters, if any, Special Counsel and the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold) addressed to each of the underwriters
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten
offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Special
Counsel and Managing Underwriters; (iii) use its reasonable efforts to obtain
"cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public
accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or any business acquired or to be
acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are,
or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to
each of the Managing Underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form
and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters
in connection with Underwritten Offerings; and (iv) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, the Special Counsel and the Managing
Underwriters, if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations
and warranties of the Company and its subsidiaries made pursuant to clause (i)
above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The
above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement
as and to the extent required thereunder.
(l) Make available for inspection by a representative of the Holders
of Registrable Securities being sold, any Managing Underwriter participating in
any disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorney or
accountant retained by such selling Holders or underwriter, financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries, and cause the executive officers, directors and employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information reasonably requested by
any such representative. Managing Underwriter, attorney or accountant in
connection with such disposition: provided, however, that any information that
-------- -------
is reasonable and in good faith designated by the Company in writing as
confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept
confidential by such persons, unless (i) disclosure of such information is
required by court or administrative order or is necessary to respond to
inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure of such information is
required by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to federal
securities laws in connection with
11
the filing of any Registration Statement or the use of any prospectus referred
to in this Agreement), (iii) such information becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of disclosure or failure to safeguard by any such
person or (iv) such information becomes available to any such person from a
source other than the Company and such source is not bound by a confidentiality
agreement.
(m) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
make generally available to its securityholders earnings statements (which need
not be audited) satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act
and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities
Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days
after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are
sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering
and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the
first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company commencing after the
effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said
12-month periods.
(n) Cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, the
Initial Purchasers, the Special Counsel and the Managing Underwriters, if any,
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the Holders may request.
(o) Not later than the effectiveness date of any Registration
Statement hereunder, provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities
registered under such Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee under the
Indenture and the transfer agent for the Common Stock with printed certificates
for the Registrable Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The
Depository Trust Company.
(p) Cause all shares of Common Stock covered by the Registration
Statement to be listed on each securities exchange or quotation system on which
the Company's Common Stock is then listed no later than the date the
Registration Statement is declared effective, and, in connection therewith, to
the extent applicable, to make such filings under the Exchange Act (e.g., the
filing of a Registration Statement on Form 8-A) and to have such filings
declared effective thereunder.
(q) Cooperate and assist in any filing required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(r) Cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA, and, in
connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders, the Initial
Purchasers, the Special Counsel and the Managing Underwriters, if any, to effect
such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so
qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its best
efforts to cause the Trustee to execute all documents as
12
may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the SEC to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in
a timely manner.
The Company may require each Holder of securities to be sold pursuant
to any Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the Holder and the distribution of such securities as the Company may
from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Registration
Statement. Any Holder who fails to provide such information shall not be
entitled to use the Prospectus.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the
---------------------
Company's obligations under this Agreement shall be borne by the Company whether
or not any of the Registration Statements become effective. Such fees and
expenses shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (x) with respect to filings
required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
and (y) of compliance with federal securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, fees and disbursements of the Special Counsel in connection
with qualifications of the Registrable Securities under the Blue Sky laws of
such jurisdictions as the Managing Underwriters, if any, or Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities being sold may designate)), (ii) printing
expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company and of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is
requested by the Special Counsel, the Initial Purchasers, the Managing
Underwriters or the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included
in any Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses, (iv) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and
the Special Counsel in connection with the Shelf Registration (provided that the
--------
Company shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm for all parties (other than the Company) participating in any transaction
hereunder), (v) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public
accountants referred to in Section 3(k)(iii) hereof (including the expenses of
any special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
performance) and (vi) Securities Act liability insurance obtained by the Company
in its sole discretion. In addition, the Company shall pay its internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses to its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of
any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing
of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange on which similar
securities issued by the Company are then listed and the fees and expenses of
any person, including special experts, retained by the Company. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 4, each seller of Registrable Securities shall
pay all selling expenses and all registration expenses to the extent that the
Company is prohibited by applicable Blue Sky laws from paying for or on behalf
of such seller of Registrable Securities.
5. Indemnification.
---------------
13
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and
------------------------------
hold harmless each Holder, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each
such Holder and each person, if any, who controls any such Holder (within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) from and against all losses, liabilities, damages and expenses (including
without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim)
(collectively, "Losses"), arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any
preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such
Losses arise out of or are based upon the information relating to any Holder
furnished to the Company in writing by any Holder expressly for use therein;
provided, that the Company shall not be liable to any holder of Registrable
Securities (or any person controlling such Holder) to the extent that any such
Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary prospectus if
(i) such Holder failed to send or deliver a copy of the Prospectus with or prior
to the delivery of written confirmation of the sale by such Holder to the person
asserting the claims from which such Losses arise and (ii) the Prospectus would
have corrected such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or such
omission or alleged omission. The Company shall also indemnify each underwriter,
their officers and directors, and each person who controls such person (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act to the same extent and with the same limitations as provided above with
respect to the indemnification of the holders or Registrable Securities.
(b) Indemnification by Holder of Registrable Securities. Each Holder
---------------------------------------------------
agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, its officers who sign a Registration Statement and each person, if
any, who controls the Company (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against all losses
arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained
in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or arising
out of or based upon any omission of a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is
contained in any information relating to such Holder so furnished in writing by
such Holder to the Company expressly for use in such Registration Statement or
Prospectus. In no event shall the liability of any selling holder of Registrable
Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds
received by such holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise
to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. In case any proceeding
--------------------------------------
(including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any
person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two
preceding paragraphs, such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly
notify the person against whom such
14
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing, but failure so to
notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any
liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result
thereof. The indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall
retain counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such
proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to
such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party 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 party unless (i) the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention to such
counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to
actual or potential differing interests between them, or (iii) the indemnifying
party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of
commencement of the action. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall
not, in respect of the legal expenses or any indemnified party in connection
with any proceeding or related proceedings 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 parties under Section 5(a) or 5(b) hereof who
are parties to such proceeding or proceedings, and that all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. The indemnifying party 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 party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlements of any proceeding effected without its written
consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt
by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying
party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section
------------
5 is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 5(a) or 5(b) hereof in
respect of any Losses or is insufficient to hold such indemnified party
harmless, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such Losses, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party
15
or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other
hand or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party
or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net
proceeds from the initial placement of the Notes pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement. Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be
equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions received by them pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement and benefits received by any other Holders shall be
deemed to be equal to the value of receiving Notes registered under the
Securities Act. Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be
equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the
cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which
resulted in such Losses. The relative fault of the Holders on the one hand and
the Company on the other hand 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 Holders or by the Company and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Holders' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this paragraph are several in proportion to the respective number of
Registrable Securities they have sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, and
not joint.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
--------
allocation or by any other method or allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding this Section 5(d), an
indemnifying party that is a selling Holder of Registrable Securities shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such indemnifying party 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 Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity, contribution and expense reimbursement obligations of
the Company hereunder shall be in addition to any liability the Company may
otherwise have hereunder, under the Purchase Agreement or otherwise. The
provisions of this Section 5
16
shall survive so long as Registrable Securities remain outstanding,
notwithstanding any transfer of the Registrable Securities by any holder or any
termination of this Agreement.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Holder or any person controlling any Holder, or the Company, its officers or
directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) the sale of any
Registrable Securities by any Holder.
6. Information Requirements.
------------------------
(a) The Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and if at any time the Company is
not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any holder of
Registrable Securities, make publicly available other information so long as
necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the
Securities Act. The Company further covenants that it will cooperate with any
holder of Registrable Securities and take such further reasonable action as any
holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request (including, without
limitation, making such reasonable representations as any such holder may
reasonably request), all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities
Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and Rule 144A
under the Securities Act. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable
Securities, the Company shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such filing requirements. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 6 shall be deemed to require the Company to
register any of its securities under any section of the Exchange Act.
(b) The Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Exchange Act and shall comply with all other requirements set forth in
the instructions to Form S-3 in order to allow the Company to be eligible to
file registration statements on Form S-3.
7. Miscellaneous.
-------------
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company of its
--------
obligations under this Agreement, each holder of Registrable Securities, in
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including
recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights
under this Agreement. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be
adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason or a breach by it of any
of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event
of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive
the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
17
(b) No Conflicting Agreements. Except as set forth in the
-------------------------
Registration Rights Agreement dated April 10, 1993, as amended on August 3,
1995, the Company has not, as of the date hereof and shall not, on or after the
date of this Agreement, entered into any agreement with respect to its
securities which conflicts with the rights granted to the holders of Registrable
Securities in this Agreement. The Company represents and warrants that the
rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder do not in any
way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities
under any other agreements.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
----------------------
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of holders
of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities (for purposes of
such calculation, with holders of Common Stock deemed to be the holders of the
aggregate principal amount of Notes that have been converted into such Common
Stock). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the
provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly
affect the rights of other holders of Registrable Securities may be given by
holders of ar least a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold by such
holders; provided, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended,
--------
modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the
immediately preceding sentence.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
-------
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be deemed given (i) when
made, if made by hand delivery, (ii) upon confirmation, if made by telecopier or
(iii) one business day after being deposited with a reputable next-day courier,
postage prepaid, to the parties as follows:
(x) if to a holder of Registrable Securities, at the most current
address given by such holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of
Section 7(e);
(y) if to the Company, to:
Central Garden & Pet Company
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
18
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Old Federal Reserve Building
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
and
(z) if to the Special Counsel to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
or to such other address as such person may have furnished to the other persons
identified in this Section 7(d) in writing in accordance herewith.
Copies of all notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee under the
Indenture at the address specified in the Indenture.
(e) Owner of Registrable Securities. The Company will maintain, or
-------------------------------
will cause its registrar and transfer agent to maintain, a register with respect
to the Registrable Securities in which all transfers of Registrable Securities
of which the Company has received notice will be recorded. The Company may deem
and treat the person in whose name Registrable Securities are registered in such
register of the Company as the owner thereof for all purposes, including,
without limitation, the giving of notices under this Agreement.
(f) Approval of Holders. Whenever the consent or approval of holders
-------------------
of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such term is
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (other than the Initial Purchasers
or subsequent holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent holders are
deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such
Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent
or approval was given by the holders of such required percentage. For purposes
of calculating the consent or approval of Holders of a majority of the then
outstanding aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities, Registrable
Securities which
19
have been converted into shares of Common Stock shall be deemed to bear the
principal amount at which such securities were converted.
(g) Successors and Assigns. Any person who purchases any Registrable
----------------------
Securities from an Initial Purchaser shall be deemed, for purposes of this
Agreement, to be an assignee of such Initial Purchaser. The Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each
of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each holder
of any Registrable Securities.
(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be original and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(i) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
-------------
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS
MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICT OF LAWS.
(k) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
------------
this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated thereby, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to
find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the
same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or
restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the
parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants
and restrictions without including any of such which may be hereafter declared
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(l) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
----------------
final expression of their agreement and is intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein. Except as provided in the
Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, there are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein,
with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to
the securities sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
with respect to such subject matter.
20
(m) Attorneys' Fees. In any action or proceeding brought to enforce
---------------
any provision to this Agreement, or where any provision hereof is validly
asserted as a defense, the prevailing party, as determined by the court, shall
be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees in addition to any other
available remedy.
(n) Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto shall use all
------------------
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, do or
cause to be done all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable law, and execute and deliver such documents and other papers, as may
be required to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the other
documents contemplated hereby and consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(o) Termination. This Agreement and the obligations of the parties
-----------
hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the Effectiveness Period, except for
any liabilities or obligations under Sections 2 (d), 4 or 5 hereof, each of
which shall remain in effect in accordance with their terms.
21
(p) Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto shall use all
------------------
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, do or
cause to be done all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable law, and execute and deliver such documents and other papers, as may
be required to carry out
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
22
the provisions of this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby.
(q) Termination. This Agreement and the obligations of the parties
-----------
hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the Effectiveness Period, except for
any liabilities or obligations under Sections 2 (d), 4 or 5 hereof, each of
which shall remain in effect in accordance with their terms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
Accepted as of the date first above written:
ALEX. ▇▇▇▇▇ & SONS INCORPORATED
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES, INC.
By: Alex. ▇▇▇▇▇ & Sons Incorporated
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------
Authorized Signatory
23
