Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 2006

Registration No. 333-            

 


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

VS Holdings, Inc.    Delaware    5400    11-3664322
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)    (State of Incorporation)    (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.    New York    5400    13-2993785
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)   

(State of Incorporation)

   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

VS Direct Inc.    Delaware    5400    13-4289833
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)   

(State of Incorporation)

   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

2101 91 st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

(800) 223-1216

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 


Ronald M. Neifield, Esq.

The Vitamin Shoppe

Vice President and General Counsel

2101 91 st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

(800) 223-1216

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 


Copy to:

Vincent J. Pisano, Esq.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Citigroup Center

153 East 53 rd Street

New York, New York 10022

(212) 446-4800

Approximate Date Of Commencement Of Proposed Sale To The Public:     The exchange will occur as soon as practicable.

If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box:   ¨

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 
Title of Each Class of Securities
to Be Registered (1)
  

Amount To Be

Registered

  

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Offering Price (1)

  

Amount of

Registration Fee

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

   $ 165,000,000    $ 165,000,000    $ 17,655

Guarantees (2)

     N/A      N/A      N/A
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
(2) No separate consideration will be received for the guarantees, and no separate fee is payable, pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act.

THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.

 



Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. The prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Prospectus

Subject to Completion, Dated June 13, 2006

$165,000,000

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

LOGO

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

Offering Price: 100%

Set forth below is a summary of the terms of the notes offered hereby. For more details, see “Description of Exchange Notes.”

Offer for outstanding Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012, in the aggregate principal amount of $165,000,000 (which we refer to as the “Old Notes”) in exchange for up to $165,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (which we refer to as the “Exchange Notes” and, together with the Old Notes, the “notes”).

Terms of the Exchange Offer:

 

    Expires 5:00 p.m., New York City time,                     , 2006, unless extended.

 

    Not subject to any condition other than that the exchange offer does not violate applicable law or any interpretation of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

    We can amend or terminate the exchange offer.

 

    We will exchange all Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn.

 

    We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.

 

    The exchange of notes will not be taxable exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

    You may withdraw tendered outstanding Old Notes any time before the expiration of the exchange offer.

Terms of the Exchange Notes:

 

    The Exchange Notes will be second priority senior secured obligations of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

 

    The guarantees will be second priority senior secured obligations of the guarantors.

 

    The Exchange Notes mature on November 15, 2012. The Exchange Notes will bear interest, which will be payable semi-annually in cash, which will be set at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 7.5%, which will be reset quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.

 

    We may redeem the Exchange Notes in whole or in part from time to time. See “Description of Exchange Notes.”

 

    The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical to our outstanding Old Notes except for transfer restrictions and registration rights.

For a discussion of specific risks that you should consider before tendering your outstanding Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 in the exchange offer, see “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 13.

There is no public market for the Old Notes. However, you may trade the Old Notes in the Private Offering Resale and Trading through Automatic Linkages, or PORTAL SM , market.

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes. A broker dealer who acquired Old Notes as a result of market making or other trading activities may use this exchange offer prospectus, as supplemented or amended, in connection with any resales of the Exchange Notes.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Exchange Notes or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is [                    ], 2006


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Forward-Looking Statements

   ii

Certain Definitions and Market and Industry Data

   iii

Prospectus Summary

   1

Risk Factors

   13

The Exchange Offer

   25

Use of Proceeds

   31

Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Information

   32

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   35

Our Business

   56

Management

   69

Executive Compensation

   71

Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management And Related Stockholder Matters

   76

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

   78

Description of Our New Credit Facility

   80

Description of Exchange Notes

   82

Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences

   144

Plan of Distribution

   145

Legal Matters

   147

Experts

   147

Where You Can Find More Information

   147

Index To Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-1

Report Of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

 


As used in this prospectus and unless the context indicates otherwise, “notes” refers, collectively, to (a) our Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (which we refer to as the “Old Notes”) and (b) our Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (which we refer to as the “Exchange Notes”).

 

i


Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. As a general matter, forward-looking statements are those focused upon anticipated events or trends and expectations and beliefs relating to matters that are not historical in nature. The words “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate” or “anticipate” and similar expressions, as well as future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” and “could,” often identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, any of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These uncertainties and factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The following uncertainties and factors, among others (including those set forth under “Risk Factors”), could affect future performance and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements:

 

    unfavorable publicity or consumer perception of our products;

 

    the development and acceptance of our new product offerings;

 

    our continued ability to effectively manage and defend litigation matters pending, or asserted in the future, against us, including product liability claims;

 

    compliance with government regulations;

 

    our ability to maintain and to enter into key purchasing, supply and outsourcing relationships;

 

    changes in our raw material costs;

 

    increases in fuel prices;

 

    pricing of our products;

 

    the maturation of our stores opened since 2003;

 

    our ability to protect our brand name;

 

    our ability to renew our current leases and enter into new leases on terms acceptable to us;

 

    our ability to attract and retain quality management personnel; and

 

    the successful implementation of other strategic initiatives, including, without limitation, opening new stores and improving the functionality of our Web site.

TRADEMARKS

The Vitamin Shoppe ® and BodyTech ® are some of our registered trademarks. Other brand names or trademarks appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

ii


Table of Contents

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS AND MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

The following is a list of certain definitions that are used throughout the document.

 

Active customers

Frequent Buyer Program members who have purchased merchandise from us at least once in the past fifty-two weeks.

 

Comparable stores

Our retail stores that have been operating for over 411 days.

 

Frequent Buyer Program

Our no-fee customer loyalty program through which our customers earn points for every dollar they spend, which can be redeemed toward future purchases.

 

Low carb products

Weight management products which are low in carbohydrates.

 

Mature stores

Our retail stores opened prior to 2003.

 

Non-comparable stores

Our retail stores that have been operating for 410 or fewer days.

 

Predecessor Company

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. prior to the acquisition of our company by Bear Stearns Merchant Banking and other investors in November 2002.

 

SKU

Stock keeping unit, which is a particular product for inventory purposes.

 

Successor Company

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. after the acquisition of our company by Bear Stearns Merchant Banking and other investors in November 2002.

 

VMS

Vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products.

Some of the market and industry data and other statistical information used throughout this prospectus are based on independent industry publications including the May/June 2005 issue of the Nutrition Business Journal, government publications, reports by market research firms or other published independent sources. Some data are also based on our good faith estimates, which are derived from our review of internal surveys, as well as the independent sources referred to above. Although we believe these sources to be reliable, we have not independently verified the information and cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

 

iii


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary may not contain all of the information that you consider important in making your investment decision. You should read the entire prospectus including “Risk Factors” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes and other financial data before making an investment decision. As used herein, the “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. References to “VMS” mean vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products. This prospectus should be read in conjunction with the definitions set forth prior to this page in “Certain Definitions.”

Our Company

We are a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products. As of April 22, 2006, we operated 285 stores located in 29 states and the District of Columbia and sell direct to consumers through our nationally circulated catalog and our Web site, www.vitaminshoppe.com. We target the dedicated, well-informed VMS consumer and differentiate ourselves by providing our customers with an extensive selection of high quality products sold at competitive prices and value-added customer service. We offer our customers a selection of over 20,000 SKUs from over 400 national brands, including our best value Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech private label brands. Our broad product offering enables us to provide our customers with a selection of products that is not readily available at other specialty VMS retailers, supermarkets, chain drug stores or mass merchants, which we believe drives customer traffic and creates a loyal customer base.

Segment Information

We sell our products through two business segments: retail, which is our retail store format, and direct, which consists of our catalog and internet formats.

Retail . We believe we operate a unique retail store format in the VMS industry, which has been successful in diverse geographic and demographic markets, ranging from urban locations in New York City to suburban locations in Plantation, Florida and Manhattan Beach, California. Our stores carry a broad selection of VMS products and are staffed with highly experienced and knowledgeable associates who are able to educate our customers about product features and assist in product selection.

Since the beginning of 2003, we have aggressively pursued new store growth. During this period through Fiscal 2005, we opened 148 new stores, expanding our presence in our existing markets as well as entering new markets such as California, Texas and Illinois. Our new stores typically have reached sales more consistent with our mature store base over a three to four year time period.

Direct . Our direct segment consists of our catalog and internet operations from our Web site, www.vitaminshoppe.com. The direct segment enables us to service customers outside our retail markets and provides us with data that we use to assist us in the selection of future store locations.

Our catalog is mailed each month to approximately 160,000 catalog customers contained in our Frequent Buyer Program database. Our catalog is currently designed to appeal to the dedicated, well-informed VMS consumer and includes a broad assortment of approximately 12,000 to 14,000 of our most popular SKUs. Our Web site offers our customers online access to our full assortment of over 20,000 SKUs. In 2005, over 4.8 million customers visited our Web site placing over 450,000 orders. In the fourth quarter of 2005, we implemented numerous features and enhanced functionality to our Web site that we believe will simplify and improve our customers’ shopping experience. In addition, we mail out approximately 1.9 million catalogs throughout the year to prospective customers and non-active customers in our Frequent Buyer Program database.

 

1


Table of Contents

History

Our Company began as a single store in New York, New York in 1977. Our Vitamin Shoppe branded products were introduced in 1989. We were acquired in November 2002 by BSMB/Vitamin LLC, an affiliate of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking (“BSMB”) and other investors.

Industry

The U.S. nutritional supplements industry is large and highly fragmented. In 2004, no single industry participant accounted for more than 10% of total industry sales. Industry participants include specialty retailers, supermarkets, drugstores, mass merchants, multi-level marketing organizations, mail order companies and a variety of other smaller participants. The nutritional supplements sold through these channels are divided into the following major product categories: vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and weight management. Most supermarkets, drugstores and mass merchants have narrow nutritional supplement product offerings and less knowledgeable sales associates than specialty retailers. We believe that these industry participants’ share of the nutritional supplements market over the last five years has remained relatively constant.

The U.S. nutritional supplements industry was a $20.3 billion retail market in 2004. While the industry underwent a period of rapid expansion during the 1990s, and grew at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 9% between 1990 and 2004, industry sales growth slowed in 2004 due to a significant reduction in the weight management category as a result of a decline in demand for low carb products, the ban of ephedra based products in April 2004 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a reduction in major new product introductions. Despite recent market conditions, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, the market is projected to grow at a 3% to 5% compound annual growth rate between 2005 and 2008. Positive industry trends include an aging U.S. population, rising healthcare costs and the increased use of preventive measures and increasing focus on diet and fitness.

Competitive Strengths

We believe the following strengths have enabled us to achieve strong financial results relative to our competitors, and we are positioned to capitalize on the favorable demographic, healthcare and lifestyle trends affecting our industry:

Leading Market Positions . We are one of the leading specialty retailers of VMS products in the United States. Since our inception in 1977, we have competed successfully against every major retailer in the VMS industry. We believe our leading market positions are a result of our premium store locations, extensive product selection, value-added customer service and competitive pricing.

Extensive Product Selection with a Focus on Our Private Label Brand . We believe we market the broadest product selection in the VMS industry with over 20,000 SKUs from over 400 national brands, including our best value Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech private label brands. Our national brands include recognized brands such as Twinlab ® , Solgar ® , Country Life ® , Nature’s Way ® and Solaray ® , and brands that are less widely distributed such as Garden of Life ® , New Chapter ® , Enzymatic Therapy ® and Life Extension™. Our best value Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products, with over 1,200 SKUs, offer our customers an attractive alternative to higher-priced national brands and have become an established alternative to national branded products. In 2005, Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products accounted for approximately 28% of our net sales and generated a gross margin greater than that of the national brands we sell. Our broad product offering differentiates us from our competitors and enables us to offer our customers a selection of products for their health and wellness needs that we believe is not readily available at other specialty VMS retailers, supermarkets, chain drug stores or mass merchants. In addition, our broad product offering minimizes our dependence on any one product or vendor. In 2005, no single product sub-category accounted for more than 4% of our net sales.

 

2


Table of Contents

Premium Real Estate . We believe that our store locations are integral to our success. We target retail sites that are located in high traffic areas, have easy access and good visibility from major roadways and convenient parking. In addition, our store base is relatively young, minimizing near-term capital expenditure requirements. Our premium real estate locations serve as an effective form of new customer acquisition, thereby reducing the need for conventional advertising costs and the need to cluster stores to achieve economies.

High-Quality and Loyal Customer Base . Our customer base is mainly comprised of consumers who proactively manage their long-term health and wellness, are between the ages of 35 and 60 and have household incomes in excess of the national average. Through our Frequent Buyer Program we maintain a detailed customer database. We cultivate customer loyalty through targeted marketing programs and our low pricing strategy. In the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005, our active customers accounted for the vast majority of our net sales.

Value-Added Customer Service . We place a strong emphasis on employee training and customer service. Our stores and call center are staffed with highly experienced and knowledgeable associates, many of whom are regular and informed VMS consumers. To further educate our customers, our stores are equipped with “Health Notes,” a third-party health and wellness information database, as well as a library whereby our customers can freely read health related literature and borrow books for up to two weeks. To further improve and streamline our associate training program, we launched Vitamin Shoppe University in July 2005, a web-based interactive training program that provides initial and ongoing training to our associates along with skills evaluation and testing. In order to encourage our associates to learn more and provide greater assistance to our customers, we plan to offer additional compensation to our associates as they advance through the training program.

High Degree of Stable and Recurring Sales . We believe our loyal customer base results in stable and recurring sales. Our products typically have broad consumer appeal, are purchased by consumers interested in proactively managing their long-term health and wellness and have long life cycles.

Business Strategy

We intend to continue to pursue the following key strategies to drive customer traffic and grow our sales:

 

    enhance our customers’ shopping experience by continuing to offer a broad selection of VMS products and providing them with a convenient shopping experience, value-added customer service and low prices;

 

    utilize our extensive customer database to improve customer loyalty, facilitate direct marketing and increase cross-sell opportunities;

 

    continue to invest in associate training and provide employees with opportunities to grow within our Company;

 

    increase sales of our direct business segment by enhancing the features and functionality of our Web site and providing our customers with a more personalized shopping experience; and

 

    increase sales and profitability through the maturation of the 148 stores we opened since the beginning of 2003 through Fiscal 2005.

Risk Factors

You should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this prospectus and, in particular, you should evaluate the specific factors under “Risk Factors.” Certain key risk factors relating to our business and industry you should consider include that unfavorable consumer perception of our products could have a material

 

3


Table of Contents

adverse effect on our reputation, compliance with new and existing governmental regulations could increase our costs significantly and adversely affect our business, and we operate in a highly competitive industry, and our failure to compete effectively could adversely affect our sales and growth prospects. For more information, see “Risk Factors.”

Our Equity Sponsor

We were acquired in November 2002 by BSMB and other investors.

Our Corporate Structure

Our corporate structure is made up of four entities. VS Holdings, Inc., our parent holding company and a guarantor of the notes offered hereby, owns all of the common stock of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., the issuer of the notes. VS Holdings, Inc. has no operations. All of our operating assets are held by Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and its direct wholly owned subsidiary, VS Direct Inc., a guarantor of the notes. On June 12, 2006, VS Mergersub, Inc. then a wholly-owned subsidiary of VS Parent, then a wholly-owned subsidiary of VS Holdings, merged with and into VS Holdings, with VS Holdings being the surviving corporation. By operation of the merger, VS Holdings became a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of VS Parent. VS Parent, Inc. is not a registrant with respect to the notes offered hereby.

Additional Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 2101 91st Street, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047, and our telephone number is (800) 223-1216. Our Web site address is www.vitaminshoppe.com. Information contained on our Web site does not constitute part of this prospectus. Vitamin Shoppe was incorporated in 1978 in New York. Our predecessor companies began operations in 1977.

 

4


Table of Contents

PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

On November 15, 2005, we sold, through a private placement exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, $165,000,000 of our Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012, all of which are eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Notes. We refer to these notes as “Old Notes” in this prospectus.

Simultaneously with the private placement, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the Old Notes. Under the registration rights agreement, we are required to use our reasonable best efforts to cause a registration statement for substantially identical Notes, which will be issued in exchange for the Old Notes, to be filed within 210 days and to become effective on or within 270 days of issuance of the Old Notes. We refer to the Notes to be registered under this exchange offer registration statement as “Exchange Notes” and collectively with the Old Notes, we refer to them as the “Notes” in this prospectus. You may exchange your Old Notes for Exchange Notes in this exchange offer. You should read the discussion under the headings “—Summary of the Exchange Offer,” “The Exchange Offer” and “Description of the Exchange Notes” for further information regarding the Exchange Notes.

We did not register the Old Notes under the Securities Act or any state securities law, nor do we intend to after the exchange offer. As a result, the Old Notes may only be transferred in limited circumstances under the securities laws. If the holders of the Old Notes do not exchange their Old Notes in the exchange offer, they lose their right to have the Old Notes registered under the Securities Act, subject to certain limitations. Anyone who still holds Old Notes after the exchange offer may be unable to resell their Old Notes.

SUMMARY OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

THE EXCHANGE OFFER

 

Securities Offered

$165 million principal amount of Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012.

 

The Exchange Offer

We are offering to exchange the Old Notes for a like principal amount at maturity of the Exchange Notes. Old Notes may be exchanged only in integral principal at maturity multiples of $1,000. This exchange offer is being made pursuant to a registration rights agreement dated as of November 15, 2005 which granted the initial purchasers and any subsequent holders of the Old Notes certain exchange and registration rights. This exchange offer is intended to satisfy those exchange and registration rights with respect to the Old Notes. After the exchange offer is complete, you will no longer be entitled to any exchange or registration rights with respect to your Old Notes.

 

Expiration Date; Withdrawal of Tender

The exchange offer will expire 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on [                    ], 2006, or a later time if we choose to extend this exchange offer. You may withdraw your tender of Old Notes at any time prior to the expiration date. All outstanding Old Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be exchanged. Any Old Notes not accepted by us for exchange for any reason will be returned to you at our expense as promptly as possible after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

 

5


Table of Contents

Resales

We believe that you can offer for resale, resell and otherwise transfer the Exchange Notes without complying with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act if:

 

    you acquire the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of business:

 

    you are not participating, do not intend to participate, and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of the Exchange Notes;

 

    you are not an “affiliate” of ours, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act; and

 

    you are not a broker-dealer.

 

 

If any of these conditions is not satisfied and you transfer any Exchange Notes without delivering a proper prospectus or without qualifying for a registration exemption, you may incur liability under the Securities Act. We do not assume or indemnify you against this liability.

 

 

Each broker-dealer acquiring Exchange Notes issued for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, which it acquired through market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a proper prospectus when any Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer are transferred. A broker-dealer may use this prospectus for an offer to resell, a resale or other retransfer of the Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer.

 

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

Our obligation to accept for exchange, or to issue the Exchange Notes in exchange for, any Old Notes is subject to certain customary conditions relating to compliance with any applicable law, or any applicable interpretation by any staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any order of any governmental agency or court of law. We currently expect that each of the conditions will be satisfied and that no waivers will be necessary. See “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”

 

Procedures for Tendering Notes Held in the Form of Book-Entry Interests

The Old Notes were issued as global securities and were deposited upon issuance with Wilmington Trust Company which issued uncertificated depositary interests in those outstanding Old Notes, which represent a 100% interest in those Old Notes, to The Depositary Trust Company.

 

 

Beneficial interests in the outstanding Old Notes, which are held by direct or indirect participants in the Depository Trust Company, are shown on, and transfers of the Old Notes can only be made through, records maintained in book-entry form by The Depository Trust Company.

 

6


Table of Contents
 

You may tender your outstanding Old Notes by instructing your broker or bank where you keep the Old Notes to tender them for you. In some cases you may be asked to submit the BLUE-colored “Transmittal Letter” that may accompany this prospectus. By tendering your Old Notes you will be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed to be bound by the terms set forth under “The Exchange Offer.” Your outstanding Old Notes will be tendered in multiples of $1,000.

 

 

A timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of your outstanding Old Notes into the exchange agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company, under the procedure described in this prospectus under the heading “The Exchange Offer” must be received by the exchange agent on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

 

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

The exchange offer should not result in any income, gain or loss to the holders of old notes or to us for United States Federal Income Tax Purposes. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

Use of Proceeds

We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes in the exchange offer.

 

Exchange Agent

Wilmington Trust Company is serving as the exchange agent for the exchange offer.

 

PORTAL SM Market

There is no public market for the Old Notes. However, you may trade the Old Notes in the Private Offering Resale and Trading through Automatic Linkages, or PORTAL SM , market.

 

Shelf Registration Statement

In limited circumstances, holders of Old Notes may require us to register their Old Notes under a shelf registration statement.

 

7


Table of Contents

TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES

 

Issuer

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

 

Notes Offered

$165.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012.

 

Maturity

November 15, 2012.

 

Interest Payment Dates

Interest on the Exchange Notes will be set at a per annum rate equal to the three month LIBOR plus 7.5%, which will be reset quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2006.

 

Collateral

The Exchange Notes and the guarantees will be secured by a second priority security interest in the collateral granted to the collateral agent for the benefit of the holders of the notes and other future parity lien debt that may be issued pursuant to the terms of the indenture. These liens will be junior in priority to the liens on this same collateral securing our new credit facility, and to all other permitted prior liens. The liens securing priority lien obligations will be held by the priority lien collateral agent.

 

 

The collateral securing the Exchange Notes will be substantially all of our and the guarantors’ property and assets that secure our new credit facility, which excludes (i) any lease, license, contract, property right or agreement of ours or the guarantors, if and only for so long as the grant of a security interest under the security documents would result in a breach, termination or default under that lease, license, contract, property right or agreement; (ii) certain interests in real property owned or leased by us and the guarantors; (iii) all securities in any of our affiliates; and (iv) certain other limited exclusions. For more information, see “Description of Exchange Notes.”

 

Guarantees

The Exchange Notes will be jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by:

 

    VS Holdings, Inc., our parent company;

 

    VS Direct Inc., our only subsidiary; and

 

    all of our future restricted domestic subsidiaries.

 

Ranking

The Exchange Notes and the guarantees will be our and the guarantors’ second priority senior secured obligations. They will rank equally with all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness and will rank senior to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future subordinated indebtedness. The Exchange Notes and the guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all of our and the guarantors’ existing first priority senior secured indebtedness, to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness, including indebtedness under our new credit facility.

 

8


Table of Contents

Intercreditor Agreement

The trustee under the indenture governing the Exchange Notes and the agent under our new credit facility are parties to an intercreditor agreement as to the relative priorities of their respective security interests in our assets securing the Exchange Notes and any borrowings under our new credit facility and certain other matters relating to the administration of security interests. The terms of the intercreditor agreement are set forth under “Description of Exchange Notes—Intercreditor Agreement.”

 

Optional Redemption

We may, at our option, redeem some or all of the Exchange Notes at any time on or after November 15, 2007 at the redemption prices listed under “Description of Exchange Notes—Optional Redemption.”

 

 

Prior to November 15, 2007, we may, at our option, redeem up to 35% of the Exchange Notes with the proceeds of certain sales of our equity or equity of our parent company at the redemption price listed under “Description of Exchange Notes—Optional Redemption.” We may make the redemption only if, after the redemption, at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Notes issued remains outstanding.

 

Mandatory Repurchase Offer

If we sell certain assets, issue equity or experience specific kinds of changes in control, we must offer to repurchase the notes at the prices listed under “Description of Exchange Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders.”

 

Certain Covenants

The indenture governing the Exchange Notes will, among other things, restrict our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:

 

    incur additional debt;

 

    pay dividends and make distributions;

 

    make certain investments;

 

    repurchase stock;

 

    incur liens;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

    enter into sale and lease back transactions;

 

    merge or consolidate; and

 

    transfer or sell assets.

 

 

These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications. For more details, see “Description of Exchange Notes—Certain Covenants.”

 

Use of Proceeds

We will not receive any proceeds from the issues of the Exchange Notes in the exchange offer. We used the proceeds from the sale of the Old Notes and borrowings under our new credit facility to repay all of our and VS Holdings, Inc.’s existing indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

9


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this prospectus and, in particular, you should evaluate the specific factors under “Risk Factors.”

 

10


Table of Contents

SUMMARY HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth summary historical consolidated financial data for VS Holdings, Inc. as of the dates and for the periods indicated. Our fiscal years end on the last Saturday in December. The statement of operations data for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005, the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004, and the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003, and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this prospectus. The balance sheet data as of December 27, 2003 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus. The statement of operations data for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2006 and for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2005, and the balance sheet data as of April 1, 2006 have been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus, which, in our opinion, contain adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature, which we consider necessary to present fairly our financial position and results of operations at such dates and for such periods. The balance sheet data as of March 26, 2005 has been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus. Results of the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year.

The summary historical consolidated financial information below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and notes thereto included in this prospectus.

 

    Three Months Ended     Fiscal  
   

April 1,

2006

   

March 26,

2005

   

December 31,

2005

   

December 25,

2004

   

December 27,

2003

 
    (data presented in thousands, except for the number of stores)  

Statement of Operations Data:

         

Net sales

  $ 127,300     $ 110,734     $ 436,463     $ 387,357     $ 331,221  

Cost of goods sold

    84,611       71,031       290,243       258,223       215,009  
                                       

Gross profit

    42,689       39,703       146,220       129,134       116,212  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    33,784       32,961       128,313       113,758       95,710  
                                       

Income from operations

    8,905       6,742       17,907       15,376       20,502  

Extinguishment of debt and other (1)

    (366 )     —         11,573       —         —    

Interest expense, net

    5,375       4,479       19,386       16,348       17,172  
                                       

Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes

    3,896       2,263       (13,052 )     (972 )     3,330  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    1,280       921       (5,063 )     (361 )     1,659  
                                       

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

    2,616       1,342       (7,989 )     (611 )     1,671  

Cumulative effect of accounting change (2)

    —         2,280       2,280       —         (2,366 )
                                       

Net income (loss)

  $ 2,616     $ 3,622     $ (5,709 )   $ (611 )   $ (695 )
                                       

Other Financial Data:

         

EBITDA (3)

  $ 13,357     $ 15,107     $ 30,845     $ 38,199     $ 38,174  

Depreciation and amortization

    3,585       5,922       24,976       25,415       22,315  

Operating Data:

         

Number of stores (end of period)

    283       248       275       234       174  

Net sales per store (4)

  $ 367     $ 363     $ 1,317     $ 1,294     $ 1,394  

Comparable store sales growth (5)

    4.4 %     1.1 %     0.1 %     1.8 %     11.2 %

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (6)

    1.4 x     1.3 x     0.6 x     1.0 x     1.1 x

Balance Sheet Data:

         

Working capital

  $ 36,150     $ 33,705     $ 28,268     $ 27,281     $ 21,963  

Total assets

  $ 414,390     $ 395,469     $ 408,601     $ 390,460     $ 382,336  

Total debt

  $ 176,500     $ 160,474     $ 177,127     $ 159,336     $ 156,498  

Stockholders’ equity

  $ 151,401     $ 156,889     $ 147,855     $ 153,349     $ 153,930  

(1)

Extinguishment of debt and other for the three months ended April 1, 2006 of $0.4 million relates to our interest rate swap that we entered into in Fiscal 2005. The Fiscal 2005 amount includes $11.1 million of expenses related to the

 

11


Table of Contents
 

repayment of our previous debt upon our issuance of our Notes and $0.4 million in expense relating to our interest rate swap that we entered into in Fiscal 2005. The $11.1 million consists of $7.7 million of original issue discount related to the allocation of value to the warrants and Holdings Preferred Stock and $3.4 million of deferred financing costs from the previous debt.

(2) See Note 3 in Fiscal 2005 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements relating to the cumulative effect of accounting changes relating to costs included in inventory and deferred revenues on our frequent buyer program in Fiscal 2005 and Fiscal 2003, respectively.
(3) EBITDA represents, respectively, net income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax, interest expense, net and depreciation and amortization, including recognition of deferred rent. Since EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, it should not be considered as a performance measure prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as operating income, net income and cash flows from operating activities. We believe that EBITDA provides additional information of our operating performance and our ability to meet our future debt service, capital expenditure and working capital requirements. Furthermore, our executive compensation plans base incentive compensation payments on our EBITDA performance measured against budget. Other companies may define EBITDA differently, and as a result, our measure of EBITDA may not be directly comparable to EBITDA of other companies. In addition, the presentation of EBITDA and the components thereof does not comply with regulations published by the SEC. The table below includes a reconciliation from net income (loss) to EBITDA.
(4) Net sales per store is calculated by dividing retail net sales by the number of stores open at the end of the period.
(5) A store is included in comparable store sales after four hundred and eleven days of operation.
(6) We have calculated the ratio of earnings to fixed charges by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For the purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” is defined as income (loss) before income taxes and fixed charges. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expense, amortization of debt expense plus one-third of rent expense that we believe to be representative of the interest factored in those rentals.

The following is a reconciliation of net income (loss), as determined in accordance with GAAP, to EBITDA (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended    Fiscal  
    

April 1,

2006

  

March 26,

2005

  

December 31,

2005

   

December 25,

2004

   

December 27,

2003

 

Statement of Operations Data:

            

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,616    $ 3,622    $ (5,709 )   $ (611 )   $ (695 )

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     1,280      921      (5,063 )     (361 )     1,659  

Interest expense, net (a)

     5,375      4,479      19,386       16,348       17,172  

Depreciation and amortization, including deferred
rent (b)

     4,086      6,085      22,231       22,823       20,038  
                                      

EBITDA (c)

   $ 13,357    $ 15,107    $ 30,845     $ 38,199     $ 38,174  
                                      

(a) Interest expense, net does not include the $11.1 million of extinguishment of debt recorded in Fiscal 2005.
(b) Excludes amortization of deferred financing fees and original issue discount, which are included in “interest expense, net” in this table.
(c) EBITDA results for the three months ended March 26, 2005 and Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2005 includes after tax income of $2.3 million resulting from a change in accounting policy relating to costs included in inventory. EBITDA results for Fiscal 2003 includes after tax expense of $2.4 million resulting from a change in accounting policy relating to a change in deferred revenues on our frequent buyer program.

 

12


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Any investment in the notes involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following information about these risks, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before buying the notes offered hereby. Additional risks or uncertainties presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also impair our business operations.

Risks Relating to the Exchange Notes

Because there is no public market for the Exchange Notes, you may not be able to sell your Exchange Notes.

The Exchange Notes will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, but will constitute a new issue of securities, and uncertainty exists with regard to:

 

    the liquidity of any trading market that may develop;

 

    the ability of holders to sell their Exchange Notes; or

 

    the price at which the holders would be able to sell their Exchange Notes.

The Exchange Notes might trade a higher or lower prices than their principal amount or purchase price, depending on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and our financial performance.

Any market-making activity will be subject to the limits imposed by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and may be limited during the exchange offer or the pendency of an applicable shelf registration statement. An active trading market might not exist for the Exchange Notes and any trading market that does develop might not be liquid.

In addition, any holder of Old Notes who tenders in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes may be deemed to have received restricted securities, and if so, will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.

Your Old Notes will not be accepted for exchange if you fail to follow the exchange offer procedures.

We will issue Exchange Notes pursuant to this exchange offer only after a timely receipt of your Old Notes (including timely notation in book-entry form). Therefore, if you want to tender your Old Notes, please allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery. If we do not receive your Old Notes by the expiration date of the exchange offer, we will not accept your Old Notes for exchange. We are under no duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of Old Notes for exchange. If there are defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of Old Notes, we will not accept your Old Notes for exchange.

If you do not exchange your Old Notes, your Old Notes will continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions and you may be unable to sell your Old Notes.

We did not register the Old Notes, nor do we intend to do so following the exchange offer. The Old Notes that are not tendered will, therefore, continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions and may be transferred only in limited circumstances under the securities laws. If you do not exchange your Old Notes, you will be subject to existing transfer restrictions. As a result, if you hold Old Notes after the exchange offer, you may be unable to sell your Old Notes. If a large number of outstanding Old Notes are exchanged for Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer, it may be difficult for holders of outstanding Old Notes that are not exchanged in the exchange offer to sell their Old Notes, since those Old Notes may not be offered or sold unless they are registered or there are exemptions from registration requirements under the Securities Act or state laws

 

13


Table of Contents

that apply to them. In addition, if there are only a small number of Old Notes outstanding, there may not be a very liquid market in those Old Notes. There may be few investors that will purchase unregistered securities in which there is not a liquid market.

If you exchange your Old Notes, you may not be able to resell the Exchange Notes you receive in the exchange offer without registering them and delivering a prospectus.

You may not be able to resell Exchange Notes you receive in the exchange offer without registering those Exchange Notes or delivering a prospectus. Based on interpretations by the Commission in no-action letters, we believe, with respect to Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer, that:

 

    holders who are not “affiliates” of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act;

 

    holders who acquire their Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of business;

 

    holders who do not engage in, intend to engage in, or have arrangements to participate in a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes; and

 

    are not broker-dealers

do not have to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

Holders described in the preceding sentence must tell us in writing at our request that they meet these criteria. Holders that do not meet these criteria could not rely on interpretations of the SEC in no-action letters, and will have to register the Exchange Notes they receive in the exchange offer and deliver a prospectus for them. In addition, holders that are broker-dealers may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of Exchange Notes acquired in the exchange offer. Holders that are broker-dealers must acknowledge that they acquired their outstanding Exchange Notes in market-making activities or other trading activities and must deliver a prospectus when they resell Exchange Notes they acquire in the exchange offer in order not to be deemed an underwriter.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry

Unfavorable publicity or consumer perception of our products and any similar products distributed by other companies could cause fluctuations in our operating results and could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, resulting in decreased sales.

We are highly dependent upon consumer perception regarding the safety and quality of our products, as well as similar products distributed by other companies. Consumer perception of products can be significantly influenced by adverse publicity in the form of published scientific research, national media attention or other publicity, whether or not accurate, that associates consumption of our products or any other similar products with illness or other adverse effects, or questions the benefits of our or similar products or that claims that any such products are ineffective. A product may be received favorably, resulting in high sales associated with that product that may not be sustainable as consumer preferences change. Future scientific research or publicity could be unfavorable to our industry or any of our particular products and may not be consistent with earlier favorable research or publicity. Such research or publicity could have a material adverse effect on our ability to generate sales. For example, sales of some of our products, such as those containing ephedra, were initially strong, but decreased as a result of negative publicity and an ultimate ban by the FDA. As a result of the above factors, our operations may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year to year.

Our failure to appropriately respond to changing consumer preferences and demand for new products and services could significantly harm our customer relationships and sales.

Our business is subject to changing consumer trends and preferences. Our failure to accurately predict or react to these trends could negatively impact consumer opinion of us as a source for the latest products, which in

 

14


Table of Contents

turn could harm our customer relationships and cause us to lose market share. The success of our new product offerings depends upon a number of factors, including our ability to:

 

    anticipate customer needs;

 

    innovate and develop new products;

 

    successfully commercialize new products in a timely manner;

 

    price our products competitively;

 

    deliver our products in sufficient volumes and in a timely manner; and

 

    differentiate our product offerings from those of our competitors.

If we do not introduce new products or make enhancements to meet the changing needs of our customers in a timely manner, some of our products could be rendered obsolete, which could have a material adverse effect on our sales and operating results.

We may incur material product liability claims, which could increase our costs and adversely affect our reputation, sales and operating income.

As a retailer and direct marketer of products designed for human consumption, we are subject to product liability claims if the use of our products is alleged to have resulted in injury or include inadequate instructions for use or inadequate warnings concerning possible side effects and interactions with other substances. Most of our products are vitamins, minerals, herbs and other ingredients that are classified as foods or dietary supplements and are not subject to pre-market regulatory approval in the United States. Our products could contain contaminated substances, and some of our products contain ingredients that do not have long histories of human consumption. Previously unknown adverse reactions resulting from human consumption of these ingredients could occur. While we attempt to manage these risks by obtaining indemnification agreements and insurance, our insurance policies may not be sufficient and/or counterparties may not satisfy their commitments to us. A product liability claim against us could result in increased costs and could adversely affect our reputation with our customers, which in turn could adversely affect our financial performance.

The insurance industry has become more selective in offering some types of coverage and we may not be able to obtain insurance coverage in the future.

The insurance industry has become more selective in offering some types of insurance, such as product liability and product recall insurance. Our current insurance program is consistent with both our past level of coverage and our risk management policies. Comparable insurance coverage at favorable terms may not be available to us in the future.

Compliance with new and existing governmental regulations could increase our costs significantly and adversely affect our operating income.

The processing, formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising and distribution of our products are subject to federal laws and regulation by one or more federal agencies, including the FDA, FTC, the DOA and the EPA. These activities are also regulated by various state, local and international laws and agencies of the states and localities in which our products are sold. Regulations may prevent or delay the introduction, or require the reformulation, of our products, which could result in lost sales and increased costs to us. The FDA may not accept the evidence of safety for any new ingredients that we may want to market, may determine that a particular product or product ingredient presents an unacceptable health risk, may determine that a particular statement of nutritional support on our products, or that we want to use on our products, is an unacceptable drug claim or an unauthorized version of a food “health claim,” or the FDA or the FTC may determine that particular claims are not adequately supported by available scientific evidence. Any such regulatory determination would

 

15


Table of Contents

prevent us from marketing particular products or using certain statements on our products which could adversely affect our sales of those products. The FDA also could require us to remove a particular product from the market. For example, in April 2004, the FDA banned the sale of products containing ephedra. We stopped selling ephedra-based products in June 2003. Sales of products containing ephedra amounted to approximately $10.9 million, or 4% of our net sales, in 2002. Any recall or removal of products we sell could result in additional costs to us and the loss of future sales from any products that we are required to remove from the market. Any such product recalls or removals could also lead to liability and substantial costs. Delayed product introduction, product recalls or similar issues as a result of governmental regulation may arise from time to time, which may have a material adverse effect on our sales and operating results.

In addition, from time to time, Congress, the FDA, the FTC or other federal, state, local or foreign legislative and regulatory authorities may impose additional laws or regulations that apply to us, repeal laws or regulations that we consider favorable to us or impose more stringent interpretations of current laws or regulations. We are not able to predict the nature of such future laws, regulations, repeals or interpretations or to predict the effect additional governmental regulation, when and if it occurs, would have on our business in the future. Such developments could require reformulation of certain products to meet new standards, recalls or discontinuance of certain products not able to be reformulated, additional record-keeping requirements, increased documentation of the properties of certain products, additional or different labeling, additional scientific substantiation, adverse event reporting or other new requirements. Any such developments could increase our costs significantly and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, legislation has been introduced in Congress to, among other things, impose substantial new regulatory requirements for dietary supplements, including adverse event reporting, post-market surveillance requirements, FDA market reviews of dietary supplement ingredients, safety testing and records inspection. If enacted, new legislation could raise our costs and negatively impact our business. In addition, the FDA may adopt the proposed rules on GMP in manufacturing, packaging, or holding dietary ingredients and dietary supplements, which will apply to the products we distribute. These regulations will require dietary supplements to be prepared, packaged and held in compliance with stricter rules, and will require quality control provisions similar to those in the GMP regulations. We or our third-party manufacturers may not be able to comply with the new rules without incurring additional expenses, which could be significant.

We rely on contract manufacturers to produce all of the Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products we sell. Disruptions in our contract manufacturers’ systems or losses of manufacturing certifications could adversely affect our sales and customer relationships.

Our contract manufacturers produce 100% of our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products. Any significant disruption in those operations for any reason, such as regulatory requirements and loss of certifications, power interruptions, fires, hurricanes, war or threats of terrorism could adversely affect our sales and customer relationships.

A shortage in the supply of key raw materials could adversely affect our business.

Our products are composed of certain key raw materials. If the prices of these raw materials were to increase significantly, it could result in a significant increase to us in the prices our contract manufacturers and third-party manufacturers charge us for our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products and third-party products. Raw material prices may increase in the future and we may not be able to pass on such increases to our customers. A significant increase in the price of raw materials that cannot be passed on to customers could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if we no longer are able to obtain products from one or more of our suppliers on terms reasonable to us or at all, our revenues could suffer. We currently purchase approximately 13% of our total merchandise from Nature’s Value, one of the suppliers of our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products. Events such as the threat of terrorist attacks or war, or the perceived threat thereof, may also have a significant impact on raw material prices and transportation costs for our products.

 

16


Table of Contents

We rely on a single warehouse and distribution facility to distribute all of the products we sell. Disruptions to our warehouse and distribution facility or an increase in fuel costs could adversely affect our business.

Our warehouse and distribution operations are concentrated in a single location adjacent to our corporate headquarters in New Jersey. Any significant disruption in our distribution center operations for any reason, such as a flood, fire or hurricane, could adversely affect our product distributions and sales until such time as we are able to secure an alternative distribution method. Additionally, increasing fuel costs may adversely affect our results of operations in that the costs of our sales may increase as we incur fuel costs in connection with the transportation of goods from our warehouse and distribution facility to our stores.

Our new store base, or any stores opened in the future, may not achieve sales and operating levels consistent with our mature store base on a timely basis or at all. In addition, our growth strategy includes the addition of a significant number of new stores each year. We may not be able to successfully implement this strategy on a timely basis or at all.

Since the beginning of 2003, we have aggressively pursued new store growth by opening 148 new stores through Fiscal 2005 in existing and new markets. Historically, our new stores have reached sales that are consistent with our mature stores over the course of a three to four year period. New stores opened since the beginning of 2003, or any new stores to be opened in the future, may not achieve sales and operating levels consistent with our mature store base in this time frame or at all. The failure of our new store base to achieve sales and operating levels consistent with our mature store base on a timely basis will have an adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

In addition, our growth continues to depend, in part, on our ability to open and operate new stores successfully. The success of this strategy depends upon, among other things, the identification of suitable sites for store locations, the negotiation of acceptable lease terms, the hiring, training and retention of competent sales personnel, and the effective management of inventory to meet the needs of new and existing stores on a timely basis. Our proposed expansion will also place increased demands on our operational, managerial and administrative resources. These increased demands could cause us to operate our business less effectively, which in turn could cause deterioration in the financial performance of our existing stores. Further, our new store openings may result in reduced net sales volumes in the direct channel, as well as in our existing stores in those markets. We expect to fund our expansion through cash flow from operations and, if necessary, by borrowings under our new credit facility. If we experience a decline in performance, we may slow or discontinue store openings. If we fail to successfully implement these strategies, our financial condition and operating results may be adversely affected.

We operate in a highly competitive industry. Our failure to compete effectively could adversely affect our sales and growth prospects.

The U.S. nutritional supplements retail industry is a large and highly fragmented industry. In 2004, no single industry participant accounted for more than 10% of total industry sales. We compete primarily against other specialty retailers, supermarkets, drugstores, mass merchants, multi-level marketing organizations and mail order companies. This market is highly sensitive to the introduction of new products, which may rapidly capture a significant share of the market. As certain products become more mainstream, we experience increased competition for those products. For example, as the trend in favor of low carb products developed, we experienced increased competition for our low carb products from supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchants and other food companies. Increased competition from companies that distribute through retail or wholesale channels could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Certain of our competitors may have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. In addition, our competitors may be more effective and efficient in introducing new products. We may not be able to compete effectively, and any of the factors listed above may cause price reductions, reduced margins and losses of our market share.

 

17


Table of Contents

If we fail to protect our brand name, competitors may adopt tradenames that dilute the value of our brand name.

We may be unable or unwilling to strictly enforce our trademark in each jurisdiction in which we do business. In addition, because of the differences in foreign trademark laws concerning proprietary rights, our trademarks may not receive the same degree of protection in foreign countries as they do in the United States. Also, we may not always be able to successfully enforce our trademarks against competitors, or against challenges by others. Our failure to successfully protect our trademarks could diminish the value and efficacy of our past and future marketing efforts, and could cause customer confusion, which could, in turn, adversely affect our sales and profitability. Moreover, we may be subject to intellectual property litigation and infringement claims, which could cause us to incur significant expenses or prevent us from selling or using some aspect of our products.

Our business could be adversely affected if it is unable to successfully negotiate favorable lease terms.

As of April 22, 2006, we had leased 285 stores along with our corporate headquarters and distribution facility. The store leases are generally for a term of ten years and we have options to extend most leases for a minimum of five years. Our corporate headquarters and distribution facility has a 12 year lease term with two five year renewals. Our business, financial condition, and operating results could be adversely affected if we are unable to continue to negotiate profitable lease and renewal terms.

Our success depends on our executive officers and other key personnel.

Our future success depends to a significant degree on the skills, experience and efforts of our executive officers and other key personnel. The loss of the services of any of our executive officers, particularly Thomas A. Tolworthy, our Chief Executive Officer, could have a material adverse effect on our operations. Our future success will also depend on our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and a failure to attract and retain new qualified personnel could have an adverse effect on our operations. We do not currently maintain key person life insurance policies with respect to our executive officers or key personnel.

Risks Relating to the Offering

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under the notes.

Following the offering of the Old Notes, we have a significant amount of indebtedness. Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences to you. For example, it could:

 

    make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the notes;

 

    increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic, industry and competitive conditions;

 

    require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, research and development efforts and other general corporate purposes;

 

    limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

 

    place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and

 

    limit our ability to borrow additional funds.

Despite current indebtedness levels, we and the guarantors may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial leverage.

Subject to specified limitations, the indenture governing the notes and the credit agreement governing our new credit facility permit us and the guarantors to incur substantial additional debt, including debt secured by

 

18


Table of Contents

first or second priority security interests in the collateral that secures the notes. Any additional indebtedness incurred under our new credit facility in accordance with the terms of the indenture would rank senior to the notes and the guarantees to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such borrowings. If we or the guarantors incur additional debt, risks described in the previous risk factor could increase. We expect to have a minimum of $15.0 million of availability under our new credit facility (subject to increase) at the completion of this offering and the initial borrowings thereunder as described in “Use of Proceeds.” See “Description of Other Indebtedness” and “Description of Exchange Notes—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Indebtedness” for additional information.

To service our indebtedness, we will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control.

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including the notes, and to fund our operations will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

Our business may not continue to generate sufficient cash flow from operations and future borrowings may not be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness, including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, including the notes on or before maturity. We may not be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, including the notes, on acceptable terms or at all.

Covenant restrictions under our indebtedness may limit our ability to operate our business.

The indenture governing the notes and our new credit facility contain, among other things, covenants that may restrict our and our subsidiaries’ ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities. The indenture restricts, among other things, our and our subsidiaries’ ability to:

 

    incur additional indebtedness;

 

    incur indebtedness senior to the notes, but junior to other debt;

 

    make restricted payments;

 

    pay certain dividends or make other distributions;

 

    incur certain liens;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

    merge or consolidate or transfer and sell assets.

These restrictions may limit our ability to operate our businesses and may prohibit or limit our ability to enhance our operations or take advantage of potential business opportunities as they arise. The breach of any of these covenants by us or the failure by us to meet any of these conditions could result in a default under any or all of such indebtedness. Our ability to continue to comply with such agreements may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. In addition, upon the occurrence of an event of default under our debt agreements, all of the amounts outstanding thereunder, together with accrued interest, could become immediately due and payable.

An increase in short-term interest rates could adversely affect our cash flows.

Any increase in short-term interest rates would result in higher interest costs and could have an adverse effect on our business. While we may seek to use interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments to hedge portions of our floating-rate exposure, we may not be successful in obtaining hedges on acceptable terms or at all.

 

19


Table of Contents

The collateral securing the notes is subject to control by creditors with first priority liens. If there is a default, the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to repay both the first priority creditors and the holders of the notes.

The notes are secured on a second priority basis by substantially all of the collateral securing our new credit facility on a first priority basis. In addition, under the terms of the indenture governing the notes, we will be permitted in the future to incur additional indebtedness and other obligations that may share in the second priority liens on the collateral securing the notes, and in certain circumstances, in the first priority liens on the collateral securing our new credit facility.

The holders of obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral will be entitled to receive proceeds from any realization of the collateral to repay their obligations in full before the holders of the notes and other obligations secured by second priority liens will be entitled to any recovery from the collateral. In the event of a foreclosure, the proceeds from the sale of all of such collateral may not be sufficient to satisfy the amounts outstanding under the notes and other obligations secured by the second priority liens, if any, after payment in full of all obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral. If such proceeds were not sufficient to repay amounts outstanding under the notes, then holders of the notes (to the extent not repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the collateral) would only have an unsecured claim against our remaining assets, which claim will rank equal in priority to the unsecured claims with respect to any unsatisfied portion of the obligations secured by the first priority liens and our other unsecured senior indebtedness. Under the indenture, we could also incur additional indebtedness secured by first priority liens and second priority liens so long as such first and second priority liens are securing indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the covenants described under “Description of Exchange Notes” and certain other conditions are met. Our ability to designate future debt as either first priority secured or second priority secured and, in either event, to enable the holders thereof to share in the collateral on either a priority basis or a pari passu basis with holders of the notes and our new credit facility, may have the effect of diluting the ratio of the value of such collateral to the aggregate amount of the obligations secured by the collateral.

It may be difficult to realize the value of the collateral securing the notes.

The collateral securing the notes will be subject to any and all exceptions, defects, encumbrances, liens and other imperfections as may be accepted by the trustee for the notes and any other creditors that also have the benefit of first liens on the collateral securing the notes from time to time, whether on or after the date the notes are issued. The initial purchasers have neither analyzed the effect of, nor participated in any negotiations relating to such exceptions, defects, encumbrances, liens and other imperfections. The existence of any such exceptions, defects, encumbrances, liens and other imperfections could adversely affect the value of the collateral securing the notes as well as the ability of the collateral agent to realize or foreclose on such collateral.

No appraisals of any collateral have been prepared in connection with this offering. The value of the collateral at any time will depend on market and other economic conditions, including the availability of suitable buyers. By their nature, some or all of the pledged assets may be illiquid and may have no readily ascertainable market value. The fair market value of the collateral as of the date of this prospectus may not exceed the principal amount of the debt secured thereby. The value of the assets pledged as collateral for the notes could be impaired in the future as a result of changing economic conditions, our failure to implement our business strategy, competition and other future trends. In the event that a bankruptcy case is commenced by or against us, if the value of the collateral is less than the amount of principal and accrued and unpaid interest on the notes and all other senior secured obligations, interest may cease to accrue on the notes from and after the date the bankruptcy petition is filed.

The security interest of the collateral agent will be subject to practical problems generally associated with the realization of security interests in collateral. For example, the collateral agent may need to obtain the consent of a third party to obtain or enforce a security interest in a contract. The collateral agent may not be able to obtain

 

20


Table of Contents

any such consent. The consents of any third parties may not be given when required to facilitate a foreclosure on such assets. Accordingly, the collateral agent may not have the ability to foreclose upon those assets and the value of the collateral may significantly decrease.

The lien-ranking provisions set forth in the indenture and the intercreditor agreement will substantially limit the rights of the holders of the notes with respect to the collateral securing the notes.

The rights of the holders of the notes with respect to the collateral securing the notes will be substantially limited pursuant to the terms of the lien-ranking provisions set forth in the indenture and the intercreditor agreement. Under those lien-ranking provisions, at any time that obligations that have the benefit of the first priority liens are outstanding, any actions that may be taken in respect of the collateral, including the ability to cause the commencement of enforcement proceedings against the collateral and to control the conduct of such proceedings, and the approval of amendments to, releases of collateral from the lien of, and waivers of past defaults under, the collateral documents, will be at the direction of the holders of the obligations secured by the first priority liens. The trustee, on behalf of the holders of the notes, will not have the ability to control or direct such actions, even if the rights of the holders of the notes are adversely affected. Additional releases of collateral from the second priority lien securing the notes are permitted under some circumstances.

Your rights in the collateral may be adversely affected by the failure to perfect security interests in collateral that is controlled by first priority lienholders.

Applicable law requires that a security interest in certain tangible and intangible assets can only be properly perfected and its priority retained through certain actions undertaken by the secured party. The first priority liens in the collateral securing the notes may not be perfected with respect to the claims or the notes if we are not able to take the actions necessary to perfect any of these liens on or prior to the date of the indenture. There can be no assurance that the lenders under the new credit facility will have taken all actions necessary to create properly perfected security interests in the collateral securing the notes, which, as a result of the intercreditor agreement, may result in the loss of the priority of the security interest in favor of the noteholders to which they would have been entitled as a result of such non-perfection.

Rights of holders of notes in the collateral may be adversely affected by the failure to perfect security interests in certain collateral acquired in the future.

The security interest in the collateral securing the notes includes assets of the Company and of the guarantors, both tangible and intangible, whether now owned or acquired or arising in the future. Applicable law requires that certain property and rights acquired after the grant of a general security interest, such as real property, equipment subject to a certificate and certain proceeds, can only be perfected at the time such property and rights are acquired and identified. The Company and the guarantors are not obligated to perfect the noteholders’ security interest in specified collateral. There can be no assurance that the trustee or the collateral agent will monitor, or that we will inform the trustee or the collateral agent of, the future acquisition of property and rights that constitute collateral, and that the necessary action will be taken to properly perfect the security interest in such after-acquired collateral. The collateral agent for the notes has no obligation to monitor the acquisition of additional property or rights that constitute collateral or the perfection of any security interest. Such failure may result in the loss of the security interest in the collateral or the priority of the security interest in favor of the notes against third parties.

Bankruptcy laws may limit your ability to realize value from the collateral.

The right of the collateral agent to repossess and dispose of the collateral upon the occurrence of an event of default under the indenture governing the notes is likely to be significantly impaired by applicable bankruptcy law if another bankruptcy case were to be commenced by or against us before the collateral agent repossessed and disposed of the collateral. Upon the commencement of a case under the bankruptcy code, a secured creditor

 

21


Table of Contents

such as the collateral agent is prohibited from repossessing its security from a debtor in a bankruptcy case, or from disposing of security repossessed from such debtor, without bankruptcy court approval, which may not be given. Moreover, the bankruptcy code permits the debtor to continue to retain and use collateral even though the debtor is in default under the applicable debt instruments, provided that the secured creditor is given “adequate protection.” The meaning of the term “adequate protection” may vary according to circumstances, but it is intended in general to protect the value of the secured creditor’s interest in the collateral as of the commencement of the bankruptcy case and may include cash payments or the granting of additional security if and at such times as the bankruptcy court in its discretion determines that the value of the secured creditor’s interest in the collateral is declining during the pendency of the bankruptcy case. A bankruptcy court may determine that a secured creditor may not require compensation for a diminution in the value of its collateral if the value of the collateral exceeds the debt it secures.

In view of the lack of a precise definition of the term “adequate protection” and the broad discretionary power of a bankruptcy court, it is impossible to predict:

 

    how long payments under the notes could be delayed following commencement of a bankruptcy case;

 

    whether or when the collateral agent could repossess or dispose of the collateral;

 

    the value of the collateral at the time of the bankruptcy petition; or

 

    whether or to what extent holders of the notes would be compensated for any delay in payment or loss of value of the collateral through the requirement of “adequate protection.”

In addition, the intercreditor agreement provides that, in the event of a bankruptcy, the trustee and the collateral agent may not object to a number of important matters following the filing of a bankruptcy petition so long as any first lien debt is outstanding. After such a filing, the value of the collateral securing the notes could materially deteriorate and you would be unable to raise an objection. The right of the holders of obligations secured by first priority liens on the collateral to foreclose upon and sell the collateral upon the occurrence of an event of default also would be subject to limitations under applicable bankruptcy laws if we or any of our subsidiaries become subject to another bankruptcy proceeding.

Any disposition of the collateral during a bankruptcy case would also require permission from the bankruptcy court. Furthermore, in the event a bankruptcy court determines the value of the collateral is not sufficient to repay all amounts due on first priority lien debt and, thereafter, the notes, the holders of the notes would hold a secured claim to the extent of the value of the collateral to which the holders of the notes are entitled and unsecured claims with respect to such shortfall. The bankruptcy code only permits the payment and accrual of post-petition interest, costs and attorney’s fees to a secured creditor during a debtor’s bankruptcy case to the extent the value of its collateral is determined by the bankruptcy court to exceed the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured by the collateral.

Any future pledge of collateral might be avoidable in bankruptcy.

Any future pledge of collateral in favor of the collateral agent, including pursuant to security documents delivered after the date of the indenture, might be avoidable by the pledgor (as debtor in possession) or by its trustee in bankruptcy if certain events or circumstances exist or occur, including, among others, if the pledgor is insolvent at the time of the pledge, the pledge permits the holders of the notes to receive a greater recovery than if the pledge had not been given and a bankruptcy proceeding in respect of the pledgor is commenced within 90 days following the pledge, or, in certain circumstances, a longer period.

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance the change of control offer required by the indenture.

Upon the occurrence of certain specific kinds of change of control events, we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and

 

22


Table of Contents

liquidated damages, if any, to the date of repurchase. The source of funds for that purchase of notes will be our available cash or cash generated from our subsidiary’s operations or other potential sources, including borrowings, sales of assets or sales of equity. Sufficient funds from such sources may not be available at the time of any change of control to make required repurchases of notes tendered. In addition, the terms of our new credit facility will limit our ability to repurchase your notes and will provide that certain change of control events will constitute an event of default thereunder. Our future debt agreements may contain similar restrictions and provisions. If the holders of the notes exercise their right to require us to repurchase all of the notes upon a change of control, the financial effect of this repurchase could cause a default under our other debt, even if the change of control itself would not cause a default. Accordingly, it is possible that we will not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of control to make the required repurchase of our other debt and the notes or that restrictions in our new credit facility and the indenture will not allow such repurchases. In addition, certain corporate events, such as leveraged recapitalizations that would increase the level of our indebtedness, would not constitute a “Change of Control” under the indenture. See “Description of Exchange Notes—Change of Control” and “Description of Other Indebtedness” for additional information.

The notes and the guarantees may not be enforceable because of fraudulent conveyance laws.

The notes may be subject to review under U.S. federal bankruptcy law or relevant state fraudulent conveyance laws if a bankruptcy case or lawsuit is commenced by or on behalf of our unpaid creditors. Generally, under these laws, if in such a case or lawsuit a court were to find that at the time we issued the notes:

 

    we issued the notes with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding current or future creditors; or

 

    we received less than reasonably equivalent value of fair consideration for issuing the notes, and we:

 

    were insolvent or were rendered insolvent by reason of the issuance of the notes;

 

    were engaged, or were about to engage, in a business or transaction for which our remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital to carry on our business; or

 

    intended to incur, or believed that we would incur indebtedness or other obligation beyond the ability to pay such indebtedness or obligation as it matured (as all of the foregoing terms are defined in or interpreted under the relevant fraudulent transfer or conveyance statutes);

then the court could void the notes, or subordinate the amounts owing under the notes to our presently existing or future indebtedness or take other actions detrimental to you.

The measure of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing considerations will vary depending upon the law of the jurisdiction that is being applied in any such proceeding. Generally, a company would be considered insolvent if, at the time it incurred indebtedness:

 

    it could not pay its debt or contingent liabilities as they become due;

 

    the sum of its debts (including contingent liabilities) is greater than its assets, at fair valuation; or

 

    the present fair saleable value of its assets is less than the amount required to pay the probable liability on its total existing debts and liabilities (including contingent liabilities) as they become absolute and matured.

If a note is voided as a fraudulent conveyance or is found to be unenforceable for any other reason, you will not have a claim against us.

In addition, it is possible that creditors of the guarantors may challenge the guarantees as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. The analysis set forth above would generally apply, except that the guarantees could also be subject to the claim that, because the guarantees were incurred for the benefit of the issuer, and only indirectly for the benefit of the guarantors, the obligations of the guarantors thereunder were incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration. A court could void a guarantor’s obligation under its guarantee,

 

23


Table of Contents

subordinate the guarantee to the other indebtedness of a guarantor, direct that holders of the notes return any amounts paid under a guarantee to the relevant guarantor or to a fund for the benefit of its creditors, or take other action detrimental to the holders of the notes. In addition, the liability of each guarantor under the indenture is limited to the amount that will result in its guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or improper corporate distribution.

The interests of our principal equity holder may not be aligned with the interests of the holders of the notes.

Entities associated with BSMB beneficially own securities representing approximately 80% of the voting equity interests of our parent, VS Holdings, Inc., and therefore indirectly control our affairs and policies. Circumstances may occur in which the interests of our principal equityholder could be in conflict with the interests of the holders of the notes. In addition, our principal equityholder may have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures, capital expenditures or other transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance their equity investment, even though these transactions might involve risks to the holders of the notes. See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”

Requirements associated with having to file quarterly, annual and other reports with the SEC will increase our costs, as well as divert significant company resources and management attention.

Prior to this offering, we have not been subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the other rules and regulations of the SEC, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The indenture governing the notes will require us to file quarterly, annual and other reports with the SEC. We are working with our financial and other advisors to identify those areas in which changes should be made to our financial and management control systems to manage our growth and our obligations as an SEC filer. These areas include corporate governance, corporate control, internal audit, disclosure controls and procedures and financial reporting and accounting systems. The costs associated therewith could be material. Compliance with the various reporting and other requirements applicable to SEC filers will also require considerable time and attention of management. For example, under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, for our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2007 we will need to document and test our internal control procedures, our management will need to assess and report on our internal control over financial reporting. Furthermore, if we identify any issues in complying with those requirements (for example, if we identify a material weakness or significant deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting), we could incur additional costs rectifying those issues, and the existence of those issues could adversely affect us, our reputation or investor perceptions of us.

In addition, being an SEC filer could make it more difficult or more costly for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and we may be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. The impact of these events could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors, our board committees or as executive officers.

 

24


Table of Contents

THE EXCHANGE OFFER

Terms Of The Exchange Offer; Period For Tendering Outstanding Old Notes

We will accept any validly tendered Old Notes that you do not withdraw before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. We will issue $1,000 of principal amount of Exchange Notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of your outstanding Old Notes. You may tender some or all of your Old Notes in the exchange offer.

The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are the same as the form and terms of the outstanding Old Notes except that:

(1) the Exchange Notes being issued in the exchange offer will be registered under the Securities Act and will not have legends restricting their transfer;

(2) the Exchange Notes being issued in the exchange offer will not contain the registration rights and liquidated damages provisions contained in the outstanding Old Notes; and

(3) interest on the Exchange Notes will accrue from the last interest date on which interest was paid on your Old Notes.

Outstanding Old Notes that we accept for exchange will not accrue interest after we complete the exchange offer.

The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2006, unless we extend it. If we extend the exchange offer, we will issue a notice by press release or other public announcement before 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

(1) to extend the exchange offer;

(2) to terminate the exchange offer and not accept any Old Notes for exchange if any of the conditions have not been satisfied; or

(3) to amend the exchange offer in any manner provided, however , that if we amend the exchange offer to make a material change, including the waiver of a material condition, we will extend the exchange offer, if necessary to keep the exchange offer open for at least five business days after such amendment or waiver.

We will promptly give written notice of any extension, delay, non-acceptance, termination or amendment. We will also file a post-effective amendment with the Commission if we amend the terms of the exchange offer.

If we extend the exchange offer, Old Notes that you have previously tendered will still be subject to the exchange offer and we may accept them. We will promptly return your Old Notes if we do not accept them for exchange for any reason without expense to you after the exchange offer expires or terminates.

Procedures For Tendering Old Notes Held Through Brokers And Banks

Since the Old Notes are represented by global book-entry notes, The Depositary Trust Company or DTC, as depositary, or its nominee is treated as the registered holder of the notes and will be the only entity that can tender your Old Notes for Exchange Notes. Therefore, to tender notes subject to this exchange offer and to obtain Exchange Notes, you must instruct the institution where you keep your Old Notes to tender your notes on your behalf so that they are received on or prior to the expiration of this exchange offer.

The BLUE-colored “Transmittal Letter” that may accompany this prospectus may be used by you to give such instructions. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE AT THE BROKER OR BANK WHERE YOU KEEP YOUR NOTES TO DETERMINE THE PREFERRED PROCEDURE.

 

25


Table of Contents

IF YOU WISH TO ACCEPT THIS EXCHANGE OFFER, PLEASE INSTRUCT YOUR BROKER OR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE IN TIME FOR YOUR OLD NOTES TO BE TENDERED BEFORE THE 5:00 PM (NEW YORK CITY TIME) DEADLINE ON                     , 2006.

You may tender some or all of your Old Notes in this exchange offer. However, notes may be tendered only in integral multiples of $1,000.

When you tender your outstanding Old Notes and we accept them, the tender will be a binding agreement between you and us in accordance with the terms and conditions in this prospectus.

The method of delivery of outstanding Old Notes and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at your election and risk.

We will decide all questions about the validity, form, eligibility, acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Old Notes, and our determination will be final and binding on you. We reserve the absolute right to:

(1) reject any and all tenders of any particular note not properly tendered;

(2) refuse to accept any Old Note if, in our judgment or the judgment of our counsel, the acceptance would be unlawful; and

(3) waive any defects or irregularities or conditions of the exchange offer as to any particular Old Note before the expiration of the offer.

Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer will be final and binding on all parties. You must cure any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Old Notes as we will determine. We, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to notify you of any defect or irregularity with respect to your tender of Old Notes. If we waive any terms or conditions pursuant to (3) above with respect to a noteholder, we will extend the same waiver to all noteholders with respect to that term or condition being waived.

Deemed Representations

To participate in the exchange offer, we require that you represent to us that:

(1) you or any other person acquiring Exchange Notes for your outstanding Old Notes in the exchange offer is acquiring them in the ordinary course of business;

(2) neither you nor any other person acquiring Exchange Notes in exchange for your outstanding Old Notes is engaging in or intends to engage in a distribution of the Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer;

(3) neither you nor any other person acquiring Exchange Notes in exchange for your outstanding Old Notes has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer;

(4) neither you nor any other person acquiring Exchange Notes in exchange for your outstanding Old Notes is our “affiliate” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act; and

(5) if you or another person acquiring Exchange Notes for your outstanding Old Notes is a broker-dealer, and acquired the Old Notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and you acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of your Exchange Notes.

 

26


Table of Contents

BY TENDERING YOUR OLD NOTES YOU ARE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THESE REPRESENTATIONS

Broker-dealers who cannot make the representations in item (5) of the paragraph above cannot use this exchange offer prospectus in connection with resales of the Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer.

If you are our “affiliate,” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, you are a broker-dealer who acquired your outstanding Old Notes in the initial offering and not as a result of market-making or trading activities, or if you are engaged in or intend to engage in or have an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of Exchange Notes acquired in the exchange offer, you or that person:

(1) may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the Commission and therefore may not participate in the exchange offer; and

(2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom when reselling the Old Notes.

Procedures For Brokers And Custodian Banks; DTC Account

In order to accept this exchange offer on behalf of a holder of Old Notes you must submit or cause your DTC participant to submit an Agent’s Message as described below.

The exchange agent, on our behalf, will seek to establish an Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) account with respect to the outstanding notes at DTC promptly after the delivery of this prospectus. Any financial institution that is a DTC participant, including your broker or bank, may make book-entry tender of outstanding Old Notes by causing the book-entry transfer of such notes into our ATOP account in accordance with DTC’s procedures for such transfers. Concurrently with the delivery of Old Notes, an Agent’s Message in connection with such book-entry transfer must be transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the exchange agent on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City Time on the expiration date. The confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the ATOP account as described above is referred to herein as a “Book-Entry Confirmation.”

The term “Agent’s Message” means a message transmitted by the DTC participants to DTC, and thereafter transmitted by DTC to the exchange agent, forming a part of the Book-Entry Confirmation which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC described in such Agent’s Message stating that such participant and beneficial holder agree to be bound by the terms of this exchange offer.

Each Agent’s Message must include the following information:

(1) Name of the beneficial owner tendering such notes;

(2) Account number of the beneficial owner tendering such notes; and

(3) Principal amount of notes tendered by such beneficial owner.

BY SENDING AN AGENT’S MESSAGE THE DTC PARTICIPANT IS DEEMED TO HAVE CERTIFIED THAT THE BENEFICIAL HOLDER FOR WHOM NOTES ARE BEING TENDERED HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.

The delivery of notes through DTC, and any transmission of an Agent’s Message through ATOP, is at the election and risk of the person tendering notes. We will ask the exchange agent to instruct DTC to return those Old Notes, if any, that were tendered through ATOP but were not accepted by us, to the DTC participant that tendered such notes on behalf of holders of the notes. Neither we nor the exchange agent is responsible or liable for the return of such notes to the tendering DTC participants or to their owners, nor as to the time by which such return is completed.

 

27


Table of Contents

Acceptance Of Outstanding Old Notes For Exchange; Delivery Of Exchange Notes Issued In The Exchange Offer

We will accept validly tendered Old Notes when the conditions to the exchange offer have been satisfied or we have waived them. We will have accepted your validly tendered Old Notes when we have given oral or written notice to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purpose of receiving the Exchange Notes from us. If we do not accept any tendered Old Notes for exchange because of an invalid tender or other valid reason, the exchange agent will return the certificates, without expense, to the tendering holder. If a holder has tendered Old Notes by book-entry transfer, we will credit the notes to an account maintained with The Depository Trust Company. We will credit the account at The Depository Trust Company promptly after the exchange offer terminates or expires.

THE AGENT’S MESSAGE MUST BE TRANSMITTED TO EXCHANGE AGENT ON OR BEFORE 5:00 PM, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE

Withdrawal Rights

You may withdraw your tender of outstanding Old Notes at any time before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

For a withdrawal to be effective, you should contact your bank or broker where your Old Notes are held and have them send an ATOP notice of withdrawal so that it is received by the exchange agent before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. Such notice of withdrawal must:

(1) specify the name of the person that tendered the Old Notes to be withdrawn;

(2) identify the Old Notes to be withdrawn, including the CUSIP number and principal amount at maturity of the Old Notes;

(3) specify the name and number of an account at The Depository Trust Company to which your withdrawn Old Notes can be credited.

We will decide all questions as to the validity, form and eligibility of the notices and our determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any tendered Old Notes that you withdraw will not be considered to have been validly tendered. We will return any outstanding Old Notes that have been tendered but not exchanged, or credit them to The Depository Trust Company account, promptly after withdrawal, rejection of tender, or termination of the exchange offer. You may re-tender properly withdrawn Old Notes by following one of the procedures described above before the expiration date.

Conditions To The Exchange Offer

Notwithstanding any other provision herein, we are not required to accept for exchange, or to issue Exchange Notes in exchange for, any outstanding Old Notes. We may terminate or amend the exchange offer, before the expiration of the exchange offer;

(1) if any federal law, statute, rule or regulation has been adopted or enacted which, in our judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer;

(2) if any stop order is threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement which this prospectus is a part of or the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; or

(3) if there is a change in the current interpretation by the staff of the Commission which permits holders who have made the required representations to us to resell, offer for resale, or otherwise transfer Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer without registration of the Exchange Notes and delivery of a prospectus, as discussed above.

 

28


Table of Contents

These conditions are for our sole benefit and we may assert them at any time before the expiration of the exchange offer. Our failure to exercise any of the foregoing rights will not be a waiver of our rights.

Exchange Agent

You should direct questions, requests for assistance, and requests for additional copies of this prospectus and the BLUE-colored “Transmittal Letter” to the exchange agent at Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1615, Attention: Alisha Clendaniel.

Delivery to an address other than set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery.

Fees And Expenses

We will not make any payment to brokers, dealers, or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer except for reimbursement of mailing expenses.

We will pay the estimated cash expenses connected with the exchange offer.

Accounting Treatment

The Exchange Notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the existing Old Notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will recognize no gain or loss for accounting purposes. The expenses of the exchange offer will be expensed over the term of the Exchange Notes.

Transfer Taxes

If you tender outstanding Old Notes for exchange you will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes. However, if you instruct us to register Exchange Notes in the name of, or request that your Old Notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than you, you will be responsible for paying any transfer tax owed.

YOU MAY SUFFER ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES IF YOU FAIL TO EXCHANGE OUTSTANDING OLD NOTES

If you do not tender your outstanding Old Notes, you will not have any further registration rights, except for the rights described in the registration rights agreement and described above, and your Old Notes will continue to be subject to restrictions on transfer when we complete the exchange offer. Accordingly, if you do not tender your notes in the exchange offer, your ability to sell your Old Notes could be adversely affected. Once we have completed the exchange offer, holders who have not tendered notes will not continue to be entitled to any increase in interest rate that the indenture provides for if we do not complete the exchange offer.

Holders of the Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer and Old Notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer will vote together as a single class under the indenture governing the Exchange Notes.

Consequences Of Exchanging Outstanding Old Notes

If you make the representations that we discuss above, we believe that you may offer, sell or otherwise transfer the Exchange Notes to another party without registration of your notes or delivery of a prospectus.

We base our belief on interpretations by the staff of the Commission in no-action letters issued to third parties. If you cannot make these representations, you cannot rely on this interpretation by the Commission’s

 

29


Table of Contents

staff and you must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a resale of the Old Notes. A broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for its outstanding Old Notes must acknowledge that it acquired as a result of market making activities or other trading activities and that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes. Broker-dealers who can make these representations may use this exchange offer prospectus, as supplemented or amended, in connection with resales of Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer.

However, because the Commission has not issued a no-action letter in connection with this exchange offer, we cannot be sure that the staff of the Commission would make a similar determination regarding the exchange offer as it has made in similar circumstances.

Shelf Registration

The registration rights agreement also requires that we file a shelf registration statement if:

(1) we cannot file a registration statement for the exchange offer because the exchange offer is not permitted by law;

(2) a law or Commission policy prohibits a holder from participating in the exchange offer;

(3) a holder cannot resell the Exchange Notes it acquires in the exchange offer without delivering a prospectus and this prospectus is not appropriate or available for resales by the holder; or

(4) a holder is a broker-dealer and holds notes acquired directly from us or one of our affiliates.

We will also register the Exchange Notes under the securities laws of jurisdictions that holders may request before offering or selling notes in a public offering. We do not intend to register Exchange Notes in any jurisdiction unless a holder requests that we do so.

Old Notes may be subject to restrictions on transfer until:

(1) a person other than a broker-dealer has exchanged the Old Notes in the exchange offer;

(2) a broker-dealer has exchanged the Old Notes in the exchange offer and sells them to a purchaser that receives a prospectus from the broker, dealer on or before the sale;

(3) the Old Notes are sold under an effective shelf registration statement that we have filed; or

(4) the Old Notes are sold to the public under Rule 144 of the Securities Act.

 

30


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes in the exchange offer.

 

31


Table of Contents

SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Our fiscal years end on the last Saturday in December and are designated by the calendar year in which the fiscal year ends. Results for fiscal 2005, fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2003 represents the results of VS Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Successor Company”). Results for 2002 are represented by (i) the results of Vitamin Shoppe Industries, Inc. (the “Predecessor Company”) for the period from January 1, 2002 through November 22, 2002 prior to the acquisition of our Company by BSMB and other investors and (ii) results of Successor Company for the period from November 23, 2002 through December 28, 2002. Results for fiscal 2001 represent the results of Predecessor Company for the period ended December 31, 2001.

The following table sets forth selected historical consolidated financial information for Predecessor Company for the periods presented prior to the acquisition of our company by BSMB and other investors, combined selected historical consolidated financial information of the Predecessor Company and the Successor Company, and selected historical financial data for the Successor Company for periods presented after such acquisition. The statement of operations data for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005, the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004, the fifty-two weeks ended December 23, 2003 and the period from November 23, 2002 to December 28, 2002 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004 have been derived from the audited financial statements of the Successor Company. The balance sheet data as of December 27, 2003 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus. The selected historical consolidated financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2001, referred to as “fiscal 2001,” has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Predecessor Company and are not included in this prospectus. Results for 2002 are represented by (i) the results of Vitamin Shoppe Industries, Inc. (the “Predecessor Company”) for the period from January 1, 2002 through November 22, 2002 prior to the acquisition of our Company by BSMB and other investors and (ii) results of Successor Company for the period from November 23, 2002 through December 28, 2002 and such results are not included in this prospectus. The statement of operations data for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2006 and for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2005, and the balance sheet data as of April 1, 2006 have been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus, which, in our opinion, contain adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature, which we consider necessary to present fairly our financial position and results of operations at such dates and for such periods. The balance sheet data as of March 26, 2005 has been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus. Results of the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year.

 

32


Table of Contents

The selected historical consolidated financial information below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and notes thereto included in this prospectus.

 

    Three Months
Ended
    Fiscal    

Period
from

Nov. 23 -

Dec. 28,

2002

    Predecessor  
       

Period
from

Jan. 1 -

Nov. 22,

2002

   

Fiscal

December 31,
2001

 
   

April 1,

2006

   

March 26,

2005

   

December 31,

2005

   

December 25,

2004

   

December 27,

2003

       
    (data presented in thousands, except for the number of stores)        

Statement of Operations Data:

                 

Net sales

  $ 127,300     $ 110,734     $ 436,463     $ 387,357     $ 331,221     $ 27,979     $ 246,611     $ 236,830  

Cost of goods sold

    84,611       71,031       290,243       258,223       215,009       18,643       152,413       147,243  
                                                               

Gross profit

    42,689       39,703       146,220       129,134       116,212       9,336       94,198       89,587  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    33,784       32,961       128,313       113,758       95,710       8,367       68,835       71,980  
                                                               

Income from operations

    8,905       6,742       17,907       15,376       20,502       969       25,363       17,607  

Extinguishment of debt and other (1)

    (366 )     —         11,573       —         —         —         —         —    

Interest expense, net

    5,375       4,479       19,386       16,348       17,172       1,577       4,218       5,718  
                                                               

Income (loss) before provision (benefit)for income taxes

    3,896       2,263       (13,052 )     (972 )     3,330       (608 )     21,145       11,889  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    1,280       921       (5,063 )     (361 )     1,659       (195 )     8,695       (6,780 )
                                                               

Income (loss) before minority interest in earnings of subsidiary

    2,616       1,342       (7,989 )     (611 )     1,671       (413 )     12,450       18,669  

Minority interest in earnings of subsidiary

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         998  
                                                               

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

    2,616       1,342       (7,989 )     (611 )     1,671       (413 )     12,450       19,667  

Cumulative effect of accounting change (2)

    —         2,280       2,280       —         (2,366 )     —         —         —    
                                                               

Net income (loss)

  $ 2,616     $ 3,622     $ (5,709 )   $ (611 )   $ (695 )   $ (413 )   $ 12,450     $ 19,667  
                                                               

Other Financial Data:

                 

EBITDA (3)

  $ 13,357     $ 15,107     $ 30,845     $ 38,199     $ 38,174     $ 2,234     $ 33,738     $ 28,106  

Depreciation and amortization

    3,585       5,922       24,976       25,415       22,315       1,461       9,318       8,650  
 

Operating Data:

                 

Number of stores (end of period)

    283       248       275       234       174       128       120       103  

Net sales per store (4)

  $ 367     $ 363     $ 1,317     $ 1,294     $ 1,394     $ 145     $ 1,368     $ 1,411  

Comparable store sales growth (5)

    4.4 %     1.1 %     0.1 %     1.8 %     11.2 %     10.9 %     13.6 %     13.4 %

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (6)

    1.4 x     1.3 x     0.6 x     1.0 x     1.1 x     0.7 x     3.3 x     2.2 x
 

Balance Sheet Data:

                 

Working capital

  $ 36,150     $ 33,705     $ 28,268     $ 27,281     $ 21,963     $ 22,107     $ 12,354     $ 12,118  

Total assets

  $ 414,340     $ 395,469     $ 408,601     $ 390,460     $ 382,336     $ 367,800     $ 108,385     $ 95,770  

Total debt

  $ 176,500     $ 160,474     $ 177,127     $ 159,336     $ 156,498     $ 154,303     $ 36,108     $ 39,685  

Stockholders’ equity

  $ 151,401     $ 156,889     $ 147,855     $ 153,349     $ 153,930     $ 154,870     $ 30,454     $ 18,064  

(1) Extinguishment of debt and other for the three months ended April 1, 2006 of $0.4 million relates to our interest rate swap that we entered into in Fiscal 2005. The Fiscal 2005 amount includes $11.1 million of expenses related to the repayment of our previous debt upon our issuance of our Notes and $0.4 million in expense relating to our interest rate swap that we entered into in Fiscal 2005. The $11.1 million consists of $7.7 million of original issue discount related to the allocation of value to the warrants and Holdings Preferred Stock and $3.4 million of deferred financing costs from the previous debt.
(2) See Note 3 in the Fiscal 2005 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements relating to the cumulative effect of accounting changes relating to costs included in inventory and deferred revenues on our frequent buyer program in Fiscal 2005 and Fiscal 2003, respectively.
(3)

EBITDA represents, respectively, net income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income tax, net interest expense and depreciation and amortization, including recognition of deferred rent. Since EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, it should not be considered as a performance measure prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as operating income, net income and cash flows

 

33


Table of Contents
 

from operating activities. We believe that EBITDA provides additional information of our operating performance and our ability to meet our future debt service, capital expenditure and working capital requirements. Furthermore, our executive compensation plans base incentive compensation payments on our EBITDA performance measured against budget. Other companies may define EBITDA differently, and as a result, our measure of EBITDA may not be directly comparable to EBITDA of other companies. In addition, the presentation of EBITDA and the components thereof does not comply with regulations published by the SEC. The table below includes a reconciliation from net income (loss) to EBITDA.

(4) Net sales per store is calculated by dividing retail net sales by the number of stores open at the end of the period.
(5) A store is included in comparable store sales after four hundred and eleven days of operation.
(6) We have calculated the ratio of earnings to fixed charges by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For the purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” is defined as income (loss) before income taxes and fixed charges. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expense, amortization of debt expense plus one-third of rent expense that we believe to be representative of the interest factored in those rentals.

The following is a reconciliation of net income (loss), as determined in accordance with GAAP, to EBITDA (in thousands):

 

      Three Months
Ended
  Fiscal     Predecessor  
     

Period from

Jan. 1 -

Nov. 22,

2002

 

Fiscal

December 31,
2001

 
     

April 1,

2006

 

March 26,

2005

 

December 31,

2005

   

December 25,

2004

   

December 27,

2003

   

Nov. 23 -

Dec. 28,

2002

     

Statement of Operations Data:

               

Net income (loss)

  $ 2,616   $ 3,622   $ (5,709 )   $ (611 )   $ (695 )   $ (413 )   $ 12,450   $ 19,667  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    1,280     921     (5,063 )     (361 )     1,659       (195 )     8,695     (6,780 )

Interest expense, net (a)

    5,375     4,479     19,386       16,348       17,172       1,577       4,218     5,718  

Depreciation and amortization, including deferred rent (b)

    4,086     6,085     22,231       22,823       20,038       1,265       8,375     9,501  
                                                           

EBITDA (c)

  $ 13,357   $ 15,107   $ 30,845     $ 38,199     $ 38,174     $ 2,234     $ 33,738   $ 28,106  

(a) Interest expense, net does not include the $11.1 million of extinguishment of debt recorded in Fiscal 2005.
(b) Excludes amortization of deferred financing fees and original issue discount, which are included in “interest expense, net” in this table.
(c) EBITDA results for the three months ended March 26, 2005 and Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2005 includes after tax income of $2.3 million resulting from a change in accounting policy relating to costs included in inventory. EBITDA results for Fiscal 2003 includes after tax expense of $2.4 million resulting from a change in accounting policy relating to a change in deferred revenue on our frequent buyer program.

 

34


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Information” and our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in this prospectus. The discussion in this section contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements. Please refer to “Forward-Looking Statements” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Overview

We are a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products. As of April 22, 2006, we operated 285 stores located in 29 states and the District of Columbia and sell direct to consumers through our nationally circulated catalog and our Web site, www.vitaminshoppe.com. We target the dedicated, well-informed VMS consumer and differentiate ourselves by providing our customers with an extensive selection of high quality products sold at competitive prices and value-added customer service. We offer our customers a selection of over 20,000 SKUs from over 400 national brands, including our best value Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech private label brands. Our broad product offering enables us to provide our customers with a selection of products that is not readily available at other specialty VMS retailers, supermarkets, chain drug stores or mass merchants, which we believe drives customer traffic and creates a loyal customer base.

Our company began as a single store in New York, New York in 1977. Our Vitamin Shoppe branded products were introduced in 1989. We were acquired in November 2002 by BSMB and other investors.

Trends and Other Factors Affecting Our Business

Our performance is affected by trends that affect the VMS industry, including demographic, health and lifestyle preferences. Changes in these trends and other factors, which we may not foresee, may also impact our business. Our business allows us to respond to changing industry trends by introducing new products and adjusting our product mix.

Sales of weight management products are generally more sensitive to consumer trends, resulting in higher volatility than our other products. Our sales of weight management products have been significantly influenced by the rapid increase and subsequent decline of products such as products containing ephedra, low carb products and Cortislim ® . We experienced increasingly strong sales of products containing ephedra until we decided to stop selling such products in June 2003. Products containing ephedra were subsequently banned by the FDA in April 2004. Our decline in sales of products containing ephedra was offset by increasing sales of ephedra substitute products and low carb products in the first half of 2003 and Cortislim ® in mid-2004. However, the combined demand for low carb products and Cortislim ® began to decline in the fourth quarter of 2004, which we believe was due to a change in demand for low carb products and the wider availability of Cortislim ® in the marketplace. We believe the decline in these products impacted our 2004 and 2005 comparable store sales growth. Although we have launched new weight management products in Fiscal 2005, and continue to launch them, we have experienced lower sales of weight management and low carb products during the first quarter of Fiscal 2006 as compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2005, as well as during Fiscal 2005 compared to Fiscal 2004.

Our historical results have also been significantly influenced by our new store openings. Since the beginning of 2003, we have opened 159 stores and operate 285 stores located in 29 states and the District of Columbia as of April 22, 2006.

 

35


Table of Contents

Our stores typically require three to four years to mature, generating lower store level sales in the initial years than our mature stores. As a result, new stores generally have a negative impact on our overall operating margin and sales per square foot. As our recently opened stores mature, we expect them to contribute meaningfully to our sales.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Critical accounting policies are those that are the most important portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, and require our most difficult, subjective and complex judgments as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to our financial statements, our most critical accounting policies, discussed below, pertain to revenue recognition, inventories, impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, deferred sales for our Frequent Buyer Program, income taxes and contingencies. In applying such policies, we must use some amounts that are based upon our informed judgments and best estimates. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgments and available information. The estimates that we make are based upon historical factors, current circumstances and the experience and judgment of management. We evaluate our assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis.

Revenue Recognition . We recognize revenue upon sale of our products to our retail customers at the “point of sale,” which occurs when merchandise is sold “over-the-counter” in retail stores or upon delivery to a direct customer, net of sales returns. In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 00-10, Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs, we classify all amounts billed to customers that represent shipping fees as sales in all periods presented. To arrive at net sales, gross sales are reduced by actual customer returns and a provision for estimated future customer returns, which is based on management’s review of historical and current customer returns.

Inventories . Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined using the moving weighted average method which has been defined generally as price paid or consideration given to acquire an asset. As applied to inventories, cost means in principle the sum of the applicable expenditures and charges directly or indirectly incurred in bringing the product to its existing condition and location. Finished goods inventory includes the cost of labor and overhead required to package Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products. We adjust our inventory to reflect situations in which the cost of inventory is not expected to be recovered. We regularly review our inventory, including when a product is close to expiration and not expected to be sold, when a product has reached its expiration date, or when a product is not expected to be saleable. In determining the reserves for these products we consider factors such as the amount of inventory on hand and its remaining shelf life, and current and expected market conditions, including management forecasts and levels of competition. We have evaluated the current level of inventory considering historical trends and other factors, and based on our evaluation, have recorded adjustments to reflect inventory at net realizable value. These adjustments are estimates, which could vary significantly from actual results if future economic conditions, customer demand or competition differ from expectations. These estimates require us to make assessments about the future demand for our products in order to categorize the status of such inventory items as slow moving, obsolete or in excess of need. These future estimates are subject to the ongoing accuracy of management’s forecasts of market conditions, industry trends and competition. We are also subject to volatile changes in specific product demand as a result of unfavorable publicity, government regulation and rapid changes in demand for new and improved products or services.

Effective December 26, 2004 (the beginning of Fiscal 2005), we implemented a change in accounting for costs included in inventory. The change relates to capitalizing freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent

 

36


Table of Contents

for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility, including payroll. These costs were previously expensed as incurred in cost of goods sold and are now treated as inventory product costs which are expensed as inventory is sold. Freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and the distribution facility are includable in inventory because they directly relate to the acquisition of goods for resale by us. We have determined that it is preferable to capitalize such costs into inventory because it better represents the costs incurred to prepare inventory for sale to the end user, shows better comparability with other retailers and will improve the management and planning of inventory. As a result, we recorded the cumulative effect of accounting change of $2.3 million in income (net of tax provision of $1.6 million) upon adoption.

Long-Lived Assets . We evaluate long-lived assets, including fixed assets and intangible assets with finite useful lives, periodically for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any such asset may not be recoverable. If the sum of our estimated undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying value, we recognize an impairment loss, measured as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. These estimates of cash flow require significant management judgment and certain assumptions about future volume, sales and expense growth rates, devaluation and inflation. As such, these estimates may differ from actual cash flows.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets . On an annual basis, or whenever impairment indicators exist, we perform a valuation of the goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets. Judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on market conditions and operational performance of the business. Future events could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist, and therefore that goodwill and other intangible assets are impaired. To the extent that the fair value associated with the goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets is less than the recorded value, we write down the value of the asset. The valuation of the goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets is affected by, among other things, our business plan for the future, and estimated results of future operations. Changes in the business plan or operating results that are different than the estimates used to develop the valuation of the assets result in an impact on their valuation.

Deferred Sales . Our Frequent Buyer Program allows customers to earn points toward free merchandise based on the volume of purchases. Points are earned each year under our Frequent Buyer Program and are redeemable within the first three months of the following year or they expire. We defer sales on transactions based on estimated redemptions, which are based on historical redemption data as well as marketing efforts within the current period, and record a liability for points being earned within the current period.

Income Taxes . We record our annual income taxes based on the requirements of SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” which includes an estimate of the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. We periodically assess the reliability of deferred tax assets and the adequacy of deferred tax liabilities, including the results of local state, federal or foreign statutory tax audits or estimates and judgments used.

Realization of deferred tax assets associated with net operating loss and credit carryforwards is dependent upon generating sufficient taxable income prior to their expiration in the applicable tax jurisdiction. We periodically review the recoverability of tax assets recorded on our balance sheet and provide valuation allowances as we deem necessary. Deferred tax assets could be reduced in the near term if our estimates of taxable income during the carryforward period are significantly reduced or alternative tax strategies are no longer viable.

 

37


Table of Contents

Our income tax returns are periodically audited by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local jurisdictions. We reserve for tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the contingent amount is reasonably estimable. These reserves are based upon our best estimation of the potential exposures associated with the timing and amount of deductions, as well as various tax filing positions.

General Definitions for Operating Results

Net Sales consist of sales from comparable stores and non comparable stores, as well as sales made directly to our catalog and internet customers. A store is included in comparable store sales after four hundred and eleven days of operation.

Cost of goods sold includes the cost of inventory sold, costs of warehousing and distribution and store occupancy costs. Warehousing and distribution costs include freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility, including payroll, which are capitalized into inventory and then expensed as merchandise is sold. Store occupancy costs include rent, common area maintenance, real estate taxes, repairs and maintenance, depreciation, insurance and utilities.

Gross profit is net sales minus cost of goods sold.

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of operating payroll and related benefits, advertising and promotion expense, and other selling, general and administrative expenses.

Income from operations consists of gross profit minus selling, general and administrative expenses.

Extinguishment of debt and other for Fiscal 2005 includes $11.1 million of expenses related to the repayment of our previous debt upon our issuance of our Notes, which consists of $7.7 million original issue discount related to the allocation of value to the warrants and Holdings Preferred Stock and $3.4 million of deferred financing costs from the previous debt. Extinguishment of debt and other includes $0.4 million in expense relating to our interest rate swap that we entered into in Fiscal 2005.

Interest expense, net includes interest on Term Loan B, interest on $165 million Senior Subordinated Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “Notes”), interest on cap agreements, interest on the Holdco Notes and Opco Notes (each hereinafter defined), amortization of debt discount and amortization of financing costs, offset by interest income from other highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less.

Key Performance Indicators and Statistics

We use a number of key indicators of financial condition and operating results to evaluate the performance of our business, including the following (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended     Year Ended  
     April 1,
2006
    March 26,
2005
    December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 

Net sales

   $ 127,300     $ 110,734     $ 436,463     $ 387,357     $ 331,221  

Increase in comparable store net sales

     4.4 %     1.1 %     0.1 %     1.8 %     11.2 %

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales

     33.5 %     35.9 %     33.5 %     33.3 %     35.1 %

Income from operations

   $ 8,905     $ 6,742     $ 17,907     $ 15,376     $ 20,502  

EBITDA (1)

   $ 13,357     $ 15,107     $ 30,845     $ 38,199     $ 38,174  

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,616     $ 3,622     $ (5,709 )   $ (611 )   $ (695 )

(1) See Note (3) to Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data.

 

38


Table of Contents

The following table shows the growth in our network of stores for Fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003:

 

     Three Months Ended    Fiscal Year
    

April 1,

2006

   

March 26,

2005

   2005    2004     2003

Stores open at beginning of period

   275     234    234    174     128

Stores opened

   9     14    41    61     46

Stores closed

   (1 )   —      —      (1 )   —  

Stores open at end of period

   283     248    275    234     174
                          

Results of Operations

The information presented below for the Fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003 was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which, in the opinion of management, includes all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and operating results for such periods and as of such dates. The information presented below for the three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 was derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements, which, in the opinion of management, includes all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and operating results for such periods and as of such dates.

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the Fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003 and for the three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 as a percentage of net sales, which does not include any adjustments in 2004 or 2003 for our change in accounting policy in Fiscal 2005 for costs included in inventory (see Note 3 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for Fiscal 2005):

 

     Three Months Ended     Year Ended  
    

April 1,

2006

   

March 25,

2005

   

December 31,

2005

   

December 25,

2004

   

December 27,

2003

 

Net sales

   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %

Cost of goods sold

   66.5 %   64.1 %   66.5 %   66.7 %   64.9 %
                              

Gross profit

   33.5 %   35.9 %   33.5 %   33.3 %   35.1 %

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   26.5 %   29.8 %   29.4 %   29.3 %   28.9 %
                              

Income from operations

   7.0 %   6.1 %   4.1 %   4.0 %   6.2 %

Extinguishment of debt and other

   -0.3 %   0.0 %   2.7 %   0.0 %   0.0 %

Interest expense, net

   4.2 %   4.1 %   4.4 %   4.3 %   5.2 %
                              

Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes

   3.1 %   2.0 %   -3.0 %   -0.3 %   1.0 %

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

   1.0 %   0.8 %   -1.2 %   -0.1 %   0.5 %
                              

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

   2.1 %   1.2 %   -1.8 %   -0.2 %   0.5 %

Cumulative effect of accounting change

   0.0 %   2.1 %   0.5 %   0.0 %   -0.7 %
                              

Net income (loss)

   2.1 %   3.3 %   -1.3 %   -0.2 %   -0.2 %
                              

Three Months Ended April 1, 2006 Compared To Three Months Ended March 26, 2005

Net Sales

Net sales increased $16.6 million, or 15.0%, to $127.3 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $110.7 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The increase was the result of an increase in our comparable store sales of 4.4%, new sales from our non-comparable stores and an increase in our direct sales.

 

39


Table of Contents

Retail

Net sales from our retail stores increased $13.8 million, or 15.3%, to $104.0 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $90.2 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. We operated 283 stores as of April 1, 2006 compared to 248 stores as of March 26, 2005. Our overall store sales for the three months ended April 1, 2006 increased due to non-comparable store sales increases of $9.8 million and an increase in comparable store sales of $4.0 million, or 4.4%. Our overall sales increased primarily in the categories of herbs, supplements and sports nutrition, partially offset by decreases in our categories of low carb products, such as bars, and in our weight loss products, specifically Cortislim ® . We believe that this decrease is largely a result of low carb products having less popularity during the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared with the same period last year.

Direct

Net sales to our direct customers increased $2.8 million, or 13.7%, to $23.3 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $20.5 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The increase resulted primarily from improved performance from our search engines and obtaining new customers.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold, which includes product, warehouse and distribution and occupancy costs, increased $13.6 million, or 19.2%, to $84.6 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $71.0 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The components of cost of goods sold are explained below. Costs of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 66.5% for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 64.1% for the three months ended March 26, 2005.

Product costs increased $11.7 million, or 20.9%, to $67.6 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006, compared to $55.9 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. Product costs as a percentage of net sales increased to 53.1% for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 50.5% for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The percentage increase was a result of a lower Vitamin Shoppe brand penetration, additional promotional markdowns from our direct business, increases in net delivery expenses as a result of back orders and our $0.99 shipping promotion, as well as excess clearance merchandise predominantly from bars, and health and beauty products. These increases were partially offset by vendor incentives recorded during the three months ended April 1, 2006 as well as reductions in markdowns from damages and expired merchandise.

Warehouse and distribution costs increased $0.2 million, or 5.1%, to $4.1 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $3.9 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. Warehouse and distribution costs as a percentage of net sales decreased to 3.2% for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 3.5% for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The decrease was attributable to leveraging of the distribution expenses.

Occupancy costs increased $1.7 million, or 15.2%, to $12.9 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $11.2 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. Occupancy costs as a percentage of net sales remained flat at 10.2% for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared the three months ended March 26, 2005.

Gross Profit

As a result of the foregoing, gross profit increased $3.0 million, or 7.5%, to $42.7 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $39.7 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005.

 

40


Table of Contents

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses, including operating payroll and related benefits, advertising and promotion expense, and other selling, general and administrative expenses, increased $0.8 million, or 2.4%, to $33.8 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006, compared to $33.0 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The components of selling, general and administrative expenses are explained below. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales for the three months ended April 1, 2006 decreased to 26.5% during the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 29.8% for the three months ended March 26, 2005.

Operating payroll and related benefits increased $1.0 million, or 9.3%, to $11.8 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $10.8 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. Operating payroll and related benefits expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 9.2% during the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 9.7% for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The decrease was primarily due to leveraging of payroll costs due to improved sales per hour.

Advertising and promotion expenses increased $0.9 million, or 20.4%, to $5.3 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $4.4 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. Advertising and promotion expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 4.2% during the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 4.0% for the three months ended March 26, 2005, which was due primarily to increased advertising in the direct business to drive sales.

Other selling, general and administrative expenses, which include depreciation and amortization expense, decreased $1.1 million, or 6.2%, to $16.7 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $17.8 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The primary reason for the decrease relates to amortization of intangible assets relating to customer lists of $1.6 million recorded during the three months ended March 26, 2005 which was not incurred during the three months ended April 1, 2006 as it was fully amortized by the end of Fiscal 2005. This was partially offset by increases in operating costs, including field management, from new stores opened in Fiscal 2005 and the three months ended April 1, 2006. Other selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 13.1% during the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 16.1% for the three months ended March 26, 2005, due primarily through leveraging of these costs.

Income from Operations

As a result of the foregoing, income from operations increased $2.2 million, or 32.8%, to $8.9 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $6.7 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. Income from operations as a percentage of net sales increased to 7.0% for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 6.1% for the three months ended March 26, 2005.

Retail

Income from operations for the retail segment increased $2.2 million, or 15.4%, to $16.5 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $14.3 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. Income from operations as a percentage of net sales for the retail segment increased to 15.9% for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 15.8% for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The increase as a percent of net sales was primarily due to leveraging of operating expenses such as payroll, advertising and other operational expenses, partially offset by lower product margin driven by lower Vitamin Shoppe brand margin as well as excess clearance merchandise predominantly from bars, and health and beauty products.

Direct

Income from operations for the direct segment decreased $1.7 million, or 36.2%, to $3.0 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $4.7 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. Income

 

41


Table of Contents

from operations as a percentage of net sales for the direct segment decreased to 12.8% for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 22.8% for the three months ended March 26, 2005. This decrease as a percent of net sales was primarily due to a lower product margin from our Vitamin Shoppe brand, additional promotional discounts from our Web site and increased delivery expense as a result of our $0.99 shipping promotion, as well as increases in our Web site search engine expenses in order to increase sales.

Corporate Costs

Corporate costs decreased $1.7 million, or 13.8%, to $10.6 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $12.2 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. Corporate costs as a percentage of net sales decreased to 8.3% for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to 11.1% for the three months ended March 26, 2005. This decrease was due primarily to amortization of intangible assets relating to customer lists of $1.6 million recorded during the three months ended March 26, 2005 which was not incurred during the three months ended April 1, 2006 as it was fully amortized by the end of Fiscal 2005. We incurred severance costs of $0.4 million during the three months ended April 1, 2006 which was 0.3% of net sales, and therefore all other corporate costs were $0.4 million lower than the three months ended March 26, 2005.

Other

Other includes $0.4 million in income relating to our interest rate swap that we entered into in Fiscal 2005. We did not incur these expenditures during the three months ended March 26, 2005.

Interest Expense, net

Interest expense increased $0.9 million, or 20.0%, to $5.4 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared to $4.5 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The increase was primarily attributable to a higher interest rate on the Notes as compared with the pre-existing debt, as well as increased overall borrowings compared with the three months ended March 26, 2005 (see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for more information).

Provision for Income Taxes

We recognized $1.3 million of income tax provision during the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared with $0.9 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005. The effective tax rate for the three months ended April 1, 2006 was 32.9% compared to 40.7% for the three months ended March 26, 2005, which was primarily due to a reduction in our blended state tax rate.

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

Effective December 26, 2004 (the beginning of Fiscal 2005), we implemented a change in accounting for costs included in inventory. The change relates to capitalizing freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent of the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility, including payroll. As a result, we recorded a cumulative effect of accounting change of $2.3 million in income (net of tax provision of $1.6 million) during the three months ended March 26, 2005.

Net Income

As a result of the foregoing, we generated net income of $2.6 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 compared with $3.6 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005.

 

42


Table of Contents

Comparison of Fifty-Three Weeks Ended December 31, 2005 with Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 25, 2004

Net Sales

Net sales increased $49.1 million, or 12.7%, to $436.5 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $387.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The increase was the result of an extra week of sales of approximately $8.7 million, an increase in our comparable store sales of 0.1% and new sales from our non-comparable stores, offset by a decrease in our direct sales.

Retail

Net sales from our retail stores increased $59.5 million, or 19.7%, to $362.2 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $302.7 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. We operated 275 stores as of December 31, 2005 compared to 234 stores as of December 25, 2004. Our overall store sales increased due to non-comparable store sales of $52.7 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2005, as well as an additional week of sales due to the fifty-third week, which was approximately $7.6 million, as well as an increase in comparable store sales growth of 0.1%, partially offset by an increase in our deferred sales from our customer loyalty program. Our overall sales increased primarily in the categories of vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements and sports nutrition, partially offset by decreases in our categories of low carb products, such as bars, and in our weight loss products, specifically Cortislim ® . We believe that this decrease is largely a result of low carb products having less popularity during Fiscal 2005 as compared with Fiscal 2004.

Direct

Net sales to our direct customers decreased $10.4 million, or 12.3%, to $74.3 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $84.7 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in new customers and a shift in our customers’ buying pattern from our direct channel to our retail stores partially offset by an additional week of sales due to the fifty-third week.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold, which includes product, warehouse and distribution and occupancy costs, increased $32.0 million, or 12.4%, to $290.2 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $258.2 million for fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The components of cost of goods sold are explained below. Costs of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 66.5% for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 66.7% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004.

Product costs increased $20.1 million, or 9.7%, to $226.7 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $206.6 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Product costs as a percentage of net sales decreased to 51.9% for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 53.3% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The percentage decrease was a result of improvements in pricing from vendors as well as a decrease in markdowns from promotional activity.

Warehouse and distribution costs increased $1.0 million, or 7.1%, to $15.0 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $14.0 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Warehouse and distribution costs as a percentage of net sales decreased to 3.4% for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 3.6% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The decrease was attributable to leveraging of the distribution expenses in fiscal 2005, as well as the change in accounting policy whereby in Fiscal 2005 we started capitalizing freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our distribution facility, including payroll. These costs were previously expensed as incurred in cost of goods sold and are now treated as inventory product costs which are expensed as inventory is sold (see Note 3 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

43


Table of Contents

Occupancy costs increased $10.9 million, or 29.0%, to $48.5 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $37.6 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Occupancy costs as a percentage of net sales increased to 11.1% for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005, compared to 9.7% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The increase was primarily due to less leverage as a result of lower sales from the direct segment as well as higher occupancy costs in certain of our new retail markets and new stores, which incur occupancy costs but have not yet matured from a sales perspective.

Gross Profit

As a result of the foregoing, gross profit increased $17.1 million, or 13.2%, to $146.2 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $129.1 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses, including operating payroll and related benefits, advertising and promotion expense, and other selling, general and administrative expenses, increased $14.5 million, or 12.7%, to $128.3 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005, compared to $113.8 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The components of selling, general and administrative expenses are explained below. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 remained flat with last year at 29.4% of sales.

Operating payroll and related benefits increased $8.0 million, or 22.0%, to $44.3 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $36.3 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Operating payroll and related benefits expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 10.1% during the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 9.4% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The increase was primarily due to higher operating payroll costs in certain of our new retail markets and new stores, which incur payroll and related benefits expenses but have not yet matured from a sales perspective.

Advertising and promotion expenses increased $0.1 million, or 0.8%, to $12.7 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $12.6 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Advertising and promotion expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 2.9% during the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 3.3% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004, which was due primarily to leveraging costs from our growing store base.

Other selling, general and administrative expenses, which include depreciation and amortization expense, increased $6.4 million, or 10.0%, to $71.3 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $64.9 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The primary reason for the increase in costs relates to increased operating costs from new stores opened in Fiscal 2004 and in Fiscal 2005, increases in field management costs driven by the opening of new stores, and increased corporate expenses related to professional fees. Professional fees increased due to consulting fees of $0.7 million incurred as part of BSMB’s cost savings initiative (see Related Party Transactions in Note 12 of the consolidated financial statements), as well as fees of approximately $0.2 million incurred for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance initiatives. Other selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 16.3% during the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 16.8% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004, due primarily through leveraging of these costs.

Income from Operations

As a result of the foregoing, income from operations increased $2.5 million, or 16.2%, to $17.9 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $15.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Income from operations as a percentage of net sales increased to 4.1% for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 4.0% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004.

 

44


Table of Contents

Retail

Income from operations for the retail segment increased $7.0 million, or 16.5%, to $49.4 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $42.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Income from operations as a percentage of net sales for the retail segment decreased to 13.6% for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 14.0% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The decrease as a percent of net sales was primarily due to higher occupancy costs, including deferred rent, and payroll and payroll related costs in certain of our new retail markets as well as new stores, which incur occupancy and payroll costs but have not yet matured from a sales perspective. This decrease was partially offset by improvements product margin driven by improved pricing from vendors as well as a decrease in markdowns from promotional activity.

Direct

Income from operations for the direct segment decreased $3.5 million, or 16.8%, to $17.3 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $20.8 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Income from operations as a percentage of net sales for the direct segment decreased to 23.3% for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 24.6% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. This decrease as a percent of net sales was primarily due to the $10.4 million leverage in net sales from the prior year and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $0.1 million, partially offset by an increase in product margin driven by improved pricing from vendors as well as a decrease in markdowns from promotional activity.

Corporate costs

Corporate costs increased $0.9 million, or 1.9%, to $48.7 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $47.8 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Corporate costs as a percentage of net sales decreased to 11.2% for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to 12.3% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. This decrease was due primarily to increased net sales as well as $1.6 million in severance recorded in Fiscal 2004 related to the termination of an executive officer of the Company, partially offset by increases in field management payroll and professional fees incurred in Fiscal 2005.

Extinguishment of Debt and Other

Extinguishment of debt and other includes $11.1 million of expenses related to the repayment of our previous debt upon our issuance of our Notes, which consists of $7.7 million of original issue discount related to the allocation of value to the warrants and Holdings Preferred Stock and $3.4 million of deferred financing costs from the previous debt. Extinguishment of debt and other also includes $0.4 million in expense relating to our interest rate swap that we entered into in Fiscal 2005. We did not incur these expenditures in Fiscal 2004.

Interest Expense, net

Interest expense increased $3.0 million, or 18.3%, to $19.4 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to $16.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The increase was primarily attributable to a higher interest rate on the Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes (the “Notes”) as compared with the old debt, as well as increased overall borrowings compared with Fiscal 2004 (see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for more information).

 

45


Table of Contents

(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes

We recognized $5.1 million of income tax benefit during the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared with $0.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. The effective tax rate for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 was 38.8% compared to 37.1% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004, which was primarily the result of the recording of a valuation allowance and a reduction in our income tax contingency of $375,000 due to the closure of certain matters with domestic taxing authorities (see Note 7 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion), partially offset by a reduction in our blended state tax rate.

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

Effective December 26, 2004 (the beginning of Fiscal 2005), we implemented a change in accounting for costs included in inventory. The change relates to capitalizing freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent of the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility, including payroll. As a result, we recorded a cumulative effect of accounting change of $2.3 million in income (net of tax provision of $1.6 million) upon adoption.

Net Loss

As a result of the foregoing, we generated a net loss of $5.7 million for the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005 compared to net loss of $0.6 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004.

Comparison of Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003

Net Sales

Net sales increased $56.2 million, or 17.0%, to $387.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $331.2 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The increase was the result of an increase in our comparable store sales and new sales from our non-comparable stores, offset by a decrease in our direct sales.

Retail

Net sales from our retail stores increased $60.2 million, or 24.8%, to $302.7 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $242.5 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. We operated 234 stores as of December 25, 2004 versus 174 stores as of December 27, 2003. Our overall store sales also increased as a result of comparable store sales growth of 1.8% (or $4.3 million), and non-comparable store sales of $55.9 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004. Our overall sales increased primarily in the categories of vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements and sports nutrition, partially offset by a decrease in sales in our weight management category, fueled by reduced sales in Cortislim ® and low carb products, which we believe was due to the wider availability of Cortislim ® in the marketplace and a change in demand for low carb products. We believe that the decrease in low carb product sales is largely a result of such products having less popularity in the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003.

Direct

Net sales to our direct customers decreased $4.0 million, or 4.5%, to $84.7 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $88.7 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in new customers and a shift in our customers’ buying pattern from our direct channel to our retail stores.

 

46


Table of Contents

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold, which includes product, warehouse and distribution and occupancy costs, increased $43.2 million, or 20.1%, to $258.2 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $215.0 million in fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The components of cost of goods sold are explained below. Costs of goods sold as a percentage of net sales increased to 66.7% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 64.9% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003.

Product costs increased $29.1 million, or 16.4%, to $206.6 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $177.5 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. Product costs as a percentage of net sales decreased to 53.3% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 53.6% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The percentage decrease was a result of $2.3 million of expense we incurred in 2003 as a result of the sale of stepped up inventory resulting from purchase accounting revaluation of inventory and decreases in promotional activity in Fiscal 2004.

Warehouse and distribution costs increased $2.7 million, or 23.9%, to $14.0 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $11.3 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. Warehouse and distribution costs as a percentage of net sales increased to 3.6% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 3.4% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The increase was attributable to new stores in markets with higher shipping costs.

Occupancy costs increased $11.4 million, or 43.5%, to $37.6 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $26.2 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. Occupancy costs as a percentage of net sales increased to 9.7% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004, compared to 7.9% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The increase was primarily due to higher occupancy costs, including deferred rent, in certain of our new retail markets and new stores, which incur occupancy costs but have not yet matured from a sales perspective.

Gross Profit

As a result of the foregoing, gross profit increased $12.9 million, or 11.1% to $129.1 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $116.2 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses, including operating payroll and related benefits, advertising and promotion expense, and other selling, general and administrative expenses, increased $18.1 million, or 18.9%, to $113.8 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004, compared to $95.7 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The components of selling, general and administrative expenses are explained below. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 29.4% during the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 28.9% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003.

Operating payroll and related benefits increased $7.9 million, or 27.8%, to $36.3 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $28.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. Operating payroll and related benefits expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 9.4% during the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 8.6% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The increase was primarily due to higher operating payroll costs in certain of our new retail markets and new stores, which incur payroll and related benefits expenses but have not yet matured from a sales perspective.

Advertising and promotion expenses increased $0.8 million, or 6.8%, to $12.6 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $11.8 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003.

 

47


Table of Contents

Advertising and promotion expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 3.3% during the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 3.6% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003 due to leveraging of the expenses.

Other selling, general and administrative expenses, which include depreciation and amortization expense, increased $9.4 million, or 16.9%, to $64.9 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $55.5 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The primary reasons for the increase were the result of added operating costs from new stores opened in 2004, increases in field management costs, and increased depreciation and amortization. Other selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 16.8% during the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 17.3% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003.

Income from Operations

As a result of the foregoing, operating income decreased $5.1 million, or 24.9%, to $15.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $20.5 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. Operating income as a percentage of net sales decreased to 4.0% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 6.2% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003.

Retail

Income from operations for the retail segment increased $6.5 million, or 18.1%, to $42.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $35.9 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. Income from operations as a percentage of net sales for the retail segment decreased to 14.0% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 14.8% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The decrease as a percent of net sales was primarily due to higher occupancy costs, including deferred rent, and payroll and payroll related costs in certain of our new retail markets as well as new stores, which incur occupancy and payroll costs but have not yet matured from a sales perspective. This decrease was partially offset by improvements in product margin driven by improved pricing from vendors as well as a decrease in markdowns from promotional activity, as well as $2.3 million of expense in Fiscal 2003 from the sale of stepped up inventory that did not occur in Fiscal 2004.

Direct

Income from operations for the direct segment decreased $5.2 million, or 20.0%, to $20.8 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $26.0 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. Income from operations as a percentage of net sales for the direct segment decreased to 24.6% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 29.3% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. This decrease as a percent of net sales was primarily due to an increase in promotional markdown activity throughout the year as well as $4.1 million leverage in net sales from the prior year, partially offset by a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses of $0.5 million.

Corporate costs

Corporate costs increased $6.4 million, or 15.5%, to $47.8 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $41.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. Corporate costs as a percentage of net sales decreased to 12.3% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to 12.5% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. This decrease was due primarily to leveraging corporate expenses from increased sales partially offset by $1.6 million in severance recorded in Fiscal 2004 related to the termination of an executive officer of the Company and increases in field management payroll and professional fees incurred in Fiscal 2004.

 

48


Table of Contents

Interest Expense, net

Interest expense decreased $0.8 million, or 4.7%, to $16.4 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $17.2 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The decrease was primarily attributable to decreased rates on our Term Loan B after re-pricing in early 2004.

(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes

We recognized $0.4 million of income tax benefit during the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to $1.7 million of tax provision for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003. The effective tax rate for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 decreased to 37.1%, compared to an effective tax rate of 49.8% for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003, which was primarily the result of a reduction in our blended state tax rate.

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

Effective December 29, 2002 (the beginning of Fiscal 2003), we changed our accounting method to defer revenue on transactions based on estimated redemptions. As a result, we recorded a cumulative effect accounting change of $2.4 million in expense (net of tax benefit of $1.6 million) upon adoption which increased our accumulated deficit at December 29, 2002.

Net Loss

As a result of the foregoing, we generated a net loss of $0.6 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 compared to a net loss of $0.7 million (after effect of accounting change of $2.4 million) for the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003.

Key Indicators of Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table sets forth key indicators of our liquidity and capital resources:

 

     As of
     April 1,
2006
   December 31,
2005
   December 25,
2004

Balance Sheet Data:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,583    $ 4,784    $ 2,885

Working capital

     36,150      28,268      27,281

Total assets

     414,390      408,601      390,460

Total debt

     176,500      177,127      160,336

Stockholders’ equity

     151,401      147,855      153,349

 

     Three Months Ended     Year Ended  
     April 1,
2006
    March 26,
2005
    December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 

Other Information:

          

Depreciation and amortization, including deferred rent (1)

   $ 4,344     $ 6,775     $ 24,976     $ 25,415     $ 22,315  

Cash Flows Provided By (Used In):

          

Operating activities

   $ 1,497     $ 5,554     $ 19,997     $ 23,092     $ 18,263  

Investing activities

     (3,033 )     (4,928 )     (19,021 )     (19,174 )     (19,949 )

Financing activities

     (665 )     (250 )     923       (1,978 )     (1,755 )
                                        

Total cash (used by) provided by the Company

   $ (2,201 )   $ 376     $ 1,899     $ 1,940     $ (3,441 )
                                        

(1) Includes amortization of deferred financing fees and original issue discount.

 

49


Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary uses of cash are to fund working capital, operating expenses, debt service and capital expenditures related primarily to the construction of new stores. Historically, we have financed these requirements from internally generated cash flow. We believe that the cash generated by operations and cash and cash equivalents, together with the borrowing availability under the New Credit Facility, will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs for the next twelve months, including investments made and expenses incurred in connection with our store growth plans, systems development and store improvements. We plan to spend between $10 million and $14 million in capital expenditures during Fiscal 2006, $9 million to $11 million in connection with our store growth and improvement plans and $1 million to $3 million in all other expenditures, of which we have already invested $3.0 million through the first quarter ending April 1, 2006. We plan on opening between approximately 25 to 30 stores during Fiscal 2006, of which we have already opened nine stores through April 1, 2006.

We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of April 1, 2006. At April 1, 2006, we had $2.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and $36.2 million in working capital. The $8.0 million increase in working capital compared with Fiscal 2005 was primarily driven by growth in inventories of $4.0 million, increases in prepaid and other current assets of $4.3 million, an increase in deferred taxes of $0.6 million, a $0.6 million decrease in current borrowings and a $6.6 million decrease in deferred sales offset by a $2.2 million decrease in cash and $6.2 million in increases from accounts payable and accrued liabilities. We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2005. At December 31, 2005, we had $4.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and $28.3 million in working capital compared with $2.9 million in cash and cash equivalents and $27.3 million in working capital at December 25, 2004. The $1.0 million increase in working capital was primarily driven by growth in inventories of $12.1 million ($8.3 million of which represents actual inventory growth while $3.8 million relates to the change in accounting principle), offset by $12.1 million in borrowings from our new credit facility when we repaid our old debt and entered into the Notes.

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities was $1.5 million and $5.6 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005, respectively. This decrease was primarily a result of increase in inventories to purchase more promotional products as well as an increase in other current assets.

Cash provided by operating activities was $20.0 million and $23.1 million for Fiscal 2005 and Fiscal 2004, respectively. This decrease was primarily a result of increase in inventories and other current assets, as well as larger net loss due to higher interest expense attributable to the Notes and our new credit facility.

Cash provided by operating activities was $23.1 million and $18.3 million during the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003, respectively. The increase in the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2004 was primarily the result of a smaller increase in inventory partially offset by an increase in payables. The decrease in the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2003 was primarily the result of a net loss in Fiscal 2003 as compared to net income in Fiscal 2002 as a result of higher interest expense attributable to increased debt in connection with the acquisition of our Company in November 2002 (the “Acquisition”).

Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities during three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 was $3.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively. Capital expenditures were used for the construction of nine new stores during the three months ended April 1, 2006 and improvements of existing stores, as well as continuous improvements to our information systems technologies. Capital expenditures were used for the construction of 14 new stores during the three months ended March 26, 2005 and improvements of existing stores, as well as continuous improvements to our information systems technologies.

Net cash used in investing activities during Fiscal 2005 and Fiscal 2004 was $19.0 million and $19.2 million, respectively. Capital expenditures were used for the construction of 41 new stores in Fiscal 2005 and improvements of existing stores, as well as continuous improvements to our information systems technologies.

 

50


Table of Contents

Net cash used in investing activities during Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2003 was approximately $19.2 million and $19.9 million, respectively. The primary use of cash during Fiscal 2004 was for the opening of 61 new stores. The primary use of cash during Fiscal 2003 was for the opening of 46 new stores and the build out of our warehouse and distribution center and related warehouse and merchandise management system.

Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $0.7 million as compared with $0.3 million for three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005, respectively. During the three months ended April 1, 2006, we paid $0.6 million on a new senior secured revolving credit facility (the “New Credit Facility”).

Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $0.9 million as compared with net cash used in financing activities of $2.0 million for Fiscal 2005 and Fiscal 2004, respectively. During Fiscal 2005, we borrowed $6.0 million on our old revolving credit facility for working capital needs and subsequently repaid the $6.0 million through November 2005. In November 2005, we completed our offering of the Notes, by which the initial purchasers received delivery of the Notes on November 15, 2005. In conjunction with this offering, we repaid $95.8 million of principal on our Term Loan B, $19.5 million of principal and interest on our $15 million principal amount of VS Holdings, Inc. 13% Paid-in-Kind (“PIK”) Notes due 2009 (the “Holdco Notes”) and $52 million in principal on our $52 million principal amount of 12.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the “Opco Notes”). Also in November 2005, we entered into a new $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility whereby we borrowed $15.1 million. During December 2005, we repaid $3.0 million on this new credit facility. In connection with the Notes and our new credit facility, we incurred $6.7 million in fees which are deferred and are being amortized over the respective lives of the financing.

Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $2.0 million and $1.8 million during Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2003, respectively. The primary use of cash in Fiscal 2004 was $1.0 million in principal payments on our Term Loan B and $0.8 million in fees and expenses in connection with amendments to our previous credit facility. The primary use of cash in Fiscal 2003 was $1.0 million in principal payments on our Term Loan B and $0.4 million in premiums for our interest rate collar.

2005 Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes

On November 7, 2005, we completed our Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “Notes”) offering for $165 million. The initial purchasers received delivery of the Notes on November 15, 2005. Interest on the Notes will be set at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 7.5%, which will be reset quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2006. The combined weighted average interest rate from January 1, 2006 through April 1, 2006 was 12.0%. Interest on overdue principal and interest and liquidated damages, if any, will accrue at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the Notes. The indenture governing the Notes restricts the ability of VSI and Direct to incur additional debt, pay dividends and make distributions, make certain investments, repurchase stock, incur liens, enter into transactions with affiliates, enter into sale and lease back transactions, merge, or consolidate or transfer or sell assets. See “Description of Exchange Notes.”

New Credit Facility

On November 15, 2005 VSI entered into a New Credit Facility for $50.0 million, and has the option to increase or decrease the facility size by $25.0 million, subject to certain conditions. The availability under the New Credit Facility is subject to a borrowing base calculated on the basis of certain eligible accounts receivable from credit card companies and inventory of VSI and Direct. The obligations thereunder are secured by a security interest in substantially all of the assets of Holdings, VSI and Direct. The New Credit Facility provides for affirmative and negative covenants affecting VSI, Holdings and Direct. The New Credit Facility restricts, among other things, our ability to incur indebtedness, create or permit liens on our assets, declare or pay dividends and

 

51


Table of Contents

certain other restricted payments, consolidate, merge or recapitalize, acquire or sell assets, make certain investments, loans or other advances, enter into transactions with affiliates, change our line of business, and restricts the types of hedging activities we can enter into. Our previous credit facility had the terms as described in Note 3 in our notes to consolidated financial statements, and was replaced with our New Credit Facility. The New Credit Facility has a maturity date of November 15, 2010.

The borrowings under the revolving credit facility accrue interest, at our option at the rate per annum announced from time to time by the agent as its “prime rate”, or at a per annum rate equal to between 1.25% and 1.75% (depending on excess availability) above the adjusted Eurodollar rate. The combined weighted average interest rate from January 1, 2006 through April 1, 2006 was 6.0%.

Direct and Holdings provided guarantees in respect of VSI’s obligations in respect of the credit facility, and VSI and Holdings have provided guarantees in respect of our Direct’s obligations in respect of the credit facility.

We entered into an interest rate swap during December 2005 on a portion of our Notes, which did not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133. As a result, the fair market value of the interest rate swap is marked to market at the balance sheet date with a corresponding adjustment to other expense. As of April 1, 2006, the interest rate swap qualified for hedge accounting. The fair market value of $1.3 million is recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet at April 1, 2006. Of the appreciation in market value of $1.7 million, $0.9 million is recorded in other comprehensive income, $0.5 million is recorded in deferred tax liability and the remaining appreciation in market value of $0.3 million, which represents the appreciation of market value from December 31, 2005 to February 9, 2006, which was the period through which the Company did not qualify for hedge accounting, is recorded in other expense.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

As of April 1, 2006, our lease commitments and contractual obligations are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Total    Operating
Leases (1)
   Long-term
Debt
   Interest
Payments
   Credit
Facility (2)
   Severance    Auto
Leases

Remaining Nine Months

                    

2006

   $ 60,236    $ 32,926    $ —      $ 15,286    $ 11,500    $ 497    $ 27

Fiscal Year Ending

                    

2007

     59,101      38,720      —        20,381      —        —        —  

2008

     57,049      36,688      —        20,361      —        —        —  

2009

     54,907      34,596      —        20,311      —        —        —  

2010

     54,110      33,839      —        20,271      —        —        —  

Thereafter

     315,874      110,453      165,000      40,421      —        —        —  
                                                
   $ 601,277    $ 287,222    $ 165,000    $ 137,031    $ 11,500    $ 497    $ 27
                                                

(1) The operating leases included in the above table do not include contingent rent based upon sales volume, which represented less than 1% of our minimum lease obligations during the three months ended April 1, 2006. The operating leases do not include common area maintenance costs or real estate taxes that are paid to the landlords or taxing authorities during the year, which combined represented approximately 15% of our minimum lease obligations during the three months ended April 1, 2006.
(2) The New Credit Facility is classified as a current liability on the balance sheet and in the above schedule due to the fact that it is secured by a borrowing base calculated on the basis of certain current assets, primarily inventory and credit card receivables. The New Credit Facility has a maturity date of November 15, 2010.

Severance . As of April 1, 2006 we had a liability of $0.5 million related to severance payments for one executive terminated in May 2004 and seven other terminated employees. We have an aggregate contingent liability of up to $0.9 million related to potential severance payments for two executives as of April 1, 2006

 

52


Table of Contents

pursuant to their respective employment agreements. These potential severance payments are not reflected in the table above. We have an aggregate contingent liability of up to $1.9 million related to potential severance payments for eight employees as of April 1, 2006 following a change in control pursuant to their respective employment agreements. These potential severance payments are not reflected in the table above.

 

52.1


Table of Contents

Auto Leases . At April 1, 2006, we operated a fleet of approximately 15 leased motor vehicles, primarily for the district managers and regional management. The terms of these leases generally run for 36 months and expire at various times through June 2006.

Reclassification

We reclassified deferred rent expense of $0.9 million, $3.4 million and $2.1 million from selling, general and administrative expense to costs of goods sold to properly reflect these amounts on the statement of operations for the three months ended March 26, 2005 and for Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2003, respectively.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not created, and are not party to, any special-purpose or off-balance sheet entities for the purpose of raising capital, incurring debt or operating our business. We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements or relationships with entities that are not consolidated into our financial statements that have or are reasonably likely have a material current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Effects of Inflation

We do not believe that our sales or operating results have been materially impacted by inflation during the periods presented in our financial statements. There can be no assurance, however, that our sales or operating results will not be impacted by inflation in the future.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2004, the FASB published SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), an amendment of FASB Statements No. 123 and No. 148. Under SFAS No. 123(R), all forms of share-based payment to employees, including employee stock options, would be treated as compensation and recognized in the statement of operations. SFAS No. 123(R) is effective beginning in the first quarter of Fiscal 2006. We currently account for stock options under Accounting Principles Bulletin (“APB”) No. 25 using the intrinsic value method in accounting for our employee stock options. No stock-based compensation costs were reflected in net (loss) income relating to options under those plans because all options were granted at an exercise price greater than or at market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The pro forma impact of expensing options is disclosed in Note 3 in the notes to consolidated financial statements in the Stock Based Compensation chart. SFAS No. 123(R) permits companies to adopt its requirements using various methods. We adopted the prospective method for all stock option grants issued prior to December 31, 2005. Under the prospective method, those nonpublic companies that used the minimum value method of measuring equity share options and similar instruments for either recognition or pro forma disclosure purposes will apply to SFAS No. 123(R) prospectively to new awards and to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled after the required effective date. We will continue to account for any portion of awards outstanding at the date of initial application using the accounting principles originally applied to those awards which were the provisions of Opinion 25 and its related interpretive guidance. The prospective method will also be applied for stock option grants issued after December 31, 2005.

In March 2005, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 47 (“Interpretation No. 47”) “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143.” Interpretation No. 47 clarifies that the term conditional asset retirement obligation as used in FASB Statement No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. The obligation to perform the asset retirement activity is unconditional even though uncertainty exists about the timing and/or method of settlement. Accordingly, an entity is required to recognize a liability for the

 

53


Table of Contents

fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. This interpretation is effective no later than the end of the fiscal years ended after December 15, 2005. We have determined that Interpretation No. 47 did not have a material impact on our results of operation, financial position or cash flows.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” SAS No. 154 provides guidance on the accounting for and reporting of accounting changes and error corrections. It establishes, unless impracticable, retrospective application as the required method for reporting a change in accounting principle in the absence of explicit transition requirements specific to the newly adopted accounting principle. This Statement also provides guidance for determining whether retrospective application of a change in accounting principle is impracticable and for reporting a change when retrospective application is impracticable and also states that the correction of an error in previously issued financial statements is not an accounting change. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005.

In June 2005, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached consensus on EITF 05-6, “Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold Improvements.” Under EITF 05-6, leasehold improvements placed in service significantly after and not contemplated at or near the beginning of the lease term, should be amortized over the lesser of the useful life of the assets or a term that includes renewals that are reasonably assured at the date the leasehold improvements are purchased. EITF 05-6 is effective for periods beginning after June 29, 2005. We believe the adoption of EITF 05-6 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In October 2005, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 13-1, “Accounting for Rental Costs Incurred during a Construction Period” (“FSP No. 13-1”), to give guidance to a lessee on determining whether rental costs associated with operating leases may be capitalized during a construction period. Specifically, FSP No. 13-1 stipulates that such costs shall be (a) recognized as rental expense, (b) included in income from continuing operations, and (c) allocated over the lease term according to the guidance in SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases,” and FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-3, “Accounting for Operating Leases with Scheduled Rent Increases.” The guidance in FSP No. FAS 13-1 is effective for the first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2005, with early adoption permitted for financial statements or interim financial statements that have not yet been issued. We previously applied the principles of FSP No. 13-1. Accordingly, this will not have any impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Related Party Transactions

In connection with the Acquisition, we entered into a management agreement with Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC. This agreement provides for a quarterly fee of the greater of $187,500 or 0.25% of gross sales for the preceding fiscal quarter for advisory and consulting services. Amounts paid for the Fiscal quarters ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 was approximately $302,000 and $248,000, respectively.

In connection with the Acquisition, we loaned $1.5 million to an officer of our Company as part of a purchase of Holdings stock, of which we have recourse on $375,000 as well as all accrued interest. The note bears interest at 3.06%. The note and interest are payable on November 27, 2009. On June 12, 2006, this note was assigned as a dividend to VS Parent, a parent company of VS Holdings and is no longer held by or payable to us.

In May 2004, we recorded a charge of $1.3 million related to the former CEO’s separation from our Company. This amount represents payment to be made over a twenty-four month period from date of separation pursuant to a preexisting employment contract. At April 1, 2006 we had approximately $185,000 remaining to be paid during the remainder of Fiscal 2006, which is recorded in accrued salaries and related expenses.

We are one of several portfolio companies of BSMB. In 2004, BSMB initiated a process to identify areas where cost savings may be achieved by the companies it owns by coordinating the purchasing activities of such

 

54


Table of Contents

companies to take advantage of volume discounts that would otherwise not be available to us if we were acting on our own. In connection with this undertaking, BSMB entered into consulting arrangements with individuals and consulting firms. The consulting fees will be charged to the companies owned by BSMB based on their pro rata share of the overall cost savings achieved. As of April 1, 2006, based on information received from BSMB, it is estimated that our share of the consulting fees will be approximately $700,000 and accordingly we have recorded this as an expense and a corresponding liability at the end of Fiscal 2005. No amounts have been paid at the end of April 1, 2006.

In November 2005, we entered into a consulting agreement with Renaissance Brands LTD. (“Renaissance”), an advisory and consulting company serving a number of private equity and venture capital firms. Douglas B. Fox, a member of our board of directors, is the Chief Executive Officer and sole shareholder of Renaissance. Renaissance provides marketing, advertising and messaging advice to us and is paid $2,500 per day, for not more than three days per month, for such services. Amounts paid during the Fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2006 was approximately $38,000 for fees and expenses.

On November 15, 2005, we issued $165.0 million of second priority senior secured floating rate notes due 2012. Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. was an initial purchaser and a joint book-running manager in connection with the offering of the Notes and received approximately $4.5 million in underwriting discounts and commissions in connection with the offering.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk represents the risk of changes in the value of market risk sensitive instruments caused by fluctuations in interest rates and commodity prices. Changes in these factors could cause fluctuations in the results of our operations and cash flows. In the ordinary course of business, we are primarily exposed to interest rate risks. We do not use derivative financial instruments in connection with these market risks, other than on our existing term loan which carries a floating interest rate as described below.

Our market risks relate primarily to changes in interest rates. Our new credit facility and term loans carry floating interest rates that are tied to LIBOR and the prime rate and, therefore, our statement of operations and our cash flows will be exposed to changes in interest rates. A one percentage point change in LIBOR would cause an increase to interest expense of approximately $1.8 million. We historically have engaged in interest rate hedging activities related to our floating rate debt. We entered into an interest rate swap during December 2005 on a portion of our Notes. The fair market value of the interest rate swap is marked to market at the balance sheet date with a corresponding adjustment to extinguishment of debt and other. As of December 31, 2005 the fair market value was $0.4 million and was recorded in extinguishment of debt and other and accrued interest.

 

55


Table of Contents

OUR BUSINESS

Overview of our Company

We are a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products. As of April 22, 2006, we operated 285 stores located in 29 states and the District of Columbia and sell direct to consumers through our nationally circulated catalog and our Web site, www.vitaminshoppe.com. We target the dedicated, well-informed VMS consumer and differentiate ourselves by providing our customers with an extensive selection of high quality products sold at competitive prices and value-added customer service. We offer our customers a selection of over 20,000 SKUs from over 400 national brands, including our best value Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech private label brands. Our broad product offering enables us to provide our customers with a selection of products that is not readily available at other specialty VMS retailers, supermarkets, chain drug stores or mass merchants, which we believe drives customer traffic and creates a loyal customer base.

Segment Information

We sell our products through two business segments: retail, which is our retail store format, and direct, which consists of our catalog and internet formats.

Retail . We believe we operate a unique retail store format in the VMS industry, which has been successful in diverse geographic and demographic markets, ranging from urban locations in New York City to suburban locations in Plantation, Florida and Manhattan Beach, California. Our stores carry a broad selection of VMS products and are staffed with highly experienced and knowledgeable associates who are able to educate our customers about product features and assist in product selection.

Since the beginning of 2003, we have aggressively pursued new store growth. During this period through Fiscal 2005, we opened 148 new stores, expanding our presence in our existing markets as well as entering new markets such as California, Texas and Illinois. Our new stores typically have reached sales more consistent with our mature store base over a three to four year time period.

Direct . Our direct segment consists of our catalog and internet operations from our Web site, www.vitaminshoppe.com. The direct segment enables us to service customers outside our retail markets and provides us with data that we use to assist us in the selection of future store locations.

Our catalog is mailed each month to approximately 160,000 catalog customers contained in our Frequent Buyer Program database. Our catalog is currently designed to appeal to the dedicated, well-informed VMS consumer and includes a broad assortment of approximately 12,000 to 14,000 of our most popular SKUs. Our Web site offers our customers online access to our full assortment of over 20,000 SKUs. In 2005, over 4.8 million customers visited our Web site placing over 450,000 orders. In the fourth quarter of 2005, we implemented numerous features and enhanced functionality to our Web site that we believe will simplify and improve our customers’ shopping experience. In addition, we mail out approximately 1.9 million catalogs throughout the year to prospective customers and non-active customers in our Frequent Buyer Program database.

History

Our Company began as a single store in New York, New York in 1977. Our Vitamin Shoppe branded products were introduced in 1989. We were acquired in November 2002 by BSMB and other investors.

Industry

The U.S. nutritional supplements industry is large and highly fragmented. In 2004, no single industry participant accounted for more than 10% of total industry sales. Industry participants include specialty retailers,

 

56


Table of Contents

supermarkets, drugstores, mass merchants, multi-level marketing organizations, mail order companies and a variety of other smaller participants. The nutritional supplements sold through these channels are divided into the following major product categories: vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and weight management. Most supermarkets, drugstores and mass merchants have narrow nutritional supplement product offerings and less knowledgeable sales associates than specialty retailers. We believe that these industry participants’ share of the nutritional supplements market over the last five years has remained relatively constant.

The U.S. nutritional supplements industry was a $20.3 billion retail market in 2004, according to the Nutrition Business Journal (the “NBJ”). While the industry underwent a period of rapid expansion during the 1990s, and grew at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 9% between 1990 and 2004, industry sales growth slowed in 2004 due to a significant reduction in the weight management category as a result of a decline in demand for low carb products, the ban of ephedra based products in April 2004 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a reduction in major new product introductions. Despite recent market conditions, according to the NBJ, the market is projected to grow at a 3% to 5% compound annual growth rate between 2005 and 2008. Positive industry trends include an aging U.S. population, rising healthcare costs and the increased use of preventive measures and increasing focus on diet and fitness.

Competitive Strengths

We believe the following strengths have enabled us to achieve strong financial results relative to our competitors, and we are positioned to capitalize on the favorable demographic, healthcare and lifestyle trends affecting our industry:

Leading Market Positions . We are one of the leading specialty retailers of VMS products in the United States. Since our inception in 1977, we have competed successfully against every major retailer in the VMS industry. We believe our leading market positions are a result of our premium store locations, extensive product selection, value-added customer service and competitive pricing.

Extensive Product Selection with a Focus on Our Private Label Brand . We believe we market the broadest product selection in the VMS industry with over 20,000 SKUs from over 400 national brands, including our best value Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech private label brands. Our national brands include recognized brands such as Twinlab ® , Solgar ® , Country Life ® , Nature’s Way ® and Solaray ® , and brands that are less widely distributed such as Garden of Life ® , New Chapter ® , Enzymatic Therapy ® and Life Extension . Our best value Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products, with over 1,200 SKUs, offer our customers an attractive alternative to higher-priced national brands and have become an established alternative to national branded products. In 2005, Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products accounted for approximately 28% of our net sales and generated a gross margin greater than that of the national brands we sell. Our broad product offering differentiates us from our competitors and enables us to offer our customers a selection of products for their health and wellness needs that we believe is not readily available at other specialty VMS retailers, supermarkets, chain drug stores or mass merchants. In addition, our broad product offering minimizes our dependence on any one product or vendor. In 2005, no single product sub-category accounted for more than 4% of our net sales.

Premium Real Estate . We believe that our store locations are integral to our success. We target retail sites that are located in high traffic areas, have easy access and good visibility from major roadways and convenient parking. In addition, our store base is relatively young, minimizing near-term capital expenditure requirements. Our premium real estate locations serve as an effective form of new customer acquisition, thereby reducing the need for conventional advertising costs and the need to cluster stores to achieve economies.

High-Quality and Loyal Customer Base . Our customer base is mainly comprised of consumers who proactively manage their long-term health and wellness, are between the ages of 35 and 60 and have household incomes in excess of the national average. Through our Frequent Buyer Program we maintain a detailed customer database. We cultivate customer loyalty through targeted marketing programs and our low pricing strategy. In the fifty-three weeks ended December 31, 2005, our active customers accounted for the vast majority of our net sales.

 

57


Table of Contents

Value-Added Customer Service . We place a strong emphasis on employee training and customer service. Our stores and call center are staffed with highly experienced and knowledgeable associates, many of whom are regular and informed VMS consumers. To further educate our customers, our stores are equipped with “Health Notes,” a third-party health and wellness information database, as well as a library whereby our customers can freely read health related literature and borrow books for up to two weeks. To further improve and streamline our associate training program, we launched Vitamin Shoppe University in July 2005, a web-based interactive training program that provides initial and ongoing training to our associates along with skills evaluation and testing. In order to encourage our associates to learn more and provide greater assistance to our customers, we plan to offer additional compensation to our associates as they advance through the training program.

High Degree of Stable and Recurring Sales . We believe our loyal customer base results in stable and recurring sales. Our products typically have broad consumer appeal, are purchased by consumers interested in proactively managing their long-term health and wellness and have long life cycles.

Business Strategy

We intend to continue to pursue the following key strategies to drive customer traffic and grow our sales:

 

    enhance our customers’ shopping experience by continuing to offer a broad selection of VMS products and providing them with a convenient shopping experience, value-added customer service and low prices;

 

    utilize our extensive customer database to improve customer loyalty, facilitate direct marketing and increase cross-sell opportunities;

 

    continue to invest in associate training and provide employees with opportunities to grow within our Company;

 

    increase sales of our direct business segment by enhancing the features and functionality of our Web site and providing our customers with a more personalized shopping experience; and

 

    increase sales and profitability through the maturation of the 148 stores we opened since the beginning of 2003 through Fiscal 2005.

Retail Stores

We believe we operate a unique retail store format in the VMS industry, which has been successful in diverse geographic and demographic markets, ranging from urban locations in New York City to suburban locations in Plantation, Florida and Manhattan Beach, California. Our stores carry a broad selection of VMS products and are staffed with highly experienced and knowledgeable associates who are able to educate our customers about product features and assist in product selection.

Store Counts and Locations

There were 275 and 285 retail stores open in the United States as of December 31, 2005 and April 22, 2006, respectively. The following table shows the change in our network of stores for the Fiscal Years 2001 through 2005:

 

     Fiscal Year
       2005        2004         2003        2002        2001  

Stores opening at beginning of year

   234    174     128    103    89

Stores opened

   41    61     46    25    14

Stores closed

   —      (1 )   —      —      —  
                         

Stores open at end of year

   275    234     174    128    103
                         

 

58


Table of Contents

Our stores typically require three to four years to mature, generating lower store level sales in the initial years than our mature stores. As a result, new stores generally have a negative impact on our overall operating margin. As our recently opened stores mature, we expect them to contribute meaningfully to our sales. The following table reflects our current store count by state:

 

State

  Stores
Open at
12/31/05
  

State

   Stores
Open at
12/31/05
 

Arizona

  4   

Michigan

   5  

California

  37   

Nevada

   1  

Colorado

  2   

New Jersey

   17  

Connecticut

  5   

New York (31 in new York City)

   49  

Delaware

  2   

North Carolina

   8  

District of Columbia

  1   

Ohio

   5  

Florida

  29   

Oregon

   3  

Georgia

  8   

Pennsylvania

   10  

Idaho

  1   

South Carolina

   2  

Illinois

  16   

Tennessee

   5  

Indiana

  3   

Texas

   22  

Louisiana

  2   

Virginia

   14  

Maryland

  11   

Washington

   1  

Massachusetts

  9   

Wisconsin

   3  
           
    

Total

   275  
           
    

Stores opened from 1/1/06 to 4/22/06

   11  
    

Stores closed from 1/1/06 to 4/22/06

   (1 )
           
    

Stores open at 4/22/06

   285  
           

As of April 22, 2006, we leased the property for all of our 285 stores. We do not believe that any individual store property is material to our financial condition or results of operation. Of the leases for our stores, 7 expire in Fiscal 2006, 10 expire in Fiscal 2007, 18 expire in Fiscal 2008, 26 expire in Fiscal 2009, 17 expire in Fiscal 2010 and the balance expire in Fiscal 2011 or thereafter. We have options to extend most of these leases for a minimum of five years.

In April 2004, we consolidated our existing warehouse and distribution centers and corporate headquarters into one new state-of-the-art facility. The initial lease term for the facility is for 12 years, with two five-year renewal options.

We believe that all of our current facilities are in good condition and are suitable and adequate for our current and reasonably anticipated future needs.

Other

We organize our products by category enabling easy comparisons between different brands within each product sub-category, including our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech private label brands. In addition, our stores are staffed with highly experienced and knowledgeable associates, many of whom are regular and informed VMS consumers. Our associates are trained to educate our customers about product features and assist our customers in product selection. To further educate our customers, our stores are equipped with Health Notes, as well as a library whereby our customers can freely read health related literature and borrow books for up to two weeks.

We lease all of our stores and our typical lease terms are ten years, with one to two five-year renewal options. We lease our 230,000 square foot corporate headquarters, which includes our warehouse and distribution center in North Bergen, New Jersey and one small regional office in Santa Ana, California. No single store is material to our operations.

 

59


Table of Contents

Products

We offer a broad selection of vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products with over 20,000 SKUs from over 400 national brands. Our products are sold under our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech brand names, including Ultimate Man, Ultimate Woman and Whey Tech, and under nationally recognized third-party brand names, including Garden of Life ® , Twinlab ® , EAS ® and Nature’s Way ® . This variety is designed to provide our customers with a vast selection of products to fit their specific needs. Sales of our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products account for approximately 28% of our net sales.

Key Product Categories

Based on data collected from our merchandise systems, below is a comparison of our net merchandise sales by major product category and the respective percentage of our net merchandise sales for the period shown:

 

     Fiscal 2005     Fiscal 2004     Fiscal 2003  
     Dollars    %     Dollars    %     Dollars    %  

Product Category

               

Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs

   $ 150,690    35 %   $ 131,139    34 %   $ 116,378    36 %

Supplements and Sports Nutrition

     231,058    53 %     198,453    52 %     168,674    52 %

Other

     50,804    12 %     53,150    14 %     41,314    12 %
                                       

Total Product

     432,552    100 %     382,742    100 %     326,366    100 %

Delivery revenue

     3,991        4,615        4,855   
                           

Net Sales

   $ 436,463      $ 387,357      $ 331,221   
                           

Note: To better align our product mix, SKU’s were reclassified between product categories in the second half of Fiscal 2005. Accordingly, fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2003 have been reclassified in order to conform to the current presentation. For the three months ended April 1, 2006, the percentage of product category to net merchandise sales was the same as Fiscal 2005.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are taken to maintain health, proactively to improve health and in support of specific health conditions. These products help prevent nutrient deficiencies that can occur when diet alone does not provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals our bodies need. The vitamin and mineral product category includes multi-vitamins, which many consider to be a foundation of a healthy regime, lettered vitamins, such as Vitamin A, C, D, E, and B-complex, along with major and trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium, chromium and zinc. With over 3,000 SKUs, a wide range of potency levels and multiple delivery systems, our customers have many choices to fit their individual needs. Our vitamin and mineral products are available in tablets, capsules, vegi-capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids and powders.

Herbs

Herbs offer a natural remedy and are taken to address specific conditions. Certain herbs can be taken to help support specific body systems, including ginkgo to support brain activity and milk thistle to help maintain proper liver function, as well as other less common herbs such as holy basil for stress relief, turmeric for inflammation support and black cohosh for menopause support. Herbal products include whole herbs, standardized extracts, herbs designed for single remedies, herb combination formulas and teas. With over 6,000 SKUs, a wide range of potency levels and multiple delivery systems, our customers have many choices to fit their individual needs. Our herb products are available in tablets, capsules, vegi-capsules, soft gels, gelcaps, liquids, tea bags and powders.

Supplements

Supplements help supply higher levels of nutrients than diet alone can provide, help people stay healthy, and support specific conditions and life stages such as childhood, pregnancy, menopause and aging. Categories of

 

60


Table of Contents

supplements include essential fatty acids, probiotics and condition specific formulas. Certain supplements, such as organic greens, psyllium fiber and soy proteins, are taken for added support during various life stages and are intended to supplement vital nutrients absent in an individual’s diet. Flax seed oils and folic acid are specifically useful during pregnancy. Super antioxidants, such as coenzyme Q-10, grapeseed extract and pycnogenol, are taken to address specific conditions. High ORAC (oxygen radical absorptive capacity) fruit concentrates like gogi, mangosteen, pomegranate and blueberry are taken to supplement high levels of natural nutrients not available in modern diets. Other specialty supplement formulas are targeted to support specific organs, biosystems and body functions. For example, we offer Ultimate Memory Aid for brain function, Sleep Naturally for sleeplessness and various enzyme combinations for other support systems. We offer over 5,000 supplement SKUs available in tablets, capsules, vegi-capsules, soft gels, gelcaps, sublingual and liquid forms.

Sports Nutrition

Our sports nutrition consumers are looking for products to help maintain or supplement a healthy lifestyle. These products are used in conjunction with cardiovascular conditioning, weight training and sports activities. Major categories in sports nutrition include protein and weight gain powders, meal replacements, nutrition bars, sport drinks and pre and post-workout supplements to either add energy or enhance recovery after exercise. Our sports nutrition products are offered in many convenient forms such as powders, tablets, capsules, soft gels and liquids. Our sports nutrition consumers include the sports enthusiast, weekend warrior, endurance athlete, marathoner and serious bodybuilder, as well as those seeking to maintain a healthy fitness level.

Other

Our “Other” category represents all other product classifications we stock that do not fit within the previously described categories. These products include natural beauty and personal care, natural pet food and supplements and diet and weight management. Natural beauty and personal care products offer an alternative to traditional products that often contain harsh detergents and synthetic additives. Our customers choose these products over more traditional products because they contain organic and natural ingredients, are produced without the use of pesticides or animal testing and are more closely aligned with the health and wellness goals of our customers. Our wide variety of diet and weight management products range from low calorie bars, drinks and meal replacements to energy tablets, capsules and liquids. Our natural pet products include nutritionally balanced foods and snacks along with condition specific supplements such as glucosamine for joint health.

Access to New Products and New Product Development

A key component of customer satisfaction is the introduction of new products. We identify customer trends through interactions with our customers, attending trade shows, contacting vendors and generally being active within the marketplace. We maintain close relationships with our third party branded manufacturers, which allows us to be at the forefront of introducing new third-party branded products within the industry. In addition, we maintain a product development group that is staffed with employees who oversee our development of new Vitamin Shoppe branded products. During Fiscal 2005 and 2004, we focused on, and will continue to focus on, developing Vitamin Shoppe branded product offerings for beauty care, condition-specific and branded blended specialty supplements (which are designed to assist with certain conditions, for example, sleep difficulties) and functional foods and beverages (offering further benefits beyond nourishment and hydration, such as additional vitamins and minerals). We are also focusing on enhancing our Vitamin Shoppe branded product offerings under our BodyTech label as we see a significant opportunity for expansion in the sports nutrition category. We incurred $2.0 million, $1.7 million and $1.4 million of research and development costs for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003, respectively.

 

61


Table of Contents

Suppliers and Inventory

Nature’s Value, Inc. is the only supplier from whom we purchased at least 5% of our merchandise during Fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003. We purchased approximately 13% of our total merchandise from Nature’s Value, Inc. in Fiscal 2005, and purchased raw materials from Nature’s Value, Inc. representing 10% and 12% of total merchandise purchases in Fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively.

We consider numerous factors in supplier selection, including, but not limited to, price, credit terms, product offerings and quality. As is customary in our industry, we generally do not have long-term contracts with any supplier and any supplier may discontinue selling to us at any time.

We strive to maintain sufficient inventory to enable us to provide a high level of service to our customers. Inventory, accounts receivable and accounts payable levels, payment terms and return policies are in accordance with standard business procedures. We negotiate pricing with suppliers on behalf of all stores in our network. We believe that our buying power enables us to receive favorable pricing terms and enhances our ability to obtain high demand merchandise.

Warehouse and Distribution

In April 2004, we consolidated our existing warehouse and distribution centers and corporate headquarters into one new state-of-the-art facility. The cost of the new facility was approximately $11.9 million, which was spent between September 2002 and December 2003. Our new facility increased our total warehouse operating space to approximately 230,000 square feet and has allowed us to reduce supervision costs and distribution center related inventory levels. In addition, through a combination of improved technology, processes, controls and layout, we improved our pick accuracy rates and net inventory accuracy rates to over 99%. We believe our facility is more than sufficient to support our growth over the next few years. We currently operate two shifts, seven days a week, and have the ability to expand our schedule and capacity to meet future demand. We use our own delivery fleet to service 59 of our retail stores in New York and New Jersey, and multiple regional carriers to serve our other retail markets.

Effective December 26, 2004 (the beginning of Fiscal 2005), we implemented a change in accounting for costs included in inventory. The change relates to capitalizing freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility, including payroll. These costs were previously expensed as incurred in cost of goods sold and are now treated as inventory product costs which are expensed as inventory is sold. Our primary cost basis of accounting for inventory is moving weighted average which has been defined generally as price paid or consideration given to acquire an asset. As applied to inventories, cost means in principle the sum of the applicable expenditures and charges directly or indirectly incurred in bringing the product to its existing condition and location. Freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and the distribution facility are includable in inventory because they directly relate to the acquisition of goods for resale by us.

Regulatory and Quality Control

The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) is the regulatory authority charged with overseeing the products marketed by us and the products found in our stores. The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) regulates the advertising of the products marketed by us and the products found in our stores.

Our Scientific and Regulatory Affairs (“S&RA”) department reviews all aspects of our FDA and FTC regulatory processes, ensuring compliance with regulations. We have established processes to review the underlying safety and efficacy of our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products. These processes include

 

62


Table of Contents

review of the ingredients’ safety information, product formulation, product form, product labeling, the efficacy and claim support for the product and any marketing materials. All consumer communications that deal with product and health issues must be approved by S&RA prior to being disseminated to the public.

We have standard procedures whereby all potential Vitamin Shoppe contract manufacturers are reviewed and approved before they can supply any of our Vitamin Shoppe or BodyTech branded products. In addition, all potential new products are vetted and approved prior to being accepted into our Vitamin Shoppe or BodyTech branded product line.

We use three primary suppliers for our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products that together produce approximately 85% of our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products. We have long-term relationships with our two largest suppliers, each over fifteen years. Our relationships with manufacturers require that all Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products are not adulterated or misbranded under any provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder. This includes, but is not limited to, compliance with proposed Good Manufacturing Practices (“GMP”). This means that ingredients in our products must be tested for identity, purity, quality, strength, and composition before being incorporated into our Vitamin Shoppe or BodyTech branded products, and that our final Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products must again be tested for identity, purity, quality, strength, and composition prior to being released. All products require a certificate of analysis, which includes an analysis of the raw materials included in the product, and certification to 100% of label claim.

We have established a standard quality control operating procedure that calls for on-site audits of our contract manufacturers’ facilities and processes, and have established an internal team that will audit each of these facilities and work with us to resolve any noncompliance with proposed GMP regulations. We require our manufacturers to have certificates of assurance (such as for microbe testing and label testing) and to conduct annual final product testing at an independent analytical laboratory for every product manufactured for us.

Additionally, we have established standard quality control operating procedures by which we review vendors of third-party products for their track records on issues such as quality, efficacy and safety, to ensure that all third-party vendors meet the manufacturing and advertising standards required by the regulatory agencies and carry adequate insurance and indemnification policies to satisfy our standards. We further review each new product proposed to be carried by us to assure the safety of the ingredients. We reject those products that do not comply with the law or contain ingredients that we believe may be unsafe. Our third-party manufacturers and distributors and contract manufacturers deliver finished products to our warehouse and distribution center in New Jersey, which then supplies our retail and direct channels with products.

Frequent Buyer Program

Our Frequent Buyer Program, which we established over 10 years ago, encourages our customers to make repeat purchases and enables us to enhance customer loyalty. The program is open to customers across our two distribution channels and is free to join. Members of the program earn one point for every dollar they spend, starting with the first purchase upon joining the program. If a member accumulates over 100 points between January 1 and December 31 in a calendar year, the member will receive a special credit certificate in January of the following year to use on any single purchase made before March 31 of that year.

We utilize our Frequent Buyer Program database to track customer purchasing patterns across our two business segments, analyze market and industry trends and create targeted merchandising and marketing strategies. In addition, it provides us with customer and demographic data that has been used to assist us in the selection of future store locations.

 

63


Table of Contents

Marketing

We believe our high quality real estate is one of our primary marketing tools, as we ensure that our stores are located in high-visibility areas. We advertise by including free standing inserts in local newspapers, new store promotional mailings, mailing postcards for offerings and redemption offers and occasional television and radio advertising. We also conduct targeted marketing efforts by mailing coupons to members of our Frequent Buyer Program.

We promote our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products through our retail channel by placing the products in strategic and highly visible locations in our stores. Our retail and promotional activities promote our Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech branded products as the “best value” brand of our in-store products.

Competition

The U.S. nutritional supplements retail industry is highly competitive and fragmented. In 2004, no single retailer accounted for more than 10% of total industry sales. Competition is based primarily on price, quality, product assortment, customer service, marketing support and availability of new products. We compete with publicly and privately owned companies, which are highly varied in terms of geographical market coverage and product categories. We compete with other specialty and mass market retailers including Vitamin World ® , GNC ® , Whole Foods ® , Costco ® and Wal-Mart ® , internet and mail order companies including Puritan’s Pride ® , vitacost.com and Doctors Trust ® , and a variety of independent health and vitamin stores.

Insurance and Risk Management

We purchase insurance to cover standard risks in our industry, including policies to cover general and products liability, workers compensation, travel liability, auto liability and other casualty and property risks. Our insurance rates are based on our safety record as well as trends in the insurance industry.

We face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that, among other things, the use of our products results in injury. With respect to product liability coverage, we carry insurance coverage typical of our industry and product lines. Our coverage involves self-insured retentions with primary and excess liability coverage above the retention amount. We have the ability to refer claims to our contract manufacturers, third-party vendors and their respective insurers to pay the costs associated with any claims arising from such contract manufacturers’ or third-party vendors’ products. Our insurance covers any claims that are not adequately covered by a contract manufacturer’s or third-party vendor’s insurance and provides for excess secondary coverage above the limits provided by our contract manufacturers or third-party vendors. We believe we are adequately insured for the insurable risks associated with our business.

Trademarks and Other Intellectual Property

We believe trademark protection is particularly important to the maintenance of the recognized proprietary brand names under which we market our products. We own material trademarks or trade names that we use in conjunction with the sale of our products, including the Vitamin Shoppe and BodyTech brand names. We also rely upon trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovations and licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our competitive position. We protect our intellectual property rights through a variety of methods including trademark and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality agreements and proprietary information agreements with vendors, employees, consultants and others who have access to our proprietary information. Protection of our intellectual property often affords us the opportunity to enhance our position in the marketplace by precluding our competitors from using or otherwise exploiting our technology and brands. Our trademark, which is an indefinite lived intangible asset, was recorded at cost at $68.1 million for Fiscal years 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

64


Table of Contents

Sales from International Sources

For the last three years, less than 0.5% of our sales has been derived from international sources.

Employees

As of December 31, 2005, we had a total of approximately 1,400 full-time and 900 part-time employees, of whom approximately 1,850 were employed in our retail channel and 450 were employed in corporate, distribution and direct channel support functions. None of our employees belongs to a union or is a party to any collective bargaining or similar agreement. We consider our relationships with our employees to be good.

Environmental

We are subject to numerous federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing our operations, including the handling, transportation and disposal of our products and our non-hazardous and hazardous substances and wastes, as well as emissions and discharges into the environment, including discharges to air, surface water and groundwater. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations could result in costs for corrective action, penalties or the imposition of other liabilities. Changes in environmental laws or the interpretation thereof or the development of new facts could also cause us to incur additional capital and operation expenditures to maintain compliance with environmental laws and regulations. We also are subject to laws and regulations that impose liability and cleanup responsibility for releases of hazardous substances into the environment without regard to fault or knowledge about the condition or action causing the liability. Under certain of these laws and regulations, such liabilities can be imposed for cleanup of previously owned or operated properties. The presence of contamination from such substances or wastes could also adversely affect our ability to lease our properties, or to use them as collateral for financing. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations has not had a material effect upon our earnings or financial position; however, if we violate any environmental obligation, it could have a material adverse effect on our business or financial performance.

Legal Proceedings

Dwight Thompson v. The Vitamin Shoppe. On February 25, 2005, a former store manager filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Orange, alleging miscellaneous wage and hour violations under California law, including, but not limited to, violations related to the misclassification of store managers as exempt employees under California law and violations with respect to providing meal and rest periods for store managers and assistant store managers. We opened our first store in California in December 2002, and our Company reclassified our California store managers as non-exempt employees in January 2004. Plaintiff seeks to bring this action on behalf of himself and other “similarly situated” current and former California store managers and assistant store managers. In addition to the allegations made on behalf of the class, the plaintiff has also alleged violations of various provisions of the California Labor Code that would entitle plaintiff to collect fees under the California “bounty hunter” statute. The parties engaged in some preliminary pre-trial discovery, and the matter is currently stayed pending court approval of the settlement in the Perry case described below.

David Beauford, Jonathan Opris and Leonard Tyler, Jr. v. Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. On July 13, 2005 plaintiff Beauford, a former store manager and plaintiff Opris, a former assistant store manager, filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Marin, alleging miscellaneous wage and hour violations, and violations with respect to meal and rest periods under California law on behalf of store managers and assistant store managers. Plaintiff Tyler, a former store manager and assistant store manager was later added to the case as a named plaintiff. Many of plaintiffs’ allegations are similar to the violations alleged in the Thompson and Perry matters described above, including alleged violations of various provisions of the California Labor Code that would entitle plaintiffs to collect fees under the California “bounty hunter” statute. Discovery in this case is currently stayed pending court approval of the settlement in the Perry case described below.

 

65


Table of Contents

Janine Perry and Thomas Vitrano v. Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. On August 17, 2005, plaintiff Perry, a former store manager, and plaintiff Vitrano, a current store manager, filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Marin, alleging miscellaneous wage and hour violations under California law, including, but not limited to, violations related to misclassification of store managers and violations with respect to providing meal and rest periods for store managers and assistant store managers. Plaintiffs’ allegations are similar to the violations alleged in the Thompson and Beauford matters described above. Similarly, as in the Thompson and Beauford matters, plaintiffs seeks to bring this action on behalf of themselves and other “similarly situated” current and former California store managers and assistant store managers. On December 20, 2005, the parties engaged in mediation that was facilitated by an experienced third party employment litigation mediator. After a full day session, the parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, which was followed by execution of a formal Settlement Agreement. The costs associated with the proposed settlement were accrued in 2005. The settlement has received preliminary approval from of the Marin County Superior Court, subject to notice to class members and final approval at a later hearing. Approval of the settlement is being opposed by the plaintiffs’ counsel in the other two actions.

The three matters summarized above, though separately filed, seek in primary part the same relief on behalf of the same class of employees. There was also a petition pending to consolidate the three actions, which has been denied by the Court. If the settlement in the Perry matter is granted final approval by the Court, such settlement will for the most part eliminate the claims in the other two, subject to the rights of individual claimants to elect to not become participants in the class settlement and pursue separate individual claims. We do not anticipate that any of these litigation matters will have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or liquidity of our Company.

Red Yeast Rice Litigation . By letter dated November 28, 2005, an individual named Lawrence Switzer alleged that certain products sold by our Company containing an ingredient known as red yeast rice violate the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”) and other California consumer protection laws. Mr. Switzer filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 19, 2006 against our Company and 15 other manufacturers or retailers of similar products. To our knowledge, we have not yet been served with this complaint and therefore we have no obligation or deadline by which to respond in court. The principal basis of the claim is that the products contain the chemical lovastatin, which is also the active ingredient in pharmaceutical products, the presence of which Mr. Switzer alleges causes the products to be drugs as opposed to dietary supplements under federal and, derivatively, California law. In addition to alleging violations of the CLRA and other state consumer protection laws, Mr. Switzer also alleges that the products are labeled and marketed in violation of the federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act. The case is not brought as a class action; instead, Mr. Switzer claims to be a representative of the public suing for injunctive relief that will benefit the public. He seeks restitution on behalf of all purchasers of the products as well as compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys fees and costs of litigation. There is no claim of personal injury, although Mr. Switzer alleges he was injured by one unidentified product and lost money or property in purchasing each product. As a precaution, we ceased selling private label products containing red yeast rice in early 2006 and we are pursuing revisions to the formulation of our private label red yeast rice product as well as changes in our labeling. We continue to sell third party products containing red yeast rice.

We are party to various additional lawsuits arising from time to time in the normal course of business. We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings. Although the impact of the final resolution of these matters on our financial condition or results of operations in a particular subsequent reporting period is not known, management does not believe that the resolution of these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on financial condition or liquidity of our Company.

Government Regulation

The formulation, manufacturing, processing, labeling, packaging, advertising and distribution of our products are subject to regulation by several federal agencies, including the FDA, the FTC, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“DOA”) and the Environmental Protection

 

66


Table of Contents

Agency (“EPA”). These activities are also regulated by various agencies of the states and localities in which our products are sold. Pursuant to the FDCA, the FDA regulates the processing, formulation, safety, manufacture, packaging, labeling and distribution of dietary supplements (including vitamins, minerals, and herbs) and cosmetics. The FTC has jurisdiction to regulate the advertising of these products.

The FDCA has been amended several times with respect to dietary supplements, in particular by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (“DSHEA”). DSHEA established a new framework governing the composition, safety, labeling and marketing of dietary supplements. “Dietary supplements” are defined as vitamins, minerals, herbs, other botanicals, amino acids and other dietary substances for human use to supplement the diet, as well as concentrates, metabolites, constituents, extracts or combinations of such dietary ingredients. Generally, under DSHEA, dietary ingredients that were on the market prior to October 15, 1994 may be used in dietary supplements without notifying the FDA. New dietary ingredients (i.e., not marketed in the U.S. prior to October 15, 1994) must be the subject of a new dietary ingredient notification submitted to the FDA unless the ingredient has been “present in the food supply as an article used for food” without being “chemically altered.” A new dietary ingredient notification must be submitted to the FDA at least 75 days before the initial marketing of the new dietary ingredient. There is no certainty that the FDA will accept any particular evidence of safety for any new dietary ingredient. The FDA’s refusal to accept such evidence could prevent the marketing of such dietary ingredients.

DSHEA permits “statements of nutritional support” to be included in labeling for dietary supplements without premarket FDA approval. Such statements must be submitted to the FDA within 30 days of marketing and must bear a label disclosure that “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.” Such statements may describe how a particular dietary ingredient affects the structure, function or general well-being of the body, or the mechanism of action by which a dietary ingredient may affect body structure, function or well-being, but may not expressly or implicitly represent that a dietary supplement will diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease. A company that uses a statement of nutritional support in labeling must possess scientific evidence substantiating that the statement is truthful and not misleading. If the FDA were to determine that a particular statement of nutritional support was an unacceptable drug claim or an unauthorized version of a disease claim for a food product, or if the FDA were to determine that a particular claim was not adequately supported by existing scientific data or was false or misleading, we would be prevented from using that claim.

In addition, DSHEA provides that so-called “third-party literature,” e.g. a reprint of a peer-reviewed scientific publication linking a particular dietary ingredient with health benefits, may be used “in connection with the sale of a dietary supplement to consumers” without the literature being subject to regulation as labeling. Such literature must not be false or misleading; the literature may not “promote” a particular manufacturer or brand of dietary supplement; and a balanced view of the available scientific information on the subject matter must be presented. If the literature fails to satisfy each of these requirements, we may be prevented from disseminating such literature with our products, and any dissemination could subject our product to regulatory action as an illegal drug. The FDA may adopt in the future the final regulations, proposed on March 13, 2003, regarding GMP in manufacturing, packing, or holding dietary ingredients and dietary supplements, authorized by DSHEA. GMP regulations will require dietary supplements to be prepared, packaged and held in compliance with strict rules, and will require quality control provisions similar to those in the GMP regulations for drugs. We or our third party manufacturers may not be able to comply with any new rules without incurring substantial additional expenses.

The FDA has broad authority to enforce the provisions of the FDCA applicable to foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics including powers to issue a public warning letter to a company, to publicize information about illegal products, to request a recall of illegal products from the market, and to request the Department of Justice to initiate a seizure action, an injunction action, or a criminal prosecution in the United States courts. The regulation of foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics may increase or become more restrictive in the future.

 

67


Table of Contents

Legislation has been introduced in Congress to impose substantial new regulatory requirements for dietary supplements, e.g., H.R. 3156, H.R. 2485, S. 1137, H.R. 2486 and H.R. 4167. H.R. 3156 would impose adverse event reporting, post-market surveillance requirements, FDA reviews of dietary supplement ingredients, and other requirements. H.R. 2485 would increase FDA appropriations to allow full implementation and enforcement of DSHEA. S.1137 would subject DHEA, currently used in some dietary supplements, to the requirements of the Controlled Substances Act. The dietary supplement industry supports H.R. 2485, H.R. 2486 and H.R. 3156. If enacted, S. 1137 and H.R. 4167 could raise our costs and hinder our business.

The FTC exercises jurisdiction over the advertising of foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics. In recent years, the FTC has instituted numerous enforcement actions against dietary supplement companies for failure to have adequate substantiation for claims made in advertising or for the use of false or misleading advertising claims. As a result of our efforts to comply with applicable statutes and regulations, we have from time to time reformulated, eliminated or relabeled certain of our products and revised certain provisions of our sales and marketing program. The FTC has broad authority to enforce its laws and regulations applicable to foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics, including the ability to institute enforcement actions which often result in consent decrees, injunctions, and the payment of civil penalties by the companies involved. Failure to comply with the FTC’s laws and regulations could impair our ability to market our products.

 

68


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT

Directors and Executive Officers

The following table provides certain information regarding our directors and executive officers.

 

NAME

   AGE   

POSITION

Thomas A. Tolworthy

   51    Chief Executive Officer and Director

Anthony Truesdale

   43    President and Chief Merchandising Officer

Cosmo La Forgia

   51    Vice President, Finance

Ronald M. Neifield

   49    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

John H. Edmondson

   61    Director

David H. Edwab

   51    Director

Douglas B. Fox

   58    Director

David I. Fuente

   60    Director

John D. Howard

   53    Director

Douglas R. Korn

   43    Director

Richard L. Perkal

   52    Director

Thomas A. Tolworthy was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in 2004. Mr. Tolworthy joined our Company in June 2001 as President and Chief Operating Officer after having spent 11 years at Barnes & Noble in various positions, most recently as President of Barnes & Noble Booksellers. At Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Mr. Tolworthy was directly responsible for executing an extensive store expansion that included opening over 300 new stores and managing the logistics of supplying these stores with up to 200,000 titles.

Anthony Truesdale has served as our President and Chief Merchandising Officer since April 2006. Prior to joining us, he was Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Supply Chain Management at Petsmart, Inc., holding various positions of increasing responsibility since January 1999. Before joining Petsmart, Inc., Mr. Truesdale spent 20 years in senior management, operating and merchandising roles at various supermarkets in England and in the United States.

Cosmo La Forgia has served as our Vice President, Finance since September 2004. Mr. La Forgia joined our Company as Corporate Controller in January 2003. Prior to that time, Mr. La Forgia was Divisional Controller for The Home Depot, Inc. from June 1998 to December 2002.

Ronald M. Neifield has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since joining our Company in September 2003. From 1993 through early 2003 Mr. Neifield was an attorney with The Pep Boys—Manny, Moe & Jack, a NYSE retail company selling automotive parts and services in 36 states and Puerto Rico. In 1998 he became Chief Legal Officer of Pep Boys.

John H. Edmondson has served as a Director since April 2006. Mr. Edmondson served as Chief Executive Officer and director of West Marine, Inc., a NASDAQ retail company selling boating supplies and accessories in 38 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, from December 1998 until December 2004.

David H. Edwab has served as a Director since November 2005 and became the Chairman of Audit Committee in January 2006. Mr. Edwab has served as an officer and director of Men’s Wearhouse for over 10 years, starting as Vice President of Finance and Director in 1991, serving as Chief Operating Officer from 1993 to 1997, where he was elected President in 1997 and is now Vice Chairman. In addition, Mr. Edwab has served as Senior Managing Director, Head of Retail Investment Banking Group at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and is also lead director, Audit Committee Chairman and member of the Governance Committee of Aeropostale, Inc., a director of New York & Company and a director and Audit Committee Chairman of several other private companies affiliated with BSMB. Mr. Edwab is a Certified Public Accountant and prior to Men’s Wearhouse, Mr. Edwab was a Partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP from July 1987 to February 1991, serving as the Southwest Director of the Corporate Finance and Retail Group.

 

69


Table of Contents

Douglas B. Fox has served as a Director since July 2005. Mr. Fox is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Brands Ltd., an advisory and consulting company serving a number of private equity and venture capital firms. Mr. Fox also serves as a director to Bowne & Co., Inc., Advanstar Communications, Inc., Young America Corporation, Vitaquest and the Oreck Company. Prior to forming Renaissance Brands in 2001, Mr. Fox was Senior Vice President of Strategy and Marketing at Compaq Computer Corporation.

David I. Fuente has served as a Director since 2003. Mr. Fuente served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Office Depot, Inc. from 1987, one year after the Company was founded, until he retired as its Chief Executive Officer in June 2000 and as Chairman in December 2001. Prior to joining Office Depot, Mr. Fuente served for eight years at the Sherwin-Williams Company as President of its Paint Stores Group. Before joining Sherwin-Williams, he was Director of Marketing at Gould, Inc. Mr. Fuente also currently serves as a director of Office Depot, Inc., Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. and Ryder System, Inc., where he is the Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Finance Committee.

John D. Howard has served as a Director since 2002. He is currently a Senior Managing Director of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and is the Chief Executive Officer of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking LLC, an affiliate of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. Mr. Howard has been the head of the merchant banking department of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. since its inception in 1997. From 1990 to 1997, he was a co-CEO of Vestar Capital Partners, Inc., a private investment firm specializing in management buyouts. Previously he was a Senior Vice President of Wesray Capital Corporation, a private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts. Mr. Howard currently serves as a director of several private companies, as a director and member of the Corporate Governance Committee of New York & Company, Inc., a publicly traded company, and as a director and lead director of the publicly traded companies Aéropostale, Inc. and Integrated Circuit Systems, Inc., respectively.

Douglas R. Korn has served as a Director since 2002. He is currently a Senior Managing Director of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and is a Partner and Executive Vice President of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking, LLC, an affiliate of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. Prior to joining Bear Stearns in January 1999, Mr. Korn was a Managing Director of Eos Partners, L.P., an investment partnership. Mr. Korn is currently a director of several private companies.

Richard L. Perkal has served as a Director and member of the Audit Committee since 2002. Mr. Perkal is currently a Senior Managing Director of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and is a Partner of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking, LLC, an affiliate of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. Prior to joining Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. in 2000, Mr. Perkal was a senior partner in the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP where he headed the Washington D.C. corporate transactional practice, primarily focusing on leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations. Mr. Perkal currently serves as a director and member of the Corporate Governance Committee of New York & Company, Inc., a publicly traded company, as well as several private companies.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that applies to our officers, directors and employees. Our board has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are David H. Edwab (chair) and Richard L. Perkal. Since our equity is not currently listed on or with a national securities exchange or national securities association, we are not required to have an audit committee and therefore have not designated any of our Audit Committee members as an audit committee financial expert.

 

70


Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following table shows certain compensation earned during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, by our Chief Executive Officer, our other executive officers (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”) and the two most highly-compensated employees who were not executive officers (based on their total annual salary and bonus compensation), at December 31, 2005 for services in all capacities to the Company. The Named Executive Officers and such other two officers are herein called the “Named Officers.”

 

NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION

  

FISCAL

YEAR (1)

   ANNUAL COMPENSATION   

OTHER

COMPENSATION

 
          SALARY            BONUS       

Thomas A. Tolworthy

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

   2005
2004
2003
   $
$
$
475,000
447,543
375,000
   $
$
$
—  
38,462
281,250
    
 
 
*
*
*
 
 
 

Wayne M. Richman (2)

Former Executive Vice President and

Chief Operating Officer

   2005
2004
2003
   $
$
$
375,000
196,731
—  
   $
$
$
93,750
165,000
—  
    
 
$
*
*
—  
 
 
 

Cosmo La Forgia

Vice President, Finance

   2005
2004
2003
   $
$
$
228,800
224,231
186,346
   $
$
$
12,870
—  
35,625
    
 
 
*
*
*
 
 
 

Ronald M. Neifield (3)

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

   2005
2004
2003
   $
$
$
233,654
183,462
57,211
   $
$
$
11,683
—  
8,750
    
 
 
*
*
*
 
 
 

Marcia D. Furst (4)

Vice President, Retail Operations

   2005
2004
2003
   $
$
$
270,400
255,000
—  
   $
$
$
6,760
106,000
—  
    
 
$
*
*
—  
 
 
 

Michael P. Morris (5)

Former Vice President of Information Technology

   2005
2004
2003
   $
$
$
300,301
306,076
300,300
   $
$
$
17,325
—  
37,538
    
 
 
*
*
*
 
 
 

Alan Aronovitz (6)

Former Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

   2005
2004
2003
   $
$
$
5,769
124,615
—  
   $
$
$
—  
50,000
—  
   $
 
$
225,000
*
—  
(7)
 
 

(1) The Company’s fiscal year end is the Saturday nearest to December 31st.
(2) Wayne M. Richman began employment with the Company on June 1, 2004. We have eliminated the position of Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Richman’s employment terminated on April 21, 2006.
(3) Ronald M. Neifield began employment with the Company on September 2, 2003.
(4) Marcia D. Furst began employment with the Company on January 12, 2004.
(5) Michael P. Morris terminated employment on February 17, 2006.
(6) Alan Aronovitz began employment with the Company on July 14, 2004, and terminated employment on January 5, 2005.
(7) Represents severance payments to Mr. Aronovitz during Fiscal 2005 per his termination agreement.
 * Other compensation is less than 10% of overall combined salary in that given year.

 

71


Table of Contents

OPTION GRANTS DURING FISCAL 2005

As of June 12, 2006, all options to purchase the stock of VS Holdings, Inc. became options to purchase the stock of our ultimate parent company, VS Parent, Inc. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Corporate Reorganization.” The following table presents information regarding grants of options under the 2002 Stock Option Plan to purchase shares of VS Parent, Inc.’s common stock for each of the Named Officers during Fiscal 2005:

 

            INDIVIDUAL GRANTS  

POTENTIAL

REALIZABLE

VALUE AT ASSUMED

ANNUALIZED RATES

OF STOCK PRICE

APPRECIATION FOR

OPTION TERM

       

OPTION

GRANT

 

NUMBER OF

SECURITIES

UNDERLYING

OPTIONS

 

PERCENT OF

TOTAL OPTIONS

GRANTED TO

EMPLOYEES

   

EXERCISE

PRICE PER

  EXPIRATION  

NAME

      DATE   GRANTED   IN FISCAL YEAR     SHARE   DATE        5%             10%     

Wayne M. Richman

  (1)   04/01/05   4,667   2.3 %   $ 20.00   03/31/15   $ 3,586   $ 60,999
  (1)   04/01/05   4,667   2.3 %   $ 25.00   03/31/15   $ —     $ 37,664
  (1)   04/01/05   4,667   2.3 %   $ 30.00   03/31/15   $ —     $ 14,329
  (2)   06/03/05   24,000   11.8 %   $ 13.22   06/02/15   $ 199,536   $ 505,663
  (2)   06/03/05   8,000   3.9 %   $ 20.00   06/02/15   $ 12,272   $ 114,314
  (2)   06/03/05   8,000   3.9 %   $ 25.00   06/02/15   $ —     $ 74,314
  (2)   06/03/05   8,000   3.9 %   $ 30.00   06/02/15   $ —     $ 34,314

(1) The valuation is based on the imputed fair market value of $12.75 per share on the date of grant.
(2) The valuation is based on the imputed fair market value of $13.22 per share on the date of grant.

AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 2005 AND DECEMBER 31 OPTION VALUES

The following table presents information regarding the value of options outstanding at December 31, 2005 for each of the Named Officers. There were no options exercised by the Named Officers during Fiscal 2005:

 

     NUMBER OF SECURITIES
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END
   VALUE OF UNEXERCISED IN-THE-
MONEY OPTIONS AT FISCAL
YEAR END (1)

NAME

   EXERCISABLE    UNEXERCISABLE    EXERCISABLE    UNEXERCISABLE

Thomas A. Tolworthy

   306,905    102,302    $ 225,576    $ 75,192

Wayne M. Richman

   21,500    126,501    $ 16,125    $ 48,375

Cosmo La Forgia

   18,414    18,414    $ 13,534    $ 13,534

Ronald M. Neifield

   27,654    20,088    $ 17,857    $ 12,936

Marcia D. Furst

   11,936    35,807    $ 7,698    $ 23,095

Michael P. Morris

   23,871    23,871    $ 17,545    $ 17,545

(1) Value is based upon the imputed fair market value of $11.47 per share at December 31, 2005.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors has established an audit committee consisting of David H. Edwab (chair) and Richard L. Perkal. The Audit Committee recommends the annual appointment of auditors with whom the Audit Committee will review the scope of the audit and non-audit assignments and related fees, accounting principles we use in financial reporting, internal auditing procedures and the adequacy of our internal controls. In March 2006, the Board of Directors established a Compensation Committee which consists of Douglas R. Korn (chair), David H. Edwab and Douglas B. Fox. The Compensation Committee assists the Board in its oversight of compensation for the Company’s senior management, compensation for the Board of Directors, evaluation and succession planning for the Chief Executive Officer and related matters. The Board of Directors may establish other committees in the future.

 

72


Table of Contents

2002 Stock Option Plan

Our employees are rewarded and incentivized with VS Parent, Inc.’s 2002 Stock Option Plan, as subsequently amended and restated. The plan provides for grants of stock options to certain of our directors, officers, consultants and employees of Holdings and its subsidiaries. The plan is administered by the Board of Directors of VS Parent, Inc. A total of 2,046,041 shares of common stock are available for issuance under the plan as of December 31, 2005 in four separate tranches consisting of Tranche A Options, Tranche B Options, Tranche C Options and Tranche D Options. As of December 31, 2005, options to purchase 1,682,106 shares of common stock were outstanding under the plan.

Management Incentive Plan

In December 2004, we adopted the Management Incentive Plan (the “MIP”) for the 2005 plan year. Participation in the MIP is limited to employees selected and approved by the Chief Executive Officer, senior management team and the Board of Directors. The MIP allows for a range of cash awards based on the participant’s base salary, level of employment, our operating results and, for officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, individual objectives established by the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. Under the MIP, awards will be calculated and paid only after our financial results have been reviewed. The cash awards are to be processed and paid before March 15th of the following year.

Executive Agreements

As of December 31, 2005, all of our named executive officers were employed with us pursuant to written employment agreements.

Mr. Tolworthy. Mr. Tolworthy’s employment agreement, executed in 2002 and as subsequently amended and restated, sets forth a five year term (the “Initial Term”) and automatic renewal for successive one year periods unless either Mr. Tolworthy or the company notifies the other of intent not to renew the agreement. The agreement provides for an annual base salary and an annual bonus based on achievement of company performance objectives. Mr. Tolworthy’s agreement provides for severance payments upon termination of his employment without “cause” (as such term is defined in the agreement) conditioned upon Mr. Tolworthy delivering a general release in favor of the company. The severance provisions provide that Mr. Tolworthy will receive, subject to compliance with certain non-compete, non-solicitation and other obligations in an amount equal to (i) his annual base salary through the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of termination and (y) the last day of either the Initial Term or the renewal term, (ii) the full amount of any unpaid bonus in respect of the immediately prior calendar year, (iii) a pro rata amount of bonus for the calendar year in which employment is terminated, and (iv) the other benefits provided to him under his employment agreement, until the earlier of (x) twelve months or (y) the time when he becomes eligible for such benefits offered by any subsequent employer. If Mr. Tolworthy resigns his employment due to a “change of control” of the company followed within 12 months by a material adverse change in status (as such terms are defined in the agreement), the severance provisions provide that he will receive, subject to compliance with certain non-compete, non-solicitation and other obligations in an amount equal to (i) his annual base salary for twelve months after the date of termination, (ii) the full amount of any unpaid bonus in respect of the immediately prior calendar year, (iii) $100,000 and (iv) the other benefits provided to him under his employment agreement, until the earlier of (x) twelve months or (y) the time when he becomes eligible for such benefits offered by any subsequent employer.

Mr. Richman. Mr. Richman’s employment agreement sets forth an annual base salary and an annual bonus based on achievement of company and individual performance objectives. Mr. Richman’s agreement provides for severance payments upon termination of his employment without “cause” or his resignation due to a material adverse change in status (as such terms are defined in the agreement) conditioned upon Mr. Richman delivering a general release in favor of the company. If Mr. Richman is (a) terminated without cause, or (b) resigns his employment due to a material adverse change in status, he will receive severance payments, subject to compliance with certain non-compete, non-solicitation and other obligations in an amounts equal to (i) his annual

 

73


Table of Contents

base salary for twelve months after the date of termination, (ii) the full amount of any unpaid bonus in respect of the immediately prior calendar year, (iii) a pro rata amount of bonus for the calendar year in which his employment is terminated, and (iv) the other benefits provided to him under his employment agreement, until the earlier of (x) twelve months or (y) the time when he becomes eligible for such benefits offered by any subsequent employer.

On December 28, 2004, Jeffrey Horowitz, our former Chief Executive Officer, delivered to us a Form of General Release. On February 1, 2005, we entered into a Voluntary Separation Agreement and General Release with Alan M. Aronovitz, our former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The foregoing agreements provided for compensatory arrangements due to such officers’ separation of employment from the company of approximately $1.5 million in the aggregate. There is approximately $350,000 of payments remaining to be made to Mr. Horowitz at December 31, 2005, which is recorded as a liability in accrued salaries and related expenses.

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2006, we reassessed our management structure. This reassessment included the decision to restructure certain functions and to replace the incumbents in certain positions. Our Vice President of Information Technology, left our Company on February 17, 2006. We have eliminated the position of Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Richman’s employment with the Company terminated effective April 21, 2006. The duties of our Chief Operating Officer are being performed by the Chief Executive Officer. Severance expenses associated with these individuals and four other individuals in the amount of approximately $845,000 have been recorded as of April 6, 2006.

On April 3, 2006 Anthony Truesdale commenced employment with the Company as President and Chief Merchandising Officer. Prior to joining us, he was Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Supply Chain Management at Petsmart, Inc. Mr. Truesdale’s employment agreement, dated April 11, 2006, sets forth a three year term (the “Initial Term”) and automatic renewal for up to three successive one year periods unless either Mr. Truesdale or the Company notifies the other of intent not to renew the agreement. The agreement provides for an annual base salary and an annual bonus based on achievement of Company performance objectives. Mr. Truesdale’s agreement provides for severance payments upon termination of his employment without “cause” (as such term is defined in the agreement) conditioned upon Mr. Truesdale delivering a general release in favor of the Company. The severance provisions provide that Mr. Truesdale will receive, subject to compliance with certain non-compete, non-solicitation and other obligations, an amount equal to (i) his annual base salary through the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of termination and (y) the last day of either the Initial Term or the renewal term, (ii) the full amount of any unpaid bonus in respect of the immediately prior calendar year, (iii) if he has worked for the Company for at least six months during such year, a portion of bonus for the calendar year in which employment is terminated, and (iv) the other benefits provided to him under his employment agreement, until the earlier of (x) twelve months or (y) the time when he becomes eligible for such benefits offered by any subsequent employer. If Mr. Truesdale resigns his employment due to a “change of control” of the Company followed within twelve months by a material adverse change in status (as such terms are defined in the agreement), the severance provisions provide that he will receive, subject to compliance with certain non-compete, non-solicitation and other obligations, an amount equal to (i) his annual base salary for twelve months after the date of termination, (ii) the full amount of any unpaid bonus in respect of the immediately prior calendar year, (iii) if he has worked for the Company for at least six months during such year, a portion of the bonus for the calendar year in which employment is terminated, and (iv) the other benefits provided to him under his employment agreement, until the earlier of (x) twelve months or (y) the time when he becomes eligible for such benefits offered by any subsequent employer.

Mr. La Forgia’s employment agreement was amended on June 12, 2006. The agreement has a three year term and sets forth an annual bonus based on achievement of company and individual performance objectives. Mr. La Forgia’s agreement provides for severance payments upon termination of his employment without “cause” or his resignation due to an adverse change in status (as such terms are defined in the agreement) conditioned upon Mr. La Forgia delivering a general release in favor of the company. The severance provisions

 

74


Table of Contents

provide that Mr. La Forgia will receive, subject to compliance with certain non-compete, non-solicitation and other obligations, an amount equal to (i) his annual base salary for the lesser of (1) twenty-four months after the date of termination, and (2) the expiration of the three-year term of the agreement, (ii) the full amount of any unpaid bonus in respect of the immediately prior calendar year, (iii) if he has worked for the company for at least six months during such year, a portion of his bonus for the calendar year in which his employment is terminated, and (iv) the other benefits provided to him under his employment agreement, until the earlier of (x) twelve months or (y) the time when he becomes eligible for such benefits offered by any subsequent employer.

Our other named executive officers are employees-at-will pursuant to their employment agreements. The employment agreements provide for severance payments upon termination without “cause” following a “change of control” of the company or executive’s resignation due to an adverse change in status (as such terms are defined in the agreement), conditioned upon executives delivering a general release in favor of the Company. The severance provisions provide that executive will receive, subject to compliance with certain non-compete, non-solicitation and other obligations, (i) executive’s annual base salary for twelve months after the termination date, (ii) the full amount of any unpaid bonus in respect of the immediately prior calendar year and (iii) if at the date of termination 50% or more of the measurement period for any performance-based cash bonus has expired, executive shall be paid a portion of such bonus for the current measurement period.

 

75


Table of Contents

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND

RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The equity interests of our parent VS Holdings, Inc. are directly 100% owned by our ultimate parent company, VS Parent, Inc. The following table sets forth, as of May 22, 2006 information concerning the beneficial ownership of the capital stock of our ultimate parent VS Parent, Inc. by:

 

    each holder of more than 5% of any class of voting stock;

 

    each of our executive officers;

 

    each of our directors; and

 

    all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

Beneficial ownership is based upon 7,617,000 shares of common stock and 79,860 shares of preferred stock of VS Parent, Inc. outstanding as of May 22, 2006. Each of the persons set forth below has sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite his or her name, except as otherwise noted. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each stockholder is c/o Vitamin Shoppe, 2101 91st Street North Bergen, NJ 07047. The following table includes shares of common stock issuable within 60 days of May 22, 2006 upon the exercise of all options and other rights beneficially owned by the indicated person on that date.

 

NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER

  

COMMON

STOCK

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED (1)

  

PERCENT

OF

CLASS (2)

   

PREFERRED

STOCK

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED

  

PERCENT

OF

CLASS (3)

 

BSMB/Vitamin, LLC (4)

   6,152,920    80.1 %   60,920    76.3 %

Horowitz Family (5)

   757,500    9.9 %   7,500    9.4 %

Executive Officers and Directors:

          

Thomas A. Tolworthy

   458,405    5.8 %   1,500    1.9 %

Wayne M. Richman (6)

   —      —       —      —    

Cosmo La Forgia

   27,621    *     —      —    

Ronald M. Neifield

   27,654    *     —      —    

Marcia D. Furst

   23,871    *     —      —    

Michael P. Morris

   —      —       —      —    

John D. Howard (4)

   6,152,920    80.1 %   60,920    76.3 %

David H. Edwab

   —      —       —      —    

David I. Fuente

   22,500    *     —      —    

Richard L. Perkal (7)

   —      —       —      —    

Douglas R. Korn (8)

   —      —       —      —    

Douglas B. Fox

   3,750    *     —      —    
                      

All named directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)

   6,716,721    83.0 %   62,420    78.2 %

 * Represents less than 1%.
(1) The amount shown includes 306,905, 27,621, 27,654, 22,500 and 3,750 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 22, 2006 for each of Messrs. Tolworthy, La Forgia, Neifield, Fuente and Fox, respectively, as well as 23,871 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 22, 2006 for Ms. Furst and convertible preferred stock beneficially owned by each individual in the corresponding amounts listed in the table above.
(2) Calculated by dividing a numerator of the total of options vesting within 60 days of May 22, 2006 plus common stock and preferred stock held, over a denominator of the total of shares of common stock outstanding plus shares of preferred stock outstanding plus total options vesting within 60 days of May 22, 2006.
(3) Calculated by dividing the numerator of total preferred stock beneficially owned over a denominator of total preferred stock outstanding.
(4)

Mr. Howard, by virtue of his status as the sole member of JDH Management, LLC, may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of shares owned of record by BSMB/Vitamin, LLC. Mr. Howard and BSMB share

 

76


Table of Contents
 

investment and voting power with respect to such shares. Mr. Howard is employed by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., a broker/dealer. His business address is 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179.

(5) The Horowitz Family consists of Jeffrey Horowitz, Helen Horowitz and two family trusts. Other than the shares held in the family trusts, Jeffrey Horowitz disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by Helen Horowitz, and Helen Horowitz disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by Jeffrey Horowitz. The business address for each stockholder identified in this footnote is c/o Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004 and the telephone number is (212) 859-8000.
(6) We have eliminated the position of Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Richman’s employment terminated on April 21, 2006.
(7) Mr. Perkal is employed by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., a broker/dealer. His business address is 383 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor, New York, New York 10179.
(8) Mr. Korn is employed by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., a broker/dealer. His business address is 383 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor, New York, New York 10179.

 

77


Table of Contents

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Securityholders Agreement

The shareholders of our parent company, VS Parent, Inc. are party to a securityholders agreement dated as of November 27, 2002 that governs certain relationships among, and contains certain rights and obligations of, such securityholders. The securityholders agreement, among other things:

 

    limits the ability of the securityholders to transfer their securities in VS Holdings, Inc., except in certain permitted transfers as defined therein;

 

    provides for certain tag-along and co-sale rights; and

 

    provides for certain rights of first offer with respect to transfers by securityholders other than to certain permitted transferees.

 

    The securityholders agreement also provides that the parties thereto must vote their securities to elect a board of directors of VS Holdings, Inc. which must be comprised of:

 

    three persons designated by the securityholders who are affiliates of BSMB (the “BSMB Directors”);

 

    Thomas A. Tolworthy, for so long as he serves as an executive officer of our company; and

 

    two persons possessing relevant industry experience or operational expertise as designated by the securityholders who are affiliates of BSMB.

We increased the number of directors possessing relevant industry experience or operational expertise from two to three, making the current board of directors a total of seven members.

In addition, the securityholders agreement provides that BSMB Directors shall comprise a majority of the directors on the board of directors of any of the subsidiaries of VS Parent, Inc. and of any committee of the board of VS Parent, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries.

The securityholders agreement also gives the securityholders certain rights with respect to registration under the Securities Act of shares of VS Parent, Inc. securities held by them, including certain demand registration rights. To exercise their demand registration rights, the holders of such rights must request that VS Parent, Inc. effect a registration under the Securities Act in a firmly underwritten public offering. Upon receipt of such request, VS Parent, Inc. shall use its best efforts to effect the registration on any form available to it. BSMB and its affiliates may make up to four demand registrations on Form S-1 or S-2 and unlimited demand registrations on Form S-3. Other holders of demand registration rights may make one demand registration each. Prior to June 2006, a similar agreement governed the ownership of the stock of VS Holdings, Inc.

Advisory Services Agreement

We and Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC, an affiliate of BSMB, are parties to an advisory services agreement, pursuant to which general advisory and management services are to be provided to us with respect to financial and operating matters. Under the terms of the advisory services agreement, at the closing of the acquisition of our company by BSMB in 2002, we paid a transaction fee equal to $4,575,000 in connection with services rendered in connection with the acquisition. We also pay fees for ongoing advisory and management services equal to the greater of $187,500 and 0.25% of our gross sales for the preceding fiscal quarter. Such fees are paid each quarter. The advisory services agreement also provides that the advisors will be reimbursed for their reasonable out of pocket expenses in connection with certain activities undertaken pursuant to the agreement and will be indemnified for liabilities incurred in connection with their role under the agreement, other than for liabilities resulting from their gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Our advisors have a right of first offer to serve as our financial advisors in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and financings. In connection with these services, our advisors will earn an additional fee of the

 

78


Table of Contents

amount customary for such services. The agreement terminates on November 27, 2012. On November 15, 2005, we issued the Old Notes. Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. was an initial purchaser and a joint book-running manager in connection with the offering of the Old Notes and received approximately $4,537,500 in underwriting discounts and commissions in connection with the offering. Upon a change of control of the consummation of a qualified public offering (as defined in the agreement) the agreement would terminate and we would be obligated to pay the minimum advisory fees that would be payable in respect of the then current fiscal quarter as well as for the next four successive fiscal quarters.

Corporate Reorganization

On June 12, 2006, VS Mergersub, Inc. then a wholly-owned subsidiary of VS Parent, then a wholly-owned subsidiary of VS Holdings, merged with and into VS Holdings, with VS Holdings being the surviving corporation. By operation of the merger, VS Holdings became a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of VS Parent. In connection therewith, each share (or fractional share) of Series A Preferred of VS Holdings was converted into a right to receive a share (or fractional share) of Series A preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share of VS Parent, and each share (or fractional share) of Common Stock of VS Holdings was converted into a share (or fractional share) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share of VS Parent.

Transaction with Management

We held a promissory note made by Thomas A. Tolworthy on November 27, 2002, in the aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000 issued in connection with Mr. Tolworthy’s purchase of our common and preferred stock. On June 12, 2006, this note was assigned as a dividend to VS Parent, a parent company of VS Holdings and is no longer held by or payable to us.

 

79


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF OUR NEW CREDIT FACILITY

Concurrently with the offering of the Old Notes we, along with VS Holdings, Inc., our parent company, and VS Direct Inc., our only subsidiary, entered into a new $50.0 million secured credit facility with Wachovia Bank, National Association, or one of its affiliates, as agent. We have the option (to be exercised no more than twice during the term of the credit facility) to increase or decrease the maximum availability under the credit facility by $25.0 million, subject to certain conditions, such as the absence of defaults or events of default.

The credit facility will be used to provide us with working capital funding and for other general corporate purposes, including the refinancing of existing indebtedness, capital expenditures, acquisitions, payment of dividends and recapitalizations. The credit facility includes a $10.0 million subfacility for the issuance of letters of credit.

The availability under the credit facility is subject to a borrowing base calculated on the basis of certain of our and our subsidiary’s eligible accounts receivable from credit card companies and our and our subsidiary’s inventory.

The credit facility will expire on the fifth anniversary thereof.

Collateral and Guarantees

Our and our subsidiary’s obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all of our assets, including a pledge of our stock, the equity interests held by us in our subsidiary, and substantially all of the assets of VS Holdings, Inc., our parent company, and VS Direct Inc., our only subsidiary.

Our subsidiary and our parent company provided guarantees in respect of our obligations in respect of the credit facility, and we and our parent company have provided guarantees in respect of our subsidiary’s obligations in respect of the credit facility.

The agent bank has cash dominion rights over our bank accounts upon our failure to meet certain excess availability tests or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default.

Interest Rates and Fees

Borrowings under the credit facility will accrue interest, at our option:

 

    At the per annum rate announced from time to time by the agent as its “prime rate”; or

 

    At a per annum rate equal to between 1.25% and 1.75% (depending on excess availability) above the adjusted Eurodollar rate used by the agent.

In each case, we will select the applicable duration for the interest period (i.e. one, two, three or six month duration).

The agent and the lenders have the right to increase the applicable interest rate 2%  per annum upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default under the credit facility.

The Eurodollar interest rate is subject to adjustment each quarter, pursuant to a pricing grid agreed with the agent based on performance criteria. The pricing grid has an applicable margin between 1.25% and 1.75%.

The credit facility also provides for customary letter of credit fees, closing fees, servicing fees, unused line fees and other fees.

 

80


Table of Contents

Mandatory and Optional Repayment

Subject to certain customary exceptions (such as materiality thresholds), we are required to prepay outstanding borrowings under the credit facility with, among other things, the net proceeds of certain asset dispositions, incurrence of certain indebtedness and issuance of certain equity.

Covenants

The credit facility provides for affirmative and negative covenants affecting us and our subsidiary.

Pursuant to the affirmative covenants, we, our parent company and our subsidiary will, among other things, deliver financial and other information to the agent, provide notice of certain events (including events of default), conduct our business and existence in accordance with certain limitations, pay our obligations, maintain our properties, maintain the security interest in the collateral for the benefit of the agent and the lenders and maintain insurance.

Among other restrictions, the credit facility restricts our, our parent company’s and our subsidiary’s ability to incur into indebtedness, create or permit liens on our, our parent company’s and our subsidiary’s assets, declare or pay dividends and certain other restricted payments, consolidate, merge or recapitalize, acquire or sell assets, make certain investments, loans or other advances, enter into transactions with affiliates, change our line of business and enter into hedging transactions.

The credit facility includes a fixed charge coverage ratio covenant if we fail to maintain certain excess availability, but no other financial covenants.

Events of Default

The credit facility specifies certain events of default, including among others, failure to pay principal, interest or fees, violation of covenants, inaccuracy of representations or warranties, bankruptcy events, certain ERISA related events, cross-defaults to other material agreements, change of control events, and invalidity of guarantees or security documents.

Some events of default will be triggered only after certain cure periods have expired, or will provide for materiality thresholds.

 

81


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF EXCHANGE NOTES

You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under the subheading “Certain Definitions.” In this description, “Vitamin Shoppe,” “we,” and “our” refer only to Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries or its parent company, VS Holdings, Inc. “Parent” and “Parent Guarantor” refers to VS Holdings, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries. References to “notes” are to the Exchange Notes.

Vitamin Shoppe will issue the notes under an indenture among itself, the Guarantors and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee. The terms of the notes will include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture and the registration rights agreement. It does not restate those agreements in their entirety. We urge you to read the indenture and the registration rights agreement because they, and not this description, define your rights as holders of the notes. Copies of the indenture and the registration rights agreement are available as set forth below under “—Additional Information.” Certain defined terms used in this description but not defined below under “—Certain Definitions” have the meanings assigned to them in the indenture.

The registered holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered holders will have rights under the indenture.

Brief Description of the Notes and the Note Guarantees

The Notes

The notes will be:

 

    general obligations of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

    secured on a second-priority basis, equally and ratably with all obligations of Vitamin Shoppe under any future Parity Lien Debt, by Liens on all of the assets of Vitamin Shoppe other than the Excluded Assets, subject to the Liens securing Vitamin Shoppe’s obligations under the Credit Agreement and any other Priority Lien Debt and other Permitted Prior Liens;

 

    effectively junior, to the extent of the value of the Collateral, to Vitamin Shoppe’s obligations under the Credit Agreement and any other Priority Lien Debt, which will be secured on a first-priority basis by the same assets of Vitamin Shoppe that secure the notes;

 

    effectively junior to any Permitted Prior Liens, to the extent of the value of the assets of Vitamin Shoppe subject to those Permitted Prior Liens;

 

    pari passu in right of payment with all other senior indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe, including Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement;

 

    senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe, if any; and

 

    unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors.

The Note Guarantees

The notes will be guaranteed by our parent company, VS Holdings, Inc. and all of our domestic subsidiaries.

Each guarantee of the notes will be:

 

    general obligations of each Guarantor;

 

   

secured on a second-priority basis, equally and ratably with all obligations of that Guarantor under any other future Parity Lien Debt, by Liens on all of the assets of that Guarantor other than the Excluded

 

82


Table of Contents
 

Assets, subject to the Liens securing that Guarantor’s guarantee of the Credit Agreement obligations and any other Priority Lien Debt and other Permitted Prior Liens;

 

    will be effectively junior, to the extent of the value of the Collateral, to that Guarantor’s guarantee of the Credit Agreement and any other Priority Lien Debt, which will be secured on a first-priority basis by the same assets of that Guarantor that secure the notes;

 

    will be effectively junior to any Permitted Prior Liens, to the extent of the value of the assets of that Guarantor subject to those Permitted Prior Liens;

 

    will be pari passu in right of payment with all other senior indebtedness of that Guarantor, including its guarantee of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement; and

 

    senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of that Guarantor, if any.

Pursuant to the indenture, Vitamin Shoppe will be permitted to designate additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, subject to the Priority Lien Cap. Vitamin Shoppe also will be permitted to incur additional Indebtedness as Parity Lien Debt subject to the covenants described below under “Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” and “Certain Covenants—Liens.”

As of the date of the indenture, our sole Subsidiary, VS Direct Inc., will be a “Restricted Subsidiary.” However, under the circumstances described below under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries,” we will be permitted to designate our Subsidiary and certain of our future Subsidiaries as “Unrestricted Subsidiaries.” Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the restrictive covenants in the indenture. Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not guarantee the notes.

Principal, Maturity and Interest

Vitamin Shoppe will issue $165.0 million in aggregate principal amount of notes in this offering. Vitamin Shoppe may issue additional notes under the indenture from time to time after this offering. Any issuance of additional notes is subject to all of the covenants in the indenture, including the covenant described below under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.” The notes and any additional notes subsequently issued under the indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. Vitamin Shoppe will issue notes in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The notes will mature on November 15, 2012.

Interest on the notes will accrue at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Eurodollar Rate from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from November 15, 2005. The Applicable Eurodollar Rate will be reset quarterly. The Applicable Eurodollar Rate for the first quarterly period will be 11.80438%. Vitamin Shoppe will pay interest on the notes quarterly, in arrears, every February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2006, to holders of record at the close of business on the immediately preceding February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, and at maturity. Interest on overdue principal and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, will accrue at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the notes. Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

The interest rate on the notes will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by U.S. law of general application. All percentages resulting from the calculation of the Applicable Eurodollar Rate will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point being rounded upwards (e.g., 9.876545% will be rounded to 9.87655%) and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upwards. Vitamin Shoppe will, upon the request of the holder of any note, provide the interest rate then in effect with respect to the notes.

 

83


Table of Contents

Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes

If a holder of notes has given wire transfer instructions to Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin Shoppe will pay all principal, interest and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on that holder’s notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the notes will be made at the office or agency of the paying agent and registrar within the City and State of New York unless Vitamin Shoppe elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the noteholders at their address set forth in the register of holders.

Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes

The trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar. Vitamin Shoppe may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the notes, and Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.

Transfer and Exchange

A holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the provisions of the indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of notes. Holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. Vitamin Shoppe will not be required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption. Also, Vitamin Shoppe will not be required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15 days before a selection of notes to be redeemed.

Note Guarantees

The notes will be guaranteed by each of Vitamin Shoppe’s current and future Domestic Subsidiaries, and its parent holding company, VS Holdings, Inc. These Note Guarantees will be joint and several obligations of the Guarantors. The obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent that Note Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. See “Risk Factors—Federal and state statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void guarantees and require note holders to return payments received from guarantors.”

A Subsidiary Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than Vitamin Shoppe or another Subsidiary Guarantor, unless:

 

(1) immediately after giving effect to that transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(2) either:

 

  (a) the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger assumes all the obligations of that Subsidiary Guarantor under the indenture, its Note Guarantee and the registration rights agreement pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the trustee; or

 

  (b) the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of the indenture.

The Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:

 

(1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or Capital Stock of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either immediately before or immediately after giving effect to such transaction) Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the “Asset Sale” provisions of the indenture;

 

84


Table of Contents
(2) if Vitamin Shoppe designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of the indenture; or

 

(3) upon legal defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the indenture as provided below under the captions “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” and “—Satisfaction and Discharge.”

See “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”

Security

The obligations of Vitamin Shoppe with respect to the notes, the obligations of the Guarantors under the guarantees, all other Parity Lien Obligations and the performance of all other obligations of Vitamin Shoppe, the Guarantors and Vitamin Shoppe’s other Restricted Subsidiaries under the Note Documents will be secured equally and ratably by second-priority Liens in the Collateral granted to the collateral agent for the benefit of the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations. These Liens will be junior in priority to the Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations and to all other Permitted Prior Liens. The Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations will be held by the Priority Lien Agent. The Collateral comprises all of the assets of Vitamin Shoppe and the other Pledgors, other than the Excluded Assets.

Intercreditor Agreement

On the date of the indenture, the Pledgors will enter into an intercreditor agreement with the Priority Lien Agent, the collateral agent and the trustee. The intercreditor agreement will set forth the terms of the relationship between the holders of Priority Liens and the holders of Parity Liens.

Ranking of Liens

The intercreditor agreement and the indenture will provide that, notwithstanding:

 

(1) anything to the contrary contained in the security documents;

 

(2) the time of incurrence of any Series of Secured Debt;

 

(3) the order or method of attachment or perfection of any Liens securing any Series of Secured Debt;

 

(4) the time or order of filing or recording of financing statements, security agreements, mortgages or other documents filed or recorded to perfect any Lien upon any Collateral;

 

(5) the time of taking possession or control over any Collateral;

 

(6) the ranking of any judgment lien if any claim for any Parity Lien Obligation is reduced to judgment;

 

(7) that any Priority Lien may not have been perfected or may be or have become subordinated, by equitable subordination or otherwise, to any other Lien; or

 

(8) the rules for determining priority under any law governing relative priorities of Liens,

all Parity Liens at any time granted by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to the collateral agent in the Collateral will be subject and subordinate to all Priority Liens on such Collateral securing the sum of (a) Priority Lien Debt, including all fixed and contingent reimbursement obligations for outstanding letters of credit whether or not drawn, up to a maximum principal amount not to exceed the Priority Lien Cap, plus (b) the amount of all other Priority Lien Obligations related to such Priority Lien Debt.

The provisions under the caption “—Ranking of Liens” are intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Priority Lien Obligations, each present and future Priority Lien Representative and the Priority Lien Agent as holder of Priority Liens. No other Person will be entitled to rely on, have the benefit of or enforce those provisions. The Parity Lien Representative of each future Series of

 

85


Table of Contents

Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation to the Priority Lien Agent and each Priority Lien Representative at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

In addition, the provisions under the caption “—Ranking of Liens” are intended solely to set forth the relative ranking, as Liens, of the Liens securing Parity Lien Debt as against the Priority Liens. Neither the notes nor any other Parity Lien Obligations nor the exercise or enforcement of any right or remedy for the payment or collection thereof are intended to be, or will ever be by reason of the foregoing provision, in any respect subordinated, deferred, postponed, restricted or prejudiced.

The ranking of the Liens described above will not be altered or otherwise affected by (a) any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, renewal, restatement, replacement or refinancing of any of the Secured Debt Documents (subject to the Priority Lien Cap), (b) any action or inaction which either the Priority Lien Agent or the collateral agent may take or fail to take in respect of the Collateral, (c) the invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of all or any part of any of the Secured Debt or the Secured Debt Documents, or (d) any impairment, modification, change, exchange, release or subordination of, or stay of actions or lien proceedings against, Pledgors or their respective property or estate in bankruptcy resulting from any bankruptcy, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation, rehabilitation or similar proceeding involving or affecting any Pledgor.

Restrictions on Enforcement of Parity Liens

Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations,

 

    the holders of loans made under the Credit Agreement and other Priority Lien Obligations will have, subject to the exceptions set forth below in clauses (1) through (4) and the provisions described below under the caption “—Provisions of the Indenture Relating to Security—Relative Rights,” and subject to the rights of the holders of Permitted Prior Liens, the exclusive right to enforce, collect or realize on any Collateral that is subject to Priority Liens or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to such Collateral; and

 

    neither the collateral agent, nor the trustee nor the holders of notes or other Parity Lien Obligations may take any action to enforce, collect or realize on any Collateral or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to the Collateral,

provided , that the collateral agent may exercise any right to enforce, collect or realize on such Collateral or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to such Collateral after the passage of a period of 180 days from the earlier of (i) the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding by or against any Pledgor that has not been dismissed and (ii) the date of delivery of a notice in writing to the Priority Lien Agent to the effect that an Event of Default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing (the “Standstill Period”); provided that the Standstill Period shall be tolled during the pendency of all insolvency or liquidation proceedings by or against any Pledgor pursuant to which the Priority Lien Agent is effectively stayed from enforcing its rights and remedies against the Collateral; provided further, however , that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the collateral agent will not be entitled to exercise its rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral if the Priority Lien Agent has commenced the exercise of any of its rights or remedies with respect to all or any material portion of the Collateral that is subject to Priority Liens, has given prompt notice of such exercise to the collateral agent and is diligently pursuing the exercise thereof. After the end of the Standstill Period, the collateral agent will give the Priority Lien Agent five Business Days prior written notice of its intention to exercise its rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral.

In addition, the trustee and the holders of notes (together with any other holder of a Parity Lien Obligation) may, subject to the rights of the holders of other Permitted Prior Liens, direct the collateral agent to take any action to enforce, collect or realize on any such Collateral or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to such Collateral:

 

(1) without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations;

 

86


Table of Contents
(2) as necessary to redeem any Collateral in a creditor’s redemption permitted by law or to deliver any notice or demand necessary to enforce (subject to the prior Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations) any right to claim, take or receive proceeds of Collateral remaining after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations in the event of foreclosure or other enforcement of any Permitted Prior Lien;

 

(3) as necessary to perfect or establish the priority (subject to Priority Liens and the perfection thereof and other Permitted Prior Liens) of the Parity Liens upon any Collateral; provided that the trustee and the holders of Parity Lien Obligations may not require the collateral agent to take any action to perfect any Collateral through possession or control; or

 

(4) as necessary to create, prove, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Parity Liens upon any Collateral.

Subject to the provisions described below under the caption “—Provisions of the Indenture Relating to Security—Relative Rights,” until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, none of the holders of notes or other Parity Lien Obligations, the collateral agent or any Parity Lien Representative will:

 

(1) request judicial relief, in an insolvency or liquidation proceeding or in any other court, that would hinder, delay, limit or prohibit the lawful exercise or enforcement of any right or remedy otherwise available to the holders of Priority Lien Obligations in respect of the Priority Liens or that would limit, invalidate, avoid or set aside any Priority Lien or subordinate the Priority Liens to the Parity Liens or grant the Parity Liens equal ranking to the Priority Liens;

 

(2) oppose or otherwise contest any motion for relief from the automatic stay or from any injunction against foreclosure or enforcement of Priority Liens made by any holder of Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Lien Representative in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings;

 

(3) oppose or otherwise contest any lawful exercise by any holder of Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Lien Representative of the right to credit bid Priority Lien Debt at any sale in foreclosure of Priority Liens;

 

(4) oppose or otherwise contest any other request for judicial relief made in any court by any holder of Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Lien Representative relating to the lawful enforcement of any Priority Lien; or

 

(5) challenge the validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of the Priority Liens.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, both before and during an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, the holders of notes and other Parity Lien Obligations and the Parity Lien Representatives may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims, including, without limitation, the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding against Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor in accordance with applicable law; provided that, by accepting a note, each holder of notes will agree not to take any of the actions prohibited under clauses (1) through (5) of the preceding paragraph or oppose or contest any order that it has agreed not to oppose or contest under the provisions described below under the caption “—Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings.”

At any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and after (a) the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding in respect of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor or (b) the collateral agent and each Parity Lien Representative have received written notice from any Priority Lien Representative stating that (i) any Series of Priority Lien Debt has become due and payable in full (whether at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise) or (ii) more than 180 days have elapsed since the date on which the holders of Priority Liens securing one or more Series of Priority Lien Debt became entitled under any Priority Lien Documents to and desire to enforce any or all of the Priority Liens by reason of a default under such Priority Lien Documents, no payment of money (or the equivalent of money) will be made from the proceeds of Collateral subject to Priority Liens by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to the collateral agent, any Parity Lien Representative, any holder of notes or any other holder of Parity Lien Obligations (including, without limitation, payments and prepayments made for application to Parity Lien Obligations and all other payments and deposits made pursuant to any provision of the indenture, the notes, the Guarantees or any other Parity Lien Document).

 

87


Table of Contents

Subject to the provisions described below under the caption “—Provisions of the Indenture Relating to Security—Relative Rights,” all proceeds of such Collateral received by the collateral agent, any Parity Lien Representative or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations at any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations in violation of the immediately preceding paragraph will be held by the collateral agent, the applicable Parity Lien Representative or the applicable holder of Parity Lien Obligations for the account of the holders of Priority Liens and remitted to any Priority Lien Representative upon demand by such Priority Lien Representative. The Parity Liens will remain attached to and, subject to the provisions described under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Ranking of Liens,” enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted. All proceeds of Collateral received by the collateral agent, any Parity Lien Representative, the holders of notes and the other holders of Parity Lien Obligations not in violation of the immediately preceding paragraph will be received by the collateral trustee, such Parity Lien Representative or such holder of Parity Lien Obligations free from the Priority Liens and all other Liens except the Parity Liens.

Waiver of Right of Marshalling

The intercreditor agreement will provide that, prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the holders of notes and other Parity Lien Obligations, each Parity Lien Representative and the collateral agent may not assert or enforce any right of marshalling accorded to a junior lienholder, as against the holders of Priority Liens (in their capacity as priority lienholders), and that, following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the holders of Parity Lien Obligations and any Parity Lien Representative may assert their right under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise to any proceeds remaining following a sale or other disposition of Collateral by, or on behalf of, the holders of Priority Lien Obligations.

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings

The intercreditor agreement will remain enforceable in accordance with its terms after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding by or against any Pledgor and all converted or succeeding proceedings in respect thereof.

If in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding and prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the holders of Priority Lien Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents consent to any order:

 

(1) for use of cash collateral;

 

(2) approving a debtor-in-possession financing facility secured by a Lien that is senior to or on a parity with all Priority Liens upon any property of the estate in such insolvency or liquidation proceeding;

 

(3) granting any relief on account of Priority Lien Obligations as adequate protection (or its equivalent) for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations in the collateral subject to Priority Liens; or

 

(4) relating to a sale of assets of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor that provides, to the extent the assets sold are to be free and clear of Liens, that all Priority Liens and Parity Liens will attach to the proceeds of the sale;

then, the holders of notes and other Parity Lien Obligations, in their capacity as holders of secured claims, and each Parity Lien Representative will not oppose or otherwise contest the entry of such order, as long as none of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Lien Representative in any respect opposes or otherwise contests any request made by the holders of notes or other Parity Lien Obligations or a Parity Lien Representative for the grant to the collateral agent, for the benefit of the holders of notes and other Parity Lien Obligations, of a junior Lien upon any assets or property on which a Lien is (or is to be) granted under such order to secure the Priority Lien Obligations, but subordinated (as set forth herein under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Ranking of Liens”) to such Lien and all Priority Liens on such assets or property.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, both before and during an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, the holders of notes and other Parity Lien Obligations and the Parity Lien Representatives may take any actions and exercise

 

88


Table of Contents

any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims, including, without limitation, the commencement of insolvency or liquidation proceedings against Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor in accordance with applicable law, subject to the terms of the Indenture and the security documents. By accepting a note, each holder of notes will agree to be subject to the terms of the intercreditor agreement.

Based upon their interests as holders of Parity Lien Obligations in any Collateral that is subject to Priority Liens, the holders of notes or other Parity Lien Obligations or any Parity Lien Representative will not file or prosecute in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral under the Parity Liens, except that:

 

(1) they may freely seek and obtain relief: (a) granting a junior Lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth herein under the caption “Intercreditor Agreement—Ranking of Liens”) to, all Liens granted in the insolvency or liquidation proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the holders of Priority Lien Obligations; or (b) in connection with the confirmation of any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan so long as the relief requested does not constitute a breach of and is not inconsistent with the terms of the intercreditor agreement with respect to the priority of the Parity Liens; and

 

(2) they may freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the intercreditor agreement will restrict, impair or affect, in any respect, the right of any holder of notes or other Parity Lien Obligations or of the collateral agent or any Parity Lien Representative (a) to propose, support, object to, vote in favor of or against, or otherwise take or omit to take any action whatsoever in respect of, any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding (as long as, in the case of a plan proposed, supported or voted for by them, the plan does not constitute a breach of the terms of the intercreditor agreement as described herein under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Ranking of Liens”) or (b) to demand, receive and retain, free from any interest or claim by any holder of Priority Liens or Priority Lien Obligations, any and all distributions made on account of the notes or other Parity Lien Obligations pursuant to any plan of reorganization or other restructuring plan in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, whether such distributions are made in cash, in the form of debt securities or other claims, as equity securities or other equity interests, as distributions of property, or otherwise in any form.

Order of Application

Distributions by the Priority Lien Agent

The intercreditor agreement will provide that if any Collateral is sold or otherwise realized upon by the Priority Lien Agent or by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor with the consent of the Priority Lien Agent in connection with any foreclosure, collection or other enforcement of Liens granted to the Priority Lien Agent in the Priority Lien Security Documents, the proceeds received by the Priority Lien Agent from such foreclosure, collection or other enforcement will be distributed by the Priority Lien Agent in the following order of application:

FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under the Priority Lien Documents on account of the Priority Lien Agent’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Priority Lien Agent or any co-trustee or agent of the Priority Lien Agent in connection with any Priority Lien Security Document;

SECOND, to the respective Priority Lien Representatives for application to the payment of all outstanding Priority Lien Debt up to the amount of the Priority Lien Cap and any other Priority Lien Obligations related to such Priority Lien Debt that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Priority Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Priority Lien Debt up to the amount of the Priority Lien Cap and all other Priority Lien Obligations related to such Priority Lien Debt that are then due

 

89


Table of Contents

and payable (including all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Priority Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding, and including the discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Debt);

THIRD, to the collateral agent for the payment of all amounts payable under the Parity Lien Documents on account of the collateral agent’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the collateral agent or any co-trustee or agent of the collateral agent in connection with any security document;

FOURTH, to the collateral agent for the payment of all amounts to the respective Parity Lien Representatives for application to the payment of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Parity Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Parity Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding, and including the discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit, if any, constituting Parity Lien Debt);

FIFTH, to the Priority Lien Agent for application to the payment of the Priority Lien Debt in excess of the Priority Lien Cap and any other Priority Lien Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Priority Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Priority Lien Debt and all other Priority Lien Obligations that are due and payable; and

SIXTH, any surplus remaining after the payment in full in cash of the amounts described in the preceding clauses will be paid to Vitamin Shoppe or the applicable Pledgor, as the case may be, its successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Distributions by the Collateral Agent

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, if, following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, any Collateral is sold or otherwise realized upon by the collateral agent in connection with any foreclosure, collection or other enforcement of Liens granted to the collateral agent in the security documents, the proceeds received by the collateral agent from such foreclosure, collection or other enforcement will be distributed by the collateral agent in the following order of application:

FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under the Parity Lien Documents on account of the collateral agent’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the collateral agent or any co-trustee or agent of the collateral agent in connection with any security document; and

SECOND, in accordance with clauses FOURTH, FIFTH and SIXTH of the provisions described above under the caption “—Distributions by the Priority Lien Agent.”

If any Parity Lien Representative or any holder of a Parity Lien Obligation collects or receives any proceeds of such foreclosure, collection or other enforcement that should have been applied to the payment of the Priority Lien Obligations in accordance with the paragraph above, whether after the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding or otherwise, such Parity Lien Representative or such holder of a Parity Lien Obligation,

 

90


Table of Contents

as the case may be, will forthwith deliver the same to the Priority Lien Agent, for the account of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations and other Obligations secured by a Permitted Prior Lien, to be applied in accordance with the provisions set forth above under this caption “—Order of Application.” Until so delivered, such proceeds will be held by that Parity Lien Representative or that holder of a Parity Lien Obligation, as the case may be, for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations and other Obligations secured by a Permitted Prior Lien.

The provisions set forth above under this caption “—Order of Application” are intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Secured Obligations, each present and future Secured Debt Representative, the Priority Lien Agent as holder of Priority Liens and the collateral agent as holder of Parity Liens. The Secured Debt Representative of each future Series of Secured Debt will be required to deliver a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation to the Priority Lien Agent, the collateral agent and each other Secured Debt Representative at the time of incurrence of such Series of Secured Debt.

Release of Parity Liens on Collateral

The intercreditor agreement will provide that the Parity Liens on the Collateral will be released:

 

(1) in whole, upon (a) payment in full and discharge of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable at the time all of the Parity Lien Debt is paid in full and discharged and (b) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit under all Parity Lien Documents and the cancellation or termination or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) of all outstanding letters of credit issued pursuant to any Parity Lien Documents;

 

(2) as to any Collateral that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe in a transaction or other circumstance that complies with the “Asset Sale” provisions of the indenture and is permitted by all of the other Parity Lien Documents, at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the collateral agent’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or disposition is not permitted under the covenant described below under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets;”

 

(3) as to any Collateral that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Priority Lien Agent in foreclosure of the Priority Liens upon such Collateral in compliance with the laws applicable to such foreclosure; provided that the right of the collateral agent (a) to redeem such Collateral in accordance with applicable law, (b) to claim, take and receive proceeds of the foreclosure sale of such Collateral remaining after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations in accordance with applicable law, and (c) to enforce the provisions described above under the caption “—Distributions by the Priority Lien Agent” will not be affected or impaired by any such release; and

 

(4) as to a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral, except as set forth in clauses (2) and (3) under this caption “—Release of Parity Liens on Collateral” and clause (4) under the caption “—Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings,” if (a) consent to the release of that Collateral has been given by the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Debt at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents, and (b) Vitamin Shoppe has delivered an officers’ certificate to the collateral agent certifying that all such necessary consents have been obtained.

The security documents provide that the Liens securing the Secured Debt will extend to the proceeds of any sale of Collateral. As a result, the collateral agent’s Liens will apply to the proceeds of any such Collateral received in connection with any sale or other disposition of assets described in the preceding paragraph.

 

91


Table of Contents

Amendment of Intercreditor Agreement and Other Security Documents

The intercreditor agreement will provide that no amendment, modification, supplement or waiver to the provisions of the intercreditor agreement will be effective without the prior written approval of the Priority Lien Agent and the collateral agent as directed by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the intercreditor agreement will provide that any amendment or waiver of, or any consent under, any provision of the intercreditor agreement or, except where the same would adversely affect the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, any other security document that secures Priority Lien Obligations will apply automatically to any comparable provision of any comparable Parity Lien Document without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor or any holder of notes or other Parity Lien Obligations.

The intercreditor agreement will not restrict the ability of Vitamin Shoppe, any other Pledgor or the collateral agent to amend or supplement any Parity Lien Document. The Parity Lien Documents may be amended or supplemented as set forth under “—Provisions of the Indenture Relating to Security—Amendment of Parity Lien Security Documents.”

Voting

In connection with any matter under the intercreditor agreement requiring a vote of holders of Parity Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt will cast its votes in accordance with the Parity Lien Documents governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt. The amount of Parity Lien Debt to be voted by a Series of Parity Lien Debt will equal (1) the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt held by such Series of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not available or drawn), plus (2) other than in connection with an exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Indebtedness of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

Purchase Option

On or after the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default under and as defined in the Credit Agreement and either the acceleration of the Priority Lien Obligations or the determination of the Priority Lien Agent or requisite holders of Priority Lien Debt to foreclose or take any similar action to realize upon the Collateral, the holders of notes and other Parity Lien Debt or such nominees as may be granted the right to do so by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders (the “purchasers”) will have the right, at their sole option and election (but will not be obligated), at any time prior written notice by the collateral agent to the Priority Lien Agent, to purchase from the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations all outstanding Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid on the date of such purchase, except for Priority Lien Obligations that are, at the time of such purchase, Retained Secured Contingent Obligations or Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations. Promptly following the receipt of such notice, the Priority Lien Agent will deliver to the collateral agent a statement of the amount of Priority Lien Debt and other Priority Lien Obligations then due and payable (including principal and interest in respect of the Priority Lien Debt then outstanding and such information as may then be reasonably available to the Priority Lien Agent as to the amount of any outstanding Specified Secured Contingent Obligations and Retained Secured Contingent Obligations) and the amount of the cash collateral requested by the Priority Lien Agent to be delivered to the Priority Lien Agent pursuant to clause (2) of the immediately following paragraph. The right to purchase provided for in this paragraph will expire unless, within five Business Days after the receipt by the collateral agent of such notice from the Priority Lien Agent, the collateral agent delivers to the Priority Lien Agent an irrevocable commitment of the purchasers to complete the purchase on the terms set forth under this provision.

On the date specified by the collateral agent (on behalf of the purchasers) in such irrevocable commitment (which shall not be less than five Business Days, nor more than twenty days, after the receipt by the Priority Lien

 

92


Table of Contents

Agent of such irrevocable commitment), the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations shall sell to the purchasers all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid on the date of such sale, except for any Priority Lien Obligations that are, at the time of such sale, Retained Secured Contingent Obligations or Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations, subject to any required approval of any court or other regulatory or governmental authority then in effect, if any, and only if on the date of such sale, the Priority Lien Agent receives the following:

 

(1) payment, as the purchase price for all Priority Lien Obligations sold in such sale, of an amount equal to the full amount of all Priority Lien Obligations (other than Specified Secured Contingent Obligations, Retained Secured Contingent Obligations and Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations) then outstanding and unpaid (including principal, interest, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, other expenses and including for this purpose an amount equal to any early termination fee that would otherwise have been payable to the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations upon the termination of the Priority Lien Documents at the time of such purchase);

 

(2) a cash collateral deposit in such amount as the Priority Lien Agent determines is reasonably necessary to secure the payment of any Specified Secured Contingent Obligations that may become due and payable after such sale (but not in any event in an amount greater than one hundred five (105%) percent of the amount then reasonably estimated by the Priority Lien Agent to be the aggregate outstanding amount of Specified Secured Contingent Obligations at such time), which cash collateral shall be (A) held by the Priority Lien Agent as security solely to reimburse the holders of Specified Secured Contingent Obligations for any Specified Secured Contingent Obligations that become due and payable after such sale and (B) returned to the collateral agent (except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or any order of any court or other governmental authority) promptly after the expiration or termination from time to time of all payment contingencies affecting such Specified Secured Contingent Obligations; and

 

(3) any agreements, documents or instruments which the Priority Lien Agent may reasonably request pursuant to which the collateral agent and the purchasers in such sale expressly assume and adopt all of the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations under the Priority Lien Documents on and after the date of the purchase and sale and the collateral agent (or any other representative appointed by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders) becomes a successor agent thereunder.

Such purchase price and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in federal funds to such bank account of the Priority Lien Agent as the Priority Lien Agent may designate in writing to the collateral agent for such purpose. Interest shall be calculated to but excluding the Business Day on which such sale occurs if the amounts so paid by the collateral agent and holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to the bank account designated by Priority Lien Agent are received in such bank account prior to 12:00 p.m., New York City time, and interest shall be calculated to and including such Business Day if the amounts so paid by the collateral agent and holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to the bank account designated by the Priority Lien Agent are received in such bank account later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time.

Such sale shall be expressly made without representation or warranty of any kind by the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of Priority Lien Obligations as to the Priority Lien Obligations, the Collateral or otherwise and without recourse to the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of Priority Lien Obligations, except that the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of Priority Lien Obligations shall represent and warrant severally as to the Priority Lien Obligations then owing to it: (i) the amount of the Priority Lien Obligations being purchased as reflected in the books and records of the Priority Lien Agent or such holders of Priority Lien Obligations (but without representation or warranty as to the collectability, validity or enforceability thereof); (ii) that the Priority Lien Agent and such holders of the Priority Lien Obligations own the Priority Lien Obligations and are transferring the Priority Lien Obligations free and clear of any liens or encumbrances; and (iii) the Priority Lien Agent and such holders of the Priority Lien Obligations have the right to assign the Priority Lien Obligations and the assignment is duly authorized.

 

93


Table of Contents

After such sale becomes effective, (a) the Retained Secured Contingent Obligations and Specified Secured Contingent Obligations will remain enforceable by the holders thereof and will remain secured by the Priority Liens upon the Collateral in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, and the holders of Retained Secured Contingent Obligations and Specified Secured Contingent Obligations will remain entitled to the benefit of the Priority Liens upon the Collateral and sharing rights in the proceeds thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, as fully as if the sale of the Priority Lien Debt had not been made, but only the person or successor agent to whom the Priority Liens are transferred in such sale will have the right to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce the Priority Liens and only the purchasers in the sale will have the right to direct such person or successor as to matters relating to the foreclosure or other enforcement of the Priority Liens, and (b) the Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations will remain enforceable in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale to the extent provided in the Priority Lien Documents, but solely as unsecured liabilities, without any entitlement to the benefit of the Priority Liens or any proceeds thereof.

Bailee for Perfection

Solely for purposes of perfecting the Parity Liens of the collateral agent in any portion of the Collateral in the possession of the Priority Lien Agent (or its agents or bailees) as part of the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations including, without limitation, any instruments, negotiable documents, tangible chattel paper, certificated securities or money, the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Representatives acknowledge that the Priority Lien Agent also holds that property as bailee for the benefit of the collateral agent for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Priority Lien Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the collateral agent or any holders of Parity Lien Obligations to ensure that the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations is genuine or owned by any of the Pledgors. The duties or responsibilities of the Priority Lien Agent under this section shall be limited solely to holding the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations as bailee and agent for perfection for the benefit of the collateral agent and the holders of Parity Lien Obligations and their successors and assigns, which duty and responsibility the Priority Lien Agent shall fulfill using the same degree of care with respect thereto as it uses for similar property pledged to it as collateral for indebtedness of others to the Priority Lien Agent, and the Priority Lien Agent shall have no liability in connection therewith except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined pursuant to a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Conversely, solely for purposes of perfecting the Priority Liens of the Priority Lien Agent in any portion of the Collateral which may be in the possession of the collateral agent (or its agents or bailees) as part of the Collateral securing the Parity Lien Obligations including, without limitation, any instruments, negotiable documents, tangible chattel paper, certificated securities or money, the collateral agent and the Parity Lien Representatives acknowledge that the collateral agent also holds that property as bailee for the benefit of the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the collateral agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Priority Lien Agent or any holders of Priority Lien Obligations to ensure that the Collateral securing the Parity Lien Obligations is genuine or owned by any of the Pledgors. The duties or responsibilities of the collateral agent under this section shall be limited solely to holding the Collateral securing the Parity Lien Obligations as bailee and agent for perfection for the benefit of the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of Priority Lien Obligations and their successors and assigns, which duty and responsibility the collateral agent shall fulfill using the same degree of care with respect thereto as it uses for similar property pledged to it as collateral for indebtedness of others to the collateral agent, and the collateral agent shall have no liability in connection therewith except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined pursuant to a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

94


Table of Contents

Delivery of Collateral and Proceeds of Collateral

Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, deliver to (1) the collateral agent, or (2) such other person as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct, (a) any Collateral held by, or on behalf of, the Priority Lien Agent or any holder of Priority Lien Obligations, and (b) all remaining proceeds of Collateral held by, or on behalf of, the Priority Lien Agent or any holder of Priority Lien Obligations, whether arising out of an action taken to enforce, collect or realize upon any Collateral or otherwise. Such Collateral and such proceeds will be delivered without recourse and without any representation or warranty whatsoever as to the enforceability, perfection, priority or sufficiency of any Lien securing or guarantee or other supporting obligation for any Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt, together with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

No Waiver of Lien Priorities

The intercreditor agreement will provide that, subject to the rights of any holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law, no right of the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations to enforce any provision of the intercreditor agreement or any Priority Lien Document will at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of any Pledgor or by any act or failure to act by the Priority Lien Agent or any holders of Priority Lien Obligations, or by any noncompliance by any Person with the terms, provisions and covenants of the intercreditor agreement or any of the Secured Debt Documents, regardless of any knowledge thereof which the Priority Lien Agent or the holders Priority Lien Obligations, or any of them, may have or be otherwise charged with.

Subject to the rights of any holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law or arising under the terms of the intercreditor agreement, the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations and any of them, may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of, or notice to, the collateral agent or any holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, without incurring any liabilities to the collateral agent or any holders of the Parity Lien Obligations and without impairing or releasing the Lien priorities and other benefits described herein (even if any right of subrogation or other right or remedy of the collateral agent or any holders of the Parity Lien Obligations is affected, impaired or extinguished thereby) do any one or more of the following:

 

(1) change the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend the time of payment of, or amend, renew, exchange, increase (subject to the Priority Lien Cap) or alter, the terms of any of the Priority Lien Debt or any Priority Lien on any Collateral or guaranty thereof or any liability of any Pledgor, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof (including any increase in or extension of the Priority Lien Obligations, without any restriction as to the amount, tenor or terms of any such increase or extension, but subject always to the Priority Lien Cap) or otherwise amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify or supplement in any manner any Priority Liens held by the Priority Lien Agent or any of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Obligations, or any of the Priority Lien Documents;

 

(2) sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon, enforce or otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any part of the Collateral in an enforcement of the Priority Liens (subject to the rights of any holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law or arising under the terms of the intercreditor agreement) or any liability of any Pledgor to the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof;

 

(3) settle or compromise any Priority Lien Obligations or any other liability of any Pledgor or any security therefor or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof and apply any sums by whomsoever paid and however realized to any liability (including the Priority Lien Obligations) in any manner or order; and

 

(4)

exercise or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or remedy against any Pledgor or any other Person, elect any remedy and otherwise deal freely with any Pledgor or any Collateral (subject to the rights of any

 

95


Table of Contents
 

holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law or arising under the terms of the intercreditor agreement) and any guarantor or any liability of any Pledgor to the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligation or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof.

Subject to the rights of any holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law or arising under the terms of the intercreditor agreement, and except as otherwise set forth in the intercreditor agreement, the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations shall have no liability with respect to any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations may take or permit or omit to take with respect to: (i) the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) the collection of the Priority Lien Obligations or (iii) the foreclosure upon, or sale, liquidation or other disposition of, any Collateral and that the Priority Lien Agent and holders of the Priority Lien Obligations will have no duty to the collateral agent or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations in respect of the maintenance or preservation of the Collateral, the Priority Lien Obligations or otherwise.

Provisions of the Indenture Relating to Security

Release of Liens in Respect of Notes

The indenture will provide that the collateral agent’s Parity Liens upon the Collateral will no longer secure the notes outstanding under the indenture or any other Obligations under the indenture, and the right of the holders of the notes and such Obligations to the benefits and proceeds of the collateral agent’s Parity Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged:

 

(1) upon satisfaction and discharge of the indenture as set forth under the caption “—Satisfaction and Discharge;”

 

(2) upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the notes as set forth under the caption “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance;”

 

(3) upon payment in full and discharge of all notes outstanding under the indenture and all Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under the indenture at the time the notes are paid in full and discharged; or

 

(4) in whole or in part, with the consent of the holders of the requisite percentage of notes in accordance with the provisions described below under the caption “Amendment, Supplement and Waiver.”

Equal and Ratable Sharing of Collateral by Holders of Parity Lien Debt

The indenture will provide that, notwithstanding:

 

(1) anything to the contrary contained in the security documents;

 

(2) the time of incurrence of any Series of Parity Lien Debt;

 

(3) the order or method of attachment or perfection of any Liens securing any Series of Parity Lien Debt;

 

(4) the time or order of filing or recording of any financing statements, security agreements, mortgages or other documents filed or recorded to perfect any Lien upon any Collateral;

 

(5) the time of taking possession or control over any Collateral;

 

(6) that any Parity Lien may not have been perfected or may be or have become subordinated, by equitable subordination or otherwise, to any other Lien; or

 

(7) the rules for determining priority under any law governing relative priorities of Liens:

 

  (a) all Parity Liens granted at any time by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor will secure, equally and ratably, all present and future Parity Lien Obligations; and

 

96


Table of Contents
  (b) all proceeds of all Parity Liens granted at any time by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor will be allocated and distributed equally and ratably on account of the Parity Lien Debt and other Parity Lien Obligations.

This section is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each present and future Parity Lien Representative and the collateral agent as holder of Parity Liens. The Parity Lien Representative of each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation to the collateral agent and the trustee at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

Acknowledgement of Liens

The collateral agent will acknowledge in the intercreditor agreement that the Priority Lien Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations, has been granted Liens upon the Collateral that is subject to Priority Liens pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents to secure the Priority Lien Debt, and the Priority Lien Agent will acknowledge in the intercreditor agreement that the collateral agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, has been granted Liens upon the Collateral that is subject to Parity Liens pursuant to the Parity Lien Documents to secure the Parity Lien Debt. Except as set forth below under the caption “Intercreditor Agreement—Bailee for Perfection,” the Priority Lien Agent shall be solely responsible for perfecting and maintaining the perfection of its Liens upon the Collateral, and the collateral agent shall be solely responsible for perfecting and maintaining the perfection of its Liens upon the Collateral.

The intercreditor agreement will provide that the collateral agent and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations will not challenge the validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of the Priority Liens on the Collateral, and that the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations will not challenge the validity, enforceability or perfection of the Parity Liens on the Collateral, in each case whether or not an insolvency or liquidation proceeding has been commenced by or against Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor.

Relative Rights

Nothing in the Note Documents will:

 

(1) impair, as to Vitamin Shoppe and the holders of the notes, the obligation of Vitamin Shoppe to pay principal of, premium and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the notes in accordance with their terms or any other obligation of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor;

 

(2) affect the relative rights of holders of notes as against any other creditors of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor (other than holders of Priority Liens, Permitted Prior Liens or other Parity Liens);

 

(3) restrict the right of any holder of notes to sue for payments that are then due and owing (but not enforce any judgment in respect thereof against any Collateral to the extent specifically prohibited by the provisions described above under the captions “—Intercreditor Agreement—Restrictions on Enforcement of Parity Liens” or “—Intercreditor Agreement—Insolvency and Liquidation Proceedings”);

 

(4) restrict or prevent any holder of notes or other Parity Lien Obligations, the collateral agent or any Parity Lien Representative from exercising any of its rights or remedies upon a Default or Event of Default not specifically restricted or prohibited by (a) “—Intercreditor Agreement—Restrictions on Enforcement of Parity Liens” or (b) “—Intercreditor Agreement—Insolvency and Liquidation Proceedings;” or

 

(5) restrict or prevent any holder of notes or other Parity Lien Obligations, the collateral agent or any Parity Lien Representative from taking any lawful action in an insolvency or liquidation proceeding not specifically restricted or prohibited by (a) “—Intercreditor Agreement—Restrictions on Enforcement of Parity Liens” or (b) “—Intercreditor Agreement—Insolvency and Liquidation Proceedings.”

 

97


Table of Contents

Amendment of Parity Lien Security Documents

The Parity Lien security documents will provide that no amendment or supplement to the provisions of any Parity Lien security document will be effective without the approval of the collateral agent acting as directed by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders (subject to the provisions described above under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Amendment of Intercreditor Agreement and Other Security Documents,”) except that:

 

(1) any amendment or supplement that has the effect solely of adding or maintaining Collateral, securing additional Parity Lien Debt that was otherwise permitted by the terms of the Parity Lien Documents to be secured by the Collateral or preserving, perfecting or establishing the priority of the Liens thereon or the rights of the collateral agent therein will become effective when executed and delivered by Vitamin Shoppe or any other applicable Pledgor party thereto and the collateral agent;

 

(2) no amendment or supplement that reduces, impairs or adversely affects (in any material respect) the right of any holder of Parity Lien Obligations:

 

  (a) to vote its outstanding Parity Lien Debt as to any matter described as subject to direction by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders (or amends the provisions of this clause (2) or the definition of “Required Parity Lien Debtholders”),

 

  (b) to share in the order of application described above under “—Intercreditor Agreement—Order of Application” and “—Provisions of the Indenture Relating to Security—Equal and Ratable Sharing of Collateral by Holders of Parity Lien Debt” in the proceeds of enforcement of or realization on any Collateral, or

 

  (c) to require that Parity Liens be released only as set forth in the provisions described above under the caption “—Provisions of the Indenture Relating to Security—Release of Liens in Respect of Notes,”

will become effective without the consent of the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt so affected under the applicable Parity Lien Document; and

 

(3) no amendment or supplement that imposes any obligation upon the collateral agent or any Parity Debt Representative or adversely affects the rights of the collateral agent or any Parity Lien Representative, respectively, in its individual capacity as such will become effective without the consent of the collateral agent or such Parity Lien Representative, respectively.

Any amendment or supplement to the provisions of the Parity Lien security documents that releases Collateral securing Parity Lien Debt will be effective only in accordance with the requirements set forth in the applicable Parity Lien Document referenced above under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Release of Liens on Collateral,” under the caption “—Provisions of the Indenture—Release of Liens in Respect of Notes” and, if applicable, the provisions of any other Parity Lien Document governing any other Series of Parity Lien Debt that governs the release of Collateral. Any amendment or supplement that results in the collateral agent’s Liens upon the Collateral no longer securing the notes and the other Obligations under the indenture may only be effected in accordance with the provisions described above under the caption “—Provisions of the Indenture Relating to Security—Release of Liens in Respect of Notes” or under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Release of Liens on Collateral.”

Each Parity Lien Document under which a Lien is granted to the collateral agent will be subject in all respects to the provisions of the intercreditor agreement and in the event of any conflict between the terms of the intercreditor agreement and such Parity Lien Document, the terms of the intercreditor agreement shall govern, and Vitamin Shoppe will cause each Parity Lien Document under which a Lien is granted to include a provision to such effect.

 

98


Table of Contents

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

The indenture will provide that Vitamin Shoppe will comply with the provisions of TIA §314.

To the extent applicable, Vitamin Shoppe will cause TIA §313(b), relating to reports, and TIA §314(d), relating to the release of property or securities subject to the Lien of the security documents, to be complied with. Any certificate or opinion required by TIA §314(d) may be made by an officer of Vitamin Shoppe except in cases where TIA §314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent Person, which Person will be an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert selected by or reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph, Vitamin Shoppe will not be required to comply with all or any portion of TIA §314(d) if it determines, in good faith based on advice of counsel, that under the terms of TIA §314(d) and/or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the SEC and its staff, including “no action” letters or exemptive orders, all or any portion of TIA §314(d) is inapplicable to one or a series of released Collateral.

Further Assurances; Insurance

The indenture and the security documents will provide that Vitamin Shoppe and each of the other Pledgors will do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the collateral agent from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the collateral agent holds, for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected Parity Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets that are acquired or otherwise become Collateral after the notes are issued), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Parity Lien Documents.

Upon the reasonable request of the collateral agent or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, Vitamin Shoppe and each of the other Pledgors will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be reasonably required, or that the collateral agent may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case to the extent contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

Vitamin Shoppe and the other Pledgors will:

 

(1) keep their properties adequately insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations;

 

(2) maintain such other insurance, to such extent and against such risks (and with such deductibles, retentions and exclusions), including fire and other risks insured against by extended coverage and coverage for acts of terrorism, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, including public liability insurance against claims for personal injury or death or property damage occurring upon, in, about or in connection with the use of any properties owned, occupied or controlled by them;

 

(3) maintain such other insurance as may be required by law;

 

(4) maintain title insurance on all real property Collateral insuring the collateral agent’s Parity Lien on that property, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens and other exceptions to title approved by the collateral agent; provided that title insurance need only be maintained on any particular parcel of real property having a Fair Market Value of less than $1.0 million if and to the extent title insurance is maintained in respect of Priority Liens on that property; and

 

(5) maintain such other insurance as may be required by the security documents.

Upon the request of the collateral agent, Vitamin Shoppe and the other Pledgors will furnish to the collateral agent full information as to their property and liability insurance carriers. The collateral agent will be named as

 

99


Table of Contents

an additional insured, with a waiver of subrogation, on all insurance policies of Vitamin Shoppe and the other Pledgors and the collateral agent will be named as loss payee, with 30 days’ notice of cancellation or material change, on all property and casualty insurance policies of Vitamin Shoppe and the other Pledgors.

Optional Redemption

At any time prior to November 15, 2007, Vitamin Shoppe may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of notes issued under the indenture at a redemption price of 100% plus the Applicable Eurodollar Rate then in effect of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds from one or more sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Vitamin Shoppe or a contribution to Vitamin Shoppe’s common equity capital made with the net cash proceeds from one or more sales of Equity Interests of Vitamin Shoppe’s direct parent; provided that:

 

(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of notes originally issued under the indenture (excluding notes held by Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and

 

(2) the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such sale of Equity Interests.

On or after November 15, 2007, Vitamin Shoppe may redeem all or a part of the notes upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of holders of notes on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2007

   104.000 %

2008

   102.000 %

2009 and thereafter

   100.000 %

Unless Vitamin Shoppe defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

Mandatory Redemption

Vitamin Shoppe is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.

Repurchase at the Option of Holders

Change of Control

If a Change of Control occurs, each holder of notes will have the right to require Vitamin Shoppe to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of that holder’s notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer on the terms set forth in the indenture. In the Change of Control Offer, Vitamin Shoppe will offer a Change of Control Payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of holders of notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. Within 60 days following any Change of Control, Vitamin Shoppe will mail a notice to each holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase notes on the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 10 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures required by

 

100


Table of Contents

the indenture and described in such notice. Vitamin Shoppe will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the indenture, Vitamin Shoppe will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the indenture by virtue of such compliance.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, Vitamin Shoppe will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1) accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

 

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being purchased by Vitamin Shoppe.

The paying agent will promptly mail to each holder of notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the notes surrendered, if any, provided , that each new note will be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Vitamin Shoppe will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

The provisions described above that require Vitamin Shoppe to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control will be applicable whether or not such Change of Control is permitted under the indenture. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, the indenture does not contain provisions that permit the holders of the notes to require that Vitamin Shoppe repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.

Vitamin Shoppe will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by Vitamin Shoppe and purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to the indenture as described above under the caption “—Optional Redemption,” unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require Vitamin Shoppe to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.

Asset Sales

Vitamin Shoppe will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

 

(1) Vitamin Shoppe (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

101


Table of Contents
(2) at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

 

  (a) any liabilities, as shown on Vitamin Shoppe’s most recent consolidated balance sheet, of Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the notes or any Note Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability;

 

  (b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by Vitamin Shoppe or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 180 days of the Asset Sale, converted by Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

 

  (c) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c), not to exceed the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5% of Total Assets at the time of receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; and

 

  (d) any stock or assets of the kind referred to in clauses (2) or (4) of the third paragraph of this covenant.

The 75% limitation referred to in clause (2) above will not apply to any Asset Sale in which the cash or Cash Equivalents portion of the consideration received therefrom, determined in accordance with the preceding provision, is equal to or greater than what the after-tax proceeds would have been had such Asset Sale complied with the aforementioned 75% limitation.

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale other than a Sale of Collateral, Vitamin Shoppe (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply such Net Proceeds:

 

(1) to repay (without any requirement to permanently reduce) Priority Lien Debt;

 

(2) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of, another Permitted Business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, the Permitted Business is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(3) to make a capital expenditure; or

 

(4) to acquire other assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale that constitutes a Sale of Collateral, Vitamin Shoppe (or the Restricted Subsidiary that owns the assets as the case may be) may apply those Net Proceeds to purchase or invest in other long-term assets that would constitute Collateral or repay (without any requirement to permanently reduce) Priority Lien Debt.

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, Vitamin Shoppe may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the indenture.

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the third or fourth paragraphs of this covenant will constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, within ten days thereof, Vitamin Shoppe will make an Asset Sale Offer to all holders of notes and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes and such Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and

 

102


Table of Contents

Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, Vitamin Shoppe may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the trustee will select the notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

Vitamin Shoppe will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sale provisions of the indenture, Vitamin Shoppe will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Asset Sale provisions of the indenture by virtue of such compliance.

The agreements governing Vitamin Shoppe’s other Indebtedness contain, and future agreements may contain, prohibitions of certain events, including events that would constitute a Change of Control or an Asset Sale and including repurchases of or other prepayments in respect of the notes. The exercise by the holders of notes of their right to require Vitamin Shoppe to repurchase the notes upon a Change of Control or an Asset Sale could cause a default under these other agreements, even if the Change of Control or Asset Sale itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchases on Vitamin Shoppe. In the event a Change of Control or Asset Sale occurs at a time when Vitamin Shoppe is prohibited from purchasing notes, Vitamin Shoppe could seek the consent of its senior lenders to the purchase of notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If Vitamin Shoppe does not obtain a consent or repay those borrowings, Vitamin Shoppe will remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In that case, Vitamin Shoppe’s failure to purchase tendered notes would constitute an Event of Default under the indenture which could, in turn, constitute a default under the other indebtedness. Finally, Vitamin Shoppe’s ability to pay cash to the holders of notes upon a repurchase may be limited by Vitamin Shoppe’s then existing financial resources. See “Risk Factors—We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance the change of control offer required by the indenture.”

Equity Sales

If Vitamin Shoppe or its direct parent sells, issues or otherwise transfers Equity Interests of Vitamin Shoppe or its direct parent, as the case may be, for cash or Cash Equivalents in a public offering registered with the SEC pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or otherwise relating to equity interests issuable under any employee benefit plan of Vitamin Shoppe or its direct parent) (each such sale, issuance or transfer, an “Equity Sale”), Vitamin Shoppe will, within 10 days of the consummation of any such sale, issuance or other transfer, use an amount equal to 35% of the gross proceeds from such sale, issuance or other transfer (the “ Equity Sale Proceeds ”) to make an Equity Sale Offer to all holders of notes and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of equity to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes and such Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Equity Sale Proceeds. The offer price in any Equity Sale Offer will be equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Equity Sale Proceeds remain after consummation of an Equity Sale Offer, Vitamin Shoppe may use those Equity Sale Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the indenture, including any redemption of notes permitted by the provisions described above under the caption “—Optional Redemption.” If the aggregate principal amount of notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Equity Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Equity Sale Proceeds, the trustee will select the notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis.

Vitamin Shoppe will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection

 

103


Table of Contents

with each repurchase of notes pursuant to an Equity Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Equity Sale provisions of the indenture, Vitamin Shoppe will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Equity Sale provisions of the indenture by virtue of such compliance.

The agreements governing Vitamin Shoppe’s other Indebtedness contain, and future agreements may contain, prohibitions of certain events, including events that would constitute an Equity Sale and including repurchases of or other prepayments in respect of the notes. The exercise by the holders of notes of their right to require Vitamin Shoppe to repurchase the notes upon an Equity Sale could cause a default under these other agreements, even if the Equity Sale itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchases on Vitamin Shoppe. In the event an Equity Sale occurs at a time when Vitamin Shoppe is prohibited from purchasing notes,

Vitamin Shoppe could seek the consent of its senior lenders to the purchase of notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If Vitamin Shoppe does not obtain a consent or repay those borrowings, Vitamin Shoppe will remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In that case, Vitamin Shoppe’s failure to purchase tendered notes would constitute an Event of Default under the indenture which require Vitamin Shoppe to repurchase the notes upon an Equity Sale could cause a default under these other agreements, even if the Equity Sale itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchases on Vitamin Shoppe. In the event an Equity Sale occurs at a time when Vitamin Shoppe is prohibited from purchasing notes, Vitamin Shoppe could seek the consent of its senior lenders to the purchase of notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If Vitamin Shoppe does not obtain a consent or repay those borrowings, Vitamin Shoppe will remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In that case, Vitamin Shoppe’s failure to purchase tendered notes would constitute an Event of Default under the indenture which could, in turn, constitute a default under the other indebtedness. Finally, Vitamin Shoppe’s ability to pay cash to the holders of notes upon a repurchase may be limited by Vitamin Shoppe’s then existing financial resources.

Selection and Notice

If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee will select notes for redemption on a pro rata basis unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements.

No notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the indenture. Notices of redemption may not be conditional.

If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that note will state the portion of the principal amount of that note that is to be redeemed. A new note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original note will be issued in the name of the holder of notes upon cancellation of the original note. Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on notes or portions of notes called for redemption.

Certain Covenants

Restricted Payments

Vitamin Shoppe will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

(1)

declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of Vitamin Shoppe’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of Vitamin Shoppe’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their

 

104


Table of Contents
 

capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Vitamin Shoppe and other than dividends or distributions payable to Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe);

 

(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving Vitamin Shoppe) any Equity Interests of Vitamin Shoppe or any direct or indirect parent of Vitamin Shoppe (other than any such Equity Interests owned by Vitamin Shoppe, the Guarantors or a Restricted Subsidiary);

 

(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Disqualified Stock or any Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the notes or to any Note Guarantee (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among Vitamin Shoppe and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except the payment of interest or principal or liquidation preference at the Stated Maturity of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock thereof; or

 

(4) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”),

unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

 

(1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment;

 

(2) Vitamin Shoppe would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described below under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock;” and

 

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of the indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (10) and (12) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

  (a) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of Vitamin Shoppe for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter commencing after the date of the indenture to the end of Vitamin Shoppe’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); plus

 

  (b) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, and the Fair Market Value of any asset or property, received by Vitamin Shoppe since the date of the indenture as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of Vitamin Shoppe (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of Vitamin Shoppe that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe); plus

 

  (c) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date of the indenture is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any); plus

 

  (d) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe designated as such after the date of the indenture is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the date of the indenture, the Fair Market Value of Vitamin Shoppe’s Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation; plus

 

105


Table of Contents
  (e) 100% of any dividends received by Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe after the date of the indenture from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe, to the extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income of Vitamin Shoppe for such period.

The preceding provisions will not prohibit:

 

(1) the payment of any dividend or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of the indenture;

 

(2) the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe) of, Equity Interests of Vitamin Shoppe (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the substantially concurrent contribution of common equity capital to Vitamin Shoppe; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded from clause (3)(b) of the preceding paragraph;

 

(3) the prepayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the notes or to any Note Guarantee with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock;

 

(4) the payment of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

 

(5) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of Vitamin Shoppe, the Parent Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe held by any current or former officer, director or employee of Vitamin Shoppe, the Parent Guarantor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’ agreement or similar agreement; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $2.5 million in any twelve-month period with amounts not used in any twelve-month period being carried forward to the subsequent twelve-month period; and provided, further , that such amount in any twelve-month period may be increased in an amount not to exceed (a) the cash proceeds from the issue or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to any such officers, directors, employees or consultants that occurs after the Issue Date to the extent proceeds from the issue or sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to make Restricted Payments plus (b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance received by Vitamin Shoppe or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

 

(6) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options;

 

(7) the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe issued on or after the date of the indenture in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described below under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock;”

 

(8)

in the event of a Change of Control, and so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, any purchase or redemption of Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the notes or any Note Guarantee that is required to be repurchased or redeemed pursuant to the terms thereof as a result of such Change of Control, at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the outstanding principal amount thereof (plus accrued and unpaid interest); provided that, prior to such repayment or repurchase, Vitamin Shoppe shall have made a Change of Control Offer with

 

106


Table of Contents
 

respect to the notes as required by the indenture, and Vitamin Shoppe shall have repurchased all notes validly tendered for payment and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer;

 

(9) after the completion of an Asset Sale Offer pursuant to the covenant described under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of the Holders—Asset Sales” (including the purchase of all notes tendered), and so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, any purchase or redemption of Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the notes or any Note Guarantee that is required to be repurchased or redeemed pursuant to the terms thereof as a result of such Asset Sale, at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof (plus accrued and unpaid interest) with any Excess Proceeds that remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer; provided that, prior to such repayment or repurchase, Vitamin Shoppe shall have made the Asset Sale Offer with respect to the notes as required by the indenture, and Vitamin Shoppe shall have repurchased all notes validly tendered for payment and not withdrawn in connection with such Asset Sale Offer;

 

(10) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5.0 million since the date of the indenture;

 

(11) Permitted Payments to Parent; and

 

(12) any payment by Vitamin Shoppe on behalf of the Parent of any amounts described under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Advisory Services Agreement;” provided that if on the date of any such payment Vitamin Shoppe’s Secured Leverage Ratio exceeds 3.5 to 1.0, the amount of any such payment taken together with the aggregate amount of all payments made pursuant to the Advisory Services Agreement in the prior twelve-month period shall not exceed $1.5 million.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined by the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe whose resolution with respect thereto will be delivered to the trustee. The Board of Directors’ determination must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the Fair Market Value exceeds $15.0 million.

Limitation on Capital Expenditures

If Vitamin Shoppe’s Secured Leverage Ratio exceeds 3.25 to 1.0 as of its most recently ended fiscal year for which financial information is available, Vitamin Shoppe will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make or commit to make any Capital Expenditure, except Capital Expenditures of Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries not exceeding in the following fiscal year the lesser of (a) the sum of (x) $4.0 million and (y) 65% of that portion of Vitamin Shoppe’s Consolidated Cash Flow exceeding $27.0 million for the most recently ended fiscal year for which financial information is available and (b) $15.0 million, with up to an aggregate of $2.0 million of any such amount not used in any fiscal year being carried forward to any subsequent fiscal year; provided that Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to make or commit to make Capital Expenditures of up to (A) $6.0 million in the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2005 and (B) $14.0 million in the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006; provided, further that Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to use the net cash proceeds from a sale of Equity Interests and the receipt of any insurance proceeds for Capital Expenditures, subject to the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of the Holders—Equity Sales.”

Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock

Vitamin Shoppe will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise,

 

107


Table of Contents

with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and Vitamin Shoppe will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however , that Vitamin Shoppe may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, and the Subsidiary Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue preferred stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for Vitamin Shoppe’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or such preferred stock is issued, as the case may be, would have been at least (a) 2.25 to 1 if the date of such incurrence or issuance is on or prior to November 15, 2007, or (b) 2.50 to 1 if the date of such incurrence or issuance is after November 15, 2007, in each case determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the Disqualified Stock or the preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

 

(1) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe and any Guarantor of Indebtedness and letters of credit under Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of the indenture to repay any Priority Lien Debt pursuant to the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales;” or (y) the Borrowing Base as of the date of such incurrence;

 

(2) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

 

(3) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued on the date of the indenture and the exchange notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the registration rights agreement;

 

(4) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation, lease or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, within 365 days of such purchase, construction, installation, lease or improvement, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed $10.0 million at any time outstanding;

 

(5) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by the indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this covenant or clauses (2), (3), (4), (5) or (14) of this paragraph;

 

(6) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among Vitamin Shoppe and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however , that:

 

  (a) if Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is not Vitamin Shoppe or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the notes, in the case of Vitamin Shoppe, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; and

 

  (b)

(i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe and (ii) any

 

108


Table of Contents
 

sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

 

(7) the issuance by any of Vitamin Shoppe’s Restricted Subsidiaries to Vitamin Shoppe or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided, however , that:

 

  (a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred stock being held by a Person other than Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe; and

 

  (b) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe,

will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (7);

 

(8) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the Credit Facilities;

 

(9) the guarantee by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the notes, then the Guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu , as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;

 

(10) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances, performance, surety bonds and other similar obligations in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is covered within five business days;

 

(12) Obligations from agreements to provide for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, earn-outs or other similar obligations, or from guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing the performance of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of the assets of Vitamin Shoppe or the assets or Capital Stock of a Person that is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe; provided that the maximum aggregate liability in connection with any such disposition in respect of all such Indebtedness will at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

 

(13) the incurrence of any unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations;

 

(14) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the Guarantors of additional unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (14), not to exceed $10.0 million; and

 

(15) all monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise of Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary arising out of any cash management, depository or other investment services provided by the Priority Lien Agent, any holder of Priority Lien Debt or any of their respective Affiliates.

Vitamin Shoppe will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the

 

109


Table of Contents

notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however , that no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a first or junior Lien basis.

For purposes of determining compliance with this “Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” covenant, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (15) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, Vitamin Shoppe will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this covenant. Indebtedness under Credit Facilities, including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement, outstanding or entered into on the date on which notes are first issued and authenticated under the indenture will initially be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt. The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the reclassification of preferred stock as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this covenant; provided , in each such case, that the amount of any such accrual, accretion or payment is included in Fixed Charges of Vitamin Shoppe as accrued. Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this covenant shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

 

(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

 

(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness; and

 

(3) in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:

 

  (a) the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and

 

  (b) the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person.

Liens

Vitamin Shoppe will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless all payments due under the indenture and the notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

Vitamin Shoppe will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any indebtedness owed to Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2) make loans or advances to Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

110


Table of Contents

However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and Credit Facilities as in effect on the date of the indenture and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date of the indenture;

 

(2) the indenture, the notes and the Note Guarantees;

 

(3) applicable law, rule, regulation or order;

 

(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of the indenture to be incurred;

 

(5) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts and licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased of the nature described in clause of the preceding paragraph;

 

(7) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending the sale or other disposition;

 

(8) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

(9) Liens permitted to be incurred under the provisions of the covenant described above under the caption “—Liens;”

 

(10) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into with the approval of Vitamin Shoppe’s Board of Directors, which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such agreements;

 

(11) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(12) customary nonassignment provisions in leases to the extent such provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or the property leased thereunder.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

Vitamin Shoppe will not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not Vitamin Shoppe is the surviving entity); or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

 

(1)

either: (a) Vitamin Shoppe is the surviving entity; or (b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Vitamin Shoppe) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the

 

111


Table of Contents
 

United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided , that if such entity is a partnership or limited liability company, such entity has at least one Restricted Subsidiary that is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, which corporation becomes a co-issuer of the notes pursuant to a supplemental indenture duly and validly executed by the trustee;

 

(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Vitamin Shoppe) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of Vitamin Shoppe under the notes, the indenture and the registration rights agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee;

 

(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(4) Vitamin Shoppe or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Vitamin Shoppe), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, either (a) would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” or (b) would have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of Vitamin Shoppe immediately prior to such transaction.

In addition, Vitamin Shoppe will not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of the properties and assets of it and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person.

This “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” covenant will not apply to:

 

(1) a merger of Vitamin Shoppe with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating Vitamin Shoppe in another jurisdiction; or

 

(2) any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Transactions with Affiliates

Vitamin Shoppe will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of Vitamin Shoppe (each, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”), unless:

 

(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to Vitamin Shoppe or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction by Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

 

(2) Vitamin Shoppe delivers to the trustee:

 

  (a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $2.5 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe set forth in an officers’ certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe; and

 

  (b)

with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $15.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to Vitamin Shoppe or such Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view or that such transaction is on

 

112


Table of Contents
 

terms no less favorable to Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction on an arm’s-length basis from a Person not an Affiliate of Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.

The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:

 

(1) any employment agreement, employee benefit plan, officer or director indemnification agreement or any similar arrangement entered into by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and payments pursuant thereto;

 

(2) transactions between or among Vitamin Shoppe and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe) that is an Affiliate of Vitamin Shoppe solely because Vitamin Shoppe owns, directly or through a Restricted Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;

 

(4) payment of reasonable directors’ fees to Persons who are not otherwise Affiliates of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(5) any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Vitamin Shoppe to Affiliates of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(6) Restricted Payments that do not violate the provisions of the indenture described above under the caption “—Restricted Payments” or Permitted Investments;

 

(7) any merger of Vitamin Shoppe or Restricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate of Vitamin Shoppe solely for the purpose and with the sole effect of reincorporating Vitamin Shoppe in another jurisdiction;

 

(8) transactions with joint venture partners in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the indenture which are fair to Vitamin Shoppe and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe or the senior management thereof, or on at terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time in arms’ length dealings with a Person who is not an Affiliate;

 

(9) any payments made by Vitamin Shoppe under the Advisory Services Agreement and any other transactions involving Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the one hand and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, which transactions, in the reasonable determination of Vitamin Shoppe’s Board of Directors, are on commercially reasonable terms;

 

(10) transactions between or among Vitamin Shoppe and/or its Subsidiaries;

 

(11) Permitted Parent Payments;

 

(12) the forgiveness of any loans to any officers of the Parent or Vitamin Shoppe which are described in this prospectus; and

 

(13) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $3.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding (in addition to any such loans described in this prospectus).

Business Activities

Vitamin Shoppe will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as would not be material to Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Additional Note Guarantees

If Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another Domestic Subsidiary after the date of the indenture, then that newly acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary will become a Guarantor

 

113


Table of Contents

and execute a supplemental indenture and deliver an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the trustee within 10 business days of the date on which it was acquired or created; provided that any Domestic Subsidiary that constitutes an Immaterial Subsidiary need not become a Guarantor until such time as it ceases to be an Immaterial Subsidiary.

Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

The Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the covenant described above under the caption “—Restricted Payments” or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by Vitamin Shoppe. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if that redesignation would not cause a Default.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the trustee by filing with the trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an officers’ certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Restricted Payments.” If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under the covenant described under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” Vitamin Shoppe will be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under the covenant described under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

Payments for Consent

Vitamin Shoppe will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any holder of notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the indenture or the notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all holders of the notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

Reports

Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any notes are outstanding, Vitamin Shoppe will furnish to the holders of notes or cause the trustee to furnish to the holders of notes, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations:

 

(1) all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if Vitamin Shoppe were required to file such reports; and

 

114


Table of Contents
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if Vitamin Shoppe were required to file such reports.

All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations applicable to such reports. Each annual report on Form 10-K will include a report on Vitamin Shoppe’s consolidated financial statements by Vitamin Shoppe’s certified independent accountants. In addition, following the consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the registration rights agreement, Vitamin Shoppe will file a copy of each of the reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations applicable to such reports (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and will post the reports on its Web site within those time periods.

If, at any time after consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the registration rights agreement, Vitamin Shoppe is no longer subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, Vitamin Shoppe will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding paragraphs of this covenant with the SEC to the extent it would have to do so if it were required to make such filings within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. Vitamin Shoppe will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept Vitamin Shoppe’s filings for any reason, Vitamin Shoppe will post the reports referred to in the preceding paragraphs on its Web site within the time periods that would apply if Vitamin Shoppe were required to file those reports with the SEC.

If Vitamin Shoppe has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraphs will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of Vitamin Shoppe.

In addition, Vitamin Shoppe and the Guarantors agree that, for so long as any notes remain outstanding, if at any time they are not required to file with the SEC the reports required by the preceding paragraphs, they will furnish to the holders of notes and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

Events of Default and Remedies

Each of the following is an “ Event of Default ”:

 

(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to, the notes;

 

(2) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the notes;

 

(3) failure by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice to Vitamin Shoppe by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding voting as a single class with the provisions described under the captions “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control,” “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” or “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Equity Sales” (other than the failure to purchase notes);

 

(4) failure by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to Vitamin Shoppe by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the indenture;

 

(5)

default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its

 

115


Table of Contents
 

Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the indenture, if that default:

 

  (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal on such Indebtedness by the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “ Payment Default ”); or

 

  (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity,

and, in each case other than with respect to the acceleration of any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10.0 million or more;

 

(6) failure by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $20.0 million, excluding amounts covered by insurance or indemnities which in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe are provided by creditworthy parties, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

 

(7) the occurrence of any of the following:

 

  (a) except as permitted by the indenture, any security document ceases for any reason to be fully enforceable; provided , that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (7)(a) if the result of the failure of one or more security documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such security documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens;

 

  (b) any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any security document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens (except for any failure arising from an action or inaction by any collateral agent or Priority Lien Agent); or

 

  (c) Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor set forth in or arising under any security document; and

 

(8) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency described in the indenture with respect to Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary.

In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to Vitamin Shoppe, all outstanding notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes may declare all the notes to be due and payable immediately.

Subject to certain limitations, holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes may direct the trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The trustee may withhold from holders of the notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest, except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal, interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any.

Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any holders of notes unless such holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive

 

116


Table of Contents

payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, when due, no holder of a note may pursue any remedy with respect to the indenture or the notes unless:

 

(1) such holder has previously given the trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

(2) holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes have requested the trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3) such holders have offered the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(4) the trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

(5) holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes have not given the trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes by notice to the trustee may, on behalf of the holders of all of the notes, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, or the principal of, the notes.

Vitamin Shoppe is required to deliver to the trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the indenture. Upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, Vitamin Shoppe is required to deliver to the trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of Vitamin Shoppe or the Guarantors under the notes, the indenture, the Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of notes by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Vitamin Shoppe may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an officers’ certificate, elect to have all of its obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding notes and all obligations of the Guarantors discharged with respect to their Note Guarantees (“ Legal Defeasance ”) except for:

 

(1) the rights of holders of outstanding notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, such notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to below;

 

(2) Vitamin Shoppe’s obligations with respect to the notes concerning issuing temporary notes, registration of notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and Vitamin Shoppe’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4) the Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance provisions of the indenture.

In addition, Vitamin Shoppe may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of Vitamin Shoppe and the Guarantors released with respect to certain covenants (including its obligation to make Change of Control Offers and Asset Sale Offers) that are described in the indenture (“ Covenant Defeasance ”) and thereafter

 

117


Table of Contents

any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events) described under “—Events of Default and Remedies” will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the notes.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(1) Vitamin Shoppe must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the holders of the notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the outstanding notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and Vitamin Shoppe must specify whether the notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

 

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, Vitamin Shoppe must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that (a) Vitamin Shoppe has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the date of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel will confirm that, the holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, Vitamin Shoppe must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that the holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor is a party or by which Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor is bound;

 

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than the indenture) to which Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(6) Vitamin Shoppe must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the deposit was not made by Vitamin Shoppe with the intent of preferring the holders of notes over the other creditors of Vitamin Shoppe with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of Vitamin Shoppe or others; and

 

(7) Vitamin Shoppe must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

The Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the notes, as provided under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Release of Liens in Respect of Notes,” upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with the provisions described above.

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

Except as provided in the next three succeeding paragraphs, the indenture or the notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal

 

118


Table of Contents

amount of the notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the indenture or the notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes).

Without the consent of each holder of notes affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any notes held by a non-consenting holder):

 

(1) reduce the principal amount of notes whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the notes (other than provisions relating to the covenants described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders”);

 

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any note;

 

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the notes by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(5) make any note payable in money other than that stated in the notes;

 

(6) make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of holders of notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the notes;

 

(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any note (other than a payment required by one of the covenants described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders”);

 

(8) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or the indenture, except in accordance with the terms of the indenture; or

 

(9) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

In addition, any amendment to, or waiver of, the provisions of the indenture or any security document that has the effect of releasing all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the notes will require the consent of the holders of at least 66  2 / 3 % in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding.

Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any holder of notes, Vitamin Shoppe, the Guarantors and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture, the notes or the Note Guarantees:

 

(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(2) to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes;

 

(3) to provide for the assumption of Vitamin Shoppe’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to holders of notes and Note Guarantees in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of Vitamin Shoppe’s or such Guarantor’s assets, as applicable;

 

(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the indenture of any such holder;

 

(5) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(6) to conform the text of the indenture, the Note Guarantees or the notes to any provision of this Description of Exchange Notes to the extent that such provision in this Description of Exchange Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the indenture, the Note Guarantees or the notes;

 

119


Table of Contents
(7) to provide for the issuance of additional notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the indenture as of the date of the indenture;

 

(8) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes; or

 

(9) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the indenture or any of the security documents or any release of Collateral that becomes effective as set forth in the indenture or any of the security documents.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all notes issued thereunder, when:

 

(1) either:

 

  (a) all notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed notes that have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to Vitamin Shoppe, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

 

  (b) all notes that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the notes not delivered to the trustee for cancellation for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

 

(2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor is a party or by which Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor is bound;

 

(3) Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the indenture; and

 

(4) Vitamin Shoppe has delivered irrevocable instructions to the trustee under the indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.

In addition, Vitamin Shoppe must deliver an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel to the trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

The Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the notes, as provided under the caption “—Provisions of the Indenture Relating to Security—Release of Liens in Respect of Notes,” upon a satisfaction and discharge in accordance with the provisions described above.

Concerning the Trustee

If the trustee becomes a creditor of Vitamin Shoppe or any Guarantor, the indenture limits the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if the indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) or resign.

 

120


Table of Contents

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee, subject to certain exceptions. The indenture provides that in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any holder of notes, unless such holder has offered to the trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

Additional Information

Anyone who receives this prospectus may obtain a copy of the indenture, registration rights agreement, intercreditor agreement and security documents without charge by writing to 2101 91st Street, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

The Global Notes

The certificates representing the Exchange Notes will be issued in fully registered form. Except as described below, the Exchange Notes will be initially represented by one or more global notes in fully registered form without interest coupons. The global notes will be deposited with, or on behalf of DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, or will remain in the custody of the trustee pursuant to the FAST Balance Certificate Agreement between DTC and the trustee.

Ownership of beneficial interests in each global note will be limited to persons who have accounts with DTC, which we refer to as DTC participants, or persons who hold interests through DTC participants. We expect that under procedures established by DTC, ownership of beneficial interests in each global note will be shown on, and transfer of ownership of those interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC, with respect to interests of DTC participants, and the records of DTC participants, with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the global note.

Book-Entry Procedures for the Global Notes

The descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC set forth below are controlled by that settlement system and may be changed at any time. We undertake no obligation to update you regarding changes in these operations and procedures and urge investors to contact DTC or its participants directly to discuss these matters.

DTC has advised us that it is:

 

    a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York;

 

    a banking organization within the meaning of the New York State Banking Law;

 

    a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

    a clearing corporation within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

    a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its participants through electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical transfer and delivery of certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including the initial purchasers; banks and trust companies; clearing corporations and other organizations. Indirect access to DTC’s system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies; these indirect participants clear through or maintain a custodial relationship

 

121


Table of Contents

with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. Investors who are not DTC participants may beneficially own (securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through DTC participants or indirect participants in DTC.

We expect that pursuant to procedures established by DTC:

 

    Upon issuance of the global notes, DTC we will credit the respective principal amounts of the Exchange Notes represented by the global notes to the accounts of persons who have accounts with DTC. Ownership of beneficial interest in the global notes will be limited to persons who have accounts with DTC, who are referred to as participants, or persons who hold interests through participants.

 

    Ownership of the beneficial interests in the Exchange Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC, with respect to the interests of participants, and the records of participants and the indirect participants, with respect to the interests of persons other than participants.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the Exchange Notes represented by a global note to these persons may be limited. In addition, because DTC can act only on behalf of its participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests though participants, the ability of a person having an interest in Exchange Notes represented by a global note to pledge or transfer that interest to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC’s system, or to otherwise take actions in respect of that interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of that interest.

So long as DTC’s nominee is the registered owner of a global note, that nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Exchange Notes represented by that global note for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global note:

 

    will not be entitled to have notes represented by the global note registered in their names;

 

    will not receive or be entitled to receive physical, certificated Exchange Notes and

 

    will not be considered the owners or holders of the Exchange Notes under the indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the trustee under the indenture.

As a result, each investor who owns a beneficial interest in a global note must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights of a holder of Exchange Notes under the indenture, and, if the investor is not a participant or an indirect participant in DTC, on the procedures of the DTC participant through which the investor owns its interest. We understand that under existing industry practice, in the event that we request any action of holders of Exchange Notes, or a holder of the notes that is an owner of a beneficial interest in a global note desires to take any action that DTC, as the holder of the global note, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the participants to take action and the participants would authorize holders of the notes owning through the participants to take action or would otherwise act upon the instruction of those holders of the Exchange Notes. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of notes by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to those Exchange Notes.

Payments of principal, premium and interest with respect to the notes represented by a global note will be made by the trustee to DTC’s nominee as the registered holder of the global note. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a global note, for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of those interests by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to those interests.

 

122


Table of Contents

Payments by participants and indirect participants in DTC to the owners of beneficial interests in a global note will be governed by standing instructions and customary industry practice and will be the responsibility of those participants or indirect participants and DTC.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected under DTC’s procedures and will be settled in same-day funds. Transfers between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way under the rules and operating procedures of those systems.

Certificated Exchange Notes

Exchange Notes in physical, certificated form will be issued and delivered to each person that DTC identifies as a beneficial owner of the related Exchange Notes only if:

 

    DTC notifies us at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days,

 

    DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days,

 

    we, at our option, notify the trustee that we elect to cause the issuance of certificated Exchange Notes; or

 

    certain other events provided in the indenture should occur.

Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any participant or indirect participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the related Exchange Notes and each such person may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from DTC for all purposes, inducting with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Exchange Notes to be issued.

Certain Definitions

Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the indenture. Reference is made to the indenture for a full disclosure of all defined terms used therein, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.

Acquired Debt ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and

 

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

Advisory Services Agreement ” means the agreement made as of November 27, 2002 by and among Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC, VS Holdings, Inc. and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., as amended, restated, modified, renewed, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) in whole or in part from time to time; provided that such amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals or replacements are not, taken as a whole, materially less favorable to the holders of the notes; provided, further that such amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals or replacements do not increase the amount of fees to which Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC is entitled under the agreement.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

 

123


Table of Contents

Applicable Eurodollar Rate ” means, for each quarterly period during which any note is outstanding subsequent to the initial quarterly period, 750 basis points over the rate determined by Vitamin Shoppe (notice of such rate to be sent to the Trustee by Vitamin Shoppe on the date of determination thereof) equal to the applicable British Bankers’ Association LIBOR rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period of three months as reported by any generally recognized financial information service as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such quarterly period; provided that, if no such British Bankers’ Association LIBOR rate is available to Vitamin Shoppe, the Applicable Eurodollar Rate for the relevant quarterly period shall instead be the rate at which Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. or one of its affiliate banks offers to place deposits in U.S. dollars with first-class banks in the London interbank market for a period of three months at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such quarterly period, in amounts equal to $1.0 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Eurodollar Rate for the initial quarterly period shall be 11.80438%.

Asset Sale ” means:

 

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights; provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of the indenture described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and/or the provisions described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” and not by the provisions of the Asset Sale covenant; and

 

(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of Vitamin Shoppe’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:

 

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $2.0 million;

 

(2) a transfer of assets between or among Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe to Vitamin Shoppe or to a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(4) the sale or lease of products, services, inventory, equipment, leasehold improvements, fixtures or accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(6) the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents, trademarks, registrations thereof and other similar intellectual property;

 

(7) any release of intangible claims or rights in connection with the loss or settlement of a bona-fide lawsuit, dispute or other controversy;

 

(8) leases or subleases in the ordinary course of business to third persons not interfering in any material respect with the business of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(9) a Restricted Payment that does not violate the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments” or a Permitted Investment.

Asset Sale Offer ” has the meaning assigned to that term in the indenture governing the notes.

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used

 

124


Table of Contents

in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

Board of Directors ” means:

 

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

 

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

 

(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and

 

(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

Borrowing Base ” means, as of any date, an amount equal to:

 

(1) 90% of the face amount of all accounts receivable owned by Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date that were not more than 180 days past due; plus

 

(2) 65% of the book value of all inventory, net of reserves, owned by Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York, the city of Wilmington, Delaware or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Capital Expenditure ” means for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements during such period) which would, in accordance with GAAP, be set forth as capital expenditures in the consolidated statement of cash flow of such Person.

Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

Capital Stock ” means:

 

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

125


Table of Contents

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

(1) United States dollars;

 

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government ( provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

 

(3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

 

(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 60 days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

 

(5) commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and, in each case, maturing within one year after the date of acquisition; and

 

(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) other than a Principal or a Related Party of a Principal;

 

(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above), other than the Principals and their Related Parties, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of Vitamin Shoppe, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

 

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe are not Continuing Directors.

Change of Control Offer ” has the meaning assigned to that term in the indenture governing the notes.

Class ” means (1) in the case of Parity Lien Debt, every Series of Parity Lien Debt, taken together, and (2) in the case of Priority Lien Debt, every Series of Priority Lien Debt, taken together.

Collateral ” means all properties and assets at any time owned or acquired by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the other Pledgors, except:

 

(1) Excluded Assets;

 

(2) any properties and assets in which the collateral agent is required to release its Liens pursuant to the provisions described above under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Release of Liens on Collateral;” and

 

(3) any properties and assets that no longer secure the notes or any Obligations in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions described above under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Release of Liens in Respect of Notes,”

 

126


Table of Contents

provided that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3), if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition of any properties or assets of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor, such assets or properties will cease to be excluded from the Collateral if Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or properties.

collateral agent ” means Wilmington Trust Company, in its capacity as collateral agent under the security documents, together with its successors in such capacity.

Consolidated Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus, without duplication:

 

(1) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(2) the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(4) amortization of deferred rent expense; provided , that Consolidated Cash Flow shall be reduced by rent expense paid in cash to the extent not deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

 

(5) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person; and provided, further that there shall be excluded:

 

(1) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;

 

(2) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

 

(3) any non-recurring costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions;

 

(4) any non-cash compensation charges, including, any such charges arising from stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity-incentive programs;

 

(5) any non-cash costs, charges or expenses relating to the application of purchase accounting;

 

(6) any unrealized gain or loss resulting from the application of SFAS 133 with respect to Hedging Obligations; and

 

127


Table of Contents
(7) any non-cash goodwill impairment charges or other intangible asset impairment charges incurred subsequent to the date of the indenture resulting from the application of SFAS 142 or other non-cash asset impairment charges incurred subsequent to the date of the indenture resulting from the application of SFAS 144.

Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe who:

 

(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the indenture; or

 

(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

Control Investment Affiliate ” means, of any Person, any other Person which (a) directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person and (b) is organized by such Person primarily for the purpose of making equity or debt investments in one or more companies or a Person controlled by such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.

Credit Agreement ” means that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated on or about the date of the indenture, by and among Vitamin Shoppe, the Parent, VS Direct, Inc., the Priority Lien Agent, and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations that are parties thereto as lenders, providing for up to $75.0 million of revolving credit borrowings, including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

Credit Facilities ” means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the debt facility evidenced by the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case, with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

Default ” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an officers’ certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by an executive vice president and the principal financial officer of Vitamin Shoppe, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations ” means the occurrence of all of the following:

 

(1) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Debt;

 

(2) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Priority Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

 

(3) discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Debt; and

 

128


Table of Contents
(4) payment in full in cash of all other Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Priority Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at such time).

Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require Vitamin Shoppe to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that Vitamin Shoppe may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.” The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of the indenture will be the maximum amount that Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe.

equally and ratably ” means, in reference to sharing of Liens or proceeds thereof as between holders of Secured Obligations within the same Class, that such Liens or proceeds:

 

(1) will be allocated and distributed first to the Secured Debt Representative for each outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class, for the account of the holders of such Series of Secured Debt, ratably in proportion to the principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made under such letters of credit) on each outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class when the allocation or distribution is made, and thereafter

 

(2) will be allocated and distributed (if any remain after payment in full of all of the principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made on such letters of credit) on all outstanding Secured Obligations within that Class) to the Secured Debt Representative for each outstanding Series of Secured Obligations within that Class, for the account of the holders of any remaining Secured Obligations within that Class, ratably in proportion to the aggregate unpaid amount of such remaining Secured Obligations within that Class due and demanded (with written notice to the applicable Secured Debt Representative, the Priority Lien Agent and the collateral agent) prior to the date such distribution is made.

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

Equity Sale Offer ” has the meaning assigned to that term in the indenture governing the notes.

Excluded Assets ” means each of the following:

 

(1)

any lease, license, contract, property right or agreement to which Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder if and only for so long as the grant of a Lien under the security documents will constitute or result in a breach, termination or default under any such lease, license,

 

129


Table of Contents
 

contract, property right or agreement (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law or principles of equity); provided that such lease, license, contract, property right or agreement will be an Excluded Asset only to the extent and for so long as the consequences specified above will result and will cease to be an Excluded Asset and will become subject to the Lien granted under the security documents, immediately and automatically, at such time as such consequences will no longer result;

 

(2) real property owned by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor that has a Fair Market Value not exceeding $5.0 million in the aggregate, or any real property leased by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor;

 

(3) any rights to any intellectual property or license agreements that would be cancelled or rendered invalid or unenforceable under applicable law by the grant of a security interest created pursuant to the terms of the security documents, for so long as such prohibition or reason for invalidity under applicable law exists, except for the products and the proceeds thereof;

 

(4) all “securities” of any of Vitamin Shoppe’s “affiliates” (as the terms “securities” and “affiliates” are used in Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act); and

 

(5) any other property or assets in which a Lien cannot be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant jurisdiction, so long as the aggregate Fair Market Value of all such property and assets does not at any one time exceed $15.0 million.

Existing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in existence on the date of the indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

Fair Market Value ” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe (unless otherwise provided in the indenture).

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

 

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations, or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including any related financing transactions and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect (in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period;

 

(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

 

130


Table of Contents
(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;

 

(4) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period;

 

(5) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period; and

 

(6) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months).

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates; plus

 

(2) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

 

(3) any interest on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

 

(4) the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of Vitamin Shoppe (other than Disqualified Stock) or to Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the date of the indenture.

Guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise).

Guarantors ” means:

 

(1) each Domestic Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe on the date of the indenture; and

 

131


Table of Contents
(2) any other Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of the indenture, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions of the indenture.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under:

 

(1) interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

 

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk;

 

(3) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates; and

 

(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage fluctuations in commodity prices.

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means, as of any date, any Restricted Subsidiary whose total assets, as of that date, are less than $100,000 and whose total revenues for the most recent 12-month period do not exceed $100,000; provided that a Restricted Subsidiary will not be considered to be an Immaterial Subsidiary if it, directly or indirectly, guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:

 

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

 

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances;

 

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed;

 

(6) representing any Hedging Obligations, or

 

(7) all monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise of Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary arising out of any cash management, depositary or investment services provided by the Priority Lien Agent, any holder of Priority Lien Debt or their respective Affiliates,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.

insolvency or liquidation proceeding ” means:

 

(1) any case commenced by or against Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor under Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor or any similar case or proceeding relative to Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

132


Table of Contents
(2) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(3) any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

intercreditor agreement ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date of the indenture, among the Pledgors, the Priority Lien Agent, the trustee and the collateral agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If Vitamin Shoppe or any Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin Shoppe will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of Vitamin Shoppe’s Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.” The acquisition by Vitamin Shoppe or any Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by Vitamin Shoppe or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.” Except as otherwise provided in the indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

Issue Date ” means the November 15, 2005, the date that the Old Notes were originally issued.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation ” means:

 

(1) as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Priority Lien Debt, each existing and future Priority Lien Representative and each existing and future holder of Permitted Prior Liens:

 

  (a) that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the collateral agent for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

133


Table of Contents
  (b) that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the intercreditor agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

 

  (c) consenting to and directing the collateral agent to perform its obligations under the intercreditor agreement and the other security documents; and

 

(2) as to any Series of Priority Lien Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, as set forth in the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, for the enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, each existing and future Parity Lien Representative and each existing and future holder of Permitted Prior Liens:

 

  (a) that all Priority Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Priority Liens at any time granted by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, and that all such Priority Liens will be enforceable by the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of all holders of Priority Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

  (b) that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the intercreditor agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens; and

 

  (c) consenting to and directing the Priority Lien Agent to perform its obligations under the intercreditor agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents.

Liquidated Damages ” means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant to the registration rights agreement.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

 

(1) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss.

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.

Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

 

(1) as to which neither Vitamin Shoppe nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or (c) constitutes the lender;

 

(2)

no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any

 

134


Table of Contents
 

holder of any other Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

 

(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Note Documents ” means the indenture, the notes and the security documents.

Note Guarantee ” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of Vitamin Shoppe’s obligations under the indenture and the notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of the indenture.

Obligations ” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Priority Lien Documents or Parity Lien Documents, as the case may be, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities (including attorney’s fees) payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Parity Lien ” means a Lien granted by a security document to the collateral agent, at any time, upon any property of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to secure Parity Lien Obligations or any judgment lien obtained in respect of a Parity Lien Obligation.

Parity Lien Debt ” means:

 

(1) the notes issued on the date of the indenture (including any related exchange notes); and

 

(2) any other Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe (including additional notes) that is secured equally and ratably with the notes by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that the net proceeds are used to refund, refinance, replace, defease, discharge or otherwise acquire or retire Priority Lien Debt or other Parity Lien Debt.

Parity Lien Documents ” means, collectively, the Note Documents and the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt and the security documents (other than any security documents that do not secure Parity Lien Obligations).

Parity Lien Obligations ” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

Parity Lien Representative ” means:

 

(1) in the case of the notes, the trustee;

 

(2) in the case of any other Series of Parity Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Parity Lien Debt and (a) is appointed as a Parity Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (b) has become a party to the intercreditor agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the intercreditor agreement.

Permitted Business ” means any business engaged in by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of the indenture and any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of the indenture.

 

135


Table of Contents

Permitted Investments ” means:

 

(1) any Investment in Vitamin Shoppe or in a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

 

(3) any Investment by Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

 

  (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe; or

 

  (b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales;”

 

(5) any acquisition of assets or Capital Stock solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(6) any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or (B) litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;

 

(7) Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;

 

(8) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business of Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3.0 million at any one time outstanding (in addition to any such loans described in this prospectus);

 

(9) repurchases of the notes; and

 

(10) other Investments in any Person other than an Affiliate of Vitamin Shoppe having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at the time outstanding not to exceed $15.0 million.

Permitted Liens ” means:

 

(1) Liens on the assets of Vitamin Shoppe and the other Pledgors held by the Priority Lien Agent securing (A) Priority Lien Debt (including all fixed and contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether drawn or not drawn) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Priority Lien Cap and (B) all Priority Lien Obligations related to such Priority Lien Debt;

 

(2) Liens held by the collateral agent on the Collateral equally and ratably securing the notes to be issued on the date of the indenture and all future Parity Lien Debt and other Parity Lien Obligations;

 

(3) Liens on assets of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing (a) Indebtedness that was permitted to be incurred by clause (1) of the second paragraph of the covenant entitled “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” and (b) all Obligations related thereto and (c) all Hedging Obligations in connection therewith that were permitted by the indenture to be incurred;

 

(4) Liens in favor of Vitamin Shoppe or the Guarantors;

 

(5)

Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with Vitamin Shoppe or any Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to

 

136


Table of Contents
 

the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with Vitamin Shoppe or the Subsidiary;

 

(6) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the property by Vitamin Shoppe or any Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to, such acquisition, and not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition;

 

(7) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(8) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (4) of the second paragraph of the covenant entitled “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” covering only the assets acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness;

 

(9) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(10) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

 

(11) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, landlord’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business, and inchoate statutory landlord’s liens for amounts which are not yet due arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(12) survey exceptions, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

(13) Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) the notes (or the Note Guarantees);

 

(14) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the indenture; provided, however , that:

 

  (a) the new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof); and

 

  (b) the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed amount, of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge;

 

(15) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligation in respect of banker’s acceptances issued or created in the ordinary course for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment, or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(16) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary of such Person owing to such Person or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person;

 

(17) Liens to support trade letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business;

 

(18) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit, which encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

 

(19) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty requirements of Vitamin Shoppe, including rights of offset and set-off;

 

137


Table of Contents
(20) Liens from judgments, decrees, or attachments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default;

 

(21) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as such Hedging Obligations relate to Indebtedness that is, and is permitted to be under the Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

 

(22) Deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

 

(23) Leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(24) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statements regarding leases;

 

(25) security interests or statutory Liens held by a lessor on personal property and trade fixtures of the tenant (i) located on retail store premises demised by such lessor’s lease and (ii) in addition, after the date of the indenture, located on any newly leased warehouse premises demised by such lessor’s lease (except where the fair market value of such personal property and trade fixtures exceeds $1.0 million);

 

(26) Any extensions, substitutions, replacements or renewals of the foregoing; and

 

(27) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of Vitamin Shoppe or any Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe with respect to obligations that do not exceed $5.0 million at any one time outstanding.

Permitted Payments to Parent ” means, without duplication as to amounts:

 

(1) payments to the Parent to permit the Parent to pay reasonable accounting, legal and administrative expenses of the Parent when due, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 per annum; and

 

(2) for so long as Vitamin Shoppe is a member of a group filing a consolidated or combined tax return with the Parent, payments to the Parent in respect of an allocable portion of the tax liabilities of such group that is attributable to Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries (“ Tax Payments ”). The Tax Payments shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the amount of the relevant tax (including any penalties and interest) that Vitamin Shoppe would owe if Vitamin Shoppe were filing a separate tax return (or a separate consolidated or combined return with its Subsidiaries that are members of the consolidated or combined group), taking into account any carryovers and carrybacks of tax attributes (such as net operating losses) of Vitamin Shoppe and such Subsidiaries from other taxable years and (ii) the net amount of the relevant tax that the Parent actually owes to the appropriate taxing authority. Any Tax Payments received from Vitamin Shoppe shall be paid over to the appropriate taxing authority within 30 days of the Parent’s receipt of such Tax Payments or refunded to Vitamin Shoppe.

Permitted Prior Liens ” means:

 

(1) Liens described in clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Liens;”

 

(2) Liens described in clauses (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (18), (19), (21) or (22) of the definition of “Permitted Liens;” and

 

(3) Permitted Liens that arise by operation of law and are not voluntarily granted, to the extent entitled by law to priority over the Liens created by the Priority Lien Security Documents or the security documents.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge other Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

 

(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith);

 

138


Table of Contents
(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged;

 

(3) if the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is subordinated in right of payment to the notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the notes on terms at least as favorable to the holders of notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; and

 

(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by Vitamin Shoppe or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

Pledgors ” means VS Holdings, Inc., Vitamin Shoppe, the Guarantors and any other Person (if any) that provides collateral security for any Secured Debt Obligations.

Principals ” means JDH Management LLC and its Control Investment Affiliates, including Bear Stearns Merchant Capital II, L.P.

Priority Lien ” means a Lien granted by a Priority Lien Security Document to the Priority Lien Agent, at any time, upon any property of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.

Priority Lien Agent ” means Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as agent under the Priority Lien Security Documents, together with its successors in such capacity, and any agent acting as collateral agent under any successor Priority Lien Security Documents.

Priority Lien Cap ” means, as of any date, the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement (including all fixed or contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn) and/or the Indebtedness outstanding under any other Credit Facility, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the sum of the amount provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt, as of any date, plus the amount provided by clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Debt, less the amount of Parity Lien Debt incurred after the date of the indenture the net proceeds of which are used to permanently repay Priority Lien Debt. For purposes of this definition, all Hedging Obligations will be valued at zero.

Priority Lien Debt ” means:

 

(1) Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement that was permitted to be incurred and secured under the applicable Secured Debt Documents (or as to which the Priority Lien Agent obtained an officers’ certificate from Vitamin Shoppe at the time of incurrence to the effect that such Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred and secured by all applicable Secured Debt Documents);

 

(2) Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe under any other Credit Facility that is secured equally and ratably with the Credit Agreement by a Priority Lien that was permitted to be incurred under the terms of the Credit Agreement and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided , in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (2), that:

 

  (a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by Vitamin Shoppe, such Indebtedness is designated by Vitamin Shoppe, in an officers’ certificate delivered to each Priority Lien Representative, the Priority Lien Agent and the collateral agent, as “Priority Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt;

 

139


Table of Contents
  (b) such Indebtedness is governed by a credit agreement or other agreement that includes a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation; and

 

  (c) all requirements set forth in the intercreditor agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Priority Lien Agent’s Lien to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (c) will be conclusively established if Vitamin Shoppe delivers to the Priority Lien Agent and the collateral agent an officers’ certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is “Priority Lien Debt”); and

 

(3) Hedging Obligations of Vitamin Shoppe incurred to hedge or manage interest rate risk with respect to Priority Lien Debt; provided that:

 

  (a) such Hedging Obligations are secured by a Priority Lien on all of the assets and properties that secure Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in respect of which such Hedging Obligations are incurred; and

 

  (b) such Priority Lien is senior to or on a parity with the Priority Liens securing Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in respect of which such Hedging Obligations are incurred.

Priority Lien Documents ” means the Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred and the Priority Lien Security Documents.

Priority Lien Obligations ” means the Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of Priority Lien Debt.

Priority Lien Representative ” means (1) the Priority Lien Agent or (2) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Priority Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt.

Priority Lien Security Documents ” means the Credit Agreement, the intercreditor agreement, each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation, and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor creating (or purporting to create) a Priority Lien upon collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms.

Related Party ” means:

 

(1) any controlling stockholder, 80% (or more) owned Subsidiary, or immediate family member (in the case of an individual) of any Principal; or

 

(2) any trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, members, owners or Persons beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling interest of which consist of any one or more Principals and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1).

Required Parity Lien Debtholders ” means, at any time, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding, calculated in accordance with the provisions described above under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Voting.” For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, Vitamin Shoppe or any Affiliate of Vitamin Shoppe will be deemed not to be outstanding.

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

140


Table of Contents

Restricted Subsidiary ” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Retained Secured Contingent Obligations ” means, at any time, all obligations for taxes, costs, indemnification or other like obligations of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor secured by Priority Liens under the Priority Lien Documents which are not due and payable at such time and in respect of which the Priority Lien Agent has notified the collateral agent that any legal proceeding or other claim is pending or has been overtly threatened against any holder of Priority Lien Obligations, or any other identifiable loss contingency exists, which may result in a liability becoming payable at a future time by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor under the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents.

Sale of Collateral ” means any Asset Sale involving a sale or other disposition of Collateral.

Secured Debt ” means Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt.

Secured Debt Documents ” means the Parity Lien Documents and the Priority Lien Documents.

Secured Debt Representative ” means each Parity Lien Representative and each Priority Lien Representative.

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, on any date, the ratio of:

 

(1) the aggregate principal amount of Secured Debt outstanding on such date plus all Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries of Vitamin Shoppe that are not Guarantors outstanding on such date (and, for this purpose, letters of credit will be deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof, whether or not drawn), to:

 

(2) the aggregate amount of Vitamin Shoppe’s Consolidated Cash Flow for the most recent four-quarter period for which financial information is available.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Secured Leverage Ratio:

 

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations or acquisitions of assets, or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by merger, consolidation or the acquisition of all or substantially all of its assets by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including any related financing transactions and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Secured Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Leverage Calculation Date ”) will be given pro forma effect (in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period;

 

(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Leverage Calculation Date will be excluded;

 

(3) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Leverage Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period; and

 

(4) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Leverage Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period.

Secured Obligations ” means Parity Lien Obligations and Priority Lien Obligations.

security documents ” means the intercreditor agreement, each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation, and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency

 

141


Table of Contents

agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the collateral agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the provisions described above under the caption “—Intercreditor Agreement—Amendment of Security Documents.”

Series of Parity Lien Debt ” means, severally, the notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

Series of Priority Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility that constitutes Priority Lien Debt.

Series of Secured Debt ” means each Series of Parity Lien Debt and each Series of Priority Lien Debt.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of the indenture.

Specified Secured Contingent Obligations ” means, at any time, obligations of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor under the Priority Lien Documents secured by Priority Liens consisting of (a) reimbursement obligations in respect of the amount that then is or thereafter may become available for funding under outstanding letters of credit issued for account of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Subsidiaries, including without limitation any loss, cost, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) in connection with any commissions, fees, costs or expenses owing to any issuing bank, confirming bank, advising bank or correspondent bank, in each case related to such reimbursement obligations, and (b) obligations to pay any Priority Lien Obligations that were provisionally credited from the proceeds of any check or other payment remittance received from any account debtor of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor which has not at such time been finally paid, to the extent (i) such proceeds are required to be returned to any depositary or intermediary bank or clearing house under banking industry rules governing revocation of provisional credits for returned items in process of collection or (ii) the remitting bank is entitled under any deposit account control agreement with the Priority Lien Agent to be indemnified for any such returned items.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness as of the date of the indenture, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations ” means, at any time, all obligations for taxes, costs, indemnification or other like obligations of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor under the Priority Lien

 

142


Table of Contents

Documents which are not due and payable at such time or for which no claim or demand for payment has been made at such time, other than Specified Secured Contingent Obligations and Retained Secured Contingent Obligations.

Transactions ” means the issuance of the notes and the entry into the Credit Agreement.

Total Assets ” means the total assets of Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on shown on the most recent balance sheet of Vitamin Shoppe.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe that is designated by the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

 

(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

 

(2) except as permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates,” is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither Vitamin Shoppe nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Voting Stock ” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

 

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

 

(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

143


Table of Contents

CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following discussion is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable Treasury regulations, judicial authority and administrative rulings and practice as of the date hereof. The Internal Revenue Service may take a contrary view, and no ruling from the Service has been or will be sought. Legislative, judicial or administrative changes or interpretations may be forthcoming that could alter or modify the following statements and conditions. Any such changes or interpretations may or may not be retroactive and could affect the tax consequences to holders, whose tax consequences could be different from the following statements and conditions. Some holders, including insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, broker-dealers, foreign corporations and persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States, may be subject to special rules not discussed below. We recommend that each holder consult his own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of exchanging such holder’s Old Notes for New Notes, including the applicability and effect of any state, local or non-U.S. tax law.

The exchange of the Old Notes for Exchange Notes pursuant to the exchange offer should not be treated as an “exchange” for federal income tax purposes because the Exchange Notes should not be considered to differ materially in kind or extent from the Old Notes. Rather, the Exchange Notes received by a holder should be treated as a continuation of the Old Notes in the hands of such holder. As a result, there should be no federal income tax consequences to holders exchanging Old Notes for Exchange Notes pursuant to the exchange offer.

IRS Circular 230 disclosure

To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any tax advice contained in this prospectus (including any attachments) was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax-related penalties under the Code. The tax advice contained in this prospectus (including any attachments) was written to support the promotion or marketing of the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed herein. Each taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

 

144


Table of Contents

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account under the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of Exchange Notes.

This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Old Notes if the Old Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.

We have agreed to make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer to use in connection with any such resale for a period of at least 90 days after the expiration date. In addition, until                     , 2006, all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange Notes by broker-dealers. Exchange Notes received by broker-dealers for their own accounts under the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions;

 

    in the over-the-counter market;

 

    in negotiated transactions;

 

    through the writing of options on the Exchange Notes or a combination of such methods of resale;

 

    at market prices prevailing at the time of resale;

 

    at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

    at negotiated prices.

Any resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers. Brokers or dealers may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Notes. An “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 includes:

(1) any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer; or

(2) any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Notes.

Any profit on any resale of Exchange Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act of 1933. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.

Based on interpretations by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that a holder or other person who receives Exchange Notes will be allowed to resell the Exchange Notes to the public without further registration under the Securities Act of 1933 and without delivering to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes a prospectus that satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933. The holder (other than a person that is an “affiliate” of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933) who receives Exchange Notes in exchange for Old Notes in the ordinary course of business and who is not participating, need not intend to participate or have an arrangement or understanding with person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes.

However, if any holder acquires Exchange Notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of distributing or participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes, the holder cannot rely on the position of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission enunciated in such no-action letters or any similar interpretive letters. The

 

145


Table of Contents

holder must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with any resale transaction. A secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, unless an exemption from registration is otherwise available.

Further, each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, where the Old Notes were acquired by such participating broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of any Exchange Notes. We have agreed, for a period of not less than 90 days from the consummation of the exchange offer, to make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale.

For a period of not less than 90 days after the expiration date we will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests those documents in the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer, including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the Old Notes, other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers. We will indemnify the holders of the Old Notes against liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, including any broker-dealers.

 

146


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the notes offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, New York, New York. Certain partners of Kirkland & Ellis LLP collectively indirectly hold less than 1% of each of the common stock and preferred stock of VS Holdings, Inc., our parent company.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 31, 2005 included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report (which report expresses an unqualified opinion on the financial statements and includes an explanatory paragraph referring to a change in method of accounting for costs included in inventory in Fiscal 2005 and a change in method of accounting for the Company’s customer loyalty program in Fiscal 2003) appearing herein and is included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have agreed that, whether or not required to do so by the rules and regulations of the SEC, for so long as any of the notes remain outstanding, VS Holdings, Inc. will file with the SEC (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC Forms 10-Q and 10-K, if VS Holdings, Inc. were required to file such reports. Following the effectiveness of the exchange offer, we will make available to the trustee and holders of the notes, the annual reports, information, documents and other reports that are required by Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act within the time periods specified therein. Information filed with the SEC may be read and copied by the public at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site at http:/ /www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. In addition, for so long as any of the notes remain outstanding, we have agreed to make available to any holder or prospective purchaser of the notes the information required to be delivered by 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the notes are not freely transferable under the Securities Act. Certain information may be available on our website at www.VitaminShoppe.com. Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.

In reliance on Rule 12h-5 under the Exchange Act, none of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. nor VS Direct Inc. intends to file annual reports, quarterly reports, current reports or transition reports with the SEC. For so long as Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and VS Direct Inc. rely on Rule 12h-5, certain financial information pertaining to them will be included in the financial statements of VS Holdings, Inc. filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act and the indenture governing the notes.

 

147


Table of Contents

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT S

 

     Page

VS Holdings, Inc.

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm—Deloitte & Touche LLP

   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004

   F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003

   F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003

   F-7

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of April 1, 2006 (unaudited)

   F-34

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended April 1, 2006 (unaudited) and March 26, 2005 (unaudited)

   F-35

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended April 1, 2006 (unaudited) and March 26, 2005 (unaudited)

   F-36

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

   F-37

 

F-1


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIR M

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

VS Holdings, Inc.

North Bergen, New Jersey

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of VS Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 31, 2005. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of VS Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for costs included in inventory in Fiscal 2005. Also, as discussed in Note 3, the Company changed its method of accounting for its customer loyalty program in Fiscal 2003.

/s/    Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Parsippany, New Jersey

April 14, 2006

 

F-2


Table of Contents
Item 1. Financial Statements

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

 

    

December 31,

2005

   

December 25,

2004

 
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,784     $ 2,885  

Inventories

     74,132       61,981  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     11,603       7,935  

Deferred income taxes

     3,202       2,727  
                

Total current assets

     93,721       75,528  

Property and equipment, net

     62,620       58,116  

Goodwill

     175,896       176,233  

Other intangibles, net

     68,100       74,182  

Other assets:

    

Deferred financing fees, net of accumulated amortization of $123 and $2,228, respectively

     6,605       4,581  

Other

     165       364  

Security deposits

     1,494       1,456  
                

Total other assets

     8,264       6,401  
                

Total assets

   $ 408,601     $ 390,460  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ —       $ 1,000  

Revolving credit facility

     12,127       —    

Accounts payable

     27,816       22,848  

Deferred sales

     11,046       10,016  

Accrued salaries and related expenses

     2,946       2,972  

Accrued interest

     2,980       2,534  

Other accrued expenses

     8,538       8,877  
                

Total current liabilities

     65,453       48,247  

Long-term debt

     165,000       159,336  

Deferred income taxes

     18,596       21,967  

Deferred rent

     11,697       7,561  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock $0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 shares; Series A shares issued and outstanding 79,860 (aggregate liquidation preference $101,980 and $94,213, respectively)

     1       1  

Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 11,000,000 shares, 7,617,000 shares issued and outstanding

     76       76  

Additional paid-in capital

     151,040       151,040  

Warrants

     5,666       5,666  

Note receivable due from officer

     (1,500 )     (1,500 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     —         (215 )

Accumulated deficit

     (7,428 )     (1,719 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     147,855       153,349  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 408,601     $ 390,460  
                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands)

 

     Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 

Net sales

   $ 436,463     $ 387,357     $ 331,221  

Cost of goods sold

     290,243       258,223       215,009  
                        

Gross profit

     146,220       129,134       116,212  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     128,313       113,758       95,710  
                        

Income from operations

     17,907       15,376       20,502  

Extinguishment of debt and other

     11,573       —         —    

Interest expense, net

     19,386       16,348       17,172  
                        

(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes

     (13,052 )     (972 )     3,330  

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

     (5,063 )     (361 )     1,659  
                        

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change

     (7,989 )     (611 )     1,671  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax provision of $1.6 million for Fiscal 2005 and tax benefit of $(1.6) million in Fiscal 2003 (see Note 3)

     2,280       —         (2,366 )
                        

Net loss

   $ (5,709 )   $ (611 )   $ (695 )
                        

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

    Preferred Stock   Common Stock   Note
Receivable
Due from
Officer
    Additional
Paid-In-Capital
  Warrants   Accumulated
Deficit
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
    Total  
    Series A              
    Shares   Amounts   Shares   Amounts            
    (in thousands, except share data)  

Balance at December 28, 2002

  79,860   $ 1   7,617,000   $ 76   $ (1,500 )   $ 151,040   $ 5,666   $ (413 )   $ —       $ 154,870  

Net loss

  —       —     —       —       —         —       —       (695 )     —         (695 )

Interest Rate Collar net of taxes of $200

  —       —     —       —       —         —       —       —         (245 )     (245 )
                         

Comprehensive Loss

  —       —     —       —       —         —       —       —         —         (940 )
                                                               

Balance at December 27, 2003

  79,860     1   7,617,000     76     (1,500 )     151,040     5,666     (1,108 )     (245 )     153,930  

Net loss

  —       —     —       —       —         —       —       (611 )     —         (611 )

Interest Rate Collar net of taxes of $24

  —       —     —       —       —         —       —       —         30       30  
                         

Comprehensive Loss

  —       —     —       —       —         —       —       —         —         (581 )
                                                               

Balance at December 25, 2004

  79,860     1   7,617,000     76     (1,500 )     151,040     5,666     (1,719 )     (215 )     153,349  

Net loss

  —       —     —       —       —         —       —       (5,709 )     —         (5,709 )

Interest Rate Collar net of taxes of $176

  —       —     —       —       —         —       —       —         215       215  

Comprehensive Loss

  —       —     —       —       —         —       —       —         —         (5,494 )
                                                               

Balance at December 31, 2005

  79,860   $ 1   7,617,000   $ 76   $ (1,500 )   $ 151,040   $ 5,666   $ (7,428 )   $ —       $ 147,855  
                                                               

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

    Year Ended  
    December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 

Cash flow from operating activities:

     

Net loss

  $ (5,709 )   $ (611 )   $ (695 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

     

Depreciation and amortization

    21,847       21,972       20,196  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    11,137       —         —    

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
(see Note 3)

    (2,280 )     —         2,366  

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

    —         48       —    

Deferred income taxes

    (5,103 )     (597 )     751  

Deferred rent

    3,129       3,443       2,119  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

     

Inventories

    (8,277 )     (7,019 )     (16,742 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    (2,451 )     (932 )     359  

Other non-current assets

    —         13       (187 )

Accounts payable

    6,297       822       4,726  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    1,407       5,953       5,370  
                       

Net cash provided by operating activities

    19,997       23,092       18,263  
                       

Cash flow from investing activities:

     

Capital expenditures

    (19,021 )     (19,174 )     (19,961 )

Proceeds from property disposal

    —         —         12  
                       

Net cash used in investing activities

    (19,021 )     (19,174 )     (19,949 )
                       

Cash flow from financing activities:

     

Borrowings under revolving credit agreement

    21,127       4,000       3,000  

Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit agreement

    (9,000 )     (4,000 )     (3,000 )

Repayment of long-term debt

    (169,476 )     (1,000 )     (1,000 )

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

    165,000       —         —    

Deferred financing fees

    (6,728 )     (800 )     (120 )

Net decrease in capital leases

    —         (178 )     (249 )

Interest rate collar premium

    —         —         (386 )
                       

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    923       (1,978 )     (1,755 )
                       

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    1,899       1,940       (3,441 )

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year

    2,885       945       4,386  
                       

Cash and cash equivalents end of year

  $ 4,784     $ 2,885     $ 945  
                       

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

     

Interest paid

  $ 16,670     $ 11,858     $ 11,170  

Income taxes paid

  $ 1,077     $ 561     $ 2,748  

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash financing activities:

     

Accrued purchases of property and equipment

  $ 428     $ 1,757     $ 713  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Basis of Presentation

VS Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), is incorporated in the State of Delaware, and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. (“Subsidiary” or “VSI”) and VSI’s wholly-owned subsidiary, VS Direct Inc. (“Direct,” and, together with Holdings and VSI, the “Company”), is a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of nutritional products. Sales of both national brands and “The Vitamin Shoppe” and “BodyTech” brands of vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbs, sports nutrition formulas, homeopathic remedies and other health and beauty aids are made through VSI-owned retail stores, mail order catalogs and the Internet to customers located primarily in the United States. VSI operates from its headquarters in North Bergen, New Jersey.

The consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003 include the accounts of Holdings, VSI and VSI’s wholly owned subsidiary Direct. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in December. As used herein, the term “Fiscal Year” or “Fiscal” refers to the 52-or 53-week period, as applicable, ending the last Saturday in December. Fiscal 2005 is a 53-week period ending December 31, 2005, Fiscal 2004 was a 52-week period ended December 25, 2004 and Fiscal 2003 was a 52-week period ended December 27, 2003.

 

2. Acquisition

On October 8, 2002, a definitive merger agreement was entered into whereby Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. agreed to be sold to Holdings, a newly formed holding company for approximately $301.9 million, net of cash acquired, which consisted of consideration of cash and reinvested equity of approximately $265.6 million, and the repayment of approximately $47.5 million of indebtedness plus the payment of transaction fees and expenses of approximately $10.4 million (the “Acquisition”). VS Holdings, Inc. is controlled by Bear Stearns Merchant Capital II, L.P. and affiliated entities. Bear Stearns Merchant Capital II, L.P’s affiliate BSMB/Vitamin, LLC, beneficially owns 80.0% of the common stock and 76.3% of the preferred stock of Holdings.

The Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, Business Combinations. Acquired intangibles and goodwill are accounted for under SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. In 2005, the Company determined that it had not previously recorded deferred tax assets relating to certain severance and lease termination costs. As a result, the Company correctly reflected deferred tax assets and reduced goodwill by $337,000. The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the acquisition as adjusted for the finalization of the allocation of purchase accounting (in thousands):

 

     Total

Current assets

   $ 62,914

Property, plant and equipment

     36,043

Intangible assets

     88,000

Goodwill

     175,896

Other Assets

     4,447
      

Total assets acquired

     367,300

Total liabilities

     101,746
      

Net assets acquired

   $ 265,554
      

 

F-7


Table of Contents

A value of $68.1 million and $19.9 million were assigned to the trade name and customer list, respectively. The trade name is not being amortized as it was determined to have an indefinite life. The customer list is being amortized over three years, and its net book value was zero at December 31, 2005 and $6.1 million at December 25, 2004. Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes

 

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates —The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents —All highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.

Inventories —Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined using the moving weighted average method. Finished goods inventory includes the cost of labor and overhead required to package “The Vitamin Shoppe” and “BodyTech” brand products. The Company estimates losses for excess and/or obsolete inventory and the net realizable value of inventory based on the aging of inventory and the valuation of the likelihood of recovering the inventory costs based on anticipated demand.

Fiscal 2005 Change in Accounting Principle —Effective December 26, 2004 (the beginning of Fiscal 2005), the Company implemented a change in accounting for costs included in inventory. The change relates to capitalizing freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility, including payroll. These costs were previously expensed as incurred in cost of goods sold and are now treated as inventory product costs which are expensed as inventory is sold. Freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility are includable in inventory because they directly relate to the acquisition of goods for resale by the Company. The Company has determined that it is preferable to capitalize such costs into inventory because it better represents the costs incurred to prepare inventory for sale to the end user, shows better comparability with other retailers and will improve the management and planning of inventory. As a result, the Company recorded the cumulative effect of accounting change of $2.3 million (net of tax provision of $1.6 million) upon adoption. The impact on Fiscal 2005 was an increase in net income of $249,000 (net of tax provision of $155,000). The table below represents the impact of the accounting change as if it had been implemented on the consolidated balance sheet at December 25, 2004 and consolidated statements of operations for the Fiscal years ended December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003, respectively, (in thousands):

 

     As
Reported
(1)
    Adjustments     Pro-forma

At December 25, 2004

      

Inventories

   $ 61,981     $ 3,875     $ 65,856

Deferred Income taxes

   $ 2,727     $ (1,595 )   $ 1,132

(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings

   $ (1,719 )   $ 2,280     $ 561

Year Ended December 25, 2004

      

Cost of goods sold (1)

   $ 258,223     $ (1,230 )   $ 256,993

Selling, general and administrative expenses (1)

   $ 113,758     $ (15 )   $ 113,743

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

   $ (361 )   $ 513     $ 152

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ (611 )   $ 732     $ 121

Net (loss) income

   $ (611 )   $ 732     $ 121

 

F-8


Table of Contents
     As
Reported
(1)
    Adjustments     Pro-forma  

Year Ended December 27, 2003

      

Cost of goods sold (1)

   $ 215,009     $ (1,042 )   $ 213,967  

Selling, general and administrative expenses (1)

   $ 95,710     $ (52 )   $ 95,658  

Provision for income taxes

   $ 1,659     $ 451     $ 2,110  

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 1,671     $ 643     $ 2,314  

Net loss

   $ (695 )   $ 643     $ (52 )

(1) Includes the effect of the reclassification of deferred rent expense from selling, general and administrative expenses to cost of goods sold.

Property and Equipment —Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation and amortization are provided for on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated over three to fifteen years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their useful lives or related lease terms. In accordance with the AICPA’s Statement of Position 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use, the direct internal and external costs associated with the development of the features and functionality of the Company’s Web site, transaction processing systems, telecommunications infrastructure and network operations, are capitalized and are amortized on a straight line basis over the estimated lives of five years. Capitalization of costs begin when the preliminary project stage is completed and management authorizes and commits to funding the computer software project and that it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended. Depreciation of the assets commence when they are put into use. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred and expenditures for major renovations and improvements are capitalized. Upon retirement or disposition of property and equipment, the applicable cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gains or losses are included in the results of operations.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Other Intangibles —The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to undiscounted pre-tax future net cash flows expected to be generated by that asset. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. To date, no such impairment has been recognized. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if circumstances indicate a possible impairment may have occurred.

Rent Expenses, Deferred Rent and Landlord Construction Allowances —Rent expense and rent incentives, including landlord construction allowances, are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company records rent expense for stores and the distribution center as a component of cost of goods sold. The Company accounts for landlord construction allowances as lease incentives and records them as a component of deferred rent, which is recognized in cost of goods sold.

Deferred Financing Costs —The Company capitalizes costs directly associated with acquiring third-party financing. Deferred financing costs are included in other assets and are amortized as interest expense over the term of the related indebtedness.

Revenue Recognition —The Company recognizes revenue, net of sales returns, at the “point of sale,” which occurs when merchandise is sold “over-the-counter” in retail stores or upon delivery to a direct customer, net of sales returns. In accordance with EITF 00-10, Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs, the Company classifies all amounts billed to customers that represent shipping fees as sales in all periods presented.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

To arrive at net sales, gross sales are reduced by actual customer returns and a provision for estimated future customer returns, which is based on management’s review of historical and current customer returns.

Cost of Goods Sold —The Company includes the cost of inventory sold, costs of warehousing and distribution and store occupancy costs in cost of goods sold. Warehousing and distribution costs include freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility, including payroll, which are capitalized into inventory and then expensed as merchandise is sold. Store occupancy costs include rent, common area maintenance, real estate taxes, repairs and maintenance, insurance and utilities.

Frequent Buyer Program —The Company has a frequent buyer program whereby customers earn points toward free merchandise based on the volume of purchases. Points are earned each year and must be redeemed within the first three months of the following year or they expire. This liability is recorded as “deferred sales” on the balance sheet. In 2002 and earlier, points were accrued based on the estimated cost of the merchandise and on the estimated redemptions.

Fiscal 2003 Change in Accounting Principle —On December 29, 2002 (the beginning of Fiscal 2003), the Company changed its accounting method to defer revenue on frequent buyer program transactions based on estimated redemptions. As a result, the Company recorded a cumulative effect accounting change of $2.4 million (net of tax benefit of $1.6 million) upon adoption which increased the Company’s deficit at December 29, 2002.

Store Pre-opening Costs —Costs associated with the opening of new retail stores and start up activities are expensed as incurred.

Advertising Costs —Costs associated with the production and distribution of the Company’s monthly and quarterly catalogues are expensed as incurred. The costs of advertising for online marketing arrangements, magazines, television and radio are expensed the first time advertising takes place. Advertising expense was $12.7 million, $12.6 million and $12.1 million for Fiscal 2005, Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2003, respectively.

Online Marketing Arrangements —The Company has entered into online marketing arrangements with various online companies. These agreements are established for periods of 24 months, 12 months or, in some cases, a lesser period and generally provide for compensation based on revenue sharing upon the attainment of stipulated revenue amounts or based on the number of visitors that the online company refers to the Company. The Company had no fixed commitments during Fiscal 2005, Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2003 relating to fixed payment contracts.

Research and Development Costs —The Company maintains close relationships with its third party branded manufacturers, which allows the Company to be at the forefront of introducing new third-party branded products within the industry. In addition, the Company maintains a product development group that is staffed with employees who oversee our development of new Vitamin Shoppe branded products. During Fiscal 2005 and 2004, the Company focused on, and will continue to focus on, developing Vitamin Shoppe branded product offerings for beauty care, condition-specific and branded blended specialty supplements (which are designed to assist with certain conditions, for example, sleep difficulties) and functional foods and beverages (offering further benefits beyond nourishment and hydration, such as additional vitamins and minerals). The Company is also focusing on enhancing its Vitamin Shoppe branded product offerings under the Company’s BodyTech label. The Company incurred $2.0 million, $1.7 million and $1.4 million of research and development expense for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003, respectively.

Income Taxes —Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences between the tax bases and financial reporting bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities using the tax rates and laws in effect for the periods in which the differences are expected to reverse.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

Comprehensive Loss —Comprehensive loss represents net loss plus the results of certain non-shareholders’ equity changes not reflected in the statement of operations (other comprehensive loss). The components of other comprehensive loss for the Company represent an interest rate collar accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

Financial Instruments Policy —We use interest rate swaps and collars as cash flow hedges to manage our exposure to fluctuating interest rate risk on our debt. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended by SFAS No. 137, SFAS No. 138 and SFAS No. 149. Derivative instruments are reported in the consolidated financial statements at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are to be recorded each period in earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether the derivative is designated and effective as part of a hedged transaction and on the type of hedge transaction. Gains or losses on derivative instruments reported in other comprehensive income must be reclassified as earnings in the period in which earnings are effected by the underlying hedge item, and the ineffective portion of all hedges must be recognized in earnings in the current period.

On the date a derivative contract is entered into, SFAS No. 133 required that a qualifying derivative is required to be designated as (1) a hedge of a recognized asset or liability or an unrecognized firm commitment (a fair value hedge) or (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to the asset or liability (cash flow hedge). We document our hedge relationships, including identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, as well as our risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction. Derivatives are recorded in the balance sheet at fair value in other assets and other liabilities. We also assess, both at inception and quarterly thereafter, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged item.

The effective position of the changes in fair value of our interest rate swaps and collars, which are designated as cash flow hedges, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The ineffective position of the change in fair value is recorded as a component of interest expense. Changes in fair value are estimated by management quarterly, based on dealer quotes.

The Company paid a premium to enter into an interest rate collar during 2003 which served to create a floor of 1.25% and a cap of 4.00% on the base rate of interest that was paid on one half of the value of the Company’s then existing term loan entered into in November of 2002. The contract is recorded as a cash flow hedge whereby the interest rate collar is marked to market at the balance sheet date with a corresponding adjustment to OCI. This interest rate collar was terminated during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2005 with the repayment of the related debt resulting in a gain of $215,000.

The Company entered into an interest rate swap during December 2005 on a portion of its Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes (the “Notes”) offering for $165 million, which did not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133. As a result, the fair market value of the interest rate swap is marked to market at the balance sheet date with a corresponding adjustment to other expense. As of December 31, 2005 the fair market value was $0.4 million and was recorded in extinguishment of debt and other and accrued liability.

Concentrations of Credit Risk —The Company’s customers are consumers who purchase products at the Company’s retail outlets, through the Company’s mail-order services or through the Company’s Web site. Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of accounts receivable from credit card processors. As of December 31, 2005, there were no significant concentrations of accounts receivable or related credit risks.

Nature’s Value, Inc. is the only supplier from whom the Company purchased at least 5% of its merchandise during Fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003. The Company purchased approximately 13% of its total merchandise from Nature’s Value, Inc. in Fiscal 2005, and purchased raw materials from Nature’s Value, Inc. representing 10% and 12% of total merchandise purchased in Fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

Stock-Based Compensation —The Company accounts for its stock-based employee compensation under Accounting Principle Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” (“APB No. 25”). The Company has adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.” See Recent Pronouncements further in this Note regarding the issuance of SFAS No. 123(R) and the impact of such statement on the future accounting for stock options. The Company utilizes the intrinsic valuation method for valuing stock options and therefore management does not utilize volatility in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R).

In accordance with SFAS No. 148, the following table illustrates the pro forma effect on net loss for Fiscal 2005, Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2003 had the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” been applied to stock-based employee compensation.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 
     (In thousands)  

Net loss as reported

   $ (5,709 )   $ (611 )   $ (695 )

Deduct: Total stock based employee compensation determined under fair value based methods of SFAS No. 123, net of tax

     (312 )     (265 )     (244 )
                        

Pro-Forma net loss

   $ (6,021 )   $ (876 )   $ (939 )
                        

The following table represents assumptions used to fair value options:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 

Expected dividend yield

   0.0 %   0.0 %   0.0 %

Volatility factor

   0.0 %   0.0 %   0.0 %

Weighted average risk-free interest rate

   4.5 %   4.6 %   2.5 %

Expected life of option

   6.5 years     6.5 years     6.5 years  

Goodwill —Goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed for impairment at least annually, or whenever impairment indicators exist. Judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on market conditions and operational performance of the business. Goodwill and other intangibles with indefinite lives are tested for impairment at the operating segment or one level below an operating segment on an annual basis or between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value below its carrying value.

Reclassifications —The Company reclassified deferred rent expense of $3.4 million and $2.1 million from selling, general and administrative expense to costs of goods sold to properly reflect these amounts on the income statement for Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2003, respectively.

In Note 7, the Company reclassified $1.0 million from valuation allowance to other deferred tax liabilities for Fiscal 2004. This change did not have an effect on the overall net deferred tax liability balance.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements —In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) published Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), an amendment of FASB Statements No. 123 and No. 148. Under SFAS No. 123(R), all forms of share-based payment to employees, including employee stock options, would be treated as compensation and recognized in the statement of operations. SFAS No. 123(R) is effective beginning in the first quarter of Fiscal 2006. The Company currently accounts for stock options under Accounting Principles

 

F-12


Table of Contents

Bulletin (“APB”) No. 25 using the intrinsic value method in accounting for its employee stock options. No stock-based compensation costs were reflected in net (loss) income relating to options under those plans because all options were granted at an exercise price greater than or at market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The pro forma impact of expensing options is disclosed in the above chart in Stock Based Compensation. SFAS No. 123(R) permits companies to adopt its requirements using various methods. The Company adopted the prospective method for all stock option grants issued prior to December 31, 2005. Under the prospective method, those nonpublic companies that used the minimum value method of measuring equity share options and similar instruments for either recognition or pro forma disclosure purposes will apply to SFAS No. 123(R) prospectively to new awards and to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled after the required effective date. The Company will continue to account for any portion of awards outstanding at the date of initial application using the accounting principles originally applied to those awards which were the provisions of Opinion 25 and its related interpretive guidance. The prospective method will also be applied for stock option grants issued after December 31, 2005. Estimated stock based compensation for Fiscal 2006 related to stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2005 will be approximately $291,000.

In March 2005, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 47 (“Interpretation No. 47”) “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143.” Interpretation No. 47 clarifies that the term conditional asset retirement obligation as used in FASB Statement No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. The obligation to perform the asset retirement activity is unconditional even though uncertainty exists about the timing and/or method of settlement. Accordingly, an entity is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. This interpretation is effective no later than the end of the fiscal years ended after December 15, 2005. The Company has determined that Interpretation No. 47 did not have a material impact on its results of operation, financial position or cash flows.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” SAS No. 154 provides guidance on the accounting for and reporting of accounting changes and error corrections. It establishes, unless impracticable, retrospective application as the required method for reporting a change in accounting principle in the absence of explicit transition requirements specific to the newly adopted accounting principle. This Statement also provides guidance for determining whether retrospective application of a change in accounting principle is impracticable and for reporting a change when retrospective application is impracticable and also states that the correction of an error in previously issued financial statements is not an accounting change. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005.

In June 2005, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached consensus on EITF 05-6, “Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold Improvements”. Under EITF 05-6, leasehold improvements placed in service significantly after and not contemplated at or near the beginning of the lease term, should be amortized over the lesser of the useful life of the assets or a term that includes renewals that are reasonably assured at the date the leasehold improvements are purchased. EITF 05-6 is effective for periods beginning after June 29, 2005. The Company believes the adoption of EITF 05-6 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In October 2005, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 13-1, “Accounting for Rental Costs Incurred during a Construction Period” (“FSP No. 13-1”), to give guidance to a lessee on determining whether rental costs associated with operating leases may be capitalized during a construction period. Specifically, FSP No. 13-1 stipulates that such costs shall be (a) recognized as rental expense, (b) included in income from continuing operations, and (c) allocated over the lease term according to the guidance in SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases,” and FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-3, “Accounting for Operating Leases with Scheduled Rent Increases.” The guidance in FSP No. FAS 13-1 is effective for the first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2005, with early adoption permitted for financial statements or interim financial statements that

 

F-13


Table of Contents

have not yet been issued. The Company previously applied the principles of FSP No. 13-1. Accordingly, this will not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

4. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

During November 2005, the Company performed its required annual goodwill impairment test, which concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill. As a result of the Acquisition in 2002, the Company acquired $88.0 million of intangible assets and $175.9 million of goodwill.

The following table discloses the carrying value of all intangible assets (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2005    December 25, 2004
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net    Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net

Intangible assets:

                 

Customer list

   $ 19,900    $ 19,900    $ —      $ 19,900    $ 13,818    $ 6,082

Tradenames

     68,100      —        68,100      68,100      —        68,100
                                         
   $ 88,000    $ 19,900    $ 68,100    $ 88,000    $ 13,818    $ 74,182
                                         

Intangible amortization expense amounted to $6.1 million, $6.6 million and $7.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003, respectively. The amortization period for the customer list was three years, and it had a zero net book value at December 31, 2005. Tradenames will not be amortized, but will be tested for impairment annually, as they were determined to be intangible assets with indefinite lives.

 

5. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2005
    December 31,
2004
 

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

   $ 58,483     $ 47,456  

Leasehold improvements

     53,490       47,677  

Web site development costs

     9,618       8,328  

Transportation equipment

     8       37  

Construction in progress

     1,642       2,046  
                
     123,241       105,544  

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (60,621 )     (47,428 )
                
   $ 62,620     $ 58,116  
                

Depreciation expense for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003 was approximately $13.0 million, $12.7 million and $10.9 million, respectively.

 

F-14


Table of Contents
6. Credit Arrangements

Debt consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
   December 25,
2004
 

Revolving Credit Facility

   $ 12,127    $ —    
               

Credit Agreement:

     

Term Loan B

   $ —      $ 98,000  

Notes:

     

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes (the “Notes”)

     165,000      —    

Opco Senior Subordinated Notes

     —        52,000  

Holdco PIK Notes

     —        19,476  
               
     165,000      169,476  

Current maturities of long term debt

     —        (1,000 )

Unamortized debt discount

     —        (9,140 )
               

Long-term debt, net

   $ 165,000    $ 159,336  
               

2005 Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes

On November 7, 2005, the Company completed its Notes offering for $165 million. The initial purchasers received delivery of the Notes on November 15, 2005.

Interest on the Notes will be set at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 7.5%, which will be reset quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2006. The combined weighted average interest rate from November 7, 2005 to December 31, 2005 was 11.8%. The Notes will mature on November 15, 2012. Interest on overdue principal and interest and liquidated damages, if any, will accrue at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the Notes. If VSI cannot make payments on the notes when they are due, Holdings and VSI’s only subsidiary, VS Direct Inc., have guaranteed the notes and must make payments instead. The notes and the guarantees are secured by a second priority security interest in substantially all of VSI’s and the guarantors’ assets that secure VSI’s new first priority senior secured credit facility. The notes and the guarantees are VSI’s, and the guarantors’, second priority senior secured obligations, and will rank equally in right of payment with all of VSI’s and the guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future subordinated indebtedness. The notes and the guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all of VSI’s and the guarantors’ first priority senior secured indebtedness, including VSI’s new first priority senior secured credit facility, to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness. If VSI sells certain assets, issues equity or experiences specific kinds of changes in control, VSI must offer to repurchase the notes. VSI may, at its option, redeem some or all of the notes at any time on or after November 15, 2007. Prior to November 15, 2007, VSI may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the notes with the proceeds of certain sales of its equity or of Holdings. VSI used the proceeds from the sale of the notes to repay all of its and Holdings’ existing indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses.

Revolving Credit Facility

On November 15, 2005 the Company entered into a new $50.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility and the Company has the option to increase or decrease the facility size by $25.0 million, subject to certain conditions. The availability under the new credit facility is subject to a borrowing base calculated on the basis of certain eligible accounts receivable from credit card companies and the inventory and the inventory of the Company’s subsidiary, VS Direct Inc. The obligations thereunder are secured by a security interest in substantially all of the Company’s assets and substantially all of the assets of Holdings and VSI. The new credit

 

F-15


Table of Contents

facility provides for affirmative and negative covenants affecting the Company and the Company’s subsidiary. The new credit facility restricts, among other things, the Company’s parent’s and subsidiary’s ability to incur indebtedness, create or permit liens on the Company’s assets, declare or pay dividends and certain other restricted payments, consolidate, merge or recapitalize, acquire or sell assets, make certain investments, loans or other advances, enter into transactions with affiliates, change our line of business, and restricts the types of hedging activities the Company can enter into. The credit facility is classified as a current liability on the balance sheet due to the fact that it is secured by a borrowing base calculated on the basis of certain current assets, primarily inventory and credit card receivables. The credit facility has a maturity date of November 15, 2010. The Company’s previous credit facility had the terms described below, and was replaced with this new credit facility. The unused available line of credit at December 31, 2005 was $24.0 million and the amount of borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2005 was $12.1 million. The credit facility includes a $10.0 million subfacility for the issuance of letters of credit.

Direct and Holdings provided guarantees in respect of VSI’s obligations in respect of the credit facility, and VSI and Holdings have provided guarantees in respect of Direct’s obligations in respect of the credit facility.

The borrowings under the revolving credit facility accrue interest, at our option, at the per annum rate announced from time to time by the agent as its “prime rate”, or at a per annum rate equal to between 1.25% and 1.75% (depending on excess availability) above the adjusted Eurodollar interest rate. The combined weighted average interest rate from November 7, 2005 to December 31, 2005 was 5.9%.

Expenses related to repayment of previous debt

Included in deferred financing costs and other are $11.1 million of expenses related to the repayment of the previous debt upon our issuance of the Notes, which consists of $7.7 million of original issue discount related to the allocation of value to the warrants and Holdings Preferred Stock and $3.4 million of deferred financing costs from the previous debt.

2002 Credit Facility and Notes

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company entered into a credit agreement dated November 27, 2002 (the “Credit Agreement”), which provided for an aggregate $120 million in senior secured debt financing. Under the Note, Stock and Warrant agreement entered into on November 27, 2002, the Company issued $15 million principal amount of 13% Holdco PIK Notes (the “Holdco Notes”) due 2009 and $52 million principal amount of 12.5% Opco Senior Subordinated Notes (the “Opco Notes”) due 2009 and warrants to purchase Common Stock and issued Preferred Stock, related to both the Holdco notes and Opco Notes.

Credit Agreement —The Credit Agreement provided for an aggregate of $120 million of senior secured borrowings including a Term Loan B of $100 million and a $20 million Revolving Credit Facility. In connection with the Acquisition the Company borrowed $100 million from the Term Loan B and received net proceeds of $97.1 million. The Credit Agreement was terminated in November of 2005 when the Company completed its Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Note offering, and all remaining principal amounts were repaid in November 2005.

The Term Loan B, which had a maturity date of May 26, 2008, was terminated in November 2005, and bore interest at the Base Rate (Prime Rate or Fed Funds Rate plus 0.5%) plus 2.0% or LIBOR plus 3.0%.

The Revolving Credit Facility, which was available for general corporate purposes, including working capital, had an original maturity date of November 26, 2007, was terminated in November 2005 and bore interest at the Base Rate (Prime Rate or Fed Funds Rate plus 0.5%) plus 3.25% or LIBOR plus 4.25%. The commitment fee paid during the year ended December 31, 2005 was $0.09 million. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement were secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

F-16


Table of Contents

Holdco PIK Note and Opco Senior Subordinated Notes —On November 27, 2002, Holdings issued $15 million principal amount of 13% Holdco Notes due November 25, 2009 and detachable warrants to purchase Holdings Common Stock and issued Holdings Preferred Stock. Proceeds of $15 million were received and value of $2.9 million was assigned to the detachable warrants and issued Holdings Preferred Stock, and was recorded as an original issue discount. The effective yield on the Holdco Notes, which were subordinate to all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement, is approximately 18.2%. Interest on the Holdco Notes was payable in-kind by capitalizing such interest and adding it to the aggregate principal amount. Allocation of value to the warrants and Holdings Preferred Stock was recorded as original issue discount and was being amortized using the effective interest method. The Holdco Notes agreement contained various covenants, including the maintenance of a maximum leverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with these covenants through the termination date in November 2005. The remaining balances of the Opco Senior Subordinated Notes and Holdco PIK Notes were repaid in November 2005.

On November 27, 2002, Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. issued $52 million principal amount of 12.5% Opco Notes due May 26, 2009 for $45.9 million and detachable warrants to purchase Holdings Common Stock and issued Holdings Preferred Stock for $6.1 million. The effective yield on the Opco Notes, which were subordinate to all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement, was approximately 15.3%. Interest on the Opco Notes was payable quarterly in March, June, September and December. The allocation of value to the warrants and Holdings Preferred Stock was recorded as original issue discount and was being amortized using the effective interest method. The Holdco Notes agreement contained various covenants, including the maintenance of a minimum leverage ratio.

Scheduled maturities of borrowings are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year

   Total    The Notes    Revolving Credit
Facility (1)

2006

   $ 12,127    $ —      $ 12,127

2007

     —        —        —  

2008

     —        —        —  

2009

     —        —        —  

2010

     —        —        —  

Thereafter

     165,000      165,000      —  
                    
   $ 177,127    $ 165,000    $ 12,127
                    

(1) The credit facility is classified as a current liability on the balance sheet and in the above schedule due to the fact that it is secured by a borrowing base calculated on the basis of certain current assets, primarily inventory and credit card receivables. The credit facility has a maturity date of November 15, 2010.

Net interest expense for Fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003 consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 

Interest on Term Loan B

   $ 5,344     $ 4,698     $ 6,047  

Interest on the Notes

     2,543       —         —    

Interest under cap agreements

     —         9       32  

Interest on Holdco and Opco notes

     8,209       8,997       8,672  

Amortization of debt discount

     1,424       1,439       1,275  

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     1,309       1,125       988  

Other

     766       270       210  

Interest income

     (209 )     (190 )     (52 )
                        
   $ 19,386     $ 16,348     $ 17,172  
                        

 

F-17


Table of Contents
7. Income Taxes

The (benefit) provision for income taxes for Fiscal 2005, Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2003 consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 

Current:

      

Federal

   $ 68     $ —       $ —    

State

     37       236       908  
                        

Total current

     105       236       908  
                        

Deferred:

      

Federal

     (5,040 )     (302 )     924  

State

     (128 )     (295 )     (173 )
                        

Total deferred

     (5,168 )     (597 )     751  
                        

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

   $ (5,063 )   $ (361 )   $ 1,659  
                        

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying value of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and amounts used for income tax purposes. The temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
 

Deferred tax assets:

    

Net operating loss carryforward

   $ 11,814     $ 11,403  

Deferred rent

     3,774       2,032  

Tennant allowance

     704       1,590  

Deferred sales

     2,341       1,932  

Organizational costs

     976       1,345  

Inventory

     1,376       1,161  

Other

     947       469  
                
     21,932       19,932  

Valuation allowance

     (915 )     —    
                

Deferred tax assets

     21,017       19,932  

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Trade name

     (28,045 )     (27,000 )

Accumulated depreciation

     (6,150 )     (7,879 )

Customer list

     —         (2,132 )

Prepaid expenses

     (1,216 )     (1,161 )

Other

     (1,000 )     (1,000 )
                

Deferred tax liabilities

     (36,411 )     (39,172 )
                

Net deferred tax liability

   $ (15,394 )   $ (19,240 )
                

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consists of:

    

Deferred tax assets—current

   $ 3,202     $ 2,727  

Deferred tax liabilities—long term

     (18,596 )     (21,967 )
                

Net deferred tax liability

   $ (15,394 )   $ (19,240 )
                

 

F-18


Table of Contents

A reconciliation of the statutory Federal income tax rate and effective rate of the (benefit) provision for income taxes is as follows:

 

     Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 

Federal statutory rate

   (35.0 )%   (35.0 )%   35.0 %

State income taxes net of Federal income tax benefit

   (3.2 )%   (3.9 )%   14.3 %

Release of reserve

   (2.9 )%   0.0 %   0.0 %

Valuation allowance

   4.6 %   0.0 %   0.0 %

Other

   (2.3 )%   1.8 %   0.5 %
                  

Effective tax rate

   (38.8 )%   (37.1 )%   49.8 %
                  

In Fiscal 2005, included in other in the above table, the Company recorded a credit to the income tax provision of $269,000 to correct, on a cumulative basis, certain book and tax basis differences arising in earlier years by reducing its deferred income tax liability account. In 2005, the Company determined that it had not previously recorded deferred tax assets relating to certain severance and lease termination costs. As a result, the Company correctly reflected deferred tax assets and reduced goodwill by $337,000.

The Company performs reviews of its income tax positions on a continuous basis and accrues for potential contingencies when it believes a liability is probable and can be reasonably estimated. Accruals for these contingencies are recorded in “income taxes payable” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets based on the expectation as to the timing of when the contingency will be resolved. During fiscal 2005, the Company reduced income taxes payable by $375,000 due to the closure of certain matters with domestic taxing authorities.

At December 31, 2005, the Company had approximately $14,500 of AMT carryforwards from Fiscal 2004 and $53,800 in Fiscal 2005. There is no expiration period for these AMT carryforwards. At December 31, 2005, the Company had approximately $29.8 million of Federal net operating losses which expire between 2019 and 2023 and between $4.6 million and $12.8 million in state net operating losses which vary by jurisdiction. The state net operating losses expire between 2011 and 2024. Realization of deferred tax assets associated with the net operating loss is dependent upon generating sufficient taxable income prior to their expiration by tax jurisdiction. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that certain of these net operating losses may expire unused and, accordingly, have established a valuation allowance against them. Although realization is not assured for the remaining deferred tax assets, the Company believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized through future taxable earnings or alternative tax strategies. However, deferred tax assets could be reduced in the near term if the Company’s estimates of taxable income during the carry forward period are significantly reduced or alternative tax strategies are no longer viable. The valuation allowance increased by $0.9 million in Fiscal 2005.

 

8. Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock —In connection with the Acquisition, Holdings has authorized a total of 500,000 shares of preferred stock and designated 100,000 as Series A Preferred Stock. The remaining 400,000 shares of preferred stock were not designated by Holdings. The Series A Preferred Stock has no voting rights. There is a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share plus all dividends accumulated but unpaid. Dividends accumulate at the rate of 8% of the Series A Preferred Stock liquidation preference. Any sales of Series A are subject to a stockholders’ agreement. Cumulative Series A Preferred Stock dividends in arrears at December 31, 2005, were approximately $22.1 million.

Stock Option Plan —In connection with the Acquisition, Holdings adopted the VS Holdings, Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan (the “2002 Plan”) for certain directors, officers, consultants and employees of the Company. Holdings authorized the issuance of up to 2,046,041 shares of common stock. The stock options are generally

 

F-19


Table of Contents

exercisable at no less than the fair market value on the date of grant. Generally, options awarded shall become vested in four equal increments on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date on which such options were awarded. The stock options have a maximum term of 10 years. The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option program as of December 31, 2005 and changes during the 53-week period then ended:

 

     Total Outstanding
     Number of
Options
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

December 28, 2002

   1,023,019     $ 17.50

Granted

   634,950     $ 17.50

Canceled/forfeited

   (84,570 )   $ 17.50
            

December 27, 2003

   1,573,399     $ 17.50

Granted

   438,176     $ 17.35

Canceled/forfeited

   (356,010 )   $ 17.50
            

December 25, 2004

   1,655,565     $ 17.46

Granted

   202,275     $ 19.37

Canceled/forfeited

   (175,734 )   $ 17.57
            

December 31, 2005

   1,682,106     $ 17.68
            

The following table summarizes information about options outstanding at December 31, 2005:

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of

Exercise Prices

   Number
Outstanding
at December 31,
2005
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Number
Exercisable at
December 31,
2005
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

$10.00 to $20.00

   1,121,404    7.78    $ 12.77    673,937    $ 12.56

$20.01 to $30.00

   560,702    7.79    $ 27.50    335,212    $ 27.50
                            
   1,682,106    7.78    $ 17.68    1,009,149    $ 17.52

Warrants —At December 31, 2005, Holdings had outstanding 567,163 warrants to purchase Holdings common stock at $0.01 per share. The warrants were issued in connection with the issuance of the Holdco Notes and Opco Notes, are immediately exercisable and expire on November 27, 2012. The fair value of the warrants was determined based on the aggregate fair market value and aggregate purchase price on the closing date.

 

9. Lease Commitments

The Company has non-cancelable operating leases, which expire through 2019. The leases generally contain renewal options for periods ranging from 1 to 10 years and require the Company to pay costs such as real estate taxes and common area maintenance. Contingent rentals are paid based on a percentage of gross sales as defined by lease agreements. The following table provides the net rental expense for all operating leases (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
   December 27,
2003
 

Minimum rentals

   $ 37,245     $ 28,594    $ 21,288  

Contingent rentals

     91       90      82  
                       
     37,336       28,684      21,370  

Less: Sublease rentals

     (44 )     —        (2 )
                       

Net rental expense

   $ 37,292     $ 28,684    $ 21,368  
                       

 

F-20


Table of Contents

As of December 31, 2005, the Company’s lease commitments are as follows (in thousands):

 

Fiscal year ending

   Total
Operating
Leases (1)

2006

   $ 38,496

2007

     37,688

2008

     35,770

2009

     33,671

2010

     32,822

Thereafter

     106,016
      
   $ 284,463
      

(1) The operating leases included in the above table do not include contingent rent based upon sales volume, which represented less than 1% of the Company’s minimum lease obligations during Fiscal 2005. The operating leases also do not include common area maintenance costs or real estate taxes that are paid to the landlord during the year, which combined represented approximately 15.5% of the Company’s minimum lease obligations during Fiscal 2005.

 

10. Legal Proceedings

Dwight Thompson v. The Vitamin Shoppe . On February 25, 2005, a former store manager filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Orange, alleging miscellaneous wage and hour violations under California law, including, but not limited to, violations related to the misclassification of store managers as exempt employees under California law and violations with respect to providing meal and rest periods for store managers and assistant store managers. The Company opened its first store in California in December 2002, and the Company reclassified its California store managers as non-exempt employees in January 2004. Plaintiff seeks to bring this action on behalf of himself and other “similarly situated” current and former California store managers and assistant store managers. In addition to the allegations made on behalf of the class, the plaintiff has also alleged violations of various provisions of the California Labor Code that would entitle plaintiff to collect fees under the California “bounty hunter” statute. The parties engaged in some preliminary pre-trial discovery, and the matter is currently stayed pending court approval of the settlement in the Perry case described below.

David Beauford, Jonathan Opris and Leonard Tyler, Jr. v. Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. On July 13, 2005 plaintiff Beauford, a former store manager and plaintiff Opris, a former assistant store manager, filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Marin, alleging miscellaneous wage and hour violations, and violations with respect to meal and rest periods under California law on behalf of store managers and assistant store managers. Plaintiff Tyler, a former store manager and assistant store manager was later added to the case as a named plaintiff. Many of plaintiffs’ allegations are similar to the violations alleged in the Thompson and Perry matters described above, including alleged violations of various provisions of the California Labor Code that would entitle plaintiffs to collect fees under the California “bounty hunter” statute. Discovery in this case is currently stayed pending court approval of the settlement in the Perry case described below.

Janine Perry and Lisa Hernandez v. Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc . On August 17, 2005, plaintiff Perry, a former store manager, and plaintiff Hernandez, a current store manager, filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Marin, alleging miscellaneous wage and hour violations under California law, including, but not limited to, violations related to misclassification of store managers and violations with respect to providing meal and rest periods for store managers and assistant store managers. Plaintiffs’ allegations are similar to the violations alleged in the Thompson and Beauford matters described above. Similarly, as in the Thompson and Beauford matters, plaintiff seeks to bring this action on behalf of herself and other “similarly situated” current and former California store managers and assistant store managers. On December 20, 2005, the parties engaged in mediation that was facilitated by an experienced third party employment litigation mediator.

 

F-21


Table of Contents

After a full day session, the parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, which was followed by execution of a formal Settlement Agreement. The costs associated with the proposed settlement were accrued in 2005. The settlement is subject to the approval of the Marin County Superior Court. Approval of the settlement is being opposed by the plaintiffs’ counsel in the other two actions.

The three matters summarized above, though separately filed, seek in primary part the same relief on behalf of the same class of employees. There is also a petition pending to consolidate the three actions. If the settlement in the Perry matter is approved by the Court, such settlement will for the most part eliminate the claims in the other two, subject to the rights of individual claimants to elect to not become participants in the class settlement and pursue separate individual claims. The Company does not anticipate that any of these litigation matters will have a material adverse impact on its financial condition or liquidity of the Company.

 

The Company is party to various lawsuits arising from time to time in the normal course of business. The Company is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings. Although the impact of the final resolution of these matters on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations in a particular subsequent reporting period is not known, management does not believe that the resolution of these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on financial condition or liquidity of the Company.

 

11. Retirement Plan

The Company has a 401(k) salary deferral feature that covers substantially all of its employees who meet certain requirements. Under the terms of the plan, employees are limited to a maximum annual amount as set periodically by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company matches 100 percent of the first three percent of pre-tax elective deferrals that a participant contributes to the Plan, and matches fifty percent on elective deferrals that exceed three percent but do not exceed five percent for the year. All matching contributions vest immediately. The Company contributed approximately $490,000, $560,000 and $450,000 to the retirement plan for the years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003, respectively.

 

12. Related Party Transactions

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company entered into a management agreement with Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC. This agreement provides for a quarterly fee of the greater of $187,500 or 0.25% of gross sales for the preceding fiscal quarter for advisory and consulting services. Amounts paid for the Fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003 was approximately $1,076,000, $969,000 and $820,000, respectively.

 

F-22


Table of Contents

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company loaned $1.5 million to an officer of the Company as part of a purchase of Holdings stock, of which the Company has recourse on $375,000 and all accrued interest. The note bears interest at 3.06%. The note and interest are payable on November 27, 2009.

In May 2004, the Company recorded a charge of $1.3 million related to the former CEO’s separation from the Company. This amount represents payment to be made over a twenty-four month period from date of separation pursuant to a preexisting employment contract. At December 31, 2005 the Company had approximately $350,000 remaining to be paid in Fiscal 2006, which is recorded in accrued salaries and related expenses.

The Company is one of several portfolio companies of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking Partners II, L.P. and its affiliated entities (collectively, “BSMB”). In 2004, BSMB initiated a process to identify areas where cost savings may be achieved by the companies it owns by coordinating the purchasing activities of such companies to take advantage of volume discounts that would otherwise not be available to the Company if it were acting on its own. In connection with this undertaking, BSMB entered into consulting arrangements with individuals and consulting firms. The consulting fees will be charged to the companies owned by BSMB based on their pro rata share of the overall cost savings achieved. As of December 31, 2005, based on information received from BSMB, it is estimated that the Company’s share of the consulting fees will be approximately $700,000 and accordingly the Company has recorded this as an expense and a corresponding liability.

In November 2005, we entered into a consulting agreement with Renaissance Brands LTD. (“Renaissance”), an advisory and consulting company serving a number of private equity and venture capital firms. Douglas B. Fox, a member of our board of directors, is the Chief Executive Officer and sole shareholder of Renaissance. Renaissance provides marketing, advertising and messaging advice to us and is paid $2,500 per day, for not more than three days per month, for such services. Amounts paid for the Fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 was approximately $13,000 for fees and expenses.

On November 15, 2005, the Company issued $165.0 million of second priority senior secured floating rate notes due 2012. Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. was an initial purchaser and a joint book-running manager in connection with the offering of the Notes and received approximately $4.5 million in underwriting discounts and commissions in connection with the offering.

 

13. Segment Data

The Company currently operates two business segments, retail and direct. The operating segments are segments of the Company for which separate financial information is available and for which operating results are evaluated regularly by executive management in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s management evaluates segment operating results based on several indicators. The primary key performance indicators are sales and operating income for each segment. The below table represents key financial information for each of the Company’s business segments, retail and direct, as well as corporate costs. The retail segment includes the Company’s retail stores. The retail segment generates revenue primarily through the sale of third-party branded and proprietary branded vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products through retail stores throughout the United States. The direct segment generates revenue through the sale of third-party branded and proprietary branded vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products through the Company’s catalog and its Web site. A catalog is mailed each month to approximately 160,000 catalog customers contained in the Company’s Frequent Buyer Program database, and the Company’s Web site at www.vitaminshoppe.com offers its customers online access to a full assortment of over 20,000 SKUs. Corporate costs represent the Company’s administrative expenses which include, but are not limited to: human resources, legal, finance, IT, and various other corporate level activity related expenses. There are no inter-segment sales transactions.

 

F-23


Table of Contents

The Company’s segments are designed to allocate resources internally and provide a framework to determine management responsibility. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The Company has allocated $130.9 million and $45.0 million of its recorded goodwill to the retail and direct segments, respectively. The Company does not have identifiable assets separated by segment.

The following table contains key financial information of the Company’s business segments (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended  
     December 31,
2005
    December 25,
2004
    December 27,
2003
 

Sales:

      

Retail

   $ 362,198     $ 302,701     $ 242,504  

Direct

     74,265       84,656       88,717  
                        

Net sales

     436,463       387,357       331,221  

Income from operations:

      

Retail

     49,385       42,385       35,911  

Direct

     17,256       20,798       25,966  

Corporate costs

     (48,734 )     (47,807 )     (41,375 )
                        

Income from operations

     17,907       15,376       20,502  

Extinguishment of debt and other

     11,573       —         —    

Interest expense, net

     19,386       16,348       17,172  
                        

(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes

     (13,052 )     (972 )     3,330  

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

     (5,063 )     (361 )     1,659  
                        

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change

     (7,989 )     (611 )     1,671  

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     2,280       —         (2,366 )
                        

Net loss

   $ (5,709 )   $ (611 )   $ (695 )
                        

 

14. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial instruments is made in accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 107, Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the Company, using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. The following table sets forth the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003 (in thousands):

 

    December 31, 2005   December 25, 2004   December 27, 2003
    Carrying
Amount
  Estimated
Fair Value
  Carrying
Amount
  Estimated
Fair Value
  Carrying
Amount
  Estimated
Fair Value

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Note

  $ 165,000   $ 165,000   $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —  

Revolving Credit Facility

    12,127     12,127     —       —       —       —  

Term Loan

    —       —       96,085     96,085     96,590     96,590

Senior subordinated notes

    —       —       64,249     62,096     60,908     60,233

Interest rate swap agreement/collar agreement

    435     435     4     4     59     59

Note receivable from Officer

    1,500     1,527     1,500     1,462     1,500     1,338

 

F-24


Table of Contents

Cash —The carrying amounts of cash are a reasonable estimate of their fair value.

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Note —The fair value of this security approximates its carrying value based upon its variable interest rate.

Revolving Credit Facility —The fair value of this revolving credit facility approximates its carrying value based upon the variable interest rates.

Term Loans —The fair value of these securities approximate their carrying values based upon the variable interest rates. The remainder of the term loans was paid in November 2005.

Senior Subordinated Notes —The fair value is estimated based upon discounted future cash flows at market rates in effect at December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003 for debt with similar terms and remaining maturity. The remainder of these securities was paid in November 2005.

Interest Rate Swap Agreement/Collar Agreement —The fair values are the estimated amounts that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the balance sheet date, taking into account current interest rates.

Note receivable from Officer —The fair values are estimated based on the present value of future cash flows at the established rate on the Note on December 27, 2003.

 

15. Costs Associated with Severance

In accordance with SFAS No. 146 “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (“SFAS No. 146”), the Company has recorded costs related to termination benefits for certain employees, during Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2005. During Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2005, a number of employee positions were eliminated throughout the Company due to a staff restructuring. Based on these eliminations, the Company incurred severance obligations which were partially payable in Fiscal 2004, Fiscal 2005 and the remaining balance to be paid throughout Fiscal 2006. The total amount recorded to general and administrative expense was approximately $1.6 million in Fiscal 2004 and $0.1 million in Fiscal 2005. Below is a reconciliation of the activity for Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal 2005 (in thousands):

 

     Severance
Reserve
 

Balance at December 27, 2003

   $ —    

Accrual made in Fiscal 2004

     1,574  

Payments made in Fiscal 2004

     (257 )
        

Balance at December 25, 2004

     1,317  

Accrual made in Fiscal 2005

     111  

Payments made in Fiscal 2005

     (967 )
        

Balance at December 31, 2005

   $ 461  
        

 

16. Subsequent Event

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2006, we reassessed our management structure. This reassessment included the decision to restructure certain functions and to replace the incumbents in certain positions. Our Vice President of Information Technology left our Company on February 17, 2006. The Company has eliminated the position of Chief Operating Officer and the existing Chief Operating Officer’s employment with the Company will terminate effective April 21, 2006. The duties of the Chief Operating Officer are being performed by the Chief Executive Officer. Severance expenses associated with these individuals and four other individuals in the amount of approximately $845,000 have been recorded as of April 6, 2006.

 

F-25


Table of Contents
17. Supplemental Guarantor Information

The payment obligations of VSI under the Senior Notes due 2012 are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by: Holdings, the parent company; Direct, the only subsidiary; and all of the VSI’s future restricted domestic subsidiaries. The Notes and the guarantees will be VSI’s, Holdings’ and Direct’s second priority senior secured obligations. They rank equally with all of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness and rank senior to all of the Company’s existing and future subordinated indebtedness. The Notes and the guarantees are effectively subordinate to all of the Company’s existing first priority senior secured indebtedness, to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness, including indebtedness under the new credit facility.

The indenture governing the Notes restrict the ability of VSI and Direct to incur additional debt, pay dividends and make distributions, make certain investments, repurchase stock, incur liens, enter into transactions with affiliates, enter into sale and lease back transactions, merge, or consolidate or transfer or sell assets.

The following supplemental financial information sets forth, on a consolidating basis, balance sheets, statements of operations, and statements of cash flows for VS Holdings, Inc. and the Company’s guarantor subsidiary,

 

F-26


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005

(In thousands, except share data)

 

   

VS Holdings,

Inc.

   

VS

Direct Inc.

 

Vitamin

Shoppe

Industries

Inc.

    Eliminations     Consolidated  
ASSETS          

Current assets:

         

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ —       $ —     $ 4,784     $ —       $ 4,784  

Inventories

    —         12,906     61,226       —         74,132  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    137       27     11,439         11,603  

Intercompany receivable

    —         56,394     73,555       (129,949 )     —    

Deferred income taxes

    —         396     2,806       —         3,202  
                                     

Total current assets

    137       69,723     153,810       (129,949 )     93,721  

Property and equipment, net

    —         13,159     49,461       —         62,620  

Goodwill

    —         —       175,896       —         175,896  

Other intangibles, net

    —         —       68,100       —         68,100  

Other assets:

         

Deferred financing fees, net of accumulated amortization of $123

    —         —       6,605       —         6,605  

Other

    —         —       165       —         165  

Security deposits

    —         30     1,464       —         1,494  

Deferred income tax asset

    394       497     —         (891 )     —    
                                     

Total other assets

    394       527     8,234       (891 )     8,264  

Investment in Subsidiary

    165,038       —       20,165       (185,203 )     —    
                                     

Total assets

  $ 165,569     $ 83,409   $ 475,666     $ (316,043 )   $ 408,601  
                                     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          

Current liabilities:

         

Current maturities of long-term debt

  $ —       $ —     $ —       $ —       $ —    

Revolving credit facility

    —         —       12,127       —         12,127  

Intercompany payable

    17,671       55,272     57,006       (129,949 )     —    

Accounts payable

    —         128     27,688       —         27,816  

Deferred sales

    —         1,289     9,757       —         11,046  

Accrued salaries and related expenses

    —         351     2,595       —         2,946  

Accrued interest

    —         —       2,980       —         2,980  

Other accrued expenses

    43       730     7,765       —         8,538  
                                     

Total current liabilities

    17,714       57,770     119,918       (129,949 )     65,453  

Long-term debt

    —         —       165,000       —         165,000  

Deferred income taxes

    —         —       19,487       (891 )     18,596  

Deferred rent

    —         1,740     9,957       —         11,697  

Commitments and contingencies

         

Stockholders’ equity:

         

Preferred stock $0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 shares; Series A shares issued and outstanding 79,860 (aggregate liquidation preference $101,980)

    1       —       —         —         1  

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 11,000,000 shares, 7,617,000 shares issued and outstanding

    76       —       —         —         76  

Additional paid-in capital

    151,040       20,165     166,791       (186,956 )     151,040  

Warrants

    5,666       —       —         —         5,666  

Note receivable due from officer

    (1,500 )     —       —         —         (1,500 )

Accumulated (deficit) retained earnings

    (7,428 )     3,734     (5,487 )     1,753       (7,428 )
                                     

Total stockholders’ equity

    147,855       23,899     161,304       (185,203 )     147,855  
                                     

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 165,569     $ 83,409   $ 475,666     $ (316,043 )   $ 408,601  
                                     

 

F-27


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 25, 2004

(In thousands, except share data)

 

    VS Holdings,
Inc.
    Vitamin
Shoppe
Industries Inc.
    Eliminations     Consolidated  
ASSETS        

Current assets:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ —       $ 2,885     $ —       $ 2,885  

Inventories

    —         61,981       —         61,981  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    97       7,838       —         7,935  

Intercompany receivable

    1,109       (1,109 )     —         —    

Deferred income taxes

    —         2,727       —         2,727  
                               

Total current assets

    1,206       74,322       —         75,528  

Property and equipment, net

    —         58,116       —         58,116  

Goodwill

    —         176,233       —         176,233  

Other intangibles, net

    —         74,182       —         74,182  

Other assets:

       

Deferred financing fees, net of accumulated amortization of $2,228

    211       4,370       —         4,581  

Other

    —         364       —         364  

Security

    —         1,456       —         1,456  

Deferred income tax asset

    790       —         (790 )     —    
                               

Total other assets

    1,001       6,190       (790 )     6,401  

Investment in Subsidiary

    168,640       —         (168,640 )     —    
                               

Total assets

  $ 170,847     $ 389,043     $ (169,430 )   $ 390,460  
                               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY        

Current liabilities:

       

Current maturities of long-term debt

  $ —       $ 1,000     $ —       $ 1,000  

Accounts payable

    —         22,848       —         22,848  

Deferred sales

    —         10,016       —         10,016  

Accrued salaries and related expenses

    —         2,972       —         2,972  

Accrued interest

    —         2,534       —         2,534  

Other accrued expenses

    352       8,525       —         8,877  
                               

Total current liabilities

    352       47,895       —         48,247  

Long-term debt

    17,146       142,190       —         159,336  

Deferred income taxes

    —         22,757       (790 )     21,967  

Deferred rent

    —         7,561       —         7,561  

Commitments and contingencies

       

Stockholders’ equity:

       

Preferred stock $0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 shares; Series A shares issued and outstanding 79,860 (aggregate liquidation preference $94,213)

    1       —         —         1  

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 11,000,000 shares, 7,617,000 shares issued and outstanding

    76       —         —         76  

Additional paid-in capital

    151,040       166,791       (166,791 )     151,040  

Warrants

    5,666       —         —         5,666  

Note receivable due from officer

    (1,500 )     —         —         (1,500 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (215 )     (215 )     215       (215 )

Accumulated (deficit) retained earnings

    (1,719 )     2,064       (2,064 )     (1,719 )
                               

Total stockholders’ equity

    153,349       168,640       (168,640 )     153,349  
                               

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 170,847     $ 389,043     $ (169,430 )   $ 390,460  
                               

 

F-28


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005

(In thousands)

 

    

VS Holdings,

Inc.

   

VS Direct

Inc.

   

Vitamin

Shoppe

Industries

Inc.

    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

   $ —       $ 67,064     $ 369,399     $ —       $ 436,463  

Commissions

     —         23,555       5,106       (28,661 )     —    

Cost of goods sold

     —         51,033       242,671       (3,461 )     290,243  
                                        

Gross profit

     —         39,586       131,834       (25,200 )     146,220  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     63       33,825       119,625       (25,200 )     128,313  
                                        

(Loss) income from operations

     (63 )     5,761       12,209       —         17,907  

Extinguishment of debt and other

     —         —         11,573       —         11,573  

Interest expense, net

     2,793       (17 )     16,610       —         19,386  
                                        

(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes

     (2,856 )     5,778       (15,974 )     —         (13,052 )

(Benefit) provision from income taxes

     (964 )     2,045       (6,144 )     —         (5,063 )
                                        

(Loss) income before equity in net earnings of subsidiary

     (1,892 )     3,733       (9,830 )     —         (7,989 )

Equity in net earnings of subsidiary

     (3,817 )     —         —         3,817       —    
                                        

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change

     (5,709 )     3,733       (9,830 )     3,817       (7,989 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     2,280       —         2,280       (2,280 )     2,280  
                                        

Net (loss) income

   $ (3,429 )   $ 3,733     $ (7,550 )   $ 1,537     $ (5,709 )
                                        

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 25, 2004

(In thousands)

 

   

VS Holdings,

Inc.

   

Vitamin

Shoppe

Industries

Inc.

  Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

  $ —       $ 387,357   $ —       $ 387,357  

Cost of goods sold

    —         258,223     —         258,223  
                             

Gross profit

    —         129,134     —         129,134  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    81       113,677     —         113,758  
                             

(Loss) income from operations

    (81 )     15,457     —         15,376  

Interest expense, net

    2,689       13,659     —         16,348  
                             

(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes

    (2,770 )     1,798     —         (972 )

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

    (970 )     609     —         (361 )
                             

(Loss) income before equity in net earnings of subsidiary

    (1,800 )     1,189     —         (611 )

Equity in net earnings of subsidiary

    1,189       —       (1,189 )     —    
                             

Net (loss) income

  $ (611 )   $ 1,189   $ (1,189 )   $ (611 )
                             

 

F-29


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 27, 2003

(In thousands)

 

   

VS Holdings,

Inc.

   

Vitamin

Shoppe

Industries

Inc.

    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

  $ —       $ 331,221     $ —       $ 331,221  

Cost of goods sold

    —         215,009       —         215,009  
                               

Gross profit

    —         116,212       —         116,212  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    247       95,463       —         95,710  
                               

(Loss) income from operations

    (247 )     20,749       —         20,502  

Interest expense, net

    2,408       14,764       —         17,172  
                               

(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes

    (2,655 )     5,985       —         3,330  

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

    (930 )     2,589       —         1,659  
                               

(Loss) income before equity in net earnings of subsidiary

    (1,725 )     3,396       —         1,671  

Equity in net earnings of subsidiary

    1,030       —         (1,030 )     —    
                               

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change

    (695 )     3,396       (1,030 )     1,671  

Cumulative effect of accounting change

    —         (2,366 )     —         (2,366 )
                               

Net (loss) income

  $ (695 )   $ 1,030     $ (1,030 )   $ (695 )
                               

 

F-30


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005

(In thousands)

 

   

VS Holdings,

Inc.

   

VS Direct

Inc.

   

Vitamin

Shoppe

Industries

Inc.

    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flow from operating activities:

         

Net (loss) income

  $ (3,429 )   $ 3,733     $ (7,550 )   $ 1,537     $ (5,709 )

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:

         

Depreciation and amortization

    63       5,486       16,298       —         21,847  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    352       —         10,785       —         11,137  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax (see Note 3)

    (2,280 )     —         (2,280 )     2,280       (2,280 )

Deferred income taxes

    396       (893 )     (4,606 )     —         (5,103 )

Deferred rent

    —         5       3,124       —         3,129  

Equity in earnings of subsidiary

    3,817       —         —         (3,817 )     —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

         

Inventories

    —         (2,995 )     (5,282 )     —         (8,277 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    (40 )     38       (2,449 )     —         (2,451 )

Intercompany

    (1,364 )     (1,122 )     2,486       —         —    

Accounts payable

    —         130       6,167       —         6,297  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    2,485       1,434       (2,512 )     —         1,407  
                                       

Net cash provided by operating activities

    —         5,816       14,181       —         19,997  
                                       

Cash flow from investing activities:

         

Capital expenditures

    —         (5,816 )     (13,205 )     —         (19,021 )
                                       

Net cash used in investing activities

    —         (5,816 )     (13,205 )     —         (19,021 )
                                       

Cash flow from financing activities:

         

Borrowings under revolving credit agreement

    —         —         21,127       —         21,127  

Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit agreement

    —         —         (9,000 )     —         (9,000 )

Repayment of long-term debt

    —         —         (169,476 )     —         (169,476 )

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

    —         —         165,000       —         165,000  

Deferred financing fees

    —         —         (6,728 )     —         (6,728 )
                                       

Net cash provided by financing activities

    —         —         923       —         923  
                                       

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

    —         —         1,899       —         1,899  

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year

    —         —         2,885       —         2,885  
                                       

Cash and cash equivalents end of year

  $ —       $ —       $ 4,784     $ —       $ 4,784  
                                       

 

F-31


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 25, 2004

(In thousands)

 

     VS
Holdings, Inc.
    Vitamin
Shoppe
Industries Inc.
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flow from operating activities:

        

Net (loss) income

   $ (611 )   $ 1,189     $ (1,189 )   $ (611 )

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Depreciation and amortization

     43       21,929       —         21,972  

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

     —         48       —         48  

Deferred income taxes

     (970 )     373       —         (597 )

Deferred rent

     —         3,443       —         3,443  

Equity in earnings of subsidiary

     (1,189 )     —         1,189       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Inventories

     —         (7,019 )     —         (7,019 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (97 )     (835 )     —         (932 )

Other non-current assets

     —         13       —         13  

Accounts payable

     —         822       —         822  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     2,824       3,129       —         5,953  
                                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     —         23,092       —         23,092  
                                

Cash flow from investing activities:

        

Capital expenditures

     —         (19,174 )     —         (19,174 )
                                

Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (19,174 )     —         (19,174 )
                                

Cash flow from financing activities:

        

Borrowings under revolving credit agreement

     —         4,000       —         4,000  

Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit agreement

     —         (4,000 )     —         (4,000 )

Repayment of long-term debt

     —         (1,000 )     —         (1,000 )

Deferred financing fees

     —         (800 )     —         (800 )

Net decrease in capital leases

     —         (178 )     —         (178 )
                                

Net cash used in financing activities

     —         (1,978 )     —         (1,978 )
                                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     —         1,940       —         1,940  

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year

     —         945       —         945  
                                

Cash and cash equivalents end of year

   $ —       $ 2,885     $ —       $ 2,885  
                                

 

F-32


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 27, 2003

(In thousands)

 

     VS
Holdings, Inc.
    Vitamin
Shoppe
Industries Inc.
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flow from operating activities:

        

Net (loss) income

   $ (3,061 )   $ 1,030     $ 1,336     $ (695 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss (income) to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Depreciation and amortization

     42       20,154       —         20,196  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax (see Note 3)

     2,366       2,366       (2,366 )     2,366  

Deferred income taxes

     (847 )     1,598       —         751  

Deferred rent

     —         2,119       —         2,119  

Equity in earnings of subsidiary

     (1,030 )     —         1,030       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Inventories

     —         (16,742 )     —         (16,742 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     188       171       —         359  

Other non-current assets

     —         (187 )     —         (187 )

Accounts payable

     —         4,726       —         4,726  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     2,342       3,028       —         5,370  
                                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     —         18,263       —         18,263  
                                

Cash flow from investing activities:

        

Capital expenditures

     —         (19,961 )     —         (19,961 )

Proceeds from property disposal

     —         12       —         12  
                                

Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (19,949 )     —         (19,949 )
                                

Cash flow from financing activities:

        

Borrowings under revolving credit agreement

     —         3,000       —         3,000  

Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit agreement

     —         (3,000 )     —         (3,000 )

Repayment of long-term debt

     —         (1,000 )     —         (1,000 )

Deferred financing fees

     —         (120 )     —         (120 )

Net decrease in capital leases

     —         (249 )     —         (249 )

Interest rate collar premium

     —         (386 )     —         (386 )
                                

Net cash used in financing activities

     —         (1,755 )     —         (1,755 )
                                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     —         (3,441 )     —         (3,441 )

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year

     —         4,386       —         4,386  
                                

Cash and cash equivalents end of year

   $ —       $ 945     $ —       $ 945  
                                

 

F-33


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(Unaudited, in thousands, except share data)

 

     April 1,
2006
 
ASSETS   

Current assets:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,583  

Inventories

     78,187  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     15,857  

Deferred income taxes

     3,777  
        

Total current assets

     100,404  

Property and equipment, net

     61,993  

Goodwill

     175,896  

Other intangibles, net

     68,100  

Other assets:

  

Deferred financing fees, net of accumulated amortization of $380

     6,387  

Other

     160  

Security deposits

     1,450  
        

Total other assets

     7,997  
        

Total assets

   $ 414,390  
        
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   

Current liabilities:

  

Revolving credit facility

   $ 11,500  

Accounts payable

     30,564  

Deferred sales

     4,437  

Accrued salaries and related expenses

     2,882  

Accrued interest

     2,719  

Other accrued expenses

     12,152  
        

Total current liabilities

     64,254  

Long-term debt

     165,000  

Deferred income taxes

     20,970  

Deferred rent

     12,765  

Commitments and contingencies

  

Stockholders’ equity:

  

Preferred stock $0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 shares; 79,860 Series A shares issued and outstanding (aggregate liquidation preference $104,019)

     1  

Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 11,000,000 shares, 7,617,000 shares issued and outstanding

     76  

Additional paid-in capital

     151,056  

Warrants

     5,666  

Note receivable due from officer

     (1,500 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     914  

Accumulated deficit

     (4,812 )
        

Total stockholders’ equity

     151,401  
        

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 414,390  
        

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

F-34


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited, in thousands, except share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
     April 1,
2006
    March 26,
2005

Net sales

   $ 127,300     $ 110,734

Cost of goods sold

     84,611       71,031
              

Gross profit

     42,689       39,703

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     33,784       32,961
              

Income from operations

     8,905       6,742

Other

     (366 )     —  

Interest expense, net

     5,375       4,479
              

Income before provision for income taxes

     3,896       2,263

Provision for income taxes

     1,280       921
              

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

     2,616       1,342

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax provision of $1.6 million for the three months ended March 26, 2005

     —         2,280
              

Net income

   $ 2,616     $ 3,622
              

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

F-35


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     April 1,
2006
    March 26,
2005
 

Cash flow from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 2,616     $ 3,622  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     3,585       5,922  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax (see Note 2)

     —         (2,280 )

Deferred income taxes

     1,352       283  

Deferred rent

     758       853  

Equity compensation expense

     16       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Inventories

     (4,055 )     (3,185 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (2,653 )     (1,308 )

Other non-current assets

     49       —    

Accounts payable

     3,079       5,690  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     (3,250 )     (4,043 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,497       5,554  
                

Cash flow from investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (3,033 )     (4,928 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (3,033 )     (4,928 )
                

Cash flow from financing activities:

    

Repayments of revolving credit agreement

     (627 )     —    

Repayment of long-term debt

     —         (250 )

Deferred financing fees

     (38 )     —    
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (665 )     (250 )
                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (2,201 )     376  

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period

     4,784       2,885  
                

Cash and cash equivalents end of period

   $ 2,583     $ 3,261  
                

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

    

Interest paid

   $ 5,076     $ 2,945  

Income taxes paid

   $ 249     $ 349  

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash financing activities:

    

Accrued purchases of property and equipment

   $ 953     $ 649  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

F-36


Table of Contents

VS HOLDING HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

1. Basis of Presentation

VS Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), a Delaware corporation, and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. (“Subsidiary” or “VSI”) and VSI’s wholly-owned subsidiary, VS Direct Inc. (“Direct,” and, together with Holdings and VSI, the “Company”), is a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of nutritional products. Sales of both national brands and “The Vitamin Shoppe” and “BodyTech” brands of vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbs, sports nutrition formulas, homeopathic remedies and other health and beauty aids are made through VSI-owned retail stores, mail order catalogs and the Internet to customers located primarily in the United States. VSI operates from its headquarters in North Bergen, New Jersey.

The consolidated financial statements as of April 1, 2006 and for the three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 include the accounts of Holdings, VSI and VSI’s wholly owned subsidiary Direct and all significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The consolidated financial statements as of April 1, 2006 and for the three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 are unaudited. In addition, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. The interim financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation in conformity with GAAP. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto. The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in December. As used herein, the term “Fiscal Year” or “Fiscal” refers to the 52-or 53-week period, as applicable, ending the last Saturday in December. Fiscal 2006 is a 52-week period ended December 30, 2006 and Fiscal 2005 is a 53-week period ending December 31, 2005.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates —The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fiscal 2005 Change in Accounting Principle —Effective December 26, 2004 (the beginning of Fiscal 2005), the Company implemented a change in accounting for costs included in inventory. The change relates to capitalizing freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility, including payroll. These costs were previously expensed as incurred in cost of goods sold and are now treated as inventory product costs which are expensed as inventory is sold. Freight on internally transferred merchandise, rent for the distribution center and costs associated with our buying department and distribution facility are includable in inventory because they directly relate to the acquisition of goods for resale by the Company. The Company has determined that it is preferable to capitalize such costs into inventory because it better represents the costs incurred to prepare inventory for sale to the end user, shows better comparability with other retailers and will improve the management and planning of inventory. As a result, the Company recorded a cumulative effect of accounting change of $2.3 million (net of tax provision of $1.6 million) upon adoption.

Financial Instruments Policy We use interest rate swaps and collars as cash flow hedges to manage our exposure to fluctuating interest rate risk on our debt. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting

 

F-37


Table of Contents

Standards (“SFAS”) No. 133, “ Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended by SFAS No. 137, SFAS No. 138 and SFAS No. 149, published by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) derivative instruments are reported in the consolidated financial statements at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are to be recorded each period in earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether the derivative is designated and effective as part of a hedged transaction and on the type of hedge transaction. Gains or losses on derivative instruments reported in other comprehensive income must be reclassified as earnings in the period in which earnings are effected by the underlying hedge item, and the ineffective portion of all hedges must be recognized in earnings in the current period.

On the date a derivative contract is entered into, SFAS No. 133 requires that a qualifying derivative is required to be designated as (1) a hedge of a recognized asset or liability or an unrecognized firm commitment (a fair value hedge), or (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to the asset or liability (cash flow hedge). At the inception of the hedging relationship, the Company documents its hedge relationships, including identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction. Derivatives are recorded in the balance sheet at fair value in other assets and other liabilities. Both at inception of the hedge and quarterly thereafter, the Company performs an assessment to determine whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are expected to be highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged item.

The effective portion of the changes in fair value of our interest rate swaps and collars, which are designated as cash flow hedges, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value is recorded as a component of interest expense. Changes in fair value are estimated by management quarterly, based on dealer quotes.

The Company paid a premium to enter into an interest rate collar during 2003 which served to create a floor of 1.25% and a cap of 4.00% on the base rate of interest that was paid on one-half of the value of the Company’s then existing term loan entered into in November 2002. The contract is recorded as a cash flow hedge whereby the interest rate collar is marked to market at the balance sheet date with a corresponding adjustment to other comprehensive income. This interest rate collar was terminated during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2005 with the repayment of the related debt resulting in a gain of $215,000.

The Company entered into an interest rate swap during December 2005 on a portion of its $165 million Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “Notes”) offering for $165 million, which did not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133. As a result, the fair market value of the interest rate swap is marked to market at the balance sheet date with a corresponding adjustment to other expense. The interest rate swap has a maturity date of November 2010. As of April 1, 2006, the interest rate swap qualified for hedge accounting. The fair market value of $1.3 million as of April 1, 2006 is recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Of the appreciation in market value of $1.7 million, $0.9 million is recorded in other comprehensive income, $0.5 million is recorded in the deferred tax liability and the remaining appreciation in market value of $0.3 million, which represents the appreciation of market value from December 31, 2005 to February 9, 2006 which was the period through which the Company did not qualify for hedge accounting, is recorded in other expense.

Advertising Costs —Costs associated with the production and distribution of the Company’s monthly and quarterly catalogues are expensed as incurred. The costs of advertising for online marketing arrangements, magazines, television and radio are expensed the first time advertising takes place. Advertising expense was $5.5 million and $4.4 million for the three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005, respectively.

Reclassifications —The Company reclassified deferred rent expense of $0.9 million from selling, general and administrative expense to costs of goods sold to properly reflect these amounts on the statement of operations for the three months ended March 26, 2005.

 

F-38


Table of Contents
3. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

As a result of the Acquisition in 2002, the Company acquired $88.0 million of intangible assets and $175.9 million of goodwill.

The following table discloses the carrying value of all intangible assets (in thousands):

 

     April 1, 2006          
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net

Intangible assets:

        

Customer list

   $ 19,900    $ 19,900    $ —  

Tradenames

   $ 68,100      —      $ 68,100
                    
   $ 88,000    $ 19,900    $ 68,100
                    

There was no intangible amortization expense for the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2006 and there was $7.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2005. The amortization period for the customer list was three years, and it had a zero net book value at December 31, 2005. Tradenames will not be amortized, but will be tested for impairment annually, as they were determined to be intangible assets with indefinite lives.

 

4. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     April 1,
2006
 

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

   $ 57,954  

Leasehold improvements

     54,448  

Website development costs

     11,536  

Transportation equipment

     8  

Construction in progress

     1,997  
        
     125,943  

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (63,950 )
        
   $ 61,993  
        

Depreciation expense for the fiscal quarters ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 was approximately $3.3 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

 

F-39


Table of Contents
5. Credit Arrangements

Debt consists of the following (in thousands):

 

    

April 1,

2006

Revolving Credit Facility

   $ 11,500
      

Credit Agreement:

  

Term Loan B

   $ —  

Notes:

  

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes (the “Notes”)

     165,000

Opco Senior Subordinated Notes

     —  

Holdco PIK Notes

     —  
      
     165,000

Current maturities of long term debt

     —  

Unamortized debt discount

     —  
      

Long-term debt, net

   $ 165,000
      

2005 Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes

On November 7, 2005, VSI completed its Notes offering for $165 million. The initial purchasers received delivery of the Notes on November 15, 2005.

Interest on the Notes will be set at a per annum rate equal to a three month LIBOR plus 7.5%, which will be reset quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2006. The combined weighted average interest rate from January 1, 2006 through April 1, 2006 was 12.0%. The Notes will mature on November 15, 2012. Interest on overdue principle and interest and liquidated damages, if any, will accrue at a rate that is 1% higher than the applicable interest rate on the Notes. If VSI cannot make payments on the Notes when they are due, Holdings and VSI’s only subsidiary, Direct (collectively, the “Guarantors”), have guaranteed the Notes and must make payments instead. The Notes and the guarantees are secured by a second priority security interest in substantially all of VSI’s and the Guarantors’ assets that secure VSI’s new first priority senior secured credit facility. The Notes and the guarantees are VSI’s, and the Guarantors’, second priority senior secured obligations, and will rank equally in right of payment with all of VSI’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to all of VSI’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future subordinated indebtedness. The Notes and the guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all of VSI’s and the Guarantors’ first priority senior secured indebtedness, including VSI’s new first priority senior secured credit facility, to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness. If VSI sells certain assets, issues equity or experiences specific kinds of changes in control, VSI must offer to repurchase the Notes. VSI may, at its option, redeem some or all of the Notes at any time on or after November 15, 2007. Prior to November 15, 2007, VSI may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the Notes with the proceeds of certain sales of its equity or of Holdings. VSI used the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to repay all of its and Holdings’ existing indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses.

New Credit Facility

On November 15, 2005 VSI entered into a new $50.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “New Credit Facility”), and VSI has the option to increase or decrease the New Credit Facility size by $25.0 million, subject to certain conditions. The availability under the New Credit Facility is subject to a borrowing base calculated on the basis of certain eligible accounts receivable from credit card companies and the inventory of VSI and its only subsidiary, Direct. The obligations thereunder are secured by a security interest in substantially all of the assets of Holdings, VSI and Direct. The New Credit Facility provides for affirmative and

 

F-40


Table of Contents

negative covenants affecting Holdings, VSI and Direct. The New Credit Facility restricts, among other things, the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness, create or permit liens on the Company’s assets, declare or pay dividends and certain other restricted payments, consolidate, merge or recapitalize, acquire or sell assets, make certain investments, loans or other advances, enter into transactions with affiliates, change its line of business, and restricts the types of hedging activities the Company can enter into. The New Credit Facility is classified as a current liability on the balance sheet due to the fact that it is secured by a borrowing base calculated on the basis of certain current assets, primarily inventory and credit card receivables. The New Credit Facility has a maturity date of November 15, 2010. The Company’s previous credit facility had the terms described below, and was replaced with the New Credit Facility. The unused available line of credit at April 1, 2006 was $29.4 million and the amount of borrowings outstanding at April 1, 2006 was $11.5 million. The New Credit Facility includes a $10 million sub-facility for the issuance of letters of credit.

The borrowings under the revolving credit facility accrue interest, at our option at the rate per annum announced from time to time by the agent as its “prime rate”, or at a per annum rate equal to between 1.25% and 1.75% (depending on excess availability) above the adjusted Eurodollar rate. The combined weighted average interest rate from January 1, 2006 through April 1, 2006 was 6.0%.

Net interest expense for the three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended  
    

April 1,

2006

    March 26,
2005
 

Interest on Term Loan B

   $ —       $ 1,408  

Interest on the Notes

     5,021       —    

Interest on Holdco and Opco notes

     —         2,290  

Amortization of debt discount

     —         389  

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     256       305  

Other

     235       122  

Interest income

     (137 )     (35 )
                
   $ 5,375     $ 4,479  
                

 

6. Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Option Plan In connection with the Acquisition, Holdings adopted the VS Holdings, Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan (the “2002 Plan”) for certain directors, officers, consultants and employees of the Company. Holdings authorized the issuance of up to 2,046,041 shares of common stock. The stock options are generally exercisable at no less than the fair market value on the date of grant. Generally, options awarded shall become vested in four equal increments on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date on which such options were awarded. The exercise period for all stock options generally may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option program as of April 1, 2006 and changes during the three month period then ended:

 

     Total Outstanding
     Number of
Options
    Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

December 31, 2005

   1,682,106     $ 17.68

Granted

   45,450     $ 18.24

Canceled/forfeited

   (154,056 )   $ 17.78
            

April 1, 2006

   1,573,500     $ 17.69
            

 

F-41


Table of Contents

The following table summarizes information about options outstanding at April 1, 2006:

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of Exercise Prices

   Number
Outstanding
at April 1,
2006
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Number
Exercisable
at April 1,
2006
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

$10.00 to $20.00

   1,049,000    7.57    $ 12.78    680,456    $ 12.55

$20.01 to $30.00

   524,500    7.58    $ 27.50    338,472    $ 27.50
                            
   1,573,500    7.57    $ 17.69    1,018,928    $ 17.53

Prior to Fiscal 2006, Holding’s applied the intrinsic value method as outlined in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB No. 25”) and related interpretations in accounting for stock options and share units granted under these programs. Under the intrinsic value method, no compensation expense needed to be recognized if the exercise price of Holding’s employee stock options equaled the market price of the underlying stock on the date of the grant. Accordingly, Holdings did not recognize any compensation cost in the consolidated statements of operations prior to Fiscal 2006 for stock options granted to employees.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R). This statement replaces SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”) and supersedes APB No. 25. SFAS No. 123(R) requires that all stock-based compensation be recognized as an expense in the financial statements and that such cost be measured at the fair value of the award. The Company adopted the prospective method of applying SFAS No. 123(R). Under the prospective method, those nonpublic companies that used the minimum value method of measuring equity share options and similar instruments for either recognition or pro-forma disclosure purposes will apply SFAS 123(R) prospectively to new awards and awards modified, repurchased or cancelled after the required effective date. We continue to account for any portion of award outstanding at the date of initial application using the accounting principles originally applied to those awards which were the provisions of APB 25 and its related interpretive guidance. Compensation expense attributable to net stock-based compensation in the three months ended April 1, 2006 was approximately $16,000. The total tax benefit related to this expense was approximately $5,000. As of April 1, 2006, the remaining valuation of non-vested stock options to be expensed in future periods is $500,000 and the related weighted-average period over which it is expected to be recognized is 3.75 years. There were 1,018,928 and 554,572 vested and non-vested options, respectively, at April 1, 2006. There were 672,957 non-vested options at December 31, 2005. SFAS 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent period if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. For periods prior to December 31, 2005, we accounted for forfeitures as they occurred in the Company’s pro forma information required by SFAS 123. The Company estimates forfeitures based on its historical forfeiture rate since the plan inception in Fiscal 2002. The estimated forfeitures as of April 1, 2006 is approximately $1,000.

 

F-42


Table of Contents

Prior to the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), SFAS No. 123 required that the Company provide pro forma information regarding net earnings and net earnings per common share as if compensation cost for the Company’s stock-based awards had been determined in accordance with the fair value method now prescribed. The Company had previously adopted the disclosure portion of SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure,” requiring quarterly SFAS No. 123 pro forma disclosure. The pro forma charge for compensation cost related to stock-based awards granted was recognized over the service period. For stock options, the service period represented the period of time between the date of grant and the date each option becomes exercisable without consideration of acceleration provisions (e.g., retirement, change of control, etc.). The following table illustrates the effect on net earnings per common share as if the fair value method had been applied to all outstanding awards for the three months ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 that were granted prior to December 31, 2005:

 

     Three Months Ended  
     April 1,
2006
    March 26,
2005
 
     (In thousands)  

Net income as reported

   $ 2,616     $ 3,622  

Deduct: Total stock based employee compensation determined under fair value based method of SFAS No. 123, net of tax

     (73 )     (104 )
                

Pro-Forma net income

   $ 2,543     $ 3,518  
                

The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the current market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the first quarter of Fiscal 2006 and 2005 were $4.05 and $1.85, respectively. There were no stock options exercised during the first quarter of Fiscal 2006 or 2005. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

     Three Months Ended  
     April 1,
2006
    March 26,
2005
 

Expected dividend yield

   0.0 %   0.0 %

Expected volatility

   56.8 %   0.0 %

Risk-free interest rate

   5.1 %   4.6 %

Expected life of option

   6.25 years     6.25 years  

The expected volatility for the three months ended April 1, 2006 is based on the volatility levels over the past 6.25 years from the average volatility of similar actively traded companies. The risk-free interest rate is derived from the average interest rate of a five year and a ten year zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Strip. The expected life of the option is calculated using the simplified method using the vesting term of 4 years and the contractual term of 10 years.

 

7. Legal Proceedings

Dwight Thompson v. The Vitamin Shoppe. On February 25, 2005, a former store manager filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Orange, alleging miscellaneous wage and hour violations under California law, including, but not limited to, violations related to the misclassification of store managers as exempt employees under California law and violations with respect to providing meal and rest periods for store managers and assistant store managers. The Company opened its first store in California in December 2002, and the Company reclassified its California store managers as non-exempt employees in January 2004. Plaintiff seeks to bring this action on behalf of himself and other “similarly situated” current and former California store managers and assistant store managers. In addition to the allegations made on behalf of the class,

 

F-43


Table of Contents

the plaintiff has also alleged violations of various provisions of the California Labor Code that would entitle plaintiff to collect fees under the California “bounty hunter” statute. The parties engaged in some preliminary pre-trial discovery, and the matter is currently stayed pending court approval of the settlement in the Perry case described below.

David Beauford, Jonathan Opris and Leonard Tyler, Jr. v. Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc . On July 13, 2005 plaintiff Beauford, a former store manager and plaintiff Opris, a former assistant store manager, filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Marin, alleging miscellaneous wage and hour violations, and violations with respect to meal and rest periods under California law on behalf of store managers and assistant store managers. Plaintiff Tyler, a former store manager and assistant store manager was later added to the case as a named plaintiff. Many of plaintiffs’ allegations are similar to the violations alleged in the Thompson and Perry matters described above, including alleged violations of various provisions of the California Labor Code that would entitle plaintiffs to collect fees under the California “bounty hunter” statute. Discovery in this case is currently stayed pending court approval of the settlement in the Perry case described below.

Janine Perry and Thomas Vitrano v. Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc . On August 17, 2005, plaintiff Perry, a former store manager, and plaintiff Vitrano, a current store manager, filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Marin, alleging miscellaneous wage and hour violations under California law, including, but not limited to, violations related to misclassification of store managers and violations with respect to providing meal and rest periods for store managers and assistant store managers. Plaintiffs’ allegations are similar to the violations alleged in the Thompson and Beauford matters described above. Similarly, as in the Thompson and Beauford matters, plaintiff seeks to bring this action on behalf of themselves and other “similarly situated” current and former California store managers and assistant store managers. On December 20, 2005, the parties engaged in mediation that was facilitated by an experienced third party employment litigation mediator. After a full day session, the parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, which was followed by execution of a formal Settlement Agreement. The costs associated with the proposed settlement were accrued in 2005. The settlement has received preliminary approval of the Marin County Superior Court, subject to notice to class members and final approval at a later hearing. Approval of the settlement is being opposed by the plaintiffs’ counsel in the other two actions.

The three matters summarized above, though separately filed, seek in primary part the same relief on behalf of the same class of employees. There was also a petition pending to consolidate the three actions which has been denied by the court. If the settlement in the Perry matter is granted final approval by the Court, such settlement will for the most part eliminate the claims in the other two, subject to the rights of individual claimants to elect to not become participants in the class settlement and pursue separate individual claims. The Company does not anticipate that any of these litigation matters will have a material adverse impact on its financial condition or liquidity of the Company.

Red Yeast Rice Litigation . By letter dated November 28, 2005, an individual named Lawrence Switzer alleged that certain products sold by our Company containing an ingredient known as red yeast rice violate the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”) and other California consumer protection laws. Mr. Switzer filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 19, 2006 against our Company and 15 other manufacturers or retailers of similar products. To our knowledge, we have not yet been served with this complaint and therefore we have no obligation or deadline by which to respond in court. The principal basis of the claim is that the products contain the chemical lovastatin, which is also the active ingredient in pharmaceutical products, the presence of which Mr. Switzer alleges causes the products to be drugs as opposed to dietary supplements under federal and, derivatively, California law. In addition to alleging violations of the CLRA and other state consumer protection laws, Mr. Switzer also alleges that the products are labeled and marketed in violation of the federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act. The case is not brought as a class action; instead, Mr. Switzer claims to be a representative of the public suing for injunctive relief that will benefit the public. He seeks restitution on behalf of all purchasers of the products as well as compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys fees and costs of litigation. There is no claim of personal injury, although Mr. Switzer alleges he was

 

F-44


Table of Contents

injured by one unidentified product and lost money or property in purchasing each product. As a precaution, we ceased selling private label products containing red yeast rice in early 2006 and we are pursuing revisions to the formulation of our private label red yeast rice product as well as changes in our labeling. We continue to sell third party products containing red yeast rice.

The Company is party to various lawsuits arising from time to time in the normal course of business. The Company is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings. Although the impact of the final resolution of these matters on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations in a particular subsequent reporting period is not known, management does not believe that the resolution of these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on financial condition or liquidity of the Company.

 

8. Costs Associated with Severance

In accordance with SFAS No. 146 “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (“SFAS No. 146”), the Company has recorded costs related to termination benefits for certain employees, during Fiscal 2005 and the three months ended April 1, 2006. During Fiscal 2005 and the three months ended April 1, 2006, three and six corporate employee positions, respectively, were eliminated throughout the Company due to a staff restructuring. Based on these and prior year eliminations, the Company incurred severance obligations which were partially payable in Fiscal 2004, Fiscal 2005 and the remaining balance to be paid throughout Fiscal 2006. The total amount recorded to general and administrative expense was approximately $1.6 million in Fiscal 2004, $0.1 million in Fiscal 2005 and $0.4 million during the three months ended April 1, 2006. Below is a reconciliation of the activity for Fiscal 2004, Fiscal 2005 and the three months ended April 1, 2006 (in thousands):

 

     Severance
Reserve
 

Balance at December 31, 2005

     461  

Accrual made during three months ended April 1, 2006

     376  

Payments made during three months ended April 1, 2006

     (340 )
        

Balance at April 1, 2006

   $ 497  
        

 

F-45


Table of Contents
9. Related Party Transactions

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company entered into a management agreement with Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC. This agreement provides for a quarterly fee of the greater of $187,500 or 0.25% of gross sales for the preceding fiscal quarter for advisory and consulting services. Amounts paid for the Fiscal quarters ended April 1, 2006 and March 26, 2005 was approximately $302,000 and $248,000, respectively.

In May 2004, the Company recorded a charge of $1.3 million related to the former CEO’s separation from the Company. This amount represents payment to be made over a twenty-four month period from date of separation pursuant to a preexisting employment contract. At April 1, 2006 the Company had approximately $185,000 remaining to be paid during the remainder of Fiscal 2006, which is recorded in accrued salaries and related expenses.

The Company is one of several portfolio companies of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking Partners II, L.P. and its affiliated entities (collectively, “BSMB”). In 2004, BSMB initiated a process to identify areas where cost savings may be achieved by the companies it owns by coordinating the purchasing activities of such companies to take advantage of volume discounts that would otherwise not be available to the Company if it were acting on its own. In connection with this undertaking, BSMB entered into consulting arrangements with individuals and consulting firms. The consulting fees will be charged to the companies owned by BSMB based on their pro rata share of the overall cost savings achieved. As of April 1, 2006, based on information received from BSMB, it is estimated that the Company’s share of the consulting fees will be approximately $700,000 and accordingly the Company has recorded this as an expense and a corresponding liability at the end of Fiscal 2005. No amounts have been paid at the end of April 1, 2006.

 

45.1


Table of Contents

In November 2005, we entered into a consulting agreement with Renaissance Brands LTD. (“Renaissance”), an advisory and consulting company serving a number of private equity and venture capital firms. Douglas B. Fox, a member of our board of directors, is the Chief Executive Officer and sole shareholder of Renaissance. Renaissance provides marketing, advertising and messaging advice to us and is paid $2,500 per day, for not more than three days per month, for such services. Amounts paid during the Fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2006 were approximately $38,000 for fees and expenses.

 

10. Segment Data

The Company currently operates two business segments, retail and direct. The operating segments are segments of the Company for which separate financial information is available and for which operating results are evaluated regularly by executive management in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s management evaluates segment operating results based on several indicators. The primary key performance indicators are sales and operating income for each segment. The below table represents key financial information for each of the Company’s business segments, retail and direct, as well as corporate costs. The retail segment includes the Company’s retail stores. The retail segment generates revenue primarily through the sale of third-party branded and proprietary branded vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products through retail stores throughout the United States. The direct segment generates revenue through the sale of third-party branded and proprietary branded vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products through the Company’s catalog and its Web site. A catalog is mailed each month to approximately 160,000 catalog customers contained in the Company’s Frequent Buyer Program database, and the Company’s Web site at www.vitaminshoppe.com offers its customers online access to a full assortment of over 20,000 SKUs. Corporate costs represent the Company’s administrative expenses which include, but are not limited to: human resources, legal, finance, IT, and various other corporate level activity related expenses. There are no inter-segment sales transactions.

The Company’s segments are designed to allocate resources internally and provide a framework to determine management responsibility. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 3 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The Company has allocated $130.9 million and $45.0 million of its recorded goodwill to the retail and direct segments, respectively. The Company does not have identifiable assets separated by segment.

The following table contains key financial information of the Company’s business segments (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended  
     April 1,
2006
    March 26,
2005
 

Sales:

    

Retail

   $ 103,985     $ 90,149  

Direct

     23,315       20,585  
                

Net sales

     127,300       110,734  

Income from operations:

    

Retail

     16,504       14,275  

Direct

     2,981       4,696  

Corporate costs

     (10,580 )     (12,229 )
                

Income from operations

     8,905       6,742  

Other

     (366 )     —    

Interest expense, net

     5,375       4,479  
                

Income before provision for income taxes

     3,896       2,263  

Provision for income taxes

     1,280       921  
                

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

     2,616       1,342  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax provision

     —         2,280  
                

Net income

   $ 2,616     $ 3,622  
                

 

F-46


Table of Contents
11. Subsequent Event

On June 12, 2006, a new corporation VS Parent, Inc. (“VS Parent”) was formed. Holdings became a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of VS Parent. In connection therewith, each share (or fractional share) of Series A Preferred of Holdings was converted into a right to receive a share (or fractional share) of Series A preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share of VS Parent, and each share (or fractional share) of Common Stock of Holdings was converted into a share (or fractional share) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share of VS Parent. As of June 12, 2006, all options to purchase the stock of Holdings became options to purchase the stock of our ultimate parent company, VS Parent.

Transaction with Management

We held a promissory note made by Thomas A. Tolworthy on November 27, 2002, in the aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000 issued in connection with Mr. Tolworthy’s purchase of our common stock as discussed in Note 12 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements for the Fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 25, 2004 and December 27, 2003. On June 12, 2006, this note was indorsed and assigned as a dividend from Holdings to VS Parent and is no longer held by or payable to us.

 

 

12. Supplemental Guarantor Information

The payment obligations of VSI under the Notes are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by: Holdings, the parent company; Direct, the only subsidiary; and all of VSI’s future restricted domestic subsidiaries. The Notes and the guarantees are VSI’s, Holdings’ and Direct’s second priority senior secured obligations. They rank equally with all of VSI’s, Holding’s and Direct’s existing and future senior indebtedness and rank senior to all of VSI’s, Holdings’ and Direct’s existing and future subordinated indebtedness. The Notes and the guarantees are effectively subordinate to all of VSI’s, Holdings’ and Direct’s existing first priority senior secured indebtedness, to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness, including indebtedness under the new credit facility.

The indenture governing the Notes restricts the ability of VSI and Direct to incur additional debt, pay dividends and make distributions, make certain investments, repurchase stock, incur liens, enter into transactions with affiliates, enter into sale and lease back transactions, merge, or consolidate or transfer or sell assets.

The following supplemental financial information sets forth, on a consolidating basis, balance sheets, statements of operations, and statements of cash flows for Holdings, VSI and VSD:

 

F-47


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET AS OF APRIL 1, 2006

(In thousands, except share data)

 

     VS Holdings,
Inc.
    VS Direct
Inc.
   Vitamin
Shoppe
Industries
Inc.
    Eliminations     Consolidated  
ASSETS            

Current assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ —       $ 416    $ 2,167     $ —       $ 2,583  

Inventories

     —         13,053      65,134       —         78,187  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     193       920      14,744       —         15,857  

Intercompany receivable

     —         75,440      90,106       (165,546 )     —    

Deferred income taxes

     —         250      3,527       —         3,777  
                                       

Total current assets

     193       90,079      175,678       (165,546 )     100,404  

Property and equipment, net

     —         12,912      49,081       —         61,993  

Goodwill

     —         —        175,896       —         175,896  

Other intangibles, net

     —         —        68,100       —         68,100  

Other assets:

           

Deferred financing fees, net of accumulated amortization of $380

     —         —        6,387       —         6,387  

Other

     —         —        160       —         160  

Security deposits

     —         17      1,433       —         1,450  

Deferred income tax asset

     392       552      —         (944 )     —    
                                       

Total other assets

     392       569      7,980       (944 )     7,997  

Investment in Subsidiary

     168,581       —        20,165       (188,746 )     —    
                                       

Total assets

   $ 169,166     $ 103,560    $ 496,900     $ (355,236 )   $ 414,390  
                                       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY            

Current liabilities:

           

Revolving credit facility

   $ —       $ —      $ 11,500     $ —       $ 11,500  

Intercompany payable

     17,671       72,399      75,476       (165,546 )     —    

Accounts payable

     —         467      30,097       —         30,564  

Deferred sales

     —         515      3,922       —         4,437  

Accrued salaries and related expenses

     —         309      2,573       —         2,882  

Accrued interest

     —         —        2,719       —         2,719  

Other accrued expenses

     49       1,638      10,465       —         12,152  
                                       

Total current liabilities

     17,720       75,328      136,752       (165,546 )     64,254  

Long-term debt

     —         —        165,000       —         165,000  

Deferred income taxes

     45       —        21,869       (944 )     20,970  

Deferred rent

     —         1,766      10,999       —         12,765  

Commitments and contingencies

           

Stockholders’ equity:

           

Preferred stock $0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 shares; 79,860 Series A shares issued and outstanding (aggregate liquidation preference $104,019)

     1       —        —         —         1  

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 11,000,000 shares, 7,617,000 shares issued and outstanding

     76       —        —         —         76  

Additional paid-in capital

     151,056       20,165      166,791       (186,956 )     151,056  

Warrants

     5,666       —        —         —         5,666  

Note receivable due from officer

     (1,500 )     —        —         —         (1,500 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     914          914       (914 )     914  

Accumulated (deficit) retained earnings

     (4,812 )     6,301      (5,425 )     (876 )     (4,812 )
                                       

Total stockholders’ equity

     151,401       26,466      162,280       (188,746 )     151,401  
                                       

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 169,166     $ 103,560    $ 496,900     $ (355,236 )   $ 414,390  
                                       

 

F-48


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 1, 2006

(In thousands)

 

     VS Holdings,
Inc.
    VS Direct
Inc.
    Vitamin
Shoppe
Industries
Inc.
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

   $ —       $ 20,597     $ 106,703     $ —       $ 127,300  

Commissions

     —         7,642       1,352       (8,994 )     —    

Cost of goods sold

     —         14,311       71,142       (842 )     84,611  
                                        

Gross profit

     —         13,928       36,913       (8,152 )     42,689  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     35       10,105       31,796       (8,152 )     33,784  
                                        

(Loss) income from operations

     (35 )     3,823       5,117       —         8,905  

Other

     —         —         (366 )     —         (366 )

Interest expense, net

     (16 )     (2 )     5,393       —         5,375  
                                        

(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes

     (19 )     3,825       90       —         3,896  

(Benefit) provision from income taxes

     (6 )     1,257       29       —         1,280  
                                        

(Loss) income before equity in net earnings of subsidiary

     (13 )     2,568       61       —         2,616  

Equity in net earnings of subsidiary

     2,629       —         —         (2,629 )     —    
                                        

Net income

   $ 2,616     $ 2,568     $ 61     $ (2,629 )   $ 2,616  
                                        

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 26, 2005

(In thousands)

 

     VS Holdings,
Inc.
    VS Direct
Inc.
   Vitamin
Shoppe
Industries
Inc.
    Eliminations     Consolidated

Net sales

   $ —       $ 15,424    $ 95,310     $ —       $ 110,734

Commissions

     —         6,216      387       (6,603 )     —  

Cost of goods sold

     —         11,360      60,347       (676 )     71,031
                                     

Gross profit

     —         10,280      35,350       (5,927 )     39,703

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     19       6,290      32,579       (5,927 )     32,961
                                     

(Loss) income from operations

     (19 )     3,990      2,771       —         6,742

Interest expense, net

     736       —        3,743       —         4,479
                                     

(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes

     (755 )     3,990      (972 )     —         2,263

(Benefit) provision from income taxes

     (307 )     1,624      (396 )     —         921
                                     

(Loss) income before equity in net earnings of subsidiary

     (448 )     2,366      (576 )     —         1,342

Equity in net earnings of subsidiary

     1,790       —        —         (1,790 )     —  
                                     

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

     1,342       2,366      (576 )     (1,790 )     1,342

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     2,280       —        2,280       (2,280 )     2,280
                                     

Net income

   $ 3,622     $ 2,366    $ 1,704     $ (4,070 )   $ 3,622
                                     

 

F-49


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 1, 2006

(In thousands)

 

     VS Holdings,
Inc.
    VS Direct
Inc.
    Vitamin
Shoppe
Industries
Inc.
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flow from operating activities:

          

Net income

   $ 2,616     $ 2,568     $ 61     $ (2,629 )   $ 2,616  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

          

Depreciation and amortization

     —         508       3,077       —         3,585  

Deferred income taxes

     47       91       1,214       —         1,352  

Deferred rent

     —         26       732       —         758  

Stock based compensation

     16       —         —         —         16  

Equity in earnings of subsidiary

     (2,629 )     —         —         2,629       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

          

Inventories

     —         (147 )     (3,908 )     —         (4,055 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (56 )     (893 )     (1,704 )     —         (2,653 )

Intercompany

     —         (1,919 )     1,919       —         —    

Other non-current assets

     —         13       36       —         49  

Accounts payable

     —         339       2,740       —         3,079  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     6       91       (3,347 )     —         (3,250 )
                                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     —         677       820       —         1,497  
                                        

Cash flow from investing activities:

          

Capital expenditures

     —         (261 )     (2,772 )     —         (3,033 )
                                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (261 )     (2,772 )     —         (3,033 )
                                        

Cash flow from financing activities:

          

Borrowings under revolving credit agreement

     —         —         (627 )     —         (627 )

Deferred financing fees

     —         —         (38 )     —         (38 )
                                        

Net cash used in financing activities

     —         —         (665 )     —         (665 )
                                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     —         416       (2,617 )     —         (2,201 )

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period

     —         —         4,784       —         4,784  
                                        

Cash and cash equivalents end of period

   $ —       $ 416     $ 2,167     $ —       $ 2,583  
                                        

 

F-50


Table of Contents

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 26, 2005

(In thousands)

 

     VS Holdings,
Inc.
    VS Direct
Inc.
    Vitamin
Shoppe
Industries
Inc.
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flow from operating activities:

          

Net income

   $ 3,622     $ 2,366     $ 1,704     $ (4,070 )   $ 3,622  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

          

Depreciation and amortization

     100       1,692       4,130       —         5,922  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax (see Note 2)

     (2,280 )     —         (2,280 )     2,280       (2,280 )

Deferred income taxes

     228       592       (537 )     —         283  

Deferred rent

     —         122       731       —         853  

Equity in earnings of subsidiary

     (1,790 )     —         —         1,790       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

          

Inventories

     —         75       (3,260 )     —         (3,185 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (10 )     (36 )     (1,262 )     —         (1,308 )

Intercompany

     (614 )     (2,737 )     3,351       —         —    

Accounts payable

     —         —         5,690       —         5,690  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     744       576       (5,363 )     —         (4,043 )
                                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     —         2,650       2,904       —         5,554  
                                        

Cash flow from investing activities:

          

Capital expenditures

     —         (1,864 )     (3,064 )     —         (4,928 )
                                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (1,864 )     (3,064 )     —         (4,928 )
                                        

Cash flow from financing activities:

          

Repayment of long-term debt

     —         —         (250 )     —         (250 )
                                        

Net cash used in financing activities

     —         —         (250 )     —         (250 )
                                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     —         786       (410 )     —         376  

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period

     —         —         2,885       —         2,885  
                                        

Cash and cash equivalents end of period

   $ —       $ 786     $ 2,475     $ —       $ 3,261  
                                        

 

F-51


Table of Contents

$165,000,000

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

LOGO

Second Priority Senior Secured

Floating Rate Notes

due 2012

 


PROSPECTUS


[                    ] , 2006

We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or represent anything to you other than the information contained in this prospectus. You may not rely on unauthorized information or representations.

This prospectus does not offer to sell or ask for offers to buy any of the securities in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful, where the person making the offer is not qualified to do so, or to any person who can not legally be offered the securities.

The information in this prospectus is current only as of the date on its cover, and may change after that date. For any time after the cover date of this prospectus, we do not represent that our affairs are the same as described or that the information in this prospectus is correct, nor do we imply those things by delivering this prospectus or selling securities to you.

Until                     , 2006, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in the exchange offer may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligations to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 



Table of Contents

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL NOR DOES IT SEEK AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

[ALTERNATE COVER PAGE FOR MARKET-MAKER PROSPECTUS]

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED June 13, 2006

PROSPECTUS

$165,000,000

VS Holdings, Inc.

LOGO

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes Due 2012

 


The Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes Due 2012 offered hereby were issued on                     , 2006 in exchange for the Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes Due 2012 originally issued on November 15, 2005. We refer to the notes issued in the exchange as the “Exchange Notes” and the original notes as the “Old Notes.” We sometimes refer to the Old Notes and the Exchange Notes collectively as the notes.

The Exchange Notes will bear interest, which will be payable semi-annually in cash, which will be set at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 7.5%, which will be reset quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year. The notes will mature on November 15, 2012.

We may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, on or after November 15, 2007. We may redeem up to 35% of the notes prior to November 15, 2007, with money we raise in specified equity offerings. Such redemptions would be at the prices and subject to the terms described in this prospectus.

The notes are guaranteed by VS Holdings, Inc., and our only subsidiary, VS Direct Inc. The Notes are our, and the guarantors’, second priority senior secured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with any existing and future senior indebtedness and are senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated obligations.

The notes will not be listed on a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. However, we expect that the Notes will be eligible for trading in The PORTAL SM Market (“PORTAL”), a subsidiary of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.

Affiliates of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. own a substantial majority of the equity of VS Holdings, Inc., our parent company.

PLEASE SEE “ RISK FACTORS ” BEGINNING ON PAGE 13 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN RISKS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IN CONNECTION WITH INVESTING IN THE NOTES.

 


NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE NOTES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 


This prospectus has been prepared for and will be used by Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS or Banc of America Securities LLC in connection with offers and sales of the Exchange Notes related to market-making transactions in the over-the-counter market at negotiated prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale. Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. will not receive any of the proceeds of such sales. Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS or Banc of America Securities LLC may act as principle or agent in such transactions. The closing of the exchange offer, which constituted the delivery of the Exchange Notes in place of the Old Notes, occurred on                     , 2006. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 


The date of this Prospectus is                     , 2006.

 

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.   BNP PARIBAS   Banc of America Securities LLC


Table of Contents

[ALTERNATE USE OF PROCEEDS FOR MARKET-MAKER PROSPECTUS]

USE OF PROCEEDS

This prospectus is delivered in connection with the sale of the Exchange Notes by Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS or Banc of America Securities LLC in market-making transactions. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such transactions.

 

1


Table of Contents

[ALTERNATE PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION FOR MARKET-MAKER PROSPECTUS]

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

This prospectus is to be used by Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS or Banc of America Securities LLC in connection with offers and sales of the Exchange Notes in market-making transactions in the over-the-counter market at negotiated prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales. Each of Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS and Banc of America Securities LLC may act as principal or agent in such transactions, has no obligation to make a market in the Notes and may discontinue its market-making activities at any time without notice, at its sole discretion. There is currently no trading market for the Notes. No assurances can be given as to the development or liquidity of any trading market for the Notes.

We, Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS and Banc of America Securities LLC have entered into a registration rights agreement with respect to the use by Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS and Banc of America Securities LLC of this prospectus. Pursuant to the registration statement, we have agreed to indemnify jointly and severally Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS and Banc of America Securities LLC against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments that Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS and/or Banc of America Securities LLC may be required to make in that regard.

Certain Relationships and Arrangements

Affiliates of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. beneficially own approximately 80.1% of the outstanding shares of common stock of VS Holdings, Inc. These affiliates of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. have the right pursuant to a shareholders’ agreement to designate five directors of VS Holdings, Inc. They have designated John D. Howard, David I. Fuente, Richard L. Perkal, Douglas R. Korn and Douglas B. Fox to hold these positions. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Securityholders Agreement.”

Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS and Banc of America Securities LLC and their affiliates have performed investment banking, financial advisory and lending services for us and our affiliates from time to time, for which they have received customary compensation, and may continue to provide such services to us in the future. Additionally, affiliates of Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., BNP PARIBAS and Banc of America Securities LLC act as lenders and agents under our senior credit facilities, and will receive customary fees relating thereto.

 

2


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Delaware

VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Direct Inc. are incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, provides that a corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of such corporation, and, with respect to any criminal actions and proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or contemplated action or suit by or in the right of such corporation, under the same conditions, except that such indemnification is limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person, and except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if such person is adjudged to be liable to such corporation. Where an officer or director of a corporation is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify that person against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.

The certificate of incorporation of each of VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Direct Inc. provide for the indemnification of directors, officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, as permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the certificate of incorporation of each of VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Direct Inc. provides that none of its directors will be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law as currently in effect or as the same may hereafter be amended.

The by-laws of each of VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Direct Inc. provide for the indemnification of all of their respective current and former directors and current or former officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

New York

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the state of New York.

Section 722(a) of the New York Business Corporation Law, or the NYBCL, provides that a corporation may indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to any action or proceeding (other than one by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor), whether civil or criminal, including an action by or in the right of any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any director or officer of the corporation served in any capacity at the request of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, was a director or officer of the corporation, or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal therein, if such director

 

II-1


Table of Contents

or officer acted in good faith for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, in criminal actions or proceedings, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

Section 722(c) of the NYBCL provides that a corporation may indemnify its directors and officers in relation to an action by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor in similar circumstances to those described in the preceding paragraph against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually and necessarily incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of a threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or any claim, issue or matter as to which such person is adjudged liable to the corporation unless a court determines that an indemnity is proper in the circumstances of the case.

Section 721 of the NYBCL provides that, in addition to indemnification provided in Article 7 of the NYBCL, a corporation may indemnify a director or officer by a provision contained in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or by a duly authorized resolution of its shareholders or directors or by agreement, provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action, or that such director or officer personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.

Section 723 of the NYBCL specifies the manner in which payment of indemnification under Sections 722 and 721 of the NYBCL may be authorized by the corporation. It provides that a corporation shall indemnify a person who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defending an action described in Section 722. In other circumstances, unless ordered by a court upon application of a director or officer under Section 724 of the NYBCL, indemnification as described above may only be made if it is authorized in each specific case. The board of directors can authorize indemnification, either acting as a quorum of disinterested directors based upon a determination that the applicable standard of conduct has been met or that indemnification is proper under the NYBCL, or based upon an opinion by independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard of conduct has been met, or if the shareholders decide that indemnification is proper because the applicable standard of conduct has been met.

Section 726 of the NYBCL permits the purchase and maintenance of insurance to indemnify (1) the corporation for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors and officers under sections outlined above, (2) directors and officers in instances in which they may be indemnified by the corporation under such sections, and (3) directors and officers in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the corporation under such sections, provided the contract of insurance covering such directors and officers provides, in a manner acceptable to the New York State superintendent of insurance, for a retention amount and for co-insurance.

Section 402(b) of the NYBCL provides that a corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation may include a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of its directors to the corporation or its shareholders for damages for any breach of duty in such capacity, except liability if a judgment or final adjudication establishes that the directors acts or omissions were in bad faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled or that his acts violated Section 719 of the NYBCL or liability if the act or omission occurred prior to the adoption of a provision authorized by this section. The certificate of incorporation of each of 565 Broad Hollow Realty Corp. and Parfums Schiaparelli, Inc. currently do not contain a provision explicitly authorizing a limitation on such liabilities as permitted by Section 402(b).

The by-laws of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. provide for the indemnification of all of its current and former directors and current or former officers to the fullest extent permitted by the NYBCL.

 

II-2


Table of Contents
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

EXHIBIT
NO.
 

DESCRIPTION

  1.1     Purchase Agreement dated as of November 15, 2005 by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Direct Inc., as Guarantors, and Bear Stearns, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Banc of America Securities LLC, Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Rothschild Inc., as Initial Purchasers, with respect to Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012.†
  3.1     Restated Certificate of Incorporation of VS Holdings, Inc.††
  3.2     Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.†
  3.3     Certificate of Incorporation of VS Direct Inc.†
  3.4     Amended and Restated By-Laws of VS Holdings, Inc.†
  3.5     Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.†
  3.6     Amended and Restated By-Laws of VS Direct Inc.††
  4.1     Indenture dated as of November 15, 2005, by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Direct Inc., as Guarantors, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.†
  4.2     Registration Rights Agreement dated as of dated as of November 15, 2005, by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Direct Inc., as Guarantors, and Bear Stearns, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Banc of America Securities LLC, Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Rothschild Inc., as Initial Purchasers.†
  4.3     Form of Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Note due 2012.†
  5.1     Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.†
10.1     Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2005, by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and VS Direct Inc. as borrowers, VS Holdings, Inc. as Guarantor, the Lenders from time to time thereto, and Wachovia Bank, National Association as agent for the Lenders.†
10.2     Amendment No. 1 And Consent To Loan And Security Agreement, dated as of June 12. 2006, by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and VS Direct Inc. as borrowers, VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Parent, Inc., as Guarantors, the Lenders from time to time thereto, and Wachovia Bank, National Association as agent for the Lenders.††
10.3     Trademark Security Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2005, by and between Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. as Pledgor and Wachovia Bank, National Association as Pledgee.†
10.4     Stock Pledge Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2005, by and between Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. as Pledgor and Wachovia Bank, National Association as Pledgee.†
10.5     Guarantee of VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Direct Inc. of obligations of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. under the Loan and Security Agreement.†
10.6     Guarantee of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and VS Holdings, Inc. of obligations of VS Direct Inc. under the Loan and Security Agreement.†
10.7     Stock Pledge Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2005, by and between VS Holdings, Inc. as Pledgor and Wachovia Bank, National Association as Pledgee.†
10.8     Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2005, by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., VS Direct Inc. and VS Holdings, Inc. as Pledgors, Wachovia Bank, National Association as Agent under the Loan and Security Agreement and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee under the Indenture and Parity Lien Collateral Agent.†
10.9     Deposit Account Control Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2005, by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., Wachovia Bank, National Association as Agent under the Loan Agreement and Bank of America, N.A.†

 

II-3


Table of Contents
EXHIBIT
NO.
 

DESCRIPTION

10.10   Collateral Account Notification and Acknowledgement dated as of January 15, 2006, by and between Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., Wachovia Bank National Association and Bank of America, N.A.†
10.11   Third Amended and Restated Employment and Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2006, between Thomas Tolworthy, VS Parent, Inc. and VS Holdings, Inc. and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.*††
10.12   Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2004, between VS Holdings, Inc. and Wayne M. Richman.*†
10.13   Side Letter, dated as of July 22, 2005, to Non-Competition Agreement between VS Holdings, Inc. and Wayne M. Richman.*†
10.14   Side Letter, dated as of September 6, 2005, to Non-Competition Agreement between VS Holdings, Inc. and Wayne M. Richman.*†
10.15   Form of General Release, dated as of December 28, 2004, between Jeffrey Horowitz and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.*†
10.16   Voluntary Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of February 1, 2005, between Alan M. Aronovitz and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.*†
10.17   Amended and Restated Employment and Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2006, between Anthony Truesdale and VS Parent, Inc., Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., VS Holdings, Inc. *††
10.18   Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2006, between Cosmo La Forgia, VS Parent, Inc., Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and VS Holdings, Inc.*††
10.19   Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. Management Incentive Plan, dated as of February 28, 2006.*†
10.20   Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. Management Incentive Plan, dated as of March 7, 2005.*†
10.21   Form of Employment Agreement between executive officer, VS Parent, Inc., Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and VS Holdings, Inc.*†
10.22   Lease Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2002, between Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. and Vitamin Shoppe Industries. Inc.†
10.23   Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2004, between Natures Value, Inc. and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.†
10.24   Advisory Services Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2002, by and among Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC, VS Holdings, Inc., and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.†
10.25   Amendment No. 1 to Advisory Services Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2006, by and among VS Holdings, Inc., Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC and VS Parent, Inc.††
12.1     Statement re computation of ratios.†
21.1     Subsidiaries of the Registrant.†
23.1     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.†
23.2     Consent of Kirkland & Ellis (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1     Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereto).†
25.1     State of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Wilmington Trust Company.†
99.1     Form of Letter of Transmittal.†

* Management contract or compensation plan or arrangement.
Filed herewith.
†† To be filed by amendment.

 

II-4


Table of Contents
ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) To remove from the registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(d) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(e) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the provisions described in Item 20, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(f) To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), or 11 or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

(g) To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

II-5


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of North Bergen, State of New Jersey, on June 13, 2006.

 

VS HOLDINGS, INC.

(Registrant)

By:

  / S /    T HOMAS A. T OLWORTHY
  Thomas A. Tolworthy
  Chief Executive Officer and Director

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Thomas A. Tolworthy and Cosmo La Forgia, and each of them singly, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    T HOMAS A. T OLWORTHY

Thomas A. Tolworthy

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  June 13, 2006

/s/    A NTHONY T RUESDALE

Anthony Truesdale

   President and Chief Merchandising Officer   June 13, 2006

/s/    C OSMO L A F ORGIA

Cosmo La Forgia

  

Vice President, Finance

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  June 13, 2006

/s/    R ONALD M. N EIFIELD

Ronald M. Neifield

   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary   June 13, 2006

/s/    J OHN H. E DMONDSON

John H. Edmondson

   Director   June 13, 2006

/s/    D AVID H. E DWAB

David H. Edwab

   Director   June 13, 2006

/s/    D OUGLAS B. F OX

Douglas B. Fox

   Director   June 13, 2006

/s/    D AVID I. F UENTE

David I. Fuente

   Director   June 13, 2006

 

II-6


Table of Contents

Name

  

Title

 

Date

/ S /    J OHN D. H OWARD

John D. Howard

   Director   June 13, 2006

/ S /    D OUGLAS R. K ORN

Douglas R. Korn

   Director   June 13, 2006

/ S /    R ICHARD L. P ERKAL

Richard L. Perkal

   Director   June 13, 2006

 

II-7


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of North Bergen, State of New Jersey, on June 13, 2006.

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

(Registrant)

By:

  / S /    T HOMAS A. T OLWORTHY
  Thomas A. Tolworthy
  Chief Executive Officer and Director

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Thomas A. Tolworthy and Cosmo La Forgia, and each of them singly, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name

  

Title

 

Date

/ S /    T HOMAS A. T OLWORTHY

Thomas A. Tolworthy

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  June 13, 2006

/ S /    A NTHONY T RUESDALE

Anthony Truesdale

   President and Chief Merchandising Officer   June 13, 2006

/ S /    C OSMO L A F ORGIA

Cosmo La Forgia

  

Vice President, Finance

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  June 13, 2006

/ S /    R ONALD M. N EIFIELD

Ronald M. Neifield

   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary   June 13, 2006

/ S /    D OUGLAS R. K ORN

Douglas R. Korn

   Director   June 13, 2006

/ S /    R ICHARD L. P ERKAL

Richard L. Perkal

   Director   June 13, 2006

 

II-8


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of North Bergen, State of New Jersey, on June 13, 2006.

 

VS DIRECT INC.

(Registrant)

By:

  / S /    T HOMAS A. T OLWORTHY
  Thomas A. Tolworthy
  Chief Executive Officer and Director

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Thomas A. Tolworthy and Cosmo La Forgia, and each of them singly, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name

  

Title

 

Date

/ S /    T HOMAS A. T OLWORTHY

Thomas A. Tolworthy

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  June 13, 2006

/ S /    A NTHONY T RUESDALE

Anthony Truesdale

   President and Chief Merchandising Officer   June 13, 2006

/ S /    C OSMO L A F ORGIA

Cosmo La Forgia

  

Vice President, Finance

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  June 13, 2006

/ S /    R ONALD M. N EIFIELD

Ronald M. Neifield

   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary   June 13, 2006

/ S /    D OUGLAS R. K ORN

Douglas R. Korn

   Director   June 13, 2006

/ S /    R ICHARD L. P ERKAL

Richard L. Perkal

   Director   June 13, 2006

 

II-9

Exhibit 1.1

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

 

The Guarantors listed on Schedule A hereto

 

$165,000,000

 

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes

 

Purchase Agreement

 

November 7, 2005

 

BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.

ROTHSCHILD INC.


EXECUTION VERSION

 

V ITAMIN S HOPPE I NDUSTRIES I NC .

 

$165,000,000

 

S ECOND P RIORITY S ENIOR S ECURED F LOATING R ATE N OTES D UE 2012

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

November 7, 2005

New York, New York

 

BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.

ROTHSCHILD INC.

c/o Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

 

Ladies & Gentlemen:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Banc of America Securities LLC, Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Rothschild Inc. (each an “ Initial Purchaser ” and collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”) $165,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “ Original Notes ”), subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

1. The Transactions. Subject to the terms and conditions herein contained, the Company proposes to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers $165,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes. The Original Notes and the Exchange Notes (as defined below) are collectively referred to herein as the “ Notes .” The Notes will (i) have the terms and provisions that are described in the Offering Memorandum (as defined below) under the heading “Description of Notes” and such other terms as are customary and (ii) be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below), among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined) and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

The Initial Purchasers and other holders (including the direct and indirect transferees of the Original Notes) of the Original Notes will be entitled to the benefits of the exchange and registration rights agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), between the Company and the Initial Purchasers, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, for so long as such Original Notes constitute “ Transfer Restricted Securities ” (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will agree, among other things, (i) to file (A) a registration statement (the “ Registration Statement ”) on the appropriate form with the Securities and Exchange

 

1


Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (together with the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, the “ Act ”), registering the sale of an issue of a series of notes (the “ Exchange Notes ”) identical in all material respects to the Original Notes (except that the Exchange Notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions) to be offered in exchange for the Original Notes (the “ Exchange Offer ”) and (B) under certain circumstances specified in the Registration Rights Agreement, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”), and (ii) to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause any such Registration Statement to be declared effective.

 

The sale of the Original Notes and the Guarantees to the Initial Purchasers (the “ Offering ”) will be made without registration under the Act, in reliance upon the exemption therefrom provided by Section 4(2) of the Act.

 

In connection with the sale of the Securities, the Company has prepared a preliminary offering memorandum dated October 23, 2005 (the “ Preliminary Offering Memorandum ”), and a final offering memorandum, dated the date hereof (the “ Offering Memorandum ”), each setting forth information regarding the Issuers (as defined below), the Securities, the terms of the Offering and the transactions contemplated by the Offering Documents (as defined below), and any material developments relating to the Company and the Guarantors occurring after the date of the most recent financial statements included therein. Any references herein to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to include, in each case, all amendments and supplements thereto. The Company hereby confirms that it has authorized the use of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum in connection with the offering and resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers.

 

The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Original Notes (the “ Exempt Resales ”) only on the terms and in the manner set forth in the Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, and Sections 4, 5 and 12 hereof as soon as the Initial Purchasers deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered, solely to (i) persons in the United States whom the Initial Purchasers reasonably believe to be qualified institutional buyers (“ QIBs ”) as defined in Rule 144A under the Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time (“ Rule 144A ”), in transactions under Rule 144A, and (ii) in transactions under Rule 144A and outside the United States to certain persons in reliance on Regulation S (“ Regulation S ”) under the Act (each, a “ Reg S Investor ”). The QIBs and the Reg S Investors are collectively referred to herein as the “ Eligible Purchasers .” The Initial Purchasers will offer the Original Notes to such Eligible Purchasers initially at a price equal to [100]% of the principal amount thereof. Such price may be changed at any time without notice.

 

The payment of principal of, premium and liquidated damages, if any, and interest on the Original Notes and the Exchange Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior/subordinated basis, jointly and severally by (i) the Company’s sole stockholder VS Holdings, Inc. (the “ Parent ”), (ii) the Company’s subsidiary listed on Schedule A hereto (the “ Subsidiary ”), and (iii) any subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the Closing Date that executes an additional guarantee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and respective successors and assigns of the subsidiaries of the Company referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) above (collectively, the “ Guarantors ”), pursuant to their guarantees (the “ Guarantees ”).

 

2


The Original Notes and the Guarantees attached thereto are herein collectively referred to as the “ Securities ”; and the Exchange Notes and the Guarantees attached thereto are herein collectively referred to as the “ Exchange Securities .” The Company, the Parent and the Subsidiary are herein collectively referred to as the “ Issuers. ” This Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Offering Documents .” Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

 

Concurrently with the closing of the offering of the Notes, the Issuers will enter into a new senior secured credit facility, to be dated as of November 15, 2005, in an aggregate of up to $50,000,000 with Wachovia Bank, National Association, (in its capacity as agent under the new senior secured credit facility, the “ First Lien Collateral Agent ”) and a syndicate of other financial institutions (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “ Credit Facility ”).

 

The Issuers have agreed to secure the Notes and the Guarantees of the Securities by second priority security interests granted to Wilmington Trust Company, as the collateral agent (the “ Collateral Agent ”) for the benefit of the Trustee and the holders of the Notes and any additional securities issued pursuant to the Indenture on all of the personal property of the Issuers, whether tangible or intangible (the “ Collatera l”), subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture and the Security Agreement (as defined below). Such second priority security interests will be evidenced by the security agreement to be dated as of November 15, 2005, among the Issuers and the Collateral Agent (the “ Security Agreement ”); the intercreditor agreement to be dated as of November 15, 2005, among the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Collateral Agent and the First Lien Collateral Agent (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”); the collateral agency agreement to be dated as of November 15, 2005, among the Issuers, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent (the “ Collateral Agency Agreement ”); and any account control agreements to which any of the Issuers are a party that are in effect at the Closing Date (as defined below) (such agreements, together with the Security Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Agency Agreement, the “ Security Documents ”).

 

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Guarantors . The Issuers, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Initial Purchasers that:

 

(a) The Preliminary Offering Memorandum as of its date does not, and the Offering Memorandum, as of its date and as of the Closing Date, does not and will not, and any supplement or amendment to them will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, except that the representations and warranties contained in this paragraph shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum (or any supplement or amendment thereto) made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Initial Purchasers furnished to the Company and the Guarantors in writing by the Initial Purchasers expressly for use therein. The Offering Memorandum and any amendment or supplement thereto complied or will comply in all material respects with subsection (d)(4) of Rule 144A.

 

3


(b) The Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum have been or will be prepared by the Company for use by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the Offering. No order or decree preventing the use of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any order asserting that any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the registration requirements of the Act, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has commenced or is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated.

 

(c) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), the Company has not declared, paid or made any dividends or other distributions of any kind on or in respect of its capital stock and there has been no material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the capital stock or the long-term debt, or material increase in the short-term debt, of the Company or any Subsidiary from that set forth in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in or affecting (i) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole; (ii) the ability of the Company to consummate the Offering or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Offering Documents. Since the date of the latest balance sheet included in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred or undertaken any liability or obligation, whether direct or indirect, liquidated or contingent, matured or unmatured, or entered into any transaction, including any acquisition or disposition of any business or asset, which is material to the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole, except for liabilities, obligations and transactions which are disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum).

 

(d) Each of the Issuers has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Each of the Company and the Subsidiary has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted and as described in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), and to own, lease and operate its respective properties. Each of the Issuers is duly qualified and authorized to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of its properties (owned, leased or licensed) or the nature or conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent such failures to be so qualified or in good standing in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (A) the properties, business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), stockholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole; (B) the long-term debt or capital stock of the Issuers; (C) the issuance or marketability of the Notes or (D) the validity of this Agreement or any other Offering Document or the transactions described in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Use of Proceeds” (any such effect being a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

 

4


(e) The Subsidiary listed on Exhibit B is the only subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act. Except for the Subsidiary, the Company holds no ownership or other interest, nominal or beneficial, direct or indirect, in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business entity. All of the issued shares of capital stock of or other ownership interests in the Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and, except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, claim, limitation on voting rights, equity, trust or other encumbrance, preferential arrangement, defect or restriction of any kind whatsoever (any “ Lien ”).

 

(f) Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), neither the Company nor the Subsidiary has outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, calls, commitments of sale or options to acquire, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any capital stock or other equity interest in, the Company or the Subsidiary (any “ Relevant Security ”). The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Parent is as set forth in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) under the caption “Capitalization” and, after giving effect to the Offering, will be as set forth in the column headed “As Adjusted” under the caption “Capitalization.” All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are fully paid and non-assessable and have been duly and validly authorized and issued, in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws and not in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that does or will entitle any person, upon the issuance or sale of any security, to acquire from the Company or the Subsidiary any Relevant Security.

 

(g) When the Original Notes and the Guarantees thereof are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, no securities of the Company or the Subsidiary or any Guarantor are (i) of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act) as the Original Notes or Guarantee thereof and (ii) listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together with the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, the “ Exchange Act ”); or quoted in a United States automated inter-dealer quotation system.

 

(h) Each of the Issuers has the required corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Offering Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the corporate power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Notes and to issue and deliver the related Guarantees as provided herein and therein.

 

(i) The Original Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement and, when executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and when delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will have been duly and validly executed, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the

 

5


Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (iii) except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal and state securities laws ((i), (ii) and (iii) are referred to herein collectively as the “ Enforceability Exceptions ”). The Original Notes will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum). At the Closing Date, the Original Notes are in the form contemplated by the Indenture.

 

(j) The Guarantees of the Original Notes have been duly and validly authorized by each of the Guarantors for issuance to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement and, when executed by the respective Guarantors in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and when delivered to the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, and when the Original Notes have been issued and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each of the Guarantors, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, except that the enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions. The Guarantees of the Original Notes will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum).

 

(k) The Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Company and, when issued and executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer and the Indenture, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions. Upon exchange of the Original Notes in accordance with their terms and the Indenture the Exchange Notes will be issued free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws, have not been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that does or will entitle any person to acquire any Relevant Security from the Company or any Subsidiary upon issuance or sale of the Original Notes or the Exchange Notes. The Exchange Notes conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum).

 

(l) The Guarantees of the Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized by each of the Guarantors and, when executed by the respective Guarantors and when delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and when the Exchange Notes have been issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer and the Indenture, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each of the Guarantors, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, except that the enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

6


The Guarantees of the Exchange Notes conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum)

 

(m) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the Issuers and meets the requirements for qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to an indenture so qualified, and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company and each Guarantor (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Issuers, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions. The Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum).

 

(n) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by the Issuers and when duly executed and delivered by the Issuers (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Initial Purchasers), will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Issuers, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms except that the enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions. The Registration Rights Agreement conforms in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum).

 

(o) Each of the Security Documents has been duly and validly authorized by the Issuers. When each of the Security Documents have been duly executed and delivered, each of the Security Documents will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Issuers, enforceable against the each of them in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions. The Security Documents conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum).

 

(p) When each of the Security Documents has been duly executed and delivered, the Security Documents will be effective to grant and create, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of each present and future holder of the Securities, a valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and proceeds and products thereof; and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices as specified in the Security Agreement and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of any such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control, the security interest created by the Security Agreement, together with the Collateral Agency Agreement, shall constitute a fully perfected security interest on, and security interest in all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in such Collateral (other than such Collateral in which a security interest cannot be perfected under the UCC (as defined below) as in effect at the relevant time in the relevant jurisdiction), in each case subject to no Liens (as defined in the Indenture) other than Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture) (and subject as to priority, to no Liens other than Permitted Prior Liens (as defined in the Indenture)).

 

7


(q) At the Closing Date, the representations and warranties contained in the Security Documents will be true and correct in all material respects as if made as of the Closing Date.

 

(r) Each of the Issuers is a “registered organization” (as defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) as in effect in the state of New York and the states in which each of the Issuers is organized) under the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, and at the Closing Date the Issuers will have made provision for the prompt perfection of all security interests granted under the Security Agreement in Collateral consisting of personal property or fixtures to the extent such security interests may be perfected by filing pursuant to the filing of financing statements in connection with the execution of the Security Agreement.

 

(s) As of the Closing Date each of the Issuers will own or otherwise have the rights it purports to have in the Collateral securing the Notes free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture)), and no financing statements in respect of Collateral securing the Securities will be on file in favor of any person other than those in respect of Permitted Liens and those for which duly authorized termination statements are delivered to the Collateral Agent or the First Lien Collateral Agent at the Closing Date.

 

(t) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by each Issuer.

 

(u) None of the Issuers is (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or other organizational documents, (ii) in default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both or otherwise, would constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon, any of its property or assets pursuant to, any bond, debenture, note, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject, or (iii) in violation in any material respect of any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body (including, without limitation, environmental laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, judgments or court decrees), foreign or domestic, except (in the case clauses (ii) and (iii) above) violations or defaults that could not (individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except (in the case of clause (ii) alone) for any Lien disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum).

 

(v) None of (i) the execution, delivery, and performance by the Company and each Guarantor of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Offering Documents or the Security Documents to which each of them, respectively, is a party, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Original Notes, the issuance of the Exchange Notes, and the issuance of the Guarantees, or (iii) the consummation by the Company of the transactions described in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” (A) violates or will violate, conflicts with or will conflict with, requires or will require consent under, or results or will result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitutes or

 

8


will constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, or results or will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien other than a Permitted Lien (as defined in the Indenture) upon any properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or an acceleration of any indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to (1) any provision of the certificate of incorporation or other organizational document of the Company or the Subsidiary, (2) any bond, debenture, note, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement, instrument, franchise, license or permit to which any Issuer is a party or by which the Company or the Subsidiary or their respective properties, operations or assets is or may be bound, (3) or any statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to any Issuer or any of their properties or assets, or (4) any directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, except (in the case of clauses (2), (3) and (4) above) as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w) Each of the Issuers has all necessary consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, qualifications, licenses, filings and permits of, with and from all judicial, regulatory and other legal or governmental agencies, bodies or administrative agencies, and all third parties, foreign and domestic (collectively, the “ Consents ”), to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as it is now being conducted and as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), and each such Consent is valid and in full force and effect, and none of the Issuers has received notice of any investigation or proceedings which results in or, if decided adversely to any Issuer, could reasonably be expected to result in, the revocation of, or imposition of a materially burdensome restriction on, any Consent. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, directives, judgments, decrees and orders, foreign and domestic, except where failure to be in compliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Consent contains a materially burdensome restriction not adequately disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum).

 

(x) No Consent of, with or from a judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body or any third party, foreign or domestic, other than with respect to state or foreign securities or blue sky laws or the by-laws and rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. is required for (i) the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Company and the Guarantors of this Agreement or consummation of the Offering, the Exchange Offer and the other transactions contemplated by the Offering Documents to which each of them, respectively, is a party or (ii) the issuance, sale and delivery of the Original Notes (and the issuance of the Exchange Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer), and the issuance of the Guarantees, except such Consents as have been or will be obtained and made on or prior to the Closing Date (or, in the case of the Registration Rights Agreement, will be obtained and made under the Act, the Trust Indenture Act, and state securities or blue sky laws and regulations), that the Commission must declare the Registration Statement effective pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and except to the extent that the failure to obtain such Consent could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9


(y) Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), there is (i) no judicial, regulatory, arbitral or other legal or governmental proceeding or other litigation or arbitration before or by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or official, domestic or foreign, pending to which any of the Issuers are or may be a party or of which the business, property, operations or assets of the Company or the Subsidiary is or may be subject, (ii) no statute, rule, regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or that has been proposed by any governmental body, and (iii) no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a federal or state court or foreign court of competent jurisdiction to which any of the Issuers are or may be subject or to which the business, property, operations or assets of the Company or the Subsidiary is or may be subject, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceeding, litigation or arbitration is threatened or contemplated; and the defense of all such proceedings, litigation and arbitration against or involving any of the Issuers could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(z) There exists as of the date hereof (after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by each of the Offering Documents) no event or condition that would constitute a default or an event of default (in each case as defined in each of the Offering Documents) under any of the Offering Documents that would result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the ability of the Company to consummate the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by the Offering Documents, including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer.

 

(aa) No action has been taken that prevents the issuance of the Notes or the Guarantees or prevents or suspends the use of the Offering Memorandum; to the Company’s knowledge, no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction has been issued that prevents the issuance of the Notes or the Guarantees or prevents or suspends the sale of the Original Notes or the Guarantees in any jurisdiction referred to in Section 2(e) hereof; and every request of any securities authority or agency of any jurisdiction for additional information has been complied with in all material respects.

 

(bb) There is (i) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against the Issuers nor, to the knowledge of the Issuers, threatened against any of them, before the National Labor Relations Board, any state or local labor relations board or any foreign labor relations board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against the Issuers or, to the knowledge of the Issuers, threatened against any of them, (ii) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown, or stoppage pending against the Issuers nor, to the knowledge of the Issuers, threatened against any of them, (iii) no labor disturbance by the employees of the Issuers or, to the knowledge of the Issuers, no such disturbance is imminent and none of the Issuers is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbances by the employees of any of their respective, principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors that, in any such case (individually or in the aggregate), could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) no union representation question existing (to the knowledge of the Issuers) with respect to the employees of the Issuers. To the knowledge of the Issuers, no collective bargaining organizing activities are taking place with respect to the Issuers. None of the Issuers has violated (i) any

 

10


federal, state or local law or foreign law relating to discrimination in hiring, promotion or pay of employees, (ii) any applicable wage or hour laws, or (iii) any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the rules, regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ ERISA ”), except those violations that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(cc) No “prohibited transaction” (as defined in either Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “ Code ”)), “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA) or other event of the kind described in Section 4043(b) of ERISA (other than events with respect to which the 30-day notice requirement under Section 4043 of ERISA has been waived) has occurred with respect to any employee benefit plan for which the Issuers have any liability that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each employee benefit plan for which the Issuers have any liability is in material compliance with applicable law, including (without limitation) ERISA and the Code; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of, or withdrawal from any “pension plan,” except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and each employee benefit plan for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could cause the loss of such qualification. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the other Offering Documents and the sale of the Securities to be purchased by Eligible Purchasers will not involve any prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The representation made by the Company and the Guarantors in the preceding sentence is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of, and compliance with, the representations and covenants made or deemed made by Eligible Purchasers as set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Notice to Investors.”

 

(dd) There has been no storage, generation, transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission or other release of any kind of toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances by, due to, or caused by the Company or the Subsidiary (or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company is or may be liable) upon any other property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or the Subsidiary, or upon any other property, which would be a violation of or give rise to any liability under any applicable law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“ Environmental Law ”), except for violations and liabilities which, in the aggregate, could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no disposal discharge, emission or other release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances with respect to which the Company or the Subsidiary has knowledge. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary has agreed to assume, undertake or provide indemnification for any liability of any other person under any Environmental Law, including any obligation for cleanup or remedial action, except for violations and liabilities which, in the aggregate, could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no pending or, to best knowledge of the Company and the Subsidiary, threatened administrative,

 

11


regulatory or judicial action, claim or notice of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or the Subsidiary except for actions, claims or notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings which, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ee) There is no alleged liability, or to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, potential liability (including, without limitation, alleged or potential liability or investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs, natural resource damages, property damages, personal injuries or penalties) of the Company or the Subsidiary arising out of, based on or resulting from (i) the presence or release into the environment of any Hazardous Material (as defined) at any location, whether or not owned by the Company or the Subsidiary, as the case may be, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, other than as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) except for any liabilities which, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The term “ Hazardous Material ” means (i) any “hazardous substance” as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (ii) any “hazardous waste” as defined by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (iii) any petroleum or petroleum product, (iv) any polychlorinated biphenyl, and (v) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under or within the meaning of any other law relating to protection of human health or the environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any such chemical material, waste or substance.

 

(ff) The Company and the Subsidiary have such permits, licenses, franchises and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“ permits ”), including, without limitation, under any applicable Environmental Laws, as are necessary to own, lease and operate its respective properties and to conduct its businesses, except where the failure to have such permits could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and the Company the Subsidiary have fulfilled and performed all of their obligations with respect to such permits and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such permit.

 

(gg) The Company and the Subsidiary own or lease all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its business as presently operated as described in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum). The Company and the Subsidiary have (i) good and marketable title to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens and except such as are described in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) or such as do not (individually or in the aggregate) materially affect the value of such property or interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries) and (ii) peaceful and undisturbed possession of any real property and buildings held under lease or sublease by the Company and the Subsidiaries and such leased or subleased real property and buildings are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases and no default exists thereunder, with such exceptions as are not material to,

 

12


and do not interfere with, the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and the Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary has received any notice of any claim adverse to its ownership of any real or personal property or of any claim against the continued possession of any real property, whether owned or held under lease or sublease by the Company or any Subsidiary, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(hh) The Company and the Subsidiary (i) own, possess or could obtain on commercially reasonable terms adequate right to use all patents, patent applications, patent rights, licenses, formulae, customer lists, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, software, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, computer programs, technical data and information, and know-how and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures, the “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary for the conduct of the business as presently being conducted and as described in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum) and (ii) have not received any notice of any claim that the conduct of the business conflicts with any such right of others, except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum and except as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii) Each of the Company and the Subsidiary has accurately prepared and timely filed all tax returns required to be filed by it and has paid or made provision for the payment of all taxes, assessments, governmental or other similar charges shown there to be due, including without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes that the Company or any Subsidiary is obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, with respect to the periods covered by such tax returns (whether or not such amounts are shown as due on any tax return), except where the failure to file or pay would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No deficiency assessment with respect to a proposed adjustment of the Company’s or the Subsidiary’s federal, state, local or foreign taxes is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, threatened, except for such deficiencies that would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no material proposed additional tax assessments against the Company or the Subsidiary, or the assets or property of the Company or the Subsidiary. The accruals and reserves on the books and records of the Company and the Subsidiary in respect of tax liabilities reasonably expected for any taxable period not finally determined are reasonably adequate to meet any assessments and related liabilities for any such period and, since December 31, 2004, the Company and the Subsidiary have not incurred any liability for taxes other than in the ordinary course of its business. There is no material tax Lien, whether imposed by any federal, state, foreign or other taxing authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company or the Subsidiary.

 

(jj) The Company and the Subsidiary maintain a system of internal accounting and other controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity in all material

 

13


respects with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accounting for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any material differences.

 

(kk) The Company and the Subsidiary maintain insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as the Company reasonably considers adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as the Company believes to be reasonable for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries, all of which insurance is in full force and effect, except where the failure to maintain such insurance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no material claims by the Company or the Subsidiary under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause. Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the Company reasonably believes that it will be able to renew its existing insurance as and when such coverage expires or will be able to obtain replacement insurance adequate for the conduct of the business and the value of its properties at a cost that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum), there are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company. Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum) the Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through the Subsidiary, extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of the Company.

 

(ll) The Company and the Subsidiary are not now and, after sale of the Original Notes, as contemplated hereunder and application of the net proceeds of such sale as described in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum) under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” will not be, an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

 

(mm) Except as described in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), no holder of any Relevant Security has any rights to require registration of any Relevant Security by reason of the execution by the Company or any of the Guarantors of this Agreement or any other Offering Document to which it is a party or the consummation by the Company or any of the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, or as part or on account of, or otherwise in connection with the Offering and any of the other transactions contemplated by the Offering Documents, and any such rights so disclosed have been effectively waived by the holders thereof, and any such waivers remain in full force and effect.

 

(nn) None of the Issuers, or, to the Issuers’ knowledge, any affiliate (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Act) has (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the

 

14


price of any security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes or (ii) since the date of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum (A) sold, bid for, purchased or paid any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Notes or (B) paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(oo) None of the Issuers or any of their respective affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Act) or representatives directly, or through any agent, (i) sold, offered for sale or solicited offers to buy any “security” (as defined in the Act) which is or could be integrated with the sale of the Notes in a manner that would require the registration under the Act of the Notes or (ii) engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities or in connection with Exempt Resales of the Securities, or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act. Assuming the accuracy of the Initial Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3 hereof, neither (i) the offer and sale of the Original Notes and the Guarantees to the Initial Purchasers in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum nor (ii) the Exempt Resales requires registration under the Act and prior to the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, the Indenture does not require qualification under the Trust Indenture Act. No securities of the same class as the Notes have been issued and sold by the Company or any Subsidiary within the six-month period immediately prior to the date hereof.

 

(pp) The financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the supporting schedules included in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) present fairly in all material respects the financial position as of the dates indicated and the cash flows and results of operations for the periods specified of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for which financial statements are included in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum); except as otherwise stated in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) present fairly the information therein in all material respects. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) if the Offering Memorandum were included in a registration statement filed pursuant to the Act. The other financial and statistical information included in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) derived from the historical and pro forma financial statements, presents fairly the information included therein in all material respects and has been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements, historical and pro forma that are included in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) and the books and records of the respective entities presented therein and, to the extent such information is a range, projection or estimate, is based on the good faith belief and estimates of the management of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

 

15


(qq) To the Company’s knowledge, Deloitte & Touche LLP who have certified or will certify the financial statements and supporting schedules and information of the Company and its subsidiaries that are included or to be included as part of the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), is an independent public accounting firm as required by the Act and the Exchange Act.

 

(rr) The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum) are based on or derived from sources which the Company and the Guarantors reasonably and in good faith believe to be reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived in all material respects.

 

(ss) Each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, as of its date, and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of its date, contains the information specified in, and meets the requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act.

 

(tt) None of the Issuers nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Issuers make no representation) has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S with respect to the Original Notes.

 

(uu) Assuming the accuracy of the representations of the Initial Purchases, the sale of the Original Notes pursuant to Regulation S is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration provisions of the Act.

 

(vv) Except pursuant to this Agreement, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between or among the Company and the Subsidiary, and any other person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or the Subsidiary for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the issuance, purchase and sale of the Notes and the Guarantees.

 

(ww) Except as described in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), neither the Company nor the Subsidiary is in default under any of the Offering Documents or any of the contracts described in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Offering Memorandum), has received a notice or claim of any such default or has knowledge of any breach of such contracts by the other party or parties thereto, except such defaults or breaches as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xx) None of the Issuers nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its employees or agents has at any time during the last five years (i) made any unlawful contribution to any candidate for foreign office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law, or (ii) made any payment to any federal or state governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States of any jurisdiction thereof.

 

16


(yy) The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (i) the Closing Date and (ii) completion of the distribution of the Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(zz) The Issuers and their respective affiliates and all persons acting on their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Issuers make no representation) have complied with and will comply with the offering restrictions requirements of Regulation S in connection with the offering of the Original Notes outside the United States and, in connection therewith, the Offering Memorandum will contain the disclosure required by Rule 902(g)(2).

 

(aaa) The Original Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S will be represented upon issuance by a temporary global security that may not be exchanged for definitive securities until the expiration of the 40-day distribution compliance period referred to in Rule 903(c)(3) of the Act and only upon certification of beneficial ownership of such Original Notes by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such Original Notes in transactions that were exempt from the registration requirements of the Act.

 

Each certificate signed by or on behalf of the Issuers and delivered to the Initial Purchasers or counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Issuers to the Initial Purchasers as to the matters covered thereby.

 

Each of the Issuers acknowledge that the Initial Purchasers and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 10 hereof, counsel for the Issuers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers, will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the foregoing representations and hereby consent to such reliance.

 

3. Representations and Warranties . Each of the Initial Purchasers, severally and not jointly, represents, warrants and covenants to the Issuers and agrees that:

 

(a) Such Initial Purchaser is a QIB, with such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as are necessary in order to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Original Notes.

 

(b) Such Initial Purchaser (i) is not acquiring the Original Notes with a view to any distribution thereof that would violate the Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction and (ii) will be reoffering and reselling the Original Notes only to QIBs in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Act provided by Rule 144A and in offshore transactions in reliance upon Regulation S under the Act.

 

(c) No form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Act) has been or will be used by such Initial Purchaser or any of its representatives in connection with the offer and sale of any of the Original Notes, including, but not limited to, articles, notices or other communications published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising.

 

17


(d) Such Initial Purchaser agrees that, in connection with the Exempt Resales, it will solicit offers to buy the Original Notes only from, and will offer to sell the Original Notes only to, Eligible Purchasers. Such Initial Purchaser further (i) agrees that it will offer to sell the Original Notes only to, and will solicit offers to buy the Original Notes only from (a) Eligible Purchasers that the Initial Purchaser reasonably believes are QIBs and (b) Reg S Investors, (ii) acknowledges and agrees that, in the case of such QIBs and such Reg S Investors, that such Original Notes will not have been registered under the Act and may be resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A)(1) to a person whom the seller reasonably believes is a QIB purchasing for its own account or for the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (2) in an offshore transaction (as defined in Rule 902 under the Act) meeting the requirements of Rule 904 under the Act, (3) in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144 under the Act and, if such transfer is in respect of an aggregate principal amount of Original Notes less than $250,000, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Issuers that such transfer is in compliance with the Act or (4) in accordance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Act (and based upon an opinion of counsel, if the Issuers so request), (B) to the Company or any Subsidiary, (C) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act and, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction and (iii) acknowledges that it will, and each subsequent holder is required to, notify any purchaser of the security evidenced thereby of the resale restrictions set forth in (ii) above.

 

(e) Such Initial Purchaser and its affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf have not engaged or will not engage in any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S with respect to the Original Notes or the Guarantees thereof.

 

(f) The Original Notes offered and sold by such Initial Purchaser pursuant hereto in reliance on Regulation S have been and will be offered and sold only in offshore transactions.

 

(g) The sale of Original Notes offered and sold by such Initial Purchaser pursuant hereto in reliance on Regulation S is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration provisions of the Act.

 

(h) Each Initial Purchaser agrees that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell the Original Notes in the United States or to, or for the benefit or account of, a U.S. Person (other than a distributor), in each case, as defined in Rule 902 under the Act (i) as part of its distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Original Notes pursuant hereto and the Closing Date, other than in accordance with Regulation S of the Act or another exemption from the registration requirements of the Act. Such Initial Purchaser agrees that, during such 40-day distribution compliance period, it will not cause any advertisement with respect to the Original Notes (including any “tombstone” advertisement) to be published in any newspaper or periodical or posted in any public place and will not issue any circular relating to the Original Notes, except such advertisements as permitted by and include the statements required by Regulation S.

 

(i) Each Initial Purchaser agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of a sale of Original Notes by it to any distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or

 

18


other remuneration during the 40-day distribution compliance period referred to in Rule 903(c)(3) under the Act, it will send to such distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect:

 

“The Original Notes covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of your distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the Offering and the Closing Date, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (or Rule 144A or to Accredited Institutions in transactions that are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act), and in connection with any subsequent sale by you of the Original Notes covered hereby in reliance on Regulation S during the period referred to above to any distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration, you must deliver a notice to substantially the foregoing effect. Terms used above have the meanings assigned to them in Regulation S.”

 

(j) Each Initial Purchaser agrees that the Original Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S will be represented upon issuance by a global security that may not be exchanged for definitive securities until the expiration of the 40-day distribution compliance period referred to in Rule 903(c)(3) of the Act and only upon certification of beneficial ownership of such Original Notes by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such Original Notes in transactions that were exempt from the registration requirements of the Act.

 

The Initial Purchasers acknowledge that the Issuers and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 8 hereof, counsel for the Issuers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

 

4. Purchase, Sale and Delivery .

 

(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers, and each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, the principal amounts of Original Notes set forth opposite the name of such Initial Purchaser on Exhibit B . The purchase price for the Original Notes will be $972.50 per $1,000 principal amount Original Note.

 

(b) On the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to the Initial Purchasers, in such denomination or denominations and registered in such name or names as the Initial Purchasers request upon notice to the Company at least 48 hours prior to the Closing Date, (i) one or more Original Notes in definitive global form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), having an aggregate amount corresponding to the aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes sold pursuant to Exempt Resales to QIBs (the “Global Note”) and (ii) if any Exempt Resales are made in reliance on Regulation S, one or more Original Notes in definitive form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, having an aggregate amount corresponding to the aggregate amount of

 

19


the Original Notes, if any, sold pursuant to Exempt Resales in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S (the “Temporary Regulation S Global Note”), against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same-day funds to the account of the Company, previously designated by it in writing. Such delivery of and payment for the Original Notes shall be made at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022 or such other location as may be mutually acceptable. Such delivery and payment shall be made at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on November 15, 2005 or at such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Initial Purchasers and the Company. The time and date of such delivery and payment are herein called the “Closing Date.” The Global Note and the Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall be made available to the Initial Purchasers for inspection not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date.

 

5. Offering by Initial Purchasers . The Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Securities at the price and upon the terms set forth in the Offering Memorandum as soon as practicable after this Agreement is entered into and as, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, is advisable.

 

6. Agreements of the Issuers . Each of the Issuers covenants and agrees with the Initial Purchasers that:

 

(a) The Issuers shall advise the Initial Purchasers as promptly as reasonably practicable, and, if requested by the Initial Purchasers, confirm such advice in writing, (i) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any stop order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of any Notes or the related Guarantees for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose by any state securities commission or other regulatory authority and (ii) for a period of 60 days after the Closing Date of the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum untrue or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum in order to make the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to an Eligible Purchaser. The Issuers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or order suspending the qualification or exemption of any Notes or the related Guarantees under any state securities or Blue Sky laws and, if at any time any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption of any Notes or the related Guarantees under any state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Issuers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time.

 

(b) The Issuers shall, without charge, provide to the Initial Purchasers and to counsel to the Initial Purchasers, and to those persons identified by the Initial Purchasers to the Company as many copies of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, and any amendments or supplements thereto, as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request. The Issuers consent to the use of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, and any amendments and supplements thereto required pursuant hereto, by the Initial Purchasers in connection with Exempt Resales.

 

20


(c) None of the Issuers will amend or supplement the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto during such period as in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum is required by law to be delivered in connection with Exempt Resales and in connection with market-making activities of the Initial Purchasers for so long as any Original Notes are outstanding unless the Initial Purchasers shall previously have been advised thereof and furnished a copy for a reasonable period of time prior to the proposed amendment or supplement and as to which the Initial Purchasers shall not have given their consent which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Issuers shall as promptly, as practicable upon the reasonable request of the Initial Purchasers or counsel to the Initial Purchasers, make any amendment or supplement to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum that may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with such Exempt Resales or such market making activities.

 

(d) If, during the period referred to in 6(c) above, any event shall occur as a result of which, it is necessary or advisable, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to amend or supplement the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum in order to make such Preliminary Offering Memorandum or Offering Memorandum not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to an Eligible Purchaser, or if in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers it shall be is necessary or advisable to amend or supplement the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum to comply with applicable laws, rules or regulations, the Issuers shall (subject to Section 6(c)) promptly, as reasonably practicable, amend or supplement such Preliminary Offering Memorandum or Offering Memorandum so that, as so amended or supplemented, such Preliminary Offering Memorandum or Offering Memorandum will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading or so that such Preliminary Offering Memorandum or Offering Memorandum will comply with all applicable laws, rules or regulations.

 

(e) The Issuers shall cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers in connection with the qualification or registration of the Original Notes and the Guarantees thereof for offering and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may designate and shall continue such qualifications in effect for as long as may be necessary to complete the Exempt Resales; provided, however , that in connection therewith none of the Issuers shall be required to qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to execute a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or to take any other action that would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise subject, in each case, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Offering Memorandum or Exempt Resales.

 

(f) If this Agreement shall terminate or shall be terminated after execution because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Issuers to comply with the terms or fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Initial Purchasers for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel for the Initial Purchasers) incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection herewith.

 

21


(g) The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Original Notes in the manner set forth under “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(h) The Issuers shall not voluntarily claim, and shall actively resist any attempts to claim, the benefit of any usury laws against the holders of any Notes.

 

(i) The Issuers shall do and perform all things required or necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement prior to or after the Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Original Notes and the Guarantees thereof.

 

(j) None of the Issuers or any of their respective “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Act) will sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any “security” (as defined in the Act) that could be integrated with the sale of the Original Notes in a manner that would require the registration under the Act of the sale to the Initial Purchasers or the Eligible Purchasers of the Original Notes or to take any other action that would result in the Exempt Resales not being exempt from registration under the Act.

 

(k) For so long as any of the Notes remain outstanding and are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Act and not able to be sold in their entirety under Rule 144 under the Act (or any successor provision), for the benefit of holders from time to time of Original Notes, the Company will furnish at its expense, upon request, to any holder or beneficial owner of Original Notes and prospective purchasers of the Original Notes, information specified in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act, unless the Issuers are then subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(l) The Issuers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be made in order to permit registered Exchange Notes and the Guarantees thereof to be offered in exchange for the Original Notes and the Guarantees thereof and to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws in connection with the Exchange Offer.

 

(m) The Issuers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all of the agreements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and all of the agreements set forth in the representation letters to DTC relating to the approval of the Notes by DTC for “book-entry” transfer.

 

(n) The Issuers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) permit the Notes to be included for quotation on the PORTAL sm market and (ii) permit the Notes to be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC.

 

(o) To the extent not publicly available through electronic means, during a period of three years following the Closing Date, to deliver without charge to the Initial Purchasers, as they may reasonably request, copies of (i) all reports or other publicly available information that the Company and the Guarantors mail or otherwise make available to their securityholders and (ii) all reports, financial statements and proxy or information statements filed by the Company with the Commission or any national securities exchange and such other publicly available information concerning the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including without limitation, press releases.

 

22


(p) Prior to the Closing Date, to furnish to the Initial Purchasers, as soon as they have been prepared in the ordinary course by the Company, copies of any unaudited interim financial statements for any period subsequent to the periods covered by the financial statements appearing in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(q) The Issuers shall not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or any Guarantor to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes, or take any action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act, in connection with the distribution of the Securities and the Exchange Securities contemplated hereby. Except as permitted by the Act, none of the Issuers will distribute any (i) preliminary offering memorandum, including, without limitation, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, (ii) offering memorandum, including, without limitation, the Offering Memorandum, or (iii) other offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

 

(r) For so long as the Notes constitute “restricted” securities within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Act, the Issuers shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell the Notes by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act.

 

(s) During the period from the Closing Date until two years after the Closing Date, without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchasers, the Issuers shall not, and shall not permit any of their respective “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Act) to, resell any of the Securities or the Exchange Securities that constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144 that have been reacquired by any of them.

 

(t) The Issuers acknowledge and agree that (A) the terms of this Agreement and the Offering (including the terms of the Securities) were negotiated at arm’s length between sophisticated parties represented by counsel; (B) no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and/or the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers has been created as a result of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the process leading to such transactions, irrespective of whether any Initial Purchaser has advised or is advising the Issuers on other matters, (C) the Initial Purchasers’ obligations to the Issuers in respect of the Offering are set forth in this Agreement in their entirety; and (D) they have obtained such legal, tax, accounting and other advice as they deem appropriate with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and any other activities undertaken in connection therewith, and they are not relying on the Initial Purchasers with respect to any such matters.

 

7. Expenses . Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement becomes effective or is terminated (pursuant to Section 14 or otherwise, the Issuers agree to pay all the following costs and expenses and all other costs, expenses, fees and taxes incident to the performance by the Issuers of their obligations hereunder: (i) the negotiation, preparation, printing, typing, filing, reproduction, execution and delivery of this Agreement and of the other Offering Documents and the Security Documents, any amendment or supplement to or modification of any of the foregoing and any and all other documents furnished pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith and with

 

23


the Exempt Resales; (ii) the preparation, printing or reproduction of each Preliminary Offering Memorandum , the Offering Memorandum (including, without limitation, financial statements) and all amendments and supplements to any of them; (iii) the issuance, transfer and delivery of the Original Notes and the Guarantees endorsed thereon to the Initial Purchasers; (iv) the registration or qualification of the Notes and the related Guarantees for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states (including, without limitation, filing fees, the cost of printing and mailing a preliminary and final Blue Sky Memorandum, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Initial Purchasers relating to such registration or qualification), (v) the delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of each Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Offering Memorandum and all amendments or supplements to any of them as may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes and the Exempt Resales; (vi) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Notes, including any stamp taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Notes and Trustee’s fees; (vii) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Issuers’ counsel (including local and special counsel, if any) and accountants, (viii) the reproduction and delivery of this Agreement and the other Offering Documents, the preliminary and supplemental “Blue Sky” memoranda and all other agreements of documents reproduced and delivered in connection with the offering of the Notes; (ix) all fees and expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel) of the Issuers in connection with the approval of the Notes by DTC for “book-entry” transfer; (x) any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Notes; (xi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its counsel; (xii) all expenses incurred in connection with the performance by the Issuers of their other obligations under this Agreement and the other Offering Documents; (xiii) the transportation and other “roadshow” expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company representatives in connection with presentations to and related communications with prospective purchasers of the Notes; and (xiv) all expenses and listing fees incurred in connection with the application for quotation of the Notes on the PORTAL sm Market.

 

8. Indemnification .

 

(a) The Issuers, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Initial Purchasers, (ii) each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of each Initial Purchaser or any controlling person, from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and any and all expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any investigation or litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, a material fact or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading; provided, however, that none of the Issuers will be liable in any such

 

24


case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to any Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company and the Guarantors by or on behalf of such Initial Purchaser expressly for use therein; provided, further that with respect to any such untrue statement in or omission from the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Initial Purchaser to the extent that, a court of competent jurisdiction finds, in a final, non-appealable judgment binding upon the parties hereto, that the sale to the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability was an initial resale by such Initial Purchaser and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of or with respect to such Initial Purchaser results from the fact that both (i) a copy of the Offering Memorandum was not sent or given to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person and (ii) the untrue statement in or omission from such Preliminary Offering Memorandum was corrected in the Offering Memorandum unless, in either case, such failure to deliver the Offering Memorandum was a result of non-compliance by the Company with the provisions of Section 6(a) hereof. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers consists solely of the material identified in Section 11 hereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Issuers may otherwise have, including under this Agreement.

 

(b) Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Issuers, (ii) each person, if any, who controls the Company or any of the Guarantors within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, and (iii) the officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of the Issuers, from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and any and all expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any investigation or litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Initial Purchasers furnished to the Issuers by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers expressly for use therein; provided, however, that each Initial Purchaser indemnifies the Issuers only with respect to the information such Initial Purchaser provides to the Company. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers consists solely of the material identified in Section 11 hereof. This indemnity will be in addition to any liability that the Initial Purchasers may otherwise have, including under this Agreement.

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in

 

25


respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify each party against whom indemnification is to be sought in writing of the commencement thereof (but the failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 8). In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate, at its own expense in the defense of such action, and to the extent it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the written consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by one of the indemnifying parties in connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to take charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, (iii) the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, or (iv) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them that are different from or additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in which case the indemnifying party or parties shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses of counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of legal counsel (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened claim, investigation, action or proceeding in respect of which indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought by an indemnified party under this Section 8 or Section 9 hereof (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party thereto), unless (x) such settlement, compromise or judgment (1) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, investigation, action or proceeding and (2) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or any failure to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party, and (y) the indemnifying party confirms in writing its indemnification obligations hereunder with respect to such settlement, compromise of judgment.

 

9. Contribution . In order to provide for contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable from an indemnifying party or is insufficient to hold harmless a party indemnified thereunder, the Issuers, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnification provision (including any investigation, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claims asserted, but after deducting in the case of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses suffered by any of the Issuers, any contribution received by the Company and the

 

26


Guarantors from persons, other than the Initial Purchasers, who may also be liable for contribution, including persons who control the Company or any of the Guarantors within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) to which the Issuers and the Initial Purchasers may be subject, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuers, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, from the offering of the Original Notes or, if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law or indemnification is not available as a result of the indemnifying party’s not having received notice as provided in Section 8, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to above but also the relative fault of the Issuers, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuers, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (i) the total proceeds from the offering of the Original Notes (net of discounts but before deducting expenses) received by the Issuers bear to (ii) the discounts and commissions received by the Initial Purchasers, respectively. The relative fault of the Issuers, on the one hand, and of the Initial Purchasers, 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 Issuers or the Initial Purchasers and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to above. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 9 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, (i) in no case shall the Initial Purchasers be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the discounts and commissions applicable to the Original Notes purchased by such Initial Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement exceeds the amount of damages that such Initial Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and (ii) 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. For purposes of this Section 9, (A) each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and (B) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of the Initial Purchasers or any controlling person shall have the same rights to contribution as any Initial Purchaser, and (1) each person, if any, who controls any of the Issuers within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and (2) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of the Issuers shall have the same rights to contribution as the Issuers, subject in each case to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 9. Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a

 

27


claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties under this Section 9, notify such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the failure to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may have under this Section 9 or otherwise. No party shall be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its prior written consent, provided that such written consent was not unreasonably withheld.

 

The Initial Purchasers’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Original Notes purchased by each of the Initial Purchasers hereunder and not joint.

 

10. Conditions of Initial Purchasers’ Obligations . The obligations of the Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Original Notes, as provided herein, are subject to the absence from any certificates, opinions, written statements or letters furnished to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to this Section 10 of any misstatement of any fact or omissions of any fact that, in the opinion of counsel is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions unless waived in writing by the Initial Purchasers:

 

(a) All of the representations and warranties of the Issuers contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the date hereof and the Closing Date, respectively. The Issuers shall have performed or complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all conditions on their respective parts to be performed, complied with or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b) The Offering Memorandum shall have been printed and copies distributed to the Initial Purchasers not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day following the date of this Agreement or at such later date and time as to which the Initial Purchasers may agree, and no stop order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Original Notes or the Guarantees thereof in any jurisdiction referred to in Section 2(e) shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been commenced or shall be pending or threatened.

 

(c) None of the issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by any of the other Offering Documents shall be enjoined (temporarily or permanently) and no restraining order or other injunctive order shall have been issued; and there shall not have been any legal action, statute, order, rule, regulation, decree or other administrative proceeding enacted, instituted, adopted, issued or threatened against the Company, the Guarantors, or against the Initial Purchasers relating to the issuance of the Securities or the Initial Purchasers’ activities in connection therewith or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Offering Memorandum, or the other Offering Documents. No stop order shall have been issued preventing the use of the Offering Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

(d) Subsequent to the date of this Agreement and since the date of the most recent financial statements in the Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or

 

28


supplement thereto after the date hereof), (i) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, business, condition (financial or other), properties, prospects, results of operations, capital stock, or long-term debt, or a material increase in the short-term debt, of the Company or the Subsidiary, not contemplated by the Offering Memorandum that is, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Offering Documents, (ii) no dividend or distribution of any kind shall have been declared, paid or made by the Company or the Subsidiary on any class of its capital stock, (iii) none of the Company or the Subsidiary shall have incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that is required to be disclosed on a balance sheet or notes thereto in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and is not disclosed on the latest balance sheet or notes thereto included in the Offering Memorandum, and (iv) there shall not have occurred any event or development relating to or involving the Issuers, or any of their respective officers or directors that makes any statement made in the Offering Memorandum untrue or that, in the opinion of the Issuers and their counsel or the Initial Purchasers and their counsel, require the making of any addition to or change in the Offering Memorandum in order to state a material fact required by any applicable law, rule or regulation required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein not misleading.

 

(e) The Initial Purchasers shall have received certificates, dated the Closing Date, signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company and each Guarantor (in their respective capacities as such), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, confirming on behalf of the Company, as of the Closing Date, the matters set forth in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 10 and that, as of the Closing Date, the obligations of the Company and such Guarantor, as the case may be, to be performed hereunder on or prior thereto have been duly performed.

 

(f) The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Issuers, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

 

(g) At the time this Agreement is executed and at the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants for the Company and the Guarantors, dated as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, customary “comfort” letters addressed to the Initial Purchasers and in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of the Company and its Subsidiary contained in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(h) The Initial Purchasers shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, relating to this Agreement and such other related matters as the Initial Purchasers may require.

 

29


(i) Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to the Initial Purchasers, shall have been furnished with such documents, in addition to those set forth above, as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to review or pass upon the matters referred to in this Section 10 and in order to evidence the accuracy, completeness or satisfaction in all material respects of any of the representations, warranties or conditions herein contained.

 

(j) The Issuers shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Initial Purchasers such further information, certificates and documents as the Initial Purchasers may have reasonably requested.

 

(k) The Issuers and the Trustee shall have entered into the Indenture and the Initial Purchasers shall have received counterparts, conformed as executed, thereof and the Original Notes and the Guarantees thereof shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors, and the Original Notes shall have been duly authenticated by the Trustee.

 

(l) The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers shall have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement and the Initial Purchasers shall have received counterparts, conformed as executed, thereof, and such agreement shall be in full force and effect.

 

(m) On or after the date hereof, (i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, suspension or withdrawal of, nor shall there have been any announcement of any potential or intended downgrading, suspension or withdrawal of, or of any review (or of any potential or intended review) for a possible downgrading, or with negative implications, or direction not determined of, any rating of any of the Issuers or any securities of any of the Issuers (including, without limitation, the placing of any of the foregoing ratings on credit watch with negative or developing implications or under review with an uncertain direction) by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, (ii) there shall not have occurred any change, nor shall any notice have been given of any potential or intended change, in the outlook for any rating of any of the Issuers or any securities of any of the Issuers by any such rating organization, and (iii) no such rating organization shall have given notice that it has assigned (or is considering assigning) a lower rating to the Notes than that on which the Notes were marketed.

 

(n) The Issuers and the other parties thereto shall have entered into each of the Security Documents (with all mortgages and deeds of trust and any related assignments duly acknowledgeable in recordable form) and the Initial Purchasers shall have received counterparts, conformed as executed, thereof.

 

(o) The Issuers shall have concurrently entered into the Credit Facility.

 

(p) The Collateral Agent shall have received at the Closing Date (or with respect to clause (v) below, the Company shall have used its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver):

 

(i) appropriately completed copies, which have been duly authorized for filing by the appropriate Person, of UCC-1 financing statements naming each of the Issuers as a debtor and the Collateral Agent as the secured party, or other

 

30


similar instruments or documents to be filed under the UCC of all jurisdictions as may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent and its counsel, desirable to perfect the security interests of the Collateral Agent;

 

(ii) duly executed, delivered and completed copies of the Security Agreement;

 

(iii) appropriately completed copies, which have been duly authorized for filing by the appropriate Person, of Uniform Commercial Code Form UCC-3 termination statements delivered to the First Lien Collateral Agent, if any, necessary to release all Liens (other than Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture)) of any Person in any Collateral;

 

(iv) copies of all lien searches provided to Wachovia Bank, National Association, the agent and First Lien Collateral Agent for the Credit Facility, together with copies of all financing statements provided to the First Lien Collateral Agent that name the each of the Issuers (under its present or previous names) as debtor (none of which shall cover Collateral described in the Security Documents, except for Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture) and any Liens for which duly authorized UCC-3 termination statements are delivered to the First Lien Collateral Agent); and

 

(v) such other approvals, opinions, or documents with respect to the Collateral as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each of them.

 

(q) A certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifying, substantially to the effect, that certain information with respect to the Company, including, but not limited to “store contribution,” “store contribution margin” and the information included in the “Recent Developments” subheading, included in the Offering Memorandum, was compared with corresponding amounts included in or derived from the Company’s accounting records and such amounts were found to be in agreement.

 

(r) The Notes shall have been approved for trading on PORTAL sm .

 

(s) Each of the Offering Documents and each other agreement or instrument executed in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial Purchasers and shall have been executed and delivered by all the respective parties thereto and shall be in full force and effect.

 

(t) All proceedings taken in connection with the issuance of the Original Notes and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other Offering Documents and all documents and papers relating thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and counsel to the Initial Purchasers. The Initial Purchasers and counsel to the Initial Purchasers shall have received copies of such papers and documents as they may reasonably request in connection therewith, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to them.

 

31


(u) All opinions, certificates, letters, schedules, documents or instruments required by this Section 10 to be delivered by the Issuers will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial Purchasers and counsel to the Initial Purchasers. The Issuers shall furnish the Initial Purchasers such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters, schedules, documents and instruments in such quantities as the Initial Purchasers shall reasonably request.

 

11. Initial Purchasers’ Information . The Initial Purchasers, jointly and severally confirm and the Issuers acknowledge that the statements with respect to the offering of the Original Notes set forth in under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in the Offering Memorandum are correct and constitute the only information relating to any of the Initial Purchasers furnished to the Issuers by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers expressly for use in the Offering Memorandum, for purposes of Sections 2(a), 8(a) and 8(b) hereof.

 

12. Offering of Securities; Restrictions on Transfer . Each Initial Purchaser represents and warrants as to itself only that it is a QIB. Each Initial Purchaser agrees with each of the Issuers as to itself only that (i) it has not and will not solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act; and (ii) it has and will solicit offers for the Securities only from, and will offer the Securities only to, persons within the United States whom such Initial Purchaser reasonably believes to be QIBs or, if any such person is buying for one or more institutional accounts for which such person is acting as fiduciary or agent, only when such person has represented to such Initial Purchaser that each such account is a QIB, to whom notice has been given that such sale or delivery is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and, in each case, in transactions under Rule 144A.

 

13. Survival of Representations and Agreements . The respective representations, warranties, covenants, agreements indemnities and other statements of the Issuers, their respective officers and the Initial Purchasers set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Issuers, any of their respective officers of directors, the Initial Purchasers or any controlling person referred to in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Original Notes to and by the Initial Purchasers, and shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of, any successors, assigns, heirs, personal representatives of the Issuers, the Initial Purchasers and the indemnified parties referred to in Section 8 hereof. The respective representations, agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements set forth in Sections 7, 8, 9, 13 and 14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

 

14. Effective Date of Agreement; Termination .

 

(a) This Agreement shall become effective upon execution and delivery of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto.

 

(b) If on the Closing Date any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase the Original Notes which it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on

 

32


such date and the aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers, as the case may be, agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes to be purchased on such date by all Initial Purchasers, each non defaulting Initial Purchaser shall be obligated severally, in the proportion which the principal amount of the Original Notes set forth opposite its name in Exhibit B bears to the aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes which all the non defaulting Initial Purchasers, as the case may be, have agreed to purchase, or in such other proportion as Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. (“ Bear Stearns ”) may specify, to purchase the Original Notes which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers, as the case may be, agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes which any Initial Purchaser has agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 4 hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 14 by an amount in excess of one ninth of such principal amount of the Original Notes without the written consent of such Initial Purchaser. If on the Closing Date any Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase the Original Notes and the aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes with respect to which such default occurs is more than one tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes to be purchased by all Initial Purchasers and arrangements satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and the Company for purchase of such the Original Notes are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non defaulting Initial Purchaser and the Company. In any such case which does not result in termination of this Agreement, either Bear Stearns or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Offering Memorandum or any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of any default of any such Initial Purchaser under this Agreement.

 

(c) This Agreement may be terminated in the sole discretion of the Initial Purchasers by notice to the Company from the Initial Purchasers, without liability (other than with respect to Sections 8 and 9) on the Initial Purchasers’ part to any of the Issuers in the event that any of the Issuers have failed, refused or been unable to perform or satisfy all conditions on their respective parts to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or prior to the Closing Date, any other condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers hereunder as provided in Section 10 is not fulfilled when and as required, or if:

 

(i) in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers, any material adverse change shall have occurred since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandum (or, if the Offering Memorandum is not in existence, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum) in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties, assets, liabilities, prospects, net worth, results of operations or cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiary, taken as a whole, other than as set forth in the Offering Memorandum;

 

(ii) any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the opinion of the Initial Purchasers will in the immediate future materially disrupt, the market for the Issuer’s securities or for securities in general;

 

33


(iii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, shall have been suspended or made subject to material limitations, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, or by order of the Commission or other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction;

 

(iv) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by any federal or New York state authority, a moratorium in foreign exchange trading by major international banks or persons shall have been declared, or if any material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services shall have occurred; or

 

(v) (A) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism involving the United States on or after the date hereof, or there is a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, or (B) there shall have been any other calamity or crisis or any change in political, financial or economic conditions if the effect of any such event in (A) or (B), in the Initial Purchasers’ judgment, makes it inadvisable or impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and delivery of the Securities, on the terms and in the manner contemplated hereby and in the Offering Memorandum; or

 

(vi) any debt securities of any of the Issuers shall have been downgraded or placed on any “watch list” for possible downgrading by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act.

 

(d) Any notice of termination pursuant to this Section 14 shall be by telephone or facsimile and, in either case, confirmed in writing by letter.

 

(e) If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to any of the provisions hereof (other than Section 14(b)), or if the sale of the Original Notes provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth herein is not satisfied or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of any of the Issuers to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof, the Issuers shall, subject to demand by the Initial Purchasers, reimburse the Initial Purchasers for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Initial Purchasers’ counsel), incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection herewith.

 

15. Notices . All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if sent to the Initial Purchasers, shall be hand-delivered, mailed overnight, couriered or faxed to Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. c/o Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179, Attention: Lawrence B. Alletto, Debt Capital Markets, and with a copy to Latham & Watkins LLP, 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Marc D. Jaffe. If sent to the Issuers, shall be mailed, delivered, overnight couriered or faxed and confirmed in writing to Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., Attention: General Counsel (Fax: (201) 868-0727),

 

34


and with a copy to Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Citigroup Center, 153 East 53 rd Street, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Vincent J. Pisano (Fax: (212) 446-6460).

 

16. Successors . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the Initial Purchasers, the Issuers and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and nothing expressed or mentioned 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, or by virtue of, this Agreement or any provision herein contained; this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person except that (i) the indemnities of the Issuers contained in Section 8 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the controlling persons and agents referred to in Sections 8 and 9, and (ii) the indemnities of the Initial Purchasers contained in Section 8 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of the Issuers, and their respective officers, employees and agents and any controlling person or persons referred to in Sections 8 and 9. No purchaser of Original Notes from the Initial Purchasers will be deemed a successor, legal representative or assign because of such purchase.

 

17. No Waiver; Modifications in Writing . No failure or delay on the part of the Issuers or the Initial Purchasers in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to the Issuers or the Initial Purchasers at law or in equity or otherwise. No waiver of or consent to any departure by the Issuers or the Initial Purchasers from any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless signed in writing by the party entitled to the benefit thereof; provided that notice of any such waiver shall be given to each party hereto as set forth above. Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment, modification or termination of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless signed in writing by or on behalf of the Issuers and the Initial Purchasers. Any amendment, supplement or modification of or to any provision of this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and any consent to any departure by the Issuers or the Initial Purchasers from the terms of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which made or given. Except where notice is specifically required by this Agreement, no notice to or demand on any of the Issuers in any case shall entitle any of the Issuers to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

18. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements, oral or written, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

19. Applicable Law . THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IN THIS AGREEMENT.

 

35


20. Captions . The captions included in this Agreement are included solely for convenience of reference and are not to be considered a part of this Agreement.

 

21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in various counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[Signature page to follow]

 

36


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Initial Purchasers, the Company and the Guarantors please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among us.

 

Very truly yours,

V ITAMIN S HOPPE I NDUSTRIES I NC .

By:

 

/s/ Wayne M. Richman

   

Name:

 

Wayne M. Richman

   

Title:

 

EVP and COO

VS H OLDINGS , I NC .

By:

 

/s/ Wayne M. Richman

   

Name:

 

Wayne M. Richman

   

Title:

 

EVP and COO

VS D IRECT I NC .

By:

 

/s/ Wayne M. Richman

   

Name:

 

Wayne M. Richman

   

Title:

 

EVP and COO

 

Accepted and agreed to as of

the date first above written:

 

B EAR , S TEARNS  & C O . I NC .

on behalf of the Initial Purchasers

 

By:

 

/s/ James S. Wolfe

   

Name:

 

James Wolfe

   

Title:

 

Senior Managing Director

 

37


S CHEDULE A

 

G UARANTORS

 

VS Direct Inc.

 

1


E XHIBIT A

 

F ORM OF R EGISTRATION R IGHTS A GREEMENT

 

1


E XHIBIT B

 

S UBSIDIARY OF THE C OMPANY

 

VS Direct Inc.

 

1


E XHIBIT C

 

Initial Purchaser


   Principal Amount
of Notes


Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

   $ 66,000,000

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

   $ 37,125,000

Banc of America Securities LLC

   $ 28,875,000

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

   $ 24,750,000

Rothschild Inc.

   $ 8,250,000
    

Total

   $ 165,000,000
    

 

1


E XHIBIT D

 

T O BE P ROVIDED BY K IRKLAND  & E LLIS LLP

 

D-1

Exhibit 3.2

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

 

(under Section 807 of the Business Corporation Law

of the State of New York)

 

The undersigned, being, respectively, the Chairman and the Secretary of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., in accordance with Section 807 of the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York, do hereby certify and set forth:

 

1. The Certificate of Incorporation, as heretofore amended, is hereby restated to set forth its entire text, as amended, as follows:

 

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

 

SECOND: The Corporation is formed to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the Business Corporation Law, provided that it is not formed to engage in any act or activity requiring the consent or approval of any state official, department, board, agency or other body.

 

To have, in furtherance of the corporate purposes, all of the powers conferred upon corporations organized under the Business Corporation Law subject to any limitations thereof contained in this certificate of incorporation or in the laws of the State of New York.

 

THIRD: The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share.

 

FOURTH: The Secretary of State of the State of New York is designated as the agent of the Corporation upon whom process against the Corporation may be served. The post office address to which the Secretary of State should mail a copy of any process against the Corporation served upon said Secretary of State is: c/o Corporation Service Company, 80 State Street, Albany, NY 12207-2543.

 

FIFTH: The offices of the Corporation in the State of New York shall be located in the County of New York.


SIXTH: The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify its officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

SEVENTH: The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation.

 

-2-

Exhibit 3.3

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

VS DIRECT INC.

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

The name of the corporation is VS Direct Inc. (hereinafter called the “Corporation”).

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the state of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19808, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

The total number of shares which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is One Thousand Shares (1,000), all of which shall be shares of Common Stock, with a par value of One Cent ($0.01) per share.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

The name and mailing address of the incorporator is as follows:

 

Name


  

Address


David N. Britsch   

c/o Kirkland & Ellis

153 E. 53rd Street, 39th Floor

New York, NY 10022

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

The directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal By-Laws, except as may be otherwise be provided in the By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.


ARTICLE EIGHT

 

To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of this Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Any repeal or modification of this ARTICLE EIGHT shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provisions contained in this Certificate of Incorporation from time to time and at any time in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred upon stockholders and directors are granted subject to such reservation.

 

*    *    *    *

 

- 2 -


I, the undersigned, being the sole incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation in pursuance of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, do make and file this Certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly have hereunto set my hand this 8 th day of December, 2004.

 

By:   /s/ David N. Britsch
    David N. Britsch, Sole Incorporator

 

- 3 -

Exhibit 3.4

AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

OF

VS HOLDINGS, INC.

A Delaware Corporation

Effective as of June          , 2006

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1. Registered Office . The registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington. The name of the corporation’s registered agent at such address shall be Corporation Service Company. The registered office and/or registered agent of the corporation may be changed from time to time by action of the board of directors.

Section 2. Other Offices . The corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the board of directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Place and Time of Meetings . An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held each year for the purpose of electing directors and conducting such other proper business as may come before the meeting. The date, time and place of the annual meeting may be determined by resolution of the board of directors or as set by the president of the corporation.

Section 2. Special Meetings . Special meetings of stockholders may be called for any purpose (including, without limitation, the filling of board vacancies and newly created directorships), and may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in a notice of meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. Such meetings may be called at any time by two or more members of the board of directors or the president and shall be called by the president upon the written request of holders of shares entitled to cast not less than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of the corporation’s voting common stock.

Section 3. Place of Meetings . The board of directors may designate any place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting called by the board of directors. If no designation is made, or if a special


meeting be otherwise called, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive office of the corporation.

Section 4. Notice . Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, written or printed notice stating the place, date, time, and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting. All such notices shall be delivered, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the board of directors, the president or the secretary, and if mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the corporation. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

Section 5. Stockholders List . The officer having charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

Section 6. Quorum . Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, a majority of the outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. If less than a majority of the outstanding shares are represented at a meeting, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time in accordance with Section 7 of this Article, until a quorum shall be present or represented.

Section 7. Adjourned Meetings . When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

Section 8. Vote Required . When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, unless the question is one upon which by express provisions of an applicable law or of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Where a separate vote by class is required, the affirmative vote of the

 

2


majority of shares of such class present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class.

Section 9. Voting Rights . Except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or by the corporation’s certificate of incorporation and subject to Section 3 of Article VI hereof, every stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of common stock held by such stockholder.

Section 10. Proxies . Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him, her or it by proxy. Every proxy must be signed by the stockholder granting the proxy or by his, her or its attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the corporation generally.

Section 11. Action by Written Consent . Unless otherwise provided in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken and bearing the dates of signature of the stockholders who signed the consent or consents, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than a majority of the shares entitled to vote, or, if greater, not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in the state of Delaware, or the corporation’s principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book or books in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested provided, however, that no consent or consents delivered by certified or registered mail shall be deemed delivered until such consent or consents are actually received at the registered office. All consents properly delivered in accordance with this section shall be deemed to be recorded when so delivered. No written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the corporation as required by this section, written consents signed by the holders of a sufficient number of shares to take such corporate action are so recorded. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent or consents of the stockholders shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the stockholders at a meeting thereof.

 

3


ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

Section 1. General Powers . The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors.

Section 2. Number, Election and Term of Office . For so long as the corporation is a direct or indirect subsidiary of VS Parent, Inc. (“Parent”) and for so long as Parent has Class A and Class B directors, the number of directors constituting the board shall be three, two of whom shall be Class A Directors of Parent and one of whom shall be a Class B Director of Parent. Thereafter, the number of directors may be increased or decreased by action of the directors, provided that any action of the directors to effect such increase or decrease shall require the vote of a majority of the entire Board. The directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors. The directors shall be elected in this manner at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 4 of this Article III. Each director elected shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.

Section 3. Removal and Resignation . Any director or the entire board of directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Whenever the holders of any class or series are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, the provisions of this section shall apply, in respect to the removal without cause or a director or directors so elected, to the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that class or series and not to the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation.

Section 4. Vacancies . Except as otherwise provided by the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the holders of the corporation’s outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon or by the remaining members of the board of directors then in office. Each director so chosen shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as herein provided.

Section 5. Annual Meetings . The annual meeting of each newly elected board of directors shall be held without other notice than this by-law immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.

Section 6. Other Meetings and Notice . Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the board of directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the board. Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman or president on notice to each director, either personally, by telephone, by mail, by e-mail, or by telegraph with a sufficient time for the convenient assembly (including, without limitation, in accordance with Section 10 of this

 

4


Article III) of the directors thereat; in like manner and on like notice the president must call a special meeting on the written request of at least a majority of the directors.

Section 7. Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment . A majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the board of directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 8. Committees . The board of directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation, which to the extent provided in such resolution or these by-laws shall have and may exercise the powers of the board of directors in the management and affairs of the corporation except as otherwise limited by law. The board of directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the board of directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of directors when required.

Section 9. Committee Rules . Each committee of the board of directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the board of directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. In the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the board of directors as provided in Section 8 of this Article III, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

Section 10. Communications Equipment . Members of the board of directors or any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of such board or committee through the use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 11. Waiver of Notice and Presumption of Assent . Any member of the board of directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by registered

 

5


mail to the secretary of the corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.

Section 12. Action by Written Consent . Unless otherwise restricted by the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. Number . The officers of the corporation shall be elected by the board of directors and shall consist of a chairman, if any is elected, a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a chief financial officer and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the board of directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that no person may simultaneously hold the office of president and secretary. In its discretion, the board of directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.

Section 2. Election and Term of Office . The officers of the corporation shall be elected annually by the board of directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as conveniently may be. The president shall appoint other officers to serve for such terms as he or she deems desirable. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting of the board of directors. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.

Section 3. Removal . Any officer or agent elected by the board of directors may be removed by the board of directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.

Section 4. Vacancies . Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the board of directors for the unexpired portion of the term by the board of directors then in office.

Section 5. Compensation . Compensation of all officers shall be fixed by the board of directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the corporation.

Section 6. The Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, shall be a member of the board, an officer of the corporation, and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the board of directors or shareholders. The Chairman of the Board shall, in the absence or disability of the president, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the president. He shall advise the president, and in the president’s absence,

 

6


other officers of the corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the board of directors.

Section 7. The President . The president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board or if a Chairman of the Board shall have not been elected, the president shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and board of directors at which he or she is present; subject to the powers of the board of directors, shall have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees; and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect. The president shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or as may be provided in these by-laws.

Section 8. Vice-presidents . The vice-president, if any, or if there shall be more than one, the vice-presidents in the order determined by the board of directors shall, in the absence or disability of the president, act with all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the president. The vice-presidents shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors, the president or these by-laws may, from time to time, prescribe.

Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries . The secretary shall attend all meetings of the board of directors, all meetings of the committees thereof and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose. Under the president’s supervision, the secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these by-laws or by law; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the board of directors, the president or these by-laws may, from time to time, prescribe; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation. The secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The board of directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors, the president, or secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.

Section 10. The Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Treasurer . The chief financial officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors; shall cause the funds of the corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and shall render to the president and the board of directors, at its regular meeting or when the board of directors so requires, an account of the corporation; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the board of directors, the president or these by-laws may, from time to time, prescribe. If required by the board of directors, the chief financial officer shall give the corporation a bond (which shall be rendered every six years) in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the board of directors for the faithful performance of the

 

7


duties of the office of treasurer and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of death, resignation, retirement, or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money, and other property of whatever kind in the possession or under the control of the treasurer belonging to the corporation. The assistant treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the assistant treasurers in the order determined by the board of directors, shall in the absence or disability of the chief financial officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chief financial officer. The assistant treasurers shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors, the president or chief financial officer may, from time to time, prescribe.

Section 11. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents . Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these by-laws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the board of directors.

Section 12. Absence or Disability of Officers . In the case of the absence or disability of any officer of the corporation and of any person hereby authorized to act in such officer’s place during such officer’s absence or disability, the board of directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.

ARTICLE V

INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHERS

Section 1. Nature of Indemnity . Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or a person of whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer, of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent which it is empowered to do so by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such proceeding and such indemnification shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2 hereof, the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by the board of directors of the corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article V shall be a contract right and, subject to Sections 2 and 5 hereof, shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition. The corporation may, by action of its board of directors, provide indemnification to employees and

 

8


agents of the corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.

Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers . Any indemnification of a director or officer of the corporation under Section 1 of this Article V or advance of expenses under Section 5 of this Article V shall be made promptly, and in any event within 30 days, upon the written request of the director or officer. If a determination by the corporation that the director or officer is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article V is required, and the corporation fails to respond within sixty days to a written request for indemnity, the corporation shall be deemed to have approved the request. If the corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advancing of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within 30 days, the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article V shall be enforceable by the director or officer in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the corporation. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

Section 3. Nonexclusivity of Article V . The rights to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Section 4. Insurance . The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this Article V.

Section 5. Expenses . Expenses incurred by any person described in Section 1 of this Article V in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the corporation in advance of such proceeding’s final disposition unless otherwise determined by the board of directors in the

 

9


specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. Such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of directors deems appropriate.

Section 6. Employees and Agents . Persons who are not covered by the foregoing provisions of this Article V and who are or were employees or agents of the corporation, or who are or were serving at the request of the corporation as employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, may be indemnified to the extent authorized at any time or from time to time by the board of directors.

Section 7. Contract Rights . The provisions of this Article V shall be deemed to be a contract right between the corporation and each director or officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while this Article V and the relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or other applicable law are in effect, and any repeal or modification of this Article V or any such law shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or proceeding then existing.

Section 8. Merger or Consolidation . For purposes of this Article V, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article V with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

ARTICLE VI

CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

Section 1. Form . Every holder of stock in the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the corporation by the chairman of the board, the president or a vice-president and the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the corporation. If such a certificate is countersigned (1) by a transfer agent or an assistant transfer agent other than the corporation or its employee or (2) by a registrar, other than the corporation or its employee, the signature of any such chairman of the board, president, vice-president, secretary, or assistant secretary may be facsimiles. In case any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been delivered by the corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the corporation. All certificates for shares shall be

 

10


consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the books of the corporation. Shares of stock of the corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the corporation of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization, and other matters as the corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates, and record the transaction on its books. The board of directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the corporation.

Section 2. Lost Certificates . The board of directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the board of directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the corporation against any claim that may be made against the corporation on account of the loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

Section 3. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings . In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the board of directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the board of directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is given, or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the board of directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

Section 4. Fixing a Record Date for Action by Written Consent . In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the board of directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors, and which date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors. If no record date has been fixed by the board of directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the board of directors is required by statute, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the

 

11


action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the board of directors and prior action by the board of directors is required by statute, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

Section 5. Fixing a Record Date for Other Purposes . In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the board of directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Section 6. Subscriptions for Stock . Unless otherwise provided for in the subscription agreement, subscriptions for shares shall be paid in full at such time, or in such installments and at such times, as shall be determined by the board of directors. Any call made by the board of directors for payment on subscriptions shall be uniform as to all shares of the same class or as to all shares of the same series. In case of default in the payment of any installment or call when such payment is due, the corporation may proceed to collect the amount due in the same manner as any debt due the corporation.

ARTICLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Dividends . Dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, if any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or any other purpose and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

Section 2. Checks, Drafts or Orders . All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money by or to the corporation and all notes and other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation, and in such manner, as shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof.

 

12


Section 3. Contracts . The board of directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, of the corporation to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 4. Loans . The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or of its subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a director of the corporation or its subsidiary, whenever, in the judgment of the directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the board of directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at common law or under any statute.

Section 5. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.

Section 6. Corporate Seal . The board of directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

Section 7. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation . Voting securities in any other corporation held by the corporation shall be voted by the chairman or president, unless the board of directors confers other authority to vote with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.

Section 8. Inspection of Books and Records . Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records, and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean any purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney or other agent shall be the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing which authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the corporation at its registered office in the State of Delaware or at its principal place of business.

Section 9. Section Headings . Section headings in these by-laws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

Section 10. Inconsistent Provisions . In the event that any provision of these by-laws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any other applicable law, the provision of

 

13


these by-laws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended, altered, or repealed and new by-laws adopted at any meeting of the board of directors by a majority vote. The fact that the power to adopt, amend, alter, or repeal the by-laws has been conferred upon the board of directors shall not divest the stockholders of the same powers.

 

14

Exhibit 3.5

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

ARTICLE I

SHAREHOLDERS

1. CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING SHARES . Certificates representing shares shall set forth thereon the statements prescribed by Section 508, and, where applicable, by Sections 505, 616, 620, 709, and 1002, of the Business Corporation Law and by any other applicable provision of law and shall be signed by the Chairman or a Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or by the President or a Vice-President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer and may be sealed with the corporate seal or a facsimile thereof. The signatures of the officers upon a certificate may be facsimiles if the certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a registrar other than the corporation itself or its employee, or if the shares are listed on a registered national security exchange. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of its issue.

A certificate representing shares shall not be issued until the full amount of consideration therefor has been paid except as Section 504 of the Business Corporation Law may otherwise permit.

The corporation may issue a new certificate for shares in place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost or destroyed, and the Board of Directors may require the owner of any lost or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

2. FRACTIONAL SHARE INTERESTS . The corporation may issue certificates for fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to his fractional holdings, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, and participate in liquidating distributions; or it may pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined; or it may issue scrip in registered or bearer form over the manual or facsimile signature of an officer of the corporation or of its agent, exchangeable as therein provided for full shares, but such scrip shall not entitle the holder to any rights of a shareholder except as therein provided.

3. SHARE TRANSFERS . Upon compliance with provisions restricting the transferability of shares, if any, transfers of shares of the corporation shall be made only on the share record of the corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by his attorney thereunto


authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the corporation or with a transfer agent or a registrar, if any, and on surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed and the payment of all taxes due thereon.

4. RECORD DATE FOR SHAREHOLDERS . For the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to or dissent from any proposal without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or for the purpose of any other action, the directors may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders. Such date shall not be more than sixty days nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of the business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if no notice is given, the day on which the meeting is held; the record date for determining shareholders for any purpose other than that specified in the preceding clause shall be at the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the directors relating thereto is adopted. When a determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this paragraph, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless directors fix a new record date under this paragraph for the adjourned meeting.

5. MEANING OF CERTAIN TERMS . As used herein in respect of the right to notice of a meeting of shareholders or a waiver thereof or to participate or vote thereat or to consent or dissent in writing in lieu of a meeting, as the case may be, the term “share” or “shares” or “shareholder” or “shareholders” refers to an outstanding share or shares and to a holder or holders of record of outstanding shares when the corporation is authorized to issue only one class of shares, and said reference is also intended to include any outstanding share or shares and any holder or holders of record of outstanding shares of any class upon which or upon whom the Certificate of Incorporation confers such rights where there are two or more classes or series of shares or upon which or upon whom the Business Corporation Law confers such rights notwithstanding that the Certificate of Incorporation may provide for more than one class or series of shares, one or more of which are limited or denied such rights thereunder.

6. SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS .

(a) TIME . The annual meeting shall be held on the date fixed, from time to time, by the directors, provided, that the first annual meeting shall be held on a date within thirteen months after the formation of the corporation, and each successive annual meeting shall be held on a date within thirteen months after the date of the preceding annual meeting. A special meeting shall be held on the date fixed by the directors except when the Business Corporation Law confers the right to fix the date upon shareholders.

(b) PLACE . Annual meetings and special meetings shall be held at such place, within or without the State of New York, as the directors may, from time to time, fix. Whenever the directors shall fail to fix such place, or, whenever shareholders entitled to call a special meeting shall call the same, the meeting shall be held at the office of the corporation in the State of New York.

 

2


(c) CALL . Annual meetings may be called by the directors or by any officer instructed by the directors to call the meeting. Special meetings may be called in like manner except when the directors are required by the Business Corporation Law to call a meeting, or except when the shareholders are entitled by said Law to demand the call of a meeting.

(d) NOTICE OR ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE WAIVER OF NOTICE . Written notice of all meetings shall be given, stating the place, date, and hour of the meeting, and, unless it is an annual meeting, indicating that it is being issued by or at the direction of the person or persons calling the meeting. The notice of an annual meeting shall state that the meeting is called for the election of directors and for the transaction of other business which may properly come before the meeting, and shall (if any other action which could be taken at a special meeting is to be taken at such annual meeting) state the purpose or purposes. The notice of a special meeting shall in all instances state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called; and, at any such meeting, only such business may be transacted which is related to the purpose or purposes set forth in the notice. If the directors shall adopt, amend, or repeal a By-Law regulating an impending election of directors, the notice of the next meeting for election of directors shall contain the statements prescribed by Section 601(b) of the Business Corporation Law. If any action is proposed to be taken which would, if taken, entitle shareholders to receive payment for their shares, the notice shall include a statement of that purpose and to that effect and shall be accompanied by a copy of Section 623 of the Business Corporation Law or an outline of its material terms. A copy of the notice of any meeting shall be given, personally or by first class mail, not fewer than ten days nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting, unless the lapse of the prescribed period of time shall have been waived, to each shareholder at his record address or at such other address which he may have furnished by request in writing to the Secretary of the corporation. In lieu of giving a copy of such notice personally or by first class mail as aforesaid, a copy of such notice may be given by third class mail not fewer than twenty-four nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting. Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited, with postage thereon prepaid, in a post office or official depository under the exclusive care and custody of the United States post office department. If a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, and, if any announcement of the adjourned time or place is made at the meeting, it shall not be necessary to give notice of the adjourned meeting unless the directors, after adjournment, fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any shareholder who submits a signed waiver of notice before or after the meeting. Waiver of notice may be written or electronic. If written, the waiver must be executed by the shareholder or the shareholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent by signing such waiver or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such waiver by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, facsimile signature. If electronic, the transmission of the waiver must either set forth or be submitted with information form which it can reasonably be determined that the transmission was authorized by the shareholder. The attendance of a shareholder at a meeting without protesting prior to the conclusion of the meeting the lack of notice of such meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice by him.

(e) SHAREHOLDER LIST AND CHALLENGE . A list of shareholders as of the record date, certified by the Secretary or other officer responsible for its preparation or by the transfer agent, if any, shall be produced at any meeting of shareholders upon the request thereat or prior thereto of any shareholder. If the right to vote at any meeting is challenged, the

 

3


inspectors of election, if any, or the person presiding thereat, shall require such list of shareholders to be produced as evidence of the right of the persons challenged to vote at such meeting, and all persons who appear from such list to be shareholders entitled to vote thereat may vote at such meeting.

(f) CONDUCT OF MEETING . Meetings of the shareholders shall be presided over by one of the following officers in the order of seniority and if present and acting - the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any, the President, a Vice-President, or, if none of the foregoing is in office and present and acting, by a chairman to be chosen by the shareholders. The Secretary of the corporation, or in his absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of every meeting, but if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a secretary of the meeting.

(g) PROXY REPRESENTATION . Every shareholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a shareholder is entitled to participate, whether by waiving notice of any meeting, voting or participating at a meeting, or expressing consent or dissent without a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the shareholder executing it, except as otherwise provided by the Business Corporation Law.

(h) INSPECTORS - APPOINTMENT . Inspectors may be appointed in the manner prescribed by the provisions of Section 610 of the Business Corporation Law, but need not be appointed except as otherwise required by those provisions.

(i) QUORUM . Except for a special election of directors pursuant to Section 603(b) of the Business Corporation Law, and except as herein otherwise provided, the holders of a majority of the votes of outstanding shares shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders for the transaction of any business. When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting, it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any shareholders. The shareholders present may adjourn the meeting despite the absence of a quorum.

7. SHAREHOLDER ACTION WITHOUT MEETINGS . Whenever under the provisions of the Business Corporation Law shareholders are required or permitted to take any action by vote, such action may be taken without a meeting on written consent, signed by the holders of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon or, if the Certificate of Incorporation so permits, signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, in accordance with the provisions of Section 615 of the Business Corporation Law.

ARTICLE II

GOVERNING BOARD

1. FUNCTIONS AND DEFINITIONS . The business of the corporation shall be managed under the direction of a governing board, which is herein referred to as the “Board of Directors” or “directors” notwithstanding that the members thereof may otherwise bear the titles

 

4


of trustees, managers, or governors or any other designated title, and notwithstanding that only one director legally constitutes the Board. The word “director” or “directors” likewise herein refers to a member or to members of the governing board notwithstanding the designation of a different official title or titles. The use of the phrase “entire board” herein refers to the total number of directors which the corporation would have if there were no vacancies.

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND NUMBER . Each director shall be at least eighteen years of age. A director need not be a shareholder, a citizen of the United States, or a resident of the State of New York. For so long as the corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VS Parent, Inc. (“Parent”), and for so long as Parent has Class A and Class B directors, the number of directors constituting the board shall be three, two of whom shall be Class A Directors of Parent and one of whom shall be a Class B Director of Parent. Thereafter, the number of directors may be increased or decreased by action of the directors, provided that any action of the directors to effect such increase or decrease shall require the vote of a majority of the entire Board. No decrease shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

3. ELECTION AND TERM . The first Board of Directors shall be elected by the incorporator or incorporators and shall hold office until the first annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified. Thereafter, directors who are elected at an annual meeting of shareholders, and directors who are elected in the interim by the shareholders to fill vacancies and newly created directorships, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified; and directors who are elected in the interim by the directors to fill vacancies and newly created directorships shall hold office until the next meeting of shareholders at which the election of directors is in the regular order of business and until their successors have been elected and qualified. In the interim between annual meetings of shareholders or of special meetings of shareholders called for the election of directors, newly created directorships and any vacancies in the Board of Directors, including vacancies resulting from the removal of directors for cause or without cause, may be filled by the vote of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum exists.

4. MEETINGS .

(a) TIME . Meetings shall be held at such time as the Board shall fix, except that the first meeting of a newly elected Board shall be held as soon after its election as the directors may conveniently assemble.

(b) PLACE . Meetings shall be held at such place within or without the State of New York as shall be fixed by the Board.

(c) CALL . No call shall be required for regular meetings for which the time and place have been fixed. Special meetings may be called by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, if any, of the President, or of a majority of the directors in office.

(d) NOTICE OR ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE WAIVER . No notice shall be required for regular meetings for which the time and place have been fixed. Written, oral, or any other mode of notice of the time and place shall be given for special meetings in

 

5


sufficient time for the convenient assembly of the directors thereat. The notice of any meeting need not specify the purpose of the meeting. Any requirement of furnishing a notice shall be waived by any director who signs a waiver of notice before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him.

(e) QUORUM AND ACTION . A majority of the entire Board shall constitute a quorum except when a vacancy or vacancies prevents such majority, whereupon a majority of the directors in office shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn a meeting to another time and place. Except as herein otherwise provided, the act of the Board shall be the act, at a meeting duly assembled, by vote of a majority of the directors present at the time of the vote, a quorum being present at such time.

Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of said Board or of any such committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

(f) CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING . The Chairman of the Board, if any and if present and acting, shall preside at all meetings. Otherwise, the President, if present and acting, or any other director chosen by the Board, shall preside.

5. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS . Subject to the provisions of Section 1 of the Securityholders Agreement dated as of November __, 2002 by and among Parent and certain of its stockholders, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Securityholders Agreement”), any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation.

6. COMMITTEES . The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, may designate from their number one or more directors to constitute an Executive Committee and other committees, each of which, to the extent provided in the resolution designating it, shall have the authority of the Board of Directors with the exception of any authority the delegation of which is prohibited by Section 712 of the Business Corporation Law; provided that each such committee shall be comprised of at least one director who is also a Class A Director of Parent.

7. WRITTEN ACTION . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all of the members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action. The resolution and the written consents thereto by the members of the Board of Directors or of any such committee shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or of any such committee.

 

6


ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

The directors may elect or appoint a Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, a President one or more Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers as they may determine. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. When all of the issued and outstanding shares of the corporation are owned by one person, such person may hold all or any combination of offices.

Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of election or appointment, each officer shall hold office until the meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified.

The Board of Directors may remove any officer for cause or without cause. The offices of Chief Executive Officer and President may be removed only by the Board of Directors.

The duties and responsibilities of the officers shall be the following:

The Chairman of the Board of Directors . The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one shall have been elected, shall be a member of the Board of Directors, an officer of the corporation, and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Board of Directors or shareholders. He shall advise the Chief Executive Officer, and in the Chief Executive’s absence, other officers of the corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

The Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or if a Chairman of the Board of Directors shall have not been elected, the Chief Executive Officer (i) shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and Board of Directors at which he or she is present; (ii) subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, shall have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees; and (iii) shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall, with the consultation of the Chairman of the Board of Directors if one shall have been elected, set the agenda for meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be provided in these bylaws.

The President . The President, if any, shall, in the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, act with all of the powers and be subject to all restrictions of the Chief Executive Office. The President shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or these bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe, including acting as the Chief Operating Officer of the corporation.

Vice-Presidents . The Vice-President, if any, or if there shall be more than one, the Vice-Presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors shall, in the absence or disability of both the Chief Executive Officer and the President, act with all of the powers and be

 

7


subject to all the restrictions of the Chief Executive Officer. The Vice-Presidents shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or these bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe.

The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries . The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors, all meetings of the committees thereof and all meetings of the shareholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book(s) to be kept for that purpose. Under the Chief Executive Officer’s supervision, the Secretary (i) shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these bylaws or by law; (ii) shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or these bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe; and (iii) shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or Secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.

The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers . The Treasurer (i) shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; (ii) shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation; (iii) shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors; (iv) shall cause the funds of the corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; (v) shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, at its regular meeting or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the corporation; and (vi) shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or these bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the corporation a bond (which shall be rendered every six years) in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of Treasurer and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of death, resignation, retirement, or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money, and other property of whatever kind in the possession or under the control of the Treasurer belonging to the corporation. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of Directors, shall in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurers shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or Treasurer may, from time to time, prescribe.

Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents . Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these bylaws, shall have such

 

8


authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV

STATUTORY NOTICES TO SHAREHOLDERS

The directors may appoint the Treasurer or other fiscal officer and/or the Secretary or any other officer to cause to be prepared and furnished to shareholders entitled thereto any special financial notice and/or any financial statement, as the case may be, which may be required by any provision of law, and which, more specifically, may be required by Sections 511, 515, 516, 517, 519, and 520 of the Business Corporation Law.

ARTICLE V

INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHERS

(a) Nature of Indemnity . Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or a person of whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer, of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent which it is empowered to do so by the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such proceeding) and such indemnification shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section (b) hereof, the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by the board of directors of the corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article V shall be a contract right and, subject to Sections (b) and (e) hereof, shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition. The corporation may, by action of its board of directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.

(b) Procedure for Indemnification of Directors and Officers . Any indemnification of a director or officer of the corporation under Section (a) of this Article V or advance of expenses under Section (e) of this Article V shall be made promptly, and in any event within 30 days, upon the written request of the director or officer. If a determination by the corporation that the director or officer is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article V is

 

9


required, and the corporation fails to respond within sixty days to a written request for indemnity, the corporation shall be deemed to have approved the request. If the corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advancing of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within 30 days, the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article V shall be enforceable by the director or officer in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the corporation. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(c) Nonexclusivity of Article V . The rights to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

(d) Insurance . The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this Article V.

(e) Expenses . Expenses incurred by any person described in Section (a) of this Article V in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the corporation in advance of such proceeding’s final disposition unless otherwise determined by the board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. Such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of directors deems appropriate.

(f) Employees and Agents . Persons who are not covered by the foregoing provisions of this Article V and who are or were employees or agents of the corporation, or who are or were serving at the request of the corporation as employees or agents of another

 

10


corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, may be indemnified to the extent authorized at any time or from time to time by the board of directors.

(g) Contract Rights . The provisions of this Article V shall be deemed to be a contract right between the corporation and each director or officer who serves in any such capacity at any time while this Article V and the relevant provisions of the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York or other applicable law are in effect, and any repeal or modification of this Article V or any such law shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or proceeding then existing.

(h) Merger or Consolidation . For purposes of this Article V, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article V with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

ARTICLE VI

BOOKS AND RECORDS

The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders, of the Board of Directors, and of any committee which the directors may appoint, and shall keep at the office of the corporation in the State of New York or at the office of the transfer agent or registrar, if any, in said State, a record containing the names and addresses of all shareholders, the number and class of shares held by each, and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof. Any of the foregoing books, minutes, or records may be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.

ARTICLE VII

CORPORATE SEAL

The corporate seal, if any, shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

ARTICLE VIII

FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to change from time to time, by the Board of Directors.

 

11


ARTICLE IX

CONTROL OVER BYLAWS

The shareholders entitled to vote in the election of directors or the directors upon compliance with any statutory requisite may amend or repeal the bylaws and may adopt new bylaws, except that the directors may not amend or repeal any bylaw or adopt any new bylaw, the statutory control over which is vested exclusively in the said shareholders or in the incorporators. Bylaws adopted by the incorporators or directors may be amended or repealed by the said shareholders.

 

12

Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION COPY


 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

 

AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

 

SECOND PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2012

 


 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of November 15, 2005

 


 

Wilmington Trust Company

 

Trustee

 


 



INDENTURE dated as of November 15, 2005 among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation, the Guarantors (as defined), the Parent Guarantor and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee.

 

The Company, the Guarantors, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined) of the Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “ Notes ”):

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01 Definitions.

 

144A Global Note ” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

Acquired Debt ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and

 

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

 

Additional Notes ” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02 and 4.09 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.

 

Advisory Services Agreement ” means the agreement made as of November 27, 2002 by and among Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC, VS Holdings, Inc. and the Company, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) in whole or in part from time to time; provided that such amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals or replacements, are not, taken as a whole, materially less favorable to the holders of the notes; and provided, further that such amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals or replacements do not increase the amount of fees, as a percentage of gross sales, to which Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC is entitled under the agreement.

 

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

 

Agent ” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.

 

Applicable Eurodollar Rate ” means, for each quarterly period during which any note is outstanding subsequent to the initial quarterly period, 750 basis points over the rate determined by the

 

1


Company (notice of such rate to be sent to the Trustee by the Company on the date of determination thereof) equal to the applicable British Bankers’ Association LIBOR rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a period of three months as reported by any generally recognized financial information service as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such quarterly period; provided that, if no such British Bankers’ Association LIBOR rate is available to the Company, the Applicable Eurodollar Rate for the relevant quarterly period shall instead be the rate at which Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. or one of its affiliate banks offers to place deposits in U.S. dollars with first-class banks in the London interbank market for a period of three months at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such quarterly period, in amounts equal to $1.0 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Eurodollar Rate for the initial quarterly period shall be 11.80438%.

 

Applicable Procedures ” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

 

Asset Sale ” means:

 

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights; provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.15 and/or Section 5.01 hereof and not by the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof; and

 

(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:

 

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $2.0 million;

 

(2) a transfer of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(4) the sale or lease of products, services, inventory, equipment, leasehold improvements, fixtures or accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(6) the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents, trademarks, registrations thereof and other similar intellectual property;

 

(7) any release of intangible claims or rights in connection with the loss or settlement of a bona-fide lawsuit, dispute or other controversy;

 

(8) leases or subleases in the ordinary course of business to third persons not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

2


(9) a Restricted Payment that does not violate Section 4.07 hereof or a Permitted Investment.

 

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

 

Board of Directors ” means:

 

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

 

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

 

(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and

 

(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

Borrowing Base ” means, as of any date, an amount equal to:

 

(1) 90% of the face amount of all accounts receivable owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date that were not more than 180 days past due; plus

 

(2) 65% of the book value of all inventory, net of reserves, owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date.

 

Broker-Dealer ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State New York or the State of Delaware or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

 

Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

 

Capital Expenditure ” means for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized

 

3


repairs and improvements during such period) which would, in accordance with GAAP, be set forth as capital expenditures in the consolidated statement of cash flow of such Person.

 

Capital Stock ” means:

 

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

(1) United States dollars;

 

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government ( provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

 

(3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

 

(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 60 days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

 

(5) commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and, in each case, maturing within one year after the date of acquisition; and

 

(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition.

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) other than a Principal or a Related Party of a Principal;

 

4


(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above), other than the Principals and their Related Parties, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

 

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.

 

Class ” means (1) in the case of Parity Lien Debt, every Series of Parity Lien Debt, taken together, and (2) in the case of Priority Lien Debt, every Series of Priority Lien Debt, taken together.

 

Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

 

Collateral ” means all properties and assets at any time owned or acquired by the Company or any of the other Pledgors, except:

 

(1) Excluded Assets;

 

(2) any properties and assets in which the Collateral Agent is required to release its Liens pursuant to the provisions described in Section 2.7 of the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(3) any properties and assets that no longer secure the Notes or any Obligations in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions described in Section 2.7 of the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

provided that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3), if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition of any properties or assets of the Company or any other Pledgor, such assets or properties will cease to be excluded from the Collateral if the Company or any other Pledgor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or properties.

 

Collateral Agent ” means Wilmington Trust Company, in its capacity as collateral agent under the security documents, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Company ” means Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., and any and all successors thereto.

 

Consolidated Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus , without duplication:

 

(1) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(2) the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or

 

5


reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(4) amortization of deferred rent expense; provided , that Consolidated Cash Flow shall be reduced by rent expense paid in cash to the extent not deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

 

(5) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business,

 

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person; and provided , further that there shall be excluded:

 

(1) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;

 

(2) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

 

(3) any non-recurring costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions;

 

(4) any non-cash compensation charges, including, any such charges arising from stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity-incentive programs;

 

(5) any non-cash costs, charges or expenses relating to the application of purchase accounting;

 

(6) any unrealized gain or loss resulting from the application of SFAS 133 with respect to Hedging Obligations; and

 

(7) any non-cash goodwill impairment charges or other intangible asset impairment charges incurred subsequent to the date of this Indenture resulting from the application of SFAS 142 or other non-cash asset impairment charges incurred subsequent to the date of this Indenture resulting from the application of SFAS 144.

 

6


Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who:

 

(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture; or

 

(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

 

Control Investment Affiliate ” means, of any Person, any other Person which (a) directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person and (b) is organized by such Person primarily for the purpose of making equity or debt investments in one or more companies or a Person controlled by such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.

 

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee ” will be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

 

Credit Agreement ” means that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated on or about the date of this Indenture, by and among the Company, the Parent, VS Direct, Inc., the Priority Lien Agent, and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations that are parties thereto as lenders, providing for up to $75.0 million of revolving credit borrowings, including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

Credit Facilities ” means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the debt facility evidenced by the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

Custodian ” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

Default ” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Definitive Note ” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Depositary ” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

 

7


Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an officers’ certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by an executive vice president and the principal financial officer of the Company, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

 

Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations ” means the occurrence of all of the following:

 

(1) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Debt;

 

(2) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Priority Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

 

(3) discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Debt; and

 

(4) payment in full in cash of all other Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Priority Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at such time).

 

Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture will be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

 

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company.

 

equally and ratably ” means, in reference to sharing of Liens or proceeds thereof as between holders of Secured Obligations within the same Class, that such Liens or proceeds:

 

(1) will be allocated and distributed first to the Secured Debt Representative for each outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class, for the account of the holders of such Series of Secured Debt, ratably in proportion to the principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, if any,

 

8


outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made under such letters of credit) on each outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class when the allocation or distribution is made, and thereafter

 

(2) will be allocated and distributed (if any remain after payment in full of all of the principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made on such letters of credit) on all outstanding Secured Obligations within that Class) to the Secured Debt Representative for each outstanding Series of Secured Obligations within that Class, for the account of the holders of any remaining Secured Obligations within that Class, ratably in proportion to the aggregate unpaid amount of such remaining Secured Obligations within that Class due and demanded (with written notice to the applicable Secured Debt Representative, the Priority Lien Agent and the Collateral Agent) prior to the date such distribution is made.

 

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

 

Euroclear ” means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Notes ” means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.06(f) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Excluded Assets ” means each of the following:

 

(1) any lease, license, contract, property right or agreement to which the Company or any other Pledgor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder if and only for so long as the grant of a Lien under the security documents will constitute or result in a breach, termination or default under any such lease, license, contract, property right or agreement (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law or principles of equity); provided that such lease, license, contract, property right or agreement will be an Excluded Asset only to the extent and for so long as the consequences specified above will result and will cease to be an Excluded Asset and will become subject to the Lien granted under the security documents, immediately and automatically, at such time as such consequences will no longer result;

 

(2) real property owned by the Company or any other Pledgor that has a Fair Market Value not exceeding $5.0 million in the aggregate, or any real property leased by the Company or any other Pledgor;

 

(3) any rights to any intellectual property, or license agreements that would be cancelled or rendered invalid or unenforceable under applicable law by the grant of a security

 

9


interest created pursuant to the terms of the security documents, for so long as such prohibition or reason for invalidity under applicable law exists, except for the products and the proceeds thereof;

 

(4) all “securities” of any of the Company’s “affiliates” (as the terms “securities” and “affiliates” are used in Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act); and

 

(5) any other property or assets in which a Lien cannot be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant jurisdiction, so long as the aggregate Fair Market Value of all such property and assets does not at any one time exceed $5.0 million.

 

Existing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in existence on the date of this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

 

Fair Market Value ” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company (unless otherwise provided in this Indenture).

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

 

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

 

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations, or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including any related financing transactions and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect (in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period;

 

(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

 

(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations

 

10


giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;

 

(4) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period;

 

(5) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period; and

 

(6) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months).

 

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates; plus

 

(2) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

 

(3) any interest on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

 

(4) the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.

 

Global Note Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(2) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

11


Global Notes ” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(3), 2.06(b)(4), 2.06(d)(2) or 2.06(f) hereof.

 

Government Securities ” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.

 

Guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise).

 

Guarantors ” means:

 

(1) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Company on the date of this Indenture; and

 

(2) any other Subsidiary of the Company that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture,

 

and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions of this indenture.

 

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under:

 

(1) interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

 

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk;

 

(3) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates; and

 

(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage fluctuations in commodity prices.

 

Holder ” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

 

IAI Global Note ” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors.

 

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means, as of any date, any Restricted Subsidiary whose total assets, as of that date, are less than $100,000 and whose total revenues for the most recent 12-month period do not exceed $100,000; provided that a Restricted Subsidiary will not be considered to be an Immaterial

 

12


Subsidiary if it, directly or indirectly, guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company.

 

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:

 

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

 

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances;

 

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed;

 

(6) representing any Hedging Obligations, or

 

(7) all monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising out of any cash management, depositary or investment services provided by the Priority Lien Agent, any holder of Priority Lien Debt or their respective Affiliates,

 

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.

 

Indenture ” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Indirect Participant ” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

 

Initial Notes ” means the first $165,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

 

insolvency or liquidation proceeding ” means:

 

(1) any case commenced by or against the Company or any other Pledgor under Bankruptcy Law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any other Pledgor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Company or any other Pledgor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Company or any other Pledgor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

13


(2) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Company or any other Pledgor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(3) any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Company or any other Pledgor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Institutional Accredited Investor ” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who are not also QIBs.

 

Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date of this Indenture, among the Pledgors, the Priority Lien Agent, the trustee and the Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof. The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

 

Issue Date ” means the date on which the notes are originally issued.

 

Legal Holiday ” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or the city of Wilmington, Delaware or at a place of payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

 

Letter of Transmittal ” means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.

 

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

 

14


Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation ” means:

 

(1) as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Priority Lien Debt, each existing and future Priority Lien Representative and each existing and future holder of Permitted Prior Liens:

 

(a) that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any other Pledgor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

(b) that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

 

(c) consenting to and directing the collateral agent to perform its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the other security documents; and

 

(2) as to any Series of Priority Lien Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, as set forth in the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, for the enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, each existing and future Parity Lien Representative and each existing and future holder of Permitted Prior Liens:

 

(a) that all Priority Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Priority Liens at any time granted by the Company or any other Pledgor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, and that all such Priority Liens will be enforceable by the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of all holders of Priority Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

(b) that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens; and

 

(c) consenting to and directing the Priority Lien Agent to perform its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

Liquidated Damages ” means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

15


Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

 

(1) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with:

 

(a) any Asset Sale; or

 

(b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss.

 

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.

 

Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

 

(1) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or (c) constitutes the lender;

 

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

 

(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Non-U.S. Person ” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

 

Note Documents ” means this Indenture, the Notes and the Security Documents.

 

Note Guarantee ” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Notes ” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

 

16


Obligations ” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Priority Lien Documents or Parity Lien Documents, as the case may be, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities (including attorney’s fees) payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Offering Memorandum ” the Offering Memorandum, with respect to the Notes, dated November 7, 2005.

 

Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

 

Parent or Parent Guarantor ” means VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware Corporation.

 

Parity Lien ” means a Lien granted by a Security Document to the Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of the Company or any other Pledgor to secure Parity Lien Obligations or any judgment lien obtained in respect of a Parity Lien Obligation.

 

Parity Lien Debt ” means:

 

(1) the notes issued on the date of this Indenture (including any related Exchange Notes); and

 

(2) any other Indebtedness of the Company (including Additional Notes) that is secured equally and ratably with the notes by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that the net proceeds are used to refund, refinance, replace, defease, discharge or otherwise acquire or retire Priority Lien Debt or other Parity Lien Debt.

 

Parity Lien Documents ” means, collectively, the Note Documents and the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt and the security documents (other than any security documents that do not secure Parity Lien Obligations).

 

Parity Lien Obligations ” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

 

Parity Lien Representative ” means:

 

(1) in the case of the Notes, the Trustee;

 

17


(2) in the case of any other Series of Parity Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Parity Lien Debt and (a) is appointed as a Parity Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (b) has become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Participant ” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

 

Permitted Business ” means any business engaged in by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of this Indenture and any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of this Indenture.

 

Permitted Investments ” means:

 

(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

 

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

 

(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or

 

(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof;

 

(5) any acquisition of assets or Capital Stock solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

 

(6) any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or (B) litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;

 

(7) Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;

 

(8) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3.0 million at any one time outstanding (in addition to any such loans described in the Offering Memorandum);

 

18


(9) repurchases of the notes; and

 

(10) other Investments in any Person other than an Affiliate of the Company having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at the time outstanding not to exceed $15.0 million.

 

Permitted Liens ” means:

 

(1) Liens on the assets of the Company and the other Pledgors held by the Priority Lien Agent securing (A) Priority Lien Debt (including all fixed and contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether drawn or not drawn) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Priority Lien Cap and (B) all Priority Lien Obligations related to such Priority Lien Debt;

 

(2) Liens held by the Collateral Agent on the Collateral equally and ratably securing the notes to be issued on the date of this Indenture and all future Parity Lien Debt and other Parity Lien Obligations

 

(3) Liens on assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing (a) Indebtedness that was permitted to be incurred by clause (1) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof and (b) all Obligations related thereto and (c) all Hedging Obligations in connection therewith that were permitted by this Indenture to be incurred;

 

(4) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;

 

(5) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Subsidiary;

 

(6) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to, such acquisition, and not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition;

 

(7) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(8) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (4) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof, covering only the assets acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness;

 

(9) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(10) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

 

19


(11) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, landlord’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business, and inchoate statutory landlord’s liens for amounts which are not yet due arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(12) survey exceptions, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

(13) Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) the Notes (or the Note Guarantees);

 

(14) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided, however, that:

 

(a) the new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof); and

 

(b) the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed amount, of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge;

 

(15) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligation in respect of banker’s acceptances issued or created in the ordinary course for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment, or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(16) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary of such Person owing to such Person or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person;

 

(17) Liens to support trade letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business;

 

(18) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit, which encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

 

(19) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty requirements of the Company, including rights of offset and set-off;

 

(20) Liens from judgments, decrees, or attachments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default;

 

(21) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as such Hedging Obligations relate to Indebtedness that is, and is permitted to be under this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

 

20


(22) Deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

 

(23) Leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(24) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statements regarding leases;

 

(25) security interests or statutory Liens held by a lessor on personal property and trade fixtures of the tenant (i) located on retail store premises demised by such lessor’s lease and (ii) in addition, after the date of this Indenture, located on any newly leased warehouse premises demised by such lessor’s lease (except where the fair market value of such personal property and trade fixtures exceeds $1.0 million);

 

(26) Any extensions, substitutions, replacements or renewals of the foregoing; and

 

(27) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $5.0 million at any one time outstanding.

 

Permitted Payments to Parent ” means, without duplication as to amounts:

 

(1) payments to the Parent to permit the Parent to pay reasonable accounting, legal and administrative expenses of the Parent when due, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 per annum; and

 

(2) for so long as the Company is a member of a group filing a consolidated or combined tax return with the Parent, payments to the Parent in respect of an allocable portion of the tax liabilities of such group that is attributable to the Company and its Subsidiaries (“ Tax Payments ”). The Tax Payments shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the amount of the relevant tax (including any penalties and interest) that the Company would owe if the Company were filing a separate tax return (or a separate consolidated or combined return with its Subsidiaries that are members of the consolidated or combined group), taking into account any carryovers and carrybacks of tax attributes (such as net operating losses) of the Company and such Subsidiaries from other taxable years and (ii) the net amount of the relevant tax that the Parent actually owes to the appropriate taxing authority. Any Tax Payments received from the Company shall be paid over to the appropriate taxing authority within 30 days of the Parent’s receipt of such Tax Payments or refunded to the Company.

 

Permitted Prior Liens ” means:

 

(1) Liens described in clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Liens;”

 

(2) Liens described in clauses (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (18), (19), (21) or (22) of the definition of “Permitted Liens;” and

 

(3) Permitted Liens that arise by operation of law and are not voluntarily granted, to the extent entitled by law to priority over the Liens created by the Priority Lien Security Documents or the security documents.

 

21


Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

 

(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged;

 

(3) if the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; and

 

(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

 

Pledgors ” means the Parent, the Company, the Guarantors and any other Person (if any) that provides collateral security for any Secured Debt Obligations.

 

Principals ” means JDH Management LLC and its Control Investment Affiliates, including Bear Stearns Merchant Capital II, L.P.

 

Priority Lien ” means a Lien granted by a Priority Lien Security Document to the Priority Lien Agent, at any time, upon any property of the Company or any other Pledgor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Priority Lien Agent ” means Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as agent under the Priority Lien Security Documents, together with its successors in such capacity, and any agent acting as collateral agent under any successor Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

Priority Lien Cap ” means, as of any date, the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement (including all fixed or contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn) and/or the Indebtedness outstanding under any other Credit Facility, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the sum of the amount provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt, as of any date, plus the amount provided by clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Debt, less the amount of Parity Lien Debt incurred after the date of this Indenture the net proceeds of which are used to permanently repay Priority Lien Debt. For purposes of this definition, all Hedging Obligations will be valued at zero.

 

22


Priority Lien Debt ” means:

 

(1) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement that was permitted to be incurred and secured under the applicable Secured Debt Documents (or as to which the Priority Lien Agent obtained an Officers’ Certificate at the time of incurrence to the effect that such Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred and secured by all applicable Secured Debt Documents)

 

(2) Indebtedness of the Company under any other Credit Facility that is secured equally and ratably with the Credit Agreement by a Priority Lien that was permitted to be incurred under the terms of the Credit Agreement and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided , in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (2), that:

 

(a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to each Priority Lien Representative, the Priority Lien Agent and the Collateral Agent, as “Priority Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt;

 

(b) such Indebtedness is governed by a credit agreement or other agreement that includes a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation; and

 

(c) all requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Priority Lien Agent’s Lien to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (c) will be conclusively established if the Company delivers to the Priority Lien Agent and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is “Priority Lien Debt”); and

 

(3) Hedging Obligations of the Company incurred to hedge or manage interest rate risk with respect to Priority Lien Debt; provided that:

 

(a) such Hedging Obligations are secured by a Priority Lien on all of the assets and properties that secure Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in respect of which such Hedging Obligations are incurred; and

 

(b) such Priority Lien is senior to or on a parity with the Priority Liens securing Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in respect of which such Hedging Obligations are incurred.

 

Priority Lien Documents ” means the Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred and the Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

Priority Lien Obligations ” means the Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of Priority Lien Debt.

 

Priority Lien Representative ” means (1) the Priority Lien Agent or (2) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a

 

23


representative of the Priority Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt.

 

Priority Lien Security Documents ” means the Credit Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation, and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any other Pledgor creating (or purporting to create) a Priority Lien upon collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms.

 

Private Placement Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(1) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

 

QIB ” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more registration rights agreements among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, relating to rights given by the Company to the purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes under the Securities Act.

 

Regulation S ” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Regulation S Global Note ” means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.

 

Regulation S Permanent Global Note ” means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Restricted Period.

 

Regulation S Temporary Global Note ” means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A2 hereto deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

 

Related Party ” means:

 

(1) any controlling stockholder, 80% (or more) owned Subsidiary, or immediate family member (in the case of an individual) of any Principal; or

 

(2) any trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, members, owners or Persons beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling interest of which consist of any one or more Principals and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1).

 

24


Required Parity Lien Debtholders ” means, at any time, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding, calculated in accordance with the provisions described in Section 2.10 of the Intercreditor Agreement. For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

Responsible Officer, ” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

Restricted Definitive Note ” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

Restricted Global Note ” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

Restricted Period ” means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 903 ” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 904 ” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Sale of Collateral ” means any Asset Sale involving a sale or other disposition of Collateral.

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Secured Debt ” means Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt.

 

Secured Debt Documents ” means the Parity Lien Documents and the Priority Lien Documents.

 

Secured Debt Representative ” means each Parity Lien Representative and each Priority Lien Representative.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, on any date, the ratio of:

 

(1) the aggregate principal amount of Secured Debt outstanding on such date plus all Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that are not Guarantors outstanding on such date (and, for this purpose, letters of credit will be deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof, whether or not drawn), to;

 

25


(2) the aggregate amount of the Company’s Consolidated Cash Flow for the most recent four-quarter period for which financial information is available.

 

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Secured Leverage Ratio:

 

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations or acquisitions of assets, or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by merger, consolidation or the acquisition of all or substantially all of its assets by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including any related financing transactions and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Secured Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Leverage Calculation Date ”) will be given pro forma effect (in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period;

 

(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Leverage Calculation Date will be excluded;

 

(3) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Leverage Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period; and

 

(4) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Leverage Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period.

 

Secured Obligations ” means Parity Lien Obligations and Priority Lien Obligations.

 

security documents ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, the Trademark Security Agreement, each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation, and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any other Pledgor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the provisions of Section 2.6 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Series of Parity Lien Debt ” means, severally, the notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Priority Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility that constitutes Priority Lien Debt.

 

Series of Secured Debt ” means each Series of Parity Lien Debt and each Series of Priority Lien Debt.

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

26


Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture.

 

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness as of the date of this Indenture, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

 

TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

 

Trademark Security Agreement ” means the Trademark Security Agreement, dated as of November , 2005, among the Company, the Guarantors, the other grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

Transactions ” means the issuance of the Notes and the entry into the Credit Agreement.

 

Total Assets ” means the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company.

 

Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust Company, in its capacity as Trustee hereunder until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

Unrestricted Definitive Note ” means a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

Unrestricted Global Note ” means a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

 

(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

 

27


(2) except as permitted by Section 4.11 hereof, is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

 

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

U.S. Person ” means a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(k) promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Voting Stock ” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

 

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

 

(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

Section 1.02 Other Definitions .

 

Term


   Defined in
Section


Affiliate Transaction

   4.11

Asset Sale Offer

   3.09

Authentication Order

   2.02

Change of Control Offer

   4.15

Change of Control Payment

   4.15

Change of Control Payment Date

   4.15

Covenant Defeasance

   8.03

DTC

   2.03

Equity Sale

   4.19

Equity Sale Offer

   3.10

Equity Sale Offer Period

   3.10

Equity Sale Offer Amount

   3.10

Equity Sale Payment

   4.19

Equity Sale Proceeds

   4.19

Equity Sale Purchase Date

   3.10

Event of Default

   6.01

 

28


Term


   Defined in
Section


Excess Proceeds

   4.10

incur

   4.09

Legal Defeasance

   8.02

Offer Amount

   3.09

Offer Period

   3.09

Paying Agent

   2.03

Permitted Debt

   4.09

Payment Default

   6.01

Purchase Date

   3.09

Registrar

   2.03

Restricted Payments

   4.07

 

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

 

The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

indenture securities ” means the Notes;

 

indenture security Holder ” means a Holder of a Note;

 

indenture to be qualified ” means this Indenture;

 

indenture trustee ” or “ institutional trustee ” means the Trustee; and

 

obligor ” on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note Guarantees, respectively.

 

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction .

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

 

(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(5) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;

 

(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

 

29


(7) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

 

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01 Form and Dating .

 

(a) General . The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form of Exhibits A1 and A2 hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

(b) Global Notes . Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibits A1 or A2 hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

 

(c) Temporary Global Notes . Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S will be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which will be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted Period will be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of:

 

(1) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b) hereof); and

 

(2) an Officers’ Certificate from the Company.

 

30


Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note will be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Trustee will cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

 

(3) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable . The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication .

 

At least one Officer must sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.

 

A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee will, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer (an “ Authentication Order ”), authenticate Notes for original issue that may be validly issued under this Indenture, including any Additional Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Company pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent .

 

The Company will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“ Paying Agent ”). The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ( “DTC” ) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

 

31


The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes. For so long as the Trustee shall act as Registrar and Paying Agent, the office or agency referenced above for the Registrar and Paying Agent shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .

 

The Company will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

Section 2.05 Holder Lists .

 

The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

 

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange .

 

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if:

 

(1) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;

 

(2) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global Note be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act; or

 

(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

 

32


Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

 

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(1).

 

(2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

 

(A) both:

 

(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

 

(ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

 

(B) both:

 

(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

 

33


(ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above;

 

provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903 under the Securities Act.

 

Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(2) shall be deemed to have been satisfied. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

 

(3) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note . A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note or the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

 

(C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

 

(4) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note . A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and:

 

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, represents that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

34


(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

 

(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

 

(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above.

 

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

 

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes .

 

(1) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes . If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

 

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

35


(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

 

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

 

(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

 

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

 

(G) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

 

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and, upon the receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

 

(2) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes . Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(1)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

 

(3) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:

 

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, represents that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

36


(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

 

(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

 

(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(4) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company will execute and, upon the receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

37


(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests .

 

(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes . If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

 

(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

 

(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

 

(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

 

(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

 

(G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

 

the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.

 

(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes . A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an

 

38


Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:

 

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, represents that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

 

(i) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

 

(ii) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

 

(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes . A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

 

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(B), (2)(D) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note

 

39


has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes . Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).

 

(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes . Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

 

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

 

(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:

 

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, represents that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(C) any such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

40


(D) the Registrar receives the following:

 

(i) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

 

(ii) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

 

(f) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate:

 

(1) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; and

 

(2) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company.

 

Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company will execute and, upon the receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

 

41


(g) Legends . The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

(1) Private Placement Legend .

 

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

 

THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (1) (a) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (d) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC. THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR (e) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER OF THE SECURITY SO REQUESTS), (2) TO THE ISSUER OF THE SECURITY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.

 

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(3) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

(2) Global Note Legend . Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS

 

42


HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

 

(3) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend . The Regulation S Temporary Global Note will bear a Legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.”

 

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes . At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

 

(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

 

43


(2) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15, 4.19 and 9.05 hereof).

 

(3) The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

(4) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(5) Neither the Registrar nor the Company will be required:

 

(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;

 

(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or

 

(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

 

(6) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(7) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

 

(8) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

 

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes .

 

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the

 

44


Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

 

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes .

 

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(a) hereof.

 

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

 

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.

 

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes .

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any Guarantor, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes .

 

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 2.11 Cancellation .

 

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of

 

45


transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest .

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) will mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

46


ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee .

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth:

 

(1) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;

 

(2) the redemption date;

 

(3) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and

 

(4) the redemption price.

 

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased .

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption or purchase on a pro rata basis unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements.

 

In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.

 

The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 for amounts greater than $2,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

 

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 12 hereof.

 

The notice will identify the Notes to be redeemed and will state:

 

(1) the redemption date;

 

(2) the redemption price;

 

47


(3) the amount of accrued interest and Liquidated Damages, if any;

 

(4) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

(5) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(6) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(7) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(8) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

 

(9) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however , that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (or such earlier date that the Company and the Trustee mutually agree to), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption .

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.

 

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price .

 

One Business Day prior to the redemption or purchase date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly, and in any event within two (2) Business Days after payment has been made on all such Notes being redeemed or purchased, return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

 

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid

 

48


principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part .

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.

 

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption .

 

(a) At any time prior to November 15, 2007, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 100% plus the Applicable Eurodollar Rate then in effect of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds from one or more sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or a contribution to the Company’s common equity capital made with the net cash proceeds from one or more sales of Equity Interests of the Company’s direct parent; provided that:

 

(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and

 

(2) the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such sale of Equity Interests.

 

(b) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to November 15, 2007.

 

(c) On or after November 15, 2007, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

2007

   104.000 %

2008

   102.000 %

2009 and thereafter

   100.000 %

 

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

 

(d) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

49


Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption .

 

The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds .

 

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company is required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”), it will follow the procedures specified below.

 

The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “ Offer Period ”). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Purchase Date ”), the Company will apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount” ) to the purchase of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

 

If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

 

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company will send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:

 

(1) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer will remain open;

 

(2) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

 

(3) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment will continue to accrue interest;

 

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

 

(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples of $1,000 only;

 

(6) that Holders electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;

 

50


(7) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

 

(8) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company will select the Notes and other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, will be purchased); and

 

(9) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

 

On or before the Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent (acting pursuant to the written instructions of the Company), as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five Business Days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.

 

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

Section 3.10 Offer to Purchase by Application of Equity Sale Proceeds .

 

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.19 hereof, the Company is required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “ Equity Sale Offer ”), it will follow the procedures specified below.

 

The Equity Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets. The Equity Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “ Equity Sale Offer Period ”). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Equity Sale Offer Period (the “ Equity Sale Purchase Date ”), the Company will apply the Equity Sale Proceeds (the “Equity Sale Offer Amount” ) to the purchase of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Equity Sale Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered in response to

 

51


the Equity Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

 

If the Equity Sale Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Equity Sale Offer.

 

Upon the commencement of an Equity Sale Offer, the Company will send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Equity Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Equity Sale Offer, will state:

 

(1) that the Equity Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.10 and Section 4.19 hereof and the length of time the Equity Sale Offer will remain open;

 

(2) the Equity Sale Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Equity Sale Purchase Date;

 

(3) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment will continue to accrue interest;

 

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Equity Sale Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

 

(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Equity Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples of $1,000 only;

 

(6) that Holders electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to any Equity Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;

 

(7) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Equity Sale Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

 

(8) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the Equity Sale Offer Amount, the Company will select the Notes and other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, will be purchased); and

 

(9) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

 

52


On or before the Equity Sale Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Equity Sale Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Equity Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.10. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent (acting pursuant to the written instructions of the Company), as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five Business Days after the Equity Sale Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Equity Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.

 

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes .

 

The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, then due. The Company will pay all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency .

 

The Company will maintain in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency if such office or agency is not the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however , that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve

 

53


the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the City of Wilmington, Delaware for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency if such office or agency is not the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

 

Section 4.03 Reports .

 

(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders of Notes (at the sole cost and expense of the Company), within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations:

 

(1) all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such reports; and

 

(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

 

If the Company wishes to cause the Trustee to furnish any such reports on its behalf, the Company shall provide such reports in final form to the Trustee at least five (5) Business Days prior to the time such reports are required to be provided to the Holders of Notes along with written direction to furnish such reports to the Holders of Notes. The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to prepare any such reports nor shall the Trustee have any duty or obligation to verify their accuracy or determine if they have been prepared in accordance with this Indenture or any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

 

All such reports shall be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations applicable to such reports. Each annual report on Form 10-K will include a report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements by the Company’s certified independent accountants. In addition, following the consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will file a copy of each of the reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations applicable to such reports (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and will post the reports on its website within those time periods. The Company will at all times comply with TIA § 314(a).

 

If, at any time after consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is no longer subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding paragraphs of this covenant with the SEC to the extent it would have to do so if it were required to make such filings within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Company will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept the Company’s filings for any reason, the Company will post the reports referred to in the preceding paragraphs on its website within the time periods that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC.

 

If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraphs will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial

 

54


condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

In addition, the Company and the Guarantors agree that, for so long as any notes remain outstanding, if at any time they are not required to file with the SEC the reports required by the preceding paragraphs, they will furnish to the holders of notes and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate .

 

(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture and the security documents, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and the security documents and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture or the security documents (or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 above shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Company’s independent public accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

 

(c) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.05 Taxes .

 

The Company will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

55


Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws .

 

The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.07 Restricted Payments .

 

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

 

(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (other than any such Equity Interests owned by the Company, the Guarantors or a Restricted Subsidiary);

 

(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Disqualified Stock or any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except the payment of interest or principal or liquidation preference at the Stated Maturity of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock thereof; or

 

(4) make any Restricted Investment

 

(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”),

 

unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

 

(1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment;

 

(2) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional

 

56


Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

 

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of this Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (10) and (12) of paragraph (b) of this Section 4.07), is less than the sum, without duplication of:

 

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter commencing after the date of this Indenture to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); plus

 

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, and the Fair Market Value of any asset or property, received by the Company since the date of this Indenture as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company); plus

 

(C) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date of this Indenture is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any); plus

 

(D) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company designated as such after the date of this Indenture is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation; plus

 

(E) 100% of any dividends received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after the date of this Indenture from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company, to the extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period.

 

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:

 

(1) the payment of any dividend or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2) the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the substantially concurrent contribution of common equity capital to the Company; provided that the amount of

 

57


any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded from clause (3)(B) of Section 4.07(a) hereof;

 

(3) the prepayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock;

 

(4) the payment of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

 

(5) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company, the Parent Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any current or former officer, director or employee of the Company, the Parent Guarantor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’ agreement or similar agreement; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $2.5 million in any twelve-month period with amounts not used in any twelve-month period being carried forward to the subsequent twelve-month period; and provided , further , that such amount in any twelve-month period may be increased in an amount not to exceed (a) the cash proceeds from the issue or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to any such officers, directors, employees or consultants that occurs after the Issue Date to the extent proceeds from the issue or sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to make Restricted Payments plus (b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance received by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

 

(6) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options;

 

(7) the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued on or after the date of this indenture in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof;

 

(8) in the event of a Change of Control, and so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, any purchase or redemption of Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee that is required to be repurchased or redeemed pursuant to the terms thereof as a result of such Change of Control, at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the outstanding principal amount thereof (plus accrued and unpaid interest); provided that, prior to such repayment or repurchase, the Company shall have made a Change of Control Offer with respect to the notes as required by this Indenture, and the Company shall have repurchased all Notes validly tendered for payment and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer;

 

(9) after the completion of an Asset Sale Offer pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (including the purchase of all notes tendered), and so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, any purchase or redemption of Indebtedness of the

 

58


Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee that is required to be repurchased or redeemed pursuant to the terms thereof as a result of such Asset Sale, at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof (plus accrued and unpaid interest) with any Excess Proceeds that remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer; provided that, prior to such repayment or repurchase, the Company shall have made the Asset Sale Offer with respect to the Notes as required by this Indenture, and the Company shall have repurchased all Notes validly tendered for payment and not withdrawn in connection with such Asset Sale Offer;

 

(10) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5.0 million since the date of this Indenture;

 

(11) Permitted Payments to Parent; and

 

(12) any payment by the Company on behalf of the Parent pursuant to the Advisory Services Agreement; provided that if on the date of any such payment the Company’s Secured Leverage Ratio exceeds 3.5 to 1.0, the amount of any such payment taken together with the aggregate amount of all payments made pursuant to the Advisory Services Agreement in the prior twelve-month period shall not exceed $1.5 million.

 

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Board of Directors’ determination must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the Fair Market Value exceeds $15.0 million.

 

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries .

 

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and Credit Facilities as in effect on the date of this Indenture and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals,

 

59


supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date of this Indenture;

 

(2) this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees;

 

(3) applicable law, rule, regulation or order;

 

(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

 

(5) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts and licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof;

 

(7) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending the sale or other disposition;

 

(8) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

(9) Liens permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof;

 

(10) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such agreements; and

 

(11) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(12) customary nonassignment provisions in leases to the extent such provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or the property leased thereunder.

 

Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock .

 

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “ incur ”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired

 

60


Debt), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided , however , that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, and the Subsidiary Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue preferred stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued, as the case may be, would have been at least (a) 2.25 to 1 if the date of such incurrence or issuance is on or prior to November 15, 2007, or (b) 2.50 to 1 if the date of such incurrence or issuance is after November 15, 2007, in each case determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the Disqualified Stock or the preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

 

(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

 

(1) the incurrence by the Company and any Guarantor of Indebtedness and letters of credit under Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of this Indenture to repay any Priority Lien Debt pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof or (y) the Borrowing Base as of the date of such incurrence;

 

(2) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

 

(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued on the date of this Indenture and the Exchange Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation, lease or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, within 365 days of such purchase, construction, installation, lease or improvement, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed $10.0 million at any time outstanding;

 

(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) hereof or clauses (2), (3), (4), (5) or (14) of this Section 4.09(b);

 

61


(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however , that:

 

(A) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is not the Company or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; and

 

(B) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

 

(7) the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that:

 

(A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

(B) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

 

will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (7);

 

(8) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the Credit Facilities;

 

(9) the guarantee by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Notes, then the Guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu , as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;

 

(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances, performance, surety bonds and other similar obligations in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is covered within five business days;

 

(12) Obligations from agreements to provide for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, earn-outs or other similar obligations, or from guarantees or

 

62


letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing the performance of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of the assets of the Company or the assets or Capital Stock of a Person that is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that the maximum aggregate liability in connection with any such disposition in respect of all such Indebtedness will at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

 

(13) the incurrence of any unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations;

 

(14) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Guarantors of additional unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (14), not to exceed $10.0 million; and

 

(15) all monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising out of any cash management, depository or other investment services provided by the Priority Lien Agent, any holder of Priority Lien Debt or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

The Company will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however , that no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a first or junior Lien basis.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (15) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Company will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this covenant. Indebtedness under Credit Facilities, including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement, outstanding or entered into on the date on which Notes are first issued and authenticated under this Indenture will initially be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt. The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the reclassification of preferred stock as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09; provided , in each such case, that the amount of any such accrual, accretion or payment is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.

 

63


The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

 

(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

 

(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness; and

 

(3) in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:

 

(A) the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and

 

(B) the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person.

 

Section 4.10 Asset Sales .

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

 

(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

(2) at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following shall be deemed to be cash:

 

(A) any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability;

 

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 180 days of the Asset Sale, converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion; and

 

(C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C), not to exceed the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 5% of Total Assets at the time of receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; and

 

64


(D) any stock or assets of the kind referred to in clauses (2) or (4) of the third paragraph of this Section 4.10.

 

The 75% limitation referred to in clause (2) above will not apply to any Asset Sale in which the cash or Cash Equivalents portion of the consideration received therefrom, determined in accordance with the preceding provision, is equal to or greater than what the after-tax proceeds would have been had such Asset Sale complied with the aforementioned 75% limitation.

 

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale other than a Sale of Collateral, the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply such Net Proceeds:

 

(1) to repay (without any requirement to permanently reduce) Priority Lien Debt;

 

(2) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of, another Permitted Business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, the Permitted Business is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(3) to make a capital expenditure; or

 

(4) to acquire other assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.

 

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale that constitutes a Sale of Collateral, the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary that owns the assets as the case may be) may apply those Net Proceeds to purchase or invest in other long-term assets that would constitute Collateral or repay (without any requirement to permanently reduce) Priority Lien Debt.

 

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the third or fourth paragraphs of this Section 4.10 will constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, within 10 days thereof, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets in accordance with Section 3.09 hereof to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.10, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be

 

65


deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.10 by virtue of such compliance.

 

Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates .

 

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each an “ Affiliate Transaction ”), unless:

 

(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

 

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

 

(A) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $2.5 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) of this Section 4.11(a) and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company; and

 

(B) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $15.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Company or such Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view or that such transaction is on terms no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction on an arm’s-length basis from a Person not an Affiliate of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.

 

(b) The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.11(a) hereof:

 

(1) any employment agreement, employee benefit plan, officer or director indemnification agreement or any similar arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and payments pursuant thereto;

 

(2) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company) that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a Restricted Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;

 

(4) payment of reasonable directors’ fees to Persons who are not otherwise Affiliates of the Company;

 

66


(5) any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to Affiliates of the Company;

 

(6) Restricted Payments that do not violate Section 4.07 hereof;

 

(7) any merger of the Company or Restricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose and with the sole effect of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction;

 

(8) transactions with joint venture partners in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are fair to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Company or the senior management thereof, or on at terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time in arms’ length dealings with a Person who is not an Affiliate;

 

(9) any payments made by the Company under the Advisory Services Agreement and any other transactions involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the one hand and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, which transactions, in the reasonable determination of the Company’s Board of Directors, are on commercially reasonable terms;

 

(10) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Subsidiaries;

 

(11) Permitted Parent Payments;

 

(12) the forgiveness of any loans to any officers of the Parent or the Company which are described in the Offering Memorandum; and

 

(13) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $3.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding (in addition to any such loans described in the Offering Memorandum).;

 

Section 4.12 Liens .

 

The Company will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless all payments due under this Indenture and the Notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

 

Section 4.13 Business Activities .

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

Section 4.14 Corporate Existence .

 

Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:

 

(1) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary; and

 

67


(2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control .

 

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company will make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer” ) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (the “Change of Control Payment” ). Within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

 

(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;

 

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 10 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date” );

 

(3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

 

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Paying Agent at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and

 

(7) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to a minimum of $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000.

 

68


The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change in Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Sections 3.09 or 4.15 hereof, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.15 by virtue of such compliance.

 

(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

 

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

The Paying Agent will promptly mail (but in any case not later than five Business Days after the Change of Control Payment Date) to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Company shall issue and execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided , that each new Note will be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.15, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.15 and Section 3.09 hereof and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

 

Section 4.16 Payments for Consent .

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

 

Section 4.17 Additional Note Guarantees .

 

If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another Domestic Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, then the Company will cause that newly acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary to execute a Note Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee and deliver an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee within 10 Business

 

69


Days of the date on which it was acquired or created to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by that Domestic Subsidiary and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of that Domestic Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to customary exceptions), upon which Opinion of Counsel the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely; provided that any Domestic Subsidiary that constitutes an Immaterial Subsidiary need not become a Guarantor until such time as it ceases to be an Immaterial Subsidiary. The form of such Note Guarantee is attached as Exhibit E hereto.

 

Section 4.18 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries .

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as Unrestricted will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 hereof or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if that redesignation would not cause a Default.

 

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof, upon which resolution of the Board of Directors the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 hereof, the Company will be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

 

Section 4.19 Equity Sales .

 

(a) If the Company or its direct parent sells, issues or otherwise transfers Equity Interests of the Company or its direct parent, as the case may be, for cash or Cash Equivalents in a public offering registered with the SEC pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or otherwise relating to equity interests issuable under any employee benefit plan of the Company or its direct parent) (each such sale, issuance or transfer, an “ Equity Sale ”), the Company will, within 10 days of the consummation of any such sale, issuance or other transfer, use an amount equal to 35% of the gross proceeds from such sale, issuance or other transfer (the “ Equity Sale Proceeds ”) to make an Equity Sale Offer in accordance with Section 3.10 hereof to all holders of notes and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem such Parity Lien Debt with the proceeds of

 

70


sales of equity to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Equity Sale Proceeds. The offer price in any Equity Sale Offer will be equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash (the “ Equity Sale Payment ”). If any Equity Sale Proceeds remain after consummation of an Equity Sale Offer, the Company may use those Equity Sale Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture, including any redemption of Notes permitted by Section 3.07 hereof. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Equity Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Equity Sale Proceeds, the Trustee will select the notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Equity Sale Offer, the amount of Equity Sale Proceeds will reset at zero.

 

(b) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Equity Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Sections 3.10 or 4.19 hereof, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.10 hereof or this Section 4.19 by virtue of such compliance.

 

Section 4.20 Limitation on Capital Expenditures .

 

If the Company’s Secured Leverage Ratio exceeds 3.25 to 1.0 as of its most recently ended fiscal year for which financial information is available, the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make or commit to make any Capital Expenditure, except Capital Expenditures of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries not exceeding in the following fiscal year the lesser of (a) the sum of (x) $4.0 million and (y) 65% of that portion of the Company’s Consolidated Cash Flow exceeding $27.0 million for the most recently ended fiscal year for which financial information is available and (b) $15.0 million, with up to an aggregate of $2.0 million of any such amount not used in any fiscal year after 2006 being carried forward to the immediately succeeding fiscal year; provided that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to make or commit to make Capital Expenditures of up to (A) $6.0 million in the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2005 and (B) $14.0 million in the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006; provided, further that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to use the net cash proceeds from a sale of Equity Interests and the receipt of any insurance proceeds for Capital Expenditures, subject to Section 4.19 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets .

 

The Company shall not, directly or indirectly: (i) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation); or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

 

(1) either:

 

(A) the Company is the surviving entity; or

 

(B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer,

 

71


conveyance or other disposition has been made is a entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided, that if such entity is a partnership or limited liability company, such entity has at least one Restricted Subsidiary that is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, which corporation becomes a co-issuer of the notes pursuant to a supplemental indenture duly and validly executed by the Trustee;

 

(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(4) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, either:

 

(A) would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; or

 

(B) would have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

 

In addition, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets of it and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person. This Section 5.01 will not apply to:

 

(1) a merger of the Company with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction; or

 

(2) any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted .

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company

 

72


under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however , that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of the Company’s assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01 Events of Default .

 

Each of the following is an “ Event of Default ”:

 

(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to, the Notes;

 

(2) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes;

 

(3) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class with the provisions of Sections 4.10, 4.15 and 4.19 hereof (other than the failure to purchase Notes);

 

(4) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture;

 

(5) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, if that default:

 

(A) is caused by a failure to pay principal on such Indebtedness by the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “ Payment Default ”); or

 

(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity,

 

and, in each case other than with respect to the acceleration of any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10.0 million or more;

 

(6) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $20.0 million, excluding amounts covered by insurance or indemnities which in the reasonable

 

73


judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company are provided by creditworthy parties, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days

 

(7) the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(A) except as permitted by this Indenture, any security document ceases for any reason to be fully enforceable; provided, that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (7)(A) if the result of the failure of one or more security documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such security documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens;

 

(B) any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any security document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens (except for any failure arising from an action or inaction by any collateral agent or Priority Lien Agent); or

 

(C) the Company or any other Pledgor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any other Pledgor set forth in or arising under any security document; and

 

(8) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

 

(A) commences a voluntary case,

 

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(C) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

 

(E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

 

(9) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

 

74


(B) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

 

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

 

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

 

(10) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

 

Section 6.02 Acceleration .

 

In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (8) or (9) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.

 

Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all of the Holders, rescind an acceleration and its consequences, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

 

Section 6.03 Other Remedies .

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

75


Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults .

 

Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase); provided, however , that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.05 Control by Majority .

 

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits .

 

Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, when due, no holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to this indenture or the Notes unless:

 

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

(2) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

(5) Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

 

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

 

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment .

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or

 

76


to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee .

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on, the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.10 Priorities .

 

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

First : to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

Second : to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any and interest, respectively; and

 

Third : to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

77


The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

 

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs .

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee .

 

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(1) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

 

(2) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(3) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it from the Holders of the requisite percentage of the principal amount of the then outstanding Notes relating to the time, method and

 

78


place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.

 

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01.

 

(e) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

(f) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee .

 

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and will be protecting in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

 

(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

 

(f) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it or security against the losses, liabilities and expenses that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(g) the Trustee will not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it will be entitled to examine the books, records, and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

79


(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

(i) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(j) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

 

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee .

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

 

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer .

 

The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults .

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes .

 

(a) Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

 

80


(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes will be mailed by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange and in any event prior to the time the Trustee is required to provide such report to the SEC and each applicable stock exchange.

 

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity .

 

(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder pursuant to a separate fee agreement between the Company and the Trustee. The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

(b) The Company and the Guarantors will, on a joint and several basis indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantors, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to the Trustee’s negligence or bad faith. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Company or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

(d) To secure the Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(8) or (9) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

(f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee .

 

(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

 

81


(b) The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

 

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

 

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(3) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may, at the sole cost and expense of the Company petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(e) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the retiring Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc .

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification .

 

There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

82


This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

 

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The Company may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

 

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

 

(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;

 

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4) this Article 8.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

 

83


Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19 and 4.20 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3) through 6.01(5) hereof will not constitute Events of Default.

 

84


Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance .

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:

 

(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on, the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

 

(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that:

 

(A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

 

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

 

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(6) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others; and

 

85


(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

The Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the Notes, as provided in Section 10.09 hereof upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with the provisions described above.

 

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

 

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “ Trustee ”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Section 8.06 Repayment to Company .

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

86


Section 8.07 Reinstatement .

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Note Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however , that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes .

 

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees without the consent of any Holder of Note:

 

(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

(3) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees by a successor to the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11 hereof;

 

(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder;

 

(5) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

 

(6) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated November 7, 2005, relating to the initial offering of the Notes, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes;

 

(7) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the date hereof;

 

(8) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes; or

 

(9) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by this Indenture or any of the security documents or any release of Collateral that becomes effective as set forth in this Indenture or any of the security documents.

 

87


Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 and Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes .

 

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 3.09, 3.10, 4.10, 4.15 and 4.19 hereof) and the Notes and the Note Guarantees with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.02.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 and Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.

 

It is not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

88


(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 4.19 hereof);

 

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note;

 

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

 

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the Notes;

 

(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Sections 3.09, 3.10, 4.10, 4.15 or 4.19 hereof);

 

(8) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

 

(9) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

 

In addition, any amendment to, or waiver of, the provisions of this Indenture or any security document that has the effect of releasing all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes will require the consent of the Holders of at least 66  2 / 3 % in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

 

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .

 

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in a amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents .

 

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes .

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee

 

89


shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

 

The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amended or supplemental indenture until the Board of Directors of the Company approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04 hereof, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 10

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

 

Section 10.01 Security Documents .

 

The due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest and Liquidated Damages (to the extent permitted by law), if any, on the Notes and performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders of Notes or the Trustee under this Indenture and the Notes, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, are secured as provided in the security documents which the Company has entered into simultaneously with the execution of this Indenture and which is attached as Exhibits G-J hereto. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of the security documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into the security documents and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. The Company will deliver to the Trustee copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the security documents, and will do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be necessary or proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the security documents, to assure and confirm to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent the security interest in the Collateral contemplated hereby, by the security documents or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purposes herein expressed. The Company will take, and will cause its Subsidiaries to take, upon request of the Trustee, any and all actions reasonably required to cause the security documents to create and maintain, as security for the Obligations of the Company hereunder, a valid and enforceable perfected second priority Lien in and on all the security documents Collateral, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Notes, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons and subject to no other Liens than Permitted Liens.

 

Section 10.02 Equal and Ratable Sharing of Collateral by Holders of Parity Lien Debt .

 

Notwithstanding: (1) anything to the contrary contained in the Security Documents; (2) the time of incurrence of any Series of Parity Lien Debt; (3) the order or method of attachment or perfection of any

 

90


Liens securing any Series of Parity Lien Debt; (4) the time or order of filing or recording of any financing statements, security agreements, mortgages or other documents filed or recorded to perfect any Lien upon any Collateral; (5) the time of taking possession or control over any Collateral; (6) that any Parity Lien may not have been perfected or may be or have become subordinated, by equitable subordination or otherwise, to any other Lien; or (7) the rules for determining priority under any law governing relative priorities of Liens:

 

(a) all Parity Liens granted at any time by the Company or any other Pledgor will secure, equally and ratably, all present and future Parity Lien Obligations; and

 

(b) all proceeds of all Parity Liens granted at any time by the Company or any other Pledgor will be allocated and distributed equally and ratably on account of the Parity Lien Debt and other Parity Lien Obligations.

 

This Section 10.01 is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each present and future Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Agent as holder of Parity Liens. The Parity Lien Representative of each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

Section 10.03 Recording and Opinions .

 

(a) The Company will furnish to the Trustee simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Indenture an Opinion of Counsel either:

 

(1) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all action has been taken with respect to the recording, registering and filing of this Indenture, financing statements or other instruments necessary to make effective the Lien intended to be created by the security documents, and reciting with respect to the security interests in the Collateral, the details of such action; or

 

(2) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to make such Lien effective.

 

(b) The Company will furnish to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee on November 15 in each year beginning with November 15, 2006, an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of such date, either:

 

(1) (A) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, action has been taken with respect to the recording, registering, filing, re-recording, re-registering and re-filing of all supplemental indentures, financing statements, continuation statements or other instruments of further assurance as is necessary to maintain the Lien of the security documents and reciting with respect to the security interests in the Collateral the details of such action or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given, and (B) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, based on relevant laws as in effect on the date of such Opinion of Counsel, all financing statements and continuation statements have been executed and filed that are necessary as of such date and during the succeeding 12 months fully to preserve and protect, to the extent such protection and preservation are possible by filing, the rights of the Holders of Notes and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee hereunder and under the security documents with respect to the security interests in the Collateral;

 

91


(2) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to maintain such Lien and assignment.

 

(c) The Company will otherwise comply with the provisions of TIA §314(b).

 

Section 10.04 Certificates of the Company .

 

The Company will furnish to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, prior to each proposed release of Collateral pursuant to the security documents:

 

(1) all documents required by TIA §314(d); and

 

(2) an Opinion of Counsel, which may be rendered by internal counsel to the Company, to the effect that such accompanying documents constitute all documents required by TIA §314(d).

 

The Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Sections 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the appropriate statements contained in such documents and such Opinion of Counsel.

 

Section 10.05 Certificates of the Trustee .

 

In the event that the Company wishes to release Collateral in accordance with the security documents and has delivered the certificates and documents required by the security documents and Sections 10.03 and 10.04 hereof, the Trustee will determine whether it has received all documentation required by TIA § 314(d) in connection with such release and, based on such determination and the Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 10.04(2) hereof, will deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent setting forth such determination.

 

Section 10.06 Relative Rights .

 

Nothing in the Note Documents will:

 

(a) impair, as between the Company and the Holders of the Notes, the obligation of the Company to pay principal of, premium and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes in accordance with their terms or any other obligation of the Company or any other Pledgor;

 

(b) affect the relative rights of Holders of Notes as against any other creditors of the Company or any other Pledgor (other than holders of Priority Liens, Permitted Prior Liens or other Parity Liens);

 

(c) restrict the right of any Holder of Notes to sue for payments that are then due and owing (but not enforce any judgment in respect thereof against any Collateral to the extent specifically prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreement);

 

(d) restrict or prevent any Holder of Notes or any other Parity Lien Obligations, the Collateral Agent or any Parity Lien Representative from exercising any of its rights or remedies upon a Default or Event of Default not specifically restricted or prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement; or

 

92


(e) restrict or prevent any Holder of Notes or any other Parity Lien Obligations, the Collateral Agent or any Parity Lien Representative from taking any lawful action in an insolvency or liquidation proceeding not specifically restricted or prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Section 10.07 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .

 

The Company will comply with the provisions of TIA §314.

 

To the extent applicable, the Company will cause TIA §313(b), relating to reports, and TIA §314(d), relating to the release of property or securities subject to the Lien of the security documents, to be complied with. Any certificate or opinion required by TIA §314(d) may be made by an Officer of the Company except in cases where TIA §314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent Person, which Person will be an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert selected by or reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph, the Company will not be required to comply with all or any portion of TIA §314(d) if it determines, in good faith based on advice of counsel, that under the terms of TIA §314(d) and/or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the SEC and its staff, including “no action” letters or exemptive orders, all or any portion of TIA §314(d) is inapplicable to one or a series of released Collateral.

 

Section 10.08 Further Assurances; Insurance .

 

(a) The Company and each of the other Pledgors will do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Agent from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Agent holds, for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected Parity Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets that are acquired or otherwise become Collateral after the Notes are issued), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Parity Lien Documents.

 

Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Company and each of the other Pledgors will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as will be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

(b) The Company and the other Pledgors will:

 

(1) keep their properties adequately insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations;

 

(2) maintain such other insurance, to such extent and against such risks (and with such deductibles, retentions and exclusions), including fire and other risks insured against by extended coverage and coverage for acts of terrorism, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, including public liability insurance against claims for personal injury or death or property damage occurring upon, in, about or in connection with the use of any properties owned, occupied or controlled by them;

 

(3) maintain such other insurance as may be required by law;

 

93


(4) maintain title insurance on all real property Collateral insuring the Collateral Agent’s Parity Lien on that property, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens and other exceptions to title approved by the Collateral Agent; provided that title insurance need only be maintained on any particular parcel of real property having a Fair Market Value of less than $1.0 million if and to the extent title insurance is maintained in respect of Priority Liens on that property; and

 

(5) maintain such other insurance as may be required by the security documents.

 

(c) Upon the request of the Collateral Agent, the Company and the other Pledgors will furnish to the Collateral Agent full information as to their property and liability insurance carriers. The Collateral Agent will be named as an additional insured, with a waiver of subrogation, on all insurance policies of the Company and the other Pledgors and the Collateral Agent to be named as loss payee, with 30 days’ notice of cancellation or material change, on all property and casualty insurance policies of the Company and the other Pledgors.

 

Section 10.09 Release of Liens in Respect of Notes .

 

The Collateral Agent’s Parity Liens upon the Collateral will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under this Indenture or any other Obligations under this Indenture, and the right of the holders of the Notes and such Obligations to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Agent’s Parity Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged:

 

(a) upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as set forth under Article 12 hereof;

 

(b) upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes as set forth under Article 8 hereof;

 

(c) upon payment in full and discharge of all Notes outstanding under this Indenture and all Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under this Indenture at the time the Notes are paid in full and discharged;

 

(d) in whole or in part, with the consent of the Holders of the requisite percentage of Notes in accordance with Article 9 hereof; or

 

(e) in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.7 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Each of the security documents will terminate upon release of all of the Collateral in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.09.

 

ARTICLE 11

NOTE GUARANTEES

 

Section 11.01 Guarantee .

 

(a) Subject to this Article 11, each of the Guarantors and the Parent Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

(1) the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on, the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or

 

94


otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

(2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

 

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

(b) The Guarantors and the Parent Guarantor hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor and the Parent Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(c) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, the Parent Guarantor or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company, the Guarantors or the Parent Guarantor, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

(d) Each Guarantor and the Parent Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor and the Parent Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors and the Parent Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors and the Parent Guarantor for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors and the Parent Guarantor will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantee.

 

Section 11.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability .

 

Each Guarantor and the Parent Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor or the Parent Guarantor, as applicable, not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders, the Guarantors and the Parent Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the

 

95


obligations of such Guarantor or Parent Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor or Parent Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor or Parent Guarantor under this Article 11, result in the obligations of such Guarantor or Parent Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

Section 11.03 Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee .

 

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 hereof, each Guarantor and the Parent Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto will be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor or the Parent Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor or the Parent Guarantor by one of its Officers.

 

Each Guarantor and the Parent Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee will be valid nevertheless.

 

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors or the Parent Guarantor.

 

In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries creates or acquires any Domestic Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, if required by Section 4.17 hereof, the Company will cause such Domestic Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.17 hereof and this Article 11, to the extent applicable.

 

Section 11.04 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms .

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05 hereof, no Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless:

 

(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(2) either:

 

(a) subject to Section 11.05 hereof, the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under this Indenture, its Note Guarantee and the Registration Rights Agreement on the terms set forth herein or therein, pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee; or

 

96


(b) the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation, Section 4.10 hereof.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

In making its determination pursuant to this Section 11.04, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and conclusively rely upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that (a) such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance complies with the terms of this Indenture in all material respects, and (b) the applicable supplemental indenture (i) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is enforceable against the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (the “New Guarantor”), and (ii) will cause all of the obligations of the applicable Guarantor under this Indenture, its Note Guarantee and the Registration Rights Agreement to be fully and completely assumed by such New Guarantor or that such New Guarantor will succeed to and be substituted for the applicable Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.

 

Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses 2(a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or will prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.

 

Section 11.05 Releases .

 

(a) In the event of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transactions) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee will execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

 

97


(b) Upon designation of any Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, such Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee.

 

(c) Upon Legal Defeasance in accordance with Article 8 hereof or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 12 hereof, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee.

 

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee as provided in this Section 11.05 will remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 11.

 

ARTICLE 12

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 12.01 Satisfaction and Discharge .

 

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:

 

(1) either:

 

(a) all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(b) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

 

(2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

 

(3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

 

(4) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

98


In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

 

The Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the notes, as provided in Section 10.09 hereof, upon a satisfaction and discharge in accordance with the provisions described above.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 12.01, the provisions of Sections 12.02 and 8.06 hereof will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 12.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

Section 12.02 Application of Trust Money .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 12.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls .

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA §318(c), the imposed duties will control.

 

99


Section 13.02 Notices .

 

Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Corporate Office

2101 91st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attn: Vice President of Finance (or with respect to notices of default only, General Counsel)

Telephone No.: 201-624-3440

Facsimile No.: 201-868-0727

 

With a copy to:

 

Bear Stearns Merchant Banking

383 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10179

Attn: Peter Cureton

Facsimile No.: 201-272-7245

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

153 East 53rd Street

New York, New York 10022

Attn: Vincent J. Pisano, Esq.

Telephone: (212) 446-4800

Telecopy No.: (212) 446-4900

 

If to the Trustee:

Wilmington Trust Company

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19890

Facsimile No.: (302) 636-4140

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

 

The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication will also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

100


If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Section 13.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes .

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

 

Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(1) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

 

Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and must include:

 

(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents .

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders .

 

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations

 

101


or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

Section 13.08 Governing Law .

 

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

Section 13.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 13.10 Successors .

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05 hereof.

 

Section 13.11 Severability .

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 13.12 Counterpart Originals .

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

Section 13.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc .

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

102


SIGNATURES

 

Dated as of November 15, 2005

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.
By:   /s/ Cosmo LaForgia
   

Name:

  Cosmo LaForgia
    Title:   VP-Finance
VS HOLDINGS INC.
By:   /s/ Cosmo LaForgia
   

Name:

  Cosmo LaForgia
    Title:   VP-Finance
VS DIRECT INC.
By:   /s/ Cosmo LaForgia
   

Name:

  Cosmo LaForgia
    Title:   VP-Finance
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
By:   /s/ Joann A. Rozell
   

Name:

  Joann A. Rozell
    Title:   Assistant Vice President


[Face of Note]


 

CUSIP/CINS ____________

 

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

No. ___    $____________

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

 

promises to pay to [              ] or registered assigns,

 

the principal sum of __________________________________________________________ DOLLARS on November 15, 2012.

 

Interest Payment Dates: February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15

 

Record Dates: February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1

 

Dated: _______________, 200_

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.
By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
By:    
    Authorized Signatory

 


 

A1-1


[Back of Note]

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

(1) I NTEREST . Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate equal to the Applicable Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the Indenture) in effect from time to time per annum from ________, 200_ until maturity and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be _____________, 20__. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

(2) M ETHOD OF P AYMENT . The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent, provided, further , that the Company reserves the right to pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, by check mailed directly to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders maintained by the Registrar. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

A1-2


(3) P AYING A GENT AND R EGISTRAR . Initially, Wilmington Trust Company, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

(4) I NDENTURE AND S ECURITY D OCUMENTS . The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of November 15, 2005 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are secured obligations of the Company. The Notes are secured by a second-priority Lien in the Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, as further described in the Indenture. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder, however, any proceeds from the issuance of Additional Notes may only be used to repay Priority Lien Debt.

 

(5) O PTIONAL R EDEMPTION .

 

(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the Company will not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to November 15, 2007. On or after November 15, 2007, the Company will have the option to redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

2007

   104.00 %

2008

   102.00 %

2009 and thereafter

   100.00 %

 

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to November 15, 2007, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price 100% plus the Applicable Eurodollar Rate then in effect of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any to the redemption date with the net cash proceeds of one or more sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; provided that at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and that such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such sale of Equity Interests.

 

A1-3


(6) M ANDATORY R EDEMPTION .

 

The Company is not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

(7) R EPURCHASE AT THE O PTION OF H OLDER .

 

(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

 

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within ten days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will commence an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and such other Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and other Parity Lien Debt tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

(c) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Equity Sales, within ten days of the consummation of any such Equity Sale, the Company will use an amount equal to 35% of the gross proceeds from such Equity Sale to make an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of equity (an “ Equity Sale Offer ”) pursuant to Section 3.10 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and such other Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Equity Sale Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase in accordance with the procedures set forth in the indenture. To the extent that any Equity Sale Proceeds remain after the consummation of

 

A1-4


an Equity Sale Offer, the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary) may use those Equity Sale Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Equity Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Equity Sale Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Equity Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

(8) N OTICE OF R EDEMPTION . Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction or discharge of the Indenture. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.

 

(9) D ENOMINATIONS , T RANSFER , E XCHANGE . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

(10) P ERSONS D EEMED O WNERS . The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

(11) A MENDMENT , S UPPLEMENT AND W AIVER . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event or Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees in case of a merger or consolidation or a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s assets, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to conform the text of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated November 7, 2005, relating to the initial offering of the Notes, to

 

A1-5


the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes; to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture, to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes, to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the indenture or any of the security documents or any release of Collateral that becomes effective as set forth in the indenture or any of the security documents.

 

(12) D EFAULTS AND R EMEDIES . Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes, (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class with Section 4.10, 4.15 or 4.19 of the Indenture (other than the failure to purchase notes); (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes including Additional Notes, if any, then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which default is (a) caused by a failure to pay principal un such Indebtedness by the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and in each case of (a) and (b) other than with respect to the acceleration of any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10.0 million or more; (vi) certain final judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $20.0 million, excluding amounts covered by insurance or indemnities which in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company are provided by creditworthy parties, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (vii) the occurrence of any of the following: (a) except as permitted by the Indenture, any security document ceases for any reason to be fully enforceable; provided, that it will not be an Event of Default under the indenture if the result of the failure of one or more security documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such security documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; (b) any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any security document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; or (c) the Company or any other Pledgor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any other Pledgor set forth in or arising under any security document; (viii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary and (ix) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor or any Person acting on its behalf denies or disaffirms its obligations under such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due

 

A1-6


and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any,) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

(13) T RUSTEE D EALINGS WITH C OMPANY . The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

(14) N O R ECOURSE A GAINST O THERS . A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

(15) A UTHENTICATION . This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

(16) A BBREVIATIONS . Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

(17) A DDITIONAL R IGHTS OF H OLDERS OF R ESTRICTED G LOBAL N OTES AND R ESTRICTED D EFINITIVE N OTES . In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 15, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”).

 

(18) CUSIP N UMBERS . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such

 

A1-7


numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

(19) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Corporate Office

2101 91st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attn: Vice President of Finance (or with respect to notices of default only, General Counsel)

 

A1-8


A SSIGNMENT F ORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:    
    (Insert assignee’s legal name)
 
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
 
 
 
 
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint ______________________________________________________________ to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date: _______________

 

Your Signature: _______________________________________

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*: _________________________

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A1-9


O PTION OF H OLDER TO E LECT P URCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10, 4.15 or 4.19 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

¨   Section 4.10                     ¨   Section 4.15                     ¨   Section 4.19

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10, Section 4.15 or Section 4.19 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$_______________

 

Date: _______________

 

Your Signature: _______________________________________

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Tax Identification No.: __________________________________

 

Signature Guarantee*: _________________________

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A1-10


S CHEDULE OF E XCHANGES OF I NTERESTS IN THE G LOBAL N OTE *

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange


 

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount

of this Global Note


 

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount

of this Global Note


 

Principal Amount

of this Global Note

following such

decrease

(or increase)


 

Signature of authorized
officer of Trustee or
Custodian


                 

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form .

 

A1-11


[Face of Note]


 

CUSIP/CINS ____________

 

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

No. ___    $____________

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

 

promises to pay to [                  ] or registered assigns,

 

the principal sum of __________________________________________________________ DOLLARS on November 15, 2012.

 

Interest Payment Dates: February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15

 

Record Dates: February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1

 

Dated: _______________, 200_

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.
By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
By:    
    Authorized Signatory

 


 

A2-1


[Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]

Second Priority Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.

 

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, [CEDE & CO.], HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (1) (a) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A

 

A2-2


TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (d) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC. THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR (e) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER OF THE SECURITY SO REQUESTS), (2) TO THE ISSUER OF THE SECURITY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.

 

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

(1) I NTEREST . Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate equal to the Applicable Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the Indenture) in effect from time to time per annum from ________, 200_ until maturity and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be _____________, 20__. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for one or more Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be entitled to receive payments of interest hereon;

 

A2-3


until so exchanged in full, this Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled to the same benefits as other Notes under the Indenture.

 

(2) M ETHOD OF P AYMENT . The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without t the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent, provided, further , that the Company reserves the right to pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, by check mailed directly to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders maintained by the Registrar. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

(3) P AYING A GENT AND R EGISTRAR . Initially, Wilmington Trust Company, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

(4) I NDENTURE AND S ECURITY D OCUMENTS . The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of November 15, 20005 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are secured obligations of the Company. The Notes are secured by a second-priority Lien in the Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, as further described in the Indenture. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder, however, any proceeds from the issuance of Additional Notes may only be used to repay Priority Lien Debt.

 

(5) O PTIONAL R EDEMPTION .

 

(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the Company will not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to November 15, 2007. On or after November 15, 2007, the Company will have the option to redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

2007

   104.00 %

2008

   102.00 %

2009 and thereafter

   100.00 %

 

A2-4


Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to November 15, 2007, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 100% plus the Applicable Eurodollar Rate than in effect of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any to the redemption date with the net cash proceeds of one or more sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified stock) of the Company; provided that at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and that such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such sale of Equity Interests.

 

(6) M ANDATORY R EDEMPTION .

 

The Company is not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

(7) R EPURCHASE AT THE O PTION OF H OLDER .

 

(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

 

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within ten days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will commence an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Party Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and such other Pairty Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and other Pairty Lien Debt Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose

 

A2-5


not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Pairty Lien Debt tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

(c) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Equity Sales, within ten days of the consummation of any such Equity Sale, the Company will use an amount equal to 35% of the gross proceeds from such Equity Sale to make an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of equity (an “ Equity Sale Offer ”) pursuant to Section 3.10 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and such other Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Equity Sale Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase in accordance with the procedures set forth in the indenture. To the extent that any Equity Sale Proceeds remain after the consummation of an Equity Sale Offer, the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary) may use those Equity Sale Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Equity Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Equity Sale Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Equity Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

(8) N OTICE OF R EDEMPTION . Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction or discharge of the Indenture. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.

 

(9) D ENOMINATIONS , T RANSFER , E XCHANGE . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

A2-6


This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in part for one or more Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of the 40-day distribution compliance period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon presentation of certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if applicable) required by Article 2 of the Indenture. Upon exchange of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for one or more Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel this Regulation S Temporary Global Note.

 

(10) P ERSONS D EEMED O WNERS . The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

(11) A MENDMENT , S UPPLEMENT AND W AIVER . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event or Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees in case of a merger or consolidation or a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s assets, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to conform the text of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated November 7, 2005, relating to the initial offering of the Notes, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes; to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture, to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes, to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the indenture or any of the security documents or any release of Collateral that becomes effective as set forth in the indenture or any of the security documents.

 

(12) D EFAULTS AND R EMEDIES . Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes, (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class with Section 4.10, 4.15 or 4.19 of the Indenture (other than the failure to purchase notes); (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes including Additional Notes, if any, then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which default is (a) caused by a failure to pay principal un such Indebtedness by the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and in each case of (a) and (b) other than with respect to the acceleration of any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the principal amount

 

A2-7


of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10.0 million or more; (vi) certain final judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $20.0 million, excluding amounts covered by insurance or indemnities which in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company are provided by creditworthy parties, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (vii) the occurrence of any of the following: (a) except as permitted by the Indenture, any security document ceases for any reason to be fully enforceable; provided, that it will not be an Event of Default under the indenture if the result of the failure of one or more security documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such security documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; (b) any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any security document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; or (c) the Company or any other Pledgor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any other Pledgor set forth in or arising under any security document; (viii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary and (ix) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor or any Person acting on its behalf denies or disaffirms its obligations under such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any,) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

(13) T RUSTEE D EALINGS WITH C OMPANY . The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

(14) N O R ECOURSE A GAINST O THERS . A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the

 

A2-8


Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

(15) A UTHENTICATION . This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

(16) A BBREVIATIONS . Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

(17) A DDITIONAL R IGHTS OF H OLDERS . In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 15, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”).

 

(18) CUSIP N UMBERS . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

(19) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Corporate Office

2101 91st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attn: Vice President of Finance (or with respect to notices of default only, General Counsel)

 

A2-9


Assignment Form

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:    
    (Insert assignee’s legal name)
 
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
 
 
 
 
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint _________________________________________________________________ to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date: _______________

 

Your Signature: __________________________________________

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*: _________________________

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A2-10


O PTION OF H OLDER TO E LECT P URCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10, 4.15 or 4.19 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

¨   Section 4.10                     ¨   Section 4.15                     ¨   Section 4.19

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10, Section 4.15 or Section 4.19 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$_______________

 

Date: _______________

Your Signature: __________________________________________

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Tax Identification No.: _____________________________________

 

Signature Guarantee*: _________________________

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A2-11


S CHEDULE OF E XCHANGES OF I NTERESTS IN THE R EGULATION S T EMPORARY G LOBAL N OTE

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for an interest in another Global Note, or exchanges of a part of another other Restricted Global Note for an interest in this Regulation S Temporary Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange


 

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount

of this Global Note


 

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount

of this Global Note


 

Principal Amount

of this Global Note

following such

decrease

(or increase)


 

Signature of authorized
officer of Trustee or
Custodian


                 

 

A2-12


EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Corporate Office

2101 91st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attn: Vice President of Finance

 

Wilmington Trust Company

[Insert address]

 

  Re: Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2005 (the “ Indenture ”), among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., as issuer (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

___________________, (the “ Transferor ”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Transfer ”), to ___________________________ (the “ Transferee ”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

 

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

 

1. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A . The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

2. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, the Regulation S Permanent Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S . The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the

 

B-1


proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

3. ¨ Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S . The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

 

(a) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

 

or

 

(b) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

 

or

 

(c) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

 

or

 

(d) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

4. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note .

 

(a) ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144 . (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement

 

B-2


Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(b) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S . (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(c) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption . (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

   
[Insert Name of Transferor]

 

By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   

 

Dated: _______________________

 

B-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

 

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a) ¨ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

 

  (ii) ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

 

  (iii) ¨ IAI Global Note (CUSIP _________); or

 

  (b) ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

 

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a) ¨ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

 

  (ii) ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

 

  (iii) ¨ IAI Global Note (CUSIP _________); or

 

  (iv) ¨ Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP _________); or

 

  (b) ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c) ¨ an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

 

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-4


EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Corporate Office

2101 91st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attn: Vice President of Finance

 

Wilmington Trust Company

[Insert Address]

 

  Re: Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

(CUSIP ____________)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2005 (the “ Indenture ”), among Vitamin Shoppe Industries, Inc. as issuer (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

__________________________, (the “ Owner ”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Exchange ”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

 

1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

 

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note . In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note . In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(c) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note . In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is

 

C-1


being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(d) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note . In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

 

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note . In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ¨ 144A Global Note, ¨ Regulation S Global Note, ¨ IAI Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

C-2


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

   
[Insert Name of Transferor]

 

By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   

 

Dated: ______________________

 

C-3


FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Corporate Office

2101 91st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attn: Vice President of Finance

 

Wilmington Trust Company

[Insert Address]

 

  Re: Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2005 (the “ Indenture ”), among Vitamin Shoppe Industries, Inc., as issuer (the “ Company ”), the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

In connection with our proposed purchase of $____________ aggregate principal amount of:

 

  (a) ¨ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

 

  (b) ¨ a Definitive Note,

 

we confirm that:

 

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

 

2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

 

3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies

 

D-1


with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

 

4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

 

5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

 

You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

   
[Insert Name of Accredited Investor]

 

By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   

 

Dated: _______________________

 

D-2


EXHIBIT E

 

[FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE]

 

For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of November 15, 2005 (the “ Indenture ”) among Vitamin Shoppe Industries, Inc. (the “Company” ), the Guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on, the Notes, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee, on behalf of such Holder, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided, however , that the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note Guarantee shall cease to be so subordinated and subject in right of payment upon any defeasance of this Note in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

[N AME OF G UARANTOR ( S )]
By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   

 

E-1


EXHIBIT F

 

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

 

S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of ________________, 200__, among __________________ (the “ Guaranteeing Subsidiary ”), a subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe Industries, Inc. (or its permitted successor), a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

 

WITNESSETH

 

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of November 15, 2005 providing for the issuance of Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “ Note Guarantee ”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

1. C APITALIZED T ERMS . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

2. A GREEMENT TO G UARANTEE . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 11 thereof.

 

4. N O R ECOURSE A GAINST O THERS . No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

5. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

6. C OUNTERPARTS . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

F-1


7. E FFECT OF H EADINGS . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

8. T HE T RUSTEE . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.

 

F-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

Dated: _______________, 20___

 

[G UARANTEEING S UBSIDIARY ]
By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   
[E XISTING G UARANTORS ]
By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   

[T RUSTEE ],

as Trustee

By:    
   

Authorized Signatory

 

F-3


EXHIBIT G

 

[FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT]

 

G-1


EXHIBIT H

 

[FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT]

 

H-1


EXHIBIT I

 

[FORM OF COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT]

 

I-1


EXHIBIT J

 

[FORM OF TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT]

 

J-1

Exhibit 4.2

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of November 15, 2005

by and among

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO

 

and

 

BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.

ROTHSCHILD INC.


This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of November 15, 2005, by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), the guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (the “ Guarantors ”) and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Banc of America Securities LLC, Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Rothschild Inc. (each, an “ Initial Purchaser ” and, collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company’s Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “ Initial Notes ”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated November 7, 2005 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Initial Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 10 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2005 (the “ Indenture ”), among the Company, the Guarantors and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, relating to the Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes (as defined below).

 

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Act : The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Affiliate : As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.

 

Broker-Dealer : Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

 

Business Day : Any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutes in The City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

 

Closing Date : The date hereof.

 

Commission : The Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Consummate : An Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

Consummation Deadline : As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.

 

Effectiveness Deadline : As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.


Exchange Act : The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Notes : The Company’s Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.

 

Exchange Offer : The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of Initial Notes that are properly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders in connection with such exchange and issuance, as required by the terms of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement : The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, (i) that is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) including the Prospectus included therein, and (iii) including all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Filing Deadline : As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.

 

Holders : As defined in Section 2 hereof.

 

Market Making Shelf Registration : As defined in Section 5 hereof.

 

Market Making Shelf Registration Statement : As defined in Section 5 hereof.

 

Person : Means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

 

Prospectus : The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

 

Recommencement Date : As defined in Section 7(d) hereof.

 

Registration Default : As defined in Section 6 hereof.

 

Registration Statement : The Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any Secondary Offer Registration Statement, as applicable.

 

Rule 144 : Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.

 

Secondary Offer Registration Statement : means (i) the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof and/or (ii) the Market Making Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 5

 

2


hereof, in each case, as applicable. As used herein, references to a Secondary Offer Registration Statement in the singular shall, if applicable, be deemed to be in the plural.

 

Shelf Registration Statement : As defined in Section 4 hereof.

 

Suspension Notice : As defined in Section 7(d) hereof.

 

Suspension Period : The period of time (a) that the Company may delay filing and distributing (i) a post-effective amendment to (x) the Shelf Registration Statement or (y) after the date on which the Exchange Offer is Consummated, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that is required to be effective to permit resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below or (ii) a supplement to any related Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders or purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading if the Company determines reasonably and in good faith that compliance with the disclosure obligations necessary to maintain the effectiveness of such Registration Statement at such time would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or a pending financing, acquisition, disposition, merger or other material corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries (it being understood that, in the case of this clause (a), the Company shall be required to proceed in good faith to amend such Registration Statement or supplement to such related Prospectus to describe such events or to otherwise cause such Registration Statement to become effective and the related Prospectus to again be usable at such time as so doing would not have such a material adverse effect), or (b) when (i) the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) after the date on which the Exchange Offer is Consummated, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that is required to remain effective to permit resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below, in each case, ceases to be effective or any related Prospectus is not usable solely because the Company filed a post-effective amendment to any such Registration Statement to include annual audited financial information with respect to the Company and such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related Prospectus (it being understood that, in the case of this clause (b), the Company shall be required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such post-effective amendment to become effective as soon as practicable); provided that such Suspension Periods shall not occur more than 45 consecutive days, or more than 90 days in the aggregate; and provided further that upon the termination of such Suspension Period, the Company shall promptly advise each Holder and purchaser and, if requested by any such person, confirm such advice in writing that such Suspension Period has been terminated.

 

TIA : The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.

 

Transfer Restricted Securities : Each Initial Note until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Initial Note has been exchanged in the Exchange Offer by a Person other than a Broker-Dealer for an Exchange Note entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of an Initial Note for an Exchange Note,

 

3


the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Initial Note has been effectively registered under the Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement (and the purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange Notes) or (d) the date on which such Initial Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144.

 

SECTION 2. HOLDERS

 

A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a Holder ) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER

 

(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 7(a)(i) below have been complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission no later than 210 days after the Closing Date (such 210th day being the Filing Deadline ), and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective no later than 270 days after the Closing Date (such 270th day being the “ Effectiveness Deadline ”). The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the Initial Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer Initial Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.

 

(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 40 Business Days thereafter, or longer, if required by the federal securities laws (such 40th (or longer) day being the “ Consummation Deadline ”).

 

(c) The Company shall include a “Plan of Distribution” section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such “Plan of Distribution”

 

4


section shall also contain all other information with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the date of this Agreement.

 

Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Exchange Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and Guarantors shall permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 7(a) and (c) hereof and subject to any applicable Suspension Period and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer is Consummated or such shorter period ending on the date when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto; provided, however , that if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement ceases to be effective during any Suspension Period, such 180-day period shall be extended by the number of days such Suspension Period continued. The Company and the Guarantors shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request.

 

SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION

 

(a) Shelf Registration . If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not (A) required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (B) permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the procedures set forth in Section 7(a)(i) below) or (ii) any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities notifies the Company prior to 20 Business Days following Consummation of the Exchange Offer (but not prior to the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) that (A) such Holder was prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates, then, upon such Holder’s request, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

 

(x) use commercially reasonable efforts on or prior to 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement will not be or cannot be, as the case may be, filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above (30 days

 

5


after such earlier date, the “ Filing Deadline ”), to file a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including the Prospectus included therein and all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein, the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”)), relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities, and

 

(y) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days after the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 90th day, the “ Effectiveness Deadline ”).

 

If, after the Company and the Guarantors have filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company and the Guarantors are required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e., clause (a)(i)(B) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above; provided that, in such event, the Company and the Guarantors shall remain obligated to meet the Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).

 

To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 7(b)(ii) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 7(b) and (c) hereof and subject to any Suspension Period and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of two years (as extended pursuant to Section 7(d) hereof) following the Closing Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto or when all Initial Notes or Exchange Notes cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement . No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, the information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of the Act, and other information reasonably requested by the Company for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.

 

6


SECTION 5. MARKET MAKING SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

The Company shall file under the Securities Act, prior to or on the date that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (or in lieu thereof, the Shelf Registration Statement) becomes or is declared effective, a “shelf” registration statement (which may be the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement if permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission) pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission providing for the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or delayed basis in secondary transactions by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. of, Transfer Restricted Securities (in the event of a Shelf Registration Statement) or Exchange Notes (in the event of an Exchange Offer) (such filing, the “ Market Making Shelf Registration ”, and such registration statement, the “ Market Making Shelf Registration Statement ”). The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Market Making Shelf Registration Statement to become or be declared effective on or prior to (i) the date the Exchange Offer is completed pursuant to Section 3(a) above or (ii) the date the Shelf Registration Statement becomes or is declared effective pursuant to Section 4(a) above, and to keep such Market Making Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for so long as Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. may be required to deliver a prospectus in connection with transactions in the Transfer Restricted Securities or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be. In the event that Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. holds Securities at the time an Exchange Offer is to be conducted under Section 3(a) above, the Company agrees that the Market Making Shelf Registration shall provide for the resale by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. of such Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Market Making Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until such time as Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. determines in its reasonable judgment that it is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with the sale of such Securities.

 

SECTION 6. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES

 

If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose, except during any Suspension Period (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a Registration Default ), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay, subject to Section 4(b) hereof, to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each day that the Registration Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages for all Registration Defaults of $.50 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall in no event be required to pay liquidated damages for more than one Registration Default at any

 

7


given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, any Secondary Offer Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, any Secondary Offer Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease accruing.

 

All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which liquidated damages are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to pay liquidated damages with respect to securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to such securities shall have been satisfied in full.

 

SECTION 7. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

 

(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement . In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors, and in the case of clause (z)(ii) of this Section 7(a), each Holder (as applicable), shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions of Section 7(c) below, (y) use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange so long as it is necessary to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that properly tendered in the Exchange Offer Initial Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of the following provisions:

 

(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree either to (x) seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities or (y) file, in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement to permit the registration and/or resale of the Transfer Restricted Securities that would otherwise be covered by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement but for the announcement of a change in Commission policy. In the case of clause (x) above, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level, but shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable actions in connection therewith. In connection with the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other reasonable actions as may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation

 

8


(A) participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff.

 

(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Holder who is a Broker-Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request of the Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement), prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company and the Guarantors (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and (D) only if such Holder is a Broker-Dealer that will receive Exchange Notes in exchange for Initial Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market-making or other trading activities, it will deliver a Prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any sale of such Exchange Notes. In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Company’s preparations for the Exchange Offer. As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K.

 

(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall, upon request of the Commission, provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best

 

9


of the Company’s and each Guarantor’s information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.

 

(b) Secondary Offer Registration Statement . In connection with any Secondary Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Secondary Offer Registration Statement to permit the disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities by the holders thereof, in the case of the Shelf Registration Statement, and of Transfer Restricted Securities or Exchange Notes by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., in the case of a Market Making Shelf Registration, in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof provided for in the applicable Secondary Offer Registration Statement. In connection therewith, the Company shall:

 

(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 7(c) below and use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the reasonable intended methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with such reasonable intended methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof; and

 

(ii) issue to any Holder or purchaser of Initial Notes covered by any Secondary Offer Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, upon the request of any such Holder or purchaser, registered Initial Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes, in the names as such Holder or purchaser shall designate.

 

(c) General Provisions . In connection with any Registration Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

 

(i) use commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the periods specified in Sections 3, 4 or 5 hereof, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of 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 or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file as soon as reasonably practicable, subject to any applicable Suspension Period, an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement to cure such defect, and, if Commission review is required, use

 

10


commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable.

 

(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable periods set forth in Sections 3, 4 or 5 hereof, as the case may be; subject to any applicable Suspension Period, cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed as and to the extent required pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the reasonable intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

(iii) advise promptly (x) each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities named in any Secondary Offer Registration Statement (each, a “ Shelf Holder ”) (solely to the extent the provisions of this clause (iii) apply to a Secondary Offer Registration Statement) and (y) each Holder that is a Broker-Dealer that tendered into the Exchange Offer Initial Notes acquired by such Broker-Dealer for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (solely to the extent the provisions of this clause (iii) apply to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement), and, if requested by any such Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed (other than any Prospectus supplement that names a Holder as a selling securityholder therein and other than the first filing of the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement), and, with respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective (other than the initial effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement), (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (E) of any Suspension Period. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky

 

11


laws, the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

 

(iv) subject to Section 7(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated by Section 7(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare as soon as reasonably practicable, subject to any applicable Suspension Period, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an 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, not misleading;

 

(v) furnish to counsel for the Initial Purchasers provided in Section 8(b) and to each Shelf Holder, in each case, in connection with such exchange or sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement (in the case of such counsel) or of any Secondary Offer Registration Statement (in the case of any such Shelf Holder) or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including, upon request, all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and comment of such counsel or, if applicable, such Shelf Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least three Business Days, and the Company will reasonably consider any comments timely provided by such counsel or, if applicable, any such Shelf Holder; provided that the Company need not furnish (x) any amendment or supplement to any Registration Statement that solely names a Holder as a selling securityholder therein or (y) the first filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; provided further, however , that the Company shall furnish to any Shelf Holder any amendment or supplement to an effective Secondary Offer Registration Statement that names such Shelf Holder as a selling securityholder therein;

 

(vi) upon request, prior to the filing of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus in connection with such exchange or sale, if any, provide copies of such document to counsel for the Initial Purchasers provided in Section 8(b) and, in connection with any Secondary Offer Registration Statement, each Shelf Holder; provided that this requirement shall not be applicable to any document to be filed by the Company in connection with its periodic reporting requirements under the Exchange Act, including with respect to reports to be filed on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q or Form 10-K;

 

(vii) in connection with any underwritten offering pursuant to a Secondary Offer Registration Statement, make available upon reasonable request, at reasonable times, for inspection by Holders of at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Secondary Offer Registration Statement (the “ Majority Holders ”) and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders solely for the purpose of conducting a due diligence investigation in connection with such underwritten offering, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of

 

12


the Company and the Guarantors and cause the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Majority Holders, attorney or accountant in connection with such Secondary Offer Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness; provided that any Holder or representative thereof requesting or receiving such information shall agree to be bound by reasonable confidentiality agreements and procedures with respect thereto;

 

(viii) if reasonably requested by any Holders in connection with such exchange or sale, include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to have included therein that is required by the federal securities laws to be so included, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(ix) upon request, furnish to each Shelf Holder in connection with such registration or sale, without charge, at least one copy of the Secondary Offer Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);

 

(x) upon request, deliver to each Holder without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; provided that any such copies shall only be provided to (x) Shelf Holders and (y) Broker-Dealers in order to permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy its prospectus delivery requirement; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with and as required by law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(xi) in connection with an underwritten offering pursuant to a Secondary Offer Registration Statement, upon the reasonable request of the Majority Holders, enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such representations and warranties and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement. In such connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

 

(A) upon the reasonable request of the Majority Holders, furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be furnished), upon the consummation of such underwritten offering:

 

(1) to the Holders participating in such underwritten offering, a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor by (x) the President or any Vice President and (y) a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof, such matters as the Majority Holders may reasonably request;

 

13


(2) to the Holders participating in such underwritten offering, an opinion, dated the date of consummation of such underwritten offering, of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors in customary form and covering such matters customarily provided to selling securityholders in an underwritten offering and such other matters as the Majority Holders may reasonably request; and

 

(3) to each underwriter of such underwritten offering, a customary comfort letter, dated the date of consummation of such underwritten offering, from the Company’s independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings; and

 

(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders to evidence compliance with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in any agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi), if any;

 

(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Secondary Offer Registration Statement, cooperate with the Shelf Holders and their counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Shelf Holders may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;

 

(xiii) if certificated securities are permitted pursuant to the Indenture, in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as the selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;

 

14


(xiv) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;

 

(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed global certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;

 

(xvi) otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including Rule 158 under the Act; and

 

(xvii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders 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 commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

 

(d) Restrictions on Holders . Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof or of any applicable Suspension Period (in each case, a “ Suspension Notice ”), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the “ Recommencement Date ”). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession which have been replaced by the Company with more recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by a number of days equal to the number of days in the period from and including the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice to the Recommencement Date.

 

15


SECTION 8. REGISTRATION EXPENSES

 

(a) All expenses incident to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and of one counsel for the Shelf Holders as a group, as selected by the Majority Holders; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (including any expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

 

The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors’ internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.

 

(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company and the Guarantors will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Latham & Watkins LLP, unless another firm shall be chosen by the Initial Purchasers.

 

SECTION 9. INDEMNIFICATION

 

(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder (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, liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a preliminary prospectus or Prospectus or any supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the Holders. In addition, the Company shall not be liable to any Holder under the indemnity agreement in this Section 9(a) to the extent, but only to the extent, that (1) such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission of a material fact contained in any

 

16


preliminary prospectus, which untrue statement or omission was completely corrected in the Prospectus and (2) the Company had previously furnished sufficient quantities of the Prospectus to such Holder in such amounts and within such period of time as required under this Agreement and (3) such Holder failed to deliver the Prospectus, if required by law to have so delivered it, and such delivery would have been a complete defense against the person asserting such loss, claim, damage or liability.

 

(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and their respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, or the Guarantors to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors set forth in Section 9(a) above, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In no event shall any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(a) or 9(b) (the “ indemnified party ”), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “ indemnifying person ”) in writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and the payment of all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to both Sections 9(a) and 9(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 9(c), but may employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as

 

17


they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 9(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 9(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected with its written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent if (a) the settlement is entered into more than twenty Business Days after the indemnifying party received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying party), (b) such indemnifying party received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 10 Business Days prior to such settlement being entered into and (c) such indemnifying party did not reimburse such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement; provided that an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any such settlement effected without its consent if such indemnifying party, prior to the date of such settlement, (1) provides written notice to the indemnified party that the indemnifying party disputes in good faith the reasonableness of the unpaid balance of such fees and expenses. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims that are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.

 

(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each 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, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 9(d)(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 9(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, 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 Company or such Guarantor, on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the

 

18


immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments 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 matter, including any action that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Holder, its directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages which such Holder 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 Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.

 

SECTION 10. RULE 144A AND RULE 144

 

The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the Company or such Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Act, and (ii) is subject to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144.

 

SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a) Remedies . The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their respective obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, any Initial Purchaser or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements . Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any

 

19


agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person that would require such securities to be included in any Registration Statement filed hereunder. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

 

(c) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 6 hereof and this Section 11(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer.

 

(d) Additional Guarantors . The Company shall cause any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) that becomes, prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, a Guarantor in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Indenture to become a party to this Agreement as a Guarantor. It is understood and agreed that if, prior to the Exchange Offer, a Guarantor that has executed this Agreement is no longer a Guarantor under the Indenture pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, such Guarantor shall no longer be a Guarantor for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(e) Third Party Beneficiary . The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

 

(f) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and

 

20


(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

2101 91 st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Facsimile No.: (201) 868-0727

Attention: General Counsel

 

With a copy to:

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Citigroup Center

153 East 53 rd Street

Facsimile No.: (212) 446-6460

Attention: Vincent J. Pisano, Esq.

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

 

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.

 

(g) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.

 

(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 an 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 NEW YORK, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.

 

21


(k) Severability . In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

(l) Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]

 

22


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

V ITAMIN S HOPPE I NDUSTRIES I NC .

By:

 

/s/ Cosmo LaForgia

   

Name:

 

Cosmo LaForgia

   

Title:

 

VP-Finance

VS H OLDINGS , I NC .

By:

 

/s/ Cosmo LaForgia

   

Name:

 

Cosmo LaForgia

   

Title:

 

VP-Finance

VS D IRECT I NC .

By:

 

/s/ Cosmo LaForgia

   

Name:

 

Cosmo LaForgia

   

Title:

 

VP-Finance

B EAR , S TEARNS  & C O . I NC .,

As representative of the Initial Purchasers

By:

 

/s/ James S. Wolfe

   

Name:

 

James Wolfe

   

Title:

 

Senior Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


SCHEDULE I

 

VS Holdings, Inc.

VS Direct Inc.

Exhibit 4.3

 

[Face of Note]

 

CUSIP/CINS                     

 

Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

No.             

   $                     

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

 

promises to pay to [              ] or registered assigns,

 

the principal sum of                                                                                                                                                 DOLLARS on November 15, 2012.

 

Interest Payment Dates: February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15

 

Record Dates: February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1

 

Dated:                      , 200     

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

WILMINGTON RUST COMPANY,

as Trustee

By:    
    Authorized Signatory


[Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]

Second Priority Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.

 

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, [CEDE & CO.], HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (1) (a) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A

 

2


TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (d) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC. THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR (e) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER OF THE SECURITY SO REQUESTS), (2) TO THE ISSUER OF THE SECURITY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.

 

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

(1) I NTEREST . Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate equal to the Applicable Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the Indenture) in effect from time to time per annum from              , 200_ until maturity and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be              , 20__. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for one or more Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be entitled to receive payments of interest hereon;

 

3


until so exchanged in full, this Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled to the same benefits as other Notes under the Indenture.

 

(2) M ETHOD O F P AYMENT . The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without t the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent, provided, further , that the Company reserves the right to pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, by check mailed directly to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders maintained by the Registrar. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

(3) P AYING A GENT AND R EGISTRAR . Initially, Wilmington Trust Company, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

(4) I NDENTURE AND S ECURITY D OCUMENTS . The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of November 15, 20005 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are secured obligations of the Company. The Notes are secured by a second-priority Lien in the Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, as further described in the Indenture. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder, however, any proceeds from the issuance of Additional Notes may only be used to repay Priority Lien Debt.

 

(5) O PTIONAL R EDEMPTION .

 

(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the Company will not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to November 15, 2007. On or after November 15, 2007, the Company will have the option to redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 15 of the years indicated below,

 

4


subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

2007

   104.00 %

2008

   102.00 %

2009 and thereafter

   100.00 %

 

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to November 15, 2007, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 100% plus the Applicable Eurodollar Rate than in effect of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any to the redemption date with the net cash proceeds of one or more sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified stock) of the Company; provided that at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and that such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such sale of Equity Interests.

 

(6) M ANDATORY R EDEMPTION .

 

The Company is not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

(7) R EPURCHASE AT THE O PTION OF H OLDER .

 

(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

 

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within ten days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will commence an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Party Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an “ Asset

 

5


Sale Offer ”) pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and such other Pairty Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and other Pairty Lien Debt Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Pairty Lien Debt tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

(c) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Equity Sales, within ten days of the consummation of any such Equity Sale, the Company will use an amount equal to 35% of the gross proceeds from such Equity Sale to make an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of equity (an “ Equity Sale Offer ”) pursuant to Section 3.10 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and such other Parity Lien Debt that may be purchased out of the Equity Sale Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase in accordance with the procedures set forth in the indenture. To the extent that any Equity Sale Proceeds remain after the consummation of an Equity Sale Offer, the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary) may use those Equity Sale Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into such Equity Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Equity Sale Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Equity Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

(8) N OTICE OF R EDEMPTION . Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction or discharge of the Indenture. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000

 

6


may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.

 

(9) D ENOMINATIONS , T RANSFER , E XCHANGE . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in part for one or more Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of the 40-day distribution compliance period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon presentation of certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if applicable) required by Article 2 of the Indenture. Upon exchange of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for one or more Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel this Regulation S Temporary Global Note.

 

(10) P ERSONS D EEMED O WNERS . The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

(11) A MENDMENT , S UPPLEMENT AND W AIVER . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event or Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees in case of a merger or consolidation or a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s assets, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to conform the text of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated November 7, 2005, relating to the initial offering of the Notes, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes; to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture, to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes, to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the indenture or any of the security documents or any release of Collateral that becomes effective as set forth in the indenture or any of the security documents.

 

7


(12) D EFAULTS AND R EMEDIES . Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes, (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class with Section 4.10, 4.15 or 4.19 of the Indenture (other than the failure to purchase notes); (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes including Additional Notes, if any, then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which default is (a) caused by a failure to pay principal un such Indebtedness by the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and in each case of (a) and (b) other than with respect to the acceleration of any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10.0 million or more; (vi) certain final judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $20.0 million, excluding amounts covered by insurance or indemnities which in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company are provided by creditworthy parties, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (vii) the occurrence of any of the following: (a) except as permitted by the Indenture, any security document ceases for any reason to be fully enforceable; provided, that it will not be an Event of Default under the indenture if the result of the failure of one or more security documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such security documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; (b) any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any security document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $20.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; or (c) the Company or any other Pledgor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any other Pledgor set forth in or arising under any security document; (viii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary and (ix) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor or any Person acting on its behalf denies or disaffirms its obligations under such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any,) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an

 

8


acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

(13) T RUSTEE D EALINGS WITH C OMPANY . The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

(14) N O R ECOURSE A GAINST O THERS . A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

(15) A UTHENTICATION . This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

(16) A BBREVIATIONS . Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

(17) A DDITIONAL R IGHTS OF H OLDERS . In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 15, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”).

 

(18) CUSIP N UMBERS . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

(19) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

9


The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Corporate Office 2101 91st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attn: Vice President of Finance (or with respect to notices of default only, General Counsel)

 

10


Assignment Form

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: 

    
     (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 


(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 


 


 


 


(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint _______________________________________________________________________________________ to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                             

 

Your Signature: 

   
   

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*:    

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

11


O PTION OF H OLDER TO E LECT P URCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10, 4.15 or 4.19 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

¨ Section 4.10

  

¨ Section 4.15

  

¨ Section 4.19

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10, Section 4.15 or Section 4.19 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$                     

 

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:

   
   

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Tax Identification No.: 

   

 

Signature Guarantee*:    

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

12


S CHEDULE OF E XCHANGES OF I NTERESTS IN THE R EGULATION S T EMPORARY

G LOBAL N OTE

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for an interest in another Global Note, or exchanges of a part of another other Restricted Global Note for an interest in this Regulation S Temporary Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange


  

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount

of this Global Note


  

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount

of this Global Note


  

Principal Amount

of this Global Note
following such
decrease

(or increase)


   Signature of authorized
officer of Trustee or
Custodian


 

13

Exhibit 5.1

June 13, 2006

VS Holdings, Inc.

c/o Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

2101 91 st Street

North Bergen, NJ 07047

Re: VS Holdings, Inc., Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and VS Direct Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are issuing this letter in our capacity as special counsel for and at the request of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. (the “Issuer”), a New York corporation, VS Holdings, Inc. and VS Direct, Inc. (together, the “Guarantors,” and together with the Issuer, the “Registrants”), in connection with the proposed registration by the Issuer of up to $165,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “Exchange Notes”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about June 13, 2006, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) (such Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”). The obligations of the Issuer under the Exchange Notes will be guaranteed by the Guarantors (the “Guarantees”). The Exchange Notes and the Guarantees are to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of November 15, 2005, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors, and The Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee. The Exchange Notes and the Guarantees are to be issued in exchange for and in replacement of the Issuer’s outstanding Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “Old Notes”) and the related guarantees from the Guarantors, of which we understand $165,000,000 in aggregate principal amount is outstanding.

In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion, including (i) the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Registrants, as those may have been amended and/or restated from time to time, (ii) minutes and records of the Registrants with respect to the issuance of the Exchange Notes and the Guarantees, (iii) the Registration Statement and (iv) the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), dated as of November 15, 2005, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and Bear Stearns, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Banc of America Securities LLC, Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Rothschild, Inc.

For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto other than the Registrants and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Registrants.


As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which we have not independently established or verified, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Registrants and others.

Our opinion expressed below is subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar law affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies, and (iv) any applicable laws except the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, assumptions and limitations and the further limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that when (i) the Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and (iii) the Exchange Notes have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof in exchange for the Old Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Exchange Notes and the Guarantees will be validly issued by the Issuer and each of the Guarantors, respectively, and will be binding obligations of each of the Registrants.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the present laws of the States of New York or Delaware or the federal law of the United States be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose.

Sincerely,

/s/ Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

 

2

Exhibit 10.1

 

[EXECUTION]

 

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

VS DIRECT INC.

as Borrowers

 

and

 

VS HOLDINGS, INC.

as Guarantor

 

THE LENDERS AND ISSUING BANK FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

 

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Administrative Agent

 

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

as Sole Lead Arranger, Manager and Bookrunner

 

Dated: November 15, 2005


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS    2
SECTION 2. CREDIT FACILITIES    35

2.1

   Loans    35

2.2

   Letters of Credit    35

2.3

   Increases or Reductions of the Maximum Credit    39

2.4

   Commitments    40

2.5

   Bank Products    41

2.6

   Joint and Several Liability    41
SECTION 3. INTEREST AND FEES    42

3.1

   Interest    42

3.2

   Fees    43

3.3

   Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans    44
SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT    47

4.1

   Conditions Precedent to Initial Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit    47

4.2

   Conditions Precedent to All Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit    50
SECTION 5. GRANT AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST    50

5.1

   Grant of Security Interest    50

5.2

   Perfection of Security Interests    52
SECTION 6. COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION    57

6.1

   Borrowers’ Loan Accounts    57

6.2

   Statements    57

6.3

   Collection of Accounts    58

6.4

   Payments    60

6.5

   Taxes    61

6.6

   Authorization to Make Revolving Loans    64

6.7

   Use of Proceeds    64

6.8

   Appointment of Administrative Borrower as Agent for Requesting Revolving Loans and Receipts of Revolving Loans and Statements    65

6.9

   Pro Rata Treatment    65

6.10

   Sharing of Payments, Etc.    65

6.11

   Settlement Procedures    66

6.12

   Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights    69

 

(i)


SECTION 7. COLLATERAL REPORTING AND COVENANTS    69

7.1

   Collateral Reporting    69

7.2

   Accounts Covenants    71

7.3

   Inventory Covenants    72

7.4

   Equipment and Real Property Covenants    72

7.5

   Intellectual Property Appraisal    73

7.6

   Power of Attorney    73

7.7

   Right to Cure    74

7.8

   Access to Premises    74
SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    75

8.1

   Corporate Existence, Power and Authority    75

8.2

   Name; State of Organization; Chief Executive Office; Collateral Locations    76

8.3

   Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change    76

8.4

   Priority of Liens; Title to Properties    76

8.5

   Tax Returns    77

8.6

   Litigation    77

8.7

   Compliance with Other Agreements and Applicable Laws    77

8.8

   Environmental Compliance    78

8.9

   Employee Benefits    79

8.10

   Bank Accounts    79

8.11

   Intellectual Property    79

8.12

   Subsidiaries; Capitalization; Solvency    80

8.13

   Labor Disputes    81

8.14

   Restrictions on Subsidiaries    81

8.15

   Material Contracts    82

8.16

   Credit Card Agreements    82

8.17

   Accuracy and Completeness of Information    82

8.18

   Survival of Warranties; Cumulative    83
SECTION 9. AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE COVENANTS    83

9.1

   Maintenance of Existence    83

9.2

   New Collateral Locations    83

9.3

   Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Etc.    84

9.4

   Payment of Taxes and Claims    85

9.5

   Insurance    85

9.6

   Financial Statements and Other Information    86

9.7

   Sale of Assets, Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, Etc.    88

9.8

   Encumbrances    92

9.9

   Indebtedness    94

9.10

   Loans, Investments, Etc.    100

9.11

   Dividends and Redemptions    102

9.12

   Transactions with Affiliates    104

9.13

   Compliance with ERISA    105

9.14

   End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters    105

 

(ii)


9.15

   Change in Business    105

9.16

   Limitation of Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries    105

9.17

   Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio    106

9.18

   Credit Card Agreements    106

9.19

   License Agreements    107

9.20

   Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc.    108

9.21

   After Acquired Real Property    108

9.22

   Costs and Expenses    108

9.23

   Further Assurances    109
SECTION 10. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES    111

10.1

   Events of Default    111

10.2

   Remedies    113
SECTION 11. JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS    117

11.1

   Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver    117

11.2

   Waiver of Notices    118

11.3

   Amendments and Waivers    118

11.4

   Waiver of Counterclaims    122

11.5

   Indemnification    122
SECTION 12. THE AGENT    122

12.1

   Appointment, Powers and Immunities    122

12.2

   Reliance by Agent    123

12.3

   Events of Default    123

12.4

   Wachovia in its Individual Capacity    124

12.5

   Indemnification    124

12.6

   Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders    124

12.7

   Failure to Act    125

12.8

   Additional Loans    125

12.9

   Concerning the Collateral and the Related Financing Agreements    126

12.10

   Field Audit, Examination Reports and other Information; Disclaimer by Lenders    126

12.11

   Collateral Matters    126

12.12

   Agency for Perfection    128

12.13

   Successor Agent    129

12.14

   Other Agent Designations    129
SECTION 13. TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS    129

13.1

   Term    129

13.2

   Interpretative Provisions    131

13.3

   Notices    132

13.4

   Partial Invalidity    133

13.5

   Confidentiality    134

 

(iii)


13.6

   Successors    135

13.7

   Assignments; Participations    135

13.8

   Entire Agreement    137

13.9

   USA Patriot Act    137

13.10

   Counterparts, Etc.    138

 

(iv)


INDEX

TO

EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Exhibit A

   Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit B

   Information Certificate

Exhibit C

   Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit D

   Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

Schedule 1.67

   Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 1.116

   Permitted Holders

Schedule 5.2(g)

   Commercial Tort Claims

Schedule 8.2

   Addresses

Schedule 8.4

   Liens

Schedule 8.6

   Litigation

Schedule 8.8

   Environmental Compliance

Schedule 8.10

   Bank Accounts

Schedule 8.11

   Intellectual Property

Schedule 8.12

   Affiliates and Subsidiaries, etc.

Schedule 8.13

   Collective Bargaining Agreements

Schedule 8.15

   Material Contracts

Schedule 8.16

   Credit Card Agreements

Schedule 9.8(n)

   Landlord Liens

Schedule 9.9

   Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 9.10

   Loans and Advances

 

(v)


LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This Loan and Security Agreement dated November 15, 2005 (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (“Vitamin Shoppe”), VS Direct Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VS Direct”, and together with Vitamin Shoppe, each individually a “Borrower” and collectively, “Borrowers” as hereinafter further defined), VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent” as hereinafter further defined), the parties hereto from time to time as lenders, whether by execution of this Agreement or an Assignment and Acceptance (each individually, a “Lender” and collectively, “Lenders” as hereinafter further defined) and Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as agent for Lenders (in such capacity, “Agent” as hereinafter further defined).

 

WITNESSETH :

 

WHEREAS, Borrowers and Guarantors (as such term is defined below) have requested that Agent and Lenders enter into financing arrangements with Borrowers pursuant to which Lenders may make loans and provide other financial accommodations to Borrowers;

 

WHEREAS, Borrowers and Guarantors have requested that Lenders make available a revolving credit facility to Borrowers, which shall be used by Borrowers to finance their mutual and collective enterprise of marketing and selling vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products and businesses related, incidental or complementary thereto. In order to utilize the financial powers of each Borrower in the most efficient and economical manner, and in order to facilitate the financing of each Borrower’s needs, Lenders will, at the request of any Borrower, make loans to all Borrowers under the revolving credit facility on a combined basis and in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth. Borrowers’ business is a mutual and collective enterprise, and Borrowers believe that the consolidation of all revolving credit loans under this Agreement will enhance the aggregate borrowing powers of each Borrower and ease the administration of their revolving credit loan relationship with Lenders, all to the mutual advantage of Borrowers. Lenders’ willingness to extend credit to Borrowers and to administer each Borrower’s collateral security therefor, on a combined basis as more fully set forth in this Agreement, is done solely as an accommodation to Borrowers and at Borrowers’ request in furtherance of Borrowers’ mutual and collective enterprise;

 

WHEREAS, each Lender is willing to agree (severally and not jointly) to make such loans and provide such financial accommodations to Borrowers on a pro rata basis according to its Commitment (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth herein and Agent is willing to act as agent for Lenders on the terms and conditions set forth herein and the other Financing Agreements;


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings given to them below:

 

1.1 “Accounts” shall mean, as to each Borrower and Guarantor, all present and future rights of such Borrower and Guarantor to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, which is not evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument, (a) for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, (c) for a secondary obligation incurred or to be incurred, or (d) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card.

 

1.2 “ACH Transactions” shall mean the automatic clearing house transfer of funds by Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates for the account of any Borrower or its Subsidiaries, in each case pursuant to agreements entered into with any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

1.3 “Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” shall mean, with respect to each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Loan comprising part of the same borrowing (including conversions, extensions and renewals), the rate per annum determined by dividing (a) the London Interbank Offered Rate for such Interest Period by (b) a percentage equal to: (i) one (1) minus (ii) the Reserve Percentage. For purposes hereof, “Reserve Percentage” shall mean for any day, that percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect from time to time under Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor), as such regulation may be amended from time to time or any successor regulation, as the maximum reserve requirement (including, any basic, supplemental, emergency, special, or marginal reserves) applicable with respect to Eurocurrency liabilities as that term is defined in Regulation D (or against any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate of Eurodollar Loans is determined), whether or not any Lender has any Eurocurrency liabilities subject to such reserve requirement at that time. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as such shall be deemed subject to reserve requirements without benefits of credits for proration, exceptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to a Lender. The Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the Reserve Percentage.

 

1.4 “Administrative Borrower” shall mean Vitamin Shoppe in its capacity as Administrative Borrower on behalf of itself and the other Borrowers pursuant to Section 6.8 hereof and its successors and assigns in such capacity.

 

1.5 “Advisory Services Agreement” shall mean the Advisory Services Agreement between Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC and Vitamin Shoppe dated as of November 27, 2002, as amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time.

 

1.6 “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, the term “control”

 

2


(including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by agreement or otherwise.

 

1.7 “Agent” shall mean Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as agent on behalf of Lenders pursuant to the terms hereof and any replacement or successor agent hereunder.

 

1.8 “Agent Payment Account” shall mean account no. 5000000030279 of Agent at Wachovia, or such other account of Agent as Agent may from time to time designate to Administrative Borrower as the Agent Payment Account for purposes of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements.

 

1.9 “Applicable Margin” shall mean, at any time during any fiscal quarter, as to the interest rate for Prime Rate Loans and the interest rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans, the applicable percentage (on a per annum basis) set forth below if the Quarterly Average Excess Availability for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter is at or within the amounts indicated for such percentage as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter:

 

Tier


  

Quarterly Average Excess Availability


   Applicable
Eurodollar Rate
Margin


    Applicable
Prime Rate
Margin


 

1

   Greater than $30,000,000    1.25 %   0 %

2

   Less than or equal to $30,000,000 and equal to or greater than $15,000,000    1.50 %   0 %

3

   Less than $15,000,000    1.75 %   0 %

 

provided , that , (i) the Applicable Margin shall be calculated and established once each fiscal quarter and shall remain in effect until adjusted thereafter after the end of such fiscal quarter, (ii) each adjustment of the Applicable Margin shall be effective as of the first day of a fiscal quarter based on the Quarterly Average Excess Availability for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter and (iii) the Applicable Margin through March 31, 2006 shall be the amount for Tier 2 set forth above.

 

1.10 “Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an Assignment and Acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (with blanks appropriately completed) delivered to Agent in connection with an assignment of a Lender’s interest hereunder in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.7 hereof.

 

1.11 “Availability Reserve” shall mean all Reserves other than Inventory Reserves.

 

3


1.12 “Authorized Officer” shall mean the individuals holding the position of President, Treasurer, Vice President of Finance, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of Administrative Borrower.

 

1.13 “Bank Products” shall mean any one or more of the following types of services or facilities extended to Borrower or its Subsidiaries by a Bank Product Provider: (a) credit cards, (b) ACH Transactions, (c) any overdrafts, cash management or related services, (d) foreign exchange contracts, and (e) Hedging Agreements, if and to the extent provided hereunder.

 

1.14 “Bank Product Providers” shall mean Agent, any Lender and any of their respective Affiliates that may, from time to time, provide any Bank Products to Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower.

 

1.15 “Bank Product Reserve” shall mean any and all reserves that Agent may establish from time to time with the written consent of Borrower, to reflect any obligations, liabilities or indebtedness (contingent or otherwise) of Borrower to Agent or any Bank Product Provider arising under or in connection with any Bank Products or as such Bank Product Provider may otherwise require in connection therewith to the extent that such obligations, liabilities or indebtedness constitute Obligations as such term is defined herein or otherwise receive the benefit of the security interest of Agent in the Collateral.

 

1.16 “Bear Affiliates” shall mean The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. and its Subsidiaries (including Bear Stearns Corporate Lending Inc., Bear Stearns & Co., Inc., and their respective Subsidiaries) and each of their respective portfolio companies.

 

1.17 “Blocked Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 hereof.

 

1.18 “Borrowers” shall mean, collectively, the following (together with their respective successors and assigns): (a) Vitamin Shoppe; (b) VS Direct, and (c) any other Person that at any time after the date hereof becomes a Borrower; each sometimes being referred to herein individually as a “Borrower”.

 

1.19 “Borrowing Base” shall mean, at any time, the amount equal to:

 

(a) the amount equal to:

 

(i) ninety (90%) percent of the amount of Eligible Credit Card Receivables, plus

 

(ii) the lesser of (A) sixty-five (65%) percent multiplied by the Value of the Eligible Inventory of Borrowers consisting of finished goods net of any Inventory Reserves or (B) ninety (90%) percent of the Net Recovery Percentage multiplied by the Value of such Eligible Inventory net of any Inventory Reserves, minus

 

(b) the Availability Reserves.

 

The amounts of Eligible Inventory shall, at Agent’s option, be determined based on the lesser of the amount of Inventory set forth in the general ledger of Borrowers or the perpetual inventory

 

4


record maintained by Borrowers. Agent shall have the right to establish Reserves against or sublimits in the Borrowing Base in such amounts and with respect to such matters as Agent shall reasonably deem necessary or appropriate, based on new information received by Agent and after Agent has completed its updated field audits, examinations and appraisals of the Collateral; provided, however, that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Agent shall give to Administrative Borrower five (5) Business Days’ telephonic or electronic notice if (a) Agent establishes new categories of Reserves, (b) Agent changes the methodology of calculating Reserves, or (c) Agent establishes new categories of sublimits in the Borrowing Base. The foregoing notwithstanding, in the event Agent is required to establish Reserves to preserve or protect or maximize the value of the Collateral during the continuance of an Event of Default, Agent shall only provide Administrative Borrower with notice at the time such Reserve is established.

 

The Borrowing Base shall be determined at any time by Agent, on the basis of the most recently delivered Borrowing Base Certificate, as adjusted by Agent for any changes in Reserve or otherwise in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

1.20 “Borrowing Base Certificate” shall mean a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, as such form may from time to time be modified by Agent to reflect modifications to the Borrowing Base and the reporting requirements pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, which is duly completed (including all schedules thereto) and executed by the chief financial officer, a vice president of finance, a controller or other appropriate financial officer of Borrowers reasonably acceptable to Agent and delivered to Agent.

 

1.21 “BSMB/Vitamin” shall mean BSMB/Vitamin, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

1.22 “Business Day” shall mean any day on which Agent is open for the transaction of business other than a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close under the laws of the State of New York or the State of North Carolina, except that if a determination of a Business Day shall relate to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are closed for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market or other applicable Adjusted Eurodollar Rate market.

 

1.23 “Canadian Priority Payables” shall mean, as to any Borrower at any time, (a) the full amount of the liabilities of such Borrower at such time which (i) have a trust imposed to provide for payment or a security interest, pledge, lien or charge ranking or capable of ranking senior to or pari passu with security interests, liens or charges securing the Obligations on any of the Eligible Credit Card Receivables or Eligible Inventory of such Borrower located in Canada under Federal, Provincial, State, county, district, municipal, or local law in Canada or (ii) have a right imposed to provide for payment ranking or capable of ranking senior to or pari passu with the Obligations under local or national law of Canada, regulation or directive of Canada, including, but not limited to, claims for unremitted and/or accelerated rents, taxes, wages, withholding taxes, VAT and other amounts payable to an insolvency administrator, employee withholdings or deductions and vacation pay, workers’ compensation obligations, government royalties or pension fund obligations in each case to the extent such trust, or security interest, lien or charge has been or may be imposed and (b) the amount equal to the percentage applicable to

 

5


Eligible Inventory in the calculation of the Borrowing Base multiplied by the aggregate Value of the Eligible Inventory of such Borrower which is or may be subject to retention of title by a supplier or a right of a supplier to recover possession thereof, where such supplier’s right has priority over the security interests, liens or charges securing the Obligations in accordance with Section 81.1 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) or any applicable laws granting revendication or similar rights to unpaid suppliers or any similar laws of Canada ( provided , that , to the extent such Inventory has been identified and has been excluded from Eligible Inventory, the amount owing to the supplier shall not be considered a Canadian Priority Payable).

 

1.24 “Capital Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, any expenditure of money under a Capital Lease or for the lease, purchase or other acquisition of any capital asset, or for the purchase or construction of assets, or for improvements or additions thereto, which are capitalized on a Person’s balance sheet, but excluding (i) any such expenditures made from the sale or insurance proceeds of any such assets within two hundred seventy (270) days of the date of the sale or receipt of insurance proceeds, or if Borrower commits in writing to undertake such expenditures within such two hundred seventy (270) day period, within three hundred sixty-five (365) days of the date of the sale or receipt of insurance proceeds, (ii) any such expenditure to the extent of trade-ins thereon, (iii) reimbursed leasehold improvements and (iv) other expenditures for the acquisition of assets to the extent such expenditures are made with the proceeds of new equity capital contributed after the date of this Agreement or proceeds of Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.9 hereof (other than Indebtedness to Agent or any Lender hereunder).

 

1.25 “Capital Leases” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of (or any agreement conveying the right to use) any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which in accordance with GAAP, is required to be reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.

 

1.26 “Capital Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock or partnership, limited liability company or other equity interests at any time outstanding, and any and all rights, warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock or other interests (but excluding any debt security that is exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock).

 

1.27 “Cash Dominion Reversion Date” shall mean the sixtieth (60th) consecutive Business Day on which the Compliance Excess Availability is equal to or greater than $7,500,000.

 

1.28 “Cash Dominion Triggering Event” shall occur when Compliance Excess Availability under this Agreement is less than $7,500,000 for three (3) consecutive Business Days.

 

1.29 “Cash Equivalents” shall mean, at any time, (a) any evidence of Indebtedness with a maturity date of ninety (90) days or less issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof; provided , that , the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof; (b) certificates of

 

6


deposit or bankers’ acceptances with a maturity of ninety (90) days or less of any financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $1,000,000,000; (c) commercial paper (including variable rate demand notes) with a maturity of ninety (90) days or less issued by a corporation (except an Affiliate of any Borrower other than a Bear Affiliate or Guarantor) organized under the laws of any State of the United States of America or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. or at least P-1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.; (d) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with any financial institution having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $1,000,000,000; (e) repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating to marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or issued by any governmental agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America, in each case maturing within ninety (90) days or less from the date of acquisition; provided , that , the terms of such agreements comply with the guidelines set forth in the Federal Financial Agreements of Depository Institutions with Securities Dealers and Others, as adopted by the Comptroller of the Currency on October 31, 1985; and (f) investments in money market funds and mutual funds which invest substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (e) above; and (g) other investments as reasonably agreed by Agent in writing.

 

1.30 “Change of Control” shall mean (a) a transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of any Borrower or Guarantor to any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than as permitted in Section 9.7 hereof; (b) the liquidation or dissolution of any Borrower or Guarantor or the adoption of a plan by the stockholders of any Borrower or Guarantor relating to the dissolution or liquidation of any Borrower or Guarantor, other than as permitted in Section 9.7 hereof; (c) prior to the occurrence of a Qualified Public Offering, BSMB/Vitamin and its Affiliates cease to own (directly or indirectly), control and have the right to vote at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of Parent; (d) following the occurrence of a Qualified Public Offering, the Permitted Holders and their Affiliates cease to own (directly or indirectly), control and have the right to vote at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of Parent; (e) the Permitted Holders and/or their Affiliates cease to own (directly or indirectly), control and have the right to vote more of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of Parent than any other Person and/or such Person’s Affiliates; (f) other than the Permitted Holders and their Affiliates, any Person and/or its Affiliates shall at any time have the right to elect, or cause to be elected, and have elected, or caused to be elected, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Parent, (g) Parent fails to own directly one hundred percent of the Voting Stock of Vitamin Shoppe or (h) Vitamin Shoppe fails to own one hundred percent of the Voting Stock of VS Direct or in the case of any Person that becomes a Borrower or Subsidiary Guarantor after the date hereof pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, as to such Borrower or Subsidiary Guarantor, the failure of Parent to own directly or indirectly a majority of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of such Borrower or Subsidiary Guarantor, other than as permitted in Section 9.7 hereof.

 

7


1.31 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same now exists or may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified, recodified or supplemented, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.

 

1.32 “Collateral” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.

 

1.33 “Collateral Access Agreement” shall mean an agreement in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, from any lessor of premises to any Borrower or Guarantor, or any other Person to whom any Collateral is consigned or who has custody, control or possession of any such Collateral or is otherwise the owner or operator of any premises on which any of such Collateral is located, in favor of Agent with respect to the Collateral at such premises or otherwise in the custody, control or possession of such lessor, consignee or other Person, inter alia, acknowledges the first priority security interest of Agent in such Collateral, agrees to waive (or subordinate on terms acceptable to Agent) any and all claims such lessor, consignee, processor or other person may, at any time, have against such Collateral, whether for storage or otherwise, and agrees to permit Agent access to, and the right to remain on, the premises of such lessor, consignee, processor or other person so as to exercise Agent’s rights and remedies and otherwise deal with such Collateral, and in the case of any customs broker, cargo consolidator, freight forwarder, consignee or other person who at any time has custody, control or possession of any bills of lading or other documents of title, agrees to hold such Collateral, acknowledges that it holds and will hold possession of the Collateral for the benefit of the Agent and agrees to follow all instructions of Agent with respect thereto.

 

1.34 “Commitment” shall mean, at any time, as to each Lender, the principal amount set forth below such Lender’s signature on the signature pages hereto designated as such Lender’s Commitment or on Schedule 1 to the Assignment and Acceptance Agreement pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender hereunder in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.7 hereof, as the same may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof; including Section 2.4 hereof, sometimes being collectively referred to herein as “Commitments”.

 

1.35 “Compliance Excess Availability” shall mean the amount, as reasonably determined by Agent, calculated at any date, equal to: (a) the lesser of: (i) the Borrowing Base and (ii) the Maximum Credit (net of the aggregate outstanding amount of all Letter of Credit Obligations), minus (b) the aggregate outstanding sum of all Revolving Loans.

 

1.36 “Compliance Period” shall mean the period commencing upon the occurrence of a Cash Dominion Triggering Event and continuing through the date of the Cash Dominion Reversion Date.

 

1.37 “Conditions Subsequent Letter” shall mean the letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Borrowers and Agent regarding certain of the conditions being satisfied after the date of this Agreement.

 

1.38 “Consolidated Net Income” shall mean with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , that , the Net Income

 

8


(but not loss) of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Subsidiary of the Person; and provided, further that there shall be excluded:

 

(a) the Net Income of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders;

 

(b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

 

(c) any non-recurring costs and expenses included in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes;

 

(d) any non-cash compensation charges, including, any such charges arising from stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity-incentive programs;

 

(e) any non-cash costs, charges or expenses relating to the application of purchase accounting;

 

(f) any unrealized gain or loss resulting from the application of SFAS 133 with respect to obligation in respect of a Hedge Agreement; and

 

(g) any non-cash goodwill impairment charges or other intangible asset impairment charges incurred subsequent to the date of this Agreement resulting from the application of SFAS 142 or other non-cash asset impairment charges incurred subsequent to the date of this Agreement resulting from the application of SFAS 144.

 

1.39 “Covenant Required Lenders” shall mean, at any time, those Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares aggregate more than fifty (50%) percent of the aggregate of the Commitments of all Lenders, or if the Commitments shall have been terminated, Lenders to whom at least more than fifty (50%) percent of the then outstanding Obligations are owing; provided, that, so long as any one Lender’s Pro Rata Share is more than fifty (50%) percent of the aggregate of the Commitments of all Lenders, then Required Lenders shall mean such Lender and any other Lender.

 

1.40 “Covered Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a) hereof.

 

1.41 “Credit Card Acknowledgments” shall mean, collectively, the agreements by Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors who are parties to Credit Card Agreements in favor of Agent acknowledging (or in the case of American Express, receiving notice of) Agent’s first priority security interest, for and on behalf of Lenders, in the monies due and to become due to a Borrower (including, without limitation, credits and reserves) under the Credit Card

 

9


Agreements, and agreeing to transfer all such amounts to the Blocked Accounts, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, sometimes being referred to herein individually as a “Credit Card Acknowledgment”.

 

1.42 “Credit Card Agreements” shall mean all agreements entered into on, prior and after the date hereof by any Borrower or for the benefit of any Borrower, in each case with any Credit Card Issuer or any Credit Card Processor, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, including, but not limited to, the agreements set forth on Schedule 8.16 hereto.

 

1.43 “Credit Card Issuer” shall mean any Person (other than a Borrower) who issues or whose members issue credit cards, including, without limitation, MasterCard or VISA bank credit or debit cards or other bank credit or debit cards issued through MasterCard International, Inc., Visa, U.S.A., Inc. or Visa International and American Express, Discover, Japan Credit Bureau (a/k/a JCB Co.), Diners Club, Carte Blanche and other non-bank credit or debit cards, including, without limitation, credit or debit cards issued by or through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., and Novus Services, Inc.

 

1.44 “Credit Card Processor” shall mean any servicing or processing agent or any factor or financial intermediary who facilitates, services, processes or manages the credit authorization, billing transfer and/or payment procedures with respect to any Borrower’s sales transactions involving credit card or debit card purchases by customers using credit cards or debit cards issued by any Credit Card Issuer.

 

1.45 “Credit Card Receivables” shall mean collectively, (a) all present and future rights of any Borrower to payment from any Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor arising from sales of goods or rendition of services to customers who have purchased such goods or services using a credit or debit card, and (b) all present and future rights of any Borrower or Guarantor to payment from any Credit Card Issuer, Credit Card Processor or other third party in connection with the sale or transfer of Credit Card Receivables arising pursuant to the sale of goods or rendition of services to customers who have purchased such goods or services using a credit card or a debit card, including, but not limited to, all amounts at any time due or to become due from any Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor under the Credit Card Agreements or otherwise.

 

1.46 “Credit Facility” shall mean the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit provided to or for the benefit of any Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.1, and 2.2 hereof.

 

1.47 “Default” shall mean an act, condition or event which with notice or passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

 

1.48 “Defaulting Lender” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.11 hereof.

 

1.49 “Deposit Account Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, by and among Agent, Borrowers or Guarantor with a deposit account at any bank and the bank at which such deposit account is at any time maintained which provides that such bank will comply with instructions originated by Agent directing disposition of the funds in the deposit account without further consent by such Borrower or Guarantor upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or other Cash Dominion

 

10


Triggering Event and at all times during the continuance of such Event of Default or Compliance Period, and has such other terms and conditions as Agent may reasonably require including as to any such agreement with respect to any Blocked Account, providing that all items received or deposited in the Blocked Accounts are the property of Agent, for itself and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the Bank Product Providers and, except as otherwise agreed with the corresponding bank and with such other appropriate or customary exceptions for agreements of this kind, that the bank has no lien upon, or right to setoff against, the Blocked Accounts, the items received for deposit therein, or the funds from time to time on deposit therein and that the bank will upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or other Cash Dominion Triggering Event and at all times during the continuance of such Event of Default or Compliance Period, wire, or otherwise transfer, in immediately available funds, on a daily basis to the Agent Payment Account all funds received or deposited into the Blocked Accounts.

 

1.50 “Disbursement Letter” shall mean an instructional letter executed and delivered by Borrowers to Agent regarding the extensions of credit to be made on the date of this Agreement.

 

1.51 “EBITDA” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income for such Person for such period plus, without duplication:

 

(a) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(b) the Interest Expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Interest Expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(c) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(d) any payment by Vitamin Shoppe on behalf of the Parent of any amounts described under the Advisory Services Agreement plus

 

(e) amortization of deferred rent expense; provided, that, EBITDA shall be reduced by rent expense paid in cash to the extent not deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

 

(f) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business,

 

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

11


1.52 “Eligible Credit Card Receivables” shall mean, the gross amount of Credit Card Receivables of Borrowers that are subject to a valid, first priority and fully perfected security interest in favor of the Agent for itself and the Secured Parties, which conform to all applicable warranties contained herein, less , without duplication, (a) the sum of all Credit Card Receivables: (i) for which Agent has not received a Credit Card Acknowledgment within 60 days after the date hereof if the Credit Card Agreement exists on the date hereof (or if the Credit Card Agreement is entered into after the date hereof, no later than sixty days after the date of such Credit Card Agreement or such later date as is acceptable to Agent), and (ii) which are unpaid more than five (5) Business Days after the date of the sale of Inventory giving rise to such Credit Card Receivable, and (b) amounts owing to Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors in connection with the Credit Card Agreements.

 

1.53 “Eligible Depository Bank” means:

 

(a) Any Lender or any of its Affiliates; or

 

(b) Any other Person who is a commercial bank or financial institution having total assets in excess of $1,000,000,000; organized under the laws of any country that is a member of the Basel Accord and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, or a political subdivision of any such country, so long as such bank or financial institution is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States.

 

1.54 “Eligible Inventory” shall mean, as to each Borrower, Inventory of such Borrower consisting of finished goods held for resale in the ordinary course of the business of such Borrower, that satisfy the criteria set forth below as reasonably determined by Agent. Eligible Inventory shall not include: (a) work-in-process; (b) raw materials; (c) spare parts for equipment; (d) packaging and shipping materials; (e) supplies used or consumed in such Borrower’s business; (f) Inventory at premises other than those owned or leased and controlled by any Borrower (Inventory of any Borrower which is in-transit from any location of Borrower permitted herein to another such location shall be considered Eligible Inventory, provided , that , it otherwise satisfies the criteria for Eligible Inventory set forth herein and is not in-transit more than ten (10) consecutive days); (g) Inventory subject to a security interest or lien in favor of any Person other than Agent except those permitted in this Agreement that are subject to an intercreditor agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Agent between the holder of such security interest or lien and Agent and those liens described in clause (j) below; (h) bill and hold goods; (i) Inventory which is past its expiration date; (j) Inventory that is not subject to the first priority, valid and perfected security interest of Agent except in the case of those non-consensual statutory liens described in Section 9.8(c)(i) hereof and landlord liens (i) in respect of which Agent has established a Reserve (if and only to the extent establishment of a Reserve is permitted by the terms hereof) or (ii) for which no Reserve is provided by the terms hereof, or (iii) in respect of which premises Agent has received a Collateral Access Agreement pursuant to which the landlord has either waived or subordinated its lien on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Agent; (k) returned Inventory which is not held for sale in the ordinary course of business, (l) damaged and/or defective Inventory; (m) Inventory purchased or sold on consignment, (n) Inventory located outside the United States of America, unless otherwise approved by Agent in writing; provided , that , Inventory in Canada shall be deemed Eligible Inventory if Agent has a valid, first priority and fully perfected first priority security interest

 

12


therein, as determined by Agent, in its sole discretion, provided , that , such Inventory otherwise satisfies the criteria with respect to Eligible Inventory; and (l) Inventory which may become subject to the claims of a supplier pursuant to Section 81.1 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), R.S.C. 1985, c.B-3, as amended, or any applicable provincial laws granting revendication or similar rights to unpaid suppliers. The criteria for Eligible Inventory set forth above may only be changed and any new criteria for Eligible Inventory may only be established by Agent in good faith based on either: (i) an event, condition or other circumstance arising after the date hereof, or (ii) an event, condition or other circumstance existing on the date hereof to the extent Agent has no written notice thereof from a Borrower prior to the date hereof, in either case under clause (i) or (ii) which materially and adversely affects or could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Inventory in the good faith and commercially reasonable determination of Agent. Any Inventory that is not Eligible Inventory shall nevertheless be part of the Collateral.

 

1.55 “Eligible Transferee” shall mean (a) any Lender; (b) the parent company of any Lender and/or any Affiliate of such Lender which is at least fifty (50%) percent owned by such Lender or its parent company; (c) any Person that is engaged in the business of making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and is administered or managed by a Lender or with respect to any Lender that is a fund which invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit and is managed by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor, in each case is approved by Agent and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time any assignment is effected hereunder, Administrative Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by Administrative Borrower, provided , that , (1) Administrative Borrower’s failure to consent to an assignment to a “distressed debt” purchaser, a “vulture” fund or other similar assignee or buyer shall not be deemed unreasonable and (2) no such consent shall be required in connection with any assignment to another Lender or to an Affiliate of any Lender); and (d) any other commercial bank, financial institution or “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933) approved by Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time any assignment is effected hereunder, Administrative Borrower, provided , that , (A) neither any Borrower nor any Guarantor or any Affiliate of any Borrower or Guarantor shall qualify as an Eligible Transferee; (B) no Person to whom any Indebtedness which is in any way subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of any Borrower or Guarantor shall qualify as an Eligible Transferee, except, in each case, as Agent may otherwise specifically agree; and (C) a competitor of Borrowers shall not be deemed an “Eligible Transferee” under any circumstances except after the occurrence of either (1) a Event of Default for non-payment of any principal amount of Obligations owing hereunder or (2) the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to any Borrower or Guarantor set forth in Section 10.1(g) or (h) hereof.

 

1.56 “Environmental Events” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(b) hereof.

 

1.57 “Environmental Laws” shall mean all foreign, Federal, State and local laws (including common law), rules, codes, licenses, permits (including any conditions imposed therein), authorizations, legally binding judicial or administrative decisions, injunctions or

 

13


agreements between Borrower and any Governmental Authority, (a) relating to pollution and the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (including air, water vapor, surface water, ground water, drinking water, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), (b) relating to the exposure of humans to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, transportation, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal, or threatened release, of hazardous, toxic or dangerous substances, materials, and wastes, or (c) imposing requirements with regard to recordkeeping, notification, disclosure and reporting respecting hazardous, toxic or dangerous substances, materials, and wastes. The term “Environmental Laws” includes (i) the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, the Federal Clean Water Act, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (including the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments thereto), the Federal Solid Waste Disposal and the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, (ii) applicable state counterparts to such laws and (iii) any common law or equitable doctrine that imposes liability or obligations for injuries or damages due to, or threatened as a result of, the presence of or exposure to any hazardous, toxic or dangerous substances, materials, and wastes.

 

1.58 “Equipment” shall mean, as to each Borrower and Guarantor, all of such Borrower’s and Guarantor’s now owned and hereafter acquired equipment, wherever located, including machinery, data processing and computer equipment (whether owned or licensed and including embedded software), vehicles, tools, furniture, fixtures, all attachments, accessions and property now or hereafter affixed thereto or used in connection therewith, and substitutions and replacements thereof, wherever located.

 

1.59 “ERISA” shall mean the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.

 

1.60 “ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any Person required to be aggregated with any Borrower, any Guarantor or any of its or their respective Subsidiaries under Sections 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) or 414(o) of the Code.

 

1.61 “ERISA Event” shall mean (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan, except for any such event with respect to which notice has been waived pursuant to applicable regulations; (b) the adoption of any amendment to a Plan that would require the provision of security pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code or Section 307 of ERISA; (c) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (d) the filing pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (e) the occurrence of a non-exempt “prohibited transaction” with respect to which Borrower, or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a “disqualified Person” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code); (f) a complete or partial withdrawal by Borrower, or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or a cessation of operations which

 

14


is treated as such a withdrawal or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (g) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate a Plan; (h) an event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; (i) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon Borrower, or any ERISA Affiliate in an amount that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

1.62 “Eurodollar Rate Loans” shall mean any Revolving Loans or portion thereof on which interest is payable based on the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

1.63 “Event of Default” shall mean the occurrence or existence of any event or condition described in Section 10.1 hereof.

 

1.64 “Excess Availability” shall mean, the amount, as reasonably determined by Agent, calculated at any date, equal to: (a) the lesser of: (i) the Borrowing Base and (ii) the Maximum Credit (net, with respect to Maximum Credit only the aggregate outstanding amount of all Letter of Credit Obligations), minus (b) the sum of: (i) the aggregate outstanding sum of all Revolving Loans, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all then outstanding and unpaid trade payables and other obligations of Borrowers which are outstanding more than thirty (30) days past the later of the original due date or the original invoice date of such payable as of the end of the immediately preceding month or at Agent’s option, as of a more recent date based on such reports as Agent may from time to time specify (other than trade payables or other obligations being contested or disputed by any Borrower in good faith), plus (iii) without duplication, the amount of checks issued by Borrowers to pay trade payables and other obligations which are more than thirty (30) days past due as of the end of the immediately preceding month (other than in respect of trade payables being reasonably contested or disputed by any Borrower in good faith) or at Agent’s option, as of a more recent date based on such reports as Agent may from time to time specify, but not yet sent.

 

1.65 “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.

 

1.66 “Existing Lenders” shall mean, collectively, (a) the lenders to Vitamin Shoppe under the Credit Agreement, dated November 27, 2002, as heretofore amended, among Vitamin Shoppe, Parent, VS Direct, BNP Paribas, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto on the date hereof, and (b) the holders of the subordinated notes issued by Vitamin Shoppe under the Note, Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated November 27, 2002, as heretofore amended, among Vitamin Shoppe, Parent, VS Direct, and the purchasers party thereto on the date hereof, in each case together with their respective predecessors, successors and assigns.

 

1.67 “Existing Letters of Credit” shall mean, collectively, the letters of credit issued for the account of a Borrower or Guarantor or for which such Borrower or Guarantor is otherwise

 

15


liable listed on Schedule 1.67 hereto, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

1.68 “Fee Letter” shall mean the letter agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among Borrowers, Guarantors and Agent, setting forth certain fees payable by Borrowers to Agent for the benefit of itself and Lenders, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

1.69 “Financing Agreements” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement and all notes, guarantees, security agreements, deposit account control agreements, investment property control agreements, intercreditor agreements and all other agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter executed and/or delivered by any Borrower or Guarantor in connection with this Agreement; provided , that , none of the Senior Secured Note Documents shall be deemed Financing Agreements.

 

1.70 “Fixed Charges” shall mean, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (a) all cash Interest Expense paid during such period (net of interest income of such Person during such Period and excluding, to the extent taken into account in the calculation of Interest Expense, upfront fees, costs and expenses in respect of this Agreement, the Note Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby), plus (b) all regularly scheduled principal payments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money (exclusive of the principal amount of such Indebtedness due at maturity) and Indebtedness with respect to Capital Leases paid during such period in cash (excluding the interest component with respect to Indebtedness under Capital Leases), plus (c) all income taxes paid during such period in cash (net of refunds or tax credits to such Person in respect of income taxes, and excluding income tax on extraordinary or non-recurring gains or gains from asset sales outside of the ordinary course of business), all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

1.71 “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean, as to any Person for any period, the ratio of: (a) EBITDA for such Person and its Subsidiaries minus (i) Management Fees to the extent any were included as an add-back to EBITDA and (ii) Capital Expenditures paid in cash during such period, except to the extent such payments were made with the proceeds of new equity capital contributed after the date of this Agreement or proceeds of Indebtedness permitted hereunder and incurred after the date of this Agreement (other than Indebtedness to Agent or any Lender under this Agreement); to (b) Fixed Charges.

 

1.72 “Foreign Lender” shall mean any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which a Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

1.73 “Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of Parent that is organized or incorporated under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America; sometimes being referred to herein collectively as “Foreign Subsidiaries”.

 

1.74 “Funding Bank” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 3.3 hereof.

 

16


1.75 “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time as set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination consistently applied, except that, for purposes of Section 9.17 hereof, GAAP shall be determined on the basis of such principles in effect on the date hereof and consistent with those used in the preparation of the most recent audited financial statements delivered to Agent prior to the date hereof. If there occurs after the date of this Agreement any change in GAAP that affects in any respect the calculation of any covenant contained in Section 9.17 hereof, Agent and Borrowers shall negotiate in good faith amendments to the provisions of this Agreement that relate to the calculation of such covenant with the intent of having the respective positions of the Lenders and Borrowers after such change in GAAP conform as nearly as possible to their respective positions as of the date of this Agreement and, until any such amendments have been agreed upon, the covenant in Section 9.17 hereof shall be calculated as if no such change in GAAP has occurred.

 

1.76 “Governmental Authority” shall mean any nation or government, any state, province, or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government.

 

1.77 “Guarantors” shall mean, collectively, the following (together with their respective successors and assigns): (a) Parent and (b) any other Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe that at any time after the date hereof becomes party to a guarantee in favor of Agent or any Lender or otherwise liable on or with respect to the Obligations (other than Borrowers) (each a “Subsidiary Guarantor”); each sometimes being referred to herein individually as a “Guarantor”; provided , that , if at any time after the date hereof, a Guarantor shall own any assets that would constitute Eligible Inventory if owned by a Borrower, upon Administrative Borrower’s request, such Guarantor shall cease to be a Guarantor hereunder and shall be deemed a Borrower effective on the date of the confirmation by Agent to Administrative Borrower that Agent has received such request and that Agent has received an appraisal with respect to such Inventory and conducted a field examination with respect thereto, the results of which are satisfactory to Agent in good faith, or alternatively, at Agent’s option, Agent shall received such information with respect thereto as Agent may in good faith require.

 

1.78 “Hazardous Materials” shall mean any hazardous, toxic or dangerous substances, materials and wastes, including petroleum hydrocarbons, flammable explosives, asbestos, urea formaldehyde insulation, radioactive materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, herbicides and any other kind and/or type of pollutants or contaminants, sewage, sludge, industrial slag, solvents and/or any other substances, materials or wastes that are or become regulated under any Environmental Law (including any that are or become classified as hazardous or toxic under any Environmental Law).

 

1.79 “Hedge Agreement” shall mean an agreement between any Borrower or Guarantor and a third party (including without limitation a Bank Product Provider) that is a rate swap agreement, basis swap, forward rate agreement, commodity swap, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or

 

17


options, forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange agreement, spot foreign exchange agreement, rate cap agreement rate, floor agreement, rate collar agreement, currency swap agreement, cross-currency rate swap agreement, currency option, any other similar agreement (including any option to enter into any of the foregoing or a master agreement for any the foregoing together with all supplements thereto) for the purpose of protecting against or managing exposure to fluctuations in interest or exchange rates, currency valuations or commodity prices; sometimes being collectively referred to herein as “Hedge Agreements”.

 

1.80 “Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any liability, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof) or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments; (b) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services (except any such balance that constitutes an account payable to a trade creditor (whether or not an Affiliate) created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by such Person in the ordinary course of business of such Person; (c) all obligations as lessee under leases which have been, or should be, in accordance with GAAP recorded as Capital Leases; (d) any contractual obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person to pay or be liable for the payment of any indebtedness described in this definition of another Person, including, any such indebtedness, directly or indirectly guaranteed, or any agreement to purchase, repurchase, or otherwise acquire such indebtedness, obligation or liability or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge thereof, or to maintain solvency, assets, level of income, or other financial condition; (e) all obligations with respect to redeemable stock and redemption or repurchase obligations under any Capital Stock or other equity securities issued by such Person; (f) all reimbursement obligations and other liabilities of such Person with respect to surety bonds (whether bid, performance or otherwise), letters of credit, banker’s acceptances, drafts or similar documents or instruments issued for such Person’s account other than bonds to stay execution of a judgment on appeal; (g) all indebtedness of such Person in respect of indebtedness of another Person for borrowed money or indebtedness of another Person otherwise described in this definition which is secured by any consensual lien, security interest, collateral assignment, conditional sale, mortgage, deed of trust, or other encumbrance on any asset of such Person, whether or not such obligations, liabilities or indebtedness are assumed by or are a personal liability of such Person, all as of such time; (h) all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of such Person (marked to market) arising under swap agreements, cap agreements and collar agreements and other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates or currency or commodity values or other Hedge Agreements; (i) indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in such entity, except to the extent that the terms of such indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor or such Person has no liability therefor as a matter of law, (j) all sales by such Person (except for sales without recourse to such Person) of (i) accounts or general intangibles for money due or to become due, (ii) chattel paper, instruments or documents creating or evidencing a right to payment of money or (iii) other receivables whether pursuant to a purchase facility or otherwise, other than in connection with the disposition of the business operations of such Person relating thereto or a disposition of defaulted receivables for collection and not as a financing arrangement, and together with any obligation of such Person to pay any discount, interest, fees, indemnities. penalties, recourse,

 

18


expenses or other amounts in connection therewith, and (k) the principal and interest portions of all rental obligations of such Person under any synthetic lease or similar off-balance sheet financing where such transaction is considered to be indebtedness for borrowed money for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.

 

1.81 “Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.5 hereof.

 

1.82 “Information Certificate” shall mean the Information Certificate of Borrowers and Guarantor constituting Exhibit B hereto containing material information with respect to Borrowers and Guarantors, their respective businesses and assets provided by or on behalf of Borrowers and Guarantors to Agent in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and the financing arrangements provided for herein.

 

1.83 “Intellectual Property” shall mean, as to each Borrower and Guarantor, such Borrower’s and Guarantor’s now owned and hereafter arising or acquired: patents, patent rights, patent applications, copyrights, works which are the subject matter of copyrights, copyright applications, copyright registrations, trademarks, servicemarks, trade names, trade styles, trademark and service mark applications, and licenses and rights to use any of the foregoing and all applications, registrations and recordings relating to any of the foregoing as may be filed in the United States Copyright Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof, any political subdivision thereof or in any other country or jurisdiction, together with all rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s use of any of the foregoing; all extensions, renewals, reissues, divisions, continuations, and continuations-in-part of any of the foregoing; all rights to sue for past, present and future infringement of any of the foregoing; inventions, trade secrets, formulae, processes, compounds, drawings, designs, blueprints, surveys, reports, manuals, and operating standards; goodwill (including any goodwill associated with any trademark or servicemark, or the license of any trademark or servicemark); customer and other lists in whatever form maintained; trade secret rights, copyright rights, rights in works of authorship, domain names and internet domain name registration; software and contract rights relating to computer software programs, in whatever form created or maintained.

 

1.84 “Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among Agent and Senior Secured Note Trustee (on behalf of the holders of the Senior Secured Notes), as acknowledged and agreed to by Borrowers and Guarantors, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

1.85 “Interest Expense” shall mean, for any period, as to any Person, as determined in accordance with GAAP, the total interest expense of such Person, whether paid or accrued during such period (including the interest component of Capital Leases for such period), including, discounts in connection with the sale of any Accounts and bank fees, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit, banker’s acceptances or similar instruments, losses, fees, net costs and early termination costs under Hedging Agreements, amortization or write-off of debt discounts and debt issuance costs and commissions, and other discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness.

 

19


1.86 “Interest Period” shall mean for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, a period of approximately one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months duration as any Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) may elect, the exact duration to be determined in accordance with the customary practice in the applicable Eurodollar Rate market; provided , that , such Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) may not elect an Interest Period which will end after the last day of the then-current term of this Agreement.

 

1.87 “Interest Rate” shall mean,

 

(a) Subject to clause (b) of this definition below:

 

(i) as to Prime Rate Loans, a rate equal to the then Applicable Margin for Prime Rate Loans on a per annum basis plus the Prime Rate, and

 

(ii) as to Eurodollar Rate Loans, a rate equal to the then Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans on a per annum basis plus the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Agent may, at its option, and Agent shall, at the direction of the Required Lenders, increase the Applicable Margin otherwise used to calculate the Interest Rate for Prime Rate Loans and Eurodollar Rate Loans by two (2%) percent per annum: (i) for the period (A) from and after the effective date of termination or non-renewal hereof until Agent and Lenders have received full and final payment of all outstanding and unpaid Obligations which are not contingent and cash collateral or letter of credit, as Agent may specify, in the amounts and on the terms required under Section 13.1 hereof for contingent Obligations (notwithstanding entry of a judgment against any Borrower or Guarantor) and (B) from and after the date of the occurrence of an Event of Default and for so long as such Event of Default is continuing and (ii) on Revolving Loans at any time outstanding in excess of the Borrowing Base (whether or not such excess(es) arise or are made with or without the knowledge or consent of Agent or any Lender and whether made before or after an Event of Default).

 

1.88 “Inventory” shall mean, as to each Borrower and Guarantor, all of such Borrower’s and Guarantor’s now owned and hereafter existing or acquired goods, wherever located, which (a) are leased by such Borrower or Guarantor as lessor; (b) are held by such Borrower or Guarantor for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service; (c) are furnished by such Borrower or Guarantor under a contract of service; or (d) consist of raw materials, work in process, finished goods or materials used or consumed in its business.

 

1.89 “Inventory Reserves” shall mean the reserves described in clauses (i), (ii), (vii), (ix), (x) and (xi) of the definition of “Reserves”.

 

1.90 “Investment Property Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, by and among Agent, any Borrower or Guarantor (as the case may be) and any securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other Person who has custody, control or possession of any investment property of such Borrower or Guarantor acknowledging that such securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other Person has custody, control or possession of such investment property on behalf of Agent that it

 

20


will comply with entitlement orders originated by Agent after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to such investment property, or other instructions of Agent, and has such other terms and conditions as Agent may reasonably require.

 

1.91 “Issuing Bank” shall mean Wachovia.

 

1.92 “Landlord Lien States” shall mean the States of Washington and Virginia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and such other state(s) in which a landlord’s claim for rent has priority by operation of applicable law over the lien of the Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in any of the Collateral.

 

1.93 “Lenders” shall mean the financial institutions who are signatories hereto as Lenders and other Persons made a party to this Agreement as a Lender in accordance with Section 13.7 hereof, and their respective successors and assigns; each sometimes being referred to herein individually as a “Lender”.

 

1.94 “Letter of Credit Documents” shall mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit, any amendments thereto, any documents delivered in connection therewith, any application therefor, and any agreements, instruments, guarantees or other documents (whether general in application or applicable only to such Letter of Credit) governing or providing for (a) the rights and obligations of the parties concerned or at risk or (b) any collateral security for such obligations.

 

1.95 “Letter of Credit Limit” shall mean $10,000,000.

 

1.96 “Letter of Credit Obligations” shall mean, at any time and without duplication, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time, plus (b) the aggregate amount of all drawings under Letters of Credit for which Issuing Bank has not at such time been reimbursed, plus (c) the aggregate amount of all payments made by each Lender to Issuing Bank with respect to such Lender’s participation in Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.2 for which Borrowers have not at such time reimbursed the Lenders, whether by way of a Revolving Loan or otherwise.

 

1.97 “Letters of Credit” shall mean all letters of credit (whether documentary or stand-by and whether for the purchase of inventory, equipment or otherwise) issued by an Issuing Bank for the account of any Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, and all amendments, renewals, extensions or replacements thereof and including, but not limited to, the Existing Letters of Credit.

 

1.98 “License Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.11 hereof.

 

1.99 “London Interbank Offered Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan for the Interest Period applicable thereto, the rate of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period; provided , that , if more than one rate is specified on Telerate Page 3750, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates. If, for any

 

21


reason, such rate is not available, the term “London Interbank Offered Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan for the Interest Period applicable thereto, the rate of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO Page as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period; provided, however, if more than one rate is specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates.

 

1.100 “Major Material Adverse Change” means the occurrence of an event or circumstance (a) that could reasonably be expected to result in the cessation of all or a substantial portion of the business of Borrowers and Guarantors, taken as a whole, or (b) that could reasonably be expected to result in Borrowers and Guarantors, taken as a whole, being unable to timely repay the Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Financing Agreements; provided, however, that a Major Material Adverse Change shall not be deemed to include any event or occurrence relating to or caused by (i) a general economic down turn or any other changes in the economy generally, (ii) changes affecting the retail industry generally or the vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition or other health and wellness products industry in particular, (iii) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or acts of terrorists or threats thereof, (iv) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere or (v) any fire, flood, typhoon, tornado or other Act of God.

 

1.101 “Management Fees” shall mean management fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC pursuant to the Advisory Services Agreement.

 

1.102 “Manual Sweeping Accounts” shall mean the following deposit accounts maintained by Borrowers with each of banks set forth in each case: (i) Citibank N.A. account number 84385680, (ii) Bank of New York account number 6801043680, (iii) Commerce Bank account number 7916199933, (iv) Bank One account number 647540541, (v) Bank One account number 680635455, (vi) Regions Bank account number 61-0254-5438, (vi) US Bank account number 182355652237, (vii) Bank of America account number 9491-485233, and (viii) Bank of the West account number 898-000039, and such other accounts designated by Administrative Borrower as such from time to time.

 

1.103 “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the financial condition, business, performance or operations of Borrowers taken as a whole or of Borrowers and the Guarantors taken as a whole; (b) the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other material Financing Agreements; (c) the legality, validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of the security interests and liens of Agent upon the Collateral; (d) the Collateral (taken as a whole) or its value; (e) the ability of Borrowers (taken as a whole) to repay the Obligations or of Borrowers (taken as a whole) to perform their obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements as and when to be performed; or (f) the ability of Agent or any Lender to enforce the Obligations or realize upon the Collateral or otherwise with respect to the material rights and remedies of Agent and Lenders under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements.

 

22


1.104 “Material Contract” shall mean any contract or other agreement (other than the Financing Agreements, the Senior Secured Note Documents and the Credit Card Agreements), whether written or oral, to which any Borrower or Guarantor is a party as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto (unless a replacement Material Contract has been entered into either prior to or contemporaneously with the date of such termination or cancellation) would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

1.105 “Maximum Credit” shall mean the amount of $50,000,000 (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.3 hereof).

 

1.106 “Maturity Date” shall mean shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1 hereof.

 

1.107 “Multiemployer Plan” shall mean a “multi-employer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA which is contributed to by any Borrower, Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which any Borrower, Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate may reasonably be expected to incur any liability.

 

1.108 “Net Income” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however;

 

(a) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with (a) any Asset Sale (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture); or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries; and

 

(b) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss.

 

1.109 “Net Recovery Percentage” shall mean with respect to finished goods Inventory, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (a) the numerator of which is the amount equal to the amount of the recovery in respect of the Inventory at such time on a “net orderly liquidation value” basis as set forth in the most recent acceptable appraisal of Inventory received by Agent in accordance with Section 7.3, net of operating expenses, liquidation expenses and commissions, and (b) the denominator of which is the applicable original cost of the aggregate amount of such Inventory subject to such appraisal.

 

1.110 “Obligations” shall mean

 

(a) any and all Revolving Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations and all other obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every kind, nature and description owing by any or all of Borrowers to Agent or any Lender, including principal, interest, charges, fees, costs and expenses, however evidenced, whether as principal, surety, endorser, guarantor or otherwise, arising under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether arising before, during or after the initial or any renewal term of this Agreement or after the commencement of any case with respect to such Borrower under the

 

23


United States Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) or any similar statute (including the payment of interest and other amounts which would accrue and become due but for the commencement of such case, whether or not such amounts are allowed or allowable in whole or in part in such case), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or not due, primary or secondary, liquidated or unliquidated, or secured or unsecured and

 

(b) for purposes only of Section 5.1 hereof and subject to the priority in right of payment set forth in Section 6.4 hereof, upon Administrative Borrower’s request (which request may be evidenced by its signature on the agreement referred to in clause (i) below) and with the prior consent of Agent, all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every kind, nature and description owing by any or all of Borrowers or Guarantors to Agent or any Bank Product Provider arising under or pursuant to any Bank Products, whether now existing or hereafter arising to the extent such obligations, liabilities and indebtedness would not cause the total amount of the Obligations to exceed the value of the Collateral, provided , that ,

 

(i) as to any such obligations, liabilities and indebtedness arising under or pursuant to a Hedge Agreement with a Bank Product Provider, the same shall only be included within the Obligations if upon Agent’s and Administrative Borrower’s request, Agent shall have entered into an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, with the Bank Product Provider that is a counterparty to such Hedge Agreement, as acknowledged and agreed to by Borrowers and Guarantors, providing for the delivery to Agent by such counterparty of information with respect to the amount of such obligations and providing for the other rights of Agent and such Bank Product Provider in connection with such arrangements,

 

(ii) Administrative Borrower and any Bank Product Provider (other than Wachovia and its Affiliates), shall have delivered written notice to Agent that (A) such Bank Product Provider has entered into a transaction to provide Bank Products to a Borrower and Guarantor and (B) the obligations arising pursuant to such Bank Products provided to Borrowers and Guarantors constitute Obligations entitled to the benefits of the security interest of Agent granted hereunder, and Agent shall have accepted such notice in writing and

 

(iii) in no event shall any Bank Product Provider to whom such obligations, liabilities or indebtedness are owing be deemed a Lender for purposes hereof to the extent of and as to such obligations, liabilities or indebtedness other than for purposes of Section 5.1 hereof and other than for purposes of Sections 12.1, 12.2, 12.3(b), 12.6, 12.7, 12.9, 12.12 and 13.6 hereof and in no event shall such obligations be included in the Obligations to the extent that the effect is that the value of the Collateral (as determined by Agent) is less than the amount of the Obligations and in no event shall the approval of any such Person be required in connection with the release or termination of any security interest or lien of Agent.

 

1.111 “Other Taxes” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.5(b) hereof.

 

1.112 “Parent” shall mean VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors and assigns.

 

24


1.113 “Participant” shall mean any Person that acquires and holds a participation in the interest of any Lender in any of the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit in conformity with the provisions of Section 13.7 of this Agreement governing participations.

 

1.114 “Permitted Acquisitions” shall mean the purchase by a Borrower or Guarantor after the date hereof of all or a substantial portion of all of the assets of any Person or a business or division of such Person (including pursuant to a merger with such Person or the formation of a wholly owned Subsidiary solely for such purpose that is merged with such Person) or of all or a majority of the Capital Stock (such assets or Person being referred to herein as the “Acquired Business”) and in one or a series of transactions that satisfies each of the following conditions as reasonably determined by Agent:

 

(a) Agent shall have received not less than five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice of the proposed acquisition and such information with respect thereto as Agent may request, in each case with such information to include (i) the proposed date and amount of the acquisition, (ii) the total purchase price for the assets to be purchased (and the terms of payment of such purchase price), and (iii) with respect to the purchase of an Acquired Business, the aggregate consideration to be paid in respect of which exceeds $5,000,000 (each such acquisition being a “Material Permitted Acquisition”), (A) a summary of the due diligence undertaken by Borrowers in connection with such acquisition and (B) a description of the assets or shares to be acquired,

 

(b) With respect to a Material Permitted Acquisition, Agent shall have received: (i) the most recent annual and interim financial statements with respect to the Acquired Business, (ii) projections for Parent and its Subsidiaries through the Maturity Date, on a monthly basis for the first year after the acquisition and on an annual basis thereafter, giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, based on assumptions reasonably satisfactory to Agent and demonstrating pro forma compliance with all financial covenants set forth in this Agreement, prepared in good faith an in a manner and using such methodology as is consistent with the most recent financial statements delivered to Agent pursuant to Section 9.6 hereof and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, and (iii) current, updated projections of the amount of the Borrowing Base and Excess Availability for the twelve (12) month period after the date of such acquisition, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Agent, representing Borrowers’ reasonable best estimate of the future Borrowing Base and Excess Availability for the period set forth therein as of the date not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of such acquisition, which projections shall have been prepared on the basis of the assumptions set forth therein which Borrowers believe are fair and reasonable as of the date of preparation in light of current and reasonably foreseeable business conditions,

 

(c) if EBITDA of the Acquired Business for the most recently ended twelve (12) month period for which financial information is available is negative, then Administrative Borrower shall have provided Agent with projections, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, showing Excess Availability for the each month of the twelve (12) month period after the date of such acquisition of at least $10,000,000,

 

25


(d) Agent shall have received true, correct and complete copies of all agreements, documents and instruments relating to such acquisition, which documents, in the case of a Material Permitted Acquisition, shall be reasonably satisfactory to Agent,

 

(e) Agent shall have received a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief executive officer of Administrative Borrower on behalf of Administrative Borrower certifying to Agent and Lenders as to the matters set forth in this definition,

 

(f) Credit Card Receivables and Inventory of the Acquired Business shall only be Eligible Credit Card Receivables and Eligible Inventory to the extent that Agent has conducted and completed a field examination and appraisal with respect thereto and the criteria for Eligible Credit Card Receivables and Eligible Inventory set forth herein are satisfied with respect thereto in accordance with this Agreement (or such other or additional criteria as Agent may, at its option, establish with respect thereto in accordance with this Agreement and subject to such Reserves as Agent may establish in connection with the Acquired Business),

 

(g) the Acquired Business, if a Person, shall be an operating company that engages in a Permitted Business,

 

(h) after giving effect to all payments or other consideration paid in respect of such acquisition, the aggregate amount of all payments made or other consideration (whether in the form of cash, property or assumption of Indebtedness, but exclusive of earn-outs and Capital Stock of Parent which is not redeemable prior to the 180 th day after the Maturity Date) delivered in connection with all Permitted Acquisitions, in the aggregate shall not exceed $25,000,000 (exclusive of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Acquired Business),

 

(i) Agent shall have received all items required by Sections 5.2 and 9.23 in connection with the Acquired Business to the extent required under such Sections,

 

(j) in the case of the acquisition of the Capital Stock of another Person, the board of directors (or other comparable governing body) of such other Person shall have duly approved such acquisition and such Person shall not have announced that it will oppose such acquisition or shall not have commenced any action which alleges that such acquisition will violate applicable law,

 

(k) Excess Availability shall have been not less than $10,000,000 ( provided , that , after giving effect to each $5,000,000 increase in the amount of the Maximum Credit pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, the Excess Availability threshold shall be increased by $1,000,000, such that in the event the Maximum Credit is increased to $75,000,000, at all times thereafter, the Excess Availability threshold shall be $15,000,000) as of the date of such acquisition and any payment in respect of such acquisition and after giving effect to such acquisition and any payment in respect of such acquisition, on a pro forma basis using the most recent calculation of the Borrowing Base immediately prior to such acquisition or payment, and

 

(l) no Event of Default shall exist or have occurred as of the date of the acquisition or any payment in respect thereof and after giving effect to the acquisition or such payment.

 

26


1.115 “Permitted Business” shall mean any business engaged in by any of the Borrowers on the date hereof, and any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Borrowers are engaged as of the date hereof.

 

1.116 “Permitted Holders” shall mean the Persons listed on Schedule 1.116 hereto.

 

1.117 “Person” or “person” shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation (including any corporation which elects subchapter S status under the Code), limited liability company, limited liability partnership, business trust, unincorporated association, joint stock corporation, trust, joint venture or other entity or any government or any agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof.

 

1.118 “Plan” shall mean an employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) which Borrower or any Guarantor or, solely with respect to an employee benefit plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, an ERISA Affiliate sponsors or to which it contributes, or a Multiemployer Plan.

 

1.119 “PPSA” shall mean the Personal Property Security Act as in effect in the Province of Ontario, the Civil Code of Quebec as in effect in the Province of Quebec or any other Canadian Federal or Provincial statute pertaining to the granting, perfecting, priority or ranking of security interests, liens, hypothecs on personal property, and any successor statutes, together with any regulations thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References to sections of the PPSA shall be construed to also refer to any successor sections.

 

1.120 “Prime Rate” shall mean the rate from time to time publicly announced by Wachovia, or its successors, as its prime rate, whether or not such announced rate is the best rate available at such bank.

 

1.121 “Prime Rate Loans” shall mean any Revolving Loans or portion thereof on which interest is payable based on the Prime Rate in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

1.122 “Promotional Agreements” shall mean all manufacturer ingredient promotional agreements between any Borrower or Guarantor and any product supplier or a contract manufacturer pursuant to which, among other things, such Borrower or Guarantor agrees to promote certain ingredients contained in the products manufactured by such supplier and/or contract manufacturer or the packaging for such products contains certain Intellectual Property of such supplier or contract manufacturer, and such Borrower or Guarantor is granted an express or implicit non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use certain Intellectual Property of such supplier or contract manufacturer, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

1.123 “Pro Rata Share” shall mean as to any Lender, the fraction (expressed as a percentage) the numerator of which is such Lender’s Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of all of the Commitments of Lenders, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.7 hereof; provided , that , if the Commitments have been terminated, the numerator shall be the unpaid amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans

 

27


and its interest in the Letters of Credit and the denominator shall be the aggregate amount of all unpaid Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit.

 

1.124 “Qualified Public Offering” means an underwritten sale to the public of the Borrower’s Capital Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-1 (or any successor form adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission) which results in proceeds (net of underwriting discounts and selling commissions) of at least $75,000,000 and after which the Borrower’s Capital Stock is listed on a U.S. national securities exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market; provided that a Qualified Public Offering shall not include any issuance of Capital Stock in any merger or other business combination, and shall not include any registration of the issuance of securities to existing securityholders or employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (or any successor form adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission).

 

1.125 “Quarterly Average Excess Availability” shall mean, for any fiscal quarter of Borrowers, the daily average of the aggregate amount of Compliance Excess Availability for such fiscal quarter.

 

1.126 “Real Property” shall mean all now owned and hereafter acquired real property of each Borrower and Guarantor, including leasehold interests, together with all buildings, structures, and other improvements located thereon and all licenses, easements and appurtenances relating thereto, wherever located.

 

1.127 “Receivables” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter arising or acquired property of each Borrower and Guarantor: (a) all Accounts; (b) all interest, fees, late charges, penalties, collection fees and other amounts due or to become due or otherwise payable in connection with any Account; (c) all payment intangibles of such Borrower or Guarantor; (d) letters of credit, indemnities, guarantees, security or other deposits and proceeds thereof issued payable to any Borrower or Guarantor or otherwise in favor of or delivered to any Borrower or Guarantor in connection with any Account; or (e) all other accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, instruments, notes, general intangibles and other forms of obligations owing to any Borrower or Guarantor, whether from the sale and lease of goods or other property, licensing of any property (including Intellectual Property or other general intangibles), rendition of services or from loans or advances by any Borrower or Guarantor or to or for the benefit of any third Person (including loans or advances to any Affiliates or Subsidiaries of any Borrower or Guarantor) or otherwise associated with any Accounts, Inventory or general intangibles of any Borrower or Guarantor (including choses in action, causes of action, tax refunds, tax refund claims, any funds which may become payable to any Borrower or Guarantor in connection with the termination of any Plan or other employee benefit plan and any other amounts payable to any Borrower or Guarantor from any Plan or other employee benefit plan, rights and claims against carriers and shippers, rights to indemnification, business interruption insurance and proceeds thereof, casualty or any similar types of insurance and any proceeds thereof and proceeds of insurance covering the lives of employees on which any Borrower or Guarantor is a beneficiary).

 

1.128 “Records” shall mean, as to each Borrower and Guarantor, all of such Borrower’s and Guarantor’s present and future books of account of every kind or nature, purchase and sale agreements, invoices, ledger cards, bills of lading and other shipping evidence, statements,

 

28


correspondence, memoranda, credit files and other data relating to the Collateral or any account debtor, together with the tapes, disks, diskettes and other data and software storage media and devices, file cabinets or containers in or on which the foregoing are stored (including any rights of any Borrower or Guarantor with respect to the foregoing maintained with or by any other Person).

 

1.129 “Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.7 hereof.

 

1.130 “Required Lenders” shall mean, at any time, those Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares aggregate fifty percent (50%) or more of the aggregate of the Commitments of all Lenders, or if the Commitments shall have been terminated, Lenders to whom at least fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding Obligations are owing.

 

1.131 “Reserves” shall mean as of any date of determination, such amounts as Agent may from time to time establish and revise reasonably and in good faith reducing the amount of Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit which would otherwise be available to any Borrower under the lending formula(s) provided for herein:

 

(a) to reflect events, conditions, contingencies or risks which, as determined by Agent reasonably and in good faith, materially and adversely affect, either (i) the Collateral, its value or the amount that might be received by Agent from the sale or other disposition or realization upon such Collateral, or (ii) the assets or business of any Borrower or Guarantor or (iii) the security interests and other rights of Agent or any Lender in the Collateral (including the enforceability, perfection and priority thereof); or

 

(b) to reflect Agent’s reasonable and good faith belief that any collateral report or financial information furnished by or on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor to Agent is or may have been incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect; or

 

(c) to reflect outstanding Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.2 hereof; or

 

(d) in respect of any state of facts which Agent believes reasonably and in good faith determines constitutes a Default or an Event of Default (which reasonable and good faith belief shall only be relevant for purposes of this definition unless the Agent explicitly asserts any other rights to which it may be entitled).

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Reserves may, at Agent’s option, be established to reflect any of the following:

 

(i) Inventory shrinkage,

 

(ii) reserves in respect of markdowns and cost variances (pursuant to discrepancies between the purchase order price of Inventory and the actual cost thereof),

 

(iii) past due amounts in respect of sales, use and/or withholding taxes,

 

29


(iv) any rental payments, service charges or other amounts which are past due to lessors of real property other than retail store locations (“Non-Retail Store Locations”) to the extent Inventory or Records are located in or on such property (but not in respect of Non-Retail Store Locations (A) where Agent has received a Collateral Access Agreement executed and delivered by the owner and lessor of such real property that Agent has acknowledged in writing is in form and substance satisfactory to Agent or (B) which do not (1) contain Records relating to Receivables or Inventory or (2) in which either no Inventory or Inventory having a Value of less than $100,000 is located), provided , that , Agent may, at its option, establish Reserves in respect of amounts at any time due or to become due to the owner and operator of such Non-Retail Store Location as Agent shall reasonably determine in the event that any of the following shall occurred: (A) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) any Borrower, Guarantor or Agent shall have received notice of any event of default under the lease with respect to such Non-Retail Store Location or (C) any Borrower or Guarantor has granted to the lessor a consensual security interest or lien upon any assets of such Borrower or Guarantor (unless such security interest is waived or subordinated to the security interest of Agent on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Agent),

 

(v) any rental payments, service charges or other amounts owing to lessors of retail store locations

 

(A) which are past due and owing to lessors of retail store locations in states other than Landlord Lien States (but not in respect of retail store locations where Agent has received a Collateral Access Agreement executed and delivered by the owner and lessor of such real property that Agent has acknowledged in writing is in form and substance satisfactory to Agent), provided , that , Agent may, at its option, establish Reserves in respect of amounts at any time due or to become due to the owner and lessor of such a retail store location as Agent shall reasonably determine in the event that any of the following shall occurred: (1) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (2) any Borrower, Guarantor or Agent shall have received notice of any event of default under the lease with respect to such location, or (3) any Borrower or Guarantor has granted to the lessor a security interest or lien upon any assets of such Borrower or Guarantor (unless such security interest is waived or subordinated to the security interest of Agent on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Agent), and

 

(B) which are due or to become due to lessors of retail store locations located in Landlord Lien States (but not in respect of retail store locations where Agent has received a Collateral Access Agreement executed and delivered by the owner and lessor of such real property that Agent has acknowledged in writing is in form and substance satisfactory to Agent), provided , that , the Reserves established pursuant to this clause (v)(B) as to any particular retail store location shall not exceed at any time the aggregate of such amounts payable for the next two (2) months to the lessors of such retail store locations, provided , that , such limitation on the amount of the Reserves which may be established by Agent pursuant to this clause (v)(B) shall only apply so long as: (1) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (2) neither a Borrower, Guarantor nor

 

30


Agent shall have received notice of any event of default under the lease with respect to such location or (3) any Borrower or Guarantor has granted a consensual lien or security interest upon any assets of such Borrower or Guarantor (unless such security interest is waived or subordinated to the security interest of Agent on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Agent),

 

(vi) any rental payments, service charges or other amounts which are past due to lessors of personal property;

 

(vii) up to fifty (50%) percent of the aggregate amount of (A) merchandise gift certificates, and (B) the dollar value of Frequent Buyer Program points as accrued by Borrowers in accordance with GAAP,

 

(viii) an adverse change in the number of days of the turnover of Inventory or a material change in the mix of the Inventory that results in an overall decrease in the value thereof or a material deterioration in its nature or quality that results in an overall decrease in the value thereof (but only to the extent not addressed by the lending formulas in a manner satisfactory to Agent),

 

(ix) variances between the perpetual inventory records of Borrowers and the results of test counts of Inventory conducted by Agent or at the request of Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, with respect thereto in excess of the percentage reasonably acceptable to Agent but only to the extent that such variances are not accounted for as Inventory shrinkage,

 

(x) Inventory that may become obsolete, based on prior twelve (12) months expired product expenses or Inventory currently in retail store locations that was subject to previous store “giveaways” within the prior twelve (12) months,

 

(xi) the aggregate amount of deposits, if any, received by any Borrower from its retail customers in respect of unfilled orders for merchandise,

 

(xii) the amount of Canadian Priority Payables, provided, that, any Reserve with respect to clause (b) of Section 1.23 hereof shall only be taken in respect of Eligible Inventory located in Canada, and

 

(xiii) Bank Products Reserve.

 

Agent will not establish new Reserves after the date hereof on account of any circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies of which Agent has actual knowledge as of the date hereof. To the extent Agent may establish new criteria or revise existing criteria (including percentages applied to determine the amount of) for Eligible Credit Card Receivables or Eligible Inventory so as to address any circumstances, condition, event or contingency in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Agent, Agent shall not establish or increase a Reserve for the same purpose. The amount of any Reserve established or increased by Agent shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition or other matter which is the basis for such Reserve as reasonably determined by Agent in good faith and to the extent that such Reserve is in respect of amounts that may be payable to third parties Agent may, at its option, deduct such Reserve from the Maximum Credit

 

31


at any time that such limit is less than the amount of the Borrowing Base. Agent shall provide prior written notice to Administrative Borrower of any material change in the categories of Reserves established after the date hereof or in the manner such Reserves are calculated or any other change to any item for the calculation thereof.

 

1.132 “Revolving Loans” shall mean the loans now or hereafter made by or on behalf of any Lender or by Agent for the account of any Lender on a revolving basis pursuant to the Credit Facility (involving advances, repayments and readvances) as set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.

 

1.133 “Secured Parties” shall mean, collectively, (a) Agent, (b) Lenders, (c) the Issuing Bank and (d) any Bank Product Provider; provided , that , as to any Bank Product Provider, only to the extent of the Obligations owing to such Bank Product Provider, as provided, in subsection (b) of the definition of Obligations set forth herein and (ii) such parties are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Secured Party”.

 

1.134 “Senior Secured Note Documents” means, collectively, the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Secured Note Indenture and all other agreements, document and instruments now or at any time executed and delivered by any Borrower or Guarantor in connection therewith.

 

1.135 “Senior Secured Note Indenture” shall mean the Indenture, dated of even date herewith, by and among Vitamin Shoppe, as issuer, and Parent and VS Direct, as Subsidiary Guarantor and Senior Secured Note Trustee, as trustee, with respect to the Senior Secured Notes, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

1.136 “Senior Secured Note Indenture Borrowing Base” shall mean, as of any date, an amount equal to:

 

(a) 90% of the face amount of all accounts receivable owned by Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date that were not more than 180 days past due; plus

 

(b) 65% of the book value of all inventory, net of reserves, owned by Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date,

 

provided, that, the definition of “Senior Secured Note Indenture Borrowing Base” set forth herein shall be deemed amended or otherwise modified from time to time to the same extent as any amendment or modification to the definition of “Borrowing Base” set forth in the Senior Secured Note Indenture.

 

1.137 “Senior Secured Note Priority Debt Limit” shall mean, so long as the Indebtedness evidenced by the Senior Secured Note Documents remains outstanding and such agreements remain in full force and effect and/or such Indebtedness is refinanced as permitted under the terms of this Agreement, the greater of (a) $50,000,000 less the aggregate amount of all “Net Proceeds” of “Asset Sales” (as such quoted terms are defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) applied by Borrowers or any Guarantors since the date of the Senior Secured Note

 

32


Indenture to repay (whether permanently or otherwise) the Obligations or any other Priority Lien Debt (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) or (b) the Senior Secured Note Indenture Borrowing Base; provided, that, the term “Senior Secured Note Priority Debt Limit”, shall be deemed amended or modified to the extent and to the same extent that Section 4.09(b)(1) of the Senior Secured Note Indenture is amended or modified after the date hereof.

 

1.138 “Senior Secured Notes” shall mean, collectively, the Senior Secured Notes due 2012 issued by Vitamin Shoppe pursuant to the Senior Secured Note Indenture in the original aggregate principal amount of $165,000,000, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

1.139 “Senior Secured Note Trustee” shall mean Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee under the Senior Secured Note Indenture and any successor, replacement or additional trustee and their respective successors and assigns.

 

1.140 “Solvent” shall mean, at any time with respect to any Person, that at such time such Person (a) is able to pay its debts as they mature and has (and has a reasonable basis to believe it will continue to have) sufficient capital (and not unreasonably small capital) to carry on its business consistent with its practices as of the date hereof, and (b) the assets and properties of such Person at a fair valuation on a going concern basis (and including as assets for this purpose at a fair valuation all rights of subrogation, contribution or indemnification arising pursuant to any guarantees given by such Person) are greater than the Indebtedness of such Person, and including subordinated and contingent liabilities computed at the amount which, such Person has a reasonable basis to believe, represents an amount which can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (and including as to contingent liabilities arising pursuant to any guarantee the face amount of such liability as reduced to reflect the probability of it becoming a matured liability).

 

1.141 “Special Agent Advances” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.11 hereof.

 

1.142 “Specified Taxes” shall mean an amount equal to all taxes charged against net income, whether Federal, State, Provincial, county or local, and whether foreign or domestic, that are paid or payable by any Person in respect of any period in accordance with GAAP.

 

1.143 “Store Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.

 

1.144 “Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or other limited or general partnership, trust, association or other business entity of which an aggregate of at least a majority of the outstanding Capital Stock or other interests entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, Capital Stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency), managers, trustees or other controlling Persons, or an equivalent controlling interest therein, of such Person is, at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person and/or one or more subsidiaries of such Person.

 

33


1.145 “Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a) hereof.

 

1.146 “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York, and any successor statute, as in effect from time to time (except that terms used herein which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of such statute except as Agent may otherwise determine); provided , that , if, with respect to any financing statement or by reason of any provisions of law, the perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection of the security interests granted to the Agent pursuant to applicable Financing Agreement is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction of the United States other than the State of New York, then “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions of each Financing Agreement and any financing statement relating to such perfection or effect of perfection or non-perfection.

 

1.147 “Value” shall mean, as reasonably determined by Agent in good faith, with respect to Inventory, the lower of (a) cost determined on the weighted average cost basis in accordance with GAAP or (b) market value, provided , that , for purposes of the calculation of the Borrowing Base, (i) the Value of the Inventory shall not include: (A) the portion of the value of Inventory equal to the profit earned by any Affiliate on the sale thereof to any Borrower unless the sale by such Affiliate is a bona fide arm’s length transaction consistent with the most recent appraisal received and accepted by Agent for the Inventory and consistent with the prices previously paid by such Borrower in comparable dealings with non-Affiliates, or (B) write-ups or write-downs in value with respect to currency exchange rates and (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the cost of the Inventory shall be computed in the same manner and consistent with the most recent appraisal of the Inventory received and accepted by Agent prior to the date hereof, if any.

 

1.148 “VAT” shall mean Value Added Tax imposed in Canada or any other jurisdiction and any equivalent tax applicable in any jurisdiction and including any goods and services tax.

 

1.149 “Vitamin Shoppe” shall mean Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation, and its successors and assigns.

 

1.150 “Voting Stock” shall mean with respect to any Person, (a) one (1) or more classes of Capital Stock of such Person having general voting powers to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person, irrespective of whether at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, and (b) any Capital Stock of such Person convertible or exchangeable without restriction at the option of the holder thereof into Capital Stock of such Person described in clause (a) of this definition.

 

1.151 “VS Direct” shall mean VS Direct Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors and assigns.

 

1.152 “Wachovia” shall mean Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its individual capacity, and its successors and assigns.

 

34


SECTION 2. CREDIT FACILITIES

 

2.1 Loans .

 

(a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions contained herein, each Lender severally (and not jointly) agrees to make its Pro Rata Share of Revolving Loans to each Borrower from time to time in amounts requested by such Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) up to the aggregate amount outstanding at any one time equal to the lesser of: (i) the Borrowing Base at such time or (ii) the Maximum Credit.

 

(b) To the extent that any facts or circumstances (i) have led to Agent establishing a Reserve pursuant to one provision of this Agreement, Agent shall not establish any Reserves based on the same such facts or circumstances pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement, and (ii) were taken into account in calculating any component of the Borrowing Base, Agent shall not establish any Reserves based on the same such facts or circumstances.

 

(c) Except in Agent’s discretion, with the consent of all Lenders, or as otherwise provided herein, (i) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loans and the Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding at any time shall not exceed the lesser of the Borrowing Base at such time or the Maximum Credit, (ii) the aggregate amount of Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit outstanding at any time based on Eligible Inventory consisting of in-transit Inventory shall not exceed $5,000,000, and (iii) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loans and the Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding at any time, when taken together with the amounts outstanding under all other Credit Facilities (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture), including any amounts owing by Borrowers and Guarantors to counterparties in respect of Hedge Agreements which are secured by Collateral hereunder, shall not exceed the Senior Secured Note Priority Debt Limit.

 

(d) In the event that (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans and the Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding at any time exceed the Maximum Credit, (ii) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit based on Eligible Inventory consisting of in-transit Inventory at any time exceeds $5,000,000, (iii) except as otherwise provided herein, the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding to all Borrowers exceeds the Borrowing Base, or (iv) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans and the Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding at any time, when taken together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under all other Credit Facilities (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) exceeds the Senior Secured Note Priority Debt Limit, such event shall not limit, waive or otherwise affect any rights of Agent or Lenders in such circumstances or on any future occasions and Borrowers shall, upon demand by Agent, which may be made at any time or from time to time, immediately repay to Agent the entire amount of any such excess(es) for which payment is demanded.

 

2.2 Letters of Credit .

 

(a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions contained herein and in the Letter of Credit Documents, at the request of a Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf

 

35


of such Borrower), Agent agrees to cause Issuing Bank to issue, and Issuing Bank agrees to issue, for the account of such Borrower one or more Letters of Credit, for the ratable risk of each Lender according to its Pro Rata Share, containing terms and conditions acceptable to Agent and Issuing Bank.

 

(b) The Borrower requesting such Letter of Credit (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) shall give Agent and Issuing Bank two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice of such Borrower’s request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit. Such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the original face amount of the Letter of Credit requested, the effective date (which date shall be a Business Day and in no event shall be a date less than ten (10) days prior to the end of the then current term of this Agreement) of issuance of such requested Letter of Credit, whether such Letter of Credit may be drawn in a single or in partial draws, the date on which such requested Letter of Credit is to expire (which date shall be a Business Day and shall not be more than one year from the date of issuance), the purpose for which such Letter of Credit is to be issued, and the beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit. The Borrower requesting the Letter of Credit (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) shall attach to such notice the proposed terms of the Letter of Credit. The renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall, for purposes hereof be treated in all respects the same as the issuance of a new Letter of Credit hereunder.

 

(c) In addition to being subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions precedent contained in Section 4 hereof and the other terms and conditions contained herein, no Letter of Credit shall be available unless each of the following conditions precedent have been satisfied in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Agent: (i) the Borrower requesting such Letter of Credit (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) shall have delivered to Issuing Bank at such times and in such manner as Issuing Bank may require, an application, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuing Bank and Agent, for the issuance of the Letter of Credit and such other Letter of Credit Documents as may be required pursuant to the terms thereof, and the form and terms of the proposed Letter of Credit shall be reasonably satisfactory to Agent and Issuing Bank, (ii) as of the date of issuance, no order of any court, arbitrator or other Governmental Authority shall purport by its terms to enjoin or restrain money center banks relevant to the proposed issuance generally from issuing letters of credit of the type and in the amount of the proposed Letter of Credit, and no law, rule or regulation applicable to money center banks generally and no request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over money center banks relevant to the proposed issuance generally shall prohibit, or request that Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the issuance of such Letter of Credit, (iii) after giving effect to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Limit, and (iv) Excess Availability, prior to giving effect to any Reserves with respect to such Letter of Credit, on the date of the proposed issuance of any Letter of Credit shall be equal to or greater than: (A) if the proposed Letter of Credit is for the purpose of purchasing Eligible Inventory and the documents of title with respect thereto are consigned to Issuing Bank, the sum of (1) the percentage equal to one hundred (100%) percent minus the then applicable percentage with respect to Eligible Inventory set forth in the definition of the term Borrowing Base multiplied by the Value of such Eligible Inventory, plus (2) freight, taxes, duty and other amounts which Agent estimates must be paid in connection with such Inventory upon arrival and for delivery to one of such Borrower’s locations for Eligible Inventory within the United States

 

36


of America or Canada and (B) if the proposed Letter of Credit is for any other purpose or the documents of title are not consigned to Issuing Bank in connection with a Letter of Credit for the purpose of purchasing Inventory, an amount equal to one hundred (100%) percent of the Letter of Credit Obligations with respect thereto. Effective on the issuance of each Letter of Credit, a Reserve shall be established in the applicable amount set forth in Section 2.2(c)(iv)(A) or Section 2.2(c)(iv)(B).

 

(d) Except in Agent’s discretion, with the consent of all Lenders, the amount of all outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations shall not at any time exceed the Letter of Credit Limit.

 

(e) Each Borrower shall reimburse immediately Issuing Bank for any draw under any Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Borrower and pay Issuing Bank the amount of all other charges and fees payable to Issuing Bank in connection with any Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Borrower immediately when due, irrespective of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which such Borrower may have at any time against Issuing Bank or any other Person. Each drawing under any Letter of Credit or other amount payable in connection therewith when due shall constitute a request by the Borrower for whose account such Letter of Credit was issued to Agent for a Prime Rate Loan in the amount of such drawing or other amount then due, and shall be made by Agent on behalf of Lenders as a Revolving Loan (or Special Agent Advance, as the case may be). The date of such Loan shall be the date of the drawing or as to other amounts, the due date therefor. Any payments made by or on behalf of Agent or any Lender to Issuing Bank and/or related parties in connection with any Letter of Credit shall constitute additional Revolving Loans to such Borrower pursuant to this Section 2 (or Special Agent Advances as the case may be).

 

(f) Borrowers and Guarantors shall indemnify and hold Agent and Lenders harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses which Agent or any Lender may suffer or incur in connection with any Letter of Credit and any documents, drafts or acceptances relating thereto, including any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses due to any action taken by Issuing Bank or correspondent with respect to any Letter of Credit, except for such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses that are a direct result of the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of Agent or any Lender. Each Borrower and Guarantor assumes all risks with respect to the acts or omissions of the drawer under or beneficiary of any Letter of Credit and for such purposes the drawer or beneficiary shall be deemed such Borrower’s agent. Each Borrower and Guarantor assumes all risks for, and agrees to pay, all foreign, Federal, State and local taxes, duties and levies relating to any goods subject to any Letter of Credit or any documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder. Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby releases and holds Agent and Lenders harmless from and against any acts, waivers, errors, delays or omissions with respect to or relating to any Letter of Credit, except for the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of Agent or any Lender. The provisions of this Section 2.2(f) shall survive the payment of Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(g) At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in connection with Inventory purchased pursuant to any Letter of Credit, Borrowers and Guarantors shall, at Agent’s reasonable request, instruct all suppliers, carriers, forwarders,

 

37


customs brokers, warehouses or others receiving or holding cash, checks, Inventory, documents or instruments in which Agent holds a security interest that upon Agent’s request, such items are to be delivered to Agent and/or subject to Agent’s order, and if they shall come into such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s possession, to deliver them, upon Agent’s reasonable request, to Agent in their original form. Except as otherwise provided herein, Agent shall not exercise such right to request such items so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Borrowers and Guarantors shall, at Agent’s reasonable request, designate Issuing Bank with respect to a Letter of Credit as the consignee on all bills of lading and other negotiable and non-negotiable documents under such Letter of Credit.

 

(h) Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs Issuing Bank to name such Borrower or Guarantor as the account party therein and to deliver to Agent all instruments, documents and other writings and property received by Issuing Bank pursuant to the Letter of Credit and to accept and rely upon Agent’s instructions and agreements with respect to all matters arising in connection with the Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Documents with respect thereto. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or construed to grant any Borrower or Guarantor any right or authority to pledge the credit of Agent or any Lender in any manner. Borrowers and Guarantors shall be bound by any reasonable interpretation made in good faith by Agent, or Issuing Bank under or in connection with any Letter of Credit or any documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder, notwithstanding that such interpretation may be inconsistent with any instructions of any Borrower or Guarantor.

 

(i) Immediately upon the issuance or amendment of any Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased and received, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation to the extent of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the liability with respect to such Letter of Credit and the obligations of Borrowers with respect thereto (including all Letter of Credit Obligations with respect thereto). Each Lender shall absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably assume, as primary obligor and not as surety, and be obligated to pay to Issuing Bank therefor and discharge when due, its Pro Rata Share of all of such obligations arising under such Letter of Credit. Without limiting the scope and nature of each Lender’s participation in any Letter of Credit, to the extent that Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed or otherwise paid as required hereunder or under any such Letter of Credit, each such Lender shall pay to Issuing Bank its Pro Rata Share of such unreimbursed drawing or other amounts then due to Issuing Bank in connection therewith.

 

(j) The obligations of Borrowers to pay Letter of Credit Obligations and the obligations of Lenders to make payments to Agent for the account of Issuing Bank with respect to Letters of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances, whatsoever, notwithstanding the occurrence or continuance of any Default, Event of Default, the failure to satisfy any other condition set forth in Section 4 or any other event or circumstance. If such amount is not made available by a Lender when due, Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount was due until the date such amount is paid to Agent at the interest rate then payable by any Borrower in respect of Revolving Loans that are Prime Rate Loans. Any such reimbursement shall not relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of Borrowers to reimburse Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit or make any other payment in connection therewith.

 

38


2.3 Increases or Reductions of the Maximum Credit .

 

(a) Administrative Borrower may, at any time, deliver a written request to Agent to increase or reduce the Maximum Credit. Any such written request shall specify the amount of the increase or decrease in the Maximum Credit that Borrowers are requesting, provided , that , (i) in no event shall the aggregate amount of any such increase in the Maximum Credit cause the Maximum Credit to exceed $75,000,000, (ii) in no event shall the aggregate amount of all increases or decreases in the Maximum Credit exceed $25,000,000, (iii) such request shall be for an increase or reduction of not less than $5,000,000, (iv) any such request for an increase or a reduction shall be irrevocable, and (v) in no event shall more than two such written requests (for increases and decreases combined) be delivered to Agent during the term of this Agreement.

 

(b) With respect to a request for an increase in the Maximum Credit, upon the receipt by Agent of any such written request, Agent shall notify each of the Lenders of such request and except as otherwise agreed to by Agent with any Lender, each Lender (other than Wachovia) shall be obligated to increase its Commitment by an amount equal to (i) forty (40%) percent of the amount of the increase in the Maximum Credit requested by Administrative Borrower multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is such Lender’s Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of the Commitments of all Lenders other than Wachovia and Wachovia shall be obligated to increase the amount of its Commitment by an amount equal to sixty (60%) percent of the amount of such requested increase. Each Lender shall be obligated to provide such increase in its Commitment, provided , that , in the event there are no Lenders other than Wachovia at the time of Administrative Borrower’s request for an increase Wachovia shall increase its Commitment by an amount equal to 100% of the amount of the increase requested by Administrative Borrower.

 

(c) The Maximum Credit shall be increased by the amount of the increase in Commitments from Lenders, as set forth in accordance with Section 2.3(a) above, within ten (10) days after the date of the request by Administrative Borrower for the increase or such earlier date as Agent and Administrative Borrower may agree (but subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth below), effective on the date that each of the following conditions have been satisfied:

 

(i) the conditions precedent to the making of Revolving Loans set forth in Section 4.2 shall be satisfied as of the date of the increase in the Maximum Credit, both before and after giving effect to such increase;

 

(ii) Agent shall have received a certificate of the President of Administrative Borrower certifying among other things that: (A) the Senior Secured Note Indenture permits such an increase in the Maximum Credit and that after giving effect to such increase, this Agreement shall continue to be a “Credit Facility” for all purposes under the Senior Secured Note Indenture, (B) that after giving effect to any such increase in the Maximum Credit, (1) such increase shall not violate any applicable law, regulation or order or decree of any court or other Governmental Authority and shall not be enjoined, temporarily, preliminarily or permanently; (2) the performance of this the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and the incurrence of Obligations by Borrowers and Guarantors

 

39


(aa) are within each Borrower’s and Guarantor’s corporate powers, (bb) have been duly authorized by each Borrower and Guarantor, (cc) are not in contravention of law or the terms of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s certificate of incorporation, by laws, or other organizational documentation, or any indenture (including the Senior Secured Note Indenture), other material agreement or undertaking to which any Borrower or Guarantor is a party or by which any Borrower or Guarantor or its property are bound, and (dd) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or require or give rise to any obligation to grant, any lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance upon any property of any Borrower or Guarantor other than the lien in favor of Agent or Liens permitted by Section 9.8 hereof;

 

(iii) there shall have been paid to Agent, for the account of the Agent and Lenders (in accordance with any agreement among them) all fees (including additional commitment fees) and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) due and payable pursuant to any of the Financing Agreements on or before the effectiveness of such increase.

 

(iv) As of the effective date of any such increase in the Maximum Credit, each reference to the term Maximum Credit herein, and in any of the other Financing Agreements shall be deemed amended to mean the increased amount of the Maximum Credit specified in the request for such increase by Borrowers delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(a) hereof.

 

(d) With respect to a request for a reduction in the Maximum Credit, effective on the first Business Day which is fifteen (15) days after the date of the receipt by Agent of such written request, the Maximum Credit shall be reduced as requested by Administrative Borrower and at the same time, the Maximum Credit shall be reduced by the same amount, provided , that , in addition to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.3(a) above, each of the following conditions is satisfied as of such date: (i) each such reduction shall be in an amount not less than $5,000,000, and (ii) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding as of the date of the effectiveness of such reduction shall not be greater than the amount of the Maximum Credit as so reduced. Upon the effective date of such reduction, each Lender’s Commitment shall be reduced by an amount equal to (A) forty (40%) percent of the amount of the reduction in the Maximum Credit requested by Administrative Borrower multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is such Lender’s Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of the Commitments of all Lenders other than Wachovia and Wachovia’s Commitment shall be reduced by an amount equal to sixty (60%) percent of the amount of such requested reduction, provided , that , in the event there are no Lenders other than Wachovia at the time of Administrative Borrower’s request for a reduction in the Maximum Credit Wachovia’s Commitment shall be reduced by an amount equal to 100% of the amount of the reduction requested by Administrative Borrower.

 

2.4 Commitments . The aggregate amount of each Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations shall not exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment, as the same may from time to time be amended in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

40


2.5 Bank Products . Borrowers and Guarantors, or any of their Subsidiaries, may (but no such Person is required to) request that the Bank Product Providers provide or arrange for such Person to obtain Bank Products from Bank Product Providers, and each Bank Product Provider may, in its sole discretion, provide or arrange for such Person to obtain the requested Bank Products. Borrowers and Guarantors or any of their Subsidiaries that obtains Bank Products shall indemnify and hold Agent, each Lender and their respective Affiliates harmless from any and all obligations now or hereafter owing to any other Person by any Bank Product Provider in connection with any Bank Products other than for gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any such indemnified Person. This Section 2.5 shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement. Borrower and its Subsidiaries acknowledge and agree that the obtaining of Bank Products from Bank Product Providers (a) is in the sole discretion of such Bank Product Provider, and (b) is subject to all rules and regulations of such Bank Product Provider. Upon the request by Borrowers and Guarantor and the acceptance by such Bank Product Provider in the first sentence of this Section 2.5, such Bank Product Provider shall be deemed a party hereto for purposes of any reference in a Financing Agreement to the parties for whom Agent is acting, provided , that , the rights of such Bank Product Provider hereunder and under any of the other Financing Agreements shall consist exclusively of such Bank Product Provider’s right to share in payments and collections out of the Collateral as set forth herein. In connection with any such distribution of payments and collections, Agent shall be entitled to assume that no amounts are due to any Bank Product Provider unless such Bank Product Provider has notified Agent in writing of any such liability owed to it as of the date of any such distribution.

 

2.6 Joint and Several Liability . Borrowers shall be liable for all Obligations due to Agent, Issuing Bank and Secured Parties under this Agreement, regardless of which Borrower actually receives the Loans, Letters of Credit or other extensions of credit hereunder or the amount of such Loans received or the manner in which Agent accounts for such Loans, Letters of Credit or other extensions of credit on its books and records. The Obligations with respect to Loans and Letters of Credit or other extensions of credit made to a Borrower, and the Obligations arising as a result of the joint and several liability of a Borrower hereunder, with respect to Loans and Letters of Credit or other extensions of credit made to the other Borrowers hereunder, shall be separate and distinct obligations, but all such Obligations shall be primary obligations of all Borrowers. The Obligations arising as a result of the joint and several liability of a Borrower hereunder with respect to Loans, Letters of Credit or other extensions of credit made to the other Borrowers hereunder shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unconditional irrespective of (a) the validity or enforceability, avoidance or subordination of the Obligations of the other Borrowers or of any promissory note or other document evidencing all or any part of the Obligations of the other Borrowers, (b) the absence of any attempt to collect the Obligations from the other Borrowers, any Guarantor or any other security therefor, or the absence of any other action to enforce the same, (c) the failure by Agent to take any steps to perfect and maintain its security interest in, or to preserve its rights and maintain its security or collateral for the Obligations of the other Borrowers and Guarantors, (d) the election of Agent in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code, (e) the disallowance of all or any portion of the claim(s) of Agent for the repayment of the Obligations of the other Borrowers and Guarantors under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, or (f) any other circumstances which might constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of any Obligor, other than the payment of the Obligations and the willful

 

41


misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of Agent, any Issuing Bank or Lenders as determined pursuant to a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. With respect to the Obligations arising as a result of the joint and several liability of a Borrower hereunder with respect to Loans, Letters of Credit or other extensions of credit made to the other Borrowers hereunder, each Borrower and Guarantor waives, until the Obligations shall have been paid in full in immediately available funds and this Agreement shall have been terminated, any right to enforce any right of subrogation or any remedy which Agent now has or may hereafter have against Borrowers and Guarantors, any endorser or any guarantor of all or any part of the Obligations, and any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or collateral given to Agent. Upon any Event of Default and for so long as the same is continuing, Agent may proceed directly and at once, without notice, against any Borrower or Guarantor to collect and recover the full amount, or any portion of the Obligations, without first proceeding against the other Borrowers or any other Person, or against any security or collateral for the Obligations. Each Borrower and Guarantor consents and agrees that Agent and Lenders shall be under no obligation to marshal any assets in favor of Borrower(s) or Guarantors against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations.

 

SECTION 3. INTEREST AND FEES

 

3.1 Interest .

 

(a) Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans at the Interest Rate. All interest accruing hereunder on and after the date of any Event of Default for as long as such Event of Default is continuing) or termination hereof shall be payable on demand.

 

(b) Each Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) may from time to time request that Revolving Loans be made as Eurodollar Rate Loans or may request Prime Rate Loans be converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or that any existing Eurodollar Rate Loans continue for an additional Interest Period. Such request from a Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) shall specify the amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans or the amount of the Prime Rate Loans to be converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or the amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans to be continued (subject to the limits set forth below) and the Interest Period to be applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, two (2) Business Days after receipt by Agent of such a request from a Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower), such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or Prime Rate Loans shall be converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall continue, as the case may be, provided , that , (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) no party hereto shall have sent any notice of termination of this Agreement, (iii) such Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) shall have complied with such customary procedures as are established by Agent and specified by Agent to Administrative Borrower from time to time for requests by Borrowers for Eurodollar Rate Loans, (iv) no more than six (6) Interest Periods may be in effect at any one time, (v) the aggregate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans must be in an amount not less than $3,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof, (vi) the maximum amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans in the aggregate at any time requested by Borrowers shall not exceed the amount equal to the lowest principal amount of the Revolving Loans which it is anticipated

 

42


will be outstanding in Administrative Borrower’s reasonable determination as confirmed by Agent in good faith (but with no obligation of Agent or Lenders to make such Loans), and (vii) Agent and each Lender shall have reasonably determined that the Interest Period or Adjusted Eurodollar Rate is available to Agent and such Lender and can be readily determined as of the date of the request for such Eurodollar Rate Loan by such Borrower. Any request by or on behalf of a Borrower for Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Revolving Loans that are Prime Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans or to continue any existing Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be irrevocable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Agent and Lenders shall not be required to purchase United States Dollar deposits in the London interbank market or other applicable Adjusted Eurodollar Rate market to fund any Eurodollar Rate Loans, but the provisions hereof shall be deemed to apply as if Agent and Lenders had purchased such deposits to fund the Eurodollar Rate Loans.

 

(c) Any Eurodollar Rate Loans shall automatically convert to Prime Rate Loans upon the last day of the applicable Interest Period, unless Agent has received and approved a request to continue such Eurodollar Rate Loan at least two (2) Business Days prior to such last day in accordance with the terms hereof. Any Eurodollar Rate Loans shall, at Agent’s option, upon notice by Agent to Administrative Borrower, be subsequently converted to Prime Rate Loans in the event that this Agreement shall terminate or not be renewed. Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, upon demand by Agent (or Agent may, at its option, charge any loan account of any Borrower) any amounts required to compensate any Lender or Participant for any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by such Person, as a result of the conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Prime Rate Loans pursuant to any of the foregoing on a date other than the last day of any relevant Interest Period.

 

(d) Interest shall be payable by Borrowers to Agent, for the account of Lenders, monthly in arrears not later than the first day of each calendar month and shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed. The interest rate on non-contingent Obligations (other than Eurodollar Rate Loans) shall increase or decrease by an amount equal to each increase or decrease in the Prime Rate effective on the date of any change in such Prime Rate. In no event shall charges constituting interest payable by Borrowers to Agent and Lenders exceed the maximum amount or the rate permitted under any applicable law or regulation, and if any such part or provision of this Agreement is in contravention of any such law or regulation, such part or provision shall be deemed amended to conform thereto.

 

3.2 Fees .

 

(a) Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the account of Lenders, monthly an unused line fee at a rate equal to one quarter (.25%) percent per annum calculated upon the amount by which the Maximum Credit exceeds the average daily principal balance of the outstanding Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit during the immediately preceding month (or part thereof), in which case it shall be calculated on the basis of days actually elapsed during such month) while this Agreement is in effect and for so long thereafter as any of the Obligations (other than indemnities and contingent Obligations which survive the termination of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements) are outstanding, which fee shall be payable on the first day of each month in arrears.

 

43


(b) In the case of all Letters of Credit, Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the account of Lenders, a fee at a rate equal to Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans (then in effect) per annum on the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn under all of such Letters of Credit for the immediately preceding month (or part thereof), in which case it shall be calculated on the basis of days actually elapsed during such month) payable in arrears as of the first day of each succeeding month, computed for each day from the date of issuance to the date of expiration; except that Borrowers shall pay, at Agent’s option, with notice, such fee at a rate two (2%) percent greater than the otherwise applicable rate on such average daily maximum amount for: (i) the period from and after the date of termination or non-renewal of this Agreement until Lenders have received full and final payment of all Obligations (other than contingent Obligations not yet accrued) notwithstanding entry of a judgment against any Borrower or Guarantor and (ii) the period from and after the date of the occurrence of an Event of Default for so long as such Event of Default is continuing. Such letter of credit fees shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed and the obligation of Borrowers to pay such fee shall survive the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement. In addition to the letter of credit fees provided above, Borrowers shall pay to Issuing Bank for its own account (without sharing with Lenders), a letter of credit fronting fee equal to one-quarter of one (1/4%) percent (on a per annum basis) calculated upon the daily outstanding balance of the Letter of Credit Obligations for the immediately preceding month (or part thereof), payable in arrears as of the first day of each succeeding month and negotiation fees agreed to by Borrowers and Issuing Bank from time to time and the customary charges from time to time of Issuing Bank with respect to the issuance, amendment, transfer, administration, cancellation and conversion of, and drawings under, such Letters of Credit.

 

(c) Borrowers shall pay to Agent the other fees and amounts set forth in the Fee Letter in the amounts and at the times specified therein. To the extent payment in full of the applicable fee is received by Agent from Borrowers on or about the date hereof, Agent shall pay to each Lender its share of such fees in accordance with the terms of the arrangements of Agent with such Lender.

 

3.3 Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans .

 

(a) If after the date hereof, either (i) any change in, or in the interpretation of, any law or regulation is introduced, including, with respect to reserve requirements, applicable to any Lender or any banking or financial institution from whom any Lender borrows funds or obtains credit (a “Funding Bank”), or (ii) a Funding Bank or any Lender complies with any future guideline or request from any Governmental Authority or (iii) a Funding Bank, any Lender or Issuing Bank determines that the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof has or would have the effect described below, or a Funding Bank, any Lender or Issuing Bank complies with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, and in the case of any event set forth in this clause (iii), such adoption, change or compliance has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on any Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or Issuing Bank could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking

 

44


into consideration the Funding Bank’s or Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount reasonably deemed by such Lender or Issuing Bank to be material, and the result of any of the foregoing events described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) is or results in an increase in the cost to any Lender or Issuing Bank of funding or maintaining the Revolving Loans, the Letters of Credit or its Commitment (other than any increased cost resulting from (1) Taxes (as to which Section 6.5 and the limitations thereto shall govern) and any other taxes, or (2) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income by the jurisdiction under the laws of which the Agent or such Lender is organized or in which the Agent’s or such Lender’s lending office is located or any political subdivision thereof), then Borrowers and Guarantors shall from time to time upon demand by Agent pay to Agent additional amounts sufficient to indemnify such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, against such increased cost on an after-tax basis (after taking into account applicable deductions and credits in respect of the amount indemnified). A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost and the calculation thereof, including reasonable supporting information, shall be submitted to Administrative Borrower by Agent or the applicable Lender and shall be prima facie evidence, absent manifest error.

 

(b) If prior to the first day of any Interest Period, (i) Agent shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be prima facie evidence that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, (ii) Agent has received notice from the Required Lenders that the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to Lenders of making or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans during such Interest Period, or (iii) Dollar deposits in the principal amounts of the Eurodollar Rate Loans to which such Interest Period is to be applicable are not generally available in the London interbank market, Agent shall give a written certificate to that effect to Administrative Borrower as soon as practicable thereafter, and will also give prompt written notice to Administrative Borrower when such conditions no longer exist. If such notice is given (A) any Eurodollar Rate Loans requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made as Prime Rate Loans, (B) any Revolving Loans that were to have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be converted to or continued as Prime Rate Loans and (C) each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period thereof, to Prime Rate Loans. Until such notice has been withdrawn by Agent, no further Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or continued as such, nor shall any Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of any Borrower) have the right to convert Prime Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans.

 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the adoption of or any change in any law, treaty, rule or regulation or final, non-appealable determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority or in the interpretation or application thereof occurring after the date hereof shall make it unlawful for Agent or any Lender to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans as contemplated by this Agreement, (i) Agent or such Lender shall promptly give written certificate describing such circumstances to Administrative Borrower and Agent (which notice shall be withdrawn whenever such circumstances no longer exist), (ii) the Commitment of such Lender hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Loans, continue Eurodollar Rate Loans as such and convert Prime Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall forthwith be canceled and, until such time as it shall no longer be unlawful for such Lender to

 

45


make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans, such Lender shall then have a Commitment only to make a Prime Rate Loan when a Eurodollar Rate Loan is requested and (iii) such Lender’s Revolving Loans then outstanding as Eurodollar Rate Loans, if any, shall be converted automatically to Prime Rate Loans on the respective last days of the then current Interest Periods with respect to such Revolving Loans or within such earlier period as required by law. If any such conversion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, Borrowers and Guarantors shall pay to such Lender such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 3.3(d) below.

 

(d) Prior to requesting indemnification from the Borrowers for any material increased costs described in Sections 3.3(a) and (c) hereto (“Increased Costs”),

 

(i) any Lender affected by any Increased Costs (an “Affected Lender”) shall make commercially reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office, if such designation would prevent the accruing of Increased Costs or decrease the amount thereof by a material amount, and would not, in the commercially reasonable judgment of Affected Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to Affected Lender, and

 

(ii) if such designating of a different lending office would, in the reasonable judgment of Affected Lender, be disadvantageous to Affected Lender, then such Lender shall either:

 

(A) assign all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Transferee, if such assignment would eliminate or materially reduce the amount of the Increased Costs, and would not, in the reasonable judgment of Affected Lender, be disadvantageous to Affected Lender; or

 

(B) offer the Borrower to repay within fifteen (15) Business Days after written notice provided to the Borrower (with a copy to Agent) to that effect, all of Affected Lender’s interest in the Loans. Any repayment by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.3(d)(ii)(B) shall be made directly to the affected Lender without giving effect to Section 6.4, Section 6.10 or any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary.

 

(e) Borrowers and Guarantors shall indemnify Agent and each Lender and to hold Agent and each Lender harmless from any loss or expense which Agent or such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (i) default by any Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or extension of Eurodollar Rate Loans after such Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower) has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) default by any Borrower in making any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan after such Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and (iii) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans on a day which is not the last Business Day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. With respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or extended, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or extend to the last Business Day of the applicable Interest Period (or,

 

46


in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or extend, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Eurodollar Rate Loans provided for herein over (B) the amount of interest (as determined by such Agent or such Lender) which would have accrued to Agent or such Lender on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank Eurodollar market. This covenant shall survive the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement and the payment of the Obligations.

 

SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

4.1 Conditions Precedent to Initial Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit . The obligation of Lenders to make the initial Revolving Loans is subject to the satisfaction of, or waiver of, immediately prior to or concurrently with the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit of each of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a) Agent shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, all releases, terminations and such other documents as Agent may reasonably request to evidence and effectuate the termination by the Existing Lenders of their respective financing arrangements with Borrowers and Guarantors and the termination and release by it or them, as the case may be, of any interest in and to any assets and properties of each Borrower and Guarantor, duly authorized, executed and delivered by it or each of them, including, but not limited to, (i) UCC termination statements for all effective UCC financing statements previously filed by it or any of them or their predecessors, as secured party and any Borrower or Guarantor, as debtor; and (ii) satisfactions and discharges of any mortgages, deeds of trust or deeds to secure debt by any Borrower or Guarantor in favor of it or any of them, in form acceptable for recording with the appropriate Governmental Authority;

 

(b) all requisite corporate action and proceedings in connection with this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Agent, and Agent shall have received all information and copies of all documents, including records of requisite corporate action and proceedings which Agent may have reasonably requested in connection therewith, such documents where requested by Agent or its counsel to be certified by appropriate corporate officers or Governmental Authority (and including a copy of the certificate of incorporation of each Borrower and Guarantor certified by the Secretary of State (or equivalent Governmental Authority) which shall set forth the same complete corporate name of such Borrower or Guarantor as is set forth herein and such document as shall set forth the organizational identification number of each Borrower or Guarantor, if one is issued in its jurisdiction of incorporation);

 

(c) no material adverse change shall have occurred in the assets or business of Borrower since the date of Agent’s latest field examination (not including for this purpose the field review referred to in clause (d) below) and no change or event shall have occurred which would materially impair the ability of any Borrower or Guarantor to perform its obligations hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements to which it is a party or of Agent or any Lender to enforce the Obligations or realize upon the Collateral;

 

47


(d) Agent shall have received an appraisal of the Borrowers’ Inventory and completed a field review of the Records and such other information with respect to the Collateral as Agent may require to determine the amount of Revolving Loans available to Borrowers (including current perpetual inventory records and/or roll-forwards of Accounts and Inventory through the date of closing and test counts of the Inventory in a manner and with results reasonably satisfactory to Agent, together with such supporting documentation as may be necessary or appropriate, and other documents and information that will enable Agent to accurately identify and verify the Collateral), the results of which in each case shall be reasonably satisfactory to Agent, not more than five (5) Business Days prior to the date hereof or such earlier date as Agent may agree;

 

(e) Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, all consents, waivers, acknowledgments and other agreements from third Persons which Agent may deem necessary or reasonably desirable in order to permit, protect and to the extent required by the terms of this Agreement perfect its security interests in and liens upon the Collateral or to effectuate the provisions or purposes of this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and the Senior Secured Note Indenture, including, without limitation, Collateral Access Agreements for Non-Retail Store Locations (exclusive of administrative offices where no Inventory or Records relating to Receivables and Inventory of Borrowers are located) and Credit Card Acknowledgments;

 

(f) the Excess Availability as reasonably determined by Agent, as of the date hereof, shall be not less than $15,000,000 after giving effect to the initial Revolving Loans made or to be made and Letters of Credit issued or to be issued in connection with the initial transactions hereunder and after payment of fees and expenses for the transaction;

 

(g) Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, Deposit Account Control Agreements by and among Agent, each Borrower and Guarantor, as the case may be and each bank where such Borrower (or Guarantor) has deposit accounts (except for payroll related accounts and Store Accounts), in each case, duly authorized, executed and delivered by such bank and Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be;

 

(h) Agent shall have received evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, that Agent has a valid perfected first priority security interest in all of the Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Financing Agreements (with respect to Intellectual Property, only if and to the extent perfection may be achieved by the filing of UCC financing statements and security agreements with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office);

 

(i) Agent shall have received and reviewed lien and judgment search results for the jurisdiction of organization of each Borrower and Guarantor, the jurisdiction of the chief executive office of each Borrower and Guarantor and all jurisdictions in which assets of Borrowers and Guarantors are located, which search results shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent;

 

(j) Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate setting forth the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit available to Borrowers as of the date hereof as completed

 

48


in a manner satisfactory to Agent and duly authorized, executed and delivered by Administrative Borrower on behalf of Borrowers;

 

(k) Agent shall have received originals of the shares of the stock certificates representing all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Capital Stock of each Borrower and Guarantor (other than Parent) and owned by any Borrower or Guarantor, in each case together with stock powers duly executed in blank with respect thereto;

 

(l) Agent shall have received evidence of insurance and lender’s loss payee endorsements required hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, and certificates of insurance policies and/or endorsements naming Agent as lender loss payee;

 

(m) Agent shall have (i) received evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it, in good faith, that Borrowers and Guarantors have consummated the transactions contemplated by the Senior Secured Note Indenture and received cash proceeds from the issuance of Senior Secured Notes pursuant thereto of not less than $165,000,000, and (ii) received and been satisfied with its review of the Senior Secured Note Indenture and all documentation related thereto; and Agent shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent in good faith, true, correct and complete copy of the Senior Secured Note Indenture, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto;

 

(n) All fees, costs and expenses payable by Borrower, as of the effectiveness of this Agreement, under the terms of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall have been paid in full;

 

(o) Agent shall have received the Disbursement Letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, duly executed by Borrowers;

 

(p) Agent shall have received evidence, in form reasonably satisfactory to Agent, the Intercreditor Agreement, duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto;

 

(q) A certificate of the chief financial officer or Vice President-Finance of Vitamin Shoppe setting forth, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, among other things, a calculation of the Senior Secured Note Priority Debt Limit, which certificate shall also include a calculation of the outstanding Priority Lien Debt (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) after giving effect to the Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding as of the date hereof;

 

(r) Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, such opinion letters of counsel to Borrowers and Guarantors with respect to the Financing Agreements, and such other matters as Agent may reasonably request; and

 

(s) the other Financing Agreements and all instruments and documents hereunder and thereunder shall have been duly executed and delivered to Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent.

 

49


4.2 Conditions Precedent to All Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit . The obligation of Lenders to make the Loans, including the initial Revolving Loans, or of Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit, including the initial Letters of Credit, is subject to the further satisfaction of, or waiver of, immediately prior to or concurrently with the making of each such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit of each of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Financing Agreements shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of the making of each such Loan or providing each such Letter of Credit and after giving effect thereto, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate solely to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and accurate on and as of such earlier date);

 

(b) no law, regulation, order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority shall exist, and no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding shall be pending or before any Governmental Authority, which (i) purports to enjoin, prohibit, restrain or otherwise affect (A) the making of the Revolving Loans or providing the Letters of Credit, or (B) the consummation of the transactions contemplated pursuant to the terms hereof or the other Financing Agreements or (ii) has a reasonable likelihood of having a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c) so long as the limitations with respect to secured indebtedness and limitation on liens set forth in Secured Note Documents remain in effect, Administrative Borrower shall, together with any request for a Loan or Letter of Credit, deliver a certificate of its chief financial officer or Vice President-Finance to Agent stating that after giving effect to the Revolving Loan or Letter of Credit requested, the outstanding amount of Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding under this Agreement when taken together with all other Indebtedness outstanding under Credit Facilities (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) does not exceed the Senior Secured Note Priority Lien Debt Limit, and setting forth the calculations with respect thereto; and

 

(d) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing on and as of the date of the making of such Loan or providing each such Letter of Credit and immediately after giving effect thereto.

 

SECTION 5. GRANT AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

5.1 Grant of Security Interest . To secure payment and performance of all Obligations, each Borrower and Guarantor hereby grants to Agent, for itself and the benefit of the Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in, a lien upon, and a right of set off against, as security, all of the following personal property and fixtures, and interests in personal property and fixtures, of each Borrower and Guarantor, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or existing, and wherever located (together with all other collateral security for the Obligations at any time granted to or held or acquired by Agent or any Secured Party, collectively, the “Collateral”), including:

 

(a) all Accounts;

 

50


(b) all general intangibles, including, all Intellectual Property and all rights to registration of any domain name;

 

(c) all goods, including, Inventory and Equipment;

 

(d) all chattel paper, including, all tangible and electronic chattel paper;

 

(e) all instruments, including, all promissory notes;

 

(f) all documents;

 

(g) all deposit accounts;

 

(h) all letters of credit, banker’s acceptances and similar instruments and including all letter-of-credit rights;

 

(i) all supporting obligations and all present and future liens, security interests, rights, remedies, title and interest in, to and in respect of Receivables and other Collateral, including (i) rights and remedies under or relating to guaranties, contracts of suretyship, letters of credit and credit and other insurance related to the Collateral, (ii) rights of stoppage in transit, replevin, repossession, reclamation and other rights and remedies of an unpaid vendor, lienor or secured party, (iii) goods described in invoices, documents, contracts or instruments with respect to, or otherwise representing or evidencing, Receivables or other Collateral, including returned, repossessed and reclaimed goods, and (iv) deposits by and property of account debtors or other Persons securing the obligations of account debtors;

 

(j) all (i) investment property (including securities, whether certificated or uncertificated, securities accounts, security entitlements, commodity contracts or commodity accounts) and (ii) monies, credit balances, deposits and other property of any Borrower or Guarantor now or hereafter held or received by or in transit to Agent, any Lender or its Affiliates or at any other depository or other institution from or for the account of any Borrower or Guarantor, whether for pledge, custody, transmission, collection or otherwise;

 

(k) all commercial tort claims, including, those identified in Schedule 5.2(g) hereto;

 

(l) to the extent not otherwise described above, all Receivables;

 

(m) all Records; and

 

(n) all products and proceeds of the foregoing, in any form, including insurance proceeds and all claims against third parties for loss or damage to or destruction of or other involuntary conversion of any kind or nature of any or all of the other Collateral.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Collateral include, and Borrowers and Guarantors shall not be deemed to have granted a security interest in, (i) any personal (other than Accounts, Inventory and Intellectual Property) and real property, fixtures and interest of any Borrower or Guarantor which are not assignable or are incapable of being

 

51


encumbered as a matter of law, except for the products and proceeds thereof, (ii) any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s rights or interests in any license, contract or agreement with respect to Intellectual Property (which is not owned by such Borrower or Guarantor) to which such Borrower or Guarantor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder to the extent, but only to the extent, that such a grant would, under applicable law, result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under any license, contract or agreement to which such Borrower or Guarantor is a party (except for the products and proceeds thereof); provided, however, upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such provision, the Collateral shall include, and such Borrower or Guarantor shall be deemed to have granted a security interest in, all such rights and interests as if such provision had never been in effect, and (iii) the Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent that such Capital Stock constitutes more than sixty-five percent (65%) of the Voting Stock of all classes of the Capital Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary that are entitled to vote, except for the products and proceeds thereof as long as such products or proceeds do not cause the aggregate amount of the Voting Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary part of the Collateral to exceed at any time sixty-five percent (65%) of the Voting Stock of all classes of the Capital Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral shall exclude any rights to any Intellectual Property, or License Agreements that would be cancelled or rendered invalid or unenforceable under applicable law by the grant of a security interest created pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, for as long as such prohibition or reason for invalidity under applicable law exists, except for the products and proceeds thereof. If any Borrower or Guarantor is required to deliver an estoppel letter with respect to any leasehold to the landlord party to such lease (or to the mortgagor of such landlord), the Collateral shall also exclude any rights to such leasehold to the extent necessary to permit such Borrower or Guarantor to certify that such leasehold is not subject to any assignment or hypothecation, and solely for purposes of such estoppel letter.

 

5.2 Perfection of Security Interests .

 

(a) Each Borrower and Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally authorizes Agent (or its agent) to file at any time and from time to time such financing statements with respect to the Collateral naming Agent or its designee as the secured party and such Borrower or Guarantor as debtor, as Agent may reasonably require, and including any other information with respect to such Borrower or Guarantor or otherwise required by part 5 of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of such jurisdiction or under the PPSA, as Agent may reasonably determine, together with any amendment and continuations with respect thereto, which authorization shall apply to all financing statements filed on, prior to or after the date hereof. Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby ratifies and approves all financing statements naming Agent or its designee as secured party and such Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be, as debtor with respect to the Collateral (and any amendments with respect to such financing statements) filed by or on behalf of Agent prior to the date hereof and ratifies and confirms the authorization of Agent to file such financing statements (and amendments, if any). Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby authorizes Agent to adopt on behalf of such Borrower and Guarantor any symbol required for authenticating any electronic filing. In the event that the description of the collateral in any financing statement naming Agent or its designee as the secured party and any Borrower or Guarantor as debtor includes assets and properties of such Borrower or Guarantor that do not at any time constitute Collateral, whether hereunder, under any of the other Financing Agreements or otherwise, the filing of such financing statement shall

 

52


nonetheless be deemed authorized by such Borrower or Guarantor to the extent of the Collateral included in such description and it shall not render the financing statement ineffective as to any of the Collateral or otherwise affect the financing statement as it applies to any of the Collateral, provided, that, the inclusion of the description of assets and properties of such Borrower or Guarantor that do not constitute Collateral in any financing statement shall not be deemed a grant of a security interest in such asset of such Borrower or Guarantor in favor of Agent and Secured Parties. In no event shall any Borrower or Guarantor at any time file, or permit or cause to be filed, any correction statement or termination statement with respect to any financing statement (or amendment or continuation with respect thereto) naming Agent or its designee as secured party and such Borrower or Guarantor as debtor without the prior written consent of Agent.

 

(b) Each Borrower and Guarantor does not have any chattel paper (whether tangible or electronic) or instruments as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the Information Certificate. In the event that any Borrower or Guarantor shall be entitled to or shall receive any chattel paper or instrument after the date hereof, which together with all other chattel paper or instruments that Borrower has become entitled to or has received after the date hereof has an aggregate fair market value in excess of $100,000, Borrowers and Guarantors shall promptly notify Agent thereof in writing. Promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor (including by any agent or representative), such Borrower or Guarantor shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to Agent, all such tangible chattel paper and instruments that such Borrower or Guarantor has or may at any time acquire, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as Agent may from time to time specify, in each case except as Agent may otherwise agree. At Agent’s option, each Borrower and Guarantor shall, or Agent may at any time on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor, cause the original of any such instrument or chattel paper with an aggregate fair market value in excess of $100,000, to be conspicuously marked in a form and manner acceptable to Agent with the following legend referring to chattel paper or instruments as applicable: “This [chattel paper][instrument] is subject to the security interest of Wachovia Bank, National Association, and any sale, transfer, assignment or encumbrance of this [chattel paper][instrument] violates the rights of such secured party.”

 

(c) In the event that any Borrower or Guarantor shall at any time hold or acquire an interest in any electronic chattel paper or any “transferable record” (as such term is defined in Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction) which together with all other electronic chattel paper or “transferable record” that Borrower has become entitled to or has received after the date hereof has an aggregate fair market value in excess of $100,000, such Borrower or Guarantor shall promptly notify Agent thereof in writing. Promptly upon Agent’s request, such Borrower or Guarantor shall take, or cause to be taken, such actions as Agent may request to give Agent control of such electronic chattel paper under Section 9-105 of the UCC and control of such transferable record under Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as in effect in such jurisdiction.

 

(d) Each Borrower and Guarantor does not have any deposit accounts as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the Information Certificate. Borrowers and Guarantors

 

53


shall not, directly or indirectly, after the date hereof open, establish or maintain any deposit account unless each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) Agent shall have received not less than five (5) Business Days prior written notice of the intention of any Borrower or Guarantor to open or establish such account which notice shall specify in reasonable detail and specificity reasonably acceptable to Agent the name of the account, the owner of the account, the name and address of the bank at which such account is to be opened or established, the individual at such bank with whom such Borrower or Guarantor is dealing and the purpose of the account, (ii) the bank where such account is opened or maintained shall be reasonably acceptable to Agent, and (iii) on or before the opening of such deposit account, such Borrower or Guarantor shall as Agent may reasonably specify either (A) deliver to Agent a Deposit Account Control Agreement with respect to such deposit account duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Borrower or Guarantor and the bank at which such deposit account is opened and maintained or (B) arrange for Agent to become the customer of the bank with respect to the deposit account on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to Agent. The terms of this subsection (d) shall not apply to deposit accounts which are Store Accounts, Manual Sweeping Accounts or deposit accounts specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s salaried employees. Agent shall not exercise control over any deposit account until an Event of Default or a Cash Dominion Triggering Event has occurred and for only so long as it is continuing and Agent shall cease to exercise control over any deposit accounts on the related Cash Dominion Reversion Date or upon a waiver of such Event of Default or Cash Dominion Triggering Event in accordance with the terms hereof, as applicable.

 

(e) No Borrower or Guarantor owns or holds, directly or indirectly, beneficially or as record owner or both, any investment property, as of the date hereof, or have any investment account, securities account, commodity account or other similar account with any bank or other financial institution or other securities intermediary or commodity intermediary as of the date hereof, in each case except as set forth in the Information Certificate.

 

(i) In the event that any Borrower or Guarantor shall be entitled to or shall at any time after the date hereof hold or acquire any certificated securities, which together with all other certificated securities that Borrower holds or acquires an interest in after the date hereof have an aggregate fair market value in excess of $100,000, such Borrower or Guarantor shall promptly endorse, assign and deliver the same to Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as Agent may from time to time specify. If any securities, now or hereafter acquired by any Borrower or Guarantor are uncertificated and are issued to such Borrower or Guarantor or its nominee directly by the issuer thereof, and such securities together with all other such securities acquired by Borrower have an aggregate fair market value in excess of $100,000, such Borrower or Guarantor shall immediately notify Agent thereof and shall as Agent may reasonably specify, either (A) cause the issuer to agree to comply with instructions from Agent as to such securities, without further consent of any Borrower or Guarantor or such nominee (it being understood that Agent shall not give any such issuer any such instructions unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), or (B) arrange for Agent to become the registered owner of the securities.

 

(ii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, after the date hereof open, establish or maintain any investment account, securities account, commodity

 

54


account or any other similar account (other than a deposit account) with any securities intermediary or commodity intermediary unless each of the following conditions is satisfied: (A) Agent shall have received not less than five (5) Business Days prior written notice of the intention of such Borrower or Guarantor to open or establish such account which notice shall specify in reasonable detail and specificity reasonably acceptable to Agent the name of the account, the owner of the account, the name and address of the securities intermediary or commodity intermediary at which such account is to be opened or established, the individual at such intermediary with whom such Borrower or Guarantor is dealing and the purpose of the account, (B) the securities intermediary or commodity intermediary (as the case may be) where such account is opened or maintained shall be acceptable to Agent, and (C) on or before the opening of such investment account, securities account or other similar account with a securities intermediary or commodity intermediary (it being understood that Agent shall not exercise control over any such investment accounts, securities accounts, commodity accounts or other similar accounts (other than any deposit accounts which shall be governed by Section 5.2(d) above) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), such Borrower or Guarantor shall as Agent may specify either (i) execute and deliver, and cause to be executed and delivered to Agent, an Investment Property Control Agreement with respect thereto duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Borrower or Guarantor and such securities intermediary or commodity intermediary or (ii) arrange for Agent to become the entitlement holder with respect to such investment property on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to Agent.

 

(f) Borrowers and Guarantors are not the beneficiary or otherwise entitled to any right to payment under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar instrument as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the Information Certificate. In the event that any Borrower or Guarantor shall be entitled to or shall receive any right to payment under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or any similar instrument, whether as beneficiary thereof or otherwise after the date hereof, which together with all other letters of credit, banker’s acceptances and similar instruments that Borrower has become entitled to or has received after the date hereof has an aggregate fair market value in excess of $100,000, such Borrower or Guarantor shall promptly notify Agent thereof in writing. Such Borrower or Guarantor shall promptly, as Agent may reasonably specify, either (i) deliver, or cause to be delivered to Agent, with respect to any such letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar instrument, the written agreement of the issuer and any other nominated Person obligated to make any payment in respect thereof (including any confirming or negotiating bank), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, consenting to the assignment of the proceeds of the letter of credit to Agent by such Borrower or Guarantor and agreeing to make all payments thereon directly to Agent or as Agent may otherwise direct upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or (ii) cause Agent to become, at Borrowers’ expense, the transferee beneficiary of the letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar instrument (as the case may be) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default).

 

(g) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.2(g) hereto, on the date hereof, Borrowers and Guarantors do not have any commercial tort claims with respect to which the amount claimed exceeds $1,000,000 and either a written demand therefor has been made or legal action has commenced. In the event that any Borrower or Guarantor shall at any time after the date hereof have any commercial tort claims with respect to which the amount claimed exceeds $1,000,000 and either a written demand therefor has been made or legal action has commenced,

 

55


or if any Event of Default exists, upon Agent’s request, if any Borrower or Guarantor has any commercial tort claims, such Borrower or Guarantor shall promptly notify Agent thereof in writing, which notice shall (i) set forth in reasonable detail the basis for and nature of such commercial tort claim and (ii) include the express grant by such Borrower or Guarantor to Agent of a security interest in such commercial tort claim (and the proceeds thereof). In the event that such notice does not include such grant of a security interest, the sending thereof by such Borrower or Guarantor to Agent shall be deemed to constitute such grant to Agent. Upon the sending of such notice, any commercial tort claim described therein shall constitute part of the Collateral and shall be deemed included therein. Without limiting the authorization of Agent provided in Section 5.2(a) hereof or otherwise arising by the execution by such Borrower or Guarantor of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements, Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized from time to time and at any time to file such financing statements naming Agent or its designee as secured party and such Borrower or Guarantor as debtor, or any amendments to any financing statements, covering any such commercial tort claim as Collateral. In addition, each Borrower and Guarantor shall promptly upon Agent’s reasonable request, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to Agent such other agreements, documents and instruments as Agent may require in connection with such commercial tort claim.

 

(h) Borrowers and Guarantors do not have any goods, documents of title or other Collateral in the custody, control or possession of a third party as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the Information Certificate and except for goods located in the United States (and goods located in Canada, so long as Agent has received prior notification thereof and Borrowers have taken all action reasonably requested by Agent to perfect the security interest of Agent and Secured Parties therein) in transit to a location of a Borrower or Guarantor permitted herein in the ordinary course of business of such Borrower or Guarantor in the possession of any carrier transporting such goods. In the event that any goods covered by documents of title or other Collateral with a fair market value in excess of $50,000 are at any time after the date hereof in the custody, control or possession of any other Person not referred to in the Information Certificate or such carriers, Borrowers and Guarantors shall promptly notify Agent thereof in writing. Promptly upon Agent’s reasonable request, Borrowers and Guarantors shall deliver to Agent a Collateral Access Agreement , subject to Section 9.2 hereof, duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Person and the Borrower or Guarantor that is the owner of such Collateral, except where the fair market value of the Collateral involved is less than $50,000.

 

(i) (i) Each Borrower and Guarantor will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the Intellectual Property owned by it, defend the Intellectual Property against the claims of all persons, and will maintain and renew all registrations of the Intellectual Property, if applicable; provided, that, Borrowers and Guarantors shall not be required to maintain, defend or renew any Intellectual Property which is not material to the Borrowers’ business or has no material economic value. If any trademark is material to the conduct of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s business or has material economic value, such Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be, shall not permit the expiration or abandonment of such trademark without the prior written consent of Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). If, before the Obligations have been satisfied in full and the Financing Agreements have been terminated, any Borrower or Guarantor shall obtain or acquire any new trademark registration or file or acquire any new trademark application, Administrative Borrower shall give Agent notice thereof in the compliance certificate delivered to Agent pursuant to Section 9.6(a)(i) hereof.

 

56


(ii) Until the Obligations shall have been paid in full and the Financing Agreements have been terminated (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not yet accrued at such time), each Borrower and Guarantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve and maintain all rights in the trademarks and the other Intellectual Property; provided, that Borrowers and Guarantors are not required to preserve or maintain any trademarks which are not material to the Borrowers’ business or have no material economic value. Any expenses incurred in connection with such actions shall be borne by Borrowers.

 

(iii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not expressly abandon any right to file a trademark application or registration for any trademark, or abandon any pending trademark application or registration without the prior written consent of Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), except to the extent that the trademark covered by such application or registration is not material to the Borrowers’ business or has no material economic value.

 

(j) Subject to Section 9.2 hereof, Borrowers and Guarantors shall take any other actions reasonably requested by Agent from time to time to cause the attachment, perfection and first priority of, and the ability of Agent to enforce, the security interest of Agent in any and all of the Collateral, including, (i) executing, delivering and, where appropriate, filing financing statements and amendments relating thereto under the UCC , the PPSA or other applicable law, to the extent, if any, that any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s signature thereon is required therefor, (ii) upon Agent’s request after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, causing Agent’s name to be noted as secured party on any certificate of title for a titled good if such notation is a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of Agent to enforce, the security interest of Agent in such Collateral, (iii) complying with any provision of any statute, regulation or treaty of the United States or Canada as to any Collateral if compliance with such provision is a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of Agent to enforce, the security interest of Agent in such Collateral, (iv) obtaining the required consents and approvals of any Governmental Authority or third party, including, any consent of any licensor, lessor or other Person obligated on Collateral, and taking all actions required by other law, as applicable in any relevant jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 6. COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION

 

6.1 Borrowers’ Loan Accounts . Agent shall maintain one or more loan account(s) on its books in which shall be recorded (a) all Loans, Letters of Credit and other Obligations and the Collateral, (b) all payments made by or on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor and (c) all other appropriate debits and credits as provided in this Agreement, including fees, charges, costs, expenses and interest. All entries in the loan account(s) shall be made in accordance with Agent’s customary practices as in effect from time to time.

 

6.2 Statements . Agent shall render to Administrative Borrower each month a statement setting forth the balance in the Borrowers’ loan account(s) maintained by Agent for Borrowers pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including principal, interest, fees, costs and expenses. Each such statement shall be subject to subsequent adjustment by Agent but shall, absent manifest errors or omissions, be considered correct and deemed accepted by Borrowers and Guarantors and conclusively binding upon Borrowers and Guarantors as an account stated except to the extent that Agent receives a written notice from Administrative Borrower of any

 

57


specific exceptions of Administrative Borrower thereto within thirty (30) days after the date such statement has been received by Administrative Borrower. Until such time as Agent shall have rendered to Administrative Borrower a written statement as provided above, the balance in any Borrower’s loan account(s) shall be presumptive evidence of the amounts due and owing to Agent and Lenders by Borrowers and Guarantors.

 

6.3 Collection of Accounts .

 

(a) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall establish and maintain, at its expense, deposit account arrangements and merchant payment arrangements with the banks set forth on Schedule 8.10 hereto and subject to Section 5.2(d) hereof such other banks as such Borrower or Guarantor may hereafter select. The banks set forth on Schedule 8.10 hereto constitute all of the banks with which Borrowers and Guarantors have deposit account arrangements and merchant payment arrangements as of the date hereof and identifies each of the deposit accounts at such banks that are used solely for receiving store receipts from a retail store location of a Borrower (together with any other deposit accounts at any time established or used by any Borrower for receiving such store receipts from any retail store location, collectively, the “Store Accounts” and each individually, a “Store Account”) or otherwise describes the nature of the use of such deposit account by such Borrower or Guarantor.

 

(i) Each Borrower shall deposit all proceeds from sales of Inventory in every form, including, without limitation, cash, checks, credit card sales drafts, credit card sales or charge slips or receipts and other forms of daily store receipts, from each retail store location of such Borrower into the Store Account of such Borrower used solely for such purpose in accordance with the current and prior practices of such Borrower, but in any event no less frequently than once every three (3) Business Days; provided , that , each retail store of a Borrower may retain in such store funds of up to $10,000 immediately after each deposit of funds from such store into the applicable Store Account. All such funds deposited into the Store Accounts shall be sent by wire transfer or other electronic funds transfer on each Business Day to the Blocked Accounts as provided in Section 6.3(a)(ii) below, except for (A) nominal amounts which are required to be maintained in such Store Accounts under the terms of such Borrower’s arrangements with the bank at which such Store Accounts are maintained or (B) with respect to funds deposited in Manual Sweeping Accounts, which shall be sent to the Blocked Accounts not less than twice every week (and which amounts, together with all amounts held at the retail store locations and not yet deposited in the Store Accounts and amounts in Store Accounts, shall not in the aggregate exceed $3,500,000 at any one time, except (1) to the extent from time to time additional amounts may be held in the retail stores or the Store Accounts on Saturday, Sunday or other days where the applicable depository bank is closed, which additional amounts are to be, and shall be, transferred on the next Business Day to the Blocked Accounts, (2) that such amount does not include the aggregate amount of any investments of the Borrowers and the Guarantors pursuant to Section 9.10(d), and (3) except as Agent may otherwise agree).

 

(ii) Each Borrower shall establish and maintain, at its expense, deposit accounts with such banks as are reasonably acceptable to Agent (the “Blocked Accounts”) into which each Borrower shall promptly either cause all amounts on deposit in the Store Accounts of such Borrower to be sent as provided in Section 6.3(a)(i) above or shall itself deposit or cause to be deposited all proceeds of Collateral, including all proceeds from sales of Inventory, all

 

58


amounts payable to each Borrower from Credit Card Issuers and Credit Card Processors, and all other proceeds of Collateral. Any Eligible Depository Bank shall be deemed acceptable to Agent.

 

(iii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to Agent a Deposit Account Control Agreement duly authorized, executed and delivered by each bank where a Blocked Account is maintained as provided in Section 5.2 hereof. Without limiting any other rights or remedies of Agent or Lenders, Agent may, at its option, and shall at the direction of Required Lenders, instruct the depository banks at which the Blocked Accounts are maintained to transfer all available funds received or deposited into the Blocked Accounts to the Agent Payment Account at any time that an Event of Default is continuing or a Compliance Period is continuing and Agent shall send to Administrative Borrower a copy of any such written instruction sent by Agent to the depository bank promptly thereafter. At all times that Agent shall have notified any depository bank to transfer funds from a Blocked Account to the Agent Payment Account, all payments made to such Blocked Accounts, whether in respect of the Receivables, as proceeds of Inventory or other Collateral or otherwise shall be treated as payments to Agent in respect of the Obligations and therefore shall constitute the property of Agent and Lenders to the extent of the then outstanding Obligations.

 

(b) For purposes of calculating the amount of the Revolving Loans available to each Borrower, such payments will be applied (conditional upon final collection) to the Obligations on the Business Day of receipt by Agent of immediately available funds in the Agent Payment Account provided such payments and notice thereof are received in accordance with Agent’s usual and customary practices as in effect from time to time and within sufficient time to credit the applicable loan account on such day, and if not, then on the next Business Day. For the purposes of calculating interest on the Obligations, such payments or other funds received will be applied (conditional upon final collection) to the Obligations in accordance with Section 6.4(a) hereof on the same Business Day of receipt by Agent of immediately available funds in the Agent Payment Account provided such payments or other funds and notice thereof are received in accordance with Agent’s usual and customary practices as in effect from time to time, by 11:00 a.m. New York City time and if not, then on the next Business Day.

 

(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or upon any Cash Dominion Triggering Event and during any Compliance Period, Borrower and its shareholders, directors, employees, agents, each Borrower and Guarantor and their respective employees, agents and Subsidiaries or other Affiliates shall receive and promptly remit to Agent, as the property of Agent, any monies, checks, notes, drafts or any other payment relating to and/or proceeds of Accounts or other Collateral which come into their possession or under their control and promptly upon receipt thereof, shall deposit or cause the same to be deposited in the Blocked Accounts, or remit the same or cause the same to be remitted, in kind, to Agent. In no event shall the same be commingled with any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s own funds. Borrowers agree to reimburse Agent on demand for any amounts owed or paid to any bank or other financial institution at which a Blocked Account or any other deposit account or investment account is established or any other bank, financial institution or other Person involved in the transfer of funds to or from the Blocked Accounts arising out of Agent’s payments to or indemnification of such bank, financial institution or other Person. The obligations of Borrowers

 

59


to reimburse Agent for such amounts pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall survive the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

 

6.4 Payments .

 

(a) All Obligations shall be payable to the Agent Payment Account as provided in Section 6.3 or such other place as Agent may designate from time to time. Agent shall apply payments received or collected from any Borrower or Guarantor or for the account of any Borrower or Guarantor (including the monetary proceeds of collections or of realization upon any Collateral) as follows:

 

(i) first , to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to Agent from any Borrower or Guarantor;

 

(ii) second , to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to Lenders from any Borrower or Guarantor;

 

(iii) third , to pay interest due in respect of any Revolving Loans (and including any Special Agent Advances);

 

(iv) fourth , to pay or prepay principal in respect of Special Agent Advances;

 

(v) fifth , to pay or prepay principal in respect of the Revolving Loans and to pay or prepay Obligations then due arising under or pursuant to any Hedge Agreements of a Borrower or Guarantor with a Bank Product Provider (up to the amount of any then effective Reserve established in respect of such Obligations), on a pro rata basis;

 

(vi) sixth , to pay or prepay any other Obligations whether or not then due, in such order and manner as Agent determines or at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing to be held as cash collateral in connection with any Letter of Credit Obligations or other contingent Obligations (but not including for this purpose any Obligations arising under or pursuant to any Bank Products); and

 

(vii) seventh , at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing to pay or prepay any Obligations arising under or pursuant to any Bank Products (other than to the extent provided for above) on a pro rata basis.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (i) unless so directed by Administrative Borrower, Agent shall not apply any payments which it receives to any Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans except on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans and if payments are received or collected from Borrower that otherwise would be applied to Eurodollar Rate Loans, provided no Event of Default or Availability Compliance Period exists, Administrative Borrower may instruct Agent to remit such funds to Administrative Borrower, otherwise, such payments shall be held by Agent and shall bear interest at the Federal Funds Rate per annum commencing on the second Business Day following the date such payments are received or collected from Borrowers and continuing through the date such payments are applied to the

 

60


Obligations, which shall be upon the expiration of the first Interest Period after receipt or collection of such payments, to the extent of the principal amount of the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loan or otherwise, in Agent’s sole discretion, remitted to Administrative Borrower and (ii) to the extent any Borrower uses any proceeds of the Revolving Loans or Letters of Credit to acquire rights in or the use of any Collateral or to repay any Indebtedness used to acquire rights in or the use of any Collateral, payments in respect of the Obligations shall be deemed applied first to the Obligations arising from Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations that were not used for such purposes and second to the Obligations arising from Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations the proceeds of which were used to acquire rights in or the use of any Collateral in the chronological order in which such Borrower acquired such rights in or the use of such Collateral.

 

(b) At Agent’s option, all principal, interest, fees, costs, expenses and other charges provided for in this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements may be charged directly to the loan account(s) of any Borrower maintained by Agent. Borrower shall make all payments to Agent and Lenders on the Obligations free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any setoff, counterclaim, defense, restrictions or conditions of any kind. If after receipt of any payment of, or proceeds of Collateral applied to the payment of, any of the Obligations, Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank is required to surrender or return such payment or proceeds to any Person for any reason, then the Obligations intended to be satisfied by such payment or proceeds shall be reinstated and continue and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by Agent or such Lender. Borrowers and Guarantors shall be liable to pay to Agent and Lenders, and do hereby indemnify and hold Agent and Lenders harmless for the amount of any payments or proceeds so surrendered or returned and to the extent thereof. This Section 6.4(b) shall remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may be taken by Agent or any Lender in reliance upon such payment or proceeds. This Section 6.4 shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

6.5 Taxes .

 

(a) Except as required by law, Borrower shall make all payments hereunder free and clear of and without deduction for or withholding of any taxes, levies, imposts, deductions or charges and penalties, interest and all other liabilities with respect thereto imposed by the United States or any political subdivision thereof (collectively, “Taxes”), excluding (1) Taxes imposed on or measured by the Agent’s or any Lender’s gross receipts, net profits, net income or capital (including branch profits tax or any similar taxes) and any similar or franchise taxes imposed on the Agent or any Lender (x) by the jurisdiction under the laws of which the Agent or such Lender is organized or has its principal place of business or in which the Agent’s or such Lender’s lending office is located or any political subdivision thereof and (y) by a jurisdiction solely as a result of a present or former connection between the Agent or any Lender and such jurisdiction (other than any such connection arising solely from such Lender or Agent having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, any of the Financing Agreements), and (2) Taxes that are in effect and would apply at the time such Lender becomes a Lender (all such non-excluded Taxes being hereinafter referred to as “Covered Taxes”). If Borrower shall be required by law to deduct or withhold any Covered Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to the Agent or any Lender, then the sum

 

61


payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required withholdings and deductions of Covered Taxes (including deductions and withholdings of Covered Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this paragraph), the Agent or such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum the Agent or such Lender would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made. Borrower shall make such deductions or withholdings and Borrower shall pay the full amount so deducted or withheld to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law and deliver to Agent evidence of such payment. Agent and each Lender shall provide any documentation prescribed by applicable law, properly completed and executed, as will permit payments to be made by Borrower hereunder without the imposition of Covered Taxes. If the Agent or any Lender receives a refund or credit in respect of Covered Taxes, then the Agent or such Lender will pay over the amount of such refund or credit to Borrower to the extent that the Agent or such Lender has received indemnity payments or additional amounts pursuant to this Section 6.5(a), net of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred in obtaining such refund or credit and without interest (other than interest paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such refund or credit).

 

(b) In addition, Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or any applicable foreign jurisdiction, and all liabilities with respect thereto, in each case arising from any payment made hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements except for any such taxes, charges, levies or liabilities (i) resulting from a transfer (other than as a result of a foreclosure) by a Lender of all or any portion of its interest in any of the Financing Agreements, (ii) resulting from the gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct of an Agent or any Lender, or (iii) resulting from the voluntary change in the identity of an Agent or Lender (all such Taxes, after taking into account the above exceptions, hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

 

(c) Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Covered Taxes and Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 6.5) paid by such Lender or Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including for penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, provided , that any such liability (including for penalties, interest and expenses) is not the result of the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Agent or Lender, and that the Lender or Agent claiming such indemnity has submitted its claim to the Borrower at least 30 days before the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations for claiming a refund of such Covered Taxes or Other Taxes from the taxing jurisdiction. This indemnification shall be made within thirty (30) days from the date such Lender or Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor which demand shall include the original receipt or a certified copy of the receipt of such payment, or in the absence of such a receipt, a certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to Agent) or by Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender. If the Borrower reasonably believes that such Covered Taxes or Other Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted, the applicable Lender and Agent will cooperate with the Borrower to obtain a refund of such Covered Taxes or Other Taxes, although the cost of any such effort to obtain such refund shall be borne entirely by the Borrower.

 

62


(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes or Other Taxes by Borrower, Borrower shall furnish to Agent, at its address referred to herein, the original or a certified copy of a receipt or other evidence of payment evidencing payment thereof.

 

(e) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements of Borrower hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements, the agreements and obligations of Borrower contained in this Section 6.5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment in full of the Obligations.

 

(f) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements shall deliver to Borrower (with a copy to Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by Borrower or Agent (in such number of copies as is reasonably requested by the recipient), whichever of the following is applicable (but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so): (1) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming exemption from, or a reduction to, withholding tax under an income tax treaty, or any successor form, (2) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form 8-8ECI claiming exemption from withholding because the income is effectively connection with a U.S. trade or business or any successor form, (3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Sections 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code, (a) a certificate of the Lender to the effect that such Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code or a “controlled foreign corporation” described and Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (b) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming exemption from withholding under the portfolio interest exemption or any successor form or (4) any other applicable form, certificate or document prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made. Unless Borrower and Agent have received forms or other documents satisfactory to them indicating that payments hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements to or for a Foreign Lender are not subject to United States withholding tax, Borrower or Agent shall withhold amounts required to be withheld by applicable requirements of law from such payments at the applicable statutory rate, or at such reduced statutory rate if payments hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements to or for a Foreign Lender are subject to such tax at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty. For any period during which a Foreign Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with an appropriate form pursuant to this clause (f) (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), such Foreign Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 6.5 with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided that, should a Foreign Lender which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required under this clause (f), the Borrower shall take such steps as such Foreign Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Foreign Lender to recover such Taxes.

 

63


(g) Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 6.5 shall use its reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its applicable lending office if the making of such a change would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that would be payable or may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

 

6.6 Authorization to Make Revolving Loans . Agent and Lenders are authorized to make the Revolving Loans and Issuing Bank is authorized to issue Letters of Credit based upon telephonic or other instructions received from anyone purporting to be an Authorized Officer of Administrative Borrower or any Borrower or other authorized Person or, at the discretion of Agent, if such Revolving Loans are necessary to satisfy any Obligations; provided , that , Agent and Lenders shall direct the Revolving Loans only into those accounts of Borrowers authorized in writing by more than one Authorized Officer. The foregoing sentence notwithstanding, if Agent or a Lender makes a Loan into an account of any Borrower designated by a Person who no longer is an Authorized Officer and Agent did not receive prior written notice that such Person is no longer an Authorized Officer, such Loan will still be considered an Obligation hereunder. All requests for Revolving Loans or Letters of Credit hereunder shall specify the date on which the requested advance is to be made (which day shall be a Business Day) and the amount of the requested Loan. Requests received after 2:00 p.m. New York time on any day shall be deemed to have been made as of the opening of business on the immediately following Business Day. All Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit under this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been made to, and at the request of and for the benefit of, any Borrower or Guarantor when deposited to the credit of any Borrower or Guarantor or otherwise disbursed or established in accordance with the instructions of any Borrower or Guarantor or in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

6.7 Use of Proceeds . Borrowers shall use the initial proceeds of the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit hereunder only for: (a) payments to each of the Persons listed in the Disbursement Letter furnished by Borrowers to Agent on or about the date hereof and (b) costs, expenses and fees in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and consummation of any other permitted transactions contemplated hereby which will take place on or about the date hereof and (c) costs, expenses and fees in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of the Senior Secured Note Documents, the repayment of obligation to the Existing Lenders and this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements. All other Revolving Loans made or Letters of Credit provided to or for the benefit of any Borrower pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be used by such Borrower only to finance Permitted Acquisitions and for general operating, working capital and other proper corporate purposes of such Borrower (including the intercompany funding of Borrowers and Guarantors) not otherwise prohibited by the terms hereof. None of the proceeds of any Loans or Letter of Credit will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security or for the purposes of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Revolving Loans to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended.

 

64


6.8 Appointment of Administrative Borrower as Agent for Requesting Revolving Loans and Receipts of Revolving Loans and Statements .

 

(a) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints and constitutes Administrative Borrower as its agent and attorney-in-fact to request and receive Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit pursuant to this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements from Agent or any Lender in the name or on behalf of such Borrower. Agent and Lenders may disburse the Revolving Loans to such bank account of Administrative Borrower or a Borrower or otherwise make such Revolving Loans to a Borrower and provide such Letters of Credit to a Borrower as Administrative Borrower may designate or direct, without notice to any other Borrower or Guarantor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Agent may at any time and from time to time require that Revolving Loans to or for the account of any Borrower be disbursed directly to an operating account of such Borrower.

 

(b) Administrative Borrower hereby accepts the appointment by Borrowers to act as the agent and attorney-in-fact of Borrowers pursuant to this Section 6.8. Administrative Borrower shall ensure that the disbursement of any Revolving Loans to each Borrower requested by or paid to or for the account of a Borrower, or the issuance of any Letter of Credit for a Borrower hereunder, shall be paid to or for the account of such Borrower.

 

(c) Each Borrower and other Guarantor hereby irrevocably appoints and constitutes Administrative Borrower as its agent to receive statements on account and all other notices from Agent and Lenders with respect to the Obligations or otherwise under or in connection with this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements.

 

(d) Any notice, election, representation, warranty, agreement or undertaking by or on behalf of any other Borrower or any Guarantor by Administrative Borrower shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made by such Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be, and shall be binding upon and enforceable against such Borrower or Guarantor to the same extent as if made directly by such Borrower or Guarantor.

 

(e) No purported termination of the appointment of Administrative Borrower as agent as aforesaid shall be effective, except after ten (10) days’ prior written notice to Agent.

 

6.9 Pro Rata Treatment . Except to the extent otherwise provided in this Agreement or as otherwise agreed by Lenders: (a) the making and conversion of Revolving Loans shall be made among the Lenders based on their respective Pro Rata Shares as to the Revolving Loans and (b) each payment on account of any Obligations to or for the account of one or more of Lenders in respect of any Obligations due on a particular day shall be allocated among the Lenders entitled to such payments based on their respective Pro Rata Shares and shall be distributed accordingly.

 

6.10 Sharing of Payments, Etc.

 

(a) Each Borrower and Guarantor agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of) any right of setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim Agent or any Lender may otherwise have, each Lender shall be entitled, at its option (but subject, as among Agent and Lenders, to the provisions of Section 12.3(b) hereof), to offset balances held by it for the account

 

65


of such Borrower or Guarantor at any of its offices, in dollars or in any other currency, against any principal of or interest on any Revolving Loans owed to such Lender or any other amount payable to such Lender hereunder, that is not paid when due (regardless of whether such balances are then due to such Borrower or Guarantor), in which case it shall promptly notify Administrative Borrower and Agent thereof; provided , that , such Lender’s failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity thereof.

 

(b) If any Lender (including Agent) shall obtain from any Borrower or Guarantor payment of any principal of or interest on any Revolving Loan owing to it or payment of any other amount under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements through the exercise of any right of setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim or similar right or otherwise (other than from Agent as provided herein), and, as a result of such payment, such Lender shall have received more than its Pro Rata Share of the principal of the Revolving Loans or more than its share of such other amounts then due hereunder or thereunder by any Borrower or Guarantor to such Lender than the percentage thereof received by any other Lender, it shall promptly pay to Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, the amount of such excess and simultaneously purchase from such other Lenders a participation in the Revolving Loans or such other amounts, respectively, owing to such other Lenders (or such interest due thereon, as the case may be) in such amounts, and make such other adjustments from time to time as shall be equitable, to the end that all Lenders shall share the benefit of such excess payment (net of any expenses that may be incurred by such Lender in obtaining or preserving such excess payment) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares or as otherwise agreed by Lenders. To such end all Lenders shall make appropriate adjustments among themselves (by the resale of participation sold or otherwise) if such payment is rescinded or must otherwise be restored.

 

(c) Each Borrower and Guarantor agrees that any Lender purchasing a participation (or direct interest) as provided in this Section may exercise, in a manner consistent with this Section, all rights of setoff, banker’s lien, counterclaim or similar rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct holder of Revolving Loans or other amounts (as the case may be) owing to such Lender in the amount of such participation.

 

(d) Nothing contained herein shall require any Lender to exercise any right of setoff, banker’s lien, counterclaims or similar rights or shall affect the right of any Lender to exercise, and retain the benefits of exercising, any such right with respect to any other Indebtedness or obligation of any Borrower or Guarantor. If, under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff to which this Section applies, such Lender shall, to the extent practicable, assign such rights to Agent for the benefit of Secured Parties and, in any event, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights of Lenders entitled under this Section to share in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

 

6.11 Settlement Procedures .

 

(a) In order to administer the Credit Facility in an efficient manner and to minimize the transfer of funds between Agent and Lenders, Agent may, at its option, subject to the terms of this Section, make available, on behalf of Lenders, the full amount of the Revolving Loans requested or charged to any Borrower’s loan account(s) or otherwise to be advanced by

 

66


Lenders pursuant to the terms hereof, without requirement of prior notice to Lenders of the proposed Revolving Loans.

 

(b) With respect to all Revolving Loans made by Agent on behalf of Lenders as provided in this Section, the amount of each Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Revolving Loans shall be computed weekly, and shall be adjusted upward or downward on the basis of the amount of the outstanding Revolving Loans as of 5:00 p.m. New York time on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of each settlement computation; provided , that , Agent retains the absolute right at any time or from time to time to make the above described adjustments at intervals more frequent than weekly, but in no event more than twice in any week. Agent shall deliver to each of the Lenders after the end of each week, or at such lesser period or periods as Agent shall determine, a summary statement of the amount of outstanding Revolving Loans for such period (such week or lesser period or periods being hereinafter referred to as a “Settlement Period”). If the summary statement is sent by Agent and received by a Lender prior to 11:00 a.m. New York time, then such Lender shall make the settlement transfer described in this Section by no later than 3:00 p.m. New York time on the same Business Day and if received by a Lender after 11:00 a.m. New York time, then such Lender shall make the settlement transfer by not later than 3:00 p.m. New York time on the next Business Day following the date of receipt. If, as of the end of any Settlement Period, the amount of a Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Revolving Loans is more than such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Revolving Loans as of the end of the previous Settlement Period, then, if the summary statement is prepared and delivered to Lenders by Agent prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time, then Agent shall make the transfer described in this Section by no later than 3:00 p.m. New York City time on the same Business Day and if prepared and delivered to Lenders by Agent after 11:00 a.m. New York City time, then Agent shall make the transfer by no later than 3:00 p.m. New York City time on the next Business Day following the date of receipt, then such Lender shall forthwith (but in no event later than the time set forth in the preceding sentence) transfer to Agent by wire transfer in immediately available funds the amount of the increase. Alternatively, if the amount of a Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Revolving Loans in any Settlement Period is less than the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Revolving Loans for the previous Settlement Period, Agent shall forthwith transfer to such Lender by wire transfer in immediately available funds the amount of the decrease. The obligation of each of the Lenders to transfer such funds and effect such settlement shall be irrevocable and unconditional and without recourse to or warranty by Agent. Agent and each Lender agrees to mark its books and records at the end of each Settlement Period to show at all times the dollar amount of its Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit. Each Lender shall only be entitled to receive interest on its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loans to the extent such Revolving Loans have been funded by such Lender. Because the Agent on behalf of Lenders may be advancing and/or may be repaid Revolving Loans prior to the time when Lenders will actually advance and/or be repaid such Revolving Loans, interest with respect to Revolving Loans shall be allocated by Agent in accordance with the amount of Revolving Loans actually advanced by and repaid to each Lender and the Agent and shall accrue from and including the date such Revolving Loans are so advanced to but excluding the date such Revolving Loans are either repaid by Borrowers or actually settled with the applicable Lender as described in this Section.

 

67


(c) To the extent that Agent has made any such amounts available and the settlement described above shall not yet have occurred, upon repayment of any Revolving Loans by a Borrower, Agent may apply such amounts repaid directly to any amounts made available by Agent pursuant to this Section. In lieu of weekly or more frequent settlements, Agent may, at its option, at any time require each Lender to provide Agent with immediately available funds representing its Pro Rata Share of each Revolving Loan, prior to Agent’s disbursement of such Revolving Loan to a Borrower (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower). In such event, all Revolving Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in the other Lender’s obligation to make a Revolving Loan requested hereunder nor shall the Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of the default by any other Lender in the other Lender’s obligation to make a Revolving Loan hereunder.

 

(d) If Agent is not funding a particular Revolving Loan to a Borrower (or Administrative Borrower for the benefit of such Borrower) pursuant to Sections 6.11(a) and 6.11(b) above on any day, but is requiring each Lender to provide Agent with immediately available funds on the date of such Revolving Loan as provided in Section 6.11(c) above, Agent may assume that each Lender will make available to Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loan requested or otherwise made on such day and Agent may, in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, cause a corresponding amount to be made available to or for the benefit of such Borrower on such day. If Agent makes such corresponding amount available to a Borrower and such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to Agent by such Lender, Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon for each day from the date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to Agent at the Federal Funds Rate for each day during such period (as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or at Agent’s option based on the arithmetic mean determined by Agent of the rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal funds arranged prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that day by each of the three leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New York City selected by Agent) and if such amounts are not paid within three (3) days of Agent’s demand, at the highest Interest Rate provided for in Section 3.1 hereof applicable to Prime Rate Loans. During the period in which such Lender has not paid such corresponding amount to Agent, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements, the amount so advanced by Agent to or for the benefit of any Borrower shall, for all purposes hereof, be a Revolving Loan made by Agent for its own account. Upon any such failure by a Lender to pay Agent, Agent shall promptly thereafter notify Administrative Borrower of such failure and Borrowers shall pay such corresponding amount to Agent for its own account within five (5) Business Days of Administrative Borrower’s receipt of such notice, which shall constitute a payment on account of Obligations. A Lender who fails to pay Agent its Pro Rata Share of any Revolving Loans made available by the Agent on such Lender’s behalf, or any Lender who fails to pay any other amount owing by it to Agent, is a “Defaulting Lender”. Agent shall not be obligated to transfer to a Defaulting Lender any payments received by Agent for the Defaulting Lender’s benefit, nor shall a Defaulting Lender be entitled to the sharing of any payments hereunder (including any principal, interest or fees). Amounts payable to a Defaulting Lender shall instead be paid to or retained by Agent. Agent may hold and, in its discretion, relend to a Borrower the amount of all such payments received or retained by it for the account of such Defaulting Lender. For

 

68


purposes of voting or consenting to matters with respect to this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and determining Pro Rata Shares, such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a “Lender” and such Lender’s Commitment shall be deemed to be zero (0). This Section shall remain effective with respect to a Defaulting Lender until such default is cured. The operation of this Section shall not be construed to increase or otherwise affect the Commitment of any Lender, or relieve or excuse the performance by any Borrower or Guarantor of their duties and obligations hereunder.

 

(e) Nothing in this Section or elsewhere in this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements shall be deemed to require Agent to advance funds on behalf of any Lender or to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment hereunder or to prejudice any rights that any Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by any Lender hereunder in fulfilling its Commitment.

 

6.12 Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights . The obligation of each Lender hereunder is several, and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligation or commitment of any other Lender hereunder. Nothing contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements and no action taken by the Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto shall be deemed to constitute the Lenders to be a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity. The amounts payable at any time hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt, and subject to Section 12.3 hereof, each Lender shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising out of this Agreement and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

SECTION 7. COLLATERAL REPORTING AND COVENANTS

 

7.1 Collateral Reporting .

 

(a) Borrowers shall provide Agent with the following documents in a form reasonably satisfactory to Agent:

 

(i) as soon as possible after the end of each fiscal month (but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the end thereof) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and Excess Availability shall be greater than $7,500,000 (and more frequently as Agent may reasonably require at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or Excess Availability is less than $7,500,000), a Borrowing Base Certificate setting forth the calculation of the Borrowing Base as of the last Business Day of the immediately preceding fiscal month as to the Inventory, duly completed and executed by the chief financial officer, vice president of finance, treasurer, controller or other similar financial officer of Administrative Borrower, together with all schedules required pursuant to the terms of the Borrowing Base Certificate duly completed, including but not limited to an inventory summary report by category as determined by Borrowers in accordance with their current and prior inventory management policies (and upon Agent’s reasonable request, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default letter of credit inventory summary) and identifying where such Inventory is located;

 

69


(ii) as soon as possible after the end of each fiscal month (but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the end thereof), on a monthly basis or more frequently as Agent may reasonably request upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or a Cash Dominion Triggering Event,

 

(A) a report of all Asset Sales (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) made by any Borrower or Guarantor made during the immediately preceding fiscal month which report shall include without limitation the amount of the Net Proceeds (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) received by such Borrower or Guarantor in connection therewith and the use of such proceeds;

 

(B) confirmation that except as specified in such report (1) there are no past due trade accounts payable more than (30) days past the later of due date or the original invoice date thereof, and (2) there are no past due amounts owing to owners and lessors of leased premises (including retail store locations), warehouses, fulfillment centers, processors, custom brokers, freight forwarders and other third parties from time to time in possession of any Collateral, and

 

(C) a certificate by the chief financial officer, vice president of finance, treasurer or controller or other similar financial or senior officer of Administrative Borrower consisting of: (1) a statement confirming the payment of rent and other amounts due to owners and lessors of real property used by Borrower in the immediately preceding month, subject to year-end or monthly percentage or other applicable rent payment adjustments , except as otherwise specified, (2) the addresses of all new retail store or distribution center locations of Borrowers and Guarantors opened and existing retail store or distribution center locations closed or sold, in each case since the date of the most recent certificate delivered to Agent containing the information required under this clause, (3) a report of any new deposit account established by any Borrower or Guarantor with any bank or other financial institution, including the Borrower or Guarantor in whose name the account is maintained, the account number, the name and address of the financial institution at which such account is maintained, the purpose of such account and, if any, the amount held in such account on or about the date of such report, and (4) a statement that all sales and use taxes have been paid when due as of the date of the certificate, except as specifically described in such certificate and except where the non-payment of such sales and use taxes involves an aggregate amount of less than $100,000; and

 

(iii) as soon as possible after the end of each fiscal quarter (but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the end thereof), on a quarterly basis or more frequently as Agent may reasonably request upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or a Cash Dominion Triggering Event, inventory summary reports by location and category of Inventory (including the amounts of Inventory and the aggregate value thereof at each retail store location and at premises of warehouses or other third parties or is consigned inventory),

 

70


(b) upon Agent’s reasonable request, (i) perpetual inventory summary reports by sku for each retail store location, (ii) summary reports on sales and use tax collections, deposits and payments, including monthly sales and use tax accruals, (iii) a report of aggregate credit card sales for the requested period, including the amount of the chargebacks, fees, and credits with respect thereto and providing an aging of such related Receivables identifying those outstanding more than five (5) Business Days since the sale date giving rise thereto, and (iv) true, correct and complete copies of all agreements, documents and instruments relating to any Permitted Acquisition which Agent has not otherwise received; and

 

(c) such other reports as to the Collateral as Agent shall reasonably request from time to time. If any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s records or reports of the Collateral are prepared or maintained by an accounting service, contractor, shipper or other agent, such Borrower and Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes such service, contractor, shipper or agent to deliver such records, reports, and related documents to Agent and to follow Agent’s instructions with respect to further reasonable services, in each case, at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

7.2 Accounts Covenants .

 

(a) Borrowers shall notify Agent promptly of the assertion of any claims, offsets, defenses or counterclaims by any account debtor, Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor or any disputes with any of such Persons or any settlement, adjustment or compromise thereof, to the extent any of the foregoing exceeds $500,000 in any one case or $1,000,000 in the aggregate. No credit, discount, allowance or extension or agreement for any of the foregoing shall be granted to any account debtor, Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor except in the ordinary course of a Borrower’s business in accordance with the current and prior practices of such Borrower. So long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Borrower shall, without the prior written consent of Agent, settle, adjust or compromise any material claim, offset, counterclaim or dispute with any account debtor, Credit Card Issuer or Processor. At any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Agent shall, at its option, have the exclusive right to settle, adjust or compromise any claim, offset, counterclaim or dispute with account debtors, Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors or grant any credits, discounts or allowances.

 

(b) Each Borrower shall notify Agent promptly of: (i) any notice of a material default by such Borrower under any of the Credit Card Agreements or of any default by such Borrower which has a reasonable likelihood of resulting in the Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor ceasing to make payments or suspending payments to such Borrower, and (ii) any notice from any Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor that such Person is ceasing or suspending, or will cease or suspend, any present or future payments due or to become due to any Borrower from such Person, or that such Person is terminating or will terminate any of the Credit Card Agreements.

 

(c) Agent shall have the right at any time or times, in Agent’s name or in the name of a nominee of Agent, to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to any Receivables or other Collateral, by mail, telephone, facsimile transmission or otherwise.

 

71


7.3 Inventory Covenants . With respect to the Inventory: (a) each Borrower and Guarantor shall at all times maintain inventory records reasonably satisfactory to Agent, keeping correct and accurate records itemizing and describing the kind, type, quality and quantity of Inventory, such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s cost therefor and daily withdrawals therefrom and additions thereto; (b) Borrowers and Guarantors shall conduct physical counts of the Inventory (excluding Inventory located in retail stores that have not been open for more than twelve (12) months) either through periodic cycle counts or wall to wall counts, so that all Inventory located at distribution centers and retail stores that have been open for more than twelve months is subject to such counts at least once each year but at any time or times as Agent may request upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and promptly following such physical inventory (whether through periodic cycle counts or wall to wall counts) shall supply Agent with a report in the form and with such specificity as may be reasonably satisfactory to Agent concerning such physical count; (c) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not remove any Inventory from the locations set forth or permitted herein, without the prior written consent of Agent, except (i) for sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) for sales, returns and exchanges of Inventory to manufacturers and suppliers in the ordinary course of business; (iii) to move Inventory directly from one location set forth or permitted herein to another such location and (iv) for Inventory shipped from the manufacturer thereof to such Borrower or Guarantor which is in transit to the locations set forth or permitted herein; (d) upon Agent’s request, Borrowers shall, at their expense, no more than one (1) time in any twelve (12) month period (or more frequently as Agent may determine but not at Borrowers’ expense), but at any time or times as Agent may reasonably request upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or if there is a Material Adverse Effect, deliver or cause to be delivered to Agent written appraisals as to the Inventory in form, scope and methodology reasonably acceptable to Agent and by an appraiser reasonably acceptable to Agent, addressed to Agent and Lenders and upon which Agent and Lenders are expressly permitted to rely; (e) Borrowers and Guarantors shall produce, use, store and maintain the Inventory with all reasonable care and caution and in accordance with applicable standards of any insurance and in conformity with applicable laws (including, to the extent applicable, the requirements of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended and all rules, regulations and orders related thereto); (f) none of the Inventory or other Collateral constitutes farm products or the proceeds thereof; (g) as between Agent and Secured Parties and Borrowers and Guarantors, each Borrower and Guarantor assumes all responsibility and liability arising from or relating to the production, use, sale or other disposition of the Inventory; (h) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not sell Inventory to any customer on approval, or any other basis which entitles the customer to return or may obligate any Borrower or Guarantor to repurchase such Inventory other than returns and exchanges of Inventory from customers in the ordinary course business of such Borrower or Guarantor consistent with the then current return policy of such Borrower or Guarantor; (i) Borrowers and Guarantors shall keep the Inventory in good and marketable condition; and (j) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, without prior written notice to Agent or the specific identification of such Inventory in a report with respect thereto provided by Administrative Borrower to Agent pursuant to Section 7.1(a) hereof, acquire or accept any Inventory on consignment or approval except for (x) magazines, stationery and greeting cards, and (y) perishable food stuffs of a de minimus value.

 

7.4 Equipment and Real Property Covenants . With respect to the Equipment and Real Property: (a) upon Agent’s request, Borrowers and Guarantors shall, at their expense, no

 

72


more than one (1) time as Agent may request upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, deliver or cause to be delivered to Agent written appraisals as to the Equipment and/or the fee owned Real Property in form, scope and methodology reasonably acceptable to Agent and by an appraiser reasonably acceptable to Agent, addressed to Agent and upon which Agent is expressly permitted to rely; (b) Borrowers and Guarantors shall keep the Equipment in good order, repair, running and marketable condition (ordinary wear and tear and casualty and condemnation excepted); (c) Borrowers and Guarantors shall use the Equipment with all reasonable care and caution and in accordance with applicable standards of any insurance and in conformity with all applicable laws except where the failure to so use would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (d) the Equipment is and shall be used in the business of Borrowers and Guarantors and not for personal, family, household or farming use; (e) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not remove any Equipment from the locations set forth or permitted herein, except to the extent necessary to have any Equipment repaired or maintained in the ordinary course of its business or to move Equipment directly from one location set forth or permitted herein to another such location and except for the movement of motor vehicles used by or for the benefit of such Borrower or Guarantor in the ordinary course of business; (f) the Equipment is now and shall remain personal property and Borrowers and Guarantors shall not permit any part of the Equipment to be or become a part of or affixed to real property except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (g) each Borrower and Guarantor assumes all responsibility and liability arising from the use of the Equipment and Real Property.

 

7.5 Intellectual Property Appraisal . Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance thereof, Borrowers shall, at their expense, no more than one (1) time as Agent may request upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, deliver or cause to be delivered to Agent written reports or appraisals as to the Intellectual Property in form, scope and methodology reasonably acceptable to Agent and Lenders and by an appraiser reasonably acceptable to Agent, addressed to Agent and Lenders and upon which Agent and Lenders are expressly permitted to rely.

 

7.6 Power of Attorney . Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Agent (and all Persons reasonably designated by Agent) as such Borrower’s and Guarantor’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact, and authorizes Agent, in such Borrower’s, Guarantor’s or Agent’s name, to: (a) at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (i) demand payment on Receivables or other Collateral, (ii) clear Inventory the purchase of which was financed with Letters of Credit through U.S. Customs or foreign export control authorities in any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s name, Agent’s name or the name of Agent’s designee, and to sign and deliver to customs officials powers of attorney in such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s name for such purpose, and to complete in Borrower’s, Guarantor’s or Agent’s name, any order, sale or transaction, obtain the necessary documents in connection therewith and collect the proceeds thereof, (iii) enforce payment of Receivables by legal proceedings or otherwise, (iv) exercise all of such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s rights and remedies to collect any Receivable or other Collateral, (v) in a commercially reasonable manner, sell or assign any Receivable upon such terms, for such amount and at such time or times as the Agent deems advisable, (vi) settle, adjust, compromise, extend or renew an Account, (vii) discharge and release any Receivable, (viii) prepare, file and sign such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s name on any proof of claim in bankruptcy or other similar document against an account debtor or other such Borrower or Guarantor in respect of any Receivables or other Collateral, (ix) notify the post

 

73


office authorities to change the address for delivery of remittances from account debtors or other Borrowers or Guarantors in respect of Receivables or other proceeds of Collateral to an address designated by Agent, and open and dispose of all mail addressed to any Borrower or Guarantor and handle and store all mail relating to the Collateral, provided , that Agent shall turn over to such Borrower or Guarantor any such mail that that does not constitute a remittance from an account debtor or other Borrower or Guarantor in respect of Receivables or other proceeds of Collateral; (x) do all acts and things which are necessary, in Agent’s determination, to fulfill such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, (b) at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and during any Compliance Period, (i) have access to any lockbox or postal box into which remittances from account debtors or other Borrowers or Guarantors in respect of Receivables or other proceeds of Collateral are sent or received, (ii) endorse such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s name upon any items of payment in respect of Receivables or constituting Collateral or otherwise received by Agent and any Lender and deposit the same in Agent’s account for application to the Obligations, and (iii) take control in any manner of any item of payment in respect of Receivables or constituting Collateral or otherwise received in or for deposit in the Blocked Accounts or otherwise received by Agent or any Lender, and (c) at any time to (i) endorse Borrower’s name upon any chattel paper, document, instrument, invoice, or similar document or agreement relating to any Receivable or any goods pertaining thereto or any other Collateral, including any warehouse or other receipts, or bills of lading and other negotiable or non-negotiable documents, and (ii) sign such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s name on any verification of Receivables and notices thereof to account debtors or any secondary Guarantors or other Guarantors in respect thereof. Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby releases Agent and Lenders and their respective officers, employees and designees from any liabilities arising from any act or acts under this power of attorney and in furtherance thereof, whether of omission or commission, except as a result of Agent’s or any Lender’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

7.7 Right to Cure . Agent may, at its option, upon written notice to Administrative Borrower, (a) cure any default by any Borrower or Guarantor under any material agreement with a third party that materially and adversely affects the Collateral, its value or the ability of Agent to collect, sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or the rights and remedies of Agent or any Lender therein or the ability of any Borrower or Guarantor to perform its obligations hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements, (b) pay or bond on appeal any judgment entered against any Borrower or Guarantor, (c) discharge taxes, liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied on or existing with respect to the Collateral and (d) pay any amount, incur any expense or perform any act which, in Agent’s reasonable judgment, is necessary or appropriate to preserve, protect, insure or maintain the Collateral and the rights of Agent and Lenders with respect thereto. Agent may add any amounts so expended to the Obligations and charge any Borrower’s account therefor, such amounts to be repayable by Borrowers on demand. Agent and Lenders shall be under no obligation to effect such cure, payment or bonding and shall not, by doing so, be deemed to have assumed any obligation or liability of any Borrower or Guarantor. Any payment made or other action taken by Agent or any Lender under this Section shall be without prejudice to any right to assert an Event of Default hereunder and to proceed accordingly.

 

7.8 Access to Premises . From time to time as reasonably requested by Agent, at the cost and expense (subject to Section 9.22 hereof) of Borrowers, (a) Agent or its designee shall

 

74


have reasonable access, so as (if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) not to interfere with the operations of such Borrower or Guarantor to all of each Borrower’s and Guarantor’s premises during normal business hours and after notice to Administrative Borrower, or at any time and without notice to Administrative Borrower if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, for the purposes of inspecting, verifying and auditing the Collateral and all of each Borrower’s and Guarantor’s books and records, including the Records, and (b) each Borrower and Guarantor shall promptly furnish to Agent such copies of such books and records or extracts therefrom as Agent may request (subject to the confidentiality agreement set forth in Section 13.5 hereof), and Agent or any Lender or Agent’s designee may use during normal business hours such of any Borrower’s and Guarantor’s personnel, equipment, supplies and premises as may be reasonably necessary for the foregoing and if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing for the collection of Receivables and realization of other Collateral. Borrowers and Guarantors further agree that during the course of such on-site Record examinations; Agent may review reports by retail store location of sales and operating profits of Borrowers and Guarantors, but may not make copies of such reports or remove them from such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s premises.

 

SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank the following, the truth and accuracy of which are a continuing condition of the making of Revolving Loans and Issuing Bank’s providing of Letters of Credit:

 

8.1 Corporate Existence, Power and Authority . Each Borrower and Guarantor is a corporation duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing in all states or other jurisdictions where the nature and extent of the business transacted by it or the ownership of assets makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder (a) are all within each Borrower’s and Guarantor’s corporate powers, (b) have been duly authorized, (c) are not in contravention of law or the terms of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s certificate of incorporation, by laws, or other organizational documentation, or any indenture, agreement or undertaking to which any Borrower or Guarantor is a party or by which any Borrower or Guarantor or its property are bound and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or require or give rise to any obligation to grant, any lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance upon any property of any Borrower or Guarantor, except, (i) with respect to (c) and (d) above, where such contravention or result would not have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) the creation of the security interest in the Collateral in favor of Agent and Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of the Financing Agreements. This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements to which any Borrower or Guarantor is a party constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such Borrower and Guarantor enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws limiting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles.

 

75


8.2 Name; State of Organization; Chief Executive Office; Collateral Locations .

 

(a) The exact legal name of each Borrower and Guarantor is as set forth on the signature page of this Agreement and in the Information Certificate. No Borrower or Guarantor has, during the five years prior to the date of this Agreement, been known by or used any other corporate or fictitious name or been a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquired all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or acquired any of its property or assets out of the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in the Information Certificate.

 

(b) Each Borrower and Guarantor is an organization of the type and organized in the jurisdiction set forth in the Information Certificate. The Information Certificate accurately sets forth the organizational identification number of each Borrower and Guarantor or accurately states that such Borrower or Guarantor has none and accurately sets forth the federal employer identification number of each Borrower and Guarantor.

 

(c) The chief executive office and mailing address of each Borrower and Guarantor and each Borrower’s and Guarantor’s Records concerning Accounts are located only at the address identified as such in Schedule 8.2 hereto and its only other places of business and the only other locations of Collateral, if any, are the addresses set forth in Schedule 8.2 hereto, subject to the rights of any Borrower or Guarantor to establish new locations in accordance with Section 9.2 below. The Information Certificate correctly identifies, as of the date hereof, any of such locations which are not owned by a Borrower or Guarantor and sets forth the owners and/or operators of all locations which are not retail store locations.

 

8.3 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change . All financial statements relating to any Borrower or Guarantor which have been or may hereafter be delivered by any Borrower or Guarantor to Agent and Lenders have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as otherwise disclosed in any notes thereto and as indicated in the notes thereto and as to any interim financial statements, to the extent such statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments and do not include any notes) and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operation of such Borrower and Guarantor as at the dates and for the periods set forth therein. Except as disclosed in any interim financial statements furnished by Borrowers and Guarantors to Agent prior to the date of this Agreement, there has been no act, condition or event which has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect since the date of the most recent audited financial statements of any Borrower or Guarantor furnished by any Borrower or Guarantor to Agent prior to the date of this Agreement. The projections dated August 22, 2005 for the fiscal years ending 2005 through 2009 that have been delivered to Agent or any projections hereafter delivered to Agent have been prepared in light of the past operations of the businesses of Borrowers and Guarantors and are based upon estimates and assumptions stated therein, all of which Borrowers and Guarantors have determined to be reasonable and fair in light of the then current conditions and current facts and reflect the good faith and reasonable estimates of Borrowers and Guarantors of the future financial performance of Parent and its Subsidiaries and of the other information projected therein for the periods set forth therein.

 

8.4 Priority of Liens; Title to Properties . Upon the filing of the UCC financing statements required pursuant to the Financing Documents and the recording of security

 

76


agreements with the United States Patent and Trademark Office within thirty (30) days of the date hereof and United States Copyright Office within thirty (30) days of the date hereof, the security interests and liens granted to Agent under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall constitute valid and perfected first priority liens and security interests in and upon the Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof, subject only to the liens indicated on Schedule 8.4 hereto and the other liens permitted under Section 9.8 hereof (A) except for Borrower’s money, and vehicles and other assets the perfection of a security interest in which is governed by Section 9-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (B) subject to, with respect to deposit accounts, Section 5.2(d) hereof; and (C) with respect to Intellectual Property, only if and to the extent perfection may be achieved by the filing of security interests in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office), except that additional filings may have to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, as applicable, to perfect the security interest and lien of Agent in any issuances, registrations, or applications for registration of any Intellectual Property acquired by any Borrower or Guarantor after the date hereof. Each Borrower and Guarantor has good and marketable fee simple title to or valid leasehold interests in all of its Real Property and good, valid and merchantable title to, or a license, option or other right to use, all of its other properties and assets subject to no liens, mortgages, pledges, security interests, charges or other encumbrances of any kind, except those granted to Agent and such others as are specifically listed on Schedule 8.4 hereto or permitted under Section 9.8 hereof.

 

8.5 Tax Returns . Each Borrower and Guarantor has filed, or caused to be filed, in a timely manner (including any extensions) all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns, reports and declarations which are required to be filed by it. All information in such tax returns, reports and declarations is complete and accurate in all material respects. Each Borrower and Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all taxes due and payable or claimed due and payable in any assessment received by it, except taxes (a) the validity or amount of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to such Borrower or Guarantor and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books or (b) the non-payment of which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Adequate provision has been made for the payment of all accrued and unpaid material Federal, State, county, local, foreign and other taxes whether or not yet due and payable and whether or not disputed.

 

8.6 Litigation . Except as set forth on Schedule 8.6 hereto, (a) there is no investigation by any Governmental Authority pending, or to the best of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s knowledge threatened, against or affecting any Borrower or Guarantor, its or their assets or business and (b) there is no action, suit, proceeding or claim by any Person pending, or to the best of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s knowledge threatened, against any Borrower or Guarantor or its or their assets or goodwill, or against or affecting any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Senior Secured Note Indenture, in each case, which if adversely determined against such Borrower or Guarantor has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.7 Compliance with Other Agreements and Applicable Laws . Borrowers and Guarantors are not in default in any respect under, or in violation in any material respect of any the terms of, any agreement, contract, instrument, lease or other commitment to which it is a

 

77


party or by which it or any of its assets are bound which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Borrowers and Guarantors are in compliance with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority relating to their businesses.

 

8.8 Environmental Compliance .

 

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 8.8 hereto or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) Borrowers, Guarantors and any Subsidiary of any Borrower or Guarantor have not generated, used, stored, treated, transported, manufactured, handled, produced or disposed of any Hazardous Materials, on or off its premises (whether or not owned by it) in any manner which at any time violates in any material respect any applicable Environmental Law or any permit issued to Borrower under Environmental Law, and (ii) the operations of Borrowers, Guarantors and any Subsidiary of any Borrower or Guarantor complies in all material respects with all Environmental Laws and all permits issued to Borrowers and Guarantors under Environmental Law.

 

(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 8.8 hereto or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, there has been no investigation by any Governmental Authority or any proceeding, complaint, order, directive, claim, citation or notice by any Governmental Authority or any other Person nor is any pending or to the best of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s knowledge threatened, with respect to any non compliance with or violation of the requirements of any Environmental Law by any Borrower or Guarantor and any Subsidiary of any Borrower or Guarantor or the release, spill or discharge, threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Material or the generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation, manufacture, handling, production or disposal of any Hazardous Materials by any Borrower or Subsidiary of Borrower or any other environmental matter involving Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower.

 

(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 8.8 hereto or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Borrowers, Guarantors and their Subsidiaries have no material liability (contingent or otherwise) in connection with a release, spill or discharge, threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Materials or the generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation, manufacture, handling, production or disposal of any Hazardous Materials.

 

(d) Except as set forth on Schedule 8.8 hereto or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Guarantors and their Subsidiaries have all permits required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operations of Borrowers and Guarantors under any Environmental Law and all of such licenses, certificates, approvals or similar authorizations and other permits are valid and in full force and effect.

 

(e) This Section 8.8 sets forth the sole representations and warranties of Borrower with respect to Environmental Laws and Hazardous Materials and, notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, no other representation or warranty is made in this Agreement with respect to environmental matters.

 

78


8.9 Employee Benefits .

 

(a) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or State law and each Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter (or a favorable opinion letter) from the Internal Revenue Service or is still within the remedial amendment period (as defined in Section 401(b) of the Code) to obtain a favorable determination letter. Each Borrower and Guarantor and its respective ERISA Affiliates have made all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any such Plan.

 

(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there are no pending, or to the best of each Borrower’s and Guarantor’s knowledge, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan, and (ii) there has been no non-exempt prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan.

 

(c) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) the current value of the assets of each Plan (determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding such Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code) are not exceeded by such Plan’s liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA in an amount that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) no Borrower or Guarantor nor any of its respective ERISA Affiliates have incurred nor do any of them reasonably expect to incur any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither Borrower nor any of its ERISA Affiliates have incurred nor do any of them reasonably expect to incur any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither Borrower nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has engaged in a transaction that would be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

8.10 Bank Accounts . All of the deposit accounts, investment accounts or other accounts in the name of or used by any Borrower or Guarantor maintained at any bank or other financial institution are set forth in Schedule 8.10 hereto, subject to the right of each Borrower and Guarantor to establish new accounts in accordance with Section 5.2 hereof.

 

8.11 Intellectual Property . Each Borrower and Guarantor owns or licenses or otherwise has the right to use all Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of its business as presently conducted. On the date hereof, no Borrower or Guarantor owns any Intellectual Property registered, or subject to pending applications, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar office or agency in the United States, any State thereof, any political subdivision thereof or in any other country, other than those described in Schedule 8.11 hereto and, as of the date hereof, has not granted any licenses with respect to any Intellectual Property that is material to the conduct of such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s business other than as

 

79


set forth in Schedule 8.11 hereto. Each Borrower and Guarantor is the sole and exclusive owner of the entire and unencumbered right, title, and interest in and to all Intellectual Property used in the operation of its business, or, in the case of licenses and options granted to such Borrower or Guarantor with respect to Intellectual Property owned by other Persons, each Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be, has a valid and enforceable license, option or other right, as the case may be, to use such Intellectual Property; and except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Intellectual Property owned by each Borrower or Guarantor is valid, subsisting, unexpired (except as the result of the expiration of patents and copyrights at the end of their statutory term) , and enforceable and has not been abandoned or adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or part. Except as described in Schedule 8.11 hereto, to each Borrowers’ and Guarantor’s knowledge, no event has occurred which could reasonably be expected to result in after notice or passage of time or both, the revocation, suspension or termination of Intellectual Property rights included in the Collateral, the revocation, suspension or termination of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best of each Borrower’s and Guarantor’s knowledge, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or as described in Schedule 8.11 hereto: (i) no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance or other Intellectual Property or goods bearing or using any Intellectual Property presently used or sold by Borrowers or Guarantors infringes any patent, trademark, servicemark, tradename, copyright, license or other intellectual property owned by any other Person presently and (ii) no claim or litigation is pending or threatened against or affecting any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s right to sell or use any such Intellectual Property. Schedule 8.11 hereto sets forth all of the agreements or other arrangements of Borrowers and Guarantors pursuant to which Borrower has a license, option, or other right to use any trademarks, logos, designs or other intellectual property that is material to such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s business and owned by another Person as in effect on the date hereof and the dates of the expiration of such agreements or other arrangements of such Borrower or Guarantor (collectively, together with such agreements or other arrangements as may be entered into by any Borrower or Guarantor after the date hereof, collectively, the “License Agreements” and individually, a “License Agreement”). No material trademark, service mark, copyright or other Intellectual Property at any time used by Borrower which is owned by another Person, or owned by any Borrower or Guarantor subject to any security interest, lien, collateral assignment, pledge or other encumbrance in favor of any Person other than Agent, is affixed to any Eligible Inventory, except (x) as set forth in any Promotional Agreement, (y) to the extent permitted under the terms of the License Agreements listed on Schedule 8.11 hereto or (z) to the extent the sale of Inventory to which such Intellectual Property is affixed is permitted to be sold by any Borrower or Guarantor under applicable law (including the United States Copyright Act of 1976). As of the date hereof, no Borrower or Guarantor licenses any Intellectual Property, except pursuant to the Promotional Agreements.

 

8.12 Subsidiaries; Capitalization; Solvency .

 

(a) Each Borrower and Guarantor does not have any direct or indirect Subsidiaries and is not engaged in any joint venture or partnership except as set forth in Schedule 8.12 hereto and except as may be acquired, formed or entered into in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or otherwise and in accordance with Section 9.23 hereof.

 

80


(b) Each Borrower and Guarantor is the record and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of each of the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 8.12 hereto as being owned by such Borrower or Guarantor and except as described on Schedule 8.12 hereto, there are no proxies, irrevocable or otherwise, with respect to such shares and no equity securities of any of the Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued by reason of any options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any kind or nature and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of its Capital Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares.

 

(c) As of the date hereof, the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of each Borrower and Subsidiary Guarantor are directly and beneficially owned and held by the Persons indicated in the Information Certificate, and in each case all of such shares have been duly authorized and are fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all claims, liens, pledges and encumbrances of any kind, except for liens created hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements or as disclosed in writing to Agent prior to the date hereof or as permitted by Section 9.8 hereof.

 

(d) The Borrowers taken as a whole, and the Borrowers and the Guarantors taken as a whole, are Solvent and will continue to be Solvent immediately after giving effect to the creation of the Obligations, the granting of security interests of Agent and the other transactions contemplated hereunder, or in connection with any of the foregoing, and the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes under the Senior Secured Note Indenture.

 

8.13 Labor Disputes .

 

(a) Set forth on Schedule 8.13 hereto is a list of all collective bargaining or similar agreements between or applicable to each Borrower and Guarantor and any union, labor organization or other bargaining agent in respect of the employees of any Borrower or Guarantor in force on the date hereof.

 

(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, there is (i) no unfair labor practice complaint pending against any Borrower or Guarantor or, to the best of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s knowledge, threatened against it, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against any Borrower or Guarantor or, to best of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s knowledge, threatened against it, and (ii) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against any Borrower or Guarantor or, to the best of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s knowledge, threatened against any Borrower or Guarantor.

 

8.14 Restrictions on Subsidiaries . Except for restrictions contained in this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, the Senior Secured Note Indenture or any other agreement with respect to Indebtedness of any Borrower or Guarantor permitted hereunder, there are no contractual restrictions binding on any Subsidiary of any Borrower or Guarantor which prohibit or otherwise materially restrict (unless permitted pursuant to Section 9.16 (a) the transfer of cash or other assets (i) between any Borrower or Guarantor and any of its or their Subsidiaries or

 

81


(ii) between any Subsidiaries of any Borrower or Guarantor or (b) the ability of any Borrower or Guarantor or any of its or their Subsidiaries to incur Indebtedness or grant security interests to Agent or any Lender in the Collateral.

 

8.15 Material Contracts . Schedule 8.15 hereto sets forth all Material Contracts to which any Borrower or Guarantor is a party or is bound as of the date hereof. Borrowers and Guarantors have delivered true, correct and complete copies of such Material Contracts to Agent on or before the date hereof. Borrowers and Guarantors are not in breach or in default in any material respect of or under any Material Contract and have not received any notice of the intention of any other party thereto to terminate any Material Contract except as would not result in an Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.16 Credit Card Agreements . Set forth in Schedule 8.16 hereto is a correct and complete list of all of the Credit Card Agreements existing as of the date hereof between or among any Borrower, Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, the Credit Card Issuers and the Credit Card Processors. The Credit Card Agreements constitute all of such agreements necessary for each Borrower to operate its business as presently conducted with respect to credit cards and debit cards and no Receivables of any Borrower arise from purchases by customers of Inventory with credit cards or debit cards, other than those which are issued by Credit Card Issuers with whom such Borrower has entered into one of the Credit Card Agreements set forth on Schedule 8.16 hereto or with whom such Borrower has entered into a Credit Card Agreement in accordance with Section 9.18 hereof. Each of the Credit Card Agreements constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower that is party thereto and to the best of each Borrower’s and Guarantor’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and is in full force and effect. Except as could not reasonably be expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) result in the cessation of the transfer of payments under any Credit Card Agreement to Blocked Accounts as required under this Agreement, no default or event of default, or act, condition or event which after notice or passage of time or both, would constitute a material default or a material event of default under any of the Credit Card Agreement has occurred and is continuing. The applicable Borrower and the other parties thereto have complied with all of the terms and conditions of the Credit Card Agreements to the extent necessary for such Borrower to be entitled to receive all payments thereunder which constitute proceeds of Eligible Credit Card Receivables. Borrowers have delivered, or caused to be delivered to Agent, true, correct and complete copies of all of the Credit Card Agreements.

 

8.17 Accuracy and Completeness of Information . All information furnished by or on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor in writing to Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or any transaction, when taken as a whole, contemplated hereby or thereby, including all information on the Information Certificate is true and correct in all material respects on the date as of which such information is dated or certified and does not omit any material fact necessary in order to make such information not materially misleading. Since the date of the most recently delivered audited financial statements, described in Section 8.3, no event or circumstance has occurred which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which has not been fully and accurately disclosed to Agent in writing prior to the date hereof.

 

82


8.18 Survival of Warranties; Cumulative . All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall be deemed to have been made again to Agent and Lenders on the date of each additional borrowing or other credit accommodation hereunder and shall be conclusively presumed to have been relied on by Agent and Lenders regardless of any investigation made or information possessed by Agent or any Lender. The representations and warranties set forth herein shall be cumulative and in addition to any other representations or warranties which any Borrower or Guarantor shall now or hereafter give, or cause to be given, to Agent or any Lender.

 

SECTION 9. AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

9.1 Maintenance of Existence .

 

(a) Except as permitted by Section 9.7, each Borrower and Guarantor shall at all times preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and material rights and franchises with respect thereto and maintain in full force and effect all material governmental licenses, trademarks, tradenames, approvals, authorizations, leases, contracts and permits necessary to carry on the business as presently conducted, except where the failure to so preserve, renew or keep in full force and effect would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b) No Borrower or Guarantor shall change its name unless each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) Agent shall have received not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice from Administrative Borrower of such proposed change in its corporate name, which notice shall accurately set forth the new name; and (ii) Agent shall have received a copy of the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of such Borrower or Guarantor providing for the name change certified by the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of such Borrower or Guarantor as soon as it is available.

 

(c) No Borrower or Guarantor shall change its chief executive office or its mailing address or organizational identification number (or if it does not have one, shall not acquire one) unless Agent shall have received not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice from Administrative Borrower of such proposed change, which notice shall set forth such information with respect thereto as Agent may require and Agent shall have received such agreements as Agent may reasonably require in connection therewith. Without the prior written consent of Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, no Borrower or Guarantor shall change its type of organization, jurisdiction of organization or other legal structure.

 

9.2 New Collateral Locations . Each Borrower and Guarantor may only open new locations within the United States and Canada provided , that , such Borrower or Guarantor (a) gives Agent ten (10) days prior written notice of the intended opening of any such new location at which Collateral will be located (other than with respect to the opening of a retail store location for which no notice shall be required) and (b) executes and delivers, or causes to be executed and delivered, to Agent such agreements, documents, and instruments as Agent may deem reasonably necessary or desirable to protect its interests in the Collateral at such location; except , that , if (i) such new location is a retail store location, or (ii) the fair market value of all of

 

83


the Collateral involved is less than $100,000, no Collateral Access Agreement will be required by Agent.

 

9.3 Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Etc.

 

(a) Except as could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect, each Borrower and Guarantor shall, and shall cause any Subsidiary to, at all times, comply in all material respects with all laws, rules, regulations, licenses, approvals, orders and other permits applicable to it and duly observe all applicable requirements of any foreign, Federal, State or local Governmental Authority, the Code, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, all Federal, State and local statutes, regulations, rules and orders pertaining to sales of consumer goods (including the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914, as amended, and all regulations, rules and orders promulgated thereunder) and all statutes, rules, regulations, orders, permits and stipulations relating to environmental pollution and employee health and safety, including all of the Environmental Laws.

 

(b) Administrative Borrower shall give written notice to Agent promptly upon any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s receipt of any notice of the following, except if the condition giving rise to such notice could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, “Environmental Events”), (i) the occurrence of any event involving the unpermitted release, spill or discharge, threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Material by any Borrower or Guarantor or (ii) any investigation, proceeding, complaint, order, directive, claims, citation or notice with respect to: (A) any non-compliance with or violation of any Environmental Law by any Borrower or Guarantor or (B) the release, spill or discharge, threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Material by any Borrower or Guarantor (as applicable) other than in the ordinary course of business and other than as permitted under any applicable Environmental Law. Copies of all non-privileged environmental surveys, audits, assessments, feasibility studies and results of remedial investigations conducted in connection with an Environmental Event shall be promptly furnished, or caused to be furnished, by such Borrower or Guarantor to Agent. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall take prompt action to respond to any material non-compliance with any of the Environmental Event and shall regularly report to Agent on such response.

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, whenever Agent reasonably determines that there is material non-compliance, or any condition which requires any action by or on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor in order to avoid any non compliance, with any Environmental Law except with respect to such non-compliance that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Borrowers shall, at Agent’s reasonable request and Borrowers’ expense: (i) cause an independent environmental consultant reasonably acceptable to Agent to conduct such tests of the site where non-compliance or alleged non compliance with such Environmental Laws (including sampling and analysis, if necessary) has occurred as to such non-compliance and prepare and deliver to Agent a report as to such non-compliance setting forth the results of such tests, a proposed plan for responding to any environmental problems described therein, and an estimate of the costs thereof and (ii) provide to Agent a supplemental report of such consultant whenever the scope of such non-compliance, or such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s response thereto or the estimated costs thereof, shall change in any material respect.

 

84


(d) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall indemnify and hold harmless Agent and Lenders and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, invitees, representatives, successors and assigns, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) directly or indirectly arising out of or attributable to the use, generation, manufacture, reproduction, storage, release, threatened release, spill, discharge, disposal or presence of a Hazardous Material on any property of Borrower or resulting from Borrower’s conduct, including the costs of any required or necessary repair, cleanup or other remedial work with respect to any property of any Borrower or Guarantor and the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial or other required plans relating to such Hazardous Materials except to the extent such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses arise out of or are attributable to the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of Agent or any Lender. All indemnifications in this Section 9.3 shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

9.4 Payment of Taxes and Claims . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, and shall cause any Subsidiary to, duly pay and discharge all taxes, assessments, contributions and governmental charges upon or against it or its properties or assets, except for taxes (i) the validity or amount of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to such Borrower, Guarantor or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books or (ii) the non-payment of which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.5 Insurance . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, and shall cause any Subsidiary to, at all times, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurers insurance with respect to the Collateral against loss or damage and all other insurance of the kinds and in the amounts customarily insured against or carried by corporations of established reputation engaged in the same or similar businesses and similarly situated. Such policies of insurance shall be reasonably satisfactory to Agent as to form, amount and insurer. Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish certificates, policies or endorsements to Agent as Agent shall reasonably require as proof of such insurance, and, if any Borrower or Guarantor fails to do so, Agent is authorized, but not required, to obtain such insurance at the expense of Borrowers. All such insurance policies shall provide for at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to Agent of any cancellation or reduction of coverage and that Agent may act as attorney for each Borrower and Guarantor in obtaining, and at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, adjusting, settling, amending and canceling such insurance. Borrowers and Guarantors shall cause Agent to be named as a loss payee and/or an additional insured, as applicable (but without any liability for any premiums) under all casualty and property insurance policies (but not any business interruption insurance policies) and Borrowers and Guarantors shall obtain non-contributory lender’s loss payable endorsements to all property and casualty insurance policies in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent. Except upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, or (ii) during a Compliance Period solely to the extent the insurance proceeds relate to any Collateral which at the time of loss was included in the calculation of the Borrowing Base, insurance proceeds may be applied by Borrower in its discretion to the repair or replacement of any lost or damaged Collateral that gave rise to such insurance proceeds so long as (i) in the context of replacing lost or damaged Collateral, the insurance proceeds are used to replace such lost or damaged Collateral with like Collateral, and (ii) such repair or replacement is completed within one hundred eighty (180) days of the receipt of insurance proceeds, or if Borrower

 

85


commits in writing to undertake such repair or replacement within such one hundred eighty (180) day period, within two hundred seventy (270) days of the date of the receipt of insurance proceeds. Such lender’s loss payable endorsements shall specify that the proceeds of such insurance shall be payable to Agent, for itself and the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, Lenders and the Bank Product Providers, as its interests may appear and further specify that Agent and Lenders shall be paid regardless of any act or omission by any Borrower, Guarantor or any of its or their Affiliates. Without limiting any other rights of Agent or Lenders, and subject to Borrowers’ right to otherwise use insurance proceeds as provided in this Section 9.5, any insurance proceeds received by Agent at any time may be applied to payment of the Obligations, whether or not then due, in any order and in such manner as Agent may determine. Upon application of such proceeds to the Revolving Loans, Revolving Loans may be available subject and pursuant to the terms hereof to be used for the costs of repair or replacement of the Collateral lost or damages resulting in the payment of such insurance proceeds.

 

9.6 Financial Statements and Other Information .

 

(a) Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, and shall cause any Subsidiary to, keep proper books and records in which true and complete entries shall be made of all dealings or transactions of or in relation to the Collateral and the business of such Borrower, Guarantor and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP. Borrowers and Guarantors shall promptly furnish to Agent and Lenders all such financial and other information as Agent shall reasonably request relating to the Collateral and the assets, business and operations of Borrowers and Guarantors, and Borrower shall notify the auditors and accountants of Borrowers and Guarantors that Agent is authorized to obtain such information directly from them. Without limiting the foregoing, Administrative Borrower shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Agent, the following:

 

(i) within thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal month, monthly unaudited consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidating financial statements (including in each case balance sheets, statements of income and loss, and statements of cash flow), all in reasonable detail, fairly presenting in all material respects the financial position and the results of the operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and through such fiscal month, certified to be correct in all material respects by the chief financial officer, treasurer, or other similar officer of Administrative Borrower, subject to normal year-end adjustments and accompanied by a compliance certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, along with a schedule in form reasonably satisfactory to Agent of the calculations used in determining, as of the end of such month, whether Borrowers and Guarantors were in compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 9.17 of this Agreement for such month, and

 

(ii) within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidating financial statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including in each case balance sheets, statements of income and loss, statements of cash flow and statements of shareholders’ equity), and the accompanying notes thereto, all in reasonable detail, fairly presenting in all material respects the financial position and the results of the operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal year, together with the unqualified opinion of independent certified public accountants with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements, which accountants shall be an independent accounting

 

86


firm selected by Administrative Borrower and reasonably acceptable to Agent, that such audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, and present fairly in all material respects the results of operations and financial condition of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for the fiscal year then ended, and

 

(iii) (A) at such time as available, but in no event later than thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year of Borrowers ending December 30, 2006), projected consolidated financial statements (including in each case, forecasted balance sheets and statements of income and loss, statements of cash flow, and projected Borrowing Base availability) of Parent and its Subsidiaries for the next fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, and in a format consistent with the projections delivered by Borrowers to Agent prior to the date hereof, together with such supporting information as Agent may reasonably request. Such projected financial statements shall be prepared on a monthly basis for the next succeeding year. Such projections shall represent the reasonable best estimate by Administrative Borrower of the future financial performance of Parent and its Subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein and shall have been prepared on the basis of the assumptions set forth therein which Administrative Borrower believes is fair and reasonable as of the date of preparation in light of current and reasonably foreseeable business conditions (it being understood that actual results may differ from those set forth in such projected financial statements), and

 

(B) at such time as the aggregate amount of consideration paid by Borrowers and Guarantors in respect of Permitted Acquisitions equals or exceeds $7,500,000 since the date that the last projections were received by Agent pursuant to Section 9.6(a)(iii)(A) hereof or this Section 9.6(a)(iii)(B), or in conjunction with a Material Permitted Acquisition under Section 1.114(b) hereof, Administrative Borrower shall deliver updated (from the date of the last projections received) projected financial statements, in form and substance as required in Section 9.6(a)(iii)(A) hereof.

 

(b) Administrative Borrower shall promptly notify Agent in writing of the details of (i) any loss, damage, investigation, action, suit, proceeding or claim relating to Collateral having a value of more than $1,000,000 or which if adversely determined would result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any Material Contract being terminated or materially amended or any new Material Contract entered into (in which event Administrative Borrower shall provide Agent with a copy of such Material Contract to the extent permitted by any applicable confidentiality provisions contained in such Material Contract, provided , that , Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to get any appropriate consent necessary to provide Agent with such a copy), (iii) any order, judgment or decree in excess of $1,000,000 shall have been entered against any Borrower or Guarantor any of its or their properties or assets, (iv) any notification of a material violation of laws or regulations received by any Borrower or Guarantor from a Governmental Authority, (v) any ERISA Event that could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (vi) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default.

 

(c) Promptly after the sending or filing thereof, Administrative Borrower shall send to Agent copies of (i) all reports which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries sends to its holders of the Senior Secured Notes generally or the Senior Secured Note Trustee, (ii) all reports and registration statements which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries files with the Securities Exchange

 

87


Commission, any national or foreign securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and such other reports as Agent may hereafter specifically identify to Administrative Borrower that Agent will require be provided to Agent, (iii) all press releases and (iv) all other statements concerning material changes or developments in the material business of a Borrower or Guarantor made available by any Borrower or Guarantor to the public.

 

(d) Administrative Borrower shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Agent such budgets, forecasts, projections and other information respecting the Collateral and the business of Borrowers and Guarantors, as Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request. Agent is hereby authorized to deliver a copy of any financial statement or any other information relating to the business of Borrowers and Guarantors to any court or other Governmental Authority or to any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant or any Affiliate of any Lender or Participant. Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs all accountants or auditors to deliver to Agent, at Borrowers’ expense and without affecting any confidentiality obligations of such accountants and auditors to Persons other than Agent, copies of the financial statements of any Borrower and Guarantor and any reports or management letters prepared by such accountants or auditors on behalf of any Borrower or Guarantor and to disclose to Agent and Lenders such information as they may have regarding the business of any Borrower and Guarantor. Any documents, schedules, invoices or other papers delivered to Agent or any Lender may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by Agent or such Lender one (1) year after the same are delivered to Agent or such Lender, except as otherwise designated by Administrative Borrower to Agent or such Lender in writing.

 

9.7 Sale of Assets, Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, Etc. Borrowers and Guarantors shall not and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,

 

(a) merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or with or consolidate with it; provided, however, upon prior written notice to Agent:

 

(i) a Subsidiary (other than a Borrower) may merge into or with or consolidate with or dissolve or liquidate into another Subsidiary;

 

(ii) a Subsidiary may merge into or with or consolidate with or dissolve or liquidate into a Borrower or Guarantor (other than Parent) so long as (A) a Borrower or Guarantor (other than Parent) is the surviving entity with respect thereto and such Borrower or Guarantor has otherwise complied with Section 9.1(b) of this Agreement (if applicable) and all other terms of this Agreement, (B) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would occur as a result thereof, (C) no liens, other than those permitted under the terms of this Agreement or the other Financing Agreement with regard to any Borrower or Guarantor, on the assets of such Subsidiary then exist, and (D) such Borrower or Guarantor would not, as a result of such transaction and upon consummation thereof, be liable for any Indebtedness or other obligations of such Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness or other obligations which are permitted under the terms of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements with regard to a Borrower or Guarantor; and

 

88


(iii) a Guarantor or Borrower may merge into or with or consolidate with or dissolve or liquidate into a Borrower so long as (A) a Borrower is the surviving entity with respect thereto and continues to be an organization of the type, domiciled in the state and bearing the same corporate name as existed prior to such merger or consolidation, (B) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would occur, (C) no liens, other than those permitted under the terms of this Agreement with regard to such Borrower, on the assets of such Guarantor then exist, and (D) such Borrower would not, as a result of such transaction, be liable for any Indebtedness or other obligations of such Guarantor or other Borrower, other than Indebtedness or other obligations which are permitted under the terms of this Agreement with regard to such Borrower.

 

(b) sell, issue, assign, lease, license, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock or any of its assets to any other Person (or agree to do any of the foregoing unless the terms of such agreement provide that: (i) Agent’s written consent is a condition to consummation of the prohibited action, or (ii) repayment in full of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement is a condition to consummation of the prohibited action), except for:

 

(i) sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business,

 

(ii) returns and exchanges of Inventory to vendors in the ordinary course of business of a Borrower or other Subsidiary of Parent on terms and conditions consistent with the current or prior practices of such Borrower or Subsidiary;

 

(iii) the sale or other disposition of assets (other than Collateral and other than assets subject to clause (iv) of this Section below) by a Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business that are no longer necessary or required, worn out, non-core or obsolete, in the conduct of such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s business;

 

(iv) sales or other dispositions by any Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of assets in connection with the closing or sale of a retail store location (the closure of a store is not in and of itself the disposition of assets), warehouse, distribution center or corporate office of such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary, Guarantor or Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business of such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary, which sale or disposition consists of leasehold interests in the premises of such store or distribution center, the Equipment and fixtures located at such premises and the books and records relating exclusively and directly to the operations of such store or distribution center; provided , that , as to each and all such sales and closings, (i) Agent shall have receive written notice of such sale or closing in accordance with Section 7.1(a) hereof, (ii) after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (iii) such sale shall be on commercially reasonable prices and terms in a bona fide arm’s length transaction,

 

(v) in addition to the dispositions permitted in subclause (iv) above, the sale or other disposition of Equipment (including worn-out, non-core or obsolete Equipment or Equipment no longer used or useful in the business of such Borrower or Guarantor) so long as the value of such Equipment sold in any fiscal year is equal to or less than the value of all Equipment acquired in such year,

 

89


(vi) the grant by any Borrower or Guarantor after the date hereof of a non-exclusive license or an exclusive license to any Person for the use of commercially reasonable terms of Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of business, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of the execution and delivery of the subject license or sublicense; provided, however, (A) any such licenses or sublicenses if exclusive are for commercially reasonable periods of time and have commercially reasonable geographical limitations, (B) if any such license or sublicense is for use within the United States or in any territory or possession thereof, then, after giving effect to such license, such Borrower or Guarantor must retain sufficient rights to use its Intellectual Property as to enable such Borrower or Guarantor to continue to conduct the material aspects of its business in the ordinary course; (C) any such licenses or sublicenses are pursuant to bona fide arm’s length transactions on commercially reasonable terms to such Borrower or Guarantor, (D) any such licenses or sublicenses do not impair in any material respect the value (to Borrower, Agent or Lenders) of the Intellectual Property or the Collateral as a whole or the marketability of the Intellectual Property or the Collateral taken as a whole, and (E) any such licenses or sublicenses do not otherwise materially and adversely affect the potential realization by Agent and Lenders of the value of the Intellectual Property or the Collateral taken as a whole when exercising their remedies under the terms of this Agreement and applicable law,

 

(vii) sales, transfers and dispositions of assets of (A) a Borrower to another Borrower or by a Guarantor or other Subsidiary of Parent to a Borrower or Guarantor or (B) by any Subsidiary that is not a Borrower or Guarantor to another Subsidiary that is not a Borrower or Guarantor, provided, that, such transfer is otherwise consummated (and the lien and security interest of Agent and Secured Parties continues in such assets) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements,

 

(viii) the issuance and sale by any Borrower or Guarantor of Capital Stock of such Borrower or Guarantor after the date hereof; provided, that, (A) Agent shall have received not less than ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice of such issuance and sale by such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary, which notice shall specify whether such shares are to be sold pursuant to a public offering or if not a public offering, then the parties to whom such shares are to be sold, the terms of such sale, the total amount which it is anticipated will be realized from the issuance and sale of such stock and the net cash proceeds which it is anticipated will be received by such Borrower or Guarantor from such sale, (B) such Borrower or Guarantor shall not be required to pay any cash dividends or repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock or make any other payments in respect thereof, except as otherwise permitted in Section 9.11 hereof, (C) the terms of such Capital Stock, and the terms and conditions of the purchase and sale thereof, shall not include any terms that include any limitation on the right of any Borrower to request or receive Loans or Letters of Credit or the right of any Borrower and Guarantor to amend or modify any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or otherwise in any way relate to or affect the arrangements of Borrowers and Guarantors with Agent and Lenders or are more restrictive or burdensome to any Borrower or Guarantor than the terms of any Capital Stock in effect on the date hereof, (D) except as Agent may otherwise agree in writing, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default or during a Compliance Period, all of the proceeds of the sale and issuance of such Capital Stock shall be paid to Agent for application to the Obligations in accordance with Section 6.4(a) or at Agent’s option, to be held as cash collateral for the Obligations; provided,

 

90


that, conditions (A) through (C) shall not apply to the issuance and sale of Capital Stock of Parent,

 

(ix) the issuance of Capital Stock of any Borrower or Guarantor consisting of common stock pursuant to an employee stock option or grant or similar equity plan or 401(k) plans of Parent and its Subsidiaries for the benefit of its employees, directors and consultants, provided , that , in no event shall any Borrower or Subsidiary Guarantor be required to issue, or shall Parent or any of its Subsidiaries issue, Capital Stock pursuant to such stock plans or 401(k) plans which would result in a Change of Control or other Event of Default,

 

(x) the abandonment, non-renewal, failure to maintain, cancellation or sale, transfer or other disposition of Intellectual Property which is not material to the conduct of any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s business and which has no material economic value, and

 

(xi) leases and subleases and other agreements related to Real Property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xii) the transactions permitted under Sections 9.9, 9.10(h), 9.12 and 9.19 hereof,

 

(xiii) dispositions of cash and cash equivalents subject to compliance with Section 9.10(b) hereof, and

 

(xiv) in addition to the sales and dispositions permitted in clauses (i) through (xiii) of this Section 9.7 (b), the sale or other disposition of assets with an aggregate fair market value not in excess of $1,000,000 for all such assets disposed of in any Fiscal Year of Borrowers or as Agent may otherwise agree.

 

In connection with any disposition set forth in Section 9.7(b) hereof, Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by Lenders to) upon the request of Administrative Borrower and at Borrowers’ expense, (i) upon the sale or other disposition of any Collateral permitted under Section 9.7(b) hereof, release such Collateral from the Lien of Agent hereunder, and (ii) in connection with the transactions described in clause (i), deliver to Administrative Borrower a UCC-3 partial release (or other appropriate instrument, as the case may be) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Lien in favor of Agent upon any Collateral to the extent such Collateral is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in accordance with Section 9.7(b) hereof ; provided , that , (A) Administrative Borrower certifies to Agent, Issuing Bank and Lenders in writing that such sale, disposition or other transaction is being consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (and Agent, Issuing Bank and Lenders may rely conclusively upon such certificate without any further inquiry) and such release shall only be effective upon the consummation of such transaction, sale or other disposition, (B) Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in Agent’s opinion, would expose Agent to liability to any third Person or create any obligations or entail any consequence to Agent, Issuing Bank or Lenders other than the release of such Obligor or such Lien without recourse or warranty, and (C) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations of any Person not

 

91


released or any Lien upon (or obligations of Obligors in respect of) the Collateral retained by such Borrower or Guarantor; and

 

(c) wind up, liquidate or dissolve, except (i) as permitted in clause (a) above or (ii) if such Person is a Subsidiary of any Borrower (other than VS Direct) with assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than or equal to $100,000.

 

9.8 Encumbrances . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever on any of its assets or properties, including the Collateral, or file or permit the filing of, or permit to remain in effect, any financing statement or other similar notice of any security interest or lien with respect to any such assets or properties, except:

 

(a) the security interests and liens of Agent for itself and the benefit of the Secured Parties and the rights of setoff of Secured Parties provided for herein or under applicable law;

 

(b) liens securing the payment of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies either not yet delinquent or the validity or amount of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to such Borrower, or Guarantor or Subsidiary, as the case may be and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books;

 

(c) non-consensual statutory liens (including without limitation, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics, materialmen’s or other like liens but excluding liens securing the payment of taxes) arising in the ordinary course of such Borrower’s, Guarantor’s or Subsidiary’s business to the extent: (i) such liens secure Indebtedness which is not overdue or (ii) such liens secure Indebtedness relating to claims or liabilities which are fully insured and being defended at the sole cost and expense and at the sole risk of the insurer or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to such Borrower, Guarantor or such Subsidiary, in each case prior to the commencement of foreclosure or other similar proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books;

 

(d) zoning restrictions, building codes, easements, licenses, covenants, land use laws, and other restrictions affecting the use of Real Property and other similar matters of record affecting title to Real Property which do not interfere in any material respect with the use of such Real Property or ordinary conduct of the business of such Borrower, Guarantor or such Subsidiary as presently conducted thereon or materially impair the value of the Real Property which may be subject thereto;

 

(e) purchase money security interests in Equipment (including Capital Leases) and purchase money mortgages on Real Property to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.9(b) hereof;

 

(f) pledges and deposits of cash by any Borrower or Guarantor or Subsidiary after the date hereof in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’

 

92


compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security benefits consistent with the current or prior practices of such Borrower or Guarantor;

 

(g) liens or rights of setoff against credit balances of Borrowers, Guarantors or any of their Subsidiaries with Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors or amounts owing by such Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors to Borrower in the ordinary course of business, but not liens on or rights of setoff against any other property or assets of Borrowers, pursuant to the Credit Card Agreements to secure the obligations of Borrowers to the Credit Card Issuers or Credit Card Processors as a result of fees and chargebacks;

 

(h) pledges and deposits of cash by any Borrower or Guarantor or Subsidiary after the date hereof to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, trade contracts (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), statutory obligations and other similar obligations in each case in the ordinary course of business of such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary;

 

(i) liens arising from (i) operating leases and the precautionary UCC and PPSA financing statement or fixture filings in respect thereof and (ii) equipment or other materials which are not owned by any Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary located on the premises of such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary (but not in connection with, or as part of, the financing thereof) from time to time in the ordinary course of business of such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary and the precautionary UCC financing statement or fixture filings in respect thereof;

 

(j) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by any Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary in the ordinary course of the business of such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary to secure the performance by such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;

 

(k) judgments and other similar liens arising in connection with court proceedings that do not constitute an Event of Default, provided , that , (i) such liens are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued, (ii) adequate reserves or other appropriate provision, if any, as are required by GAAP have been made therefor, (iii) a stay of enforcement of any such liens is in effect and (iv) Agent may establish a Reserve with respect thereto;

 

(l) security interests in assets of a Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary existing at the time such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition after the date hereof; provided , that , each of the following conditions is satisfied as determined by Agent: (i) such security interests were not granted and did not arise in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Permitted Acquisition, (ii) the assets subject to such security interests do not include any assets of the type or categories that constitute Collateral other than Equipment or Real Property and do not apply to any assets or properties of any Borrower or other Guarantor other than Equipment and Real Property of the Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary so acquired, (iii) the Indebtedness secured by such assets is permitted under Section 9.9(h) hereof;

 

93


(m) the security interests in and mortgages and liens upon the Collateral in favor of Senior Secured Note Trustee to secure the Indebtedness arising under the Senior Secured Notes (and any Refinancing Indebtedness in replacement thereof), provided, that, the security interests in and mortgages and liens upon the Collateral in favor of Senior Secured Note Trustee are and shall at all times be subject and subordinate to the security interests, and liens therein of Agent and Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(n) security interests granted by any Borrower in favor of a lessor of a retail store location identified on Schedule 9.8(n) hereto, on personal property and/or trade fixtures owned by any Borrower or Guarantor located at such retail store location granted pursuant to a lease agreement between such Borrower or Guarantor and such landlord entered into prior to the date hereof; provided , that , in the event that Administrative Borrower does not obtain a Collateral Access Agreement with respect to such locations by the date indicated in the Conditions Subsequent Letter, Agent at its option, may establish a Reserve with respect to each such location in respect of amounts at any time due or to become due to the owner and lessor of such location as Agent shall reasonably determine but in no event shall any Reserve with respect to rent be maintained in respect of any location for which a Collateral Access Agreement has been delivered to Agent;

 

(o) inchoate statutory landlord liens for amounts which are not yet due arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(p) liens incurred by any Borrower or Guarantor on any unearned premiums paid by any Borrower or Guarantor or any return of the premium for such policy; pursuant to the Indebtedness described in Section 9.9(i) hereof; and

 

(q) the security interests and liens set forth on Schedule 8.4 hereto.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, “encumbrance” shall not be deemed to include licenses to Intellectual Property which are otherwise permitted under the terms of this Agreement.

 

9.9 Indebtedness . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, incur, create, assume, become or be liable in any manner with respect to, or permit to exist, any Indebtedness, or guarantee, assume, endorse, or otherwise become responsible for (directly or indirectly), the Indebtedness, performance, obligations or dividends of any other Person, except:

 

(a) the Obligations;

 

(b) purchase money Indebtedness (including Capital Leases) arising after the date hereof to the extent secured by purchase money security interests in Equipment (including Capital Leases) and purchase money mortgages on Real Property not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding so long as such security interests and mortgages do not apply to any property of such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary other than the Equipment or Real Property so acquired, and the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of the Equipment or Real Property so acquired, as the case may be;

 

94


(c) guarantees by any Borrower or Guarantor of the Indebtedness or other obligations of any other Borrowers or Guarantors so long as such Indebtedness is otherwise permitted under this Section 9.9 and such other obligations are not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement;

 

(d) the Indebtedness of any Borrower, Guarantor or other Subsidiary to any other Borrower or Guarantor arising after the date hereof pursuant to loans by any Borrower or Guarantor permitted under Section 9.10(g) hereof;

 

(e) unsecured Indebtedness of any Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary arising after the date hereof to any third Person (but not to any other Borrower or Guarantor), provided , that , each of the following conditions is satisfied as determined by Agent: (i) such Indebtedness shall be on terms and conditions acceptable to Agent and shall be subject and subordinate in right of payment to the right of Agent and Lenders to receive the prior payment and satisfaction in full payment of all of the Obligations pursuant to the terms of an intercreditor and subordination agreement between Agent and such third party, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, (ii) Agent shall have received not less than ten (10) days prior written notice of the intention of such Borrower or Guarantor to incur such Indebtedness, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail satisfactory to Agent the amount of such Indebtedness, the Person or Persons to whom such Indebtedness will be owed, the interest rate, the schedule of repayments and maturity date with respect thereto and such other information as Agent may request with respect thereto, (iii) Agent shall have received true, correct and complete copies of all agreements, documents and instruments evidencing or otherwise related to such Indebtedness, (iv) except as Agent may otherwise agree in writing, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default or during a Compliance Period, all of the proceeds of the loans or other accommodations giving rise to such Indebtedness shall be paid to Agent for application to the Obligations in such order and manner as Agent may determine or at Agent’s option, to be held as cash collateral for the Obligations, (v) in no event shall the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred during the term of this Agreement exceed $10,000,000, (vi) as of the date of incurring such Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (vii) such Borrower and Guarantor shall not, directly or indirectly, (A) amend, modify, alter or change the terms of such Indebtedness or any agreement, document or instrument related thereto, except, that, such Borrower or Guarantor may, after prior written notice to Agent, amend, modify, alter or change the terms thereof so as to extend the maturity thereof, or defer the timing of any payments in respect thereof, or to forgive or cancel any portion of such Indebtedness (other than pursuant to payments thereof), or to reduce the interest rate or any fees in connection therewith, or (B) redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire such Indebtedness (except pursuant to regularly scheduled payments permitted herein), or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, and (viii) Administrative Borrower shall furnish to Agent all material notices or demands in connection with such Indebtedness either received by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf promptly after the receipt thereof, or sent by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be, except that the foregoing conditions (other than those contained in clauses (v) and (vi) above) shall not apply to the incurrence of the first $250,000 of such Indebtedness;

 

95


(f) Indebtedness of any Borrower, Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a Hedge Agreement; provided , that , (i) such arrangements are not for speculative purposes, and (ii) such Indebtedness shall be unsecured, except to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes part of the Obligations arising under or pursuant to Hedge Agreements with any Bank Product Provider that are secured under the terms hereof or except to the extent secured by pledges or deposits of cash as permitted under Section 9.8 hereof;

 

(g) the Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 9.9 hereto; provided , that , (i) Borrowers and Guarantors may only make regularly scheduled payments of principal and interest in respect of such Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of the agreement or instrument evidencing or giving rise to such Indebtedness as in effect on the date hereof, (ii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, (A) amend, modify, alter or change the terms of such Indebtedness or any agreement, document or instrument related thereto as in effect on the date hereof except, that, Borrowers and Guarantors may, after prior written notice to Agent, amend, modify, alter or change the terms thereof so as to extend the maturity thereof, or defer the timing of any payments in respect thereof, or to forgive or cancel any portion of such Indebtedness (other than pursuant to payments thereof), or to reduce the interest rate or any fees in connection therewith, or (B) redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire such Indebtedness, or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, and (iii) Administrative Borrower shall furnish to Agent all material notices or demands in connection with such Indebtedness either received by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf, promptly after the receipt thereof, or sent by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf, concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be,

 

(h) Indebtedness of a Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary existing at the time such Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that, each of the following conditions is satisfied as reasonably determined by Agent: (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Permitted Acquisition, (ii) such Indebtedness is not secured by any assets of any Borrower or Guarantor other than Equipment or Real Property of the Borrower or Guarantor so acquired, (iii) no other Borrower or Guarantor shall have any obligation or liability in respect of such Indebtedness except as otherwise permitted hereof, (iv) if the amount of such Indebtedness is greater than $5,000,000, it shall be on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to Agent, and (v) the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness pursuant to all Permitted Acquisitions shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding,

 

(i) Indebtedness of Borrowers and Guarantors evidenced by the Senior Secured Notes as in effect on the date hereof or as permitted to be amended pursuant to the terms hereof, provided , that :

 

(i) the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed $165,000,000, less the aggregate amount of all repayments or redemptions, whether optional or mandatory, in respect thereof, plus interest thereon at the rate provided for in the Senior Secured Notes,

 

96


(ii) this Agreement is and shall at all times continue to be the “Credit Agreement” as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture as in effect on the date hereof and is and shall be entitled to all of the rights and benefits thereof under the Senior Secured Note Indenture,

 

(iii) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, make any payments in respect of such Indebtedness, except that they may make (A) regularly scheduled payments of interest, in respect of such Indebtedness when due in accordance with the terms of the Senior Secured Notes and the Senior Secured Note Indenture, (B) payments of principal in respect of such Indebtedness when scheduled to mature in accordance with the terms of the Senior Secured Note Indenture, and (C) payments in respect of such Indebtedness as permitted under clause (v) below,

 

(iv) Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, amend, modify, alter or change in any material respect any terms of such Indebtedness or any of the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Secured Note Indenture or any related agreements, documents and instruments, except, that, Borrowers and Guarantors may, after prior written notice to Agent, (A) amend, modify, alter or change the terms thereof so as to extend the maturity thereof or defer the timing of any payments in respect thereof, or to forgive or cancel any portion of such Indebtedness other than pursuant to payments thereof, or to reduce the interest rate or any fees in connection therewith or to make the provisions thereof less restrictive or burdensome than the terms or conditions of the Senior Secured Note Documents in effect on the date hereof or (B) refinance the Indebtedness evidenced by the Senior Secured Notes as permitted by and in accordance with Section 9.9(o) hereof,

 

(v) Borrower and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire all or any part of such Indebtedness other than at maturity (as set forth in the Senior Secured Note Indenture), or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, except with the proceeds of a equity contribution permitted under Section 9.7 hereof provided , that , upon the making of any such redemption with the proceeds of such contribution, (A) Excess Availability shall have been not less than $10,000,000 immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to such payment and application of the proceeds of such equity contribution, based on the most recent calculation of the Borrowing Base prior to the date of such payment, and (B) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing as of the date of such redemption or after giving effect thereto,

 

(vi) any lien on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall at all times be subordinate to the lien in favor of Agent pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement,

 

(vii) Agent shall have received true, correct and complete copy of the Senior Secured Note Indenture (including all amendments and supplemental indentures with respect thereto) and all related agreements, documents and instruments at any time entered into in connection therewith, and

 

(viii) Administrative Borrower shall furnish to Agent all material written notices or demands in connection with such Indebtedness either received by any Borrower or any

 

97


Guarantor or on its behalf, promptly after the receipt thereof, or sent by any Borrower or any Guarantor or on its behalf, concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be; and

 

(j) Indebtedness of Borrowers and Guarantors in connection with the financing of insurance premiums in respect of unearned premiums payable on certain insurance policies maintained by Borrower, provided, that, (i) in no event shall the total amount of such Indebtedness outstanding at any time exceed $2,000,000, (ii) such Indebtedness shall be unsecured except to the extent of any unearned premiums paid by any Borrower or Guarantor or any return of the premium for such policy, and (iii) Administrative Borrower shall furnish to Agent all material notices or demands in connection with such Indebtedness either received by any Borrower or Guarantor on its behalf after the receipt thereof, or sent by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf, concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be;

 

(k) unsecured Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self insurance obligations, bankers acceptances, performance, surety bonds and other similar obligations in the ordinary course of business,

 

(l) unsecured Indebtedness of any Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to all Indebtedness of the Borrowers under the Financing Agreements by the execution and delivery of a subordination agreement, in form and substance reasonable acceptable to Agent so long as the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) for Borrowers’ most recently ended four (4) full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred would have been at least (a) 2.25 to 1 if the date of such incurrence or issuance is on or prior to November 15, 2007, or (b) 2.50 to 1 if the date of such incurrence or issuance is after November 15, 2007, in each case determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, at the beginning of such four-quarter period,

 

(m) unsecured Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is repaid within five (5) Business Days,

 

(n) unsecured Indebtedness resulting from agreements to provide for working capital adjustments of purchase price, earnouts or other similar obligations incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions, provided , that , such Indebtedness shall be on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to Agent and shall be subject and subordinate in right of payment to the right of Agent and Lenders to receive the prior payment and satisfaction in full payment of all of the Obligations pursuant to the terms of a subordinations agreement between Agent and such third party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent,

 

(o) the Indebtedness of any Borrower or Guarantor to any other Borrower or Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of Parent arising after the date hereof pursuant to Investments consisting of loans and advances permitted under Section 9.10(c) hereof, provided, that, as to any such Indebtedness at any time owing by a Borrower to a Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of Parent (other than a Borrower), (1) the Indebtedness arising pursuant to such Investment shall be subject to, and subordinate in right of payment to, the right of Agent and Lenders to receive the

 

98


prior final payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Obligations on terms and conditions acceptable to Agent, (2) in the case of any Indebtedness owing to a Borrower or Guarantor, the Indebtedness arising pursuant to any such loan shall not be evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument, unless the single original of such note or other instrument is promptly delivered to Agent upon its request to hold as part of the Collateral, with such endorsement and/or assignment by the payee of such note or other instrument as Agent may require, (3) in the case of any Indebtedness owing to a Subsidiary of Parent which is not a Borrower or Guarantor, (A) promptly upon Agent’s request, Agent shall have received a subordination agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, providing for the terms of the subordination in right of payment of such Indebtedness of such Borrower or Guarantor to the prior final payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Obligations, duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and such Borrower or Guarantor, (B) such Borrower or Guarantor shall not, directly or indirectly make, or be required to make, any payments in respect of such Indebtedness prior to the end of the then current term of this Agreement, (C) as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred, any Borrower or Guarantor making the loan or other Investment giving rise to such Investment shall be Solvent, and (D) as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(p) refinancing of the Indebtedness referenced in the subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) or (j) of this Section 9.9 so long as (i) such Indebtedness continues to comply with all provisions of such subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) or (j), as applicable, (ii) the incurrence of such Indebtedness would not otherwise cause a Default or Event of Default to occur, and (iii) any refinancing of such Indebtedness is not on terms which, taken as a whole, are materially more adverse to Borrowers, Guarantors, Agent or any Lender than the Indebtedness refinanced, (iv) the principal amount of such Indebtedness as refinanced does not exceed the outstanding principal balance of the original amount of such Indebtedness plus costs, fees, expenses, accrued interest and other items refinanced, and (v) the final maturity date of such refinancing Indebtedness is a maturity date that is not earlier than one day after the Maturity Date; and

 

(q) unsecured Indebtedness of Parent arising after the date hereof to any third Person (but not to any Borrower or other Guarantor), provided , that , each of the following conditions is satisfied as determined by Agent: (i) such Indebtedness shall be incurred at commercially reasonable rates at the time of incurrence, (ii) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness no Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing, (iii) the covenants governing such Indebtedness are not more burdensome than the covenants applicable to Borrowers and Guarantors set forth in this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, (iv) no cash payments of principal or interest in respect of such Indebtedness shall be required by the terms of such Indebtedness until after the Maturity Date, (v) the final maturity date of such Indebtedness shall be a date that is not earlier than at least one day after the Maturity Date, (vi) no Borrower or Guarantor shall have guaranteed or be required to guarantee or otherwise be liable for such Indebtedness, and (vii) Administrative Borrower shall furnish to Agent all material notices or demands in connection with such Indebtedness either received by Parent or any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf promptly after the receipt thereof, or sent by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf concurrently with the sending thereof.

 

99


9.10 Loans, Investments, Etc. Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger) any Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit or all or a substantial part of the assets or property of any other Person (whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise), or form or acquire any Subsidiaries, or agree to do any of the foregoing (each of the foregoing an “Investment”), except:

 

(a) the endorsement of instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b) Investments in cash or Cash Equivalents, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and no Compliance Period exists, provided , that , (i) if any Revolving Loans are outstanding, Borrower shall not have investments in cash or Cash Equivalents in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000 (in addition to any amounts in Store Accounts and Manual Sweeping Accounts as permitted in Section 6.3(a)(i) hereof), and (ii) the terms and conditions of Section 5.2 hereof shall have been satisfied with respect to the deposit account, investment account or other account in which such cash or Cash Equivalents are held;

 

(c) (i) the existing equity Investments of each Borrower and Guarantor as of the date hereof in its Subsidiaries, provided , that , no Borrower or Guarantor shall have any further obligations or liabilities to make any capital contributions or other additional investments or other payments to or in or for the benefit of any of such Subsidiaries;

 

(ii) a Borrower or Guarantor may form a Subsidiary, provided , that ,

 

(A) Agent shall have received promptly upon any such formation or acquisition all of the agreements, documents and instruments required by the terms of Sections 5.2 and 9.23 hereof,

 

(B) as of the date of the organization, formation or acquisition of any such Subsidiary and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and

 

(C) in the event that Administrative Borrower requests that such new Subsidiary be designated a Borrower hereunder, in no event shall any Inventory or Credit Card Receivables of such Subsidiary be deemed Eligible Inventory or Eligible Credit Card Receivables until Agent shall have conducted a field examination and appraisal with respect to such assets and the results of such field examination, appraisal, and other due diligence shall be reasonably satisfactory to Agent, and then only to the extent the criteria for Eligible Inventory and Eligible Credit Card Receivables set forth herein are satisfied with respect thereto (as such criteria may be reasonably modified by Agent to reflect the results of Agent’s field examination and appraisal including any separate advance percentage with respect to such Credit Card Receivables as Agent may reasonably determine); and

 

100


(D) such Subsidiary shall be an operating company that engages in a Permitted Business or an operating company or a holding company formed to make a Permitted Acquisition.

 

(d) Investments by a Borrower, Guarantor or other Subsidiary of Parent in a Borrower, Guarantor or other Subsidiary of Parent, in each case after the date hereof, provided , that , (1) to the extent that such Investment gives rise to any Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is permitted hereunder, (2) to the extent that such Investment gives rise to the issuance of any shares of Capital Stock, such issuance is permitted hereunder and (3) to the extent of any Investments by a Borrower or Guarantor in a Subsidiary of Parent that is not a Borrower or Guarantor, the aggregate amount of such Investments shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding and as of the date of any such Investment and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(e) loans and advances by any Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary to employees of such Borrower or Guarantor not to exceed the principal amount of $3,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding;

 

(f) stock or obligations issued to any Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary by any Person (or the representative of such Person) in respect of Indebtedness of such Person owing to such Borrower or Guarantor in connection with the insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership or reorganization of such Person or a composition or readjustment of the debts of such Person; provided , that , the original of any such stock or instrument evidencing such obligations shall be promptly delivered to Agent, upon Agent’s request, together with such stock power, assignment or endorsement by such Borrower or Guarantor as Agent may request;

 

(g) obligations of account debtors to any Borrower, Guarantor or Subsidiary arising from Accounts which are past due whether or not evidenced by a promissory note made by such account debtor payable to such Borrower or Guarantor; provided , that , promptly upon the receipt of the original of any such promissory note by such Borrower or Guarantor, such promissory note shall be endorsed to the order of Agent by such Borrower or Guarantor and promptly delivered to Agent as so endorsed;

 

(h) loans by a Borrower or Guarantor or Subsidiary to another Borrower or Guarantor after the date hereof, provided , that ,

 

(i) as to all of such loans, (A) the Indebtedness arising pursuant to any such loan shall not be evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument, unless the single original of such note or other instrument is promptly delivered to Agent upon its request to hold as part of the Collateral, with such endorsement and/or assignment by the payee of such note or other instrument as Agent may require, (B) as of the date of any such loan and after giving effect thereto, the Borrower or Guarantor making such loan shall be Solvent, and (C) as of the date of any such loan and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and

 

(ii) as to loans by a Guarantor or Subsidiary to a Borrower, (A) the Indebtedness arising pursuant to such loan shall be subject to, and subordinate in right of payment to, the right of Agent and Lenders to receive the prior final payment and satisfaction in

 

101


full of all of the Obligations on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to Agent, (B) promptly upon Agent’s request, Agent shall have received a subordination agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, providing for the terms of the subordination in right of payment of such Indebtedness of such Borrower to the prior final payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Obligations, duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Guarantor and such Borrower, and (C) such Borrower shall not, directly or indirectly make, or be required to make, any payments in respect of such Indebtedness prior to the end of the then current term of this Agreement.

 

(i) the loans and advances set forth on Schedule 9.10 hereto; provided , that , as to such loans and advances, Borrowers and Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, amend, modify, alter or change the terms of such loans and advances or any agreement, document or instrument related thereto and Borrowers and Guarantors shall furnish to Agent all notices or demands in connection with such loans and advances either received by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf, promptly after the receipt thereof, or sent by any Borrower or Guarantor or on its behalf, concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be;

 

(j) investments or loans by a Borrower or Guarantor in or to a Subsidiary of Parent that is not a Borrower or Guarantor, provided, that all of the conditions set forth in Section 9.11(d) are satisfied with respect to such investment as if such investment or loan were the payment of a cash dividend,

 

(k) Permitted Acquisitions,

 

(l) the loan by Vitamin Shoppe to Thomas A. Tolworthy in an original principal amount of $1,500,000 plus accrued interest,

 

(m) loans and advances by any Subsidiary of Parent which is not a Borrower, Guarantor to any other Subsidiary of Parent which is not a Borrower or Guarantor; and

 

(n) other Investments by Borrowers and Guarantors not otherwise permitted pursuant to subsections (a) through (i) of this Section 9.10, provided , that , (i) the aggregate outstanding amount of all such Investments (valued at cost) shall not exceed $1,000,000 at any time, and (ii) at the time of making any such Investment and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

9.11 Dividends and Redemptions . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not, directly or indirectly, declare or pay any dividends on account of any shares of class of any Capital Stock of such Borrower or Guarantor now or hereafter outstanding, or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, or redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of any class of Capital Stock (or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose) for any consideration or apply or set apart any sum, or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise) in respect of any such shares or agree to do any of the foregoing, except that:

 

(a) any Borrower or Guarantor may declare and pay such dividends or redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of any class of Capital Stock

 

102


for consideration in the form of shares of common stock (so long as after giving effect thereto no Change of Control or other Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing);

 

(b) Borrowers and Guarantors may pay dividends or make distributions in respect of payments permitted in Section 9.12 below;

 

(c) any Subsidiary of a Borrower or Guarantor may pay dividends or make distributions to a Borrower;

 

(d) Vitamin Shoppe may pay cash dividends to Parent (and Parent may in turn, and in a like amount pay cash dividends to its shareholders) from legally available funds therefor, provided , that ,

 

(i) so long as the Senior Secured Notes are outstanding, Agent shall have received a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief executive officer of Administrative Borrower certifying to Agent and Lenders that the conditions set forth in Section 4.07 of the Senior Secured Note Indenture (as in effect on the date hereof) with respect to the making of a Restricted Payment (as such term is defined in the Senior Secured Note Indenture) have been satisfied,

 

(ii) Excess Availability (based on the most recent calculation of the Borrowing Base prior to the date of such dividend) shall have been not less than $10,000,000 as of the date of such dividend payment and after giving effect to such dividend payment and immediately prior to such payment, and

 

(iii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing as of the date of the acquisition or any payment in respect thereof and after giving effect to the acquisition or such payment,

 

(e) Borrowers and Guarantors may repurchase (or may pay dividends or make distributions to Parent to permit Parent to so repurchase Capital Stock consisting of common stock held by current or former employees, directors and officers pursuant to any employee stock ownership or option plan thereof or pursuant to any employment or consulting arrangement or equity subscription agreement, shareholders agreement or similar agreement, provided, that, as to any such repurchase, each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) as of the date of the payment for such repurchase and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) such repurchase shall be paid with funds legally available therefor, (iii) such repurchase shall not violate any law or regulation or the terms of any indenture, agreement or undertaking to which such Borrower or Guarantor is a party or by which such Borrower or Guarantor or its or their property are bound, and (iv) the aggregate amount of all payments for such repurchases in any calendar year shall not exceed (A) $1,000,000 (with such amounts not used in any calendar year being carried forward to the next calendar year, provided, that, on the date of any subsequent repurchase and after giving effect thereto, Excess Availability is not less than $10,000,000 based on the most recent calculation of the Borrowing Base), plus (B) the sum of (1) the amount received in cash from substantially contemporaneous sales of Capital Stock of Parent to other Persons during such calendar year plus (2) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance received by Borrowers during such calendar year, plus (C) if,

 

103


at the time of such repurchase, Excess Availability is not less than $10,000,000 based on the most recent calculation of the Borrowing Base immediately prior to and after giving effect to such repurchase, $1,500,000 in any calendar year (with such amounts not used in any calendar year being carried forward to the next calendar year), and

 

(f) Parent may declare or pay any cash dividends from legally available funds therefor on account of any shares of class of any Capital Stock of Parent now or hereafter outstanding, or redeem, retire, defease repurchase or otherwise acquire any shares of Capital Stock, or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, provided , that , as of the date of the payment of any cash dividend and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

9.12 Transactions with Affiliates . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not, directly or indirectly:

 

(a) purchase, acquire or lease any property from, or sell, transfer or lease any property or provide services to, any officer, director or other Affiliate of such Borrower or Guarantor (other than another Borrower or Guarantor), except:

 

(i) in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s business (as the case may be) and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to such Borrower or Guarantor than such Borrower or Guarantor would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with an unaffiliated Person; and

 

(ii) transactions permitted under Sections 9.7, 9.9, 9.10 and 9.12(b) hereof; or

 

(b) make any payments (whether by dividend, loan or otherwise) of management, consulting or other fees for management or similar services, or of any Indebtedness owing to any officer, employee, shareholder, director or any other Affiliate of such Borrower or Guarantor, except

 

(i) reasonable compensation to officers, employees and directors for services rendered to such Borrower or Guarantor and reimbursement of expenses in the ordinary course of business of such Borrower or Guarantor,

 

(ii) payments by any such Borrower or Guarantor to Parent for actual and necessary reasonable out-of-pocket legal and accounting, insurance, marketing, payroll and similar types of services paid for by Parent on behalf of such Borrower or Guarantor, in the ordinary course of their respective businesses or as the same may be directly attributable to such Borrower or Guarantor, provided , that , the aggregate amount of all such payments in any fiscal year shall not exceed $500,000,

 

(iii) for the payment of taxes by or on behalf of Parent, and

 

(iv) for the payment of Management Fees (other than reimbursement of expenses), so long as (A) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result

 

104


therefrom and (B) such fees in any fiscal quarter do not exceed the greater of $187,500 or 0.25% of Borrowers’ gross sales for the preceding quarter;

 

(v) reimbursement of expenses incurred by Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC or any of its Affiliates under the terms of the Advisory Services Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof) so long as no Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would result from the payment thereof,

 

(vi) payments permitted under Section 9.11 hereof;

 

(vii) transactions permitted under Sections 9.7, 9.9 and 9.10 hereof; and

 

(viii) for the forgiveness of the existing loan to Thomas Tolworthy described in Section 9.10(l) hereof.

 

9.13 Compliance with ERISA . Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Borrower and Guarantor shall, and shall with respect to any Plan cause each of its ERISA Affiliates, to: (a) maintain each Plan in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal and State law; (b) cause each Plan which is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code to maintain such qualification; (c) not terminate any Plan so as to incur any material liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (d) not allow or suffer to exist any non-exempt “prohibited transaction” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) which would be reasonably likely to subject Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to a material tax or penalty or other liability on prohibited transactions imposed under Section 4975 of the Code or ERISA; (e) make all required contributions to any Plan under Section 302 of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code or the terms of such Plan; (f) not allow or suffer to exist any “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, with respect to any Plan; or (g) allow or suffer to exist any occurrence of a “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, except for any such event with respect to which notice has been waived pursuant to applicable regulations) or any other event or condition which presents a material risk of termination by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation of any Plan that is a single employer plan, which termination could reasonably be expected to result in any material liability to any Borrower or Guarantor.

 

9.14 End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, for financial reporting purposes, cause its, and each of its Subsidiaries’ (a) fiscal year to end on the last Saturday of December of each year, and (b) the second fiscal quarter to begin on the day immediately succeeding the last day of the thirteenth week after the last Saturday of December each fiscal year, and the third and fourth fiscal quarters to begin on the day immediately succeeding the last day of the thirteenth week after the last day of the second and third fiscal quarters, respectively.

 

9.15 Change in Business . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not engage in any business other than the Permitted Business.

 

9.16 Limitation of Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall not, directly, or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist any encumbrance or

 

105


restriction which prohibits or materially limits the ability of any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor to (a) pay dividends or make other distributions or pay any Indebtedness owed to such Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor; (b) make loans or advances to such Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor, (c) transfer any of its properties or assets to such Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor; or (d) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than encumbrances and restrictions arising under (i) applicable law, (ii) this Agreement, (iii) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease (or hypothecation thereof) governing a leasehold interest of such Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor, (iv) customary restrictions on dispositions of real property interests found in reciprocal easement agreements of such Borrower or Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor, (v) any agreement relating to permitted Indebtedness incurred by a Subsidiary of such Borrower or Guarantor prior to the date on which such Subsidiary was acquired by such Borrower or such Guarantor and outstanding on such acquisition date, and (vi) the extension or continuation of contractual obligations in existence on the date hereof; provided , that , any such encumbrances or restrictions contained in such extension or continuation are no less favorable to Agent and Lenders than those encumbrances and restrictions under or pursuant to the contractual obligations so extended or continued, (vii) the Senior Secured Note Indenture and any replacement or refinancing thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, and (viii) any agreement related to an otherwise permitted refinancing of Indebtedness permitted under the terms of this Agreement.

 

9.17 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . At any time that Excess Availability is less than an amount equal to ten (10%) percent of the Maximum Credit for a period of three (3) consecutive Business Days during any fiscal quarter, Parent and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, shall, when measured as of the fiscal quarter most recently ended for which Agent has received financial statements in accordance with Section 9.6(a)(i), for the period of four (4) immediately preceding consecutive fiscal quarters then ended, maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.00.

 

9.18 Credit Card Agreements . Each Borrower shall (a) observe and perform in all material respects all material terms, covenants, conditions and provisions of the Credit Card Agreements to be observed and performed by it at the times set forth therein; and (b) not do or permit, suffer or refrain from doing anything, as a result of which there could be a default or breach of any of the terms of the Credit Card Agreements and at all times maintain in full force and effect the Credit Card Agreements and not terminate, cancel, surrender, modify, amend, waive or release any of the Credit Card Agreements, or consent to or permit to occur any of the foregoing; except, that, (i) any Borrower may terminate or cancel any of the Credit Card Agreements in the ordinary course of the business of such Borrower; provided , that , such Borrower shall give Agent not less than ten (10) days prior written notice of its intention to so terminate or cancel any of the Credit Card Agreements; (c) not enter into any new Credit Card Agreements with any new Credit Card Issuer unless (i) Agent shall have received not less than ten (10) days prior written notice of the intention of such Borrower to enter into such agreement (together with such other information with respect thereto as Agent may reasonably request) and (ii) such Borrower delivers, or causes to be delivered to Agent, a Credit Card Acknowledgment in favor of Agent, (d) give Agent prompt written notice of any Credit Card Agreement entered

 

106


into by such Borrower after the date hereof, together with a true, correct and complete copy thereof and such other information with respect thereto as Agent may reasonably request; (e) furnish to Agent, promptly upon the request of Agent, such material information and evidence as Agent may require from time to time concerning the observance, performance and compliance by such Borrower or the other party or parties thereto with the terms, covenants or provisions of the Credit Card Agreements, and (f) not modify in any material respect any payment instruction given by Agent to any Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor provided for in any Credit Card Acknowledgment to the extent given in accordance with the terms thereof or otherwise direct the remittance of payments under any Credit Card Agreement to any account other than the Blocked Accounts.

 

9.19 License Agreements .

 

(a) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Borrower shall (i) promptly and faithfully observe and perform all of the material terms, covenants, conditions and provisions of the material License Agreements to which it is a party to be observed and performed by it, at the times set forth therein, if any, (ii) not do, permit, suffer or refrain from doing anything that could reasonably be expected to result in a default under or breach of any of the terms of any material License Agreement, (iii) not cancel, surrender, modify, amend, waive or release any material License Agreement in any material respect or any term, provision or right of the licensee thereunder in any material respect, or consent to or permit to occur any of the foregoing; except, that, subject to Section 9.19(b) below, Borrower may cancel, surrender or release any material License Agreement in the ordinary course of the business of Borrower, (iv) give Agent prompt written notice of any material License Agreement (other than Promotional Agreements or licenses by a Borrower, Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries to a private label manufacturer entered into in the ordinary course of business for the production of Inventory on behalf of a Borrower or “click through” licenses to website hosts or providers in connection with on-line purchasing or licenses to a Borrower by a customer to use such customer’s trademarks or service marks for purposes of goods or services provided by such Borrower to or for such customer or licenses for commercially available off the shelf software) entered into by any Borrower, Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries after the date hereof, together with (A) either (x) a description of such License Agreement listing the Intellectual Property subject thereto, the name and address of the parties thereto, the term of the license arrangement and the products and territory subject to such license, or (y) a true, correct and complete copy of such License Agreement, and (B) such other information with respect thereto as Agent may reasonably request (subject to any obligation of confidentiality contained therein), (v) give Agent prompt written notice of any notice of default sent to another party to a material License Agreement by Borrower of any material breach of any obligation, or any default, by any party under any material License Agreement, and deliver to Agent (promptly upon the receipt thereof by Borrower in the case of a notice to Borrower and concurrently with the sending thereof in the case of a notice from Borrower) a copy of each notice of default and every other notice and other communication received or delivered by Borrower in connection with any material License Agreement which relates to the right of Borrower to continue to use the property subject to such License Agreement, and (vi) furnish to Agent, promptly upon the request of Agent, such information and evidence as Agent may reasonably require from time to time concerning the observance, performance and compliance by Borrower or the other party or

 

107


parties thereto with the material terms, covenants or provisions of any material License Agreement.

 

(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Borrower will either exercise any option to renew or extend the term of each material License Agreement to which it is a party in such manner as will cause the term of such material License Agreement to be effectively renewed or extended for the period provided by such option.

 

9.20 Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc. None of the requesting or borrowing of the Revolving Loans or the requesting or issuance, extension or renewal of any Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds of any thereof will violate the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. §1 et seq., as amended) (the “Trading With the Enemy Act”) or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) (the “Foreign Assets Control Regulations”) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto (including, but not limited to (a) Executive order 13224 of September 21, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) (the “Executive Order”) and (b) the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-56). None of Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or other Affiliates (other than a Bear Affiliate) is or will become a “blocked person” as described in the Executive Order, the Trading with the Enemy Act or the Foreign Assets Control Regulations or engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any such “blocked person”.

 

9.21 After Acquired Real Propert y. If any Borrower or Guarantor hereafter acquires fee simple title to any Real Property, such Real Property and related fixtures or other property is adjacent to, contiguous with or necessary or related to or used in connection with any Real Property then subject to a mortgage in favor of Agent, or if such Real Property is not adjacent to, contiguous with or related to or used in connection with such Real Property, then if such Real Property, at any location (or series of adjacent, contiguous or related locations, and regardless of the number of parcels) has a fair market value in an amount equal to or greater than $1,000,000 (or if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, then regardless of the fair market value of such assets), and excluding any Real Property subject to a lien permitted under Sections 9.8(e) and 9.8(l) hereof, without limiting any other rights of Agent or any Lender, or duties or obligations of any Borrower or Guarantor, promptly as reasonably practical upon Agent’s request, such Borrower or Guarantor shall execute and deliver to Agent a mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt, as Agent may determine, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent and in form appropriate for recording in the real estate records of the jurisdiction in which such Real Property or other property is located granting to Agent a first lien and mortgage on and security interest in such Real Property, fixtures or other property (except for liens permitted under Section 9.8 hereof) or as otherwise consented to in writing by Agent) and such other agreements, documents and instruments as Agent may reasonably require in connection therewith.

 

9.22 Costs and Expenses . Borrowers and Guarantors shall pay to Agent on demand all costs, expenses, filing fees and taxes paid or payable in connection with the preparation,

 

108


negotiation, execution, delivery, recording, syndication, administration, collection, liquidation, enforcement and defense of the Obligations, Agent’s rights in the Collateral, this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and all other documents related hereto or thereto, including any amendments, supplements or consents which may hereafter be contemplated (whether or not executed) or entered into in respect hereof and thereof, including: (a) subject to Section 6.5(b) (a) all costs and expenses of filing or recording (including UCC and PPSA financing statement filing taxes and fees, documentary taxes, intangibles taxes and mortgage recording taxes and fees, if applicable); (b) costs and expenses and fees for insurance premiums, environmental audits, title insurance premiums, surveys, assessments, engineering reports and inspections, appraisal fees and search fees, background checks, costs and expenses of remitting loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and maintaining the Blocked Accounts, together with Agent’s customary charges and fees with respect thereto; (c) charges, fees or expenses charged by any Issuing Bank in connection with any Letter of Credit; (d) costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral; (e) costs and expenses paid or incurred in connection with obtaining payment of the Obligations, enforcing the security interests and liens of Agent, selling or otherwise realizing upon the Collateral, and otherwise enforcing the provisions of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements or defending any claims made or threatened against Agent or any Lender arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including preparations for and consultations concerning any such matters); (f) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, reasonable attorneys’ fees of any Lender incurred in connection with obtaining payment of the Obligations, enforcing the security interests and liens of Agent, selling or otherwise realizing upon the Collateral, and otherwise enforcing the provisions of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements or defending any claims made or threatened against Agent or any Lender arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including preparations for and consultations concerning any such matters); (g) all out-of-pocket expenses and costs heretofore and from time to time hereafter incurred by Agent during the course of periodic field examinations of the Collateral and such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s operations, plus a per diem charge at Agent’s then standard rate for Agent’s examiners in the field and office (which rate as of the date hereof is $850 per person per day) provided , that , no more than two (2) periodic field exams, at Borrower’s expense, will be conducted in any consecutive twelve (12) month period prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default; and (h) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including legal assistants) to Agent in connection with any of the foregoing.

 

9.23 Further Assurances . (a) In the case of the formation or acquisition by a Borrower or Guarantor of any Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) after the date hereof, as to any such Subsidiary, (i) the Borrower or Guarantor forming such Subsidiary shall cause any such Subsidiary to execute and deliver to Agent, the following (each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent), (A) an absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment of the Obligations in the form of the Guarantee executed on the date hereof, (B) a security agreement substantially in the form of the security provisions herein granting to Agent a first security interest and lien (except as otherwise consented to in writing by Agent) upon all of the assets of any such Subsidiary to the extent such assets constitute Collateral hereunder and subject to and in accordance with the terms hereof, and (C) such other agreements, documents and instruments as Agent may require in connection with the documents referred to above in order to make such Subsidiary a party to this Agreement as a “Borrower” or as a “Guarantor” as Agent may determine, including, but not limited to, supplements and amendments hereto, authorization to

 

109


file UCC and PPSA financing statements, Collateral Access Agreements (subject to the requirements of Section 9.2 hereof) and other consents, waivers, acknowledgments and other agreements from third persons which Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to permit, protect and perfect its security interests in and liens upon the assets purchased, corporate resolutions and other organization and authorizing documents of such Person, and favorable opinions of counsel to such person and (ii) the Borrower or Guarantor forming such Subsidiary shall (A) execute and deliver to Agent, a supplement to the pledge and security agreement to which it is a party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, granting to Agent a first pledge of and lien on all of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of any such Subsidiary (but no more than 65% of the Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary), and (B) deliver the original stock certificates evidencing such shares of Capital Stock (or such other evidence as may be issued in the case of a limited liability company), together with stock powers with respect thereto duly executed in blank (or the equivalent thereof in the case of a limited liability company in which such interests are certificated, or otherwise take such actions as Agent shall require with respect to Agent’s security interests therein).

 

(b) In the case of an acquisition of assets (other than Capital Stock and Real Property) by a Borrower or Guarantor after the date hereof, Agent shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, (i) evidence that Agent has valid and perfected security interests in and liens upon all purchased assets to the extent such assets constitute Collateral hereunder and subject to and in accordance with the terms hereof, and (ii) subject to Section 9.2 hereof, all Collateral Access Agreements and other consents, waivers, acknowledgments and other agreements from third persons which Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to permit, protect and perfect its security interests in and liens upon the assets purchased, (iii) in the case of a Material Permitted Acquisition, at the option of Agent, the agreement of the seller consenting to the collateral assignment by the Borrower or Guarantor purchasing such assets of all rights and remedies and claims for damages of such Borrower or Guarantor relating to the Collateral (including, without limitation, any bulk sales indemnification) under the agreements, documents and instruments relating to such acquisition and (iv) such other agreements, documents and instruments as Agent may require in connection with the documents referred to above, including, but not limited to, supplements and amendments hereto, corporate resolutions and other organization and authorizing documents and favorable opinions of counsel to such person.

 

(c) At the request of Agent at any time and from time to time, Borrowers and Guarantors shall, at their expense, duly execute and deliver, or cause to be duly executed and delivered, such further agreements, documents and instruments, and do or cause to be done such further acts as may be necessary or proper to evidence, perfect, maintain and enforce the security interests and the priority thereof in the Collateral and to otherwise effectuate the provisions or purposes of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements. Agent may at any time and from time to time request a certificate from an officer of any Borrower or Guarantor representing that all conditions precedent to the making of Loans and providing Letters of Credit contained herein are satisfied. In the event of such request by Agent, Agent and Lenders may, at Agent’s option, cease to make any further Loans or provide any further Letters of Credit until Agent has received such certificate and, in addition, Agent has determined that such conditions are satisfied.

 

110


SECTION 10. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

10.1 Events of Default . The occurrence or existence of any one or more of the following events are referred to herein individually as an “Event of Default”, and collectively as “Events of Default”:

 

(a) any Borrower fails to make any principal payment after the same becomes due and payable, or any Borrower fails to pay any of the other Obligations (other than with respect to principal payments) within two (2) Business Days after the same becomes due and payable or (ii) any Borrower or Guarantor fails to perform any of the covenants contained in Sections 9.1(a), 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.7, 9.11, 9.13, 9.15, 9.16, 9.17, 9.18, 9.20 and 9.22 of this Agreement and such failure shall continue for fifteen (15) Business Days; provided, that, such fifteen (15) Business Day period shall not apply in the case of: (A) any failure to observe any such covenant which is not capable of being cured at all or within such fifteen (15) Business Day period or which has been the subject of a prior failure within a six (6) month period or (B) an intentional breach by Borrower or any Guarantor of any such covenant or (iii) any Borrower or Guarantor fails to perform any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements other than those described in Sections 10.1(a)(i) and 10.1(a)(ii) above and such failure shall continue for thirty (30) Business Days; provided , that , such thirty (30) Business Day period shall not apply in the case of: (A) any failure to observe any such covenant which is not capable of being cured at all or within such thirty (30) Business Day period or which has been the subject of a prior failure within a six (6) month period or (B) an intentional breach by any Borrower or such Guarantor of any such covenant;

 

(b) any representation, warranty or statement of fact made by any Borrower or Guarantor to Agent in this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements or any other written agreement, schedule, confirmatory assignment or otherwise shall when made or deemed made be false or misleading in any material respect;

 

(c) any Guarantor revokes or terminates or attempts to revoke or terminate any guarantee in favor of Agent or any Lender;

 

(d) any judgment for the payment of money is rendered against any Borrower or Guarantor in excess of $1,000,000 in any one case or in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate (to the extent not covered by insurance) and shall remain undischarged or unvacated for a period in excess of thirty (30) days or execution shall at any time not be effectively stayed, or any judgment other than for the payment of money, or injunction, attachment, garnishment or execution is rendered against any Borrower or Guarantor which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or involves Collateral having a value in excess of $1,000,000;

 

(e) other than as expressly permitted in this Agreement, any Guarantor which is a partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or a corporation, dissolves or suspends or discontinues doing business;

 

(f) any Borrower or Guarantor makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, makes or sends notice of a bulk transfer or calls a meeting of its creditors or principal creditors in connection with a moratorium or adjustment of the Indebtedness due to them;

 

111


(g) a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America now or hereafter in effect or under any insolvency, reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at law or in equity) is filed against any Borrower or Guarantor or all or any part of its properties and such petition or application is not dismissed within sixty (60) days after the date of its filing or any Borrower or Guarantor by corporate action shall file any answer admitting or not contesting such petition or application or indicates its consent to, acquiescence in or approval of, any such action or proceeding or the relief requested is granted sooner;

 

(h) a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America now or hereafter in effect or under any insolvency, reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at a law or equity) is filed by any Borrower or Guarantor or for all or any part of its property;

 

(i) (i) any default in respect of any Indebtedness of any Borrower or Guarantor (other than Indebtedness owing to Agent and Lenders hereunder), including without limitation the Indebtedness evidenced by the Senior Secured Notes and the other Senior Secured Note Documents, in any case in an amount in excess of $2,500,000, which default continues for more than the applicable cure period, if any, with respect thereto, or (ii) any default by any Borrower or Guarantor under any Material Contract shall occur which default continues for more than the applicable grace period, if any and which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and such default is not waived in writing by the other parties thereto;

 

(j) any material provision hereof or of any of the other Financing Agreements shall for any reason cease to be valid, binding and enforceable with respect to any party hereto or thereto (other than Agent) in accordance with its terms, or any such party shall challenge the enforceability hereof or thereof, or shall assert in writing, or take any action or fail to take any action based on the assertion that any provision hereof or of any of the other Financing Agreements has ceased to be or is otherwise not valid, binding or enforceable in accordance with its terms, or any security interest provided for herein or in any of the other Financing Agreements shall cease to be a valid and perfected (subject to liens permitted hereunder) first priority security interest in any of the Collateral purported to be subject thereto (except as otherwise permitted herein or therein);

 

(k) an ERISA Event shall occur which results in liability of any Borrower or Guarantor in an amount which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(l) any Change of Control;

 

(m) the indictment by any Governmental Authority of any Borrower or Guarantor or Agent receives notice, in either case, as to which there is a significant possibility of an adverse determination, in the good faith determination of Agent, under any criminal statute, or commencement of criminal or civil proceedings against such Borrower or Guarantor, pursuant to which statute or proceedings the penalties or remedies sought or available include forfeiture of (i) any of the Collateral having a value in excess of $1,000,000 (which amount shall not be deemed to be an acknowledgement by the parties, or otherwise imply, that such amount is a

 

112


threshold or otherwise a reference amount for purposes of triggering a Material Adverse Effect) or (ii) any other property of any Borrower or Guarantor which is necessary or material to the conduct of its business and which indictment or proceeding, in Agent’s reasonable judgment, has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(n) any Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor (i) withholds payment of amounts otherwise payable to any Borrower or Guarantor to fund a reserve account or otherwise hold as collateral, or shall require any Borrower or Guarantor to pay funds into a reserve account or for such Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor to otherwise hold as collateral, or any Borrower or Guarantor shall provide a letter of credit to or in favor of such Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor such that in the aggregate all of such funds in the reserve account, other amounts held as collateral and the amount of such letters of credit shall exceed an aggregate for all Borrowers and Guarantors of $3,500,000, or (ii) shall debit or deduct any amounts from any deposit account of any Borrower or Guarantor or (iii) shall send notice to a Borrower or Guarantor that it is ceasing to make or suspending payments to such Borrower or Guarantor of amounts due or to become due to any Borrower or Guarantor or (iv) shall send notice to any Borrower that it is terminating its arrangements with such Borrower or Guarantor or such arrangements, except where (A) the loss of services by a Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor would not result in non-payment of amounts due to any Borrower or could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect or (B) such Borrower or Guarantor shall have entered into arrangements with another Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor, as the case may be, within forty-five (45) days after the date of any such notice; or

 

(o) there shall be a Major Material Adverse Change after the date hereof; or

 

(p) there shall be a breach or default by Senior Secured Note Trustee, or any Borrower or any Guarantor under the Intercreditor Agreement and such breach or default shall continue for ten (10) Business Days; provided , that , such ten (10) Business Day period shall not apply in the case of (i) any breach or default which is not capable of being cured at all or within such ten (10) Business Day period or which has been the subject of a prior breach or default within a six (6) month period or (ii) an intentional breach or default by the Senior Secured Note Trustee or any Borrower or Guarantor thereunder.

 

10.2 Remedies .

 

(a) At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Agent and Lenders shall have all rights and remedies provided in this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, the UCC, PPSA, and other applicable law, all of which rights and remedies may be exercised without notice to or consent by any Borrower or Guarantor, except as such notice or consent is expressly provided for hereunder or required by applicable law. All rights, remedies and powers granted to Agent and Lenders hereunder, under any of the other Financing Agreements, the UCC, PPSA or other applicable law, are cumulative, not exclusive and enforceable, in Agent’s discretion, alternatively, successively, or concurrently on any one or more occasions, and shall include, without limitation, the right to apply to a court of equity for an injunction to restrain a breach or threatened breach by any Borrower or Guarantor of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements. Subject to Section 12 hereof, Agent may,

 

113


and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, at any time or times, proceed directly against any Borrower or Guarantor to collect the Obligations without prior recourse to the Collateral.

 

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Agent may, in its discretion, and upon the direction of the Required Lenders, shall (i) accelerate the payment of all Obligations and demand immediate payment thereof to Agent, for itself and the benefit of the Secured Parties ( provided , that , upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Sections 10.1(g) and 10.1(h), all Obligations shall automatically become immediately due and payable), (ii) with or without judicial process or the aid or assistance of others, enter upon any premises on or in which any of the Collateral may be located and take possession of the Collateral or complete processing, manufacturing and repair of all or any portion of the Collateral, (iii) require any Borrower or Guarantor, at Borrowers’ expense, to assemble and make available to Agent any part or all of the Collateral at any place and time designated by Agent, (iv) collect, foreclose, receive, appropriate, setoff and realize upon any and all Collateral, (v) remove any or all of the Collateral from any premises on or in which the same may be located for the purpose of effecting the sale, foreclosure or other disposition thereof or for any other purpose, (vi) sell, lease, transfer, assign, deliver or otherwise dispose of any and all Collateral (including entering into contracts with respect thereto, public or private sales at any exchange, broker’s board, at any office of Agent or elsewhere) at such prices or terms as Agent may deem reasonable, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery, with the Agent having the right to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral at any such public sale, all of the foregoing being free from any right or equity of redemption of any Borrower or Guarantor, which right or equity of redemption is hereby expressly waived and released by Borrowers and Guarantors and/or (vii) terminate this Agreement. If any of the Collateral is sold or leased by Agent upon credit terms or for future delivery, the Obligations shall not be reduced as a result thereof until payment therefor is finally collected by Agent. If notice of disposition of Collateral is required by law, ten (10) days prior notice by Agent to Administrative Borrower designating the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other intended disposition of Collateral is to be made, shall be deemed to be reasonable notice thereof and Borrowers and Guarantors waive any other notice. In the event Agent institutes an action to recover any Collateral or seeks recovery of any Collateral by way of prejudgment remedy, each Borrower and Guarantor waives the posting of any bond which might otherwise be required. At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, upon Agent’s request, Borrowers will either, as Agent shall specify, furnish cash collateral to the Issuing Bank to be used to secure and fund Agent’s reimbursement obligations to the Issuing Bank in connection with any Letter of Credit Obligations or furnish cash collateral to Agent for the Letter of Credit Obligations. Such cash collateral shall be in the amount equal to one hundred five (105%) percent of the amount of the Letter of Credit Obligations plus the amount of any fees and expenses payable in connection therewith through the end of the latest expiration date of such Letter of Credit Obligations.

 

(c) At any time or times that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Agent may, in its discretion, and upon the direction of the Required Lenders, Agent shall, enforce the rights of any Borrower or any Guarantor against any account debtor, secondary obligor or other obligor in respect of any of the Accounts or other Receivables. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Agent may, in its discretion, and upon the direction of the Required Lenders, Agent shall, at such time or times (i) notify any or all account debtors,

 

114


secondary obligors or other obligor in respect thereof that the Receivables have been assigned to Agent and that Agent has a security interest therein and Agent may direct any or all account debtors, secondary obligors and other obligors to make payment of Receivables directly to Agent, (ii) extend the time of payment of, compromise, settle or adjust for cash, credit, return of merchandise or otherwise, and upon any terms or conditions, any and all Receivables or other obligations included in the Collateral and thereby discharge or release the account debtor or any secondary obligors or other obligors in respect thereof without affecting any of the Obligations, (iii) demand, collect or enforce payment of any Receivables or such other obligations, but without any duty to do so, and Agent and Lenders shall not be liable for any failure to collect or enforce the payment thereof nor for the negligence of its agents or attorneys with respect thereto and (iv) take whatever other action Agent may deem necessary or desirable for the protection of its interests and the interests of Lenders. At any time that an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, at Agent’s request, all invoices and statements sent to any account debtor shall state that the Accounts and such other obligations have been assigned to Agent and are payable directly and only to Agent and any Borrower shall deliver to Agent such originals of documents evidencing the sale and delivery of goods or the performance of services giving rise to any Accounts as Agent may require. In the event any account debtor returns Inventory when an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Borrower shall, upon Agent’s request, hold the returned Inventory in trust for Agent, segregate all returned Inventory from all of its other property, dispose of the returned Inventory solely according to Agent’s instructions, and not issue any credits, discounts or allowances with respect thereto without Agent’s prior written consent.

 

(d) To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on Agent or any Lender to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner (which duties cannot be waived under such law), each Borrower and Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that it is not commercially unreasonable for Agent or any Lender (i) to fail to incur expenses reasonably deemed significant by Agent or any Lender to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to complete raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (ii) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain consents of any Governmental Authority or other third party for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (iii) to fail to exercise collection remedies against account debtors, secondary obligors or other Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove liens or encumbrances on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (iv) to exercise collection remedies against account debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (v) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (vi) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as any Borrower or Guarantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of the Collateral, (vii) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the collateral is of a specialized nature, (viii) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing Internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (ix) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (x) to disclaim disposition warranties, (xi) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure Agent or Lenders against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to Agent or Lenders a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral,

 

115


or (xii) to the extent deemed appropriate by Agent, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Borrower and Guarantor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by Agent or any Lender would not be commercially unreasonable in the exercise by Agent or any Lender of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by Agent or any Lender shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section. Without limitation of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to grant any rights to any Borrower or Guarantor or to impose any duties on Agent or Lenders that would not have been granted or imposed by this Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section.

 

(e) For the purpose of enabling Agent to exercise the rights and remedies hereunder, each Borrower and Guarantor hereby grants to Agent, to the extent licensable and to the extent that the same would not conflict with or, under applicable law and the terms of such agreement, result in the invalidity or breach of any agreements (other than any agreement between any Borrower or any Guarantor) or otherwise result in the revocation, cancellation, abandonment, infringement, unenforceability, misappropriation or dilution or impair the validity or enforceability, of any rights in any Intellectual Property forming the subject thereof (including rights to Intellectual Property which is the subject of Promotional Agreements), an irrevocable, non-exclusive license (exercisable upon the occurrence of and during the continuation of an Event of Default) without payment of royalty or other compensation to Borrower or any other Guarantor, to use, license or sublicense any of the trademarks, service-marks, trade names, business names, trade styles, designs, logos and other source of business identifiers and other Intellectual Property and general intangibles included in the Collateral, wherever the same may be located, including in such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer programs used for the compilation or printout thereof.

 

(f) Agent may apply the cash proceeds of Collateral actually received by Agent from any sale, lease, foreclosure or other disposition of the Collateral to payment of the Obligations, in whole or in part and in such order as Agent may elect, whether or not then due. Borrower and Guarantors shall remain liable to Agent and Lenders for the payment of any deficiency with interest at the highest rate provided for herein and all costs and expenses of collection or enforcement, including attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

(g) Without limiting the foregoing, (i) Agent and Lenders may, at Agent’s option, and upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, at the direction of the Required Lenders, Agent and Lenders shall, without notice, (A) cease making Loans or arranging for Letters of Credit or reduce the lending formulas or amounts of Loans and Letters of Credit available to Borrowers and/or (B) terminate any provision of this Agreement providing for any future Loans to be made by Agent and Lenders or Letters of Credit to be issued by Issuing Bank, and (ii) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Agent may, at its option, establish such Reserves as Agent determines without limitation or restriction, notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein.

 

116


SECTION 11. JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS AND CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW

 

11.1 Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver .

 

(a) The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

 

(b) Borrowers, Guarantors, Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank irrevocably consent and submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and the State and Federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York whichever Agent may elect, and waive any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the transactions related hereto or thereto, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts described above (except that Agent and Lenders shall have the right to bring any action or proceeding against any Borrower or Guarantor or its or their property in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Agent deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against any Borrower or Guarantor or its or their property).

 

(c) Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby waives personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set forth herein and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Agent’s option, by service upon any Borrower or Guarantor (or Administrative Borrower on behalf of such Borrower or Guarantor) in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts. Within thirty (30) days after such service, such Borrower or Guarantor shall appear in answer to such process, failing which such Borrower or Guarantor shall be deemed in default and judgment may be entered by Agent against such Borrower or Guarantor for the amount of the claim and other relief requested.

 

(d) BORROWERS, GUARANTORS, AGENT, LENDERS AND ISSUING BANK EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN

 

117


CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. BORROWERS, GUARANTORS, AGENT, LENDERS AND ISSUING BANK EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT ANY BORROWER, ANY GUARANTOR, AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ISSUING BANK MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

(e) Agent and Secured Parties shall not have any liability to any Borrower or Guarantor (whether in tort, contract, equity or otherwise) for losses suffered by such Borrower or Guarantor in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the transactions or relationships contemplated by this Agreement, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection herewith, unless it is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment or court order binding on Agent, such Lender and Issuing Bank, that the losses were the result of acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct. In any such litigation, Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank shall be entitled to the benefit of the rebuttable presumption that it acted in good faith and with the exercise of ordinary care in the performance by it of the terms of this Agreement. Each Borrower and Guarantor: (i) certifies that neither Agent, any Lender, Issuing Bank nor any representative, agent or attorney acting for or on behalf of Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank has represented, expressly or otherwise, that Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce any of the waivers provided for in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements and (ii) acknowledges that in entering into this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank are relying upon, among other things, the waivers and certifications set forth in this Section 11.1 and elsewhere herein and therein.

 

11.2 Waiver of Notices . Each Borrower and Guarantor hereby expressly waives demand, presentment, protest and notice of protest and notice of dishonor with respect to any and all instruments and chattel paper, included in or evidencing any of the Obligations or the Collateral, and any and all other demands and notices of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the Obligations, the Collateral and this Agreement, except such as are expressly provided for herein. No notice to or demand on any Borrower or Guarantor which Agent or any Lender may elect to give shall entitle such Borrower or Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

 

11.3 Amendments and Waivers .

 

(a) Neither this Agreement nor any other Financing Agreement nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated unless such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing signed by Agent and the Required Lenders or at Agent’s option, by Agent with the authorization or consent of the Required Lenders, and as to amendments to any of the Financing Agreements (other than with respect to any provision of Section 12 hereof), by any Borrower and such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination shall be effective and binding as to all Lenders and Issuing Bank only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; except, that, no such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination shall:

 

(i) reduce the interest rate or any fees hereunder or extend the time of payment of principal, interest or any fees or reduce the principal amount hereunder of any Loan or Letters of Credit, in each case without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

 

118


(ii) increase the Commitment of any Lender over the amount thereof then in effect or provided hereunder, in each case without the consent of the Lender directly affected thereby, except as provided for in Section 2.3 hereof,

 

(iii) increase the amount of the Maximum Credit without the consent of all Lenders ( provided , that , the increase provided for in Section 2.3 hereof shall not be deemed an increase requiring the consent of any Lender) or the Letter of Credit Limit without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders

 

(iv) release a material portion of the Collateral (except as expressly permitted or required hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements or applicable law and except as permitted under Section 12.11(b) hereof), without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders,

 

(v) reduce any percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders or Covenant Required Lenders, without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders,

 

(vi) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Borrower or Guarantor of any of their rights and obligations under this Agreement, without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders,

 

(vii) amend the definition of Borrowing Base or any component definition thereof if as a result thereof the amounts available to be borrowed by any Borrower would be increased, without the consent of Agent and all Lenders, provided, that the foregoing shall not limit the discretion of Agent to change, establish or eliminate any Reserves,

 

(viii) reduce the amount of Cash Dominion Excess Availability specified in the definition of Cash Dominion Triggering Event, without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders,

 

(ix) amend, modify or waive any provision of the definitions of Maximum Credit, Cash Dominion Reversion Date, Compliance Excess Availability, or Excess Availability, without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders,

 

(x) amend or modify the definition of Special Agent Advances so as to (A) increase the amount thereof, or (b) except as provided in Section 12.11 hereof, extend the time period that a Special Agent Advance may be outstanding, without the consent of Agent and all of the Lenders;

 

(xi) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 6.4, without the consent of Agent and all of the Lenders;

 

(xii) subordinate the Obligations hereunder or the liens granted hereunder or under the other Financing Agreements, to any other Indebtedness or lien, as the

 

119


case may be (except for the liens permitted in Section 9.8 hereof having priority by operation of law), without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders;

 

(xiii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 12.8 so as to (A) increase the amount of any additional Revolving Loans or additional Letters of Credit permitted to be made by Agent thereunder, or (B) except as provided in Section 12.8 hereof, extend the time period that any such additional Revolving Loan or Letter of Credit may be outstanding, without the consent of Agent and all of the Lenders;

 

(xiv) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 9.17 or the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or any component definition thereof, without the consent of Agent and Covenant Required Lenders;

 

(xv) amend, modify or waive any terms of this Section 11.3 hereof, without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders;

 

(xvi) increase the advance rates constituting part of the Borrowing Base, without the consent of Agent and all of Lenders; or

 

(xvii) amend or modify any provision of Section 10.1 (exclusive of any definitions set forth therein), without the consent of Agent and Covenant Required Lenders (except that waivers of any provision of Section 10.1 shall only require the consent of the Required Lenders).

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 11.3(a) above, Agent may, in its discretion and without the consent of the Lenders, amend or otherwise modify the Borrowing Base, the Reserves or any of their respective components which amendments or modifications have the effect of increasing the Borrowing Base, decreasing the Reserves or otherwise increasing the amounts available for borrowing hereunder to the extent that such amendment or modification is made to restore the Borrowing Base, Reserves or other components thereof if the reason for such reduction or increase no longer exists, as determined by Agent.

 

(c) Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank shall not, by any act, delay, omission or otherwise be deemed to have expressly or impliedly waived any of its or their rights, powers and/or remedies unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed as provided herein. Any such waiver shall be enforceable only to the extent specifically set forth therein. A waiver by Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank of any right, power and/or remedy on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right, power and/or remedy which Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank would otherwise have on any future occasion, whether similar in kind or otherwise.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 11.3(a) above, in connection with any amendment, waiver, discharge or termination, in the event that any Lender whose consent thereto is required shall fail to consent or fail to consent in a timely manner (such Lender being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), but the consent of any other Lenders to such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination that is required are obtained, if any, then Wachovia shall have the right, but not the obligation, at any time

 

120


thereafter, and upon the exercise by Wachovia of such right, such Non-Consenting Lender shall have the obligation, to sell, assign and transfer to Wachovia or such Eligible Transferee as Wachovia may specify, the Commitment of such Non-Consenting Lender and all rights and interests of such Non-Consenting Lender pursuant thereto provided , that , if Wachovia does not exercise such right, and Administrative Borrower presents an Eligible Transferee and requests in writing that Wachovia replace such Non-Consenting Lender with such Eligible Transferee, then, subject to Wachovia’s consent rights as Agent contained in the within definition of “Eligible Transferee”, such Non-Consenting Lender shall have the obligation, to sell, assign and transfer to such Eligible Transferee as Administrative Borrower has specified, the Commitment of such Non-Consenting Lender and all rights and interests of such Non-Consenting Lender pursuant thereto. Wachovia shall provide the Non-Consenting Lender with prior written notice of its intent to exercise its right under this Section, which notice shall specify on date on which such purchase and sale shall occur. Such purchase and sale shall be pursuant to the terms of an Assignment and Acceptance (whether or not executed by the Non-Consenting Lender), except that on the date of such purchase and sale, Wachovia, or such Eligible Transferee specified by Wachovia, shall pay to the Non-Consenting Lender (except as Wachovia and such Non-Consenting Lender may otherwise agree) the amount equal to: (i) the principal balance of the Revolving Loans held by the Non-Consenting Lender outstanding as of the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the effective date of such purchase and sale, plus (ii) amounts accrued and unpaid in respect of interest and fees payable to the Non-Consenting Lender to the effective date of the purchase (but in no event shall the Non-Consenting Lender be deemed entitled to any early termination fee). Such purchase and sale shall be effective on the date of the payment of such amount to the Non-Consenting Lender and the Commitment of the Non-Consenting Lender shall terminate on such date.

 

(e) The consent of Agent shall be required for any amendment, waiver or consent affecting the rights or duties of Agent hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements, in addition to the consent of the Lenders otherwise required by this Section and the exercise by Agent of any of its rights hereunder with respect to Reserves or Eligible Accounts or Eligible Inventory shall not be deemed an amendment to the advance rates provided for in this Section 11.3. The consent of Issuing Bank shall be required for any amendment, waiver or consent affecting the rights or duties of Issuing Bank hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements, in addition to the consent of the Lenders otherwise required by this Section, provided , that , the consent of Issuing Bank shall not be required for any other amendments, waivers or consents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 11.3(a) above, (i) in the event that Agent shall agree that any items otherwise required to be delivered to Agent as a condition of the initial Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit hereunder may be delivered after the date hereof, Agent may, in its discretion, agree to extend the date for delivery of such items or take such other action as Agent may deem appropriate as a result of the failure to receive such items as Agent may determine or may waive any Event of Default as a result of the failure to receive such items, in each case without the consent of any Lender and (ii) Agent may consent to any change in the type of organization, jurisdiction of organization or other legal structure of any Borrower, Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries and amend the terms hereof or of any of the other Financing Agreements as may be necessary or desirable to reflect any such change, in each case without the approval of any Lender.

 

121


(f) The consent of Agent and any Bank Product Provider that is providing Bank Products and has outstanding any such Bank Products at such time that are Obligations secured hereunder shall be required for any amendment to the priority of payment of Obligations arising under or pursuant to any Hedge Agreements of a Borrower or Guarantor or other Bank Products as set forth in Section 6.4(a) hereof.

 

11.4 Waiver of Counterclaims . Each Borrower and Guarantor waives all rights to interpose any claims, deductions, setoffs or counterclaims of any nature (other than compulsory counterclaims) in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, the Obligations, the Collateral or any matter arising therefrom or relating hereto or thereto.

 

11.5 Indemnification . Each Borrower and Guarantor shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold Agent, each Lender and Issuing Bank, and their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, advisors and counsel and their respective Affiliates (each such Person being an “Indemnitee”), harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses (including attorneys’ reasonable fees and expenses) imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any of them in connection with any litigation, investigation, claim or proceeding commenced or threatened related to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of this Agreement, any other Financing Agreements, or any undertaking or proceeding related to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or any act, omission, event or transaction related or attendant thereto, including amounts paid in settlement, court costs, and the fees and expenses of counsel except that Borrowers and Guarantors shall not have any obligation under this Section 11.5 to indemnify an Indemnitee with respect to a matter covered hereby resulting from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee (but without limiting the obligations of Borrowers or Guarantors as to any other Indemnitee). To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section may be unenforceable because it violates any law or public policy, Borrowers and Guarantors shall pay the maximum portion which it is permitted to pay under applicable law to Agent and Lenders in satisfaction of indemnified matters under this Section. To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Borrower or Guarantor shall assert, and each Borrower and Guarantor hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any of the other Financing Agreements or any undertaking or transaction contemplated hereby. Absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, no Indemnitee referred to above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the transaction contemplated hereby or thereby. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable upon demand. The foregoing indemnity shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 12. THE AGENT

 

12.1 Appointment, Powers and Immunities . Each Secured Party irrevocably designates, appoints and authorizes Wachovia to act as Agent hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements with such powers as are specifically delegated to Agent by the terms of

 

122


this Agreement and of the other Financing Agreements, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Agent (a) shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and in the other Financing Agreements, and shall not by reason of this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement be a trustee or fiduciary for any Secured Party; (b) shall not be responsible to Secured Parties for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Financing Agreements, or in any certificate or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them under, this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein or for any failure by any Borrower or any Guarantor or any other Person to perform any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; and (c) shall not be responsible to Secured Parties for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other Financing Agreement or under any other document or instrument referred to or provided for herein or therein or in connection herewith or therewith, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Agent may employ agents and attorneys in fact and shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys in fact selected by it in good faith. Agent may deem and treat the payee of any note as the holder thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until the assignment thereof pursuant to an agreement (if and to the extent permitted herein) in form and substance satisfactory to Agent shall have been delivered to and acknowledged by Agent.

 

12.2 Reliance by Agent . Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any certification, notice or other communication (including any thereof by telephone, telecopy, telex, telegram or cable) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by Agent. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement, Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder or thereunder in accordance with instructions given by the Required Lenders or all of Lenders as is required in such circumstance, and such instructions of such Agents and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all Lenders.

 

12.3 Events of Default .

 

(a) Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default or other failure of a condition precedent to the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit hereunder, unless and until Agent has actual knowledge or same and has received written notice from a Lender, or Borrower specifying such Event of Default or any unfulfilled condition precedent, and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default or Failure of Condition” (each a “Notice of Default or Failure of Condition”). In the event that Agent obtains actual knowledge or receives such a Notice of Default or Failure of Condition, Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders. Agent shall (subject to Section 12.7) take such action with respect to any such Event of Default or failure of condition precedent as shall be directed by the Required Lenders to the extent provided for herein; provided , that , unless and until Agent shall have received such directions, Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to or by reason of such Event of Default or failure

 

123


of condition precedent, as it shall deem advisable in the best interest of Lenders. Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding the existence or occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default or any other failure to satisfy any of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement to the contrary, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 12.8, Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, continue to make Revolving Loans and Issuing Bank may, but shall have no obligation to, issue or cause to be issued any Letter of Credit for the ratable account and risk of Lenders from time to time if Agent reasonably and in good faith believes making such Revolving Loans or issuing or causing to be issued such Letter of Credit is in the best interests of Lenders.

 

(b) Except with the prior written consent of Agent, no Secured Party may assert or exercise any enforcement right or remedy in respect of the Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations or other Obligations, as against any Borrower or Guarantor or any of the Collateral or other property of any Borrower or Guarantor.

 

12.4 Wachovia in its Individual Capacity . With respect to its Commitment and the Revolving Loans made and Letters of Credit issued or caused to be issued by it (and any successor acting as Agent), so long as Wachovia shall be a Lender hereunder, it shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not acting as Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, include Wachovia in its individual capacity as Lender hereunder. Wachovia (and any successor acting as Agent) and its Affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any Lender) lend money to, make investments in and generally engage in any kind of business with Borrowers (and any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) as if it were not acting as Agent, and Wachovia and its Affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from any Borrower or Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates for services in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to Lenders.

 

12.5 Indemnification . Lenders agree to indemnify Agent and Issuing Bank (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrowers hereunder and without limiting any obligations of Borrowers hereunder) ratably, in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares, for any and all claims of any kind and nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against Agent (including by any Lender) arising out of or by reason of any investigation in or in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement or any other documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the costs and expenses that Agent is obligated to pay hereunder) or the enforcement of any of the terms hereof or thereof or of any such other documents, provided , that , no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent it arises from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party to be indemnified as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The foregoing indemnity shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

 

12.6 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders . (a) Each Secured Party agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on Agent or any other Secured Party, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of Borrowers and Guarantors and has made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and that it will, independently and without reliance upon Agent or any other Secured Party, and based on

 

124


such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own analysis and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements. Agent shall not be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by any Borrower or Guarantor of any term or provision of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein or to inspect the properties or books of any Borrower or Guarantor. Agent will use reasonable efforts to provide Lenders with any information received by Agent from any Borrower or Guarantor which is required to be provided to Lenders or deemed to be requested by Lenders hereunder and with a copy of any Notice of Default or Failure of Condition received by Agent from any Borrower or any Lender; provided, that, Agent shall not be liable to any Lender for any failure to do so, except to the extent that such failure is attributable to Agent’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to Lenders by Agent or deemed requested by Lenders hereunder (including the documents provided for in Section 12.10 hereof), Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any other credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of any Borrower or Guarantor that may come into the possession of Agent.

 

(b) Each Lender acknowledges that it has received and reviewed a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement and any exhibits and schedules thereto, authorizes the execution and delivery thereof by Agent, and agrees with effect on the date hereof to be bound in all respects by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and obligated to perform any and all obligations of Agent thereunder, as if a direct signatory party thereto.

 

12.7 Failure to Act . Except for action expressly required of Agent hereunder and under the other Financing Agreements, Agent shall in all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing to act hereunder and thereunder unless it shall receive further assurances to its satisfaction from Lenders of their indemnification obligations under Section 12.5 hereof against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.

 

12.8 Additional Loans . Agent shall not make any Revolving Loans or Issuing Bank provide any Letter of Credit to any Borrower on behalf of Lenders intentionally and with actual knowledge that such Revolving Loans or Letter of Credit would cause the aggregate amount of the total outstanding Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit to such Borrower to exceed the Borrowing Base, without the prior consent of all Lenders, except, that, Agent may make such additional Revolving Loans or Issuing Bank may provide such additional Letter of Credit on behalf of Lenders, intentionally and with actual knowledge that such Revolving Loans or Letter of Credit will cause the total outstanding Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit to exceed the Borrowing Base, as Agent may deem necessary or advisable in its discretion, provided , that : (a) the total principal amount of the additional Revolving Loans or additional Letters of Credit to any Borrower which Agent may make or provide after obtaining such actual knowledge that the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans equal or exceed the Borrowing Bases of Borrowers, plus the amount of Special Agent Advances made pursuant to Sections 12.11(a)(i) and (ii) hereof then outstanding, shall not exceed the aggregate amount equal to ten (10%) percent of the Maximum Credit and shall not cause the total principal amount of the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit to exceed the Maximum Credit and (b) no such additional Revolving

 

125


Loan or Letter of Credit shall be outstanding more than ninety (90) days after the date such additional Revolving Loan or Letter of Credit is made or issued (as the case may be), except as the Covenant Required Lenders may otherwise agree. Each Lender shall be obligated to pay Agent the amount of its Pro Rata Share of any such additional Revolving Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

12.9 Concerning the Collateral and the Related Financing Agreements . Each Secured Party authorizes and directs Agent to enter into this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements. Each Secured Party agrees that any action taken by Agent or Required Lenders in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements and the exercise by Agent or Required Lenders of their respective powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers that are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the Secured Parties.

 

12.10 Field Audit, Examination Reports and other Information; Disclaimer by Lenders . By signing this Agreement, each Lender:

 

(a) is deemed to have requested that Agent furnish such Lender (and Agent agrees that it will furnish to such Lender), promptly after it becomes available, a copy of each field audit or examination report and report with respect to the Borrowing Base prepared or received by Agent (each field audit or examination report and report with respect to the Borrowing Base being referred to herein as a “Report” and collectively, “Reports”), appraisals with respect to the Collateral and financial statements with respect to Parent and its Subsidiaries received by Agent;

 

(b) expressly agrees and acknowledges that Agent (i) does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any Report, appraisal or financial statement or (ii) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report, appraisal or financial statement;

 

(c) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, that Agent or any other party performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding Borrowers and Guarantors and will rely significantly upon Borrowers’ and Guarantors’ books and records, as well as on representations of Borrowers’ and Guarantors’ personnel; and

 

(d) agrees to keep all Reports confidential and strictly for its internal use in accordance with the terms of Section 13.5 hereof, and not to distribute or use any Report in any other manner.

 

12.11 Collateral Matters .

 

(a) Agent may, at its option, from time to time, at any time on or after an Event of Default and for so long as the same is continuing or upon any other failure of a condition precedent to the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit hereunder, make such disbursements and advances (“Special Agent Advances”) which Agent, in its sole discretion, (i) deems necessary or desirable either to preserve or protect the Collateral or any portion thereof

 

126


or (ii) to enhance the likelihood or maximize the amount of repayment by Borrowers and Guarantors of the Revolving Loans and other Obligations, provided , that , (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Special Agent Advances pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) hereof outstanding at any time, plus the then outstanding principal amount of the additional Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit which Agent may make or provide as set forth in Section 12.8 hereof, shall not exceed the amount equal to ten (10%) percent of the Maximum Credit, (B) the aggregate principal amount of the Special Agent Advances pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) hereof) outstanding at any time, plus the then outstanding principal amount of the Loans, shall not exceed the Maximum Credit, except at Agent’s option, provided , that , to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Special Agent Advances plus the then outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans exceed the Maximum Credit the Special Agent Advances that are in excess of the Maximum Credit shall be for the sole account and risk of Agent and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth below, no Lender shall have any obligation to provide its share of such Special Agent Advances in excess of the Maximum Credit, and (C) no such Special Agent Advances made pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be outstanding more than ninety (90) days after the date such Special Agent Advance is made, except as Covenant Required Lenders may otherwise agree, or (iii) to pay any other amount chargeable to any Borrower or Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements consisting of (A) costs, fees and expenses and (B) payments to Issuing Bank in respect of any Letter of Credit Obligations. The Special Agent Advances shall be repayable on demand and together with all interest thereon shall constitute Obligations secured by the Collateral. Special Agent Advances shall not constitute Revolving Loans but shall otherwise constitute Obligations hereunder. Interest on Special Agent Advances shall be payable at the Interest Rate then applicable to Prime Rate Loans and shall be payable on demand. Without limitation of its obligations pursuant to Section 6.11, each Lender agrees that it shall make available to Agent, upon Agent’s demand, in immediately available funds, the amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of each such Special Agent Advance. If such funds are not made available to Agent by such Lender, such Lender shall be deemed a Defaulting Lender and Agent shall be entitled to recover such funds, on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon for each day from the date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to Agent at the Federal Funds Rate for each day during such period (as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or at Agent’s option based on the arithmetic mean determined by Agent of the rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal funds arranged prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that day by each of the three leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New York City selected by Agent) and if such amounts are not paid within three (3) days of Agent’s demand, at the highest Interest Rate provided for in Section 3.1 hereof applicable to Prime Rate Loans.

 

(b) Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Agent, at its option and in its discretion to release any security interest in, mortgage or lien upon, any of the Collateral (i) upon termination of the Commitments and payment and satisfaction of all of the Obligations and delivery of cash collateral to the extent required under Section 13.1 below, or (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if Administrative Borrower or any Borrower or Guarantor certifies to Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with Section 9.7 hereof (and Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), or (iii) constituting property in which any Borrower or Guarantor did not own an interest at the time the security interest, mortgage or lien was granted or at any time thereafter, or (iv) having a value in the

 

127


aggregate in any twelve (12) month period of less than $5,000,000, and to the extent Agent may release its security interest in and lien upon any such Collateral pursuant to the sale or other disposition thereof, such sale or other disposition shall be deemed consented to by Lenders, or (v) if required or permitted under the terms of any of the other Financing Agreements, including any intercreditor agreement, or (vi) approved, authorized or ratified in writing by all of Lenders. Except as provided above, Agent will not release any security interest in, mortgage or lien upon, any of the Collateral without the prior written authorization of all of Lenders. Upon request by Agent at any time, Lenders will promptly confirm in writing Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Section. In no event shall the consent or approval of Issuing Bank to any release of Collateral be required. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to require the consent of any Bank Product Provider to any release of Collateral or termination of security interests in any Collateral.

 

(c) Without any manner limiting Agent’s authority to act without any specific or further authorization or consent by the Required Lenders, each Lender agrees to confirm in writing, upon request by Agent, the authority to release Collateral conferred upon Agent under this Section. Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by Lenders to) execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release of the security interest, mortgage or liens granted to Agent upon any Collateral to the extent set forth above; provided , that , (i) Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in Agent’s opinion, would expose Agent to liability or create any obligations or entail any consequence other than the release of such security interest, mortgage or liens without recourse or warranty and (ii) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations or any security interest, mortgage or lien upon (or obligations of any Borrower or Guarantor in respect of) the Collateral retained by such Borrower or Guarantor.

 

(d) Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Secured Party or any other Person to investigate, confirm or assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by any Borrower or Guarantor or is cared for, protected or insured or has been encumbered, or that any particular items of Collateral meet the eligibility criteria applicable in respect of the Revolving Loans or Letters of Credit hereunder, or whether any particular reserves are appropriate, or that the liens and security interests granted to Agent pursuant hereto or any of the Financing Agreements or otherwise have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or available to Agent in this Agreement or in any of the other Financing Agreements, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, subject to the other terms and conditions contained herein, Agent may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its discretion, given Agent’s own interest in the Collateral as a Lender and that Agent shall have no duty or liability whatsoever to any other Lender or Issuing Bank.

 

12.12 Agency for Perfection . Each Secured Party hereby appoints Agent and each other Secured Party as agent and bailee for the purpose of perfecting the security interests in and liens upon the Collateral of Agent in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC can be perfected only by possession (or where the security interest of a secured party with possession has priority over the security interest of another secured party) and Agent and each Secured Party

 

128


hereby acknowledges that it holds possession of any such Collateral for the benefit of Agent as secured party. Should any Secured Party obtain possession of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify Agent thereof, and, promptly upon Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to Agent or in accordance with Agent’s instructions.

 

12.13 Successor Agent . Agent may resign as Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice to Lenders and Administrative Borrower. If Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for Lenders. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of Agent, Agent may appoint, after consulting with Lenders and Parent, a successor agent from among Lenders and Administrative Borrower. Upon the acceptance by the Lender so selected of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, such successor agent shall succeed to all of the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Agent and the term “Agent” as used herein and in the other Financing Agreements shall mean such successor agent and the retiring Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as Agent shall be terminated. After any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Section 12 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted by it while it was Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days after the date of a retiring Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Agent’s resignation shall nonetheless thereupon become effective and Lenders shall perform all of the duties of Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

 

12.14 Other Agent Designations . Agent may at any time and from time to time determine that a Lender may, in addition, be a “Co-Agent”, “Syndication Agent”, “Documentation Agent” or similar designation hereunder and enter into an agreement with such Lender to have it so identified for purposes of this Agreement. Any such designation shall be effective upon written notice by Agent to Administrative Borrower of any such designation. Any Lender that is so designated as a Co-Agent, Syndication Agent, Documentation Agent or such similar designation by Agent shall have no right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, the Lenders so identified shall not have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender and no Lender shall be deemed to have relied, nor shall any Lender rely, on a Lender so identified as a Co-Agent, Syndication Agent, Documentation Agent or such similar designation in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

 

SECTION 13. TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS

 

13.1 Term .

 

(a) This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall become effective as of the date set forth on the first page hereof and shall continue in full force and effect for a term ending on November 15, 2010 (the “Maturity Date”), unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms hereof. In addition, Borrowers may terminate this Agreement at any time upon ten (10) days prior written notice to Agent (which notice shall be irrevocable) and Agent may, at its option, and shall at the direction of Required Lenders, terminate this Agreement at

 

129


any time upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default. Upon the Maturity Date or any other effective date of termination of the Financing Agreements, Borrowers shall pay to Agent all outstanding and unpaid Obligations (other than indemnities and contingent Obligations which have not yet accrued) and shall furnish cash collateral to Agent (or at Agent’s option, a letter of credit issued for the account of Borrowers and at Borrowers’ expense, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by an issuer acceptable to Agent and payable to Agent as beneficiary) in such amounts as Agent determines are reasonably necessary to secure Agent and Lenders from loss, cost, damage or expense, including attorneys’ fees and expenses, in connection with any contingent Obligations, including issued and outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations and checks or other payments provisionally credited to the Obligations and/or as to which Agent or any Lender has not yet received final payment (and including any contingent liability of Agent to any bank at which deposit accounts of Borrowers and Guarantors are maintained under any Deposit Account Control Agreement) and for any of the Obligations arising under or in connection with any Bank Products in such amounts as the party providing such Bank Products may require (unless such Obligations arising under or in connection with any Bank Products are paid in full in cash and terminated in a manner satisfactory to such other party). The amount of such cash collateral (or letter of credit, as Agent may determine) as to any Letter of Credit Obligations shall be in the amount equal to one hundred five (105%) percent of the amount of the Letter of Credit Obligations plus the amount of any fees and expenses payable in connection therewith through the end of the latest expiration date of the then outstanding Letters of Credit. Such payments in respect of the Obligations and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in Federal funds to the Agent Payment Account or such other bank account of Agent, as Agent may, in its discretion, designate in writing to Administrative Borrower for such purpose. Interest shall be due until and including the next Business Day, if the amounts so paid by Borrowers to the Agent Payment Account or other bank account designated by Agent are received in such bank account later than 12:00 noon, New York City time.

 

(b) No termination of the Commitments, this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements shall relieve or discharge any Borrower or Guarantor of its respective duties, obligations and covenants under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements until all Obligations have been fully and finally discharged and paid, and Agent’s continuing security interest in the Collateral and the rights and remedies of Agent and Lenders hereunder, under the other Financing Agreements and applicable law, shall remain in effect until all such Obligations (other than indemnities and contingent Obligations which survive the termination of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements) have been fully and finally discharged and paid and Lenders have no further obligations hereunder (following which all security interests and liens shall be released). Accordingly, each Borrower and Guarantor waives any rights it may have under the UCC to demand the filing of termination statements with respect to the Collateral and Agent shall not be required to send such termination statements to Borrowers or Guarantors, or to file them with any filing office, unless and until this Agreement and all Commitments of all Lenders shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms and all Obligations (other than indemnities and contingent Obligations which survive the termination of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements) paid and satisfied in full in immediately available funds. Upon such termination, Agent will contemporaneously provide (assuming Agent has received written notice a reasonable amount of time prior to such termination) an appropriate payoff instrument, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent, which

 

130


shall, among other things, give Borrowers and Guarantors authority to file appropriate UCC-3 termination statements.

 

13.2 Interpretative Provisions .

 

(a) All terms used herein which are defined in Article 1, Article 8 or Article 9 of the UCC shall have the meanings given therein unless otherwise defined in this Agreement.

 

(b) All references to the plural herein shall also mean the singular and to the singular shall also mean the plural unless the context otherwise requires.

 

(c) All references to any Borrower, Guarantor, Agent and Lenders pursuant to the definitions set forth in the recitals hereto, or to any other Person herein, shall include their respective successors and assigns.

 

(d) The words “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder”, “this Agreement” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular provision of this Agreement and as this Agreement now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

(e) The word “including” when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation” and the word “will” when used in this Agreement shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.

 

(f) An Event of Default shall continue or be continuing until such Event of Default is waived in accordance with Section 11.3 or is cured in a manner satisfactory to Agent, if such Event of Default is capable of being cured as determined by Agent.

 

(g) All references to the term “good faith” used herein when applicable to Agent or any Lender shall mean, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the UCC, honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned. Borrowers and Guarantors shall have the burden of proving any lack of good faith on the part of Agent or any Lender alleged by any Borrower or Guarantor at any time.

 

(h) Any accounting term used in this Agreement shall have, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, the meaning customarily given in accordance with GAAP, and all financial computations hereunder shall be computed unless otherwise specifically provided herein, in accordance with GAAP as consistently applied and using the same method for inventory valuation as used in the preparation of the financial statements of Parent most recently received by Agent prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in GAAP or any interpretations or other pronouncements by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or otherwise, the term “unqualified opinion” as used herein to refer to opinions or reports provided by accountants shall mean an opinion or report that is unqualified and also does not include any explanation, supplemental comment or other comment concerning the ability of the applicable Person to continue as a going concern or the scope of the audit.

 

131


(i) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including”.

 

(j) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references herein to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, modifications, supplements, extensions, renewals, restatements or replacements with respect thereto, but only to the extent the same are not prohibited by the terms hereof or of any other Financing Agreement, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, recodifying, supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation.

 

(k) The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(l) This Agreement and other Financing Agreements may use several different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall each be performed in accordance with their terms.

 

(m) This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements are the result of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to Agent and the other parties, and are the products of all parties. Accordingly, this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall not be construed against Agent or Lenders merely because of Agent’s or any Lender’s involvement in their preparation.

 

13.3 Notices .

 

(a) All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be in writing and deemed to have been given or made: (i) if delivered in Person, immediately upon delivery; (ii) if by telex, telegram or facsimile transmission, immediately upon sending and upon confirmation of receipt; (iii) if by nationally recognized overnight courier service with instructions to deliver the next Business Day, one (1) Business Day after sending; and (iv) if by certified mail, return receipt requested, five (5) days after mailing. Notices delivered through electronic communications shall be effective to the extent set forth in Section 13.3(b) below. All notices, requests and demands upon the parties are to be given to the following addresses (or to such other address as any party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section) provided, however, that notice of Default or Event of Default may only be given as set forth in (i) or (iii) above:

 

If to any Borrower or Guarantor:

  

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. - Corporate Office
2101 91
st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attn: Vice President of Finance (or with respect
to notices of default only, General Counsel

Telephone No.: (201) 624-3000

Telecopy No.: (201) 868-0727

 

132


with a copy to:

  

Bear Stearns Merchant Banking

383 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10179

Attn: Mr. Richard L. Perkal

Telephone No.:212-272-1305

Telecopy No.: (212) 272-7245

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

153 East 53rd Street

New York, New York 10022

Attn: Michael T. Edsall, Esq.

Telephone: (212) 446-4800

Telecopy No.: (212) 446-4900

If to Agent or Issuing Bank:

  

Wachovia Bank, National Association

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 11136

Attn: Portfolio Manager—Vitamin Shoppe

Telephone No.: (212) 840-2000

Telecopy No.: (212) 545-4283

 

(b) Notices and other communications to Lenders and Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Agent or as otherwise determined by Agent, provided , that , the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2 hereof if such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Section by electronic communication. Unless Agent otherwise requires, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided , that , if such notice or other communication is not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communications is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

13.4 Partial Invalidity . If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not invalidate this Agreement as a whole, but this Agreement shall be construed as though it did not contain the particular provision held to be invalid or unenforceable and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced only to such extent as shall be permitted by applicable law.

 

133


13.5 Confidentiality .

 

(a) Agent, each Lender and Issuing Bank shall use all reasonable efforts to keep confidential, and shall use reasonable efforts to cause its agents (including accountants, auditors and filed examiners) to keep confidential, in accordance with its customary procedures for handling confidential information and safe and sound lending practices, any non-public information supplied to it by any Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, provided , that , nothing contained herein shall limit the disclosure of any such information: (i) to the extent required by statute, rule, regulation, subpoena or court order, (ii) to bank examiners and other regulators, auditors and/or accountants, in connection with any litigation to which Agent, such Lender or Issuing Bank is a party, (iii) to any Lender or Participant (or prospective Lender or Participant) or Issuing Bank or to any Affiliate of any Lender so long as such Lender, Participant (or prospective Lender or Participant), Issuing Bank or Affiliate shall have been instructed to treat such information as confidential in accordance with this Section 13.5, or (iv) to counsel for Agent, any Lender, Participant (or prospective Lender or Participant). Agent and Lenders shall not publicly disclose consummation of this Agreement prior to a public disclosure of the same by one of the Permitted Holders or any of their respective Affiliates or Issuing Bank.

 

(b) In the event that Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank receives a request or demand to disclose any confidential information pursuant to any subpoena or court order, Agent or such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, agrees (i) to the extent permitted by applicable law or if permitted by applicable law, to the extent Agent or such Lender or Issuing Bank determines in good faith that it will not create any risk of liability to Agent or such Lender or Issuing Bank, Agent or such Lender or Issuing Bank will promptly notify Administrative Borrower of such request so that Administrative Borrower may seek a protective order or other appropriate relief or remedy and (ii) if disclosure of such information is required, disclose such information and, subject to reimbursement by Borrowers of Agent’s or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s expenses, cooperate with Administrative Borrower in the reasonable efforts to obtain an order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such portion of the disclosed information which Administrative Borrower so designates, to the extent permitted by applicable law or if permitted by applicable law, to the extent Agent or such Lender or Issuing Bank determines in good faith that it will not create any risk of liability to Agent or such Lender or Issuing Bank.

 

(c) In no event shall this Section 13.5 or any other provision of this Agreement, any of the other Financing Agreements or applicable law be deemed: (i) to apply to or restrict disclosure of information that has been or is made public by any Borrower, Guarantor or any third party or otherwise becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure in violation hereof, (ii) to apply to or restrict disclosure of information that was or becomes available to Agent, any Lender (or any Affiliate of any Lender) or Issuing Bank on a non-confidential basis from a Person other than a Borrower or Guarantor, (iii) to require Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank to return any materials furnished by a Borrower or Guarantor to Agent, a Lender or Issuing Bank or prevent Agent, a Lender or Issuing Bank from responding to routine informational requests in accordance with the Code of Ethics for the Exchange of Credit Information promulgated by The Robert Morris Associates or other applicable industry standards relating to the exchange of credit information. The obligations of Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank under this Section 13.5 shall supersede and replace the obligations of Agent, Lenders and

 

134


Issuing Bank under any confidentiality letter signed prior to the date hereof or any other arrangements concerning the confidentiality of information provided by any Borrower or Guarantor to Agent or any Lender.

 

(d) Agent and Lenders may share with their respective Affiliates any information relating to the Credit Facility and Borrowers and Guarantors. Agent and Lenders may disclose information relating to the Credit Facility to Gold Sheets and other similar bank trade publications with such information to consist of deal terms and other information customarily found in such publications. In addition, Agent and Lenders and their respective Affiliates may otherwise use the corporate names, logos and other insignia of Borrowers and Guarantors in “tombstones” or other advertisements or public statements or other marketing materials of Agent and Lenders and their respective Affiliates.

 

13.6 Successors . This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Agent, Secured Parties, Borrowers, Guarantors and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Borrower may assign its rights under this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein without the prior written consent of Agent and Lenders. Any such purported assignment without such express prior written consent shall be void. No Secured Party may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Agent, except as provided in Section 13.7 below. The terms and provisions of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements are for the purpose of defining the relative rights and obligations of Borrowers, Guarantors, Agent and Secured Parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and there shall be no third party beneficiaries of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements.

 

13.7 Assignments; Participations .

 

(a) Each Lender may, with the prior written consent of Agent as required pursuant to the within definition of “Eligible Transferee”, assign all or, if less than all, a portion equal to at least $5,000,000 in the aggregate for the assigning Lender, of such rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Transferees (but not including for this purpose any assignments in the form of a participation), each of which assignees shall become a party to this Agreement as a Lender by execution of an Assignment and Acceptance; provided , that , (i) such transfer or assignment will not be effective until recorded by Agent on the Register and (ii) Agent shall have received for its sole account payment of a processing fee from the assigning Lender or the assignee in the amount of $5,000.

 

(b) Agent shall maintain a register of the names and addresses of Lenders, their Commitments and the principal amount of their Revolving Loans (the “Register”). Agent shall also maintain a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and shall modify the Register to give effect to each Assignment and Acceptance. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and any Borrowers, Guarantors, Agent and Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be

 

135


available for inspection by Administrative Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(c) Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and to the other Financing Agreements and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations (including, without limitation, the obligation to participate in Letter of Credit Obligations) of a Lender hereunder and thereunder and the assigning Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(d) By execution and delivery of an Assignment and Acceptance, the assignor and assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the execution, legality, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements furnished pursuant hereto, (ii) the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Borrower, Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries or the performance or observance by any Borrower or Guarantor of any of the Obligations; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, together with such other documents and information it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance, (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the assigning Lender, Agent and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, (v) such assignee appoints and authorizes Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements as are delegated to Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements are required to be performed by it as a Lender. Agent and Lenders may furnish any information concerning any Borrower or Guarantor in the possession of Agent or any Lender from time to time to assignees and Participants.

 

(e) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or other entities in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements (including, all or a portion of its Commitments and the Revolving Loans owing to it and its participation in the Letter of Credit Obligations, without the consent of Agent or the other Lenders); provided , that , (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment hereunder) and the other Financing Agreements shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and Borrowers, Guarantors, the other Lenders and Agent shall

 

136


continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, and (iii) the Participant shall not have any rights under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements (the Participant’s rights against such Lender in respect of such participation to be those set forth in the agreement executed by such Lender in favor of the Participant relating thereto) and all amounts payable by any Borrower or Guarantor hereunder shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation.

 

(f) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or prohibit any Lender from pledging its Revolving Loans hereunder to a Federal Reserve Bank in support of borrowings made by such Lenders from such Federal Reserve Bank; provided , that , no such pledge shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(g) Borrowers and Guarantors shall assist Agent or any Lender permitted to sell assignments or participations under this Section 13.7 in whatever manner reasonably necessary in order to enable or effect any such assignment or participation, including (but not limited to) the execution and delivery of any and all agreements, notes and other documents and instruments as shall be requested and the delivery of informational materials, appraisals or other documents for, and the participation of relevant management in meetings and conference calls with, potential Lenders or Participants. Borrowers shall certify the correctness, completeness and accuracy, in all material respects, of all descriptions of Borrowers and Guarantors and their affairs provided, prepared or reviewed by any Borrower or Guarantor that are contained in any selling materials and all other information provided by it and included in such materials.

 

(h) Any Lender that is an Issuing Bank may at any time assign all of its Commitments pursuant to this Section 13.7. If such Issuing Bank ceases to be Lender, it may, at its option, resign as Issuing Bank and such Issuing Bank’s obligations to issue Letters of Credit shall terminate but it shall retain all of the rights and obligations of Issuing Bank hereunder with respect to Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation and all Letter of Credit Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require Lenders to make Revolving Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations), shall continue.

 

13.8 Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, any supplements hereto or thereto, and any instruments or documents delivered or to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith represents the entire agreement and understanding concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof between the parties hereto, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties, commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and any schedule or exhibit hereto, the terms of this Agreement shall govern.

 

13.9 USA Patriot Act . Each Lender subject to the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub.L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001) (the “Act”) hereby notifies Borrowers and Guarantors that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Person or corporation who opens an account and/or enters into a business relationship with it, which information includes the name and address of Borrowers and

 

137


Guarantors and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Person in accordance with the Act and any other applicable law. Borrowers and Guarantors are hereby advised that any Revolving Loans or Letters of Credit hereunder are subject to satisfactory results of such verification.

 

13.10 Counterparts, Etc. This Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission shall have the same force and effect as the delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of such other Financing Agreements. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of any such agreement by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of such agreement.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

138


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Agent, Lenders, Borrowers and Guarantors have caused these presents to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWERS

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

By:  

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Title:

 

Vice President - Finance

VS DIRECT INC.

By:

 

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Title:

 

Vice President - Finance

GUARANTORS

VS HOLDINGS, INC.

By:  

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Title:

 

Vice President - Finance

 

[SIGNATURES CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE]


[SIGNATURES CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE]

 

AGENT

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Agent and Issuing Bank
By:  

/s/ Marc J. Breier

Title:

 

Director

LENDERS

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Marc J. Breier

Title:

 

Director

Commitment: $35,000,000

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

By:

 

/s/ [illegible]

Title:

 

Director

Commitment: $15,000,000


EXHIBIT A

to

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

Form of Assignment and Acceptance Agreement

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT

 

This ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT (this “Assignment and Acceptance”) dated as of _____________, 200_ is made between ________________________ (the “Assignor”) and ____________________ (the “Assignee”).

 

WITNESSETH :

 

WHEREAS, Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as agent pursuant to the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) acting for and on behalf of the financial institutions which are parties thereto as lenders (in such capacity, “Agent”), and the financial institutions which are parties to the Loan Agreement as lenders (individually, each a “Lender” and collectively, “Lenders”) have entered or are about to enter into financing arrangements pursuant to which Agent and Lenders may make loans and advances and provide other financial accommodations to Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., and VS Direct Inc. (collectively, “Borrowers”) as set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated November 15, 2005, by and among Borrowers, certain of their affiliates, Agent and Lenders (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the “Loan Agreement”), and the other agreements, documents and instruments referred to therein or at any time executed and/or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto (all of the foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the “Financing Agreements”);

 

WHEREAS, as provided under the Loan Agreement, Assignor committed to making Revolving Loans (the “Committed Loans”) to Borrowers in an aggregate amount not to exceed $___________ (the “Commitment”);

 

WHEREAS, Assignor wishes to assign to Assignee [part of the] [all] rights and obligations of Assignor under the Loan Agreement in respect of its Commitment in an amount equal to $______________ (the “Assigned Commitment Amount”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and Assignee wishes to accept assignment of such rights and to assume such obligations from Assignor on such terms and subject to such conditions;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Assignment and Acceptance .

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Assignment and Acceptance, Assignor hereby sells, transfers and assigns to Assignee, and Assignee hereby purchases,

 

A-1


assumes and undertakes from Assignor, without recourse and without representation or warranty (except as provided in this Assignment and Acceptance) an interest in (i) the Commitment and each of the Committed Revolving Loans of Assignor and (ii) all related rights, benefits, obligations, liabilities and indemnities of the Assignor under and in connection with the Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, so that after giving effect thereto, the Commitment of Assignee shall be as set forth below and the Pro Rata Share of Assignee shall be _______ (__%) percent.

 

With effect on and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 5 hereof), Assignee shall be a party to the Loan Agreement and succeed to all of the rights and be obligated to perform all of the obligations of a Lender under the Loan Agreement, including the requirements concerning confidentiality and the payment of indemnification, with a Commitment in an amount equal to the Assigned Commitment Amount. Assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender. It is the intent of the parties hereto that the Commitment of Assignor shall, as of the Effective Date, be reduced by an amount equal to the Assigned Commitment Amount and Assignor shall relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Loan Agreement to the extent such obligations have been assumed by Assignee; provided , that , Assignor shall not relinquish its rights under Sections 2.2, 6.4, 6.9, 11.5 and 12.5 of the Loan Agreement to the extent such rights relate to the time prior to the Effective Date.

 

After giving effect to the assignment and assumption set forth herein, on the Effective Date Assignee’s Commitment will be $                          .

 

After giving effect to the assignment and assumption set forth herein, on the Effective Date Assignor’s Commitment will be $______________ (as such amount may be further reduced by any other assignments by Assignor on or after the date hereof).

 

2. Payments .

 

As consideration for the sale, assignment and transfer contemplated in Section 1 hereof, Assignee shall pay to Assignor on the Effective Date in immediately available funds an amount equal to $                          , representing Assignee’s Pro Rata Share of the principal amount of all Committed Loans.

 

Assignee shall pay to Agent the processing fee in the amount specified in Section 13.7(a) of the Loan Agreement.

 

3. Reallocation of Payments . Any interest, fees and other payments accrued to the Effective Date with respect to the Commitment, Committed Revolving Loans and outstanding Letters of Credit shall be for the account of Assignor. Any interest, fees and other payments accrued on and after the Effective Date with respect to the Assigned Commitment Amount shall be for the account of Assignee. Each of Assignor and Assignee agrees that it will hold in trust for the other party any interest, fees and other amounts which it may receive to which the other party is entitled pursuant to the preceding sentence and pay to the other party any such amounts which it may receive promptly upon receipt.

 

A-2


4. Independent Credit Decision . Assignee acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits thereto, together with copies of the most recent financial statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit and legal analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon Assignor, Agent or any Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit and legal decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Agreement.

 

5. Effective Date; Notices .

 

(a) As between Assignor and Assignee, the effective date for this Assignment and Acceptance shall be _______________, 200_ (the “Effective Date”); provided , that , the following conditions precedent have been satisfied on or before the Effective Date:

 

(i) this Assignment and Acceptance shall be executed and delivered by Assignor and Assignee;

 

(ii) the consent of Agent as required for an effective assignment of the Assigned Commitment Amount by Assignor to Assignee shall have been duly obtained and shall be in full force and effect as of the Effective Date;

 

(iii) written notice of such assignment, together with payment instructions, addresses and related information with respect to Assignee, shall have been given to Administrative Borrower and Agent;

 

(iv) Assignee shall pay to Assignor all amounts due to Assignor under this Assignment and Acceptance; and

 

(v) the processing fee referred to in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been paid to Agent.

 

(b) Promptly following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance, Assignor shall deliver to Administrative Borrower and Agent for acknowledgment by Agent, a Notice of Assignment in the form attached hereto as Schedule 1.

 

6. Agent . [INCLUDE ONLY IF ASSIGNOR IS AN AGENT]

 

(a) Assignee hereby appoints and authorizes Assignor in its capacity as Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf to exercise such powers under the Loan Agreement as are delegated to Agent by Lenders pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement.

 

(b) Assignee shall assume no duties or obligations held by Assignor in its capacity as Agent under the Loan Agreement.

 

7. Withholding Tax . Assignee (a) represents and warrants to Assignor, Agent and Borrowers that under applicable law and treaties no tax will be required to be withheld by Assignee, Agent or Borrowers with respect to any payments to be made to Assignee hereunder or

 

A-3


under any of the Financing Agreements, (b) agrees to furnish (if it is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof) to Agent and Borrowers prior to the time that Agent or Borrowers are required to make any payment of principal, interest or fees hereunder, duplicate executed originals of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as applicable (wherein Assignee claims entitlement to the benefits of a tax treaty that provides for a complete exemption from U.S. federal income withholding tax on all payments hereunder) and agrees to provide new such forms upon the expiration of any previously delivered form or comparable statements in accordance with applicable U.S. law and regulations and amendments thereto, duly executed and completed by Assignee, and (c) agrees to comply with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations with regard to such withholding tax exemption.

 

8. Representations and Warranties .

 

(a) Assignor represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any security interest, lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim, (ii) it is duly organized and existing and it has the full power and authority to take, and has taken, all action necessary to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and any other documents required or permitted to be executed or delivered by it in connection with this Assignment and Acceptance and to fulfill its obligations hereunder, (iii) no notices to, or consents, authorizations or approvals of, any Person are required (other than any already given or obtained) for its due execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and Acceptance, and apart from any agreements or undertakings or filings required by the Loan Agreement, no further action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Person is required of it for such execution, delivery or performance, and (iv) this Assignment and Acceptance has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Assignor, enforceable against Assignor in accordance with the terms hereof, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other laws of general application relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles.

 

(b) Assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Loan Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto. Assignor makes no representation or warranty in connection with, and assumes no responsibility with respect to, the solvency, financial condition or statements of Borrowers, Guarantors or any of their respective Affiliates, or the performance or observance by Borrowers, Guarantors or any other Person, of any of its respective obligations under the Loan Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished in connection therewith.

 

(c) Assignee represents and warrants that (i) it is duly organized and existing and it has full power and authority to take, and has taken, all action necessary to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and any other documents required or permitted to be executed or delivered by it in connection with this Assignment and Acceptance, and to fulfill its obligations hereunder, (ii) no notices to, or consents, authorizations or approvals of, any Person

 

A-4


are required (other than any already given or obtained) for its due execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and Acceptance, and apart from any agreements or undertakings or filings required by the Loan Agreement, no further action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Person is required of it for such execution, delivery or performance; and (iii) this Assignment and Acceptance has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Assignee, enforceable against Assignee in accordance with the terms hereof, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other laws of general application relating to or affecting creditors’ rights to general equitable principles.

 

9. Further Assurances . Assignor and Assignee each hereby agree to execute and deliver such other instruments, and take such other action, as either party may reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Assignment and Acceptance, including the delivery of any notices or other documents or instruments to Borrowers or Agent, which may be required in connection with the assignment and assumption contemplated hereby.

 

10. Miscellaneous .

 

(a) Any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto. No failure or delay by either party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof and any waiver of any breach of the provisions of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be without prejudice to any rights with respect to any other for further breach thereof.

 

(b) All payments made hereunder shall be made without any set-off or counterclaim.

 

(c) Assignor and Assignee shall each pay its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and performance of this Assignment and Acceptance.

 

(d) This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(e) THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Assignor and Assignee each irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any State or Federal court sitting in New York County, New York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Assignment and Acceptance and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or Federal court. Each party to this Assignment and Acceptance hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding.

 

(f) ASSIGNOR AND ASSIGNEE EACH HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING

 

A-5


OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE, THE LOAN AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS AND AGREEMENTS OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, OR STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN).

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Assignor and Assignee have caused this Assignment and Acceptance to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.

 

[ASSIGNOR]

By:    

Title:

   

[ASSIGNEE]

By:    

Title:

   

 

A-6


SCHEDULE 1

 

NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

___, 20__

 

Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Attn.: Portfolio Manager — Vitamin Shoppe

 

  Re: Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as agent pursuant to the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) acting for and on behalf of the financial institutions which are parties thereto as lenders (in such capacity, “Agent”), and the financial institutions which are parties to the Loan Agreement as lenders (individually, each a “Lender” and collectively, “Lenders”) have entered or are about to enter into financing arrangements pursuant to which Agent and Lenders may make loans and advances and provide other financial accommodations to Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., and VS Direct Inc.(collectively, “Borrowers”) as set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated November 15, 2005 by and among Borrowers, certain of their affiliates, Agent and Lenders (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the “Loan Agreement”), and the other agreements, documents and instruments referred to therein or at any time executed and/or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto (all of the foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the “Financing Agreements”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement.

 

1. We hereby give you notice of, and request your consent to, the assignment by __________________________ (the “Assignor”) to ___________________________ (the “Assignee”) such that after giving effect to the assignment Assignee shall have an interest equal to ________ (__%) percent of the total Commitments pursuant to the Assignment and Acceptance Agreement attached hereto (the “Assignment and Acceptance”). We understand that the Assignor’s Commitment shall be reduced by $                  , as the same may be further reduced by other assignments on or after the date hereof.

 

2. Assignee agrees that, upon receiving the consent of Agent to such assignment, Assignee will be bound by the terms of the Loan Agreement as fully and to the same extent as if the Assignee were the Lender originally holding such interest under the Loan Agreement.


3. The following administrative details apply to Assignee:

 

(A) Notice address:

 

Assignee name: ____________________________

Address: __________________________________

Attention: _________________________________

Telephone: ________________________________

Telecopier: ________________________________

 

Payment instructions:

 

Account No.: ______________________________

At: ______________________________________

Reference: _________________________________

Attention: _________________________________

 

4. You are entitled to rely upon the representations, warranties and covenants of each of Assignor and Assignee contained in the Assignment and Acceptance.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Assignor and Assignee have caused this Notice of Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their respective duly authorized officials, officers or agents as of the date first above mentioned.

 

Very truly yours,

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

By: 

   

Title: 

   

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

By: 

   

Title: 

   

 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND ASSIGNMENT

CONSENTED TO:

 

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as Agent

By: 

   

Title: 

   


EXHIBIT B

TO

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

Information Certificate

 

B-1

Exhibit 10.3

 

[Execution]

TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated November 15, 2005, is entered into by and between VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC., a New York corporation, with offices at 2101 91st Street, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047 (“ Pledgor ”), and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, with an office at 1133 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, in its capacity as agent (in such capacity, “ Pledgee ”) for the Lenders and the other Secured Parties (as defined below).

 

WITNESSETH :

 

WHEREAS, Pledgee, Lenders, Pledgor and certain affiliates of Pledgor have entered into that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated of even date herewith (as the same now exists and may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the “ Loan Agreement ”) and the other agreements, documents and instruments referred to therein or any time executed and/or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto, including this Agreement (all of the foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the “ Financing Agreements ”), pursuant to which Pledgee and Lenders have made and may in the future make certain loans and advances and extend credit to Pledgor and certain of its affiliates, subject to the terms and provisions of the Financing Agreements; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to secure the Obligations, Pledgor has agreed to grant to Pledgee a security interest in the Trademark Collateral (as hereinafter defined), and Pledgee and the other Secured Parties have requested Pledgor to enter into this Agreement to evidence such security interest.

 

NOW THEREFORE, for valuable consideration received and to be received, and as security for the full payment and performance of the Obligations, and to induce Pledgee and Lenders to make loans and advances to Borrowers, Pledgor hereby agrees as follows:

 

1. Grant of Security Interest . As collateral security for the prompt performance, observance and full and final payment of all of the Obligations, Pledgor hereby grants to Pledgee, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in and a general lien upon the following:

 

(a) all of Pledgor’s now existing or hereafter acquired right, title, and interest in and to all of Pledgor’s trademarks, servicemarks, trade names, trade styles, trademark and service mark applications, and all applications, registrations and recordings relating to any of the foregoing as may be filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “ Trademark Office ”) or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof, any political subdivision thereof or in any other country or jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the trademarks and trademark applications described in Exhibit A hereto, together with all rights and


privileges arising under applicable law with respect to Pledgor’s use of any of the foregoing (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to herein as the “ Trademarks ”); all renewals of any of the Trademarks; all rights to sue for past, present and future infringement of any of the foregoing; all licenses, contracts or other agreements naming Pledgor as licensor or licensee and providing for the grant of any rights concerning any of the foregoing; and all designs and other general intangibles related to the foregoing, including, without limitation, the designs set forth on all prints and labels on which the Trademarks appear, have appeared or will appear;

 

(b) all goodwill of Pledgor’s business associated with the items set forth in clause (a) above; and

 

(c) any and all other proceeds of any of the foregoing, in any form, including, without limitation, damages and payments or claims by Pledgor against third parties for past or future infringement of the Trademarks.

 

All of the foregoing items set forth in clauses (a) through (c) are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Trademark Collateral .” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trademark Collateral shall not include any rights in any Trademarks or other interests of Pledgor (other than applications for registration for which a Statement of Use has been filed with the Trademark Office) that would be cancelled or rendered invalid or unenforceable under applicable law by the grant of a security interest created pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements, for as long as such prohibition or reason for cancellation, invalidity or unenforceability under applicable law exists, except for products and proceeds thereof (collectively, the “ Excluded Trademark Collateral ”).

 

2. Obligations Secured . The pledge and security interest effectuated hereby is being granted in connection with the Loan Agreement and shall secure the prompt performance and payment in full of any and all Obligations of Borrowers of every kind, nature and description owing to Pledgee or any Secured Party, whether arising under or otherwise related to or permitted under this Agreement, the Loan Agreement or the other Financing Agreements.

 

3. Amendments and Waivers . This Agreement may not be modified, supplemented, or amended, or any of its provisions waived except in a writing signed by Pledgor and Pledgee. Pledgor hereby authorizes Pledgee to modify this Agreement in accordance with the Loan Agreement by amending Exhibit A hereto to include any future Trademarks.

 

4. Waiver of Rights . No course of dealing between the parties to this Agreement or any failure or delay on the part of any such party in exercising any rights or remedies hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any rights and remedies of such party or any other party, and no single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies by one party hereunder shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights and remedies of such party or any other party. No waiver by Pledgee of any breach or default by Pledgor shall be deemed a waiver of any other previous breach or default or of any breach or default occurring thereafter.

 

5. Assignment . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto; provided , however , that

 

2


except as permitted by the Loan Agreement or the other Financing Agreements, no interest herein or in or to the Trademark Collateral may be assigned by Pledgor without the prior written consent of Pledgee; and, provided , further , that Pledgee may assign the rights and benefits hereof to any party acquiring any interest in the Obligations or any part thereof.

 

6. Release . At such time as Pledgor shall completely satisfy all of the Obligations, and the Financing Agreements have been terminated (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not yet accrued at such time), other than upon enforcement of Pledgee’s remedies under the Financing Agreements after an Event of Default, Pledgee will, at Pledgor’s sole cost and expense, execute and deliver to Pledgor a release or other instrument as may be necessary or proper to release Pledgor’s lien in the Trademark Collateral, subject to any dispositions thereof which may have been made by Pledgee pursuant hereto.

 

7. Effect of this Agreement; Severability . The Financing Agreements (including without limitation this Agreement) and any instruments or documents delivered or to be delivered in connection herewith and therewith, represent the entire agreement and understanding concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof between the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties, commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof, whether oral or written. This Agreement is a supplement to, and is hereby incorporated into, the Financing Agreements and made a part thereof. If any clause or provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such clause or provision, or part thereof, in such jurisdiction, and shall not in any manner affect such or any other clause or provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, in the event that any provisions of this Agreement are deemed to conflict or be inconsistent with the Loan Agreement, the provisions of the Loan Agreement shall govern. Capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Agreement.

 

8. Notices . All notices, requests and demands to or upon Pledgor or Pledgee under this Agreement shall be given to the addresses designated in and in the manner prescribed by the Loan Agreement.

 

9. Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver .

 

(a) The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

 

(b) Pledgor and Pledgee irrevocably consent and submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and the State and Federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, whichever Pledgee may elect, and waive any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this

 

3


Agreement or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Agreement or the transactions related hereto whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts described above (except that Pledgee shall have the right to bring any action or proceeding against Pledgor or the Trademark Collateral in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Pledgee deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Trademark Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against Pledgor or the Trademark Collateral).

 

(c) Pledgor hereby waives personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set forth in the Loan Agreement and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Pledgee’s option, by service upon Pledgor in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts. Within thirty (30) days after such service, Pledgor shall appear in answer to such process, failing which Pledgor shall be deemed in default and judgment may be entered by Pledgee against Pledgor for the amount of the claim and other relief requested.

 

(d) PLEDGOR AND PLEDGEE EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. PLEDGOR AND PLEDGEE EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT PLEDGOR OR PLEDGEE MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

10. Counterparts, etc. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile shall have the same force and effect as the delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of this Agreement.

 

*    *    *

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

PLEDGOR

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

By:

 

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Name:

 

Cosmo La Forgia

Title:

 

Vice President - Finance

PLEDGEE

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Agent

By:

 

/s/ Marc J. Breier

Name:

 

Marc J. Breier

Title:

 

Director

 

S-1

Exhibit 10.4

 

[Execution]

 

STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

THIS STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated November 15, 2005, is entered into by and between VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC., a New York corporation (“ Pledgor ”), with offices at 2101 91st Street, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047, and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, in its capacity as agent (in such capacity “ Pledgee ”) for the Lenders and the other Secured Parties (as hereinafter defined), with an office at 1133 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036.

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor is the owner of one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of VS Direct Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and may from time to time in the future, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Financing Agreements, acquire one or more additional Subsidiaries (“ Future Subsidiaries ”).

 

WHEREAS, Pledgee and the parties to the Loan Agreement as lenders (individually, each a “ Lender ” and collectively, “ Lenders ”) have entered into financing arrangements with Pledgor and the Company (together with Pledgor, each individually a “ Borrower ” and collectively, “ Borrowers ”) pursuant to which Pledgee and Lenders may make loans and advances and provide other financial accommodations to Borrowers as set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among Borrowers, VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), Pledgee and Lenders (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the “ Loan Agreement ”) and the other agreements, documents and instruments referred to therein or at any time executed and/or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto, including, but not limited to, the Guarantee (as defined below) and this Agreement (all of the foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the “ Financing Agreements ”);

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor has absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed the payment and performance of all now existing and hereafter arising obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of the Company to Pledgee and Secured Parties as set forth in the Guarantee, dated of even date herewith, by Pledgor and Holdings in favor of Pledgee and Secured Parties (as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the “ Guarantee ”); and

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor desires to pledge to Pledgee, for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in all of the Capital Stock of the Company, any and all of the Future Subsidiaries organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States of America (“ Domestic Future Subsidiaries ”) and 65% of all Future Subsidiaries organized under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America (“ Foreign Future Subsidiaries ”), in each case as collateral security for the Obligations.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing facts the parties hereto agree as follows (initially capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given in the Loan Agreement):

 

1. Pledge . Pledgor hereby delivers, pledges and grants a continuing security interest to Pledgee, for Pledgor’s benefit and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, in all of the Capital Stock of the Company, all of the Capital Stock of each Domestic Future Subsidiary and 65% of the Capital Stock of each Foreign Future Subsidiary, whether now or hereafter owned or beneficially owned by Pledgor, together with all proceeds, replacements, substitutions, newly issued stock, stock received by reason of a stock split, bonus or any other form of issue, dividend or distribution with respect to or arising from such stock (collectively, the “ Collateral ”). Pledgor shall forthwith deliver to Pledgee the Collateral together with stock powers in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Pledgee duly executed in blank, with signatures guaranteed, regarding the Collateral.

 

2. Obligations Secured . The pledge and security interest effectuated hereby shall secure the prompt performance and payment in full of any and all Obligations of Borrowers of every kind, nature and description owing to Pledgee or any Secured Party arising under or otherwise related to or permitted under the Guarantee, this Agreement, the Loan Agreement or the other Financing Agreements.

 

3. Representations And Warranties Regarding The Collateral . Pledgor represents and warrants that: (a) all of the shares of stock described in Paragraph 1 hereinabove are fully paid, non-assessable and validly issued; (b) the Collateral was not issued in violation of any person’s or entity’s preemptive rights; (c) the Collateral is owned free and clear of any and all security interests, pledges, options to purchase or sell, redemptions or liens; (d) Pledgor has full power to convey the Collateral; (e) no financing statements covering the Collateral are recorded with any cognizant state official or recording office (other than in favor of Pledgee, for itself and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and other Secured Parties); and (f) the Collateral is free and clear of any claims, security interests or liens other than those in favor of Pledgee.

 

4. Events Of Default . For purposes herein, “ Event of Default ” shall mean any “Event of Default” as defined under the Loan Agreement. Pledgor hereby appoints Pledgee as its attorney-in-fact to arrange, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, for a transfer of the Collateral on the books of the Company or any Future Subsidiary, as applicable, to the name of Pledgee or to the name of Pledgee’s nominee.

 

5. Voting Rights . During the term of this Agreement, so long as there shall not occur any Event of Default, Pledgor shall have the right to vote the Collateral on all corporate questions for all purposes not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Pledgee shall thereafter have, at its discretion, the option to exercise all voting powers and other corporate rights pertaining to the Collateral. Pledgee may, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at its option, transfer or register the Collateral or any part thereof into its own or its nominee’s name.


6. Stock Adjustments And Dividends . If during the term of this Agreement, any stock dividend, reclassification, readjustment or other change is declared or made in the capital structure of the Company or any Future Subsidiary or any option included within the Collateral is exercised, or both, all new, substituted and additional shares, or other securities, issued to Pledgor by reason of any such change or exercise shall be delivered to and held by Pledgee under the terms of this Agreement in the same manner as the Collateral originally pledged hereunder. Except as expressly permitted under the terms of the Loan Agreement, if, during the term of this Agreement, any dividend or other distribution is made on account of the Collateral, Pledgor shall immediately deliver all such dividends or other distributions to Pledgee in the same form received and in the same manner as the Collateral pledged hereunder.

 

7. Warrants And Rights . If during the term of this Agreement, subscription warrants or any other rights or options shall be issued in connection with the Collateral, such warrants, rights and options shall be immediately assigned by Pledgor to Pledgee to be held under the terms of this Agreement in the same manner as the Collateral originally pledged hereunder.

 

8. Remedies Upon Default . In addition to the other remedies provided for herein, in the Loan Agreement, the Guarantee, the other Financing Agreements or otherwise available under applicable law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(a) Pledgee may:

 

(i) exercise in respect to the Collateral, any one or more of the rights and remedies available under the New York Uniform Commercial Code and other applicable law; and

 

(ii) sell or otherwise assign, give an option or options to purchase or dispose of and deliver the Collateral (or contract to do so), or any part thereof, in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or at any of Pledgee’s offices or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash, on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk, free of any claim or right of whatsoever kind (including, after any such sale or assignment is consummated, any right or equity of redemption) of Pledgor, which claim, right and equity are hereby expressly waived and released. Pledgee or any Lender shall have the right to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any such sale or sales, public or private, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold; provided , however , Pledgor shall not receive any net proceeds, if any, of any such credit sale or future delivery until cash proceeds are actually received by Pledgee (which cash proceeds shall be applied by Pledgee to the Obligations) and after all Obligations have been paid in full. In case of any sale of all or any part of the Collateral on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by Pledgee until the selling price is paid by the purchaser thereof, but Pledgee shall incur no liability in case of the failure of such purchaser to pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of such failure, the Collateral may again be sold as herein provided.

 

(b) Any notice required to be given by Pledgee of a sale of the Collateral, or any part thereof, or of any other intended action by Pledgee, which occurs not less than ten (10) days prior to such proposed action, shall constitute commercially reasonable and fair notice to Pledgor


thereof. If, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, a statement renouncing or modifying any right to notification of sale or other intended disposition has been signed by Pledgor, during the continuance of such Event of Default, no such notification need be given to Pledgor.

 

(c) Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any sale or other disposition of the Collateral, or any part thereof unless the terms thereof shall, in its sole discretion, be satisfactory to it. Pledgee may, if it deems it reasonable, postpone or adjourn the sale of any of the Collateral, or any part thereof, from time to time by an announcement at the time and place of such sale or by announcement at the time and place of such postponed or adjourned sale, without being required to give a new notice of sale. Pledgor agrees that Pledgee has no obligations to preserve rights against prior parties to the Collateral.

 

(d) Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that Pledgee may comply with limitations or restrictions in connection with any sale of the Collateral in order to avoid any violation of applicable law or in order to obtain any required approval of the sale or of the purchase thereof by any governmental regulatory authority or official and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that Pledgee may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Collateral by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the federal securities laws and applicable state securities laws, but may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale. Notwithstanding any such circumstances, Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that such compliance shall not result in any such private sale for such reason alone being deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner. Pledgee shall not be liable or accountable to Pledgor for any discount allowed by reason of the fact that the Collateral is sold in compliance with any such limitation or restriction. Pledgee shall not be under any obligation to delay a sale of any of the Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer of such securities to register such securities for public sale under the federal securities laws, or under applicable state securities laws, even if the issuer desires, requests or would agree to do so.

 

(e) Any cash held by Pledgee as Collateral and all cash proceeds received by Pledgee in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral may, in the discretion of Pledgee, be held by Pledgee as Collateral for the Obligations and/or then or at any time thereafter applied, without any marshalling of rights, remedies or assets, and after payment of any amounts payable to Pledgee or any Lender hereunder and, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind in connection with the care, safekeeping, collection, sale, delivery or otherwise of any or all of the Collateral or in any way relating to the rights of Pledgee hereunder (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), to the. payment of reduction of the Obligations. Any surplus of such cash or cash proceeds held by Pledgee and remaining after payment in full of all the Obligations shall be paid over to Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

 

9. Cumulative Remedies . The rights and remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law or equity. The rights and remedies provided herein are intended to be in addition to and not in substitution of the rights


and remedies provided by the Loan Agreement, the other Financing Agreements or any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection therewith.

 

10. Amendments and Waivers . This Agreement may not be modified, supplemented, or amended, or any of its provisions waived except in a writing signed by Pledgor and Pledgee.

 

11. Waiver of Rights . No course of dealing between the parties to this Agreement or any failure or delay on the part of any such party in exercising any rights or remedies hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any rights and remedies of such party or any other party, and no single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies by one party hereunder shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights and remedies of such party or any other party. No waiver by Pledgee of any breach or default by Pledgor shall be deemed a waiver of any other previous breach or default or of any breach or default occurring thereafter.

 

12. Assignment . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto; provided , however , that except as permitted by the Loan Agreement or the other Financing Agreements, no interest herein or in or to the Collateral may be assigned by Pledgor without the prior written consent of Pledgee; and, provided , further , that Pledgee may assign the rights and benefits hereof to any party acquiring any interest in the Obligations or any part thereof.

 

13. Release . At such time as Pledgor shall completely satisfy all of the Obligations, and the Financing Agreements have been terminated (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not yet accrued at such time), other than upon enforcement of Pledgee’s remedies under the Loan Agreement or the other Financing Agreements after an Event of Default, Pledgee will, at Pledgor’s sole cost and expense, execute and deliver to Pledgor a release or other instrument as may be necessary or proper to release Pledgor’s lien in the Collateral and return to Pledgor all stock certificates and stock powers relating to this Agreement which are in its possession, subject to any dispositions thereof which may have been made by Pledgee pursuant hereto.

 

14. Effect of this Agreement; Severability . The Financing Agreements (including without limitation this Agreement) and any instruments or documents delivered or to be delivered in connection herewith and therewith, represent the entire agreement and understanding concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof between the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties, commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof, whether oral or written. This Agreement is a supplement to, and is hereby incorporated into, the Financing Agreements and made a part thereof. If any clause or provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such clause or provision, or part thereof, in such jurisdiction, and shall not in any manner affect such or any other clause or provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, in the event that any provisions of this Agreement are deemed to conflict or be inconsistent with the Loan Agreement, the provisions of the Loan Agreement shall govern. Capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Agreement.


15. Notices . All notices, requests and demands to or upon Pledgor or Pledgee under this Agreement shall be given to the addresses designated in and in the manner prescribed by the Loan Agreement.

 

16. Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver .

 

(a) The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

 

(b) Pledgor and Pledgee irrevocably consent and submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and the State and Federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, whichever Pledgee may elect, and waive any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this Agreement or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Agreement or the transactions related hereto whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts described above (except that Pledgee shall have the right to bring any action or proceeding against Pledgor or the Collateral in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Pledgee deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against Pledgor or the Collateral).

 

(c) Pledgor hereby waives personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set forth in the Loan Agreement and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Pledgee’s option, by service upon Pledgor in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts. Within thirty (30) days after such service, Pledgor shall appear in answer to such process, failing which Pledgor shall be deemed in default and judgment may be entered by Pledgee against Pledgor for the amount of the claim and other relief requested.

 

(d) PLEDGOR AND PLEDGEE EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. PLEDGOR AND PLEDGEE EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT PLEDGOR OR PLEDGEE MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.


17. Further Assurances . Pledgor covenants and agrees that: (a) it will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such other stock powers, proxies, instruments and documents as Pledgee may reasonably request from time to time in order to perfect and protect the security interests granted or purported to be granted hereunder (including without limitation the security interest granted in any Capital Stock of any Future Subsidiary) or otherwise to carry out the provisions and purposes hereof, and (b) it will take all such other action, as Pledgee may reasonably request from time to time in order to perfect and protect the security interests granted or purported to be granted hereunder (including without limitation the security interest granted in any Capital Stock of any Future Subsidiary) or otherwise to carry out the provisions and purposes hereof. For purposes of defining security interest perfection, Pledgor further agrees that any Collateral which is in transit to Pledgee shall be deemed to be in Pledgee’s possession. Pledgor warrants and represents that none of the Collateral constitutes margin securities for the purposes of Regulations T, U or X, and also warrants and represents that none of the proceeds of any loans made by Pledgee or the Lenders to Pledgor will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock.

 

18. Counterparts, etc. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile shall have the same force and effect as the delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of this Agreement.

 

*     *     *


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

PLEDGOR

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

By: 

 

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Name: 

 

Cosmo La Forgia

Title:   

Vice President - Finance

 

PLEDGEE

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Agent

By: 

 

/s/ Marc J. Breier

Name: 

 

Marc J. Breier

Title:   

Director

Exhibit 10.5

 

[Execution]

GUARANTEE

 

November 15, 2005

 

Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

 

Re: Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (“Borrower”), certain of its affiliates, Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as agent (in such capacity, “Agent”) for Secured Parties (as hereinafter defined), and the entities from time to time party to the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) as lenders (each a “Lender” and collectively, “Lenders”) have entered into financing arrangements pursuant to which Agent and Lenders may make loans and advances and provide other financial accommodations to Borrower and such affiliates as set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among Borrower, VS Direct Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VS Direct”), VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent” and together with VS Direct, each individually a “Guarantor” and collectively, “Guarantors”), Agent and Lenders (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the “Loan Agreement”) and other agreements, documents and instruments referred to therein or at any time executed and/or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto, including, but not limited to, this Guarantee (all of the foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the “Financing Agreements”).

 

Due to the close business and financial relationships between Borrower and each Guarantor, in consideration of the benefits which will accrue to each Guarantor and as an inducement for and in consideration of Agent and Lenders making loans and advances and providing other financial accommodations to Borrower pursuant to the Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, each Guarantor has agreed to guarantee the payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations (as hereinafter defined) on the terms set forth herein.

 

In consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each Guarantor hereby jointly and


severally agrees in favor of Agent, Lenders and the other Secured Parties (as defined in the Loan Agreement) as follows:

 

1. Guarantee .

 

(a) Each Guarantor absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably, jointly and severally with each other and any subsequent guarantors of the Guaranteed Obligations (as hereinafter defined), guarantees and agrees to be liable for the full payment and performance when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise, of the following (all of which are collectively referred to herein as the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”): (i) all of the Obligations (as defined in the Loan Agreement) and (ii) all costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) incurred by Agent or any Secured Party in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, recording, administration, collection, liquidation, enforcement and defense of the Guaranteed Obligations or the rights of Agent or any Secured Party under this Guarantee, whether such expenses are incurred before, during or after the initial or any renewal term of the Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements or after the commencement of any case with respect to Borrower or any Guarantor under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar statute; provided , however , that each Guarantor shall only be liable under this Guarantee for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering this Guarantee, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount.

 

(b) This Guarantee is a guarantee of payment and not of collection. Each Guarantor agrees that neither Agent nor any Secured Party need attempt to collect any Guaranteed Obligations from Borrower, any one Guarantor or any other Obligor or to realize upon any Collateral, but may require any one Guarantor to make immediate payment of all of the Guaranteed Obligations to Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, when due, whether by maturity, acceleration or otherwise, or at any time thereafter. Agent and Lenders may apply any amounts received in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, in whole or in part (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses incurred by Agent or any Secured Party with respect thereto or otherwise chargeable to Borrower or any Obligor) and in such order as Agent may elect:

 

(c) Payment by Guarantors shall be made in U.S. dollars to Agent at the office of Agent from time to time on demand as Guaranteed Obligations become due. Guarantors shall make all payments to Agent on the Guaranteed Obligations free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any setoff, counterclaim, defense, duties, taxes, levies, imposts, fees, deductions, withholding, restrictions or conditions of any kind. One or more successive or concurrent actions may be brought hereon against any Guarantor either in the same action in which Borrower or any Obligor is sued or in separate actions. In the event any claim or action, or action on any judgment, based on this Guarantee is brought against any Guarantor, such Guarantor agrees not to deduct, set-off, or seek any counterclaim for or recoup any amounts which are or may be owed by Agent or any Secured Party to such Guarantor.

 

2


2. Waivers and Consents .

 

(a) Notice of acceptance of this Guarantee, the making of loans and advances and providing other financial accommodations to Borrower and presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest, notice of nonpayment or default and all other notices to which Borrower or any Guarantor are entitled is hereby waived by each Guarantor. Each Guarantor also waives notice of and hereby consents to (i) any amendment, modification, supplement, waiver, extension, renewal, or restatement of the Loan Agreement and any of the other Financing Agreements, including, without limitation, extensions of time of payment of or increase or decrease in the amount of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the interest rate, fees, other charges, or any Collateral, and the guarantee made herein shall apply to the Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and the Guaranteed Obligations as so amended, modified, supplemented, renewed, restated or extended, increased or decreased, (ii) the taking, exchange, surrender and releasing of Collateral or guaranties now or at any time held by or available to Agent or any Secured Party for the obligations of Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other party at any time liable on or in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations or who is the owner of any property which is security for the Guaranteed Obligations (individually, an “ Obligor ” and collectively, the “ Obligors ”), including without limitation the surrender or release by Agent of any one Guarantor hereunder, (iii) the exercise of, or refraining from the exercise of any rights against Borrower or any Obligor or any Collateral, (iv) the settlement, compromise or release of, or the waiver of any default with respect to, any of the Guaranteed Obligations and (v) any financing by Agent and/or any Lender of Borrower under Section 364 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or consent by Agent or any Lender to the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Each Guarantor agrees that the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not be diminished and the liability of Guarantors hereunder shall not be otherwise impaired or affected by any of the foregoing.

 

(b) No invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations shall affect, impair or be a defense to this Guarantee, nor shall any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to or legal or equitable discharge of Borrower in respect of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any Guarantor in respect of this Guarantee, affect, impair or be a defense to this Guarantee. Without limitation of the foregoing, the liability of Guarantors hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired in any respect by reason of any failure by Agent to perfect or continue perfection of any lien or security interest in any Collateral or any delay by Agent in perfecting any such lien or security interest. As to interest, fees and expenses, whether arising before or after the commencement of any case with respect to Borrower under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar statute, each Guarantor shall be liable therefor, even if Borrower’s liability for such amounts does not, or ceases to, exist by operation of law. Each Guarantor acknowledges that neither Agent nor any Secured Party has made any representations to any Guarantor with respect to Borrower, any Obligor or otherwise in connection with the execution and delivery by Guarantors of this Guarantee and such Guarantor is not in any respect relying upon Agent or any Secured Party or any statements by Agent or any Secured Party in connection with this Guarantee.

 

(c) Unless and until the payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Guaranteed Obligations in immediately available funds and the termination of the financing arrangements of Agent and Lenders with Borrower, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Guarantor hereby

 

3


irrevocably and unconditionally waives and relinquishes all statutory, contractual, common law, equitable and all other claims against Borrower, any Collateral for the Guaranteed Obligations or other assets of Borrower or any Obligor, for subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification, setoff or other recourse in respect to sums paid or payable to Agent or any Lender by any Guarantor hereunder and such Guarantor hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and relinquishes any and all other benefits which any Guarantor might otherwise directly or indirectly receive or be entitled to receive by reason of any amounts paid by or collected or due from Guarantors, Borrower or any Obligor upon the Guaranteed Obligations or realized from their property. The foregoing waiver of rights is made in favor of Agent and the Lenders only and shall not be deemed a waiver of such rights for the benefit of any other creditors of Borrower or any Obligor.

 

(d) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and relinquishes any right to revoke this Guarantee that such Guarantor may now have or hereafter acquire.

 

(e) Without limiting the generality of any other waiver or other provision set forth in this Guarantee, each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies by Agent, even though that election of remedies, such as a nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for a Guaranteed Obligation, has terminated such Guarantor’s rights of subrogation and reimbursement against Borrower.

 

(f) Without limiting the generality of any other waiver or other provision set forth in this Guarantee, each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and relinquishes, to the maximum extent such waiver or relinquishment is permitted by applicable law, all rights to interpose any claims, deductions, setoffs or counterclaims of any nature (other than compulsory counterclaims) in any action or proceeding with respect to this Guarantee, such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, the Collateral or any matter arising from or related to the foregoing.

 

3. Subordination . Except as otherwise provided in the Loan Agreement, payment of all amounts now or hereafter owed to any Guarantor by Borrower or any Obligor is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the indefeasible payment in full to Agent, for itself and the benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, of the Guaranteed Obligations and all such amounts and any security and guaranties therefor are hereby assigned to Agent, for itself and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, as security for the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

4. Acceleration . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any of the terms of any of the other Financing Agreements, the liability of Guarantors for the entirety of the Guaranteed Obligations shall mature and become immediately due and payable upon the acceleration of the Obligations.

 

5. Intentionally Deleted .

 

6. Termination . This Guarantee is continuing, unlimited, absolute and unconditional. All Guaranteed Obligations shall be conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance on this Guarantee. This Guarantee may not be terminated and shall continue so long as either

 

4


(a) the Loan Agreement shall be in effect (whether during its original term or any renewal, substitution or extension thereof) or (b) any Guaranteed Obligations shall be outstanding.

 

7. Reinstatement . If any payment of any Guaranteed Obligations is invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, rescinded, or if after receipt of any payment of, or proceeds of Collateral applied to the payment of, any of the Guaranteed Obligations, Agent or any Secured Party is required to surrender, return or otherwise restore such payment or proceeds to any Person for any reason, then the Guaranteed Obligations intended to be satisfied by such payment or proceeds shall be reinstated and continue and this Guarantee shall continue in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by Agent or such Secured Party. Each Guarantor shall be liable to pay to Agent and the Secured Parties, and shall indemnify and hold Agent and the Secured Parties harmless for the amount of any payments or proceeds rescinded, invalidated, surrendered or returned. This Section 7 shall remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may be taken by Agent or any Secured Party in reliance upon such payment or proceeds. This Section 7 shall survive the termination of this Guarantee.

 

8. Amendments and Waivers . Neither this Guarantee nor any provision hereof shall be amended, modified, waived or discharged orally or by course of conduct, but only by a written agreement signed by an authorized officer of Agent and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement, and as to any amendments, as also signed by an authorized officer of each Guarantor. Agent shall not by any act, delay, omission or otherwise be deemed to have expressly or impliedly waived any of its or any Secured Party’s rights, powers and/or remedies unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed by an authorized officer of Agent. Any such waiver shall be enforceable only to the extent specifically set forth therein. A waiver by Agent of any right, power and/or remedy on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right, power and/or remedy which Agent or any Secured Party would otherwise have on any future occasion, whether similar in kind or otherwise.

 

9. Corporate Existence, Power and Authority . Each Guarantor is a corporation duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing in all states or other jurisdictions where the nature and extent of the business transacted by it or the ownership of assets makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee (a) are all within each Guarantor’s corporate powers, (b) have been duly authorized, (c) are not in contravention of law or the terms of any Guarantor’s certificate of incorporation, by laws, or other organizational documentation, or any indenture, agreement or undertaking to which such Guarantor is a party or by which such Guarantor or its property are bound and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or require or give rise to any obligation to grant, any lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance upon any property of any Guarantor, except, with respect to (c) and (d) above, where such contravention or result would not have a Material Adverse Effect. This Guarantee constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws limiting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles. Any one Guarantor signing this Guarantee shall be bound hereby whether or not any other Guarantor or any other person signs this Guarantee at any time.

 

5


10. Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver .

 

(a) The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Guarantee and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

 

(b) Guarantors, Agent and Lenders irrevocably consent and submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and the State and Federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York whichever Agent may elect, and waive any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this Guarantee or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Guarantee or the transactions related hereto, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts described above (except that Agent and Lenders shall have the right to bring any action or proceeding against any Guarantor or its property in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Agent deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against such Guarantor or its property).

 

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set forth in the Loan Agreement and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Agent’s option, by service upon such Guarantor in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts. Within thirty (30) days after such service, such Guarantor shall appear in answer to such process, failing which such Guarantor shall be deemed in default and judgment may be entered by Agent against such Guarantor for the amount of the claim and other relief requested.

 

(d) GUARANTORS, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS GUARANTEE OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS GUARANTEE OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. GUARANTORS, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT ANY GUARANTOR, AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS GUARANTEE WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

6


(e) Agent and Secured Parties shall not have any liability to any Guarantor (whether in tort, contract, equity or otherwise) for losses suffered by such Guarantor in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the transactions or relationships contemplated by this Guarantee, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection herewith, unless it is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment or court order binding on Agent or such Secured Party that the losses were the result of acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct. In any such litigation, Agent and Secured Parties shall be entitled to the benefit of the rebuttable presumption that it acted in good faith and with the exercise of ordinary care in the performance by it of the terms of this Agreement. Each Guarantor: (i) certifies that neither Agent, any Secured Party nor any representative, agent or attorney acting for or on behalf of Agent or any Secured Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that Agent and Secured Parties would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce any of the waivers provided for in this Guarantee and (ii) acknowledges that in entering into this Guarantee, Agent and Secured Parties are relying upon, among other things, the waivers and certifications set forth in this Section and elsewhere herein.

 

11. Notices . All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be given to the addresses designated in and in the manner prescribed by the Loan Agreement.

 

12. Partial Invalidity . If any provision of this Guarantee is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not invalidate this Guarantee as a whole, but this Guarantee shall be construed as though it did not contain the particular provision held to be invalid or unenforceable and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced only to such extent as shall be permitted by applicable law.

 

13. Entire Agreement . This Guarantee represents the entire agreement and understanding of the parties concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties, commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written.

 

14. Successors and Assigns . This Guarantee shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Agent, each Lender and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns. The liquidation, dissolution or termination of any Guarantor shall not terminate this Guarantee as to such entity or as to such Guarantor.

 

15. Counterparts . This Guarantee may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Guarantee by facsimile or any other electronic method of transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guarantee. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Guarantee by facsimile or any other electronic method of transmission shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of this Guarantee.

 

7


16. Interpretive Provisions .

 

(a) Capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the meanings given therein unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee.

 

(b) Capitalized terms used herein which are defined in Article 1 or Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof shall have the meanings given therein unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee.

 

(c) All references to the plural herein shall also mean the singular and to the singular shall also mean the plural unless the context otherwise requires.

 

(d) All references to Borrower, any Guarantor, any other Obligor, Agent, any Lender or any other Secured Party pursuant to the definitions set forth in the recitals hereto, or to any other person herein, shall include their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any receiver, trustee or custodian for such person or any of its assets or such person in its capacity as debtor or debtor-in-possession under the United States Bankruptcy Code).

 

(e) The words “hereof’”, “herein”, “hereunder”, “this Guarantee” and words of similar import when used in this Guarantee shall refer to this Guarantee as a whole and not any particular provision of this Guarantee and as this Guarantee now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

(f) The word “including” when used in this Guarantee shall mean “including, without limitation”.

 

(g) All references to the term “good faith” used herein when applicable to Agent or any Lender shall mean, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the UCC, honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned. A Guarantor shall have the burden of proving any lack of good faith on the part of Agent or any Lender alleged by such Guarantor at any time.

 

(h) An Event of Default shall exist or continue or be continuing until such Event of Default is waived in accordance with Section 8 hereof or the Loan Agreement or is cured in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Agent, if such Event of Default is capable of being cured as determined by Agent.

 

(i) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including”.

 

(j) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references herein to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, modifications, supplements, extensions, renewals, restatements or replacements with respect thereto, but only to the extent the same are not prohibited by the terms hereof, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory

 

8


provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, recodifying, supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation.

 

(k) The captions and headings of this Guarantee are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Guarantee.

 

(l) This Guarantee is the result of negotiations among and has been reviewed by counsel to Agent, counsel to each Lender and counsel to each Guarantor, and is the product of all parties. Accordingly, this Guarantee shall not be construed against Agent or any Lender merely because of their involvement in its preparation.

 

17. Agreement to be Bound by Loan Agreement . Each Guarantor hereby agrees to be bound by and to comply with the terms of each provision of the Loan Agreement that references or purports to bind a “Guarantor” (as defined in the Loan Agreement).

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has executed and delivered this Guarantee as of the day and year first above written.

 

VS DIRECT INC.

By:  

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Title:  

Vice President - Finance

 

VS HOLDINGS, INC.

By:  

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Title:  

Vice President - Finance

Exhibit 10.6

 

[Execution]

GUARANTEE

 

November 15, 2005

 

Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

 

Re: VS Direct Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

VS Direct Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), certain of its affiliates, Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as agent (in such capacity, “Agent”) for Secured Parties (as hereinafter defined), and the entities from time to time party to the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) as lenders (each a “Lender” and collectively, “Lenders”) have entered into financing arrangements pursuant to which Agent and Lenders may make loans and advances and provide other financial accommodations to Borrower and such affiliates as set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among Borrower, Vitamin Shoppe Industries, Inc., a New York corporation (“Vitamin Shoppe”), VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent” and together with Vitamin Shoppe, each individually a “Guarantor” and collectively, “Guarantors”), Agent and Lenders (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the “Loan Agreement”) and other agreements, documents and instruments referred to therein or at any time executed and/or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto, including, but not limited to, this Guarantee (all of the foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the “Financing Agreements”).

 

Due to the close business and financial relationships between Borrower and each Guarantor, in consideration of the benefits which will accrue to each Guarantor and as an inducement for and in consideration of Agent and Lenders making loans and advances and providing other financial accommodations to Borrower pursuant to the Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, each Guarantor has agreed to guarantee the payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations (as hereinafter defined) on the terms set forth herein.

 

In consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each Guarantor hereby jointly and


severally agrees in favor of Agent, Lenders and the other Secured Parties (as defined in the Loan Agreement) as follows:

 

1. Guarantee .

 

(a) Each Guarantor absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably, jointly and severally with each other and any subsequent guarantors of the Guaranteed Obligations (as hereinafter defined), guarantees and agrees to be liable for the full payment and performance when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise, of the following (all of which are collectively referred to herein as the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”): (i) all of the Obligations (as defined in the Loan Agreement) and (ii) all costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) incurred by Agent or any Secured Party in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, recording, administration, collection, liquidation, enforcement and defense of the Guaranteed Obligations or the rights of Agent or any Secured Party under this Guarantee, whether such expenses are incurred before, during or after the initial or any renewal term of the Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements or after the commencement of any case with respect to Borrower or any Guarantor under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar statute; provided , however , that each Guarantor shall only be liable under this Guarantee for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering this Guarantee, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount.

 

(b) This Guarantee is a guarantee of payment and not of collection. Each Guarantor agrees that neither Agent nor any Secured Party need attempt to collect any Guaranteed Obligations from Borrower, any one Guarantor or any other Obligor or to realize upon any Collateral, but may require any one Guarantor to make immediate payment of all of the Guaranteed Obligations to Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, when due, whether by maturity, acceleration or otherwise, or at any time thereafter. Agent and Lenders may apply any amounts received in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, in whole or in part (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses incurred by Agent or any Secured Party with respect thereto or otherwise chargeable to Borrower or any Obligor) and in such order as Agent may elect.

 

(c) Payment by Guarantors shall be made in U.S. dollars to Agent at the office of Agent from time to time on demand as Guaranteed Obligations become due. Guarantors shall make all payments to Agent on the Guaranteed Obligations free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any setoff, counterclaim, defense, duties, taxes, levies, imposts, fees, deductions, withholding, restrictions or conditions of any kind. One or more successive or concurrent actions may be brought hereon against any Guarantor either in the same action in which Borrower or any Obligor is sued or in separate actions. In the event any claim or action, or action on any judgment, based on this Guarantee is brought against any Guarantor, such Guarantor agrees not to deduct, set-off, or seek any counterclaim for or recoup any amounts which are or may be owed by Agent or any Secured Party to such Guarantor.

 

2


2. Waivers and Consents .

 

(a) Notice of acceptance of this Guarantee, the making of loans and advances and providing other financial accommodations to Borrower and presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest, notice of nonpayment or default and all other notices to which Borrower or any Guarantor are entitled is hereby waived by each Guarantor. Each Guarantor also waives notice of and hereby consents to (i) any amendment, modification, supplement, waiver, extension, renewal, or restatement of the Loan Agreement and any of the other Financing Agreements, including, without limitation, extensions of time of payment of or increase or decrease in the amount of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the interest rate, fees, other charges, or any Collateral, and the guarantee made herein shall apply to the Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and the Guaranteed Obligations as so amended, modified, supplemented, renewed, restated or extended, increased or decreased, (ii) the taking, exchange, surrender and releasing of Collateral or guaranties now or at any time held by or available to Agent or any Secured Party for the obligations of Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other party at any time liable on or in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations or who is the owner of any property which is security for the Guaranteed Obligations (individually, an “ Obligor ” and collectively, the “ Obligors ”), including without limitation the surrender or release by Agent of any one Guarantor hereunder, (iii) the exercise of, or refraining from the exercise of any rights against Borrower or any Obligor or any Collateral, (iv) the settlement, compromise or release of, or the waiver of any default with respect to, any of the Guaranteed Obligations and (v) any financing by Agent and/or any Lender of Borrower under Section 364 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or consent by Agent or any Lender to the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Each Guarantor agrees that the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not be diminished and the liability of Guarantors hereunder shall not be otherwise impaired or affected by any of the foregoing.

 

(b) No invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations shall affect, impair or be a defense to this Guarantee, nor shall any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to or legal or equitable discharge of Borrower in respect of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any Guarantor in respect of this Guarantee, affect, impair or be a defense to this Guarantee. Without limitation of the foregoing, the liability of Guarantors hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired in any respect by reason of any failure by Agent to perfect or continue perfection of any lien or security interest in any Collateral or any delay by Agent in perfecting any such lien or security interest. As to interest, fees and expenses, whether arising before or after the commencement of any case with respect to Borrower under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar statute, each Guarantor shall be liable therefor, even if Borrower’s liability for such amounts does not, or ceases to, exist by operation of law. Each Guarantor acknowledges that neither Agent nor any Secured Party has made any representations to any Guarantor with respect to Borrower, any Obligor or otherwise in connection with the execution and delivery by Guarantors of this Guarantee and such Guarantor is not in any respect relying upon Agent or any Secured Party or any statements by Agent or any Secured Party in connection with this Guarantee.

 

(c) Unless and until the payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Guaranteed Obligations in immediately available funds and the termination of the financing arrangements of Agent and Lenders with Borrower, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Guarantor hereby

 

3


irrevocably and unconditionally waives and relinquishes all statutory, contractual, common law, equitable and all other claims against Borrower, any Collateral for the Guaranteed Obligations or other assets of Borrower or any Obligor, for subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification, setoff or other recourse in respect to sums paid or payable to Agent or any Lender by any Guarantor hereunder and such Guarantor hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and relinquishes any and all other benefits which any Guarantor might otherwise directly or indirectly receive or be entitled to receive by reason of any amounts paid by or collected or due from Guarantors, Borrower or any Obligor upon the Guaranteed Obligations or realized from their property. The foregoing waiver of rights is made in favor of Agent and the Lenders only and shall not be deemed a waiver of such rights for the benefit of any other creditors of Borrower or any Obligor.

 

(d) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and relinquishes any right to revoke this Guarantee that such Guarantor may now have or hereafter acquire.

 

(e) Without limiting the generality of any other waiver or other provision set forth in this Guarantee, each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies by Agent, even though that election of remedies, such as a nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for a Guaranteed Obligation, has terminated such Guarantor’s rights of subrogation and reimbursement against Borrower.

 

(f) Without limiting the generality of any other waiver or other provision set forth in this Guarantee, each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and relinquishes, to the maximum extent such waiver or relinquishment is permitted by applicable law, all rights to interpose any claims, deductions, setoffs or counterclaims of any nature (other than compulsory counterclaims) in any action or proceeding with respect to this Guarantee, such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, the Collateral or any matter arising from or related to the foregoing.

 

3. Subordination . Except as otherwise provided in the Loan Agreement, payment of all amounts now or hereafter owed to any Guarantor by Borrower or any Obligor is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the indefeasible payment in full to Agent, for itself and the benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, of the Guaranteed Obligations and all such amounts and any security and guaranties therefor are hereby assigned to Agent, for itself and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, as security for the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

4. Acceleration . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any of the terms of any of the other Financing Agreements, the liability of Guarantors for the entirety of the Guaranteed Obligations shall mature and become immediately due and payable upon the acceleration of the Obligations.

 

5. Intentionally Deleted .

 

6. Termination . This Guarantee is continuing, unlimited, absolute and unconditional. All Guaranteed Obligations shall be conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance on this Guarantee. This Guarantee may not be terminated and shall continue so long as either

 

4


(a) the Loan Agreement shall be in effect (whether during its original term or any renewal, substitution or extension thereof) or (b) any Guaranteed Obligations shall be outstanding.

 

7. Reinstatement . If any payment of any Guaranteed Obligations is invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, rescinded, or if after receipt of any payment of, or proceeds of Collateral applied to the payment of, any of the Guaranteed Obligations, Agent or any Secured Party is required to surrender, return or otherwise restore such payment or proceeds to any Person for any reason, then the Guaranteed Obligations intended to be satisfied by such payment or proceeds shall be reinstated and continue and this Guarantee shall continue in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by Agent or such Secured Party. Each Guarantor shall be liable to pay to Agent and the Secured Parties, and shall indemnify and hold Agent and the Secured Parties harmless for the amount of any payments or proceeds rescinded, invalidated, surrendered or returned. This Section 7 shall remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may be taken by Agent or any Secured Party in reliance upon such payment or proceeds. This Section 7 shall survive the termination of this Guarantee.

 

8. Amendments and Waivers . Neither this Guarantee nor any provision hereof shall be amended, modified, waived or discharged orally or by course of conduct, but only by a written agreement signed by an authorized officer of Agent and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement, and as to any amendments, as also signed by an authorized officer of each Guarantor. Agent shall not by any act, delay, omission or otherwise be deemed to have expressly or impliedly waived any of its or any Secured Party’s rights, powers and/or remedies unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed by an authorized officer of Agent. Any such waiver shall be enforceable only to the extent specifically set forth therein. A waiver by Agent of any right, power and/or remedy on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right, power and/or remedy which Agent or any Secured Party would otherwise have on any future occasion, whether similar in kind or otherwise.

 

9. Corporate Existence, Power and Authority . Each Guarantor is a corporation duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing in all states or other jurisdictions where the nature and extent of the business transacted by it or the ownership of assets makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee (a) are all within each Guarantor’s corporate powers, (b) have been duly authorized, (c) are not in contravention of law or the terms of any Guarantor’s certificate of incorporation, by laws, or other organizational documentation, or any indenture, agreement or undertaking to which such Guarantor is a party or by which such Guarantor or its property are bound and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or require or give rise to any obligation to grant, any lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance upon any property of any Guarantor, except, with respect to (c) and (d) above, where such contravention or result would not have a Material Adverse Effect. This Guarantee constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws limiting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles. Any one Guarantor signing this Guarantee shall be bound hereby whether or not any other Guarantor or any other person signs this Guarantee at any time.

 

5


10. Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver .

 

(a) The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Guarantee and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

 

(b) Guarantors, Agent and Lenders irrevocably consent and submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and the State and Federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York whichever Agent may elect, and waive any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this Guarantee or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Guarantee or the transactions related hereto, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts described above (except that Agent and Lenders shall have the right to bring any action or proceeding against any Guarantor or its property in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Agent deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against such Guarantor or its property).

 

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set forth in the Loan Agreement and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Agent’s option, by service upon such Guarantor in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts. Within thirty (30) days after such service, such Guarantor shall appear in answer to such process, failing which such Guarantor shall be deemed in default and judgment may be entered by Agent against such Guarantor for the amount of the claim and other relief requested.

 

(d) GUARANTORS, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS GUARANTEE OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS GUARANTEE OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. GUARANTORS, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT ANY GUARANTOR, AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS GUARANTEE WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

6


(e) Agent and Secured Parties shall not have any liability to any Guarantor (whether in tort, contract, equity or otherwise) for losses suffered by such Guarantor in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the transactions or relationships contemplated by this Guarantee, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection herewith, unless it is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment or court order binding on Agent or such Secured Party that the losses were the result of acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct. In any such litigation, Agent and Secured Parties shall be entitled to the benefit of the rebuttable presumption that it acted in good faith and with the exercise of ordinary care in the performance by it of the terms of this Agreement. Each Guarantor: (i) certifies that neither Agent, any Secured Party nor any representative, agent or attorney acting for or on behalf of Agent or any Secured Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that Agent and Secured Parties would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce any of the waivers provided for in this Guarantee and (ii) acknowledges that in entering into this Guarantee, Agent and Secured Parties are relying upon, among other things, the waivers and certifications set forth in this Section and elsewhere herein.

 

11. Notices . All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be given to the addresses designated in and in the manner prescribed by the Loan Agreement.

 

12. Partial Invalidity . If any provision of this Guarantee is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not invalidate this Guarantee as a whole, but this Guarantee shall be construed as though it did not contain the particular provision held to be invalid or unenforceable and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced only to such extent as shall be permitted by applicable law.

 

13. Entire Agreement . This Guarantee represents the entire agreement and understanding of the parties concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties, commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written.

 

14. Successors and Assigns . This Guarantee shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Agent, each Lender and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns. The liquidation, dissolution or termination of any Guarantor shall not terminate this Guarantee as to such entity or as to such Guarantor.

 

15. Counterparts . This Guarantee may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Guarantee by facsimile or any other electronic method of transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guarantee. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Guarantee by facsimile or any other electronic method of transmission shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of this Guarantee.

 

7


16. Interpretive Provisions .

 

(a) Capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the meanings given therein unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee.

 

(b) Capitalized terms used herein which are defined in Article 1 or Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof shall have the meanings given therein unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee.

 

(c) All references to the plural herein shall also mean the singular and to the singular shall also mean the plural unless the context otherwise requires.

 

(d) All references to Borrower, any Guarantor, any other Obligor, Agent, any Lender or any other Secured Party pursuant to the definitions set forth in the recitals hereto, or to any other person herein, shall include their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any receiver, trustee or custodian for such person or any of its assets or such person in its capacity as debtor or debtor-in-possession under the United States Bankruptcy Code).

 

(e) The words “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder”, “this Guarantee” and words of similar import when used in this Guarantee shall refer to this Guarantee as a whole and not any particular provision of this Guarantee and as this Guarantee now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

(f) The word “including” when used in this Guarantee shall mean “including, without limitation”.

 

(g) All references to the term “good faith” used herein when applicable to Agent or any Lender shall mean, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the UCC, honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned. A Guarantor shall have the burden of proving any lack of good faith on the part of Agent or any Lender alleged by such Guarantor at any time.

 

(h) An Event of Default shall exist or continue or be continuing until such Event of Default is waived in accordance with Section 8 hereof or the Loan Agreement or is cured in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Agent, if such Event of Default is capable of being cured as determined by Agent.

 

(i) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including”.

 

(j) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references herein to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, modifications, supplements, extensions, renewals, restatements or replacements with respect thereto, but only to the extent the same are not prohibited by the terms hereof, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory

 

8


provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, recodifying, supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation.

 

(k) The captions and headings of this Guarantee are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Guarantee.

 

(l) This Guarantee is the result of negotiations among and has been reviewed by counsel to Agent, counsel to each Lender and counsel to each Guarantor, and is the product of all parties. Accordingly, this Guarantee shall not be construed against Agent or any Lender merely because of their involvement in its preparation.

 

17. Agreement to be Bound by Loan Agreement . Each Guarantor hereby agrees to be bound by and to comply with the terms of each provision of the Loan Agreement that references or purports to bind a “Guarantor” (as defined in the Loan Agreement).

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has executed and delivered this Guarantee as of the day and year first above written.

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

By: 

 

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Title: 

 

Vice President - Finance

VS HOLDINGS, INC.

By: 

 

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Title: 

 

Vice President - Finance

Exhibit 10.7

 

[Execution]

 

STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

THIS STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated November 15, 2005, is entered into by and between VS HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Pledgor ”), with offices at 2101 91st Street, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047, and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, in its capacity as agent (in such capacity “ Pledgee ”) for the Lenders and the other Secured Parties (as hereinafter defined), with an office at 1133 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036.

 

WITNESSETH :

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor is the owner of one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), and may from time to time in the future, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Financing Agreements, acquire one or more additional Subsidiaries (“ Future Subsidiaries ”).

 

WHEREAS, Pledgee and the parties to the Loan Agreement as lenders (individually, each a “ Lender ” and collectively, “ Lenders ”) have entered into financing arrangements with the Company and VS Direct Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ VS Direct ” and together with the Company, each individually a “ Borrower ” and collectively, “ Borrowers ”) pursuant to which Pledgee and Lenders may make loans and advances and provide other financial accommodations to Borrowers as set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among Borrowers, Pledgor, Pledgee and Lenders (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the “ Loan Agreement ”) and the other agreements, documents and instruments referred to therein or at any time executed and/or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto, including, but not limited to, the Guarantees (as defined below) and this Agreement (all of the foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the “ Financing Agreements ”);

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor has absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed the payment and performance of all now existing and hereafter arising obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of Borrowers to Pledgee and Secured Parties as set forth in the Guarantee, dated of even date herewith, by Pledgor and the Company in favor of Pledgee and Secured Parties and the Guarantee, dated of even date herewith, by Pledgor and VS Direct in favor of Pledgee and Secured Parties (as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, collectively, the “ Guarantees ”); and

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor desires to pledge to Pledgee, for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in all of the Capital Stock of the Company, any and all of the Future Subsidiaries organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States of America (“ Domestic Future Subsidiaries ”) and 65% of all


Future Subsidiaries organized under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America (“ Foreign Future Subsidiaries ”), in each case as collateral security for the Obligations.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing facts the parties hereto agree as follows (initially capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given in the Loan Agreement):

 

1. Pledge . Pledgor hereby delivers, pledges and grants a continuing security interest to Pledgee, for Pledgor’s benefit and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties, in all of the Capital Stock of the Company, all of the Capital Stock of each Domestic Future Subsidiary and 65% of the Capital Stock of each Foreign Future Subsidiary, whether now or hereafter owned or beneficially owned by Pledgor, together with all proceeds, replacements, substitutions, newly issued stock, stock received by reason of a stock split, bonus or any other form of issue, dividend or distribution with respect to or arising from such stock (collectively, the “ Collateral ”). Pledgor shall forthwith deliver to Pledgee the Collateral together with stock powers in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Pledgee duly executed in blank, with signatures guaranteed, regarding the Collateral.

 

2. Obligations Secured . The pledge and security interest effectuated hereby shall secure the prompt performance and payment in full of any and all Obligations of Borrowers and Pledgor of every kind, nature and description owing to Pledgee or any Secured Party arising under or otherwise related to or permitted under the Guarantees, this Agreement, the Loan Agreement or the other Financing Agreements.

 

3. Representations And Warranties Regarding The Collateral . Pledgor represents and warrants that: (a) all of the shares of stock described in Paragraph 1 hereinabove are fully paid, non-assessable and validly issued; (b) the Collateral was not issued in violation of any person’s or entity’s preemptive rights; (c) the Collateral is owned free and clear of any and all security interests, pledges, options to purchase or sell, redemptions or liens; (d) Pledgor has full power to convey the Collateral; (e) no financing statements covering the Collateral are recorded with any cognizant state official or recording office (other than in favor of Pledgee, for itself and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and other Secured Parties); and (f) the Collateral is free and clear of any claims, security interests or liens other than those in favor of Pledgee.

 

4. Events Of Default . For purposes herein, “ Event of Default ” shall mean any “Event of Default” as defined under the Loan Agreement. Pledgor hereby appoints Pledgee as its attorney-in-fact to arrange, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, for a transfer of the Collateral on the books of the Company or any Future Subsidiary, as applicable, to the name of Pledgee or to the name of Pledgee’s nominee.

 

5. Voting Rights . During the term of this Agreement, so long as there shall not occur any Event of Default, Pledgor shall have the right to vote the Collateral on all corporate questions for all purposes not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Pledgee shall thereafter have, at its discretion, the option to exercise all voting powers and other corporate rights pertaining to the Collateral. Pledgee may, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,


at its option, transfer or register the Collateral or any part thereof into its own or its nominee’s name.

 

6. Stock Adjustments And Dividends . If during the term of this Agreement, any stock dividend, reclassification, readjustment or other change is declared or made in the capital structure of the Company or any Future Subsidiary or any option included within the Collateral is exercised, or both, all new, substituted and additional shares, or other securities, issued to Pledgor by reason of any such change or exercise shall be delivered to and held by Pledgee under the terms of this Agreement in the same manner as the Collateral originally pledged hereunder. Except as expressly permitted under the terms of the Loan Agreement, if, during the term of this Agreement, any dividend or other distribution is made on account of the Collateral, Pledgor shall immediately deliver all such dividends or other distributions to Pledgee in the same form received and in the same manner as the Collateral pledged hereunder.

 

7. Warrants And Rights . If during the term of this Agreement, subscription warrants or any other rights or options shall be issued in connection with the Collateral, such warrants, rights and options shall be immediately assigned by Pledgor to Pledgee to be held under the terms of this Agreement in the same manner as the Collateral originally pledged hereunder.

 

8. Remedies Upon Default . In addition to the other remedies provided for herein, in the Loan Agreement, the Guarantees, the other Financing Agreements or otherwise available under applicable law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(a) Pledgee may:

 

(i) exercise in respect to the Collateral, any one or more of the rights and remedies available under the New York Uniform Commercial Code and other applicable law; and

 

(ii) sell or otherwise assign, give an option or options to purchase or dispose of and deliver the Collateral (or contract to do so), or any part thereof, in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or at any of Pledgee’s offices or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash, on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk, free of any claim or right of whatsoever kind (including, after any such sale or assignment is consummated, any right or equity of redemption) of Pledgor, which claim, right and equity are hereby expressly waived and released. Pledgee or any Lender shall have the right to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any such sale or sales, public or private, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold; provided , however , Pledgor shall not receive any net proceeds, if any, of any such credit sale or future delivery until cash proceeds are actually received by Pledgee (which cash proceeds shall be applied by Pledgee to the Obligations) and after all Obligations have been paid in full. In case of any sale of all or any part of the Collateral on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by Pledgee until the selling price is paid by the purchaser thereof, but Pledgee shall incur no liability in case of the failure of such purchaser to pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of such failure, the Collateral may again be sold as herein provided.


(b) Any notice required to be given by Pledgee of a sale of the Collateral, or any part thereof, or of any other intended action by Pledgee, which occurs not less than ten (10) days prior to such proposed action, shall constitute commercially reasonable and fair notice to Pledgor thereof. If, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, a statement renouncing or modifying any right to notification of sale or other intended disposition has been signed by Pledgor, during the continuance of such Event of Default, no such notification need be given to Pledgor.

 

(c) Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any sale or other disposition of the Collateral, or any part thereof unless the terms thereof shall, in its sole discretion, be satisfactory to it. Pledgee may, if it deems it reasonable, postpone or adjourn the sale of any of the Collateral, or any part thereof, from time to time by an announcement at the time and place of such sale or by announcement at the time and place of such postponed or adjourned sale, without being required to give a new notice of sale. Pledgor agrees that Pledgee has no obligations to preserve rights against prior parties to the Collateral.

 

(d) Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that Pledgee may comply with limitations or restrictions in connection with any sale of the Collateral in order to avoid any violation of applicable law or in order to obtain any required approval of the sale or of the purchase thereof by any governmental regulatory authority or official and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that Pledgee may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Collateral by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the federal securities laws and applicable state securities laws, but may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale. Notwithstanding any such circumstances, Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that such compliance shall not result in any such private sale for such reason alone being deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner. Pledgee shall not be liable or accountable to Pledgor for any discount allowed by reason of the fact that the Collateral is sold in compliance with any such limitation or restriction. Pledgee shall not be under any obligation to delay a sale of any of the Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer of such securities to register such securities for public sale under the federal securities laws, or under applicable state securities laws, even if the issuer desires, requests or would agree to do so.

 

(e) Any cash held by Pledgee as Collateral and all cash proceeds received by Pledgee in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral may, in the discretion of Pledgee, be held by Pledgee as Collateral for the Obligations and/or then or at any time thereafter applied, without any marshalling of rights, remedies or assets, and after payment of any amounts payable to Pledgee or any Lender hereunder and, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind in connection with the care, safekeeping, collection, sale, delivery or otherwise of any or all of the Collateral or in any way relating to the rights of Pledgee hereunder (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), to the. payment of reduction of the Obligations. Any surplus of such cash or cash proceeds held by Pledgee and remaining after payment in full of all the Obligations shall be paid over to Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.


9. Cumulative Remedies . The rights and remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law or equity. The rights and remedies provided herein are intended to be in addition to and not in substitution of the rights and remedies provided by the Loan Agreement, the other Financing Agreements or any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection therewith.

 

10. Amendments and Waivers . This Agreement may not be modified, supplemented, or amended, or any of its provisions waived except in a writing signed by Pledgor and Pledgee.

 

11. Waiver of Rights . No course of dealing between the parties to this Agreement or any failure or delay on the part of any such party in exercising any rights or remedies hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any rights and remedies of such party or any other party, and no single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies by one party hereunder shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights and remedies of such party or any other party. No waiver by Pledgee of any breach or default by Pledgor shall be deemed a waiver of any other previous breach or default or of any breach or default occurring thereafter.

 

12. Assignment . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto; provided , however , that except as permitted by the Loan Agreement or the other Financing Agreements, no interest herein or in or to the Collateral may be assigned by Pledgor without the prior written consent of Pledgee; and, provided , further , that Pledgee may assign the rights and benefits hereof to any party acquiring any interest in the Obligations or any part thereof.

 

13. Release . At such time as Pledgor shall completely satisfy all of the Obligations, and the Financing Agreements have been terminated (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not yet accrued at such time), other than upon enforcement of Pledgee’s remedies under the Loan Agreement or the other Financing Agreements after an Event of Default, Pledgee will, at Pledgor’s sole cost and expense, execute and deliver to Pledgor a release or other instrument as may be necessary or proper to release Pledgor’s lien in the Collateral and return to Pledgor all stock certificates and stock powers relating to this Agreement which are in its possession, subject to any dispositions thereof which may have been made by Pledgee pursuant hereto.

 

14. Effect of this Agreement; Severability . The Financing Agreements (including without limitation this Agreement) and any instruments or documents delivered or to be delivered in connection herewith and therewith, represent the entire agreement and understanding concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof between the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties, commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof, whether oral or written. This Agreement is a supplement to, and is hereby incorporated into, the Financing Agreements and made a part thereof. If any clause or provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such clause or provision, or part thereof, in such jurisdiction, and shall not in any manner affect such or any other clause or provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, in the event that any provisions of this Agreement are deemed to conflict or be inconsistent with the


Loan Agreement, the provisions of the Loan Agreement shall govern. Capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Agreement.

 

15. Notices . All notices, requests and demands to or upon Pledgor or Pledgee under this Agreement shall be given to the addresses designated in and in the manner prescribed by the Loan Agreement.

 

16. Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver .

 

(a) The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

 

(b) Pledgor and Pledgee irrevocably consent and submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and the State and Federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, whichever Pledgee may elect, and waive any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this Agreement or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Agreement or the transactions related hereto whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts described above (except that Pledgee shall have the right to bring any action or proceeding against Pledgor or the Collateral in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Pledgee deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against Pledgor or the Collateral).

 

(c) Pledgor hereby waives personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set forth in the Loan Agreement and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Pledgee’s option, by service upon Pledgor in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts. Within thirty (30) days after such service, Pledgor shall appear in answer to such process, failing which Pledgor shall be deemed in default and judgment may be entered by Pledgee against Pledgor for the amount of the claim and other relief requested.

 

(d) PLEDGOR AND PLEDGEE EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. PLEDGOR AND PLEDGEE EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT PLEDGOR OR


PLEDGEE MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

17. Further Assurances . Pledgor covenants and agrees that: (a) it will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such other stock powers, proxies, instruments and documents as Pledgee may reasonably request from time to time in order to perfect and protect the security interests granted or purported to be granted hereunder (including without limitation the security interest granted in any Capital Stock of any Future Subsidiary) or otherwise to carry out the provisions and purposes hereof, and (b) it will take all such other action, as Pledgee may reasonably request from time to time in order to perfect and protect the security interests granted or purported to be granted hereunder (including without limitation the security interest granted in any Capital Stock of any Future Subsidiary) or otherwise to carry out the provisions and purposes hereof. For purposes of defining security interest perfection, Pledgor further agrees that any Collateral which is in transit to Pledgee shall be deemed to be in Pledgee’s possession. Pledgor warrants and represents that none of the Collateral constitutes margin securities for the purposes of Regulations T, U or X, and also warrants and represents that none of the proceeds of any loans made by Pledgee or the Lenders to Pledgor will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock.

 

18. Counterparts, etc. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile shall have the same force and effect as the delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of this Agreement.

 

*     *     *


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

PLEDGOR

VS HOLDINGS, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

Name:

 

Cosmo La Forgia

Title:  

Vice President - Finance

 

PLEDGEE

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Agent

By:

 

/s/ Marc J. Breier

Name:

 

Marc J. Breier

Title:  

Director

Exhibit 10.8

 


 

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 

dated November 15, 2005

 

among

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

VS DIRECT INC.

VS HOLDINGS, INC.,

the other Pledgors from time to time party hereto,

 

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Agent under the Loan and Security Agreement and as

Priority Lien Agent hereunder

 

and

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity but solely

as Trustee under the Indenture and as Parity Lien Collateral Agent hereunder

 


 

 


INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 

This Intercreditor Agreement (this Agreement ) is dated November 15, 2005 and is by and among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation ( Vitamin Shoppe ), VS Direct Inc., a Delaware corporation ( VS Direct ), VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ( Holdings ), the other Pledgors (as hereinafter defined) from time to time party hereto, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent (in such capacity and together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the Priority Lien Agent ), Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (as hereinafter defined), and Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Collateral Agent (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent ).

 

RECITALS

 

Vitamin Shoppe, VS Direct and Holdings have entered or are about to enter into financing arrangements with Priority Lien Agent and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations (as hereinafter defined) as set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among Vitamin Shoppe, VS Direct, Holdings, Priority Lien Agent and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations (as the same now exists or may hereafter from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated, replaced or restructured in one or more instances the Loan and Security Agreement ), pursuant to which the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations may, upon certain terms and conditions, make revolving loans and provide other financial accommodations to Vitamin Shoppe and VS Direct.

 

Pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents (as hereinafter defined), the Pledgors granted to Priority Lien Agent a security interest in substantially all of the assets and properties of the Pledgors, including without limitation the Collateral (as hereinafter defined).

 

Vitamin Shoppe has issued or is about to issue Floating Rate Second Priority Senior Secured Notes (including any related exchange notes, the Notes ) in an aggregate principal amount of $165,000,000 pursuant to the Indenture, dated of even date herewith (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated as otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the Indenture ) among Vitamin Shoppe, Holdings, as guarantor, VS Direct, as guarantor (Holdings and VS Direct are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Note Guarantors” ), and Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the Trustee ).

 

Pursuant to the Parity Lien Security Documents (as hereinafter defined), the Pledgors granted to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent a security interest in the Collateral.

 

AGREEMENT

 

In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

SECTION 1.1 Defined Terms. The following terms will have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this


definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

 

Agreement has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Asset Sale has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

 

Board of Directors means:

 

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

 

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

 

(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and

 

(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

Borrowing Base has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

 

Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the State of Delaware or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

 

Capital Lease Obligation means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

 

Capital Stock means:

 

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

Class means (1) in the case of Parity Lien Debt, every Series of Parity Lien Debt, taken together, and (2) in the case of Priority Lien Debt, every Series of Priority Lien Debt, taken together.

 

2


Collateral means all properties and assets at any time owned or acquired by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the other Pledgors, except:

 

(1) Excluded Assets;

 

(2) any properties and assets in which the Parity Lien Collateral Agent is required to release its Liens pursuant to Section 2.7; and

 

(3) any properties and assets that no longer secure the Notes or any Parity Lien Obligations in respect thereof;

 

provided that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3), if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition of any properties or assets of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor, such assets or properties will cease to be excluded from the Collateral if Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or properties.

 

Collateral Agency Agreement means the Collateral Agency Agreement dated of even date herewith, among Trustee, Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the Pledgors party thereto.

 

Credit Facilities means, one or more debt facilities (including the debt facility evidenced by the Loan and Security Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case, with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

Default means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations means the occurrence of all of the following:

 

(1) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Debt;

 

(2) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Priority Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

 

(3) discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (A) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (B) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Debt; and

 

(4) payment in full in cash of all other Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Priority Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at such time).

 

3


Equally and Ratably means, in reference to sharing of Liens or proceeds thereof as between holders of Secured Obligations within the same Class, that such Liens or proceeds:

 

(1) will be allocated and distributed first to the Secured Debt Representative for each outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class, for the account of the holders of such Series of Secured Debt, ratably in proportion to the principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made under such letters of credit) on each outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class when the allocation or distribution is made, and thereafter

 

(2) will be allocated and distributed (if any remain after payment in full of all of the principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made on such letters of credit) on all outstanding Secured Obligations within that Class) to the Secured Debt Representative for each outstanding Series of Secured Obligations within that Class, for the account of the holders of any remaining Secured Obligations within that Class, ratably in proportion to the aggregate unpaid amount of such remaining Secured Obligations within that Class due and demanded (with written notice to the applicable Secured Debt Representative, the Priority Lien Agent and the Parity Lien Collateral Agent) prior to the date such distribution is made.

 

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement or the Indenture, as the context may require.

 

Excluded Assets means each of the following:

 

(1) any lease, license, contract, property right or agreement to which Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder if and only for so long as the grant of a Lien under the Parity Lien Security Documents will constitute or result in a breach, termination or default under any such lease, license, contract, property right or agreement (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law or principles of equity); provided that such lease, license, contract, property right or agreement will be an Excluded Asset only to the extent and for so long as the consequences specified above will result and will cease to be an Excluded Asset and will become subject to the Lien granted under the Parity Lien Security Documents, immediately and automatically, at such time as such consequences will no longer result;

 

(2) real property owned by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor that has a Fair Market Value not exceeding $5.0 million in the aggregate, or any real property leased by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor;

 

(3) any rights to any intellectual property, or license agreements that would be cancelled or rendered invalid or unenforceable under applicable law by the grant of a security interest created pursuant to the terms of the Parity Lien Security Documents, for so long as such prohibition or reason for invalidity under applicable law exists, except for the products and the proceeds thereof;

 

(4) all “securities” of any of Vitamin Shoppe’s “affiliates” (as the terms “securities” and “affiliates” are used in Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act); and

 

4


(5) any other property or assets in which a Lien cannot be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant jurisdiction, so long as the aggregate Fair Market Value of all such property and assets does not at any one time exceed $5.0 million.

 

Existing Indebtedness means Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Loan and Security Agreement) in existence on the date of the Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

 

Fair Market Value means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe (unless otherwise provided in the Indenture).

 

GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the date of the Indenture.

 

Guarantee means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise).

 

Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under:

 

(1) interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

 

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk;

 

(3) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates; and

 

(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage fluctuations in commodity prices.

 

Indebtedness means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:

 

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

 

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances;

 

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;

 

5


(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed;

 

(6) representing any Hedging Obligations; or

 

(7) all monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise of Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary arising out of any cash management, depositary or investment services provided by the Priority Lien Agent, any holder of Priority Lien Debt or their respective Affiliates,

 

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.

 

Indenture has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding means:

 

(1) any case commenced by or against Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor under Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor or any similar case or proceeding relative to Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(2) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(3) any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Intercreditor Agreement Joinder means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

Issue Date means the date that the Notes are originally issued.

 

Lien means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

 

Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation means:

 

(1) as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, as set forth in the Indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such

 

6


Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Priority Lien Debt, each existing and future Priority Lien Representative and each existing and future holder of Permitted Prior Liens:

 

(a) that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured Equally and Ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations Equally and Ratably;

 

(b) that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

 

(c) consenting to and directing the Parity Lien Collateral Agent to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents; and

 

(2) as to any Series of Priority Lien Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, as set forth in the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, for the enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, each existing and future Parity Lien Representative and each existing and future holder of Permitted Prior Liens:

 

(a) that all Priority Lien Obligations will be and are secured Equally and Ratably by all Priority Liens at any time granted by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, and that all such Priority Liens will be enforceable by the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of all holders of Priority Lien Obligations Equally and Ratably;

 

(b) that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens; and

 

(c) consenting to and directing the Priority Lien Agent to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

Liquidated Damages has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

 

Loan and Security Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Net Proceeds has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

 

Non-Recourse Debt has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

 

Notes has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Note Documents means the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

7


“Note Guarantee” means the Guarantee by each Note Guarantor of Vitamin Shoppe’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.

 

Note Guarantors has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Obligations means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Priority Lien Documents or Parity Lien Documents, as the case may be, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities (including attorney’s fees) payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Officers’ Certificate means a certificate with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Agreement, signed on behalf of Vitamin Shoppe by two officers of Vitamin Shoppe, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of Vitamin Shoppe, including:

 

(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate has read such covenant or condition;

 

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate are based;

 

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

Parity Lien means a Lien granted by a Parity Lien Security Document to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to secure Parity Lien Obligations or any judgment lien obtained in respect of a Parity Lien Obligation.

 

Parity Lien Collateral Agent means Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as collateral agent under the Parity Lien Security Documents, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Parity Lien Debt means:

 

(1) the Notes issued on the date hereof (including any related exchange notes); and

 

(2) any other Indebtedness (including additional Notes) that is secured Equally and Ratably with the Notes by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Parity Lien Document provided that; the net proceeds are used to refund, refinance, replace, defease, discharge or otherwise acquire or retire Priority Lien Debt or other Parity Lien Debt.

 

Parity Lien Documents means, collectively, this Agreement, the Note Documents, and the Indenture, and any credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt and the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

8


Parity Lien Security Documents means this Agreement, each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation, and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, control agreements, deeds of trust or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time in accordance with their respective terms and Section 2.6.

 

Parity Lien Obligations means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

 

Parity Lien Representative means:

 

(1) in the case of the Notes, the Trustee; or

 

(2) in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Parity Lien Debt and (A) is appointed as a Parity Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Parity Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the Indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (B) has become a party to this Agreement by executing only an Intercreditor Agreement Joinder.

 

Permitted Debt means:

 

(1) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe and any other Pledgor of Indebtedness and letters of credit under Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date hereof to repay any Priority Lien Debt pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture; or (y) the Borrowing Base as of the date of such incurrence; and

 

(2) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

 

(3) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe and the Note Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the Note Guarantees to be issued on the date of the Indenture and the exchange notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the registration rights agreement;

 

(4) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation, lease or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, within 365 days of such purchase, construction, installation, lease or improvement, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed $10.0 million at any time outstanding;

 

(5) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by the Indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this definition or clauses (2), (3), (4), (5) or (14) of this definition;

 

9


(6) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among Vitamin Shoppe and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however , that:

 

(a) if Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is not Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case of Vitamin Shoppe, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Note Guarantor; and

 

(b) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

 

(7) the issuance by any of Vitamin Shoppe’s Restricted Subsidiaries to Vitamin Shoppe or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that:

 

(a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred stock being held by a Person other than Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe; and

 

(b) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe,

 

will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (7);

 

(8) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the Credit Facilities;

 

(9) the guarantee by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the other Pledgors of Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Notes, then the Guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu , as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;

 

(10) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the other Pledgors of Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances, performance, surety bonds and other similar obligations in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the other Pledgors of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is covered within five (5) Business Days;

 

10


(12) Obligations from agreements to provide for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, earn-outs or other similar obligations, or from guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing the performance of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of the assets of Vitamin Shoppe or the assets or Capital Stock of a Person that is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe; provided that the maximum aggregate liability in connection with any such disposition in respect of all such Indebtedness will at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

 

(13) the incurrence of any unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations;

 

(14) the incurrence by Vitamin Shoppe or any of the other Pledgors of additional unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (14), not to exceed $10.0 million; and

 

(15) all monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise of Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary arising out of any cash management, depository or other investment services provided by the Priority Lien Agent, any holder of Priority Lien Debt or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

Permitted Liens has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

 

Permitted Prior Liens means:

 

(1) Liens described in clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Liens;

 

(2) Liens described in clauses (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (18), (19), (21) or (22) of the definition of Permitted Liens; and

 

(3) Permitted Liens that arise by operation of law and are not voluntarily granted, to the extent entitled by law to priority over the Liens created by the Priority Lien Security Documents or the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge other Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

 

(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged;

 

11


(3) if the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; and

 

(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by Vitamin Shoppe or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged.

 

Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

 

Pledgors means collectively, Vitamin Shoppe, Holdings, VS Direct and any other Person that at any time provides collateral security for any Secured Obligations.

 

Priority Lien means a Lien granted by a Priority Lien Security Document to the Priority Lien Agent, at any time, upon any property of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Priority Lien Agent means Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as Priority Lien Agent under the Priority Lien Security Documents, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Priority Lien Cap means, as of any date, the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan and Security Agreement (including all fixed or contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn) and/or the Indebtedness outstanding under any other Credit Facility, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the sum of the amount provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt, as of any date, plus the amount provided by clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Debt, less the amount of Parity Lien Debt incurred after the date of the Indenture the net proceeds of which are used to permanently repay Priority Lien Debt. For purposes of this definition, all Hedging Obligations will be valued at zero.

 

Priority Lien Debt means:

 

(1) Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe and its Subsidiaries under the Loan and Security Agreement that was permitted to be incurred and secured under the applicable Secured Debt Documents (or as to which the Priority Lien Agent obtained an Officers’ Certificate from Vitamin Shoppe at the time of incurrence to the effect that such Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred and secured by all applicable Secured Debt Documents);

 

(2) Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe under any other Credit Facility that is secured Equally and Ratably with the Loan and Security Agreement by a Priority Lien that was permitted to be incurred under the terms of the Loan and Security Agreement and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided , in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (2), that:

 

(a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by Vitamin Shoppe, such Indebtedness is designated Vitamin Shoppe, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to each Priority Lien Representative, the Priority Lien Agent and the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, as “Priority Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt;

 

12


(b) such Indebtedness is governed by a credit agreement or other agreement that includes a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation; and

 

(c) all requirements set forth in this Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Priority Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (c) will be conclusively established if Vitamin Shoppe delivers to the Priority Lien Agent and the Parity Lien Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is “Priority Lien Debt”); and

 

(3) Hedging Obligations of Vitamin Shoppe incurred to hedge or manage interest rate risk with respect to Priority Lien Debt; provided that:

 

(a) such Hedging Obligations are secured by a Priority Lien on all of the assets and properties that secure Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in respect of which such Hedging Obligations are incurred; and

 

(b) such Priority Lien is senior to or on a parity with the Priority Liens securing Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in respect of which such Hedging Obligations are incurred.

 

Priority Lien Documents means this Agreement, the Loan and Security Agreement, the other Priority Lien Security Documents and any other agreements, documents and instruments related to any other Credit Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred.

 

Priority Lien Obligations means the Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of Priority Lien Debt.

 

Priority Lien Representative means (1) the Priority Lien Agent and (2) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Priority Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Priority Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt.

 

Priority Lien Security Documents means the Loan and Security Agreement, each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation, and all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor creating (or purporting to create) a Priority Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time in accordance with their respective terms.

 

Purchasers has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14.

 

Required Parity Lien Debtholders means, at any time, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding, calculated in accordance with the provisions described in Section 2.10. For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, Vitamin Shoppe or any Affiliate of Vitamin Shoppe will be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

Restricted Subsidiary of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

13


Retained Secured Contingent Obligations means, at any time, all obligations for taxes, costs, indemnification or other like obligations of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor secured by Priority Liens under the Priority Lien Documents which are not due and payable at such time and in respect of which the Priority Lien Agent has notified the Parity Lien Collateral Agent that any legal proceeding or other claim is pending or has been overtly threatened against any holder of Priority Lien Obligations, or any other identifiable loss contingency exists, which may result in a liability becoming payable at a future time by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor under the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents.

 

Secured Debt means Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt.

 

Secured Debt Documents means the Parity Lien Documents and the Priority Lien Documents.

 

Secured Debt Representative means each Parity Lien Representative and each Priority Lien Representative.

 

Secured Obligations means Parity Lien Obligations and Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Security Documents means, collectively, the Priority Lien Security Documents and the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

Series of Parity Lien Debt means, severally, the Notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Priority Lien Debt means, severally, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan and Security Agreement and any other Credit Facility that constitutes Priority Lien Debt.

 

Series of Secured Debt means, severally, each Series of Priority Lien Debt and each Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

Specified Secured Contingent Obligations” means, at any time, obligations of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor under the Priority Lien Documents secured by Priority Liens consisting of (a) reimbursement obligations in respect of the amount that then is or thereafter may become available for funding under outstanding letters of credit issued for account of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Subsidiaries, including without limitation any loss, cost, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) in connection with any commissions, fees, costs or expenses owing to any issuing bank, confirming bank, advising bank or correspondent bank, in each case related to such reimbursement obligations, and (b) obligations to pay any Priority Lien Obligations that were provisionally credited from the proceeds of any check or other payment remittance received from any account debtor of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor which has not at such time been finally paid, to the extent (i) such proceeds are required to be returned to any depositary or intermediary bank or clearing house under banking industry rules governing revocation of provisional credits for returned items in process of collection or (ii) the remitting bank is entitled under any deposit account control agreement with the Priority Lien Agent to be indemnified for any such returned items.

 

Standstill Period has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(2).

 

Subsidiary means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting

 

14


power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

 

Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations means, at any time, all obligations for taxes, costs, indemnification or other like obligations of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor under the Priority Lien Documents which are not due and payable at such time or for which no claim or demand for payment has been made at such time, other than Specified Secured Contingent Obligations and Retained Secured Contingent Obligations.

 

Trustee has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York or any other applicable jurisdiction.

 

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe that is designated by the Board of Directors of Vitamin Shoppe as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

 

(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

 

(2) except as permitted by Section 4.11 of the Indenture, is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with Vitamin Shoppe or any Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to Vitamin Shoppe or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither Vitamin Shoppe nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of Vitamin Shoppe or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Vitamin Shoppe has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

VS Direct has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Voting Stock of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

 

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at

 

15


final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

 

(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

SECTION 1.2 Rules of Interpretation .

 

(a) All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 9 of the UCC and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

(b) Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to any agreement or instrument will be deemed to include a reference to that agreement or instrument as assigned, amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time or replaced in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c) The use in this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents of the word “include” or “including,” when following any general statement, term or matter, will not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not nonlimiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but will be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

 

(d) References to “Sections,” “clauses,” “recitals” and the “preamble” will be to Sections, clauses, recitals and the preamble, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Articles” will be to Articles of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Exhibits” and “Schedules” will be to Exhibits and Schedules, respectively, to this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any references contained herein to any section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Indenture (including any definition contained therein) shall be deemed to be a reference to such section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided , that any reference to any such section, clause, paragraph or other provision shall refer to such section, clause, paragraph or other provision of the Indenture (including any definition contained therein) as amended or modified from time to time if such amendment or modification has been accompanied by a corresponding amendment or modification to this Agreement.

 

(f) This Agreement and the Security Documents will be construed without regard to the identity of the party who drafted it and as though the parties participated equally in drafting it. Consequently, each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party will not be applicable to this Agreement or the Security Documents.

 

ARTICLE 2. INTERCREDITOR PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 2.1 Ranking of Liens

 

(a) Notwithstanding:

 

(1) anything to the contrary contained in the Security Documents;

 

16


(2) the time of incurrence of any Series of Secured Debt;

 

(3) the order or method of attachment or perfection of any Liens securing any Series of Secured Debt;

 

(4) the time or order of filing or recording of financing statements, security agreements, mortgages or other documents filed or recorded to perfect any Lien upon any Collateral;

 

(5) the time of taking possession or control over any Collateral;

 

(6) the ranking of any judgment lien if any claim for any Parity Lien Obligation is reduced to judgment;

 

(7) that any Priority Lien may not have been perfected or may be or have become subordinated, by equitable subordination or otherwise, to any other Lien; or

 

(8) the rules for determining priority under any law governing relative priorities of Liens,

 

all Parity Liens at any time granted by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent in the Collateral will be subject and subordinate to all Priority Liens on such Collateral securing the sum of (i) Priority Lien Debt, including all fixed and contingent reimbursement obligations for outstanding letters of credit whether or not drawn, up to a maximum principal amount not to exceed the Priority Lien Cap, plus (ii) the amount of all other Priority Lien Obligations related to such Priority Lien Debt.

 

(b) The provisions in Section 2.1(a) are intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Priority Lien Obligations, each present and future Priority Lien Representatives and the Priority Lien Agent as holder of Priority Liens. No other Person will be entitled to rely on, have the benefit of or enforce those provisions. The Parity Lien Representative of each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation to the Priority Lien Agent and each Priority Lien Representative at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

(c) In addition, the provisions in Section 2.1(a) are intended solely to set forth the relative ranking of the Parity Liens as against the Priority Liens. Except as set forth in Section 2.2, neither the Notes nor any other Parity Lien Obligations nor the exercise or enforcement of any right or remedy for the payment or collection thereof are intended to be, or will ever be by reason of the foregoing provision, in any respect subordinated, deferred, postponed, restricted or prejudiced.

 

(d) The ranking of the Liens described above will not be altered or otherwise affected by (i) any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, renewal, restatement, replacement or refinancing of any of the Secured Debt Documents (subject to the Priority Lien Cap), (ii) any action or inaction which either the Priority Lien Agent or the Parity Lien Collateral Agent may take or fail to take in respect of the Collateral, (iii) the invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of all or any part of any of the Secured Debt or the Secured Debt Documents, or (iv) any impairment, modification, change, exchange, release or subordination of, or stay of actions or lien proceedings against, Pledgors or their respective property or estate in bankruptcy resulting from any bankruptcy, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation, rehabilitation or similar proceeding involving or affecting any Pledgor.

 

17


SECTION 2.2 Enforcement of Liens .

 

(a) Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations:

 

(1) the holders of Priority Lien Debt under the Loan and Security Agreement and the other holders of Priority Lien Obligations will have, subject to (A) the exceptions set forth below in clauses (b)(1) through (b)(4), (B) the provisions set forth under Section 2.4 and (C) the rights of the holders of Permitted Prior Liens, the exclusive right to enforce, collect or realize on any Collateral that is subject to Priority Liens or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to such Collateral; and

 

(2) neither the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, nor the Trustee nor the holders of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations may take any action to enforce, collect or realize on any Collateral or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to the Collateral.

 

provided, that the Parity Lien Collateral Agent may exercise any right to enforce, collect or realize on such Collateral or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to such Collateral after the passage of a period of one hundred eighty (180) days from the earlier of (i) the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against any Pledgor that has not been dismissed and (ii) the date of delivery of a notice in writing to the Priority Lien Agent to the effect that an Event of Default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing (the “Standstill Period”); provided that the Standstill Period shall be tolled during the pendency of all Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings by or against any Pledgor pursuant to which the Priority Lien Agent is effectively stayed from enforcing its rights and remedies against the Collateral; provided further, however , that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent will not be entitled to exercise its rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral if the Priority Lien Agent has commenced the exercise of any of its rights or remedies with respect to all or any material portion of the Collateral that is subject to Priority Liens, has given prompt notice of such exercise to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and is diligently pursuing the exercise thereof. After the end of the Standstill Period, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent will give the Priority Lien Agent five (5) Business Days prior written notice of its intention to exercise its rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral.

 

(b) In addition, the Trustee and the holders of Notes (together with any other holder of a Parity Lien Obligation) may, subject to the rights of the holders of other Permitted Prior Liens, direct the Parity Lien Collateral Agent to take any action to enforce, collect or realize on any such Collateral or exercise any other right or remedy with respect to such Collateral:

 

(1) without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations;

 

(2) as necessary to redeem any Collateral in a creditor’s redemption permitted by law or to deliver any notice or demand necessary to enforce (subject to the prior Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations) any right to claim, take or receive proceeds of Collateral remaining after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations in the event of foreclosure or other enforcement of any Permitted Prior Lien;

 

(3) as necessary to perfect or establish the priority (subject to Priority Liens and the perfection thereof and other Permitted Prior Liens) of the Parity Liens upon any Collateral; provided that the Trustee and the holders of Parity Lien Obligations may not require the Parity Lien Collateral Agent to take any action to perfect any Collateral through possession or control; or

 

18


(4) as necessary to create, prove, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Parity Liens upon any Collateral.

 

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, none of the holders of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any Parity Lien Representative will:

 

(1) request judicial relief, in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or in any other court, that would hinder, delay, limit or prohibit the lawful exercise or enforcement of any right or remedy otherwise available to the holders of Priority Lien Obligations in respect of the Priority Liens or that would limit, invalidate, avoid or set aside any Priority Lien or subordinate the Priority Liens to the Parity Liens or grant the Parity Liens equal ranking to the Priority Liens;

 

(2) oppose or otherwise contest any motion for relief from the automatic stay or from any injunction against foreclosure or enforcement of Priority Liens made by any holder of Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Lien Representative in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings;

 

(3) oppose or otherwise contest any lawful exercise by any holder of Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Lien Representative of the right to credit bid Priority Lien Debt at any sale in foreclosure of Priority Liens;

 

(4) oppose or otherwise contest any other request for judicial relief made in any court by any holder of Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Lien Representative relating to the lawful enforcement of any Priority Lien; or

 

(5) challenge the validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of the Priority Liens.

 

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, the holders of Notes and other Parity Lien Obligations and the Parity Lien Representatives may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims, including, without limitation, the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding against Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor in accordance with applicable law; provided that, by accepting a Note, each holder of Notes will agree not to take any of the actions prohibited under clauses (1) through (5) of Section 2.2(c) or oppose or contest any order that it has agreed not to oppose or contest under Section 2.5.

 

(e) At any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and after (i) the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor or (ii) the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and each Parity Lien Representative have received written notice from any Priority Lien Representative stating that (A) any Series of Priority Lien Debt has become due and payable in full (whether at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise) or (B) more than one hundred eighty (180) days have elapsed since the date on which the holders of Priority Liens securing one or more Series of Priority Lien Debt became entitled under any Priority Lien Documents to and desire to enforce any or all of the Priority Liens by reason of a default under such Priority Lien Documents, no payment of money (or the equivalent of money) will be made from the proceeds of Collateral subject to Priority Liens by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, any Parity Lien Representative, any holder of Notes or any other holder of Parity Lien Obligations (including, without limitation, payments and prepayments made for application to Parity Lien Obligations and all

 

19


other payments and deposits made pursuant to any provision of the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or any other Parity Lien Document).

 

(f) Subject to the provisions set forth under Section 2.4 all proceeds of such Collateral received by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, any Parity Lien Representative or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations at any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations in violation of Section 2.2(e) will be held by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, the applicable Parity Lien Representative or the applicable holder of Parity Lien Obligations for the account of the holders of Priority Liens and remitted to Priority Lien Agent upon demand by Priority Lien Agent. The Parity Liens will remain attached to and, subject to the provisions of Section 2.1, enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted. All proceeds of Collateral received by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, any Parity Lien Representative, the holders of Notes and the other holders of Parity Lien Obligations not in violation of Section 2.2(e) will be received by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, such Parity Lien Representative or such holder of Parity Lien Obligations free from the Priority Liens and all other Liens except the Parity Liens.

 

SECTION 2.3 Waiver of Right of Marshalling .

 

(a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the holders of Notes and other Parity Lien Obligations, each Parity Lien Representative and the Parity Lien Collateral Agent may not assert or enforce any right of marshalling accorded to a junior lienholder, as against the holders of the Priority Liens (in their capacity as priority lienholders).

 

(b) Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the holders of Parity Lien Obligations and any Parity Lien Representative may assert their right under the UCC or otherwise to any proceeds remaining following a sale or other disposition of Collateral by, or on behalf of, the holders of Priority Lien Obligations.

 

SECTION 2.4 Relative Rights . Nothing in the Note Documents will:

 

(a) as to Vitamin Shoppe and the holders of the Notes, impair the obligation of Vitamin Shoppe to pay principal of, premium and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes in accordance with their terms or any other obligation of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor;

 

(b) affect the relative rights of holders of Notes as against any other creditors of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor (other than holders of Priority Liens, Permitted Prior Liens or other Parity Liens);

 

(c) restrict the right of any holder of Notes to sue for payments that are then due and owing (but not enforce any judgment in respect thereof against any Collateral to the extent specifically prohibited by the provisions set forth in Sections 2.2 and 2.5);

 

(d) restrict or prevent any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any Parity Lien Representative from exercising any of its rights or remedies upon a Default or Event of Default under the Indenture not specifically restricted or prohibited by Sections 2.2 and 2.5; or

 

(e) restrict or prevent any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any Parity Lien Representative from taking any lawful action in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding not specifically restricted or prohibited by Sections 2.2 and 2.5.

 

20


SECTION 2.5 Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings .

 

(a) This Agreement will remain enforceable in accordance with its terms after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against any Pledgor and all converted or succeeding proceedings in respect thereof.

 

(b) If in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the holders of Priority Lien Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents consent to any order:

 

(1) for use of cash collateral;

 

(2) approving a debtor-in-possession financing facility secured by Liens that are senior to or on a parity with all Priority Liens upon any property of the estate in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding;

 

(3) granting any relief on account of Priority Lien Obligations as adequate protection (or its equivalent) for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations in the Collateral subject to Priority Liens; or

 

(4) relating to a sale of assets of Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor that provides, to the extent the assets sold are to be free and clear of Liens, that all Priority Liens and Parity Liens will attach to the proceeds of the sale;

 

then, the holders of Notes and other Parity Lien Obligations, in their capacity as holders of secured claims, and each Parity Lien Representative will not oppose or otherwise contest the entry of such order, as long as none of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Lien Representative in any respect opposes or otherwise contests any request made by the holders of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations or a Parity Lien Representative for the grant to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the holders of Notes and other Parity Lien Obligations, of a junior Lien upon any assets or property on which a Lien is (or is to be) granted under such order to secure the Priority Lien Obligations, but subordinated (as set forth herein under Section 2.1) to such Lien and all Priority Liens on such assets or property.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, the holders of Notes and other Parity Lien Obligations and the Parity Lien Representatives may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims, including, without limitation, the commencement of Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings against Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor in accordance with applicable law, subject to the terms of the Indenture and the Parity Lien Security Documents. By accepting a Note, each holder of Notes will agree to be subject to the terms of this Agreement.

 

(d) Based upon their interests as holders of Parity Lien Obligations in any Collateral that is subject to Priority Liens, the holders of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations or any Parity Lien Representative will not file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral under the Parity Liens, except that:

 

(1) they may freely seek and obtain relief: (i) granting a junior Lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.1) to, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the holders of Priority Lien Obligations; or

 

21


(ii) in connection with the confirmation of any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan so long as the relief requested does not constitute a breach of and is not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement with respect to the priority of the Parity Liens; and

 

(2) they may freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will restrict, impair or affect, in any respect, the right of any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations or of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any Parity Lien Representative (a) to propose, support, object to, vote in favor of or against, or otherwise take or omit to take any action whatsoever in respect of, any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring plan in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding (as long as, in the case of a plan proposed, supported or voted for by them, the plan does not constitute a breach of the terms set forth in Section 2.1) or (b) to demand, receive and retain, free from any interest or claim by any holder of Priority Liens or Priority Lien Obligations, any and all distributions made on account of the Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations pursuant to any plan of reorganization or other restructuring plan in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether such distributions are made in cash, in the form of debt securities or other claims, as equity securities or other equity interests, as distributions of property, or otherwise in any form.

 

SECTION 2.6 Amendment of this Agreement and the Parity Lien Documents .

 

(a) No amendment, modification, supplement or waiver to the provisions of this Agreement will be effective without the prior written approval of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, as directed by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders, and the Priority Lien Agent.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment or waiver of, or any consent under, any provision of this Agreement or, except where the same would adversely affect the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, any other Priority Lien Security Document will apply automatically to any comparable provision of any comparable Parity Lien Document without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by Vitamin Shoppe or any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.8(b), the ability of Vitamin Shoppe, any other Pledgor or the Parity Lien Collateral Agent to amend or supplement any Parity Lien Document is not restricted by this Agreement, and the Parity Lien Documents may be amended or supplemented as set forth in Section 2.9 of the Collateral Agency Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.7 Release of Parity Liens on Collateral .

 

(a) The Parity Liens upon the Collateral will be released:

 

(1) in whole, upon (i) payment in full and discharge of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable at the time all of the Parity Lien Debt is paid in full and discharged and (ii) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit under all Parity Lien Documents and the cancellation or termination or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) of all outstanding letters of credit issued pursuant to any Parity Lien Documents;

 

22


(2) as to any Collateral that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) Vitamin Shoppe or a Restricted Subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe in a transaction or other circumstance that complies with the “Asset Sale” provisions of the Indenture and is permitted by all of the other Parity Lien Documents, at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the Parity Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or disposition is not permitted under the covenant set forth in Section 4.10 of the Indenture.

 

(3) as to any Collateral that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Priority Lien Agent in foreclosure of the Priority Liens upon such Collateral in compliance with the laws applicable to such foreclosure; provided that the right of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent (i) to redeem such Collateral in accordance with applicable law, (ii) to claim, take and receive proceeds of the foreclosure sale of such Collateral remaining after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations in accordance with applicable law, and (iii) to enforce the provisions set forth in Section 2.8 will not be affected or impaired by any such release; and

 

(4) as to a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral, except as set forth in clauses (2) and (3) of this Section 2.7(a) and clause (4) of Section 2.5, if (i) consent to the release of that Collateral has been given by the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Debt at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents, and (ii) Vitamin Shoppe has delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent certifying that all such necessary consents have been obtained.

 

(b) Notwithstanding any release of the Parity Liens upon the Collateral as set forth in Section 2.7(a) in connection with any sale or other disposition of assets described in Section 2.7(a), the Parity Liens will apply to the proceeds of any such Collateral received in connection with any such sale or other disposition.

 

SECTION 2.8 Order of Application of Proceeds - Distributions by the Priority Lien Agent .

 

If any Collateral is sold or otherwise realized upon by the Priority Lien Agent or by Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor with the consent of the Priority Lien Agent in connection with any foreclosure, collection or other enforcement of Liens granted to the Priority Lien Agent in the Priority Lien Security Documents, the proceeds received by the Priority Lien Agent from such foreclosure, collection or other enforcement will be distributed by the Priority Lien Agent in the following order of application:

 

FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under the Priority Lien Documents on account of the Priority Lien Agent’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Priority Lien Agent or any co-trustee or agent of the Priority Lien Agent in connection with any Priority Lien Security Document;

 

SECOND, to the respective Priority Lien Representatives for application to the payment of all outstanding Priority Lien Debt up to the amount of the Priority Lien Cap and any other Priority Lien Obligations related to such Priority Lien Debt that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Priority Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Priority Lien Debt up to the amount of the Priority Lien Cap and all other Priority Lien Obligations related to such Priority Lien Debt that are then due and payable (including all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Priority Lien Documents, even if such interest is not

 

23


enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding, and including the discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Debt);

 

THIRD, to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent for the payment of all amounts payable under the Parity Lien Documents on account of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any co-trustee or agent of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent in connection with any Parity Lien Security Document;

 

FOURTH, to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent for the payment of all amounts to the respective Parity Lien Representatives for application to the payment of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Parity Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Parity Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding, and including the discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit, if any, constituting Parity Lien Debt);

 

FIFTH, to the Priority Lien Agent for application to the payment of the Priority Lien Debt in excess of the Priority Lien Cap and any other Priority Lien Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Priority Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Priority Lien Debt and all other Priority Lien Obligations that are then due and payable; and

 

SIXTH, any surplus remaining after the payment in full in cash of the amounts described in the preceding clauses will be paid to Vitamin Shoppe or the applicable Pledgor, as the case may be, its successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

SECTION 2.9 Order of Application of Proceeds - Distributions by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent .

 

(a) Notwithstanding Section 2.8, if, following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, any Collateral is sold or otherwise realized upon by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent in connection with any foreclosure, collection or other enforcement of Liens granted to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent in the Parity Lien Security Documents, the proceeds received by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent from such foreclosure, collection or other enforcement will be distributed by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent in the following order of application:

 

FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under the Parity Lien Documents on account of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent’s fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any co-trustee or agent of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent in connection with any Parity Lien Security Document; and

 

SECOND, in accordance with clauses FOURTH, FIFTH and SIXTH of Section 2.8.

 

24


(b) If any Parity Lien Representative or any holder of a Parity Lien Obligation collects or receives any proceeds of such foreclosure, collection or other enforcement that should have been applied to the payment of the Priority Lien Obligations in accordance with Section 2.9(a), whether after the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, such Parity Lien Representative or such holder of a Parity Lien Obligation, as the case may be, will forthwith deliver the same to the Priority Lien Agent, for the account of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations and other Obligations secured by a Permitted Prior Lien, to be applied in accordance with the provisions set forth in Sections 2.8 and 2.9. Until so delivered, such proceeds will be held by that Parity Lien Representative or that holder of a Parity Lien Obligation, as the case may be, for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations and other Obligations secured by a Permitted Prior Lien.

 

(c) The provisions set forth in Sections 2.8 and 2.9 are intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Secured Obligations, each present and future Secured Debt Representative, the Priority Lien Agent as holder of Priority Liens and the Parity Lien Collateral Agent as holder of Parity Liens. The Secured Debt Representative of each future Series of Secured Debt will be required to deliver a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation to the Priority Lien Agent, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and each other Secured Debt Representative at the time of incurrence of such Series of Secured Debt.

 

SECTION 2.10 Voting by Holders of Parity Lien Debt . In connection with any matter under this Agreement requiring a vote of holders of Parity Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt will cast its votes in accordance with the Parity Lien Documents governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt. The amount of Parity Lien Debt to be voted by a Series of Parity Lien Debt will equal (a) the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt held by such Series of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not available or drawn), plus (b) other than in connection with an exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Indebtedness of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

SECTION 2.11 Further Assurances . Upon the reasonable request of the Priority Lien Agent, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any Secured Debt Representative at any time and from time to time, Vitamin Shoppe and each of the other Pledgors will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as may be reasonably required, or that the Priority Lien Agent or Parity Lien Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Priority Liens and Parity Liens and the benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Priority Lien Documents and the Parity Lien Documents, for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations and Parity Lien Obligations.

 

SECTION 2.12 Bailee for Perfection .

 

(a) Solely for purposes of perfecting the Parity Liens of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent in any portion of the Collateral in the possession of the Priority Lien Agent (or its agents or bailees) as part of the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations including any instruments, negotiable documents, tangible chattel paper, certificated securities or money, the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Representatives acknowledge that the Priority Lien Agent also holds that property as bailee for the benefit of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Priority Lien Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any holders of Parity Lien Obligations to ensure that the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations is genuine or owned by any of the Pledgors. The duties or responsibilities of the Priority Lien Agent under this Section shall be limited solely to holding the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations as bailee and agent for perfection for the benefit of the

 

25


Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the holders of Parity Lien Obligations and their successors and assigns, which duty and responsibility the Priority Lien Agent shall fulfill using the same degree of care with respect thereto as it uses for similar property pledged to it as collateral for indebtedness of others to the Priority Lien Agent, and the Priority Lien Agent shall have no liability in connection therewith except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined pursuant to a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(b) Conversely, solely for purposes of perfecting the Priority Liens of the Priority Lien Agent in any portion of the Collateral which may be in the possession of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent (or its agents or bailees) as part of the Collateral securing the Parity Lien Obligations including, without limitation, any instruments, negotiable documents, tangible chattel paper, certificated securities or money, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the Parity Lien Representatives acknowledge that the Parity Lien Collateral Agent also holds that property as bailee for the benefit of the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Priority Lien Agent or any holders of Priority Lien Obligations to ensure that the Collateral securing the Parity Lien Obligations is genuine or owned by any of the Pledgors. The duties or responsibilities of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent under this Section shall be limited solely to holding the Collateral securing the Parity Lien Obligations as bailee and agent for perfection for the benefit of the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of Priority Lien Obligations and their successors and assigns, which duty and responsibility the Parity Lien Collateral Agent shall fulfill using the same degree of care with respect thereto as it uses for similar property pledged to it as collateral for indebtedness of others to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, and the Parity Lien Collateral Agent shall have no liability in connection therewith except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined pursuant to a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 2.13 Delivery of Collateral and Proceeds of Collateral . Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, deliver to (a) the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, or (b) such other person as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct, (1) any Collateral held by, or on behalf of, the Priority Lien Agent or any holder of Priority Lien Obligations, and (2) all remaining proceeds of Collateral held by, or on behalf of, the Priority Lien Agent or any holder of Priority Lien Obligations, whether arising out of an action taken to enforce, collect or realize upon any Collateral or otherwise. Such Collateral and such proceeds will be delivered without recourse and without any representation or warranty whatsoever as to the enforceability, perfection, priority or sufficiency of any Lien securing or guarantee or other supporting obligation for any Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt, together with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

 

SECTION 2.14 Parity Lien Debtholders Purchase Option .

 

(a) On or after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under and as defined in the Loan and Security Agreement and either the acceleration of the Priority Lien Obligations or the determination of the Priority Lien Agent and the requisite holders of Priority Lien Debt to foreclose or take any similar action to realize upon the Collateral, the holders of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt (or such nominees as may be granted the right to do so by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders (the “Purchasers” )) will have the right, at their sole option and election (but will not be obligated), at any time upon prior written notice by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent (acting pursuant to and in accordance with the written instructions of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders) to the Priority Lien Agent to purchase from the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations all outstanding Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid on the date of such purchase, except for Priority Lien Obligations that are, at the time of such purchase, Retained Secured Contingent Obligations or Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations. Promptly following the receipt of such notice, the Priority Lien

 

26


Agent will deliver to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent a statement of the amount of Priority Lien Debt and other Priority Lien Obligations then due and payable (including principal and interest in respect of the Priority Lien Debt then outstanding and such information as may then be reasonably available to the Priority Lien Agent as to the amount of any outstanding Specified Secured Contingent Obligations and Retained Secured Contingent Obligations) and the amount of the cash collateral requested by the Priority Lien Agent to be delivered to the Priority Lien Agent pursuant to Section 2.14(b)(2). The right to purchase provided for in this Section 2.14 will expire unless, within five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent of such notice from the Priority Lien Agent, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent (acting pursuant to and in accordance with the written instructions of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders) delivers to the Priority Lien Agent an irrevocable commitment of the purchasers to complete the purchase on the terms set forth under this Section 2.14(a).

 

(b) On the date specified by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent (on behalf of the Purchasers, and acting pursuant to and in accordance with the written instructions of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders) in such irrevocable commitment (which shall not be less than five (5) Business Days, nor more than twenty (20) days, after the receipt by the Priority Lien Agent of such irrevocable commitment), the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations shall sell to the Purchasers all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid on the date of such sale, except for any Priority Lien Obligations that are, at the time of such sale, Retained Secured Contingent Obligations or Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations, subject to any required approval of any court or other regulatory or governmental authority then in effect and only if on the date of such sale, the Priority Lien Agent receives the following:

 

(1) payment, as the purchase price for all Priority Lien Obligations sold in such sale, of an amount equal to the full amount of all Priority Lien Obligations (other than Specified Secured Contingent Obligations, Retained Secured Contingent Obligations and Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations) then outstanding and unpaid (including principal, interest, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, other expenses and including for this purpose an amount equal to any early termination fee that would otherwise have been payable to the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations upon the termination of the Priority Lien Documents at the time of such purchase);

 

(2) a cash collateral deposit in such amount as the Priority Lien Agent determines is reasonably necessary to secure the payment of any Specified Secured Contingent Obligations that may become due and payable after such sale (but not in any event in an amount greater than one hundred five (105%) percent of the amount then reasonably estimated by the Priority Lien Agent to be the aggregate outstanding amount of Specified Secured Contingent Obligations at such time), which cash collateral shall be (A) held by the Priority Lien Agent as security solely to reimburse the holders of Specified Secured Contingent Obligations for any Specified Secured Contingent Obligations that become due and payable after such sale and (B) returned to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent (except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or any order of any court or other governmental authority) promptly after the expiration or termination from time to time of payment contingencies affecting such Specified Secured Contingent Obligations; and

 

(3) any agreements, documents or instruments which the Priority Lien Agent may reasonably request pursuant to which the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the purchasers in such sale expressly assume and adopt all of the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations under the Priority Lien Documents on and after the date of the purchase and sale and the Parity Lien Collateral Agent (or any other representative appointed by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders) becomes a successor agent thereunder.

 

27


(c) Such purchase price and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in federal funds to such bank account of the Priority Lien Agent as the Priority Lien Agent may designate in writing to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent for such purpose. Interest shall be calculated to but excluding the Business Day on which such sale occurs if the amounts so paid by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to the bank account designated by Priority Lien Agent are received in such bank account prior to 12:00 p.m., New York City time, and interest shall be calculated to and including such Business Day if the amounts so paid by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to the bank account designated by the Priority Lien Agent are received in such bank account later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time.

 

(d) Such sale shall be expressly made without representation or warranty of any kind by the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of Priority Lien Obligations as to the Priority Lien Obligations, the Collateral or otherwise and without recourse to the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of Priority Lien Obligations, except that the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of Priority Lien Obligations shall represent and warrant severally as to the Priority Lien Obligations then owing to it: (i) the amount of the Priority Lien Obligations being purchased as reflected in the books and records of the Priority Lien Agent or such holders of Priority Lien Obligations (but without representation or warranty as to the collectability, validity or enforceability thereof); (ii) that the Priority Lien Agent and such holders of the Priority Lien Obligations own the Priority Lien Obligations and are transferring the Priority Lien Obligations free and clear of any liens or encumbrances; and (iii) the Priority Lien Agent and such holders of the Priority Lien Obligations have the right to assign the Priority Lien Obligations and the assignment is duly authorized.

 

(e) After such sale becomes effective, (i) the Retained Secured Contingent Obligations and Specified Secured Contingent Obligations will remain enforceable by the holders thereof and will remain secured by the Priority Liens upon the Collateral in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, and the holders of Retained Secured Contingent Obligations and Specified Secured Contingent Obligations will remain entitled to the benefit of the Priority Liens upon the Collateral and sharing rights in the proceeds thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, as fully as if the sale of the Priority Lien Debt had not been made, but only the person or successor agent to whom the Priority Liens are transferred in such sale will have the right to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce the Priority Liens and only the Purchasers in the sale will have the right to direct such person or successor as to matters relating to the foreclosure or other enforcement of the Priority Liens, and (b) the Surviving Unsecured Contingent Obligations will remain enforceable in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale to the extent provided in the Priority Lien Documents, but solely as unsecured liabilities, without any entitlement to the benefit of the Priority Liens or any proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 2.15 No Waiver of Lien Priorities

 

(a) Subject to the rights of any holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law, no right of the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations to enforce any provision of this Agreement or any other Priority Lien Document will at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of any Pledgor or by any act or failure to act by the Priority Lien Agent or any holders of Priority Lien Obligations, or by any noncompliance by any Person with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Agreement or any of the Secured Debt Documents, regardless of any knowledge thereof which the Priority Lien Agent or the holders Priority Lien Obligations, or any of them, may have or be otherwise charged with.

 

28


(b) Subject to the rights of any holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law or arising under the terms of this Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations and any of them, may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, without incurring any liabilities to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any holders of the Parity Lien Obligations and without impairing or releasing the Lien priorities and other benefits described herein (even if any right of subrogation or other right or remedy of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any holders of the Parity Lien Obligations is affected, impaired or extinguished thereby) do any one or more of the following:

 

(1) change the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend the time of payment of, or amend, renew, exchange, increase (subject to the Priority Lien Cap) or alter, the terms of any of the Priority Lien Debt or any Priority Lien on any Collateral or guaranty thereof or any liability of any Pledgor, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof (including any increase in or extension of the Priority Lien Obligations, without any restriction as to the amount, tenor or terms of any such increase or extension, but subject always to the Priority Lien Cap) or otherwise amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify or supplement in any manner any Priority Liens held by the Priority Lien Agent or any of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Obligations, or any of the Priority Lien Documents;

 

(2) sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon, enforce or otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any part of the Collateral in an enforcement of the Priority Liens (subject to the rights of any holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law or arising under the terms of this Agreement) or any liability of any Pledgor to the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof;

 

(3) settle or compromise any Priority Lien Obligations or any other liability of any Pledgor or any security therefor or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof and apply any sums by whomsoever paid and however realized to any liability (including the Priority Lien Obligations) in any manner or order; and

 

(4) exercise or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or remedy against any Pledgor or any other Person, elect any remedy and otherwise deal freely with any Pledgor or any Collateral (subject to the rights of any holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law or arising under the terms of this Agreement) and any guarantor or any liability of any Pledgor to the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligation or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof.

 

(c) Subject to the rights of any holder of Parity Liens and Parity Lien Obligations under applicable law or arising under the terms of this Agreement, and except as otherwise set forth herein, the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations shall have no liability with respect to any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations may take or permit or omit to take with respect to: (i) the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) the collection of the Priority Lien Obligations or (iii) the foreclosure upon, or sale, liquidation or other disposition of, any Collateral and that the Priority Lien Agent and holders of the Priority Lien Obligations will have no duty to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations in respect of the maintenance or preservation of the Collateral, the Priority Lien Obligations or otherwise.

 

29


SECTION 2.16 Acknowledgement of Liens .

 

(a) The Parity Lien Collateral Agent acknowledges that the Priority Lien Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations, has been granted Liens upon substantially all of the assets and properties of the Pledgors, including without limitation the Collateral that is subject to Priority Liens pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents to secure the Priority Lien Debt, and the Priority Lien Agent acknowledges that the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, has been granted Liens upon the Collateral that is subject to Parity Liens pursuant to the Parity Lien Documents to secure the Parity Lien Debt. Except as set forth in Section 2.12, the Priority Lien Agent shall be solely responsible for perfecting and maintaining the perfection of its Liens upon the Collateral, and the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, subject to Articles 2 and 3 of the Collateral Agency Agreement, shall be solely responsible for perfecting and maintaining the perfection of its Liens upon the Collateral.

 

(b) The Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations will not challenge the validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of the Priority Liens on the Collateral, and the Priority Lien Agent and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations will not challenge the validity, enforceability or perfection of the Parity Liens on the Collateral, in each case whether or not an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor.

 

ARTICLE 3. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 3.1 Obligations of Pledgors Joint and Several; All Other Obligations Several; Immunities and Indemnities of Agents and Representatives .

 

(a) Each party hereto other than the Pledgors will be obligated under this Agreement only for the performance of its own obligations hereunder. All liabilities arising hereunder will be in all respects several and not joint.

 

(b) All obligations of the Pledgors hereunder are and will be in all respects joint and several.

 

(c) Except as set forth as to the Pledgors in Section 3.1(b), no party hereto will be (i) obligated to perform, or liable for any failure to perform, any obligation of any other party or of any holder of Secured Obligations set forth in or arising under this Agreement or (ii) otherwise liable for any undertaking, obligation, act, omission or wrongful conduct of any other party hereto or of any holder of Secured Obligations.

 

(d) The Parity Lien Collateral Agent will be entitled under this Agreement, and in respect of the performance of its obligations and exercise of its rights thereunder, to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Collateral Agency Agreement, as if such rights, protections, immunities and indemnities had been specifically set forth therein.

 

(e) The Priority Lien Agent will be entitled under this Agreement, and in respect of the performance of its obligations and exercise of its rights thereunder, to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Loan and Security Agreement, as if such rights, protections, immunities and indemnities had been specifically set forth therein.

 

(f) Each Secured Debt Representative will be entitled under this Agreement, and in respect of the performance of its obligations and exercise of its rights thereunder, to all of the rights,

 

30


protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Secured Debt Documents for the Series of Secured Debt for which it acts as Secured Debt Representative, as if such rights, protections, immunities and indemnities had been specifically set forth therein.

 

SECTION 3.2 Successor Agents; Replacement and Substitution of Agents .

 

(a) If any Person at any time succeeds to the Liens, rights, powers and duties of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent or the Priority Lien Agent, whether by law or in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Parity Lien Security Documents, in the case of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, or Priority Lien Documents, in the case of the Priority Lien Agent, such Person will concurrently and automatically succeed to the rights, powers and duties of its respective predecessor under this Agreement, whether or not it assumes such rights, powers or duties and without any requirement of notice to or consent by any of the parties hereto.

 

(b) If and when (i) the outstanding Priority Lien Debt is refinanced at any time in whole or in part under new or additional Priority Lien Documents providing that a Person other than the existing Priority Lien Agent will hold the Priority Liens for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations (whether the previously granted Priority Liens are assigned to such Person or are released and replaced by Priority Liens newly granted to such Person) or (ii) Vitamin Shoppe enters into a new Loan and Security Agreement secured by Priority Liens newly granted to a Person other than the previous Priority Lien Agent at any time after the previously existing Loan and Security Agreement was retired, all previously outstanding Priority Lien Debt was repaid in full and all previously granted Priority Liens were released, Vitamin Shoppe will have the right and obligation to cause such Person concurrently to execute and deliver to the parties hereto an Intercreditor Agreement Joinder, appropriately completed by such Person as Priority Lien Agent, accompanied by the written consent thereto of the previously acting Priority Lien Agent; and thereupon (x) such Person will concurrently and automatically replace and be substituted for the previously acting Priority Lien Agent and succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the previously acting Priority Lien Agent under this Agreement, without any requirement of notice to or consent by any of the parties hereto and (y) the Person previously acting as Priority Lien Agent will be forever released from all of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(c) If and when (i) the outstanding Parity Lien Debt is refinanced at any time in whole or in part under new or additional Parity Lien Documents providing that a Person other than the existing Parity Lien Collateral Agent will hold the Parity Liens for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations (whether the previously granted Parity Liens are assigned to such Person or are released and replaced by Parity Liens newly granted to such Person) or (ii) Vitamin Shoppe enters into a new Indenture, credit agreement or other instrument secured by Parity Liens newly granted to a Person other than the previous Parity Lien Collateral Agent at any time after the previously existing Indenture, credit agreement or other instrument was retired, all previously outstanding Parity Lien Debt was repaid in full and all previously granted Parity Liens were released, Vitamin Shoppe will have the right and obligation to cause such Person concurrently to execute and deliver to the parties hereto an Intercreditor Agreement Joinder, appropriately completed by such Person as Parity Lien Collateral Agent, accompanied by the written consent thereto of the previously acting Parity Lien Collateral Agent; and thereupon (x) such Person will concurrently and automatically replace and be substituted for the previously acting Parity Lien Collateral Agent and succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the previously acting Parity Lien Collateral Agent under this Agreement, without any requirement of notice to or consent by any of the parties hereto and (y) the Person previously acting as Parity Lien Collateral Agent will be forever released from all of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any assumption of obligations by a successor Parity Lien Collateral Agent or Priority Lien Agent, as the case may be, and notwithstanding any release of the

 

31


obligations of a predecessor Parity Lien Collateral Agent or Priority Lien Agent, as the case may be, under this Agreement, the successor will not assume or be liable for, and the predecessor will not be released from, any liability for breach of any obligation of the predecessor that had accrued at the time of assumption.

 

SECTION 3.3 Binding Effect; Enforcement .

 

(a) This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

(b) To the extent provided in the Priority Lien Documents, the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations shall have the right to grant participations in, or otherwise sell, assign, transfer or negotiate all or any part of, or any interest in, the Priority Lien Debt and the Collateral securing same; provided, that, Parity Lien Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to give any notices to or otherwise in any manner deal directly with any holder of Priority Lien Obligations or any participant in the Priority Lien Debt, and no participant shall be entitled to any rights or benefits under this Agreement except through the holder of the Priority Lien Obligations with which it is a participant. In connection with any participation or other transfer or assignment, a holder of Priority Lien Obligations (i) may, subject to the Priority Lien Documents, disclose to such assignee, participant or other transferee or assignee all documents and information which such holder of Priority Lien Obligations now or hereafter may have relating to Pledgors or the Collateral and (ii) shall disclose to such participant or other transferee or assignee the existence and terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(c) Except as otherwise set forth in Section 2.9(c), the obligations of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, Parity Lien Representatives and holders of Parity Lien Obligations under this Agreement are enforceable only by the Priority Lien Agent and by each Priority Lien Representative for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations.

 

(d) Except as otherwise set forth in Section 2.9(c), the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent, Priority Lien Representatives and holders of Priority Lien Obligations under this Agreement are enforceable only by the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and by each Parity Lien Representative for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

(e) Each holder of Secured Obligations that is not party hereto may enforce the provisions of Sections 2.8 and 2.9 as an intended third party beneficiary thereof as set forth in Section 2.9(c), but no holder of Secured Obligations, except the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, the Priority Lien Agent and Secured Debt Representatives, will otherwise have the right independently or directly to enforce any other obligation hereunder. No other third parties (including holders of claims against or interests in any Pledgor) are intended to have the benefit of, or will be entitled to rely on or enforce, any obligation arising under this Agreement.

 

(f) Without limiting the right to assign any claim for breach of any obligation hereunder, (i) the rights and powers of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the Priority Lien Agent under this Agreement are appurtenant to the Liens it holds and may be assigned only in connection with, or to confirm, any succession or substitution as holder of such Liens, (ii) the rights and powers of a Secured Debt Representative under this Agreement are granted to it in its capacity as representative for the Series of Secured Debt for which its acts as representative and may be assigned only in connection with, or to confirm, any succession or substitution in such representative capacity, and (iii) all other attempted assignments of any rights or powers of the Parity Lien Collateral Agent, the Priority Lien Agent or Secured Debt Representative under this Agreement will be void.

 

32


SECTION 3.4 Additional Representations .

 

(a) Priority Lien Agent represents and warrants to the Trustee, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations that:

 

(1) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Priority Lien Agent (on behalf of itself and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations) is within its powers in its capacity as agent for the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations; and

 

(2) Priority Lien Agent has been authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement on behalf of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations and to bind the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations to the terms hereof; and

 

(b) The Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the Trustee represent and warrant to the Priority Lien Agent and holders of the Priority Lien Obligations that:

 

(1) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the Trustee (on behalf of the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations) is within their powers in their capacities as collateral agent and trustee, respectively, for the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations, and

 

(2) The Parity Lien Collateral Agent and the Trustee have been authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement on behalf of the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations and to bind the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to the terms hereof.

 

SECTION 3.5 Additional Pledgors and Secured Debt Representatives .

 

(a) The Pledgors will cause each Subsidiary which hereafter becomes a Pledgor to become a party to this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, as an additional Pledgor, by causing it to execute and deliver to the parties hereto an Intercreditor Agreement Joinder, appropriately completed, whereupon such Subsidiary will be bound by the terms hereof applicable to it as Pledgor to the same extent and in the same manner as the Pledgors originally party to this Agreement.

 

(b) The Pledgors will cause the Secured Debt Representative for any Series of Secured Debt hereafter incurred to become a party to this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, as an additional Secured Debt Representative, by causing it to execute and deliver to the parties hereto at the time of incurrence an Intercreditor Agreement Joinder, appropriately completed, whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof applicable to it as Secured Debt Representative to the same extent and in the same manner as the Secured Debt Representatives originally party to this Agreement. The Secured Debt Representative of each future Series of Secured Debt will be required to deliver a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation to the Priority Lien Agent, the Parity Lien Collateral Agent and each other Secured Debt Representative at the time of incurrence of such Series of Secured Debt.

 

SECTION 3.6 Delay and Waiver . No failure to exercise, no course of dealing with respect to the exercise of, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy arising under this Agreement or any of the Security Documents will impair any such right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy will preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

33


SECTION 3.7 Notices . Any communications, including notices and instructions, between the parties hereto or notices provided herein to be given shall be in writing and shall be given to the following addresses:

 

If to the Priority Lien Agent:

   Wachovia Bank, National Association
     1133 Avenue of the Americas
     New York, New York 11136
     Attn: Portfolio Manager—Vitamin Shoppe
     Telephone No.: 212-840-2000
     Telecopy No.: 212-545-4283

If to the Parity Lien Collateral Agent:

   Wilmington Trust Company
     Rodney Square North
     1100 North Market Street
     Wilmington, DE 19890-0001
     Attn: Corporate Capital Markets
     Telecopy No.: (302) 636-4145

If to the Trustee:

   Wilmington Trust Company
     Rodney Square North
     1100 North Market Street
     Wilmington, DE 19890-0001
     Attn: Corporate Capital Markets
     Telecopy No.: (302) 636-4145

If to Vitamin Shoppe or any other Pledgor:

   Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.
     Corporate Office
     2101 91 st Street
     North Bergen, New Jersey 07047
     Attn: Vice President of Finance (or with respect to notices of default only, General Counsel)
     Telephone No.: (201) 624-3000
     Telecopy No.: (201) 868-0727

With copy to:

   Kirkland & Ellis LLP
     153 East 53rd Street
     New York, New York 10022
     Attn: Michael T. Edsall, Esq.
     Telephone No.: (212) 446-4800
     Telecopy No.: (212) 446-4900

 

and if to any other Secured Debt Representative, to such address as it may specify by written notice to the parties named above. All notices and communications will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the relevant address set forth above or, as to holders of Secured Debt, its address shown on the register kept by the office or agency where the relevant Secured Debt may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange, and shall be deemed given, made or received: if mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, five (5) days after mailing, and if by overnight air courier

 

34


guaranteeing next day delivery, one (1) Business Day after sending. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a holder of Secured Debt or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders of Secured Debt. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

SECTION 3.8 Entire Agreement .

 

(a) This Agreement states the complete agreement of the parties relating to the matters set forth herein and supersedes all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect of such undertaking.

 

(b) In the event of any conflict between the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement and any other Secured Debt Document, the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall prevail, and each Parity Lien Security Document shall include a provision to such effect.

 

SECTION 3.9 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect or in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in all other respects and of all remaining provisions, and of such provision in all other jurisdictions, will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

SECTION 3.10 Headings . Section headings herein have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Agreement and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

SECTION 3.11 Obligations Secured . All obligations of the Pledgors set forth in or arising under this Agreement will be (a) Priority Lien Obligations if owing to a holder of Priority Lien Obligations and (b) Parity Lien Obligations if owing to a holder of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

SECTION 3.12 Governing Law . THE VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION AND EFFECT OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW).

 

SECTION 3.13 Consent to Jurisdiction . All judicial proceedings brought against any party hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State, County and City of New York. By executing and delivering this Agreement, each Pledgor, for itself and in connection with its properties, irrevocably:

 

(a) accepts generally and unconditionally the nonexclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts;

 

(b) waives any defense of forum non conveniens;

 

(c) agrees that service of all process in any such proceeding in any such court may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such party at its address provided in accordance with Section 3.7;

 

(d) agrees that service as provided in clause (c) above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such party in any such proceeding in any such court and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect; and

 

35


(e) agrees each party hereto retains the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to bring proceedings against any party in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 3.14 Waiver of Jury Trial . Each party to this Agreement waives its rights to a jury trial of any claim or cause of action based upon or arising under this Agreement any dealings between them relating to the subject matter of this Agreement or the intents and purposes of this Agreement. The scope of this waiver is intended to be all-encompassing of any and all disputes that may be filed in any court and that relate to the subject matter of this Agreement, including contract claims, tort claims, breach of duty claims and all other common law and statutory claims. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that this waiver is a material inducement to enter into a business relationship, that each party hereto has already relied on this waiver in entering into this Agreement, and that each party hereto will continue to rely on this waiver in its related future dealings. Each party hereto further warrants and represents that it has reviewed this waiver with its legal counsel and that it knowingly and voluntarily waives its jury trial rights following consultation with legal counsel. This waiver is irrevocable, meaning that it may not be modified either orally or in writing (other than by a mutual written waiver specifically referring to this Section 3.14 and executed by each of the parties hereto), and this waiver will apply to any subsequent amendments, renewals, supplements or modifications of or to this Agreement. In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the court.

 

SECTION 3.15 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile and other electronic method of transmission), each of which when so executed and delivered will be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together will constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

SECTION 3.16 Effectiveness . This Agreement will become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by each party of written notification of such execution and written or telephonic authorization of delivery thereof.

 

SECTION 3.17 Continuing Nature of this Agreement . This Agreement, including the subordination provisions hereof, will be reinstated if at any time any payment or distribution in respect of any of the Priority Lien Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise by any holder of Priority Lien Obligations or Priority Lien Representative or any representative of any such party (whether by demand, settlement, litigation or otherwise). In the event that all or any part of a payment or distribution made with respect to the Priority Lien Obligations is recovered from any holder of Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Lien Representative in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, such payment or distribution received by any holder of Parity Lien Obligations or Parity Lien Representative with respect to the Parity Lien Obligations from the proceeds of any Collateral or any title insurance policy required by any real property mortgage at any time after the date of the payment or distribution that is so recovered, whether pursuant to a right of subrogation or otherwise, that Parity Lien Representative or that holder of a Parity Lien Obligation, as the case may be, will forthwith deliver the same to the Priority Lien Agent, for the account of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations and other Obligations secured by a Permitted Prior Lien, to be applied in accordance with Sections 2.8 and 2.9. Until so delivered, such proceeds will be held by that Parity Lien Representative or that holder of a Parity Lien Obligation, as the case may be, for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations and other Obligations secured by a Permitted Prior Lien.

 

36


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of the day and year first above written.

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC., as Pledgor
By:  

/s/ Ronald M. Neifield

   

Name:

 

Ronald M. Neifield

   

Title:

 

General Counsel/Vice President

VS DIRECT INC., as Pledgor

By:  

/s/ Ronald M. Neifield

   

Name:

 

Ronald M. Neifield

   

Title:

 

General Counsel/Vice President

VS HOLDINGS, INC., as Pledgor

By:  

/s/ Ronald M. Neifield

   

Name:

 

Ronald M. Neifield

   

Title:

 

General Counsel/Vice President

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
Priority Lien Agent

By:  

/s/ Marc J. Breier

   

Name:

 

Marc J. Breier

   

Title:

 

Director

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its
individual capacity, but solely as Trustee under the
Indenture

By:  

/s/ Michele C. Harra

   

Name:

 

Michele C. Harra

   

Title:

 

Financial Services Officer

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its
individual capacity, but solely as Parity Lien
Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Michele C. Harra

   

Name:

 

Michele C. Harra

   

Title:

 

Financial Services Officer

 

S-1


EXHIBIT A

to Intercreditor Agreement

 

[FORM OF]

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT JOINDER

 

The undersigned, _____________________, a _______________, hereby agrees to become party as [a Pledgor] [a Parity Lien Representative] [a Priority Lien Representative] under the Intercreditor Agreement dated November 15, 2005 (the “Intercreditor Agreement” ) among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., the Pledgors from time to time party thereto, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent under the Loan and Security Agreement (as defined therein), Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof.

 

The provisions of Article 6 of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Joinder.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Intercreditor Agreement Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of ___________________, 20____.

 

[                                                                                        ]
By:    
    Name:    
    Title:    

Exhibit 10.9

 

[Execution]

 

(Account – With Activation)

 

DEPOSIT ACCOUNT CONTROL AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement is entered into as of November 15, 2005 among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. (“Company”) Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as agent pursuant to the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) acting for and on behalf of the Lenders described below (in such capacity together with its successors and assigns “Agent”), and Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank”) with respect to the following:

 

A. Bank has agreed to establish and maintain for Company deposit account number 9429291251 (the “Account”).

 

B. The Company has entered into financing arrangements with Agent and the parties to the Loan Agreement as lenders (collectively, with their respective successors and assigns “Lenders”) pursuant to which the Company may from time to time have certain indebtedness or other obligations to Agent and Lenders. As used herein the term “Loan Agreement” shall mean the Loan and Security Agreement, dated November __, 2005, among Agent, Lenders, the Company and certain of its affiliates, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

 

C. Company has granted to Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the other Secured Parties (as defined in the Loan Agreement), a security interest in, among other things, the Account and in the checks and other payment instructions (“Checks”) deposited in the Account.

 

D. Company, Agent and Bank are entering into this Agreement to evidence Agent’s security interest in the Account and such Checks and to provide for the disposition of net proceeds of Checks deposited in the Account.

 

Accordingly, Company, Agent and Bank agree as follows :

 

1. (a) This Agreement evidences Agent’s control over the Account. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the agreement between Bank and Company governing the Account, Bank will comply with instructions originated by Agent as set forth herein directing the disposition of funds in the Account without further consent of the Company.

 

(b) Company represents and warrants to Agent and Bank that it has not assigned or granted a security interest in the Account or any Check deposited in the Account, except for the security interest granted to Agent and each of the other Secured Parties (as defined in the Loan Agreement) and the rights and interests of Bank set forth herein.

 

1


(c) Company will not permit the Account to become subject to any other pledge, assignment, lien, charge or encumbrance of any kind, other than the security interests of Agent and each of the other Secured Parties and the rights and interests of Bank set forth herein.

 

2. During the Activation Period (as defined below), Company and its officers, agents and other representatives shall not have any authority to withdraw any amounts from, to draw upon or otherwise exercise any authority or power with respect to the Account or amounts held therein or payable therefrom and Bank shall not permit Company to do any of the foregoing. Prior to the Activation Period, Company may operate and transact business through the Account in the ordinary course of business, including making withdrawals from the Account, but covenants to Agent that it will not close the Account without Agent’s prior written consent. Bank shall have no liability in the event Company breaches this covenant to Agent.

 

Company and Agent acknowledge and agree that Bank may debit the Account for any ACH credit entries (the “Entries”) that may have been originated by Company but that have not settled at the time of Bank’s receipt of the Notice (as hereinafter defined) or for any Entries that are subsequently returned thereafter.

 

A reasonable period of time following the commencement of the Activation Period (not to exceed five (5) Business Days after Bank’s receipt of the Notice), and continuing on each Business Day thereafter, Bank shall transfer all collected and available balances in the Account automatically and without further direction each Business Day, at Company’s sole cost and expense, by federal funds wire transfer, solely to Agent at its account specified in the Notice. The “Activation Period” means the period which commences within a reasonable period of time not to exceed two (2) Business Days after Bank’s receipt of a written notice from Agent in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Notice”). A “Business Day” is each day except Saturdays, Sundays and Bank holidays. Funds are not available if, in the reasonable determination of Bank, they are subject to a hold, dispute or legal process preventing their withdrawal.

 

3. Bank agrees that it shall not offset, charge, deduct or otherwise withdraw funds from the Account, except as permitted by Section 4 hereof, until it has been advised in writing by Agent that all of Company’s obligations that are secured by the Checks and the Account (other than contingent obligations not yet accrued at such time) are paid in full and the financing arrangements of Agent and Company and its subsidiaries shall have been terminated. Agent shall notify Bank promptly in writing upon payment in full of Company’s obligations (other than contingent obligations not yet accrued at such time).

 

4. Bank is permitted to charge the Account:

 

(a) for its fees and charges relating to the Account or associated with this Agreement; and

 

(b) in the event any Check deposited into the Account is returned unpaid for any reason or for any breach of warranty claim.

 

2


5. (a) If the balances in the Account or any other account of Company or its subsidiaries maintained at Bank are not sufficient to compensate Bank for any fees or charges due to Bank in connection with the Account or this Agreement, Company agrees to pay Bank upon written demand the amount due to Bank. Company will have breached this Agreement if it has not paid Bank, within five (5) Business Days after such demand, the amount due to Bank.

 

(b) If the balances in the Account or any other account of Company or its subsidiaries maintained at Bank are not sufficient to compensate Bank for any returned Check, Company agrees to pay Bank upon written demand the amount due to Bank. If Company fails to so pay Bank promptly upon written demand and if the balances in the Account or any other deposit account of Company or its subsidiaries at Bank are not sufficient to compensate Bank for any such returned Check, Agent (for the account of Company) agrees to pay Bank, within five (5) Business Days after Bank’s written demand to Agent, any amount received by Agent with respect to such returned Check. The failure to so pay Bank shall constitute a breach of this Agreement.

 

(c) Company hereby authorizes Bank, without prior notice, from time to time after the expiration of the five (5) Business Day periods described in subsections 5(a) and 5(b) hereof, to debit any other account Company may have with Bank for the amount or amounts due to Bank under subsections 5(a) or 5(b) hereof.

 

6. (a) Each Business Day, Bank will send any Checks as well as any other materials, such as invoices, which it may receive related to the Account, plus information regarding the deposits to the Account, to the address specified below for Company or as otherwise specified in writing by Company to Bank, and will send a copy of each such documents and the deposit advice to the address specified below for Agent.

 

(b) In addition to the original Bank statement provided to Company, Bank will provide Agent with a duplicate of such statement.

 

7. (a) Bank will not be liable to Company or Agent for any expense, claim, loss, damage or cost (“Damages”) arising out of or relating to its performance under this Agreement other than those Damages which result directly from its acts or omissions constituting gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct or material breach of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b) In no event will Bank be liable for any special, indirect, exemplary or consequential damages, including but not limited to lost profits.

 

(c) Bank will be excused from failing to act or delay in acting, and no such failure or delay shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or otherwise give rise to any liability of Bank, if (i) such failure or delay is caused by circumstances beyond Bank’s reasonable control, including but not limited to legal constraint, emergency conditions, action or inaction of governmental, civil or military authority, fire, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, war, riot, theft, flood, earthquake or other natural disaster, breakdown of public or private or common carrier communications or transmission facilities, equipment failure, or negligence or default of Company

 

3


or Agent or (ii) such failure or delay resulted from Bank’s reasonable belief that the action would have violated any guideline, rule or regulation of any governmental authority.

 

(d) Bank shall have no duty to inquire or determine whether Company’s obligations to Agent are in default or whether Agent is entitled to provide the Notice to Bank. Bank may rely on notices and communications it believes in good faith to be genuine and given by the appropriate party.

 

(e) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions in this Agreement, in the event of the commencement of a case pursuant to Title 11, United States Code, filed by or against Company, or in the event of the commencement of any similar case under then applicable federal or state law providing for the relief of debtors or the protection of creditors by or against Company, Bank may act as Bank reasonably deems necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of governing statutes and shall not be in violation of this Agreement as a result.

 

(f) Bank shall be permitted to comply with any writ, levy order or other similar judicial or regulatory order or process issued by any governmental authority exercising competent jurisdiction concerning the Account or any Check and shall not be in violation of this Agreement for so doing.

 

8. Company and Agent (for the account of Company) shall jointly and severally indemnify Bank against, and hold it harmless from, any and all liabilities, claims, costs, expenses and damages of any nature (including but not limited to allocated costs of staff counsel, other reasonable attorney’s fees and any other reasonable fees and expenses) in any way arising out of or relating to disputes or legal actions concerning Bank’s provision of the services described in this Agreement; provided, that, Agent’s obligations under this Section 8 shall be limited to disputes or legal actions by third parties only. This section does not apply to any cost or damage attributable to the gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct of Bank or breach of this Agreement by Bank. Company’s obligations under this section shall survive termination of this Agreement. Agent’s obligations under this section shall survive one hundred twenty (120) days after termination of this Agreement.

 

9. Company and Agent shall jointly and severally pay to Bank, upon receipt of Bank’s invoice, all costs, expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees (including allocated costs for in-house legal services) incurred by Bank in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement, including but not limited to any such costs, expenses and reasonable fees arising out of the resolution of any conflict, dispute, motion regarding entitlement to rights or rights of action, or other action to enforce Bank’s rights in a case arising under Title 11, United States Code; provided, that, Company and Agent shall not be obligated to pay Bank in connection with its gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or material breach of its obligations under this Agreement. Company agrees to pay Bank, upon receipt of Bank’s invoice, all costs, expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees (including allocated costs for in-house legal services) incurred by Bank in the preparation and administration of this Agreement (including any amendments hereto or instruments or agreements required hereunder).

 

4


10. Termination and Assignment of this Agreement shall be as follows:

 

(a) Agent may terminate this Agreement by providing notice to Company and Bank that all of Company’s obligations which are secured by Checks and the Account (other than contingent obligations not yet accrued at such time) are paid in full. Agent may also terminate or it may assign this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Company and Bank. Bank may terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Company and Agent. Company may not terminate this Agreement except with the written consent of Agent and upon prior written notice to Bank.

 

(b) Notwithstanding subsection 10(a) hereof, Bank may terminate this Agreement at any time by written notice to Company and Agent if either Company or Agent breaches any of the terms of this Agreement, or any other agreement with Bank.

 

(c) Upon termination of this Agreement by Bank or by Agent, any collected and available balances in the Account will be transferred in accordance with Agent’s instructions and the Account will be closed unless Agent has sent the notice to Bank referred to in Section 3 above that the obligations of Company which are secured by the Account (other than contingent obligations not yet accrued at such time) and the financing arrangements of Company with Agent have been terminated. If Agent has sent such notice to Bank as referred to in Section 3 above, then upon termination of this Agreement, any collected and available balances in the Account will be transferred in accordance with Company’s instructions. If for any reason this Agreement is terminated other than pursuant to a notice from Agent to Bank referred to in Section 3 hereof, then the Account shall be closed and any funds, deposits or credits in the Account shall be sent to such account of Agent as Agent may specify in writing to Bank.

 

11. Each party represents and warrants to the other parties that (i) this Agreement constitutes its duly authorized, legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws limiting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles; (ii) the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not (A) constitute or result in a breach of its certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws or partnership agreement, as applicable, or the provisions of any material contract to which it is a party or by which it is bound or (B) result in the violation of any material law, regulation, judgment, decree or governmental order applicable to it; and (iii) all approvals and authorizations required to permit the execution, delivery, performance and consummation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder have been obtained.

 

12. (a) This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by Company, Agent and Bank; except that Bank’s charges are subject to change by Bank upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Company.

 

(b) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts; all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same agreement.

 

5


(c) This Agreement controls in the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any other document or written or oral statement. This Agreement supersedes all prior understandings, writings, proposals, representations and communications, oral or written, of any party relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

(d) This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with North Carolina law without reference to that state’s principles of conflicts of law.

 

13. All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be deemed to have been given or made upon receipt regardless of method of delivery. Any written notice or other written communication to be given under this Agreement shall be addressed to each party at its address set forth on the signature page of this Agreement or to such other address as a party may specify in writing.

 

14. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall create any agency, fiduciary, joint venture or partnership relationship between Bank and Company or Agent. Company and Agent agree that nothing contained in this Agreement, nor any course of dealing among the parties to this Agreement, shall constitute a commitment or other obligation on the part of Bank to extend credit to Company or Agent.

 

6


In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

(“Company”)

     

Address for notices:

       

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

Corporate Office

By:

 

/s/ Ronal M. Neifield

     

2101 91st Street

Name:

 

Ronal M. Neifield

     

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Title:

 

General Counsel/Vice President

     

Attention:  Vice President of Finance (or with respect to notices of default only, General Counsel)

Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent

(“Agent”)

     

Address for notices:

       

Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent

By:

 

/s/ Marc J. Breier

     

1133 Avenue of the Americas

Name:

 

Marc J. Breier

     

New York, New York 10036

Title:

 

Director

     

Attention : Portfolio Manager

           

Phone : 212-840-2000

           

Fax: 212-545-4283

Bank of America, N.A.

(“Bank”)

     

Address for notices:

       

Bank of America, N.A

By:

 

/s/ Michael J. Araujo

     

Deposit Support East

Name:

 

Michael J. Araujo

     

225 N. Calvert Street

Title:

 

Assistant Vice President

     

Mail Code : MD4-301-10-38

           

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

           

Phone : 410-605-8616

           

Fax : 410-347-0316

           

and

           

Bank of America, N.A

           

225 N. Calvert Street

           

Mail Code : MD4-301-10-38

           

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

           

Attn: Helen P. Hudson

           

Phone: 410-605-8616

           

Fax: 410-347-0316

 

7


EXHIBIT A

TO DEPOSIT ACCOUNT CONTROL AGREEMENT

 

Form of Activation Notice

 

[Letterhead of Wachovia Bank, National Association]

 

To:   

Bank of America, N.A

Deposit Support East

225 N. Calvert Street

Mail Code: MD4-301-10-38

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Phone: 410-605-8616

Fax: 410-347-0316

  

Bank of America, N. A

225 N. Calvert Street

Mail Code : MD4-301-10-38

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Attn: Helen P. Hudson

Phone: 410-605-8616

Fax: 410-347-0316

 

  Re: Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. Account No. 9429291251

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Deposit Account Control Agreement, dated November __, 2005 (the “Agreement”) among Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., us and you regarding the above-described account (the “Account”). In accordance with Section 2 of the Agreement, we hereby give you notice of our exercise of control of the Account and we hereby instruct you to transfer funds to our account as follows:

 

Bank Name:

Bank Address:

ABA No.:

Account Name:

Account No.:

Reference:

  

Wachovia Bank, National Association

Charlotte, North Carolina

053-000-219

Wachovia Bank, National Association

5000000030279

Vitamin Shoppe

 

Very truly yours,

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as Agent

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

8

Exhibit 10.10

 

COLLATERAL ACCOUNT NOTIFICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

(THIRD PARTY)

 

Bank of America, N.A.

   January 15, 2006

Mail Code NC1-004-03-06

    

200 North College Street

    

Charlotte, NC 28255

    

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This is to notify you that Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (“Pledgor”), has granted to Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as agent (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, “Pledgee”) for the Lenders (as hereinafter defined), a security interest in, among other things, Account number 283688 (the “Collateral Account”) held by Bank of America, N.A. (the “Securities Intermediary”) in the name of the Pledgor, together with all securities now or hereafter held therein, and the proceeds thereof (collectively, the “Collateral”) pursuant to certain financing arrangements among Pledgor, certain of its affiliates, Pledgee and the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto as lenders (the “Lenders”). Pledgor, Pledgee and the Securities Intermediary are entering into this Collateral Account Notification and Acknowledgment (this “Agreement”) to provide for the control of the Collateral Account and to further perfect the security interest of Pledgee in the Collateral. Pledgor, Pledgee and the Securities Intermediary agree that the Collateral Account is a “securities account” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York as in effect on the date hereof (the “UCC”) and that all Collateral held in the Collateral Account will be treated as “financial assets” under the UCC.

 

In connection therewith, the parties hereto agree (which agreement by the Pledgor will be construed as instructions to the Securities Intermediary):

 

1. The Securities Intermediary is instructed to register the pledge on its books. The Pledgor and the Pledgee acknowledge that the only financial assets that may be held in the Collateral Account are securities eligible to be held at a Federal Reserve Bank and/or the Depository Trust Company (“Eligible Securities”). The Pledgor agrees that it will deliver or caused to be delivered to the Securities Intermediary for deposit in the Collateral Account only Eligible Securities.

 

2. The Securities Intermediary is instructed to deliver to the Pledgee copies of monthly statements on the Collateral Account.

 

3. Except as a result of computer system or accounting changes affecting securities accounts of the Securities Intermediary generally (in which case the Securities Intermediary shall provide prompt notice to the Pledgee), the Securities Intermediary shall not change the account number of the Collateral Account without the prior written consent of the Pledgee and at least five (5) business days prior notice to the Pledgor.

 

4. All dividends, interest, gains and other profits with respect to the Collateral Account will be reported in the name and tax identification number of the Pledgor.

 

5.

Until the Securities Intermediary has received and had a reasonable opportunity to act upon a written notice from Pledgee which states that Pledgee is exercising exclusive control over the


 

Collateral Account in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (a “Notice of Exclusive Control”), the Securities Intermediary is authorized to accept and act upon instructions, directions, and orders from Pledgor with respect to the Collateral Account, the Collateral, any interest therein, or the proceeds thereof, including but not limited to instructions, directions, and orders for the sale, transfer, free delivery, release or other disposition of the Collateral, any interest therein, or the proceeds thereof, in each case without the prior consent of Pledgee. On and after the date on which the Securities Intermediary has received and had a reasonable opportunity to act upon a Notice of Exclusive Control, the Securities Intermediary (i) shall cease complying with orders or instructions concerning the Collateral Account issued or originated by Pledgor and (ii) may not, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, deliver, release or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any interest therein unless the proceeds thereof are held or reinvested in the Collateral Account as part of the Collateral or applied by Securities Intermediary to the satisfaction of an obligation owed to it described in Section 10 hereof. A Notice of Exclusive Control shall designate the account, person or other location to which the financial assets in the Collateral Account, and cash dividends, interest, income, earnings, and other distributions received with respect thereto, shall thereafter be delivered. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Securities Intermediary shall at all times be entitled to apply the Collateral, any part thereof, any interest therein, or the proceeds thereof to the satisfaction of an obligation owed to it described in Section 10 hereof.

 

6. The Pledgee agrees that the Securities Intermediary is authorized to pay to the Pledgor any interest, interest equivalent, dividends, and principal payments on declining balance securities received by the Securities Intermediary with respect to any securities in the Collateral Account until the Securities Intermediary receives and has a reasonable period of time to act upon a Notice of Exclusive Control from the Pledgee. The Pledgee further agrees that for any non-interest bearing security held in the Collateral Account, the term “interest equivalent” shall mean the amount of any discount earned on such security at the maturity or redemption date of such security.

 

7. The Pledgor authorizes the Securities Intermediary, and the Securities Intermediary agrees, to comply with any order or instruction from Pledgee concerning the Collateral Account, including an order or instruction directing sale, transfer or redemption of all or part of the Collateral and the remittance of the proceeds thereof, if any, to Pledgee, without further consent by the Pledgor. Securities Intermediary shall have no responsibility or liability to Pledgor for complying with any order or instruction, whether oral or written, concerning the Collateral Account originated by Pledgee and shall have no responsibility to investigate the appropriateness of any such order or instruction, even if Pledgor notifies Securities Intermediary that Pledgee is not legally entitled to originate any such order or instruction. Securities Intermediary shall have no responsibility or liability to Pledgee for complying with any order or instruction, whether oral or written, concerning the Collateral Account originated by Pledgor except to the extent such compliance would cause Securities Intermediary to violate (i) paragraph 5 hereof or (ii) written orders or instructions previously received from Pledgee, but only to the extent Securities Intermediary has had a reasonable period of time to act thereon. In the event the Securities Intermediary receives orders or instructions from Pledgee and Pledgor that are inconsistent, the Securities Intermediary shall comply only with the orders or instructions from Pledgee. Securities Intermediary shall be able to rely upon any notice or order that it reasonably believes to be genuine. Securities Intermediary shall have no responsibility or liability to Pledgee with respect to the value of the Collateral Account or any of the Collateral. This Agreement does not create any obligation or duty on the part of Securities Intermediary other than those expressly set forth herein.

 

- 2 -


8. Securities Intermediary shall not be liable for any loss or damage with respect to any matter that may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement or any action taken or not taken pursuant hereto, except to the extent caused by Securities Intermediary’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. In no event shall Securities Intermediary be responsible for special, indirect, exemplary, or consequential damages, including but not limited to lost profits, regardless of any notice, or any loss or damage caused, directly or indirectly, by conditions beyond its control. Pledgor and the Pledgee agree jointly and severally to indemnify and hold the Securities Intermediary, its directors, officers, employees, and agents harmless from and against any and all claims, causes of action, liabilities, lawsuits, demands and/or damages, including, without limitation, any and all costs, including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees (including allocated costs of in-house counsel), that may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement or any action taken or not taken pursuant hereto, except to the extent caused by Securities Intermediary’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The indemnities of the Pledgor set forth in this Section 8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the indemnities of the Pledgee set forth in this Section 8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days.

 

9. The Securities Intermediary hereby acknowledges receipt of the notice of the security interest of Pledgee in and the pledge to Pledgee of the Collateral and the Collateral Account. The Securities Intermediary represents that it has not received notice regarding any lien, encumbrance or other claim to the Collateral or the Collateral Account from any other person and has not entered into an agreement with any third party to act on such third party’s orders or instructions with respect to the Collateral or the Collateral Account. The Securities Intermediary further agrees not to enter into any such agreement with any third party for so long as this Agreement is in effect.

 

10. The Securities Intermediary subordinates to the lien and security interest of the Pledgee any right of setoff, encumbrance, security interest or other claim that it may have against the Collateral, except for any lien, claim encumbrance or right of set off against the Collateral Account or any financial asset carried in the Collateral Account arising from (i) customary commissions and fees arising from permitted trading activity within the Collateral Account, (ii) payment owed to Securities Intermediary for open trade commitments for the purchase and/or sale of financial assets in and for the Collateral Account, and (iii) any credit or advance by the Securities Intermediary in respect of interest, income or other proceeds from any financial asset in the Collateral Account for which final payment in collected funds is not received by the Securities Intermediary, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Customer Agreement between the Securities Intermediary and the Pledgor as in effect on the date hereof (the “Customer Agreement”).

 

11. To the extent a conflict exists between the terms of this Agreement and the Customer Agreement or any other agreement between Pledgor and the Securities Intermediary related to the Collateral Account, the terms of this Agreement will control.

 

12. The terms of this Agreement will in no way be modified except by a writing signed by all parties hereto.

 

13.

Securities Intermediary may terminate this Agreement by giving thirty (30) days’ prior notice to Pledgor and Pledgee. At the end of such thirty (30) day period, Securities Intermediary will deliver all assets held in the Collateral Account to Pledgee unless Pledgor and Pledgee deliver joint instructions to Securities Intermediary to deliver or transfer the assets in the Collateral Account to another party or securities intermediary. Pledgee may terminate this Agreement by

 

- 3 -


 

giving written notice to Securities Intermediary and Pledgor. Termination shall not affect any of the rights or liabilities of the parties hereto incurred before the date of termination.

 

14. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any prior agreement and contemporaneous oral agreements of the parties concerning its subject matter.

 

15. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice, order, instruction, request or other communication required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and may be delivered in person, sent by facsimile or other electronic means if electronic confirmation of error free receipt is received, or sent by United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the party at its address set forth below.

 

16. Any notice, order, instruction, request or other communication from the Pledgee to the Securities Intermediary required to be in writing shall be on the Pledgee’s letterhead and signed by an authorized representative of the Pledgee.

 

17. Subject to Section 8 hereof, the Securities Intermediary will be excused from failing to act or delay in acting, and no such failure or delay shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or otherwise give rise to any liability of the Securities Intermediary, except if such failure to act or delay in acting was caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Securities Intermediary, if (i) such failure or delay is caused by circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Securities Intermediary, including but not limited to legal constraint, emergency conditions, action or inaction of governmental, civil or military authority, fire, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, war, riot, theft, flood, earthquake or other natural disaster, breakdown of public or private or common carrier communication or transmission facilities, equipment failure, or act, negligence or default solely of Pledgor or Pledgee or (ii) such failure or delay resulted from Security Intermediary’s reasonable belief that the action would have violated any guideline, rule or regulation of any governmental authority.

 

18. Pledgor agrees to pay Securities Intermediary, upon receipt of Securities Intermediary’s invoice, all reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees (including reasonable allocated costs for in-house legal services) incurred by Securities Intermediary in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder, including but not limited to any such reasonable costs, expenses and fees arising out of the resolution of any conflict, dispute, motion regarding entitlement to rights or rights of action, or other action to enforce Securities Intermediary’s rights hereunder in a case arising under Title 11, United States Code. This Section 18 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

19. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Agreement, in the event of the commencement of a case pursuant to Title 11, United States Code, filed by or against Pledgor, or in the event of the commencement of any similar case under then applicable federal or state law providing for the relief of debtors or the protection of creditors by or against Pledgor, Securities Intermediary may act as Securities Intermediary deems necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of governing statutes and neither Pledgor nor Pledgee shall assert any claim against Securities Intermediary for so doing.

 

20. If any term or provision in this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such terms or provisions to persons or circumstances other than these to which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable term or provision were omitted.

 

- 4 -


21. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopier shall have the same force and effect as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopier also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Agreement, but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of this Agreement as to such party or any other party.

 

22. If any party to this Agreement is not a natural person, such party represents that the person executing this Agreement on behalf of such party hereby has the proper authority to execute this Agreement on behalf of such party.

 

23. The construction and effect of every provision of this Agreement, the rights of the parties hereunder and any questions arising out of this Agreement, shall be governed by the statutory and common law of the State of New York without reference to the conflict of law provisions thereof.

 

24. PLEDGEE, PLEDGOR AND SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. PLEDGEE, PLEDGOR AND SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT PLEDGEE, PLEDGOR AND SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

- 5 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Pledgor and the Pledgee have agreed to the terms of this agreement as of the date indicated above.

 

PLEDGOR:

     

PLEDGEE:

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.       WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Agent

By:

 

/s/ Cosmo La Forgia

     

By:

 

/s/ James O’Connell

Name:

 

Cosmo La Forgia

     

Name:

 

James O’Connell

Title:

 

Vice President - Finance

     

Title:

 

Vice President

Telephone No.: 201-624-3000

     

Telephone No.: 212-840-2000

Facsimile No.: 201-868-0727

     

Facsimile No.: 212-545-4283

Address:

     

Address:

Corporate Office

     

1133 Avenue of the Americas

2101 91st Street

     

New York, New York 10036

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

     

Attention: Portfolio Manager

Attention: Vice President of Finance (or with respect to notices of default only, General Counsel)        

 

Acknowledged and Agreed to:

 

SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY:

       
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.        

By:

 

/s/ Anne H. Woodward

           

Name:

 

Anne H. Woodward

           

Title:

 

Principal

           

Telephone No.: 704-386-1678

       

Facsimile No.: 800-896-6996

       

Address:

       

Mail Code NC1-004-03-06

       

200 North College Street

       

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

       

 

- 6 -


Exhibit A

 

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

 

[Date]

 

Bank of America, N.A.

Mail Code NC1-004-03-06

200 North College Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

 

Notice of Exclusive Control

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

As referenced in the Collateral Account Notification and Acknowledgment, dated as of January 15, 2006, among Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent, Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and Bank of America, N.A., we hereby give you notice of our exclusive control over securities account number 283688 (the “ Collateral Account ”) and all financial assets credited thereto. You are hereby instructed not to accept any direction, instruction or entitlement order with respect to the Collateral Account or the financial assets credited thereto from any person other than the undersigned.

 

You are hereby instructed to deliver the financial assets in the Collateral Account and cash dividends, interest, income, earning, and other distributions received with respect thereto, as follows:

 

Bank Name:

   Wachovia Bank, National Association

Bank Address:

   Charlotte, North Carolina

ABA No.:

   053-000-219

Account Name:

   Wachovia Bank, National Association

Account No.:

   5000000030279

Reference:

   Vitamin Shoppe

 

Very truly yours,

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Agent

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

cc: Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

 

- 7 -

Exhibit 10.12

 

NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

 

THIS NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) made as of this 2 day of August, 2004 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Wayne M. Richman (the “ Executive ”), Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), and VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”).

 

WITNESSETH :

 

WHEREAS, Executive and Company have entered into that certain Letter Agreement dated April 14, 2004 (the “Letter Agreement”) pursuant to which Executive has agreed to commence employment with Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties desire to expand upon and clarify certain of the provisions of the Letter Agreement with respect to Employee’s ability to work for the Company, his agreement not to compete with the Company, and severance from the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in consideration of the mutual covenants and obligations herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Position and Responsibilities . The Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of each of Holdings and the Company and, in such capacity, shall be responsible for the general management of the certain portions of the business, affairs and operations of Holdings and the Company, shall perform such duties as are customarily performed by a chief operating officer of a company of a similar size, and shall have such power and authority as shall reasonably be required to enable him to perform his duties hereunder; provided , however , that in exercising such power and authority and performing such duties, he shall at all times be subject to the authority of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of Holdings and the Company. Executive acknowledges that his scope of responsibilities has changed from the scope in the Letter Agreement, and hereby consents to such changes. The Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Board of Directors of Holdings and the Company. The Executive agrees to devote substantially all of his business time, attention and services to the diligent, faithful and competent discharge of such duties for the successful operation of Holdings’ and the Company’s business.

 

2. Term . Subject to the terms and provisions of Section 3, the employment relationship between Executive and Company shall be “employment-at-will” and shall not be for any definite period of time and may be terminated by either Executive, or by Company, at any time and for any, or for no, reason.

 

3. Termination . The Executive’s term of employment under this Agreement may be terminated as follows:

 

(A) At the Executive’s Option . The Executive may terminate his employment at any time upon at least thirty (30) days advance written notice to the Company. In


such event, the Executive shall be entitled to no severance or other termination benefits from and after the termination of his employment, except as provided in Section 3(I) hereof.

 

(B) At the Election of the Company With Cause . The Company may, unilaterally, terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder “with cause” at any time during the term of this Agreement upon written notice to the Executive. Termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company shall constitute a termination “with cause” under this Section 3(B) only if such termination is for one or more of the following causes: (i) wrongful misappropriation of Company assets of a material value; (ii) alcoholism or drug addiction, any of which materially impairs the ability of the Executive to perform his duties and responsibilities hereunder or is seriously injurious to the business of the Company; (iii) the conviction of a felony; (iv) intentionally causing the Company to violate a material local, state or federal law in any material respect; (v) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the conduct or management of the Company not remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company which materially affects the Company; (vi) willful refusal to comply with any significant policy, directive or decision of the Chief Executive Officer or the Board in furtherance of a lawful business purpose or willful refusal to perform the duties reasonably assigned to the Executive by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board consistent with the Executive’s functions, duties and responsibilities set forth in Section 1 hereof, in each case, in any material respect, and only if not remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company; or (vii) breach by the Executive of this Agreement, in any material respect, not remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company. In the event of a termination “with cause” pursuant to the provisions of clauses (i) through (vii) above, inclusive, the Executive shall be entitled to no severance or other termination benefits, except as provided in Section 3(I) hereof.

 

(C) At the Election of the Company for Reasons Other than With Cause . The Company may, unilaterally, terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time during the term of this Agreement without cause upon five (5) business days prior written notice to the Executive of the Company’s election to terminate. Upon a termination under this Section 3(C), the Company shall:

 

(i) Pay the Executive his then base salary (“Base Salary”) from the date of the termination of the Executive’s employment through the date that is twelve (12) months following Executive’s termination. Such payments shall be payable on a quarterly basis following the Executive’s termination and shall be subject to all applicable federal and state withholding taxes.

 

(ii) Pay to the Executive (x) the full amount of any unpaid cash Annual Cash Bonus (hereinafter defined) for any calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated, and (y) for the calendar year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated, the pro rata amount of the Annual Cash Bonus for such year calculated by multiplying (A) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar months that the Executive was employed by the Company in such calendar year and the denominator of which is 12 (provided that for 2004 the denominator shall be seven [7]), and (B) an amount equal to the current fiscal year’s Annual Cash Bonus.

 

2


(iii) Until the earlier to occur of (x) twelve (12) months following the date of termination of Executive’s employment, and (y) the time when the Executive becomes eligible for insurance coverage offered by any subsequent employer (the “ Insurance Continuation Period ”), allow the Executive to continue to participate in all life, health, disability and similar insurance plans and programs of the Company to the extent that such continued participation is possible under the general terms and provisions of such plans and programs, with the Company and the Executive paying the same portion of the cost of each such plan or program as existed at the time of the Executive’s termination. In the event that the Executive’s continued participation in any group plans and programs is not permitted, then in lieu thereof, the Company shall acquire, with the same cost sharing, individual insurance policies providing comparable coverage for the Executive for the Insurance Continuation Period; provided , that the Company shall not be obligated to pay for any such individual coverage more than three (3) times the Company’s cost of such group coverage.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if during the period from the date of the termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder through the end of the period for which any severance is payable pursuant to this Section 3(C) (the “ Severance Period ”), the Executive (i) becomes employed or (ii) performs 390 or more hours of consulting services for a single client in any ninety (90) day period, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such employment or consulting engagement, and the severance payable pursuant to paragraphs 3(C)(i) and 3(C)(ii) hereof shall be reduced by the gross amount of the compensation or consulting fees earned by the Executive during the Severance Period pursuant to such employment or consulting engagement.

 

(D) At the Election of the Executive for Certain Reasons . The Executive may terminate his employment immediately upon written notice to the Company following a material adverse change in the Executive’s total compensation (as provided in the Letter Agreement), function, duties or responsibilities from those described in Section 1 hereof without the written consent of the Executive which is not remedied by the Company within 30 days after Executive gives written notice to the Holdings’ Board of Directors of such change (an “ Adverse Change in Status ”). In the event the Executive exercises his right to terminate his employment under this Section 3(D), the Company shall:

 

(i) Pay to the Executive his Base Salary from the date of the termination through the date that is twelve (12) months following Executive’s termination. Such payments shall be payable on a quarterly basis following the Executive’s termination and shall be subject to all applicable federal and state withholding taxes.

 

(ii) Pay to the Executive (x) the full amount of any unpaid Annual Cash Bonus for any calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated, and (y) for the calendar year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated, the pro rata amount of the Annual Cash Bonus for such year calculated by multiplying (A) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar months that the Executive was employed by the Company in such calendar year and the denominator of which is 12 (provided that for 2004 the denominator shall be seven [7]), and (B) an amount equal to the current year’s Annual Cash Bonus.

 

3


(iii) Until the earlier to occur of (x) twelve (12) months following the date of termination of Executive’s employment, and (y) the time when the Executive becomes eligible for insurance coverage offered by any subsequent employer (the “ Extended Insurance Continuation Period ”), allow the Executive to continue to participate in all life, health, disability and similar insurance plans and programs of the Company to the extent that such continued participation is possible under the general terms and provisions of such plans and programs, with the Company and the Executive paying the same portion of the cost of each such plan or program as existed at the time of the Executive’s termination. In the event that the Executive’s continued participation in any group plans and programs is not permitted, then in lieu thereof, the Company shall acquire, with the same cost sharing, individual insurance policies providing comparable coverage for the Executive for the Extended Insurance Continuation Period; provided , that the Company shall not be obligated to pay for any such individual coverage more than three (3) times the Company’s cost of such group coverage.

 

(E) Disability of Executive . In the event of the disability of the Executive, the Company may, unilaterally, terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time upon written notice to the Executive. In the event the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 3(E), the Executive shall be entitled to no severance or other termination benefits from and after the termination of his employment except as provided in Section 3(I) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, “disability” shall mean the inability, by reason of bodily injury or physical or mental disease, or any combination thereof, of the Executive to perform his customary or other comparable duties with the Company for ninety (90) consecutive days. In the event the parties are unable to agree as to whether the Executive is suffering a disability, the Executive and the Company shall each select a physician and the two physicians so chosen shall make the determination or, if they are unable to agree, they shall select a third physician, and the determination as to whether the Executive is suffering a disability shall be based upon the determination of a majority of the three physicians. Any other rights and benefits the Executive may have under employee benefit plans and programs of the Company generally in the event of the Executive’s disability shall be determined in accordance with the terms of such plans and programs.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 3(E), the Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) the full amount of any unpaid Annual Cash Bonus for any calendar year prior to the year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated, and (ii) for the calendar year in which Executive’s employment is terminated, the pro rata amount of the Annual Cash Bonus for such year calculated by multiplying (A) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar months that the Executive was employed by the Company in such calendar year and the denominator of which is 12 (provided that for 2004 the denominator shall be seven [7]), and (B) an amount equal to the current fiscal year’s Annual Cash Bonus.

 

(F) Executive’s Death . The Executive’s employment shall be terminated upon the death of the Executive. Any rights and benefits that the Executive’s estate or any other person may have under employee benefit plans and programs of the Company generally in the event of the Executive’s death shall be determined in accordance with the terms of such plans and programs. In the event the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to

 

4


this Section 3(F), the Executive shall be entitled to no severance or other termination benefits from and after the termination of his employment except as provide in Section 3(I) hereof.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 3(F), the Executive (or his estate) shall be entitled to receive (i) the full amount of any unpaid Annual Cash Bonus for any calendar year prior to the year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated, and (ii) for the calendar year in which Executive’s employment is terminated, the pro rata amount of the Annual Cash Bonus for such year calculated by multiplying (A) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar months that the Executive was employed by the Company in such calendar year and the denominator of which is 12 (provided that for 2004 the denominator shall be seven [7]), and (B) an amount equal to the current fiscal year’s Annual Cash Bonus.

 

(G) Accrued and Unpaid Base Salary . If the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 3, the Executive (or his estate) shall be entitled to receive any and all accrued but unpaid Base Salary earned through the date of termination by the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

(H) Reimbursement of Expenses . In the event of the Executive’s termination pursuant to this Section 3, the Company shall reimburse the Executive (or his estate) for any and all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive consistent with Company policy prior to the date of such termination.

 

(I) Continuing Benefits . Termination pursuant to this Section 3 shall not modify or affect in any way whatsoever any vested right of the Executive to benefits payable under any retirement or pension plan or under any other employee benefit plan of the Company, and all such benefits shall continue, in accordance with, and subject to, the terms and conditions of such plans, to be payable in full to or on account of the Executive after such termination.

 

(J) Company’s Obligation . The Company’s obligation to make the severance payments and provide benefits in each case required under this Section 3 is conditioned upon Executive’s (i) execution and delivery to the Company of a general release covering employment-related claims (but not claims as a shareholder) in form satisfactory to the Company and (ii) continued observance in all material respects of the covenants contained Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this Agreement.

 

(K) Annual Cash Bonus . For purposes hereof, the term “Annual Cash Bonus” shall mean a bonus that shall be achieved by the satisfaction of operating objectives specified by the Company’s Board of Directors each year in its sole discretion, which objectives have in the past been based upon Company-wide objectives and shall change from year to year. The Annual Cash Bonus shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of Executive’s salary for a year, and may be a portion of such sum based upon achievement of a portion of the operating objectives. Executive acknowledges that Company reserves the right to change the structure of the Annual Cash Bonus from time to time, provided that any change will not reduce Executive’s bonus potential to below 50% of Executive’s base salary. For 2004, (i) Executive shall receive an Annual Cash Bonus of not less than $100,000, and (ii) Executive and the Company shall designate five (5) or more quantifiable goals and objectives measured by Executive’s individual

 

5


performance, and Executive shall receive an Annual Cash Bonus equal to the greater of the sums determined by (A) the Company-wide objectives, and (B) Executive’s individual goals and objectives, subject to the minimum Annual Cash Bonus set forth in Section 3(K)(i). The parties acknowledge that the determination of the Annual Cash Bonus for the year in which Executive’s employment terminates (and possibly for the prior year) shall not be known on the date Executive’s employment terminates, and that the same shall be paid by Company to Executive not more than thirty (30) days after the determination thereof.

 

4. Noncompetition Covenant . Executive acknowledges and agrees with respect to the Company that the business of the Company is conducted primarily in the United States (the “ Territory ”), and that the Company’s reputation and goodwill are an integral part of its business success throughout the Territory. If Executive deprives the Company of any of the Company’s goodwill or in any manner utilizes its reputation and goodwill in competition with the Company, the Company will be deprived of the benefits it has bargained for. Accordingly, Executive agrees that during the term of Executive’s employment by the Company and for a period of two (2) years thereafter (the “ Non-competition Period ”), the Executive shall not, without the Company’s prior written consent, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected as a director, officer, employee, partner, consultant or otherwise with, any profit or non-profit business or organization in the Territory that, directly or indirectly, derives ten percent (10%) or more or its revenue or profits from the manufacturing, marketing or distribution (through retail or direct marketing channels including, but not limited to, mail order and internet distribution) of (i) vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbal products, sports nutrition products, bodybuilding formulas or homeopathic remedies or (ii) any other product category sold by the Company which represents ten percent (10%) or more of the Company’s gross revenue in the quarter preceding Executive’s termination (any such business being a “ Competitive Business ” and the products and product categories identified herein being called “Competitive Products”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may be a passive owner (which shall not prohibit the exercise of any rights as a shareholder) of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of any public corporation that engages in a Competitive Business. Further, an entity shall not be deemed a Competitive Business hereunder if the same engages solely in the distribution of Competitive Products and does sell the same to consumers or manufacture any such Competitive Products.

 

5. Nonsolicitation .

 

(A) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly either for himself or for any other person, business, partnership, association, firm, company or corporation, hire from the Company or attempt to hire, divert or take away from the Company, any of the business of the Company or officers or employees of the Company in existence from time to time during his employment with the Company.

 

(B) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, knowingly make any statement or other communication that impugns or attacks the reputation or character of the Company or its subsidiaries or joint venture entities, or

 

6


damages the goodwill of the Company or its subsidiaries or joint venture entities, or knowingly take any action, directly or indirectly, that would interfere with any contractual or customer or supplier relationships of the Company or its subsidiaries or joint venture entities.

 

6. Nondisclosure Obligation . The Executive shall not at any time, whether during or after the termination of his employment, reveal to any person, association or company marketing plans, strategies, pricing policies, product formulations and other specifications, customer lists and accounts, business finances or financial information of the Company so far as they have come or may come to his knowledge, except as may be required in the ordinary course of performing his duties as an officer of the Company or as may be in the public domain through no fault of his or as may be required by law.

 

7. Intellectual Property, Inventions and Patents . Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work (whether or not including any confidential information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable) which relate to the Company’s actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed or made by Executive (whether above or jointly with others) while employed by the Company whether before or after the date of this Agreement (“ Work Product ”), belong to the Company. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the Board and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other instruments).

 

8. Remedies Upon Breach . The Executive agrees that any breach of Sections 4, 5, 6 or 7 of this Agreement by him could cause irreparable damage to the Company and that in the event of such breach the Company shall have, in addition to any and all remedies of law, the right to an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent the violation of any obligations hereunder, without the necessity of posting a bond, plus, if the Company finally prevails with respect to any dispute between the Company and the Executive as to the interpretation, terms, validity or enforceability of (including any dispute about the amount of any payment pursuant to) this Agreement, the recovery of any and all costs and expenses incurred by the Company, including reasonable attorneys’ fees in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement.

 

9. Acknowledgements . The Executive hereby acknowledges that the enforcement of the provisions of Sections 4 and 5 hereof may potentially interfere with his ability to pursue a proper livelihood. The Executive recognizes and agrees that the enforcement of this Agreement is necessary to ensure the preservation, protection and continuity of the business, trade secrets and goodwill of the Company. The Executive agrees that, due to the proprietary nature of the Company’s business, the restrictions set forth in this Agreement are reasonable as to time and scope. The Executive hereby acknowledges that he has been advised to consult with an attorney before executing this Agreement and that he has done so or, after careful reading and consideration, he has chosen not to do so of his own volition.

 

7


10. Consent and Waiver by Third Parties . The Executive hereby represents and warrants that his employment with the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Letter Agreement and his execution and performance of this Agreement do not constitute a breach or violation of any other agreement, obligation or understanding with any third party. The Executive represents that he is not bound by any agreement or any other existing or previous business relationship which conflicts with, or may conflict with, the performance of his obligations hereunder or prevent the full performance of his duties and obligations hereunder.

 

11. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof.

 

12. Severability . In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement for any reason shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement but this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions has never been contained herein. Moreover, if one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to the scope, activity or subject so as to be unenforceable at law, such provision or provisions shall be construed and reformed by the appropriate judicial body of limiting and reducing such provision or provisions, so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear.

 

13. Waivers and Modifications . This Agreement may be modified, and the rights and remedies of any provisions hereof may be waived, only in accordance with this Section 13. No modification or waiver by the Company shall be effective without the express written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of Company then in office at the time of such modification or waiver. No waiver by either party of any breach by the other or any provision hereof shall be deemed to be a waiver of any later or other breach thereof or as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

14. Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth all of the terms of the understandings between the parties with reference to the subject matter set forth herein and, together with the Letter Agreement, supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Company and the Executive, and may not be waived, changed, discharged or terminated orally or by any course of dealing between the parties, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom any waiver, change, discharge or termination is sought. In the event of a conflict between the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the terms and provisions of the Letter Agreement, the terms and provisions hereof shall control.

 

15. Assignment . The Executive acknowledges that the services to be rendered by him are unique and personal. Accordingly, the Executive may not assign any of his rights or delegate any of his duties or obligations under this Agreement. The Company shall have the right to assign this Agreement to its successors and assigns, and the rights and obligations of the

 

8


Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the Company.

 

16. Notices . All notices hereunder shall be (i) delivered by hand, (ii) sent by first-class certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (iii) delivered by overnight commercial courier, or (iv) transmitted by telecopy or facsimile machine, to the following address of the party to whom such notice is to be made, or to such other address as such party may designate in the same manner provided herein:

 

If to the Company or Holdings:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

2101 91 st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attention:        Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile:         (201) 868-0727

 

If to the Executive:

 

4 Fawn Hill Drive

Monsey, NY 10952

Facsimile:        *****

 

17. Survival of Obligations . The provisions of Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement as a continuing agreement of the Company and the Executive. The existence of any claim or cause of action by Executive against the Company shall not constitute and shall not be asserted as a defense to the enforcement by the Company of this Agreement.

 

9


18. Arbitration . Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be determined and settled by arbitration pursuant to the rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association. Any award rendered shall be final and conclusive upon the parties and a judgment thereon may be entered in a court having competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 18 shall prevent the parties from exercising their right to bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive or other provisional relief to compel the other party hereto to comply with its obligations under Sections 4, 5 and 6 of this Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

VS HOLDINGS, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Thomas Tolworthy

   

Name:

 

Thomas Tolworthy

   

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

By:

 

/s/ Thomas Tolworthy

   

Name:

 

Thomas Tolworthy

   

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Wayne M. Richman

WAYNE M. RICHMAN

 

10

Exhibit 10.13

 

July 22, 2005

 

Wayne M. Richman

4 Fawn Hill Drive

Monsey, NY 10952

 

Re: Non-Competition Agreement dated August 2, 2004
     Wayne M. Richman – Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and VS Holdings, Inc.

 

Dear Wayne:

 

This letter shall serve as a modification of certain of the terms and provisions of the above-referenced agreement (“Agreement”).

 

Your Annual Cash Bonus (as defined in the Agreement) shall be based upon Vitamin Shoppe’s Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”) applicable to all officers other than the CEO. Your maximum bonus potential shall remain at fifty percent (50%) of your base salary. However, for 2005 and subsequent years in lieu of the allocations set forth in the MIP your individual bonus shall be based fifty percent (50%) on company-wide performance measures set forth in the MIP and fifty percent (50%) on your individual performance measures. Your individual performance measures for 2005, including the measurement criteria for the same, are attached hereto as Schedule 1.

 

Except as amended hereby, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified, confirmed and approved.

 

Please sign below confirming your agreement with the foregoing.

 

VS Holdings, Inc.
Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

/s/ Thomas Tolworthy

Thomas Tolworthy, CEO

AGREED AND ACCEPTED THIS 22 DAY OF JULY, 2005

/s/ Wayne Richman

WAYNE RICHMAN

Exhibit 10.14

September 6, 2005

 

Wayne M. Richman

4 Fawn Hill Drive

Monsey, NY 10952

 

Re: Non-Competition Agreement dated August 2, 2004
     Wayne M. Richman – Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and VS Holdings, Inc.

 

Dear Wayne:

 

This letter is intended to supersede the Letter Agreement dated July 22, 2005 and shall serve as a modification of certain of the terms and provisions of the above-referenced agreement (“Agreement”).

 

Your Annual Cash Bonus (as defined in the Agreement) shall be based upon Vitamin Shoppe’s Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”) applicable to all officers other than the CEO. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for 2005 and subsequent years your minimum bonus shall be not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of your salary.

 

Except as amended hereby, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified, confirmed and approved. The July 22, 2005 letter is hereby rescinded and shall be of no further force or effect.

 

Please sign below confirming your agreement with the foregoing.

 

VS Holdings, Inc.
Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

/s/ Thomas Tolworthy

Thomas Tolworthy, CEO

AGREED AND ACCEPTED THIS 6 DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2005

/s/ Wayne Richman

WAYNE RICHMAN

Exhibit 10.15

 

FORM OF GENERAL RELEASE

 

I, Jeffrey Horowitz, in consideration of and subject to the performance by Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. (the “ Company ”) of its material obligations under the Second Amended and Restated Employment and Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2002 (the “ Agreement ”), do hereby release and forever discharge as of the date hereof the Company, VS Holdings, Inc. (“ Holdings ”) and all present, future and former subsidiaries, parent corporations, affiliates, directors, officers, agents, representatives, employees, successors and assigns of the Company and Holdings and each of their direct or indirect owners (collectively, the “ Released Parties ”) to the extent provided below.

 

1. I understand that any payments or benefits paid or granted to me under Section 5 of the Agreement represent, in part, consideration for signing this General Release and are not salary, wages or benefits to which I was already entitled. I understand and agree that I will not receive the payments and benefits specified in Section 5 of the Agreement unless I execute this General Release and do not revoke this General Release within the time period permitted hereafter or breach this General Release.

 

2. Except as provided in Section 4 below, I knowingly and voluntarily release and forever discharge the Company and the other Released Parties from any and all claims, controversies, actions, causes of action, cross-claims, counter-claims, demands, debts, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive or exemplary damages, other damages, claims for costs and attorneys’ fees, or liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in equity, both past and present (from the beginning of the world through the date of this General Release) and whether known or unknown, suspected, or claimed against the Company or any of the Released Parties which I, my spouse, or any of my heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, have or may have, which arise out of or are connected with my employment with, or my separation from, the Company and Holdings (including, but not limited to, any allegation, claim or violation, arising under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act); the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; any applicable Executive Order Programs; the Fair Labor Standards Act; or their state or local counterparts; or under any other federal, state or local civil or human rights law, or under any other local, state, or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or under any public policy, contract or tort, or under common law; or arising under any policies, practices or procedures of the Company or Holdings; or any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, defamation; or any claim for costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters) (an of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the “ Claims ”).

 

3. I represent that I have made no assignment or transfer of any of the Claims, or any other matter covered by Section 2 above.


4. I agree that this General Release does not waive or release any rights or claims that I may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 which arise after the date I execute this General Release. I acknowledge and agree that my separation from employment with the Company and Holdings in compliance with the terms of the Agreement shall not serve as the basis for any claim or action (including, without limitation, any claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967).

 

5. In signing this General Release, I acknowledge and intend that it shall be effective as a bar to each and every one of the Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I expressly consent that this General Release shall be given full force and effect according to each and all of its express terms and provisions, including those relating to unknown and unsuspected Claims (notwithstanding any state statute that expressly limits the effectiveness of a general release of unknown, unsuspected and unanticipated Claims), if any, as well as those relating to any other Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I acknowledge and agree that this waiver is an essential and material term of this General Release and that without such waiver the Company and Holdings would not have agreed to the terms of the Agreement. I further agree that in the event I should bring a Claim seeking damages against the Company or any other Released Party, or in the event I should seek to recover against the Company or any other Released Party in any Claim brought by a governmental agency on my behalf, this General Release shall serve as a complete defense to such Claims. I further agree that I am not aware of any pending charge or complaint of the type described in Section 2 as of the execution of this General Release.

 

6. I agree that neither this General Release, nor the furnishing of the consideration for this General Release, shall be deemed or construed at any time to be an admission by the Company, any Released Party or myself of any improper or unlawful conduct.

 

7. I agree that I will forfeit all amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 5 of the Agreement if I challenge the validity of this General Release or violate any provisions of the Agreement. I also agree that if I violate any provision of this General Release, I will pay all costs and expenses of defending against the suit incurred by the Released Parties, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, and return all payments received by me pursuant to the Agreement.

 

8. I agree that this General Release is confidential and agree not to disclose any information regarding the terms of this General Release, except to my immediate family and any tax, legal or other counsel I have consulted regarding the meaning or effect hereof or as required by law, and I will instruct each of the foregoing not to disclose the same to anyone.

 

9. Any non-disclosure provision in this General Release does not prohibit or restrict me (or my attorney) from responding to any inquiry about this General Release or its underlying facts and circumstances by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD), any other self-regulatory organization or governmental entity.

 

2


10. I agree to reasonably cooperate with the Company in connection with any internal investigation or administrative, regulatory, or judicial proceeding. I understand and agree that my cooperation may include, but not be limited to, making myself available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations; appearing at the Company’s request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process; volunteering to the Company pertinent information; and turning over to the Company all relevant documents which are or may come into my possession all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with my other permitted activities and commitments. I understand that in the event the Company asks for my cooperation in accordance with this provision, the Company will reimburse me solely for reasonable travel expenses, including lodging and meals, upon my submission of receipts.

 

11. Notwithstanding anything in this General Release to the contrary, this General Release shall not relinquish, diminish, or in any way affect any rights or claims arising out of any breach by the Company of its obligations under Section 5 of the Agreement, and any claim for continuation health care coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.

 

12. Whenever possible, each provision of this General Release shall be interpreted in, such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this General Release is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this General Release shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

13. This General Release embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

 

BY SIGNING THIS GENERAL RELEASE, I REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT:

 

(a) I HAVE READ IT CAREFULLY;

 

(b) I UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS AND KNOW THAT I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT RIGHTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RIGHTS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, AS AMENDED, TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, AS AMENDED; THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990; AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED;

 

(c) I VOLUNTARILY CONSENT TO EVERYTHING IN IT;

 

(d) I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE EXECUTING IT AND I HAVE DONE SO OR, AFTER CAREFUL READING AND CONSIDERATION I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO OF MY OWN VOLITION;

 

3


(e) I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 21 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MY RECEIPT OF THIS RELEASE SUBSTANTIALLY IN ITS FINAL FORM ON OCTOBER __, 2002 TO CONSIDER IT AND THE CHANGES MADE SINCE THE OCTOBER __, 2002 VERSION OF THIS RELEASE ARE NOT MATERIAL AND WILL NOT RESTART THE REQUIRED 21-DAY PERIOD;

 

(f) THE CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENT SINCE OCTOBER __, 2002 EITHER ARE NOT MATERIAL OR WERE MADE AT MY REQUEST;

 

(g) I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE IT AND THAT THIS RELEASE SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE UNTIL THE REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED;

 

(h) I HAVE SIGNED THIS GENERAL RELEASE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AND WITH THE ADVICE OF ANY COUNSEL RETAINED TO ADVISE ME WITH RESPECT TO IT; AND

 

(i) I AGREE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE MAY NOT BE AMENDED, WAIVED, CHANGED OR MODIFIED EXCEPT BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY AND BY ME.

 

         
DATE: December 28, 2004       /s/ Jeffrey Horowitz
        Jeffrey Horowitz

 

4

Exhibit 10.16

 

VOLUNTARY SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

 

THIS AGREEMENT dated February 1, 2005, is between Alan M. Aronovitz a/k/a Azriel Aronovitz (“Employee”), who resides at 605 Woodmere Avenue, Woodmere, New York 11598 and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. (“Company”), to terminate their relationship on an amicable basis. Therefore, they hereby agree as follows:

 

PART I

 

Company agrees as follows:

 

1. Company will pay Employee all compensation amounts due and owing to him in consideration of his position as an employee until January 8, 2005 (the “Termination Date”), the receipt of which Employee hereby acknowledges.

 

2. In addition to the amounts specified in Part I, paragraph 1 of this Agreement, Company will pay Employee TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($225,000.00), an amount equal to nine months’ salary as a voluntary severance, minus any adjustments as provided in Part I, Section 7 hereof. This amount shall be paid to Employee in weekly installments commencing not more than fifteen (15) days after execution hereof, through October 7, 2005, based upon the sum of $5,769.23 per week, less all appropriate deductions, and will be reported on a Form W-2. The first such payment shall include weekly installments for the period from January 9, 2005 through the date thereof.

 

3. In addition to the amounts specified in Part I, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Agreement, Company will pay Employee FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000.00), as a bonus for calendar year 2004, minus any adjustments as provided in Part I, Section 7 hereof. This payment will be made no later than February 1, 2005. This amount shall be paid to Employee in a lump sum, less all appropriate deductions, and will be reported on a Form W-2.


4. In addition to the amounts specified in Part I, paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Agreement, Company will pay Employee a bonus for calendar year 2005. This amount will not be calculated until the first quarter of 2006 and will be prorated based upon the actual amount of time that Employee was employed by the Company during 2005, minus any adjustments as provided in Part I, Section 7 hereof. This payment will be made no later than the date bonus payments are made to the executive officers of the Company in 2006. This amount shall be paid to Employee in a lump sum, less all appropriate deductions, and will be reported on a Form W-2.

 

5. Until the earlier of (a) the end of the Severance Period (hereinafter defined), and (b) the time when Employee becomes eligible for insurance coverage offered by any subsequent employer, reimburse Employee for a portion of the cost of Employee’s health insurance benefits (if Employee elects to continue the same), pursuant to the Consolidated Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et seq ., with Employee and Company paying the same portion of the costs thereof as each would pay if Employee’s employment was not terminated hereunder, and allow Employee to continue to participate in the life insurance and long term disability insurance programs of the Company throughout the Severance Period consistent with the terms contained in Employee’s July 14, 2004 agreements and any governing documents.

 

6. Company will provide at its expense, one (1) year of outplacement services with Right Management at the “executive” level. Company agrees that it shall not contest Employee’s application for unemployment benefits.

 

7. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2, 3 and 4 above, if during the period from the Termination Date through a date that is nine (9) months thereafter (the “Severance Period”), Employee (a) becomes employed or (b) performs 390 or more hours of consulting services for a single client in any ninety (90) day period, Employee shall promptly notify Company of such employment or consulting engagement, and the severance payable pursuant to Sections 2, 3 and 4 hereof shall be reduced by the gross amount of the compensation or consulting fees earned by Employee during the Severance Period pursuant to such employment or consulting engagement. Because the payment under Section 3 shall have been previously

 

- 2 -


made at the time Company becomes entitled to a credit on account thereof, Company is authorized to deduct any such credit against sums due under Sections 2 and 4 of this Part I. In the event Company shall have paid any sum hereunder and Employee thereafter becomes obligated to Company for an amount in excess of that paid by Company, Employee shall reimburse the same to Company within thirty (30) days of determination thereof.

 

8. Company agrees that, when asked by prospective employers about Employee’s employment at the Company, it will disclose only Employee’s last salary and job title with the Company and dates of employment. No further information shall be provided unless expressly authorized in writing by Employee.

 

PART II

 

Employee agrees as follows:

 

1. Employee hereby voluntarily resigns his employment from the Company effective January 7, 2005.

 

2. Employee does hereby irrevocably and unconditionally release and forever discharge and by these presents does for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators, representatives, successors and assigns, release and forever discharge the Company, its predecessors, successors, assigns, representatives, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates and all related companies, and its present and former officers, agents, directors, supervisors, attorneys, employees, stockholders and each and any one of them and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with any of them (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Releasees”) of and from all manner of action and actions, cause and causes of action, suits, claims, debts, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, claims for attorneys’ fees, interest, expenses and costs, specialties, covenants, contracts,

 

- 3 -


controversies, agreements, promises, variances, trespasses, damages, judgments, executions, entitlements, claims and demands of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, in law or in equity, civil or criminal, vested or contingent, which against the Releasees the Employee ever had, now has or asserts, or which he or his heirs, executors, successors, assigns or administrators hereafter can, shall or may have or may assert, for, upon or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the date hereof, it being the intention herein to release the Releasees from any and all claims of any and every nature, whether known or unknown, up to the date of this Agreement, unrestricted in any way by the nature of the claim including, though not by way of limitation, all matters which were asserted, could have been asserted or may be asserted, arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company and the separation thereof, his relationship with any of his supervisors and any other state or federal statutory, constitutional, or common law claims, including, but not limited to, all “public policy” claims, all claims for breach of contract or implied contract, all claims for benefits (except vested benefits), all claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. §621, et seq ., the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. §1001, et seq ., the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. §2601 et seq ., Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000e, et seq ., as amended, the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101, et seq ., the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §201 et seq ., the New York State Human Rights Law §296(1)(a), et seq ., the New York City Human Rights Law, Chapter 1, Title 8 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, §8-107(a), et seq ., the New York Workers’ Compensation Law, §10 (McKinney 1992), et seq ., as amended, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. §2101 et seq ., the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, N.J.S.A. 34:19-1, et seq ., the New Jersey Law Against

 

- 4 -


Discrimination, N.J.S.A. 10:5-1, et seq ., the New Jersey Family Leave Act, N.J.S.A. 34:11B-1, et seq ., the New Jersey Equal Pay Act, N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.1, et seq., the New Jersey Worker Health & Safety Act, and New Jersey wage payment laws.

 

3. Employee understands and agrees that the Company, and any other company owned or operated by it or related to it, past or present, shall not be under any obligation to reinstate him as an employee or to consider him for employment or re-employment, and Employee waives any right to reinstatement that he may possess, which is denied.

 

4. Employee further agrees that he shall not make any disparaging comments or statements to the press, to present or former employees of Releasees, or to any individual or entity with whom or which Releasees have a business relationship, including, but not limited to, vendors and other companies, or to anyone else, which could affect adversely the conduct of Releasees’ business or reputation.

 

5. Employee further acknowledges that the only consideration for signing this Agreement is as set forth in Part I of this Agreement; that the consideration received for executing this Agreement is greater than that ordinarily provided by Company under any contract, severance plan, policy or practice; that no other promise or agreements of any kind have been made to him or with him by any person or entity whatsoever to cause him to sign this Agreement; and that he is competent to execute this Agreement.

 

6. Employee further agrees that during the period from the date of this Agreement through December 31, 2007, he shall not, directly or indirectly, through any other person, firm, corporation or other entity:

 

(a) solicit, induce, encourage or attempt to induce or encourage any employee of the Company to terminate his or her employment with the Company or to breach any other obligation of the Company; or

 

- 5 -


(b) solicit, interfere with, disrupt, alter or attempt to disrupt or alter the relationship, contractual or otherwise, between the Company and any customer, potential customer, or supplier of the Company.

 

7. Employee agrees that for a period of one (1) year following the termination of his employment with the Company, Employee shall not, without the Company’s prior written consent, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected as a director, officer, employee, partner, consultant or otherwise with, any profit or non-profit business or organization in the United States that, directly or indirectly, derives twenty-five percent (25%) or more or its revenue or profits from the manufacturing, marketing or distribution (through retail or direct marketing channels including, but not limited to, mail order and internet distribution) of (i) vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbal products, sports nutrition products, bodybuilding formulas or homeopathic remedies or (ii) any other product category sold by the Company which represents twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Company’s gross revenue in the quarter preceding Employee’s termination (any such business being a “Competitive Business”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may be a passive owner (which shall not prohibit the exercise of any rights as a shareholder) of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of any public corporation that engages in a Competitive Business.

 

8. Employee acknowledges that he will be able to earn a livelihood without violating the restrictions contained in paragraph 7. Employee further acknowledges that the Company’s

 

- 6 -


business is carried out throughout the United States, and that the provisions of paragraph 7 are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Company.

 

9. (a) Employee acknowledges that he has returned to the Company all originals or copies of proprietary or confidential materials of the Company, or its affiliated companies, and has retained no copies of any written materials, records and documents (including those that are electronically stored) made by Employee or coming into his possession during the course of his employment with the Company which contain or refer to any such proprietary or confidential information. Employee further confirms that he has delivered to the Company any and all property and equipment of the Company, including laptop computers, software, credit cards, keys, etc., which may have been in Employee’s possession.

 

(b) Employee understands and acknowledges that during his employment with the Company, he had access to Confidential Information as defined below in (d). Employee agrees that he shall not directly or indirectly: (i) reveal, report, publish, disclose or transfer any Confidential Information to any person or entity, or (ii) use any Confidential Information for any purpose or for the benefit of any person or entity.

 

(c) Employee further acknowledges and agrees that all Confidential Information and all programs, reports, drawings, blueprints, data, notes, and other documents and records, whether printed, typed, handwritten, transmitted or transcribed on data files or on any other type of media, made or compiled by him or made available to him during the period of his employment concerning Confidential Information are and shall remain the Company’s property and shall be delivered to the Company upon the termination of his employment with the Company. Employee agrees that he has returned all copies of such Confidential Information, documents and records prior to the execution of this Agreement.

 

- 7 -


(d) “Confidential Information” means trade secrets, proprietary information, and confidential knowledge and information that Employee had access to during his employment with the Company that includes, but is not limited to, matters of a technical nature (such as discoveries, ideas, concepts, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, diagrams, flow charts, research, development, know-how, computer programs and routines, software in various stages of development, source code, object code, modifications and enhancements to source code or object code, and documentation, whether contained in magnetic media or in hard copy), and matters of a business nature (such as the identity of customers and prospective customers, suppliers, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, price lists, pricing policies, financial information such as but not limited to banking information, compensation-related information, tax-related information, information relating to the partners of the Company and/or their financial contribution to the Company).

 

10. Absent prior express written approval and permission of the Company, Employee will keep confidential and not make public or reveal to any person, firm, corporation, association, partnership or entity of any identity or kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, any current, former or future employee of the Company or any of its affiliated, subsidiary or parent companies, any information regarding the terms, the negotiations leading up to or the existence of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the benefits Employee is receiving under it and the determination to make the payment. This confidentiality proscription shall not apply to Employee providing any necessary information to his attorney, immediate family, accountant, tax consultant and/or duly designated taxing authorities of the United States of America and/or the State of New Jersey. To the extent that he does divulge the terms of this Agreement to his spouse, accountant, or attorney, he will advise them that they must not divulge the

 

- 8 -


terms of this Agreement. Moreover, Employee agrees that neither Employee nor his attorneys will file this document with the Court or make it public in any way.

 

11. In the event of any alleged breach of the confidentiality provision by Employee, Releasees may apply to the Court to determine whether there has in fact been a breach, and for appropriate relief. In any proceeding to enforce the terms of this Agreement, the Agreement may be introduced under seal to maintain its confidentiality. Employee understands and agrees that the damages to Releasees of any such breach of the confidentiality provision will be extremely difficult to determine. Because of this difficulty, Employee agrees that in the event of such breach, Employee shall not be entitled to receive any additional monies hereunder and shall return to Company, as liquidated damages, the lesser of (a) the sums previously paid to Employee hereunder, and (b) the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00). Employee further agrees to indemnify the prevailing Releasees for any and all fees and costs they incur in connection with any such recovery. Notwithstanding any such relief, all of the other terms of this Agreement including, without limitation, Employee’s release of all claims against Releasees, shall remain in full force and effect. The remedies provided for in this provision shall not be construed to be exclusive and do not bar any other claims for relief, either at law or equity.

 

12. Employee acknowledges that he has been given a period of at least twenty-one (21) days in which to consider this Agreement before executing it, or that Employee has voluntarily waived this twenty-one (21) day period.

 

13. Employee acknowledges that he may revoke this agreement within seven (7) days after its execution. Employee understands that he will not receive the payment specified in Part I, paragraph 2 of this Agreement until after this seven (7) day period elapses, and the Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until this seven (7) day period has expired.

 

- 9 -


14. Employee represents and warrants that he has not relied on any statement by anyone from Company in choosing to execute this Agreement, and that he has executed this Agreement voluntarily after having the opportunity to consult with an attorney of his own choosing.

 

15. The parties consider the covenants, obligations and restrictions in this Agreement to be reasonable in all circumstances.

 

16. Each covenant, obligation and restriction and any part of each covenant, obligation and restriction is deemed to be severable and an independent covenant, obligation or restriction. If the provisions or part of any provision of this Agreement is held by a Court of competent jurisdiction to be void, invalid or otherwise unenforceable, then any such provision or part of such provision is deemed to be eliminated or modified to the extent it is necessary to make the remainder of the clause enforceable. This Agreement may be pleaded as a bar to all proceedings brought by either party arising out of the Employee’s employment or the Employee’s resignation.

 

17. Any failure by any party to exercise any right under this Agreement does not operate as a waiver and the single or partial exercise of any right by that party does not preclude any other or further exercise of that or any other right by that party.

 

PART III

 

1. By this Agreement, the parties do not admit misconduct or violation of any federal or state law or regulation or any Company policy or procedure. Rather, they seek to amicably resolve their separation. Accordingly, this Agreement shall not be admissible in any proceeding as evidence of any admission by Employee or Releasees, except that the Agreement may be introduced in any proceeding to enforce the Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire Agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes any and all

 

- 10 -


prior oral and written agreements and understandings. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be severable.

 

2. This Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of New Jersey and shall not be interpreted strictly for or against either of the parties. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement is a joint product and shall not be construed for or against any party on the ground of sole authorship.

 

THE UNDERSIGNED HAVE HAD AN ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO READ AND CONSIDER THIS AGREEMENT, HAVE BEEN ADVISED AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, IF DESIRED, TO CONSULT ADVISORS, LEGAL AND OTHERWISE, OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING, SIGN THE AGREEMENT VOLUNTARILY AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS MEANING AND INTENT.

 

       

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

By:   /s/ Alan M. Aronovitz       By:   /s/ Thomas Tolworthy
    ALAN M. ARONOVITZ            

Dated: February 3, 2005

     

Dated: February 3, 2005

Sworn and subscribed to before me this day of February 3, 2005

       
/s/ Mayeer Kapkowsky            

Notary Public

           

 

- 11 -

Exhibit 10.19

 

LOGO

 

DATE:

   February 28, 2006

TO:

  

Cosmo La Forgia, Doug Jones, Gary Johnson, Marcia Furst, Ron Neifield,

Scott McCulloch, David Morrison, Susan Zeitz, Mike Provost, Scott Steever,

David Fitton

FROM:

   Tom Tolworthy, Wayne Richman & Joan Korsak

RE:

   2006 Management Incentive Plan

 

For the fiscal year of 2006, The Vitamin Shoppe is again offering a Management Incentive Plan (MIP) that aligns compensation with company and personal performance. We are excited to share with you the details of the plan, and ask that you share this information with the incentive eligible associates on your teams.

 

MIP Objectives

 

The objectives of the MIP are to:

 

  1. Align the goals of the associates with the Company objectives.

 

  2. Focus attention on the achievement of Company and Departmental and/or Individual performance measures.

 

  3. Provide a strong financial incentive to associates based on the achievement of critical Company, Departmental and/or Individual goals.

 

  4. Provide an incentive plan consistent with the establishment of specific performance objectives in support of our pay for performance compensation philosophy.

 

Who is Eligible?

 

All functional department Managers, Directors and Vice Presidents are eligible, and are considered “plan participants”. In the Retail field organization, this includes the Regional Directors only, as the other management team members are participants in a retail specific plan. A list of eligible participants by department will be distributed.

 

What are the Goals and Performance Measures?

 

The MIP includes both Company and Department /Individual goals and performance measures. We have chosen our EBITDA plan as the Company goal, and have weighted this portion of the incentive payout at 75% of the total incentive. Our threshold performance to earn the Company portion of the incentive is $43.5M EBITDA.

 

The Departmental/Individual goals are weighted at the remaining 25% of the payout. The individual goals for 2006 will be a blend of specific projects and initiatives that support our Business Plan and quantifiable items that are drawn from our operating budget. Any individual participant should have between three and five goals, with a minimum weighting of 5% each.

 

1


Each goal will stand alone when evaluating payout, and each will have its own measurement. This measurement will establish the threshold performance for that goal. Therefore, each goal must meet or exceed threshold performance in order to be paid for that portion of the incentive award.

 

What incentive award is available?

 

The incentive award is established based on the participant’s level, and a participant’s award is calculated as a percentage of his/her base salary at the end of the plan year.

 

For Managers, the incentive award at threshold performance is 10%. For Directors, the incentive award at threshold is 15%.

 

For all participants, additional incentive is earned as additional EBITDA performance is achieved. Specifically, at $44.5M EBITDA and for each additional $1M EBITDA, each participant is awarded an additional 10% of the incentive earned. The incentive opportunity is outlined below:

 

INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITY* (EXAMPLE)

 

     Salary

   At $43.5M
EBITDA


  

At $44.5M

EBITDA


   Each Additional
$1M EBITDA


Directors – 15%

   $ 110,000    $ 16,500    $ 1,650    $ 1,650

Managers – 10%

   $ 70,000    $ 7,000    $ 700    $ 700

 

* Please note this chart illustrates the total opportunity if both Company and Department/Individual goals are met.

 

How are we establishing the Department/Individual goals?

 

With your eligible team members, select goals that are a priority within the 2006 Business Plan with clearly measurable results. These results may be quantifiable or expressed in clear project or process objectives.

 

How are we administering the MIP?

 

Goals must be established by March 17, 2006 and entered onto the 2006 Incentive Plan Goals and Results form (attached, along with a sample). Before being considered final, goals must be agreed upon with Vice Presidents/Department Heads and their supervisor.

 

Once completed, the goal sheets will be collected by and centralized in Human Resources. At the end of the fiscal year, the management team will submit the results for the Department/Individual goals to Human Resources. All financial results will be validated by Finance. The Company EBITDA performance result will be available in late January. However, we must wait until the audited result is available to confirm and award payments, which is typically available in late March.

 

Are Managers or Directors who are hired after January 2006 eligible for the MIP?

 

Any associate hired or transferred into an eligible position prior to June 25, 2006 (fiscal July) will be eligible for a prorated award. Associates hired into eligible positions on or after June 25, 2006 will not be eligible for an award under the 2006 MIP. Associates who are transferred or promoted into eligible positions may be considered for a discretionary award.

 

2


Additional MIP Information

 

In keeping with our pay for performance philosophy, eligible associates’ must achieve a rating of at least Meets Expectations on their 2006 annual Associate Performance Appraisal in order for him/her to be eligible to receive a MIP award.

 

Prior to the payout of MIP awards, all goal results will be submitted in writing to the Chief Executive Officer or a designee for review and approval. The Chief Executive Officer or a designee may, in his/her sole discretion, make adjustments to the awards. Approval must be obtained prior to any action being taken and/or discussions with an associate.

 

The plan participant must be an active associate of The Vitamin Shoppe on the day the MIP awards are considered earned. The MIP awards are considered earned when all participant goal results are reviewed and approved by the Chief Executive Officer or a designee. Associates who leave the Company, voluntarily or involuntarily, prior to that date will not receive the MIP award.

 

Incentive award payments are subject to all applicable withholding as required by law, as well as any other previously defined Company or individual withholdings.

 

Participation in the MIP is not a guarantee of continued or future employment and does not alter the employment at will nature of the relationship between an associate and the Company. The Vitamin Shoppe reserves the right to amend, suspend or terminate all or part of any incentive plan, or to modify any payment hereunder, at any time, for any or no reason, with or without advance notice.

 

3

Exhibit 10.20

 

LOGO

 

DATE:

   March 7, 2005

TO:

   Cosmo La Forgia, Doug Jones, Gary Johnson, Marcia Furst, Mike Morris, Ron Neifield, Tim Lorenz, Scott McCulloch, Corey Bialow, David Morrison, Julia Ortale, Salam Salam

FROM:

   Tom Tolworthy, Wayne Richman & Suzanne Calfee

RE:

   Management Incentive Plan

 

Great news! For the fiscal year of 2005, The Vitamin Shoppe is implementing a Management Incentive Plan (MIP) that aligns compensation with company performance. We are excited to share with you the details of the plan, and ask that you share this information with the incentive eligible associates on your teams.

 

MIP Objectives

 

The objectives of the MIP are to:

 

  1. Align the goals of the associates with the Company objectives.

 

  2. Focus attention on the achievement of Company and Departmental and/or Individual performance measures.

 

  3. Provide a strong financial incentive to associates based on the achievement of critical Company, Departmental and/or Individual goals.

 

  4. Provide an incentive plan consistent with the establishment of specific performance objectives in support of our pay for performance compensation philosophy.

 

Who is Eligible?

 

All functional department Managers, Directors and Vice Presidents are eligible, and are considered “plan participants”. In the Retail field organization, this includes the Regional Directors only, as the other management team members are participants in a retail specific plan. A list of eligible participants by department will be distributed

 

What are the Goals and Performance Measures?

 

The MIP includes both Company and Department /Individual goals and performance measures. We have chosen our EBITDA plan as the Company goal, and have weighted this portion of the incentive payout at 75% of the total incentive. Our threshold performance to earn the Company portion of the incentive is $48.3M EBITDA.

 

The Departmental/Individual goals are weighted at the remaining 25% of the payout. In almost all cases, these goals and their performance measures will be taken directly from the 2005 Business Plan. Any individual participant should have between three and five goals, with a minimum weighting of 5% each.

 

1


Each goal will stand alone when evaluating payout, and each will have its own measurement. This measurement will establish the threshold performance for that goal. Therefore, each goal must meet or exceed threshold performance in order to be paid for that portion of the incentive award.

 

What incentive award is available?

 

The incentive award is established based on the participant’s level, and a participant’s award is calculated as a percentage of his/her base salary at the end of the plan year.

 

For Managers, the incentive award at threshold performance is 8%. For Directors, the incentive award at threshold is 10%.

 

For all participants, additional incentive is earned as additional EBITDA performance is achieved. Specifically, at $49.0M EBITDA and for each additional $1M EBITDA, each participant is awarded an additional 10% of the incentive earned. The incentive opportunity is outlined below:

 

INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITY*

 

     Salary

   At $48.3M
EBITDA


  

At $49.0M

EBITDA


   Each Additional
$1M EBITDA


Directors – 10%

   $ 110,000    $ 11,000    $ 1,100    $ 1,100

Managers – 8%

   $ 70,000    $ 5,600    $ 560    $ 560

 

* Please note this chart illustrates the total opportunity if both Company and Department/Individual goals are met.

 

How are we establishing the Department/Individual goals?

 

With your eligible team members, select goals that are a priority within the 2005 Business Plan with clearly measurable results. In most cases, the goals have already been identified through the Performance Appraisal process and captured on the 2005 Objective Form.

 

How are we administering the MIP?

 

Goals must be established by March 15, 2005 and entered onto the 2005 Incentive Plan Goals and Results form (attached, along with a sample). Before being considered final, goals must be agreed upon with Vice Presidents and their supervisor.

 

Once completed, the goal sheets will be collected by and centralized in Human Resources. At the end of the fiscal year, the management team will submit the results for the Department/Individual goals to Human Resources. All financial results will be validated by Finance. The Company EBITDA performance result will be available in late January. However, we must wait until the audited result is available to confirm and award payments, which is typically available in late March.

 

2


Are Managers or Directors who are hired after January 2005 eligible for the MIP?

 

Any associate hired or transferred into an eligible position prior to June 26, 2005 (fiscal July) will be eligible for a prorated award. Associates hired into eligible positions on or after June 26, 2005 will not be eligible for an award under the 2005 MIP. Associates who are transferred or promoted into eligible positions may be considered for a discretionary award.

 

Additional MIP Information

 

In keeping with our pay for performance philosophy, eligible associates’ performance level must at least meet performance standards in order for him/her to be eligible to receive a MIP award.

 

As with any compensation plan, The Vitamin Shoppe may amend or discontinue the MIP at any time with respect to future Awards; however, any Awards earned up to the date of modification or termination will be distributed in accordance with MIP provisions at the time they were earned.

 

The Human Resources team maintains a formal plan document. Should anyone desire further information, please feel free to contact Suzanne.

 

3

Exhibit 10.21

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) made as of this      th day of         , 2006 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among _______________ (the “ Executive ”), Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (“ VSI ”), VS Parent, Inc. (“ Parent ”) and VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”, and, together with VSI and Parent, the “ Company ”).

 

WITNESSETH :

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is an employee-at-will of Company performing the function of Vice President of _________________________ (the “ Executive Position ”); and

 

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth certain terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment with the Company including, but not limited to, non-disclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants, and severance from the Company under certain limited circumstances.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in consideration of the mutual covenants and obligations herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Position and Responsibilities . The Executive shall serve in the Executive Position for the Company and, in such capacity, shall be responsible for the general management of certain portions of the business, affairs and operations of the Company, shall perform such duties as are customarily performed by an officer of a company of a similar size, and shall have such power and authority as shall reasonably be required to enable him to perform his/her duties hereunder; provided , however , that in exercising such power and authority and performing such duties, he/she shall at all times be subject to the authority of the Chief Executive Officer, any other executive(s) of the Company to whom the Executive reports, and the Board of Directors of Holdings (the “Board”). The Executive agrees to devote substantially all of his/her business time, attention and services to the diligent, faithful and competent discharge of such duties for the successful operation of the Company’s business.

 

2. Term . Subject to the terms and provisions of Section 3, the employment relationship between the Executive and Company shall be “employment-at-will” and shall not be for any definite period of time and may be terminated by either the Executive, or by Company, at any time and for any, or for no, reason.

 

3. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth herein:

 

(A) A “ Change of Control ” of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred (1) if any person (including any individual, firm, partnership or other entity) together with all Affiliates and Associates (as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) of such person, becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing a majority of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, other than by reason of a

 

1


Business Combination, but excluding (i) any person who is a direct or indirect shareholder of the Company as of the Effective Date or any Affiliate thereof, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or (iii) the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, (2) upon a Business Combination if the shareholders of the Company (or Affiliates or Associates thereto) immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, as of the date of such Business Combination (after giving effect thereto), own a beneficial interest, directly or indirectly, in shares of voting securities of the company surviving such Business Combination having at least a majority of the combined voting power of such surviving company’s then outstanding securities, or (3) upon a sale by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets.

 

(B) A “ Business Combination ” shall mean a merger, consolidation, exchange offer or other business combination involving the Company and another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity.

 

(C) “ With Cause ” shall mean a termination for one or more of the following causes:

 

(i) theft or misappropriation of funds or other property of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliated company;

 

(ii) alcoholism or drug abuse, either of which materially impair the ability of the Executive to perform his/her duties and responsibilities hereunder or is injurious to the business of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliated company;

 

(iii) the conviction of a felony;

 

(iv) intentionally causing the Company or any subsidiary or affiliated company to violate any local, state or federal law, rule or regulation that harms or may harm the Company in any material respect;

 

(v) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the conduct or management of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliated company which materially affects the Company, not remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company;

 

(vi) willful refusal to comply with any significant policy, directive or decision of the Chief Executive Officer, any other executive(s) of the Company to whom the Executive reports, or the Board in furtherance of a lawful business purpose or willful refusal to perform the duties reasonably assigned to the Executive by the Chief Executive Officer, any other executive(s) of the Company to whom the Executive reports or the Board consistent with the Executive’s functions, duties and responsibilities set forth in Section 1 hereof, in each case, in any material respect, not remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company;

 

(vii) breach of any other material obligation to the Company or any subsidiary or affiliated company that is or could reasonably be expected to result in material harm to the Company or any subsidiary or affiliated company (other than by reason of physical

 

2


or mental illness, injury, or condition), not remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such breach from the Company; or

 

(viii) The Disability of Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, “disability” shall mean the Executive’s inability, with reasonable accommodation, to perform effectively the essential functions of his duties hereunder because of physical or mental disability for a cumulative period of 180 days in any consecutive 210-day period.

 

(D) “ Without Cause ” shall mean any termination other than one that is With Cause.

 

(E) “ Adverse Change in Status ” shall mean (1) a material adverse change in the Executive’s total compensation, function, duties or responsibilities from those in effect on the date that the actions constituting the Change in Control shall have commenced without the written consent of the Executive that is not remedied by the Company within thirty (30) days after the Executive gives written notice to the Board, or (2) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement that is not remedied by the Company within thirty (30) days after the Executive gives written notice to the Board of such breach.

 

(F) “ Performance-Based Cash Bonus ” shall mean a bonus that may be achieved by the satisfaction of operating objectives specified by the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (to the extent the same shall be delegated by the Board) from time-to-time in their sole discretion. The Performance-Based Cash Bonus may consist of multiple components, including components based upon the performance (1) of the Company as a whole, (2) of the Executive and employees under the direction of the Executive, and/or (3) of a subset of the Company which may include the Executive (and employees under the direction of the Executive) and employees who are not under the direction of the Executive but which components are not Company-wide objectives. The Performance-Based Cash Bonus currently is an annual program and the maximum amount payable thereunder does not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the Executive’s Base Salary and consists solely of objectives determined on an annual basis, either of which may change from time to time.

 

(G) “ Performance-Based Plan ” shall mean the then-current Company plan(s) under which any Performance-Based Cash Bonus has been established and is determined.

 

(H) “ Protected Period ” shall mean the one (1) year period following the conclusion of the actions that constitute a Change in Control.

 

(I) “ COBRA ” shall mean the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, 29 U.S.C. §1161 et seq.

 

4. Termination . The Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated as follows:

 

(A) At the Executive’s Option . The Executive may terminate his/her employment at any time upon at least two (2) weeks advance written notice to the Company. In such event, the Executive shall be entitled to no severance or other termination benefits from and after the termination of his/her employment, except as provided in Section 4(G) hereof.

 

3


(B) At the Election of the Company With Cause or Without Cause Other Than Following a Change in Control . The Company may, unilaterally, terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder With Cause or Without Cause at any time during the term of this Agreement upon written notice to the Executive. Termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company shall constitute a termination With Cause under this Section 4(B) only if such termination is for one or more of the causes set forth in Section 3(C). In the event of a termination (1) Without Cause other than following a Change in Control, or (2) With Cause, the Executive shall be entitled to no severance or other termination benefits from and after the termination of his/her employment, except as provided in Section 4(G) hereof.

 

(C) Following a Change in Control at the Election of the Company Without Cause or by Executive Due to an Adverse Change in Status . If the Company experiences a Change in Control and (1) the Executive’s employment is terminated Without Cause within the Protected Period, or (2) the Executive shall resign his/her employment due to an Adverse Change in Status within the Protected Period, the Executive shall receive the benefits hereinafter set forth, which the Executive acknowledges Company is not otherwise obligated to provide. Upon a termination under this Section 4(C) (a “Covered Termination”), the Company shall:

 

(i) Pay the Executive his/her then base salary (“ Base Salary ”) from the date of the termination of the Executive’s employment through the date that is twelve (12) months following the conclusion of the actions that constitute the Change in Control (the “ Salary Continuation Period ”). Such payments shall be payable following the Executive’s termination on the same dates that the same would have been paid if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated, and shall be subject to all applicable federal, state and local deductions.

 

(ii) Pay to the Executive the full amount of any unpaid Performance-Based Cash Bonus for any calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the Executive’s employment is terminated. The parties acknowledge that the determination of the Performance-Based Cash Bonus hereunder for the year prior to the year in which the Executive’s employment terminates may not be known on the date the Executive’s employment terminates, and that the same shall be paid by Company to the Executive not more than thirty (30) days after the determination thereof.

 

(iii) If at the time the Executive’s employment is terminated one-half (1/2) or more of the measurement period for any Performance-Based Cash Bonus shall have expired, pay to the Executive a portion of the Performance-Based Cash Bonus for the then current measurement period in the amount provided for in Section 4(I).

 

(iv) Until the earlier to occur of (x) the expiration of the Salary Continuation Period, and (y) the time when the Executive becomes eligible for insurance coverage offered by any subsequent employer (the “ Insurance Continuation Period ”), and provided the Executive shall elect to continue to participate in all or a portion of the Company’s life, health, disability and similar insurance plans and programs pursuant to the Executive’s rights under the COBRA, reimburse the Executive for that portion of the expenses of the plans in which the Executive elects to continue to participate that Company would have paid if the Executive had remained an employee during such period plus any administrative fees imposed under COBRA.

 

4


(D) Death of the Executive . This Employment Agreement shall automatically be terminated without notice in the event of Executive’s death.

 

(E) Accrued and Unpaid Base Salary and Vacation . If the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 4, the Executive shall be entitled to receive any and all accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation pay earned through the date of termination.

 

(F) Reimbursement of Expenses . In the event of the Executive’s termination pursuant to this Section 4, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for any and all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive consistent with Company policy prior to the date of such termination.

 

(G) Continuing Benefits . Termination pursuant to this Section 4 shall not modify or affect in any way whatsoever any vested right of the Executive to benefits payable under any retirement or pension plan or under any other employee benefit plan of the Company, and all such benefits shall continue, in accordance with, and subject to, the terms and conditions of such plans, to be payable in full to or on account of the Executive after such termination.

 

(H) Company’s Obligation . The Company’s obligation to make the severance payments and provide benefits in each case required under this Section 4 is conditioned upon the Executive’s (i) execution and delivery to the Company of a general release of legal claims including, but not limited to, employment-related claims, in a form satisfactory to the Company, and (ii) continued observance in all material respects of the covenants contained Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement.

 

(I) Performance-Based Cash Bonus . If at the time Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 4(C) more than one-half (1/2) of the measurement period for the Performance-Based Cash Bonus shall have expired, the Company shall pay to the Executive at the time specified below the Fraction (hereinafter defined) times the portion of the Performance-Based Cash Bonus that is attributable to the performance of the Company as a whole, but not any portion thereof that is attributable to the performance of the Executive and/or a portion of the Company of which the Executive is a part. The numerator of the Fraction shall be two (2) times the difference between the number of months (including any fractional month as a full month) that are within the measurement period, minus one-half (1/2) the number of months within the measurement period, and the denominator of which is the number of months within the measurement period. As an example, if the measurement period is six (6) months and the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated in the first week of the fifth (5 th ) month, the Fraction shall be four-sixths (4/6), based upon (x) 2 times (y) 5 months minus 3 months, divided by (z) six months. Any payment under Section 4(C)(iii) shall be made at the earlier of (i) the same time as payment is made to other executives of the Company under the Performance-Based Plan, and (ii) thirty (30) days after payment is scheduled to be made under the Performance-Based Plan based upon the terms thereof. If in connection with or following a Change in Control the Company shall amend or change the Performance-Based Plan and the

 

5


Executive is entitled to benefits under Section 4(C) hereof, the amount of the Performance-Based Cash Bonus to be paid thereunder shall equal the greater of the amount determined under the Performance-Based Plan as the same existed prior to the Change in Control and the amount determined thereunder as the Performance-Based Plan is amended or changed.

 

5. Noncompetition Covenant . The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the business of the Company is conducted primarily in the United States (the “ Territory ”), and that the Company’s reputation and goodwill are an integral part of its business success throughout the Territory. If the Executive deprives the Company of any of the Company’s goodwill or in any manner utilizes its reputation and goodwill in competition with the Company either (1) while employed by the Company, or (2) in the event of a Covered Termination, during the Salary Continuation Period, the Company will be deprived of the benefits it has bargained for. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that (A) during the term of the Executive’s employment by the Company, (B) in the event of a Covered Termination, during the Salary Continuation Period (the “ Non-Competition Period ”), the Executive shall not, without the Company’s prior written consent, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected as a director, officer, employee, partner, consultant or otherwise with, any profit or non-profit business or organization in the Territory that, directly or indirectly, derives ten percent (10%) or more or its revenue or profits from the manufacturing, marketing or distribution (through retail or direct marketing channels including, but not limited to, mail order and internet distribution) of (i) vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbal products, sports nutrition products, bodybuilding formulas or homeopathic remedies, or (ii) any other product category sold by the Company which represents ten percent (10%) or more of the Company’s gross revenue in the quarter preceding the Executive’s termination (any such business being a “ Competitive Business ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may be a passive owner (which shall not prohibit the exercise of any rights as a shareholder) of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of any public corporation that engages in a Competitive Business.

 

6. Nonsolicitation .

 

(A) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and (i) throughout Executive’s employment with the Company, and (ii) in the event of a Covered Termination, during the Salary Continuation Period the Executive shall not directly or indirectly either for himself or for any other person, business, partnership, association, firm, company or corporation, hire from the Company or attempt to hire, divert or take away from the Company, any of the business of the Company or officers or employees of the Company in existence from time to time during his/her employment with the Company.

 

(B) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, knowingly make any statement or other communication that impugns or attacks the reputation or character of the Company or its subsidiaries, joint venture entities, directors, officers and employees or damages the goodwill of the Company or its subsidiaries or joint venture entities, or knowingly take any action, directly or indirectly, that would interfere with any contractual or customer or supplier relationships of the Company or its subsidiaries or joint venture entities.

 

6


7. Nondisclosure Obligation . The Executive shall not at any time, whether during or after the termination of his/her employment, reveal to any person, association or company marketing plans, strategies, pricing policies, product formulations and other specifications, customer lists and accounts, business finances or financial information of the Company so far as they have come or may come to his/her knowledge, except as may be required in the ordinary course of performing his/her duties as an officer of the Company or as may be in the public domain through no fault of his/her or as may be required by law.

 

8. Intellectual Property, Inventions and Patents . The Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work (whether or not including any confidential information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable) which relate to the Company’s actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed or made by the Executive (whether alone or jointly with others) while employed by the Company whether before or after the date of this Agreement (“ Work Product ”), belong to the Company. The Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the Board and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Executive’s employment with the Company) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other instruments).

 

9. Remedies Upon Breach . The Executive agrees that any breach of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement by him could cause irreparable damage to the Company and that in the event of such breach the Company shall have, in addition to any and all remedies of law, the right to an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent the violation of any obligations hereunder, without the necessity of posting a bond.

 

10. Acknowledgements . The Executive recognizes and agrees that the enforcement of this Agreement is necessary to ensure the preservation, protection and continuity of the business, trade secrets and goodwill of the Company. The Executive agrees that, due to the proprietary nature of the Company’s business, the restrictions set forth in this Agreement are reasonable as to time and scope and do not unreasonably impair his/her ability to earn a living. The Executive hereby acknowledges that he/she has been advised to consult with an attorney before executing this Agreement and that he/she has done so or, after careful reading and consideration, he/she has chosen not to do so of his/her own volition.

 

11. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof.

 

12. Severability . In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement for any reason shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement but this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions has never been contained herein. Moreover, if one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to the scope,

 

7


activity or subject so as to be unenforceable at law, such provision or provisions shall be construed and reformed by the appropriate judicial body by limiting and reducing such provision or provisions, so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with the applicable law.

 

13. Waivers and Modifications . This Agreement may be modified, and the rights and remedies of any provisions hereof may be waived, only in accordance with this Section 13. No modification or waiver by the Company shall be effective without the express written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of Company then in office at the time of such modification or waiver. No waiver by either party of any breach by the other or any provision hereof shall be deemed to be a waiver of any later or other breach thereof or as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

14. Entire Agreement; Severance Policy . This Agreement sets forth all of the terms of the understandings between the parties with reference to the subject matter set forth herein and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof (including but not limited to any agreement that may have been executed shortly prior to execution hereof), and may not be waived, changed, discharged or terminated orally or by any course of dealing between the parties, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom any waiver, change, discharge or termination is sought. This Agreement supercedes any existing letter agreement or written or verbal agreement between the parties with respect to the employment of the Executive with Company. If Company adopts a policy governing the severance benefits available to employees generally and/or to employees at the Executive’s level of employment and the Executive’s employment with Company is terminated at a time that would entitle the Executive to receive benefits both hereunder and under such severance policy, the Executive shall be entitled to receive benefits at a level equal to the greater of the benefit level hereunder and the benefit level under the severance policy.

 

15. Assignment . The Executive acknowledges that the services to be rendered by him are unique and personal. Accordingly, the Executive may not assign any of his/her rights or delegate any of his/her duties or obligations under this Agreement. The Company shall have the right to assign this Agreement to its successors and assigns, and the rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the Company.

 

16. Notices . Unless otherwise stated, all notices hereunder shall be (i) delivered by hand, (ii) sent by first-class certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (iii) delivered by overnight commercial courier:

 

If to the Company:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

2101 91 st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

 

8


If to the Executive – to the Executive’s last known address on the records of the Company.

 

17. Survival of Obligations . The provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement as a continuing agreement of the Company and the Executive. The existence of any claim or cause of action by the Executive against the Company shall not constitute and shall not be asserted as a defense to the enforcement by the Company of this Agreement.

 

18. Use of the Term “Company” . The term Company as used herein shall mean VSI and/or Holdings, unless the context shall dictate otherwise, and the obligations of VSI and Holdings hereunder shall be joint and several, and any entities that are controlled by either of such entities.

 

9


19. Arbitration . Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or relating to Executive’s employment by the Company, that cannot be resolved by the Executive and the Company, shall be submitted to and resolved by arbitration in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall be conducted in Manhattan, New York. Any award rendered shall be final and conclusive upon the parties and a judgment thereon may be entered in a court having competent jurisdiction. The parties hereby agree to waive any right to a trial by jury for any disputes hereunder . Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 20 shall prevent the parties from exercising their right to bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive or other provisional relief to compel the other party hereto to comply with its obligations under Sections 5, 6, 7 or 8 of this Agreement. The prevailing party to any dispute resolved pursuant to this Agreement shall be awarded its reasonable costs and expenses from the other party, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

VS HOLDINGS, INC.
By:    
   

Name:

 

Thomas Tolworthy

   

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.
By:    
   

Name:

 

Thomas Tolworthy

   

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

EXECUTIVE    
 
     

 

10

Exhibit 10.22

 


HARTZ MOUNTAIN INDUSTRIES, INC.

Landlord,

and

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

Tenant

 


LEASE

 


Premises:

in

2101 91st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

ARTICLES

   PAGES

ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS

   1

ARTICLE 2 - DEMISE AND TERM

   5

ARTICLE 3 - RENT

   6

ARTICLE 4 - USE OF DEMISED PREMISES

   7

ARTICLE 5 - PREPARATION OF DEMISED PREMISES

   8

ARTICLE 6 - TAX AND OPERATING EXPENSE PAYMENTS

   9

ARTICLE 7 - COMMON AREAS

   10

ARTICLE 8 - SECURITY

   11

ARTICLE 9 - SUBORDINATION

   12

ARTICLE 10 - QUIET ENJOYMENT

   15

ARTICLE 11 - ASSIGNMENT, SUBLETTING AND MORTGAGING

   15

ARTICLE 12 - COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

   19

ARTICLE 13 - INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY

   20

ARTICLE 14 - RULES AND REGULATIONS

   22

ARTICLE 15 - ALTERATIONS AND SIGNS

   23

ARTICLE 16 - LANDLORD’S AND TENANT’S PROPERTY

   24

ARTICLE 17 - REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

   26

ARTICLE 18 - UTILITY CHARGES

   27

ARTICLE 19 - ACCESS, CHANGES AND NAME

   28

ARTICLE 20 - MECHANICS’ LIENS AND OTHER LIENS

   29

ARTICLE 21 - NON-LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

   29

ARTICLE 22 - DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION

   31

 

i


ARTICLE 23 - EMINENT DOMAIN

   33

ARTICLE 24 - SURRENDER

   34

ARTICLE 25 - CONDITIONS OF LIMITATION

   35

ARTICLE 26 - RE-ENTRY BY LANDLORD

   36

ARTICLE 27 - DAMAGES

   36

ARTICLE 28 - AFFIRMATIVE WAIVERS

   39

ARTICLE 29 - NO WAIVERS

   39

ARTICLE 30 - CURING DEFAULTS

   39

ARTICLE 31 - BROKER

   40

ARTICLE 32 - NOTICES

   41

ARTICLE 33 - ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATES

   41

ARTICLE 34 - ARBITRATION

   42

ARTICLE 35 - MEMORANDUM OF LEASE

   42

ARTICLE 36 - MISCELLANEOUS

   42

 

ii


LEASE, dated May      , 2002, between Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc., a New York corporation, having an office at 400 Plaza Drive, P.O. Box 1515, Secaucus, New Jersey 07096-1515 (“Landlord”), and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New Jersey corporation, having an office at 4700 Westside Avenue, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047 (“Tenant”).

ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS

1.01. As used in this Lease (including in all Exhibits and any Riders attached hereto, all of which shall be deemed to be part of this Lease) the following words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated:

A. Advance Rent: $139,996.29

B. Additional Charges: All amounts that become payable by Tenant to Landlord hereunder other than the Fixed Rent.

C. Architect: Vincent Antonacci, or as Landlord may designate.

D. Broker: Cushman & Wakefield

E. Building: The building or buildings now or hereafter located on the Land and known or to be known as 2101 91 5t Street, North Bergen, New Jersey.

F. Calendar Year: Any twelve-month period commencing on a January 1.

G. Commencement Date: The earlier of (a) the date on which both: (i) the Demised Premises shall be Ready for Occupancy, and (ii) actual possession of the Demised Premises shall have been delivered to Tenant by notice to Tenant, broom clean and vacant, or (b) the date Tenant, or anyone claiming under or through Tenant, first occupies the Demised Premises or any part thereof for any purpose other than the performance of Tenant’s Work. Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to have the Demised Premises Ready for Occupancy on or about June 8, 2002.

H. Common Areas: All areas, spaces and improvements in the Building and on the Land which Landlord makes available from time to time for the common use and benefit of the tenants and occupants of the Building (including, but not limited to the area cross-hatched in Red on Exhibit B) and which are not exclusively available for use by a single tenant or occupant, including, without limitation, parking areas, roads (including but not limited to access through the front driveway of the Building), walkways, sidewalks, landscaped and planted areas, community rooms, if any, the managing agent’s office, if any, and public rest rooms, if any.

I. Demised Premises: The premises that is outlined in red on the floor plan attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Demised Premises contains or will contain approximately 231,718 square feet of Floor Space.

J. Expiration Date: The date that is the day before the fifteenth (15 th ) anniversary of the Rent Commencement Date if the Rent Commencement Date is the first day of a month, or


the fifteenth (15 th ) anniversary of the last day of the month in which the Rent Commencement Date occurs if the Rent Commencement Date is not the first day of a month. However, if the Term is extended by Tenant’s effective exercise of Tenant’s right, if any, to extend the Term, the “Expiration Date” shall be changed to the last day of the latest extended period as to which Tenant shall have effectively exercised its right to extend the Term. For the purposes of this definition, the earlier termination of this Lease shall not affect the “Expiration Date.”

K. Fixed Rent: An amount at the following annual rates: from the Rent Commencement Date through the date which is the day before the fifth anniversary of the Rent Commencement Date (i.e. years 1-5): Seven and 25/100 Dollars ($7.25) multiplied by the Floor Space of the Demised Premises; and from the Fifth Anniversary of the Rent Commencement Date through the date which is the day before the tenth anniversary of the Rent Commencement Date (i.e. years 6-10): Eight and 40/100 Dollars ($8.40) multiplied by the Floor Space of the Demised Premises; and from the tenth anniversary of the Rent Commencement Date through the date which is the original Expiration Date (i.e. years 11-15): Nine and 85/100 Dollars ($9.85) multiplied by the Floor Space of the Demised Premises. It is intended that the Fixed Rent shall be an absolutely net return to Landlord throughout the Term, free of any expense, charge or other deduction whatsoever, with respect to the Demised Premises, the Building, the Land and/or the ownership, leasing, operation, management, maintenance, repair, rebuilding, use or occupation thereof, or any portion thereof, with respect to any interest of Landlord therein, except as may otherwise expressly be provided in this Lease.

L. Floor Space: Any reference to Floor Space of a demised premises shall mean the floor area stated in square feet bounded by the exterior faces of the exterior walls, or by the exterior or Common Areas face of any wall between the premises in question and any portion of the Common Areas, or by the center line of any wall between the premises in question and space leased or available to be leased to a tenant or occupant, plus a pro rata portion of the floor area of the Common Areas in the Building; and any reference to Floor Space of the Building shall mean the aggregate Floor Space of the demised premises leased or which Landlord has available to be leased in the Building. There will be no reduction of Floor Space measurements for setbacks for store fronts or service entrances, and Floor Space of any premises with a setback for a store front shall be measured to the line of such premises as if such premises had no setback. Any reference to the Floor Space is intended to refer to the Floor Space of the entire area in question irrespective of the Person(s) who may be the owner(s) of all or any part thereof.

M. Guarantor: None.

N. Insurance Requirements: Rules, regulations, orders and other requirements of the applicable board of underwriters and/or the applicable fire insurance rating organization and/or any other similar body performing the same or similar functions and having jurisdiction or cognizance over the Land and Building, whether now or hereafter in force.

O. Land: The Land upon which the Building and Common Areas are located. The Land is described on Exhibit B.

P. Landlord’s Work: The materials and work to be furnished, installed and performed by Landlord at its expense in accordance with the provisions of Exhibit C.

 

2


Q. Legal Requirements: Laws and ordinances of all federal, state, city, town, county, borough and village governments, and rules, regulations, orders and directives of all departments, subdivisions, bureaus, agencies or offices thereof, and of any other governmental, public or quasi-public authorities having jurisdiction over the Land and Building, whether now or hereafter in force, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to environmental matters.

R. Mortgage: A mortgage and/or a deed of trust.

S. Mortgagee: A holder of a mortgage or a beneficiary of a deed of trust.

T. Operating Expenses: The sum of the following: the cost and expense (whether or not within the contemplation of the parties) for the repair, replacement (subject, with respect to the roof, to the provisions of paragraph R9 of the Rider), maintenance, policing, insurance and operation of the Building and Land, but not including Real Estate Taxes (said Real Estate Taxes being covered by Section 6.01 of this Lease). The “Operating Expenses” shall include, without limitation, the following: (i) the cost for rent, casualty, liability, boiler and fidelity insurance, (ii) if an independent managing agent is employed by Landlord, the fees payable to such agent (provided the same are competitive with the fees payable to independent managing agents of comparable facilities; provided however that so long as Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc or its affiliate is the owner of the Demised Premises such fee shall not exceed the amount permitted pursuant to subsection (iv) below (such limitation shall not, however, be binding upon any Superior Mortgagees or Successor Landlord), (iii) costs and expenses incurred for legal, accounting and other professional services in connection with the operation of the Land and the Building (including, but not limited to, costs and expenses for in-house or staff legal counselor outside counsel at rates not to exceed the reasonable and customary charges for any such services as would be imposed in an arms length third party agreement for such services, but not including costs and expenses incurred in connection with any negotiation of any lease in the Building, enforcement of lease provisions (other than relating to Common Areas or Rules and Regulations) or the collection of rent, plus (iv) if Landlord (or its affiliate) is itself managing the Building and has not employed an independent third party for such management, an amount equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the amounts included for the other items constituting Operating Expenses (excluding insurance) for Landlord’s home office administration and overhead cost and expense. All items included in Operating Expenses shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

U. Permitted Uses: Warehousing, distribution and related packaging of non-hazardous materials and ancillary offices and, subject to compliance by Tenant with applicable Legal Requirements, a warehouse outlet store incidental to the operation of the warehouse portion of the Demised Premises in an area not to exceed the lesser of (i) 7,000 square feet or (ii) the size permitted by applicable zoning requirements.

V. Person: A natural person or persons, a partnership, a corporation, or any other form of business or legal association or entity.

W. Ready for Occupancy: The condition of the Demised Premises when for the first time: (a) the Landlord’s Work shall have been substantially completed and a temporary permanent, or continuing Certificate of Occupancy shall have been issued permitting use of the

 

3


Demised Premises for the Permitted Uses, or (b) the following have occurred: (1) the Landlord’s Work shall have been substantially completed to the extent required such that the non-completion of any remaining Landlord’s Work would not prevent the issuance of a temporary, permanent, or continuing Certificate of Occupancy, permitting the lawful occupancy of the Demised Premises by Tenant for the Permitted Uses upon completion of Tenant’s Work by Tenant and (2) the Architect shall have delivered a certificate to Tenant that Landlord’s Work has been so completed The Landlord’s Work shall be deemed substantially completed notwithstanding the fact that minor or insubstantial details of construction, mechanical adjustment or decoration remain to be performed, the non-completion of which does not materially interfere with Tenant’s use of the Demised Premises.

X. Real Estate Taxes: The real estate taxes, assessments and special assessments imposed upon the Building and Land by any federal, state, municipal or other governments or governmental bodies or authorities, and any expenses incurred by Landlord in contesting such taxes or assessments and/or the assessed value of the Building and Land, which expenses shall be allocated to the period of time to which such expenses relate. If at any time during the Term the methods of taxation prevailing on the date hereof shall be altered so that in lieu of, or as an addition to or as a substitute for, the whole or any part of such real estate taxes, assessments and special assessments now imposed on real estate there shall be levied, assessed or imposed (a) a tax, assessment, levy, imposition, license fee or charge wholly or partially as a capital levy or otherwise on the rents received therefrom, or (b) any other such additional or substitute tax, assessment, levy, imposition or charge, then all such taxes, assessments, levies, impositions, fees or charges or the part thereof so measured or based shall be deemed to be included within the term “Real Estate Taxes” for the purposes hereof.

Y. Rent: The Fixed Rent and the Additional Charges.

Z. Rent Commencement Date: The date which is earlier to occur of: (a) the date which is sixty (60) days after Commencement Date and (b) the date which is sixty (60) days after the date specified by Landlord in a written notice to tenant that Tenant shall be permitted to enter upon the Demised Premises for the purpose of commencement of Tenant’s Work, other than the mere taking of measurements (or such earlier date as Tenant actually enters upon the Demised Premises for the purpose of commencement of Tenant’s Work other than the mere taking of measurements), but the Rent Commencement Date shall not be earlier than August 1, 2002, unless the Tenant occupies the Demised Premises for the conduct of Tenant’s business, other than the performance of Tenant’s Work prior to such date.

AA. Rules and Regulations: The reasonable rules and regulations, if any, that may be promulgated by Landlord from time to time, which may be reasonably changed by Landlord from time to time, as more particularly provided in Section 14.01 hereof.

BB. Security Deposit: Such amount as Tenant has deposited or hereinafter deposits with Landlord as security under this Lease. Tenant has deposited the sum of $4l9,988.87 with Landlord in the form of a letter of credit, as security hereunder as of the date hereof.

CC. Successor Landlord: As defined in Section 9.03.

 

4


DD. Superior Lease: Any lease to which this Lease is, at the time referred to, subject and subordinate.

EE. Superior Lessor: The lessor of a Superior Lease or its successor in interest, at the time referred to.

FF. Superior Mortgage: Any Mortgage to which this Lease is, at the time referred to, subject and subordinate.

GG. Superior Mortgagee: The Mortgagee of a Superior Mortgage at the time referred to.

HH. Tenant’s Fraction: The Tenant’s Fraction shall mean the fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Floor Space of the Demised Premises and the denominator of which shall be the Floor Space of the Building (i.e. 66.4%). If the size of the Demised Premises or the Building shall be changed from the initial size thereof, due to any taking, any construction or alteration work or otherwise, the Tenant’s Fraction shall be changed to the fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Floor Space of the Demised Premises and the denominator of which shall be the Floor Space of the Building. In the event Landlord determines that Tenant’s utilization of any item of Operating Expenses exceeds the fraction referred to above, Tenant’s Fraction with respect to such item shall, at Landlord’s option, mean the percentage of any such item (but not less than the fraction referred to above) which Landlord reasonably estimates as Tenant’s proportionate share thereof.

II. Tenant’s Property: As defined in Section 16.02.

JJ. Tenant’s Work: The facilities, materials and work which may be undertaken by or for the account of Tenant (other than the Landlord’s Work) to equip, decorate and furnish the Demised Premises for Tenant’s occupancy.

KK. Term: The period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending at 11:59 p.m. of the Expiration Date, but in any event the Term shall end on the date when this Lease is earlier terminated.

LL. Unavoidable Delays: A delay arising from or as a result of a strike, lockout, or labor difficulty, explosion, sabotage, accident, riot or civil commotion, act of war, fire or other catastrophe, Legal Requirement or an act of the other party and any cause beyond the reasonable control of that party, provided that the party asserting such Unavoidable Delay has exercised its best efforts to minimize such delay.

ARTICLE 2 - DEMISE AND TERM

2.01. Landlord hereby leases to Tenant, and Tenant hereby hires from Landlord, the Demised Premises, for the Term. This Lease is subject to (a) any and all existing encumbrances, conditions, rights, covenants, easements, restrictions and rights of way, of record, and other matters of record, applicable zoning and building laws, regulations and codes, and such matters as may be disclosed by an inspection or survey, and (b) easements now or hereafter created by Landlord in, under, over, across and upon the Land for sewer, water, electric, gas and other

 

5


utility lines and services now or hereafter installed, provided, however, Landlord represents covenants and warrants to Tenant that the Demised Premises may as of the date hereof be used and occupied for the purposes set forth herein; and that the foregoing shall in no manner interfere with Tenant’s use and quiet enjoyment of the Demised Premises, provided however that no representation or warranty is made with respect to any retail use or any use other than as a warehouse distribution facility. Promptly following the Commencement Date, the parties hereto shall, upon request or either Landlord or Tenant, enter into an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Landlord setting forth the Commencement Date.

ARTICLE 3 - RENT

3.01. Tenant shall pay the Fixed Rent in equal monthly installments in advance on the first day of each and every calendar month during the Term (except that Tenant shall pay, upon the execution and delivery of this Lease by Tenant, the Advance Rent, to be applied against the first installment or installments of Fixed Rent becoming due under this Lease). If the Commencement Date occurs on a day other than the first day of a calendar month, the Fixed Rent for the partial calendar month at the commencement of the Term shall be prorated.

3.02. The Rent shall be paid in lawful money of the United States to Landlord at its office, or such other place, or Landlord’s agent, as Landlord shall designate by notice to Tenant. Tenant shall pay the Rent promptly when due without notice or demand therefor and without any abatement, deduction or setoff for any reason whatsoever, except as may be expressly provided in this Lease. If Tenant makes any payment to Landlord by check, same shall be by check of Tenant and Landlord shall not be required to accept the check of any other Person, and any check received by Landlord shall be deemed received subject to collection. If any check is mailed by Tenant, Tenant shall post such check in sufficient time prior to the date when payment is due so that such check will be received by Landlord on or before the date when payment is due. Tenant shall assume the risk of lateness or failure of delivery of the mails, and no lateness or failure of the mails will excuse Tenant from its obligation to have made the payment in question when required under this Lease.

3.03. No payment by Tenant or receipt or acceptance by Landlord of a lesser amount than the correct Rent shall be deemed to be other than a payment on account, nor shall any endorsement or statement on any check or any letter accompanying any check or payment be deemed an accord and satisfaction, and Landlord may accept such check or payment without prejudice to Landlord’s right to recover the balance or pursue any other remedy in this Lease or at law provided.

3.04. If Tenant is in arrears in payment of Rent, Tenant waives Tenant’s right, if any, to designate the items to which any payments made by Tenant are to be credited, and Landlord may apply any payments made by Tenant to such items as Landlord sees fit, irrespective of and notwithstanding any designation or request by Tenant as to the items to which any such payments shall be credited.

3.05. In the event that any installment of Rent due hereunder shall be overdue, a “Late Charge” equal to four percent (4%) or the maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is less (“Late Payment Rate”) for Rent so overdue may be charged by Landlord for each month or part

 

6


thereof that the same remains overdue. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, provided Tenant is not otherwise in default under this Lease beyond applicable notice and cure periods, Landlord shall waive the Late Charge with respect to Tenant’s first two (2) late payments of Rent within each consecutive twelve month period during the Term, provided further that Tenant pays such late Rent within ten (10) days after written notice or invoice that same has not been paid. In the event that any check tendered by Tenant to Landlord is returned for insufficient funds, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, in addition to the charge imposed by the preceding sentence, a fee of $25.00. Any such Late Charges if not previously paid shall, at the option of the Landlord, be added to and become part of the next succeeding Rent payment to be made hereunder.

ARTICLE 4 - USE OF DEMISED PREMISES

4.01. Tenant shall use and occupy the Demised Premises for the Permitted Uses, and Tenant shall not use or permit or suffer the use of the Demised Premises or any part thereof for any other purpose.

4.02. If any governmental license or permit, shall be required for the proper and lawful conduct of Tenant’s business in the Demised Premises or any part thereof, Tenant shall duly procure and thereafter maintain such license or permit and submit the same to Landlord for inspection. Tenant shall at all times comply with the terms and conditions of each such license or permit. Tenant shall not at any time use or occupy, or suffer or permit anyone to use or occupy the Demised Premises, or do or permit anything to be done in the Demised Premises, in any manner which (a) violates the certificate of occupancy or certificate of continued occupancy (a “Certificate of Occupancy”) for the Demised Premises or for the Building; (b) causes or is liable to cause injury to the Building or any equipment, facilities or systems therein; (c) constitutes a violation of the Legal Requirements or Insurance Requirements; (d) impairs or tends to impair the character, reputation or appearance of the Building; (e) impairs or tends to impair the proper and economic maintenance, operation and repair of the Building and/or its equipment, facilities or systems; or (f) annoys or inconveniences or tends to annoy or inconvenience other tenants or occupants of the Building.

4.03. Tenant shall not conduct any warehouse sale at the Demised Premises without Landlord’s prior written consent. Outlet store sales from the Retail Premises permitted by paragraph R2 of the Rider to this Lease shall not be considered warehouse sales for purposes of this Section 4.03. Provided Tenant is not in default of its obligations under this Lease, Landlord agrees not to unreasonably withhold its consent to not more than three (3) warehouse sales in any consecutive twelve (12) month period. Tenant shall pay to Landlord as an Additional Charge, an amount equal to five percent (5%) of Gross Receipts (as hereinafter defined) from any warehouse sale conducted at the Demised Premises, payable within fifteen (15) days after the warehouse sale. Tenant shall comply, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense with all Legal Requirements with respect to any warehouse sale. Any warehouse sale conducted by Tenant shall be not more than four (4) consecutive days in duration. As used herein Gross Receipts shall mean the dollar aggregate of: (a) the actual sales price of all goods and merchandise sold, leased or licensed and the charges for all services performed by Tenant or otherwise in connection with all business conducted at such warehouse sale, whether made for cash, by check, credit or otherwise, without reserve or deduction for inability or failure to collect the same, including, without limitation, sales and services (i) where the orders therefor originate at or are accepted at

 

7


or from the Demised Premises, whether delivery or performance thereof is made at or from the Demised Premises or any other place, it being understood that all sales made and orders received at or from the Demised Premises shall be deemed to have been made and completed therein even though the orders are fulfilled elsewhere or the payments of account are transferred to some other office for collection, and (ii) where the orders therefor result from solicitation off the Demised Premises but which are conducted by personnel operating from or reporting to or under the control or supervision of any person at the Demised Premises, and (b) all monies or other things of value received by Tenant from its operations at the Demised Premises (which are not excluded from Gross Receipts by the next succeeding sentence) including all finance charges, cost of gift or merchandise certificates and all deposits not refunded to customers. Gross Receipts shall not include (x) the exchange of merchandise between stores of Tenant where such exchange is made solely for the convenient operation of Tenant’s business and neither for the purpose of depriving Landlord of the benefits of a sale which would otherwise be made at or from the Demised Premises nor for the purpose of consummating a sale which has been theretofore made at or from the Demised Premises, or (y) the amount of any city, county, state or federal sales tax, luxury tax or excise tax on sales if the tax is added to the selling price and separately stated and actually paid to the taxing authority by Tenant; provided, however, no franchise or capital stock tax and no income or similar tax based upon income, profits or Gross Receipts shall be deducted from Gross Receipts in any event whatsoever. Cash or credit refunds made upon transactions included within the Gross Receipts, but not exceeding the selling price of merchandise returned by the purchaser and accepted by Tenant, shall be deducted from the Gross Receipts for the period when such refunds are made. Each charge or sale upon installment or credit or layaway, so called, shall be treated as a sale for the full price irrespective of the time when Tenant shall receive payment from its customer. For purposes of this paragraph the word “Tenant” shall include any of Tenant’s subtenants, concessionaires and licensees.

ARTICLE 5 - PREPARATION OF DEMISED PREMISES

5.01. The Demised Premises shall be completed and prepared for Tenant’s occupancy in the manner described in, and subject to the provisions of, Exhibit C. Tenant shall occupy the Demised Premises promptly after the same are Ready for Occupancy and possession thereof is delivered to Tenant by Landlord giving to Tenant a notice of such effect. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Lease, the taking of possession by Tenant of the Demised Premises shall be conclusive evidence as against Tenant that the Demised Premises and the Building were in good and satisfactory condition at the time such possession was taken. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Lease, Tenant is leasing the Demised Premises “as is” on the date hereof, subject to reasonable wear and tear.

5.02. If the substantial completion of the Landlord’s Work shall be delayed due to (a) any act or omission of Tenant or any of its employees, agents or contractors (including, without limitation, [i] any delays due to changes in or additions to the Landlord’s Work, or [ii] any delays by Tenant in the submission of plans, drawings, specifications or other information or in approving any working drawings or estimates or in giving any authorizations or approvals), or (b) any additional time needed for the completion of the Landlord’s Work by the inclusion in the Landlord’s Work of any items specified by Tenant that require long lead time for delivery or installation, then the Demised Premises shall be deemed Ready for Occupancy on the date when they would have been ready but for such delay(s). The Demised Premises shall be conclusively

 

8


presumed to be in satisfactory condition on the Commencement Date except for the minor or insubstantial details of which Tenant gives Landlord notice within thirty (30) days after the Commencement Date specifying such details with reasonable particularity.

5.03. Landlord represents that as of the date hereof the prior tenant of the Demised Premises has vacated and that prior lease of the Demised Premises to Webvan has been terminated and is of no further force or effect with respect to the Demised Premises.

5.04. Landlord reserves the right, subject to the provisions of paragraph R16 of the Rider, at any time and from time to time, to increase, reduce or change the number, type, size, location, elevation, nature and use of any of the Common Areas and the Building and any other buildings and other improvements on the Land, including, without limitation, the right to move and/or remove same, provided same shall not unreasonably block or interfere with Tenant’s parking, or use of, or means of ingress or egress to and from, the Demised Premises.

ARTICLE 6 - TAX AND OPERATING EXPENSE PAYMENTS

6.01. Tenant shall pay to Landlord, as hereinafter provided, Tenant’s Fraction of the Real Estate Taxes. Tenant’s Fraction of the Real Estate Taxes shall be the Real Estate Taxes in respect of the Building for the period in question, multiplied by the Tenant’s Fraction, plus the Real Estate Taxes in respect of the Land for the period in question, multiplied by the Tenant’s Fraction. If any portion of the Building shall be exempt from all or any part of the Real Estate Taxes, then for the period of time when such exemption is in effect, the Floor Space on such exempt portion shall be excluded when making the above computations in respect of the part of the Real Estate Taxes for which such portion shall be exempt. Landlord shall estimate the annual amount of Tenant’s Fraction of the Real Estate Taxes (which estimate may be changed by Landlord at any time and from time to time), and Tenant shall pay to Landlord 1/l2 th of the amount so estimated on the first day of each month in advance. Tenant shall also pay to Landlord on demand from time to time the amount which, together with said monthly installments, will be sufficient in Landlord’s estimation to pay Tenant’s Fraction of any Real Estate Taxes thirty (30) days prior to the date when such Real Estate Taxes shall first become due. When the amount of any item comprising Real Estate Taxes is finally determined for a real estate fiscal tax year, Landlord shall submit to Tenant a statement in reasonable detail of the same, and the figures used for computing Tenant’s Fraction of the same, and if Tenant’s Fraction so stated is more or less than the amount theretofore paid by Tenant for such item based on Landlord’s estimate, Tenant shall pay to Landlord the deficiency within twenty (20) days after submission of such statement, or Landlord shall, at its sole election, either refund to Tenant the excess or apply same to future installments of Real Estate Taxes due hereunder. Any Real Estate Taxes for a real estate fiscal tax year, a part of which is included within the Term and a part of which is not so included, shall be apportioned on the basis of the number of days in the real estate fiscal tax year included in the Term, and the real estate fiscal tax year for any improvement assessment will be deemed to be the one-year period commencing on the date when such assessment is due, except that if any improvement assessment is payable in installments, the real estate fiscal tax year for each installment will be deemed to be the one-year period commencing on the date when such installment is due. If any special or added assessment is payable in installments Landlord will elect that same shall be payable in the longest period offered by the municipality (provided however that any such assessment resulting from any alteration or other

 

9


work performed by Tenant shall be paid by Tenant in its entirety during the Term and prior to the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease). The above computations shall be made by Landlord in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Floor Space referred to will be based upon the average of the Floor Space in existence on the first day of each month during the period in question. In addition to the foregoing, Tenant shall be responsible for any Real Estate Taxes attributable to assessments for improvements installed by or for the account of Tenant at the Demised Premises. If the Demised Premises are not separately assessed, the amount of any such increase shall be determined by reference to the records of the tax assessor. The Tenant shall not be responsible for any increases in Real Estate Taxes attributable to assessments for interior improvements installed by or for the account of any other tenant of the Building outside of the Demised Premises which are solely for the exclusive benefit of such other tenant.

6.02. Real Estate Taxes, whether or not a lien upon the Demised Premises shall be apportioned between Landlord and Tenant at the beginning and end of the Term; it being intended that Tenant shall pay only that portion of the Real Estate Taxes as is allocable to the Demised Premises for the Term.

6.03. Tenant shall pay to Landlord Tenant’s Fraction of the Operating Expenses within twenty (20) days after Landlord submits to Tenant an invoice for same.

6.04. Each such statement given by Landlord pursuant to Section 6.01 or Section 6.03 shall be conclusive and binding upon Tenant unless within ninety (90) days after the receipt of such statement Tenant shall notify Landlord that it disputes the correctness of the statement, specifying the particular respects in which the statement is claimed to be incorrect. If such dispute is not settled by agreement, either party may submit the dispute to arbitration as provided in Article 34. Pending the determination of such dispute by agreement or arbitration as aforesaid, Tenant shall, within twenty (20) days after receipt of such statement, pay the Additional Charges in accordance with Landlord’s statement, without prejudice to Tenant’s position. If the dispute shall be determined in Tenant’s favor, Landlord shall forthwith pay to Tenant the amount of Tenant’s overpayment resulting from compliance with Landlord’s statement.

ARTICLE 7 - COMMON AREAS

7.01. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided in this Lease and so long as Tenant is not in default under this Lease beyond any applicable notice or cure period, Landlord will operate, manage, equip, light, repair and maintain, or cause to be operated, managed, equipped, lighted, repaired and maintained, the Common Areas for their intended purposes. Landlord reserves the right, subject to the provisions of paragraph R16 of the Rider, at any time and from time to time, to construct within the Common Areas kiosks, and to install vending machines, telephone booths, benches and the like, provided same shall not unreasonably block or interfere with Tenant’s parking or use of, or means of ingress or egress to and from, the Demised Premises.

7.02. So long as Tenant is not in default in the payment of Rent or of any other material obligation of Tenant under this Lease beyond any applicable notice or cure period, Tenant and its

 

10


subtenants and concessionaires, and their respective officers, employees, agents, customers and invitees, shall, during the Term, have the non-exclusive right, in common with Landlord and all others to whom Landlord has granted or may hereafter grant such right, but subject to the Rules and Regulations, to use the Common Areas. Landlord reserves the right, at any time and from time to time, to close temporarily all or any portions of the Common Areas when in Landlord’s reasonable judgment any such closing is necessary or desirable (a) to make repairs or changes or to effect construction, (b) to prevent the acquisition of public rights in such areas, (c) to discourage unauthorized parking, or (d) to protect or preserve natural persons or property. Landlord may do such other acts in and to the Common Areas as in its judgment may be desirable to improve or maintain same.

7.03. Tenant agrees that it, any subtenant or licensee and their respective officers, employees, contractors and agents will park their automobiles and other vehicles only where and as permitted by Landlord. Tenant will, if and when so requested by Landlord, furnish Landlord with the license numbers of any vehicles of Tenant, any subtenant or licensee and their respective officers, employees and agents.

ARTICLE 8 - SECURITY

8.01. (a) In the event Tenant deposits with Landlord any Security Deposit, the same shall be held as security for the full and faithful payment and performance by Tenant of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease. If Tenant defaults in the full and prompt payment and performance of any of its obligations under this Lease, including, without limitation, the payment of Rent, Landlord may use, apply or retain the whole or any part of the Security Deposit to the extent required for the payment of any Rent or any other sums as to which Tenant is in default or for any sum which Landlord may expend or may be required to expend by reason of Tenant’s default in respect of any of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease, including, without limitation, any damages or deficiency in the reletting of the Demised Premises, whether such damages or deficiency accrue before or after summary proceedings or other re-entry by Landlord. If Landlord shall so use, apply or retain the whole or any part of the security, Tenant shall upon demand immediately deposit with Landlord a sum equal to the amount so used, applied and retained, as security as aforesaid. If Tenant shall fully and faithfully pay and perform all of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease, the Security Deposit or any balance thereof to which Tenant is entitled shall be returned or paid over to Tenant after the date on which this Lease shall expire or sooner end or terminate, and after delivery to Landlord of entire possession of the Demised Premises. In the event of any sale or leasing of the Land, Landlord shall have the right to transfer the security to which Tenant is entitled to the vendee or lessee and Landlord shall thereupon be released by Tenant from all liability for the return or payment thereof; and Tenant shall look solely to the new landlord for the return or payment of the same; and the provisions hereof shall apply to every transfer or assignment made of the same to a new landlord. Tenant shall not assign or encumber or attempt to assign or encumber the monies deposited herein as security, and neither Landlord nor its successors or assigns shall be bound by any such assignment, encumbrance, attempted assignment or attempted encumbrance.

8.01. (b) In lieu of the cash security required by this Lease, Tenant shall provide to Landlord an irrevocable transferable Letter of Credit in the amount of the Security Deposit in form and substance satisfactory to Landlord and issued by a financial institution approved by

 

11


Landlord. Landlord (Landlord acknowledges that as of the date of this Lease Antares Bank is an acceptable financial institution for purposes of this paragraph) shall have the right, upon written notice to Tenant (except that for Tenant’s non-payment of Rent or for Tenant’s failure to comply with Article 8.03, no such notice shall be required) and regardless of the exercise of any other remedy the Landlord may have by reason of a default, to draw upon said Letter of Credit to cure any default of Tenant or for any purpose authorized by section 8.01(a) of this Lease and if Landlord does so, Tenant shall, upon demand, additionally fund the Letter of Credit with the amount so drawn so that Landlord shall have the full deposit on hand at all times during the Term of the Lease and for a period of thirty (30) days’ thereafter. In the event of a sale of the Building or a lease of the Building subject to this Lease, Landlord shall have the right to transfer the security to the vendee or lessee.

8.02. The Letter of Credit shall expire not earlier than thirty (30) days after the Expiration Date of this Lease. The Letter of Credit may be of the type which is automatically renewed on an annual basis (Annual Renewal Date), provided however, in such event Tenant shall maintain the Letter of Credit and its renewals in full force and effect during the entire Term of this Lease (including any renewals or extensions) and for a period of thirty (30) days thereafter. The Letter of Credit will contain a provision requiring the issuer thereof to give the beneficiary (Landlord) sixty (60) days’ advance written notice of its intention not to renew the Letter of Credit on the next Annual Renewal Date.

8.03. In the event Tenant shall fail to deliver to Landlord a substitute irrevocable Letter of Credit, in the amount stated above, on or before thirty (30) days prior to the next Annual Renewal Date, said failure shall be deemed a default under this Lease. Landlord may, in its discretion treat this the same as a default in the payment of Rent or any other default and pursue the appropriate remedy. In addition, and not in limitation, Landlord shall be permitted to draw upon the Letter of Credit as in the case of any other default by Tenant under the Lease.

8.04. Provided Tenant is not then in default of its obligations under this Lease (beyond any applicable notice and cure period and Tenant timely cures any such default with such notice and cure period), Landlord shall consent to a reduction of the Security Deposit to an amount equal to two months’ Fixed Rent (i.e. Two Hundred Seventy-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Two & 58/100 Dollars ($279,992.58) on the Rent Commencement Date. Provided Tenant is not then in default of its obligations under this Lease (beyond any applicable notice and cure period and Tenant timely cures any such default with such notice and cure period), Landlord shall consent to a reduction of the Security Deposit to an amount equal to one month’s Fixed Rent (i.e. One Hundred Thirty-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Six & 29/100 Dollars ($139,996.29) on the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the Rent Commencement Date. Such reductions shall be reflected by an amendment of the Letter of Credit in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Landlord. In no event however shall the Letter of Credit contain a provision for its automatic reduction.

ARTICLE 9 - SUBORDINATION

9.01. This Lease, and all rights of Tenant hereunder, are and shall be subject and subordinate to all Mortgages which may now affect the Land and/or building whether or not such Mortgages or leases shall also cover other lands and/or buildings, to each and every advance

 

12


made or hereafter to be made under such Mortgages, and to all renewals, modifications, replacements and extensions of such leases and such Mortgages and spreaders and consolidations of such Mortgages. Provided that (a) a future Mortgagee seeking to be a Superior Mortgagee shall execute and deliver to Tenant an agreement, in recordable form, substantially in the form attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit F-1, or if required by such Mortgagee, in such Mortgagee’s then standard form to the effect that, provided no event of default beyond any applicable notice and cure period has occurred and is continuing hereunder, such Superior Mortgagee will not name or join Tenant as a party defendant or otherwise in any suit, action or proceeding to enforce any rights granted to such Superior Mortgagee against Landlord under its Superior Mortgage, and to the further effect that if there shall be a foreclosure of its Superior Mortgage, that the Superior Mortgagee will not make Tenant a party defendant to such foreclosure, evict Tenant, disturb Tenant’s possession under this Lease, or terminate or disturb Tenant’s Leasehold estate or rights, hereunder, or (b) each future Superior Lessor shall execute and deliver to Tenant a non-disturbance agreement, in recordable form, reasonably satisfactory to Landlord and Tenant to the effect that, provided no event of default beyond any applicable notice and cure period has occurred and is continuing hereunder, such Superior Lessor will neither name nor join Tenant as a party defendant or otherwise in any suit, action or proceeding to enforce any rights granted to such Superior Lessor against Landlord under its Superior Lease, and to the further effect that if its Superior Lease shall terminate or be terminated for any reason, such Superior Lessor will recognize Tenant as the direct tenant of such Superior Lessor on the same terms as are contained in this Lease (any such agreement of similar import from a Superior Mortgagee or a Superior Lessor, as the case may be, being hereinafter referred to as a “Non-Disturbance Agreement”), this Lease, and all rights of Tenant hereunder, are and shall be subject and subordinate to all ground leases and underlying leases of the Land and/or the Building now or hereafter existing and to all Mortgages made by Landlord or any Superior Lessor or their successors or assigns which may now or hereafter affect the Land and/or building and/or any of such leases, whether or not such Mortgages or leases shall also cover other lands and/or buildings, to each and every advance made or hereafter to be made under such Mortgages, and to all renewals, modifications, replacements and extensions of such leases and such Mortgages and spreaders and consolidations of such Mortgages. The provisions of this Section 9.01 shall be self-operative and no further instrument of subordination shall be required. In confirmation of such subordination, Tenant shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver any instrument that Landlord, the lessor under any such lease or the Mortgagee of any such Mortgage or any of their respective successors in interest may reasonably request to evidence such subordination; and if Tenant fails to execute, acknowledge or deliver any such instruments within 10 days after request therefor, Tenant hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Landlord as Tenant’s attorney-in-fact, coupled with an interest, to execute and deliver any such instruments for and on behalf of Tenant.

9.02. If any act or omission of Landlord would give Tenant the right, immediately or after lapse of a period of time, to cancel or terminate this Lease, or to claim a partial or total eviction, Tenant shall not exercise such right (a) until it has given written notice of such act or omission to Landlord and each Superior Mortgagee and each Superior Lessor whose name and address shall previously have been furnished to Tenant, and (b) until a reasonable period for remedying such act or omission shall have elapsed following the giving of such notice and following the time when such Superior Mortgagee or Superior Lessor shall have become entitled under such Superior Mortgage or Superior Lease, as the case may be, to remedy the same (which

 

13


reasonable period shall in no event be less than the period to which Landlord would be entitled under this Lease or otherwise, after similar notice, to effect such remedy), provided such Superior Mortgagee or Superior Lessor shall with due diligence give Tenant notice of intention to, and commence and continue to, remedy such act or omission.

9.03. If any Superior Lessor or Superior Mortgagee shall succeed to the rights of Landlord under this Lease, whether through possession or foreclosure action or delivery of a new lease or deed, then at the request of such party so succeeding to Landlord’s rights (“Successor Landlord”) and upon such Successor Landlord’s written agreement to accept Tenant’s attornment, Tenant shall attorn to and recognize such Successor Landlord as Tenant’s landlord under this Lease and shall promptly execute and deliver any instrument that such Successor Landlord may reasonably request to evidence such attornment. Upon such attornment this Lease shall continue in full force and effect as a direct lease between the Successor Landlord and Tenant upon all of the terms, conditions and covenants as are set forth in this Lease except that the Successor Landlord shall not (a) be liable for any previous act or omission of Landlord under this Lease; (b) be subject to any offset, not expressly provided for in this Lease, which theretofore shall have accrued to Tenant against Landlord; (c) be liable for the return of any Security Deposit, in whole or in part, to the extent that same is not paid over to the Successor Landlord; or (d) be bound by any previous modification of this Lease or by any previous prepayment of more than one month’s Fixed Rent or Additional Charges, unless such modification or prepayment shall have been expressly approved in writing by the Superior Lessor of the Superior Lease or the Mortgagee of the Superior Mortgage through or by reason of which the Successor Landlord shall have succeeded to the rights of Landlord under this Lease.

9.04. If any then present or prospective Superior Mortgagee shall require any modification(s) of this Lease, Tenant shall promptly execute and deliver to Landlord such instruments effecting such modification(s) as Landlord shall request, provided that such modification(s) do not adversely affect in any material respect any of Tenant’s rights under this Lease.

9.05. (a) Landlord shall request that its current Superior Mortgagee provide Tenant with a Non-Disturbance Subordination and Attornment Agreement (herein referred to as an “SNDA”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F-2. In the event said Superior Mortgagee does not provide such SNDA within ten (10) business days after the date of execution of this Lease, either Landlord or Tenant may terminate this Lease upon written notice to the other, given not later than eleven (11) business days after the date of execution of this Lease by Landlord and Tenant; provided, however that Landlord shall have the right to render such termination notice from Tenant null and void, if Landlord obtains such SNDA prior to the date which is five (5) days after receipt of Tenant’s termination notice hereunder. If such termination notice is not given by the date which is ten (10) business days after the date of execution of this Lease by Landlord and Tenant, the parties shall have forever waived their respective rights to terminate this Lease pursuant to this Section 9.05(a), time being of the essence with respect to the exercise of such right. The provisions of this Section 9.05(a) shall apply only with respect to the Superior Mortgagee as of the date of execution of this Lease by landlord and Tenant and shall not be applicable with respect to future Mortgagees or future Superior Mortgagees.

 

14


(b) Landlord shall request that any present or future Superior Mortgagee make the proceeds of insurance available for restoration, subject to such Superior Mortgagee’s customary conditions for application of such proceeds to restoration. The failure or refusal of such Superior Mortgagee to agree to such provision shall not effect the Tenant’s obligations under this Lease or be construed as a breach of this Lease by Landlord or such Superior Mortgagee.

ARTICLE 10 - QUIET ENJOYMENT

10.01. So long as Tenant pays all of the Rent and performs all of Tenant’s other obligations hereunder, Tenant shall peaceably and quietly have, hold and enjoy the Demised Premises without hindrance, ejection or molestation by Landlord or any Person lawfully claiming through or under Landlord, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of this Lease and to Superior Leases and Superior Mortgages.

ARTICLE 11 - ASSIGNMENT, SUBLETTING AND MORTGAGING

11.01. Tenant shall not, whether voluntarily, involuntarily, or by operation of law or otherwise, (a) assign or otherwise transfer this Lease, or offer or advertise to do so, (b) sublet the Demised Premises or any part thereof, or offer or advertise to do so, or allow the same to be used, occupied or utilized by anyone other than Tenant, or (c) mortgage, pledge, encumber or otherwise hypothecate this Lease in any manner whatsoever, without in each instance obtaining the prior written consent of Landlord.

Landlord agrees not to unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to the subletting of the Demised Premises or an assignment of this Lease. In determining reasonableness, Landlord may take into consideration all relevant factors surrounding the proposed sublease and assignment, including, without limitation, the following: (i) The business reputation of the proposed assignee or subtenant and its officers or directors in relation to the other tenants or occupants of the Building or Development; (ii) the nature of the business and the proposed use of the Demised Premises by the proposed assignee or subtenant in relation to the other tenants or occupants of the Building or Development; (iii) whether the proposed assignee or subtenant is then a tenant (or subsidiary, affiliate or parent of a tenant) of other space in the Building or Development, or any other property owned or managed by Landlord or its affiliates; (iv) the financial condition of the proposed assignee or subtenant; (v) restrictions, if any, contained in leases or other agreements affecting the Building and the Development; (vi) the effect that the proposed assignee’s or subtenant’s occupancy or use of the Demised Premises would have upon the operation and maintenance of the Building and the Development; (vii) the extent to which the proposed assignee or subtenant and Tenant provide Landlord with assurances reasonably satisfactory to Landlord as to the satisfaction of Tenant’s obligations hereunder. In any event, at no time shall there be more than two (2) subtenants of the Demised Premises permitted (i.e. three occupants inclusive of Tenant).

In the event the Demised Premises are sublet or this Lease is assigned, Tenant shall pay to Landlord as an Additional Charge the following amounts less the actual reasonable expense incurred by Tenant in connection with such assignment or subletting, as substantiated by Tenant, in writing, to Landlord’s reasonable satisfaction, including, without limitation, a reasonable brokerage fee and reasonable legal fees, as the case may be (the Additional Charges payable

 

15


hereunder being referred to sometimes herein as the “Excess Amount”): (i) in the case of an assignment, an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of all sums and other consideration paid to Tenant by the assignee for or by reason of such assignment (which amount, if paid prior to the fifth anniversary of the Commencement Date, shall be pro rated with respect to the portion of the Term remaining after the fifth anniversary of the Commencement date as of the effective date of such assignment), and (ii) in the case of a sublease, fifty percent (50%) of any rents, additional charge or other consideration payable under the sublease to Tenant by the subtenant which is in excess of the Fixed Rent and Additional Charges payable with respect to the portion of the Term after the fifth anniversary of the Commencement Date of this Lease during the term of the sublease in respect of the subleased space (at the rate per square foot payable by Tenant hereunder) pursuant to the terms hereof.

Tenant shall not be required to obtain Landlord’s consent to an assignment or sublease to an Affiliate of Tenant or to a transaction expressly permitted without Landlord’s consent pursuant to Section 11.02 hereof, provided however that Tenant shall be required to comply with and with the notice and other provisions of this Article 11 (including but not limited to Section 11.02 where applicable) with respect to such assignment or sublease. The Tenant shall not be required to pay the Excess Amount with respect to any assignment or sublease to an Affiliate of Tenant or with respect to a transaction expressly permitted without Landlord’s consent pursuant to Section 11.02 hereof Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary Tenant shall not form or sublet, assign or transfer to a Tenant Affiliate, or merge, consolidate or enter into any transaction covered by Section 11.02 hereof for the principal or primary purpose of evading the Excess Amount payments otherwise required hereunder, or the restrictions on subletting, assignment or transfer otherwise provided in this Lease (such assignment, subletting, transfer, merger, consolidation or transaction being referred to herein as an “Evasion Transfer”); in the event of any such Evasion Transfer Tenant shall be required to comply with Excess Amount provisions and the restrictions on subletting, assignment and transfer otherwise provided in this Article 11 (including, but not limited to Landlord’s recapture rights pursuant to section 11.08) as if such subtenant, assignee or transferee were not an Affiliate of Tenant or such transaction were not permitted pursuant to Section 11.02 hereof. As used herein the phrases “Affiliate of Tenant” and “Tenant Affiliate” shall mean any entity which is fifty percent or more (50%) owned by Tenant or of which Tenant owns fifty (50%) percent or more or which is fifty (50%) percent or more owned by a Person who owns fifty (50%) percent or more of Tenant (including but not limited to such ownership resulting from merger or consolidation). For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence “owned” and “owns” shall mean ownership of the voting stock (if a corporation), partnership interest (if a partnership) or membership interest (if a limited liability company).

11.02. Except for any Evasion Transfer, in the event as the result of any public offering of securities, merger, consolidation, debt issuance, recapitalization or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Tenant, the Tenant (or if applicable, the transferee or successor) has a net worth computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles at least equal to the net worth of Tenant immediately prior to such public offering of securities, merger, consolidation, debt issuance, recapitalization or transfer such transaction shall not be deemed to be an assignment for which Landlord’s consent would have been required pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof. Proof satisfactory to Landlord of such net worth shall be delivered to Landlord within five (5) days after the effective date of any such transaction (however Tenant shall

 

16


provide Landlord notice of such transaction prior to the date of such transaction where Tenant is not bound by a confidentiality obligation). Landlord agrees that the provisions of this Section 11.02 shall not apply to the initial public offering, if any, of the stock of Tenant, nor to any transfers of stock of Tenant so long as Tenant is a publicly traded company listed on a national securities exchange, and such transfer will not result in Tenant ceasing to be such publicly traded company listed on such national exchange. Tenant will produce proof reasonably satisfactory to Landlord of compliance with the provisions of this Section 11.02 upon request of Landlord.

11.03. If this Lease is assigned, whether or not in violation of this Lease, Landlord may collect rent from the assignee. If the Demised Premises or any part thereof are sublet or used or occupied by anybody other than Tenant, whether or not in violation of this Lease, Landlord may, after default by Tenant, and expiration of Tenant’s time to cure such default, collect rent from the subtenant or occupant. In either event, Landlord may apply the net amount collected to the Rent, but no such assignment, subletting, occupancy or collection shall be deemed a waiver of any of the provisions of Section 11.01 or Section 11.02, or the acceptance of the assignee, subtenant or occupant as tenant, or a release of Tenant from the performance by Tenant of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease. The consent by Landlord to any assignment, mortgaging, subletting or use or occupancy by others shall not in any way be considered to relieve Tenant from obtaining the express written consent of Landlord to any other or further assignment, mortgaging or subletting or use or occupancy by others not expressly permitted by this Article 11. References in this Lease to use or occupancy by others (that is, anyone other than Tenant) shall not be construed as limited to subtenants and those claiming under or through subtenants but shall be construed as including also licensees and others claiming under or through Tenant, immediately or remotely.

11.04. Any permitted assignment or transfer, whether made with Landlord’s consent pursuant to Section 11.01 or without Landlord’s consent if permitted by Section 11.02, shall be made only if, and shall not be effective until, the assignee shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Landlord whereby the assignee shall assume Tenant’s obligations under this Lease and whereby the assignee shall agree that all of the provisions in this Article 11 shall, notwithstanding such assignment or transfer, continue to be binding upon it in respect to all future assignments and transfers. Notwithstanding any assignment or transfer, whether or not in violation of the provisions of this Lease, and notwithstanding the acceptance of Rent by Landlord from an assignee, transferee, or any other party, the original Tenant and any other Person(s) who at any time was or were Tenant shall remain fully liable for the payment of the Rent and for Tenant’s other obligations under this Lease.

11.05. The liability of the original named Tenant and any other Person(s) (including but not limited to any Guarantor) who at any time are or become responsible for Tenant’s obligations under this Lease shall not be discharged, released or impaired by any agreement or stipulation made by Landlord extending the time of, or modifying any of the terms or obligations under this Lease, or by any waiver or failure of Landlord to enforce, any of this Lease.

11.06. The listing of any name other than that of Tenant, whether on the doors of the Demised Premises or the Building directory, or otherwise, shall not operate to vest any right or interest in this Lease or in the Demised Premises, nor shall it be deemed to be the consent of

 

17


Landlord to any assignment or transfer of this Lease or to any sublease of the Demised Premises or to the use or occupancy thereof by others. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Lease to the contrary, Landlord shall have the absolute right to withhold its consent to an assignment, subletting to, or occupancy by, a Person who is either (i) otherwise a tenant or occupant of the Building, or (ii) of a building owned or managed by Landlord or its affiliated entities in the event Landlord or its affiliates have or reasonably anticipate having within three (3) months of the date of the commencement of such proposed assignment or subletting, a substantially equivalent sized space for a substantially equivalent term available in a property owned or managed by Landlord or any of its affiliates located within a radius of five (5) miles of the Demised Premises. Tenant shall not place any for rent or similar signs on the Land, the Building or the exterior areas of the Demised Premises, Tenant may advertise in a newspaper with respect to any permitted assignment or sublease hereunder, and may list, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense (and at no cost or expense or liability to Landlord), such subletting or assignment with a broker, provided that neither the address of the Demised Premises nor any reference to Landlord or its affiliates is included in any such advertising by Tenant or such broker.

11.07. Without limiting any of the provisions of Article 27, if pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Code (or any similar law hereafter enacted having the same general purpose), Tenant is permitted to assign this Lease notwithstanding the restrictions contained in this Lease, adequate assurance of future performance by an assignee expressly permitted under such Code shall be deemed to mean the deposit of cash security in an amount equal to the sum of one year’s Fixed Rent plus an amount the Additional Charges for the Calendar Year preceding the year in which such assignment is intended to become effective, which deposit shall be held by Landlord for the balance of the Term, without interest, as security for the full performance of all of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease, to be held and applied in the manner specified for security in Article 8.

11.08. If Tenant shall propose to assign or in any manner transfer this Lease or any interest therein, or sublet the Demised Premises or any part or parts thereof, or grant any concession or license or otherwise permit occupancy of all or any part of the Demised Premises by any Person, Tenant shall give notice thereof to Landlord, together with a copy of the proposed instrument that is to accomplish same and such financial and other information pertaining to the proposed assignee, transferee, subtenant, concessionaire or licensee as Landlord shall require. If Tenant does not consummate the subject transaction within 60 days after such notice to Landlord, and such transaction is not terminated, Tenant shall again be required to provide notice pursuant to provisions of this Section 11.08 as if the notice by Tenant referred to above in this Section 11.08 had not been given. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Lease to the contrary, Landlord shall not be obligated to entertain or consider any request by Tenant to consent to any proposed assignment of this Lease or sublet of all or any part of the Demised Premises unless each request by Tenant is accompanied by a non-refundable fee payable to Landlord in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) to cover Landlord’s administrative, legal, and other costs and expenses incurred in processing each of Tenant’s requests. Neither Tenant’s payment nor Landlord’s acceptance of the foregoing fee shall be construed to impose any obligation whatsoever upon Landlord to consent to Tenant’s request.

 

18


ARTICLE 12 - COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

12.01. Tenant shall comply with all Legal Requirements which shall, in respect of the Demised Premises or the use and occupation thereof, or the abatement of any nuisance in, on or about the Demised Premises, impose any violation, order or duty on Landlord or Tenant; and Tenant shall pay all the costs, expenses, fines, penalties and damages which may be imposed upon Landlord or any Superior Lessor by reason of or arising out of Tenant’s failure to fully and promptly comply with and observe the provisions of this Section 12.01. However, Tenant need not comply with any such law or requirement of any public authority so long as Tenant shall be contesting the validity thereof, or the applicability- thereof to the Demised Premises, in accordance with Section 12.02.

12.02. Tenant may contest, by appropriate proceedings prosecuted diligently and in good faith, the validity, or applicability to the Demised Premises, of any Legal Requirement, provided that (a) Landlord shall not be subject to criminal penalty or to prosecution for a crime, and neither the Demised Premises nor any part thereof shall be subject to being condemned or vacated, by reason of non-compliance or otherwise by reason of such contest; (b) before the commencement of such contest, Tenant shall furnish to Landlord either (i) the bond of a surety company satisfactory to Landlord, which bond shall be, as to its provisions and form, satisfactory to Landlord, and shall be in an amount at least equal to 125% of the cost of such compliance (as estimated by a reputable contractor designated by Landlord) and shall indemnify Landlord against the cost thereof and against all liability for damages, interest, penalties and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), resulting from or incurred in connection with such contest or non-compliance, or (ii) other security in place of such bond satisfactory to Landlord; (c) such non-compliance or contest shall not constitute or result in any violation of any Superior Lease or Superior Mortgage, or if any such Superior Lease and/or Superior Mortgage shall permit such non-compliance or contest on condition of the taking of action or furnishing of security by Landlord, such action shall be taken and such security shall be furnished at the expense of Tenant; and (d) Tenant shall keep Landlord advised as to the status of such proceedings. Without limiting the application of the above, Landlord shall be deemed subject to prosecution for a crime if Landlord, or its managing agent, or any officer, director, partner, shareholder or employee of Landlord or its managing agent, as an individual, is charged with a crime of any kind or degree whatsoever, whether by service of a summons or otherwise, unless such charge is withdrawn before Landlord or its managing agent, or such officer, director, partner, shareholder or employee of Landlord or its managing agent (as the case may be) is required to plead or answer thereto. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Lease to the contrary, Tenant shall not file any Real Estate Tax Appeal with respect to the Land, Building or the Demised Premises, without Landlord’s consent, except as provided in Section 12.03 hereof.

12.03. In the event Tenant, in writing, requests Landlord to pursue an appeal of the Real Estate Taxes with respect to the Demised Premises and Landlord refuses, in writing to file and prosecute such appeal, provided (1) Tenant shall not then be in default hereunder beyond any applicable notice or cure periods, and (2) the pending tax appeal freeze, if any, has been terminated, Tenant may file and pursue, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, such Real Estate Tax appeal. Landlord shall have the right, but not the obligation, to have its counsel join in any such Real Estate Tax appeal as co-counsel. If Tenant cannot proceed in its own name, Landlord shall permit Tenant to proceed in Landlord’s name and Landlord shall execute an documents required

 

19


thereby and promptly return the same to Tenant. If either party shall prosecute a Real Estate Tax Appeal, the other party will cooperate and furnish any pertinent information in its files reasonably required by the prosecuting party. In the event a Real Estate Tax Appeal is filed by Tenant, or by Landlord, at Tenant’s request, Tenant shall indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from an loss, damage, cost, liability and expense (including but not limited to attorney’s fees and experts fees) arising from or incurred in connection with such Real Estate Tax Appeal. In the event any Real Estate Tax appeal is filed by Tenant: (i) Tenant shall provide Landlord with written notice of Tenant’s intention to file such tax appeal not less than thirty (30) days prior to the filing of same and Tenant shall provide Landlord with copies of all filings and an appraisal reports and discovery obtained in connection therewith, (ii) Landlord reserves the right, but not the obligation, to prosecute such appeal itself and in such event may require Tenant to withdraw any appeal filed by Tenant in the event Landlord files an appeal with respect to the subject matter of Tenant’s appeal, or at Landlord’s option, Landlord shall have the right at any time, but not the obligation, to prosecute such appeal itself, (iii) any such appeal shall be at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, (iv) Tenant shall indemnify Landlord against the cost thereof and against an liability for damages, interest, penalties and expenses (including experts’ and attorneys’ fees and expenses), resulting from or incurred in connection with any Real Estate Tax appeal commenced pursuant to this paragraph, including but not limited to any increase in Real Estate Taxes resulting therefrom, (v) Tenant shall keep Landlord advised as to the status of any such proceedings filed by Tenant, and (vi) any engagement or retainer agreement entered into by Tenant with any attorney, consultant or expert with respect to such appeal shall be subject to the prior review and approval of Landlord (any such approval not to be construed as obligating Landlord with respect to such agreement). If any cash payment refund is received as a result of such proceedings the party herein paying the costs of such proceeding shall be entitled to reimbursement from such cash payment of its reasonable costs incurred as a result of pursuing such proceeding (the “Cost Reimbursement”). In the event that Landlord receives a refund for Real Estate Taxes with respect to the Demised Premises from any taxing authority for any period in respect to which Tenant paid additional charges in lieu of Real Estates Taxes pursuant to paragraph R4 of the Rider, with respect to the initial Term or Real Estate Taxes pursuant to Section 6.01 with respect to the Extended Term of this Lease, Landlord shall promptly notify Tenant thereof and, provided that Tenant shall not then be in default hereunder beyond any applicable notice and/or cure period, refund to Tenant, Tenant’s Fraction of the net amount of the such refund or credit, after deducting the following amounts: (a) with respect to the initial Term, the sum of (i) the difference between (A) the actual Real Estate Taxes paid by Landlord on the Demised Premises in excess of $1.50 per square foot of Floor Space per annum and (B) the Real Estate Taxes paid by Tenant (pursuant to Section 6.01 or paragraph R4 of the Rider), (ii) the amount of any credit or reduction in Fixed Rent provided to Tenant pursuant to paragraph R4(a)(ii) of the Rider for such period, and (iii) the Cost Reimbursement; and (b) with respect to the Extended Period, (i) the sum of the (A) the Real Estate Taxes paid by Tenant (pursuant to Section 6.01) and (ii) the Cost Reimbursement, to the extend paid or payable by Landlord. In the event Tenant obtains directly from any taxing authority any refund in connection with any such tax appeal, such refund shall be paid over to Landlord.

ARTICLE 13 - INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY

13.01. Landlord shall maintain or cause to be maintained All Risk insurance in respect of the Building and other improvements on the Land normally covered by such insurance (except

 

20


for the property Tenant is required to cover with insurance under Section 13.02 and similar property of other tenants and occupants of the Building or buildings and other improvements which are on land neither owned by nor leased to Landlord) for the benefit of Landlord, any Superior Lessors, any Superior Mortgagees and any other parties Landlord may at any time and from time to time designate, as their interests may appear, but not for the benefit of Tenant, and shall maintain rent insurance as required by any Superior Lessor or any Superior Mortgagee. The All Risk insurance will be in the amounts required by any Superior Lessor or any Superior Mortgagee but not less than the amount sufficient to avoid the effect of the co-insurance provisions of the applicable policy or policies. Landlord may also maintain any other forms and types of insurance which Landlord shall deem reasonable in respect of the Building and Land. Landlord shall have the right to provide any insurance maintained or caused to be maintained by it under blanket policies.

13.02. Tenant shall maintain the following insurance: (a) commercial general liability insurance in respect of the Demised Premises and the conduct and operation of business therein, having a limit of liability not less than a $5,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or property damage coverage to include but not be limited to premises/operations, completed operations, contractual liability and product liability, (b) automobile liability insurance covering all owned, hired and non-owned vehicles used by the Tenant in connection with the premises and any loading or unloading of such vehicles, with a limit of liability not less than $2,000,000 per accident and (c) worker’s compensation and employers liability insurance as required by statutes, but in any event not less than $500,000 for Employers Liability; (d) All Risk insurance in respect of loss or damage to Tenant’s stock in trade, fixtures, furniture, furnishings, removable floor coverings, equipment, signs and all other property of Tenant in the Demised Premises in an amount equal to the full replacement value thereof as same might increase from time to time or such higher amount as either may be required by the holder of any fee mortgage, or is necessary to prevent Landlord and/or Tenant from becoming a co-insurer. Such insurance shall include coverage for property of others in the care, custody and control of Tenant in amounts sufficient to cover the replacement value of such property, to the extent of Tenant’s liability therefor; and (e) such other insurance as Landlord may reasonably require. Landlord may at any time and from time to time require that the limits for the general liability insurance to be maintained by Tenant be increased to the limits that new tenants in the Building are required by Landlord to maintain. Tenant shall deliver to Landlord and any additional insured(s) certificates for such fully paid-for policies upon execution hereof. Tenant shall procure and pay for renewals of such insurance from time to time before the expiration thereof, and Tenant shall deliver to Landlord and any additional insured(s) certificates therefor at least thirty (30) days before the expiration of any existing policy. All such policies shall be issued by companies acceptable to Landlord, having a Bests Rating of not less than A, Class VII (or an equivalent S&P rating if requested by Landlord), and licensed to do business in New Jersey, and all such policies shall contain a provision whereby the same cannot be canceled unless Landlord and any additional insured(s) are given at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of such cancellation. The policies and certificates of insurance (such certificates to be on Acord form 27 or its equivalent) to be delivered to Landlord by Tenant pursuant to this Section 13.02 (other than workers compensation insurance) shall name Landlord as an additional insured and, at Landlord’s request, shall also name any Superior Lessors or Superior Mortgagees as additional insureds, and the following phrase must be typed on the certificate of insurance: “Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc., and its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, associates, joint ventures, and partnerships, and (if Landlord

 

21


has so requested) Superior Lessors and Superior Mortgagees are hereby named as additional insureds as their interests may appear. It is intended for this insurance to be primary and non-contributing.” Tenant shall give Landlord at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice that any such policy is being canceled or replaced.

13.03. Tenant shall not do, permit or suffer to be done any act, matter, thing or failure to act in respect of the Demised Premises or use or occupy the Demised Premises or conduct or operate Tenant’s business in any manner objectionable to any insurance company or companies whereby the fire insurance or any other insurance then in effect in respect of the Land and Building or any part thereof shall become void or suspended or whereby any premiums in respect of insurance maintained by Landlord shall be higher than those which would normally have been in effect for the occupancy contemplated under the Permitted Uses. In case of a breach of the provisions of this Section 13.03, in addition to all other rights and remedies of Landlord hereunder, Tenant shall (a) indemnify Landlord and the Superior Lessors and hold Landlord and the Superior Lessors harmless from and against any loss which would have been covered by insurance which shall have become void or suspended because of such breach by Tenant and (b) pay to Landlord any and all increases of premiums on any insurance, including, without limitation, rent insurance, resulting from any such breach.

13.04. Intentionally Omitted.

13.05. (a) Neither Landlord nor any Superior Lessor shall be liable or responsible for, and Tenant hereby releases Landlord and each Superior Lessor from, all liability and responsibility to Tenant and any Person claiming by, through or under Tenant, by way of subrogation or otherwise, for any injury, loss or damage to any person or property in or around the Demised Premises or to Tenant’s business irrespective of the cause of such injury, loss or damage, and Tenant shall require its insurers to include in all of Tenant’s insurance policies which could give rise to a right of subrogation against Landlord or any Superior Lessor a clause or endorsement whereby the insurer waives any rights of subrogation against Landlord and such Superior Lessors or permits the insured, prior to any loss, to agree with a third party to waive any claim it may have against said third party without invalidating the coverage under the insurance policy.

(b) Tenant shall not be liable or responsible, and Landlord hereby releases Tenant from, all liability and responsibility to any insurer of Landlord claiming by, through or under Landlord, by way of subrogation, for any injury, loss or damage to any person or property in or around the Building or to Landlord’s business irrespective of the cause of such injury, loss or damage, and Landlord shall require its insurers to include in all of Landlord’s insurance policies which could give rise to a right of subrogation against Tenant a clause or endorsement whereby the insurer waives any rights of subrogation against or permits .the insured, prior to any loss, to agree with a third party to waive any claim it may have against said third party without invalidating the coverage under the insurance policy.

ARTICLE 14 - RULES AND REGULATIONS

14.01. Tenant and its employees and agents shall faithfully observe and comply with such rules and regulations and such reasonable changes therein (whether by modification,

 

22


elimination or addition) as Landlord at any time or times hereafter may make and communicate to Tenant (herein the “Rules and Regulations”), which in Landlord’s reasonable judgment, shall be necessary for the reputation, safety, care or appearance of the Land and Building, or the preservation of good order therein, or the operation or maintenance of the Building or its equipment and fixtures, or the Common Areas, and which do not unreasonably affect the conduct of Tenant’s business in the Demised Premises; provided, however, that in case of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Lease and any of the Rules and Regulations, the provisions of this Lease shall control. In the event Landlord issues such Rules and Regulations, such Rules and Regulations shall not be enforced by Landlord against Tenant in a discriminatory manner. Nothing in this Lease contained shall be construed to impose upon Landlord any duty or obligation to issue Rules and Regulations or enforce the Rules and Regulations against any other tenant or any employees or agents of any other tenant, and Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant for violation of the Rules and Regulations by any other tenant or its employees, agents, invitees or licensees.

ARTICLE 15 - ALTERATIONS AND SIGNS

15.01. Tenant shall not make any structural alterations or additions to the Demised Premises, or make any holes or cuts in the walls, ceilings, roof, or floors thereof, or change the exterior color or architectural treatment of the Building, or make any non-structural alterations costing One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) or more (consistent with the use of a first class warehouse distribution center) in the aggregate, without on each occasion first obtaining the consent of Landlord, which consent with respect to non-structural alterations shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. In all events Tenant shall submit to Landlord a detailed description of such work, and where required for compliance with Legal Requirements or reasonably requested by Landlord, plans and specifications for such work at the time Landlord’s consent is sought, or if no consent is required, prior to commencement of such proposed alterations. Landlord shall have the right to require restoration of any alterations performed by Tenant, except that restoration of any alterations performed by Tenant as part of Tenant’s Work for Tenant’s initial occupancy shall not be required to be restored, provided such Tenant’s plans for same are approved by Landlord in advance of such work. Tenant shall, except with respect to the Tenant’s Work performed in connection with Tenant’s initial occupancy of the Demised Premises, pay to Landlord upon demand the reasonable cost and expense of Landlord in (a) reviewing said plans and specifications and (b) inspecting the alterations to determine whether the same are being performed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and all Legal Requirements and Insurance Requirements, including, without limitation, the fees of any architect or engineer employed by Landlord for such purpose. Before proceeding with any permitted alteration which will cost more than $100,000 (exclusive of the costs of decorating work and items constituting Tenant’s Property), as estimated by a reputable contractor designated by Landlord, Tenant shall, except with respect to the Tenant’s Work performed in connection with Tenant’s initial occupancy of the Demised Premises, obtain and deliver to Landlord either (i) a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond (issued by a corporate surety licensed to do business in New Jersey), each in an amount equal to 125% of such estimated cost and in form satisfactory to Landlord, or (ii) such other security as shall be reasonably satisfactory to Landlord. Tenant shall fully and promptly comply with and observe the Rules and Regulations then in force in respect of the making of alterations. Any review or approval by Landlord of any plans and/or specifications with respect to any alterations is solely for Landlord’s benefit, and without any representation or warranty whatsoever to Tenant in respect to the adequacy, correctness or efficiency thereof or otherwise.

 

23


15.02. Tenant shall obtain all necessary governmental permits and certificates for the commencement and prosecution of permitted alterations and for final approval thereof upon completion, and shall cause alterations to be performed in compliance therewith and with all applicable Legal Requirements and Insurance Requirements. Alterations shall be diligently performed in a good and workmanlike manner, using new materials and equipment at least equal in quality and class to the better of (a) the original installations of the Building, or (b) the then standards for the Building established by Landlord. Alterations shall be performed by contractors first approved by Landlord in writing, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, subject, however to the provisions of Section 36.09 of this Lease. Alterations shall be made in such manner as not to unreasonably interfere with or delay and as not to impose any additional expense upon Landlord in the construction, maintenance, repair or operation of the Building; and if any such additional expense shall be incurred by Landlord as a result of Tenant’s making of any alterations, Tenant shall pay any such additional expense upon demand. Throughout the making of alterations, Tenant shall carry, or cause to be carried, worker’s compensation insurance in statutory limits and general liability insurance, with completed operation endorsement, for any occurrence in or about the Building, under which Landlord and its managing agent and any Superior Lessor whose name and address shall previously have been furnished to Tenant shall be named as parties insured, in such limits as Landlord may reasonably require, with insurers reasonably satisfactory to Landlord. Tenant shall furnish Landlord with reasonably satisfactory evidence that such insurance is in effect at or before the commencement of alterations and, on request, at reasonable intervals thereafter during the making of alterations.

15.03. Tenant shall not place any signs on the roof, exterior walls or grounds of the Demised Premises without first obtaining Landlord’s written consent thereto. In placing any signs on or about the Demised Premises, Tenant shall, at its expense, comply with all applicable Legal Requirements and obtain all required permits and/or licenses. Landlord shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to Tenant’s exterior signage, and shall, at no cost or expense to Landlord execute such applications as may be reasonably required, provided such signage is consistent with the character and quality of the Building, does not include a roof sign, and does not exceed Tenant’s Fraction of the permissible and practicable exterior signage of the Building, and such signage includes only Tenant’s name and logo.

ARTICLE 16 - LANDLORD’S AND TENANT’S PROPERTY

16.01. All fixtures, equipment, improvements and appurtenances attached to or built into the Demised Premises at the commencement of or during the Term, whether or not by or at the expense of Tenant, shall be and remain a part of the Demised Premises, shall be deemed to be the property of Landlord and shall not be removed by Tenant, except as provided in Section 16.02. Further, any carpeting or other personal property in the Demised Premises on the Commencement Date, unless installed and paid for by Tenant, shall be and shall remain Landlord’s property and shall not be removed by Tenant.

 

24


16.02. All movable partitions, business and trade fixtures, machinery and equipment, communications equipment and office equipment, whether or not attached to or built into the Demised Premises, which are installed in the Demised Premises by or for the account of Tenant without expense to Landlord and can be removed without structural damage to the Building and all furniture, furnishings, and other movable personal property owned by Tenant and located in the Demised Premises (collectively, “Tenant’s Property”) shall be and” shall remain the property of Tenant and may be removed by Tenant at any time during the Term; provided that if any of the Tenant’s Property is removed, Tenant shall repair or pay the cost of repairing any damage to the Demised Premises, the Building or the Common Areas resulting from the installation and/or removal thereof to its condition after the performance of the initial Tenant Work performed by Tenant. Any equipment or other property for which Landlord shall have granted any allowance or credit to Tenant shall not be deemed to have been installed by or for the account of Tenant without expense to Landlord, shall not be considered as the Tenant’s Property and shall be deemed the property of Landlord.

16.03. At or before the Expiration Date or the date of any earlier termination of this Lease, or within fifteen (15) days after such an earlier termination date, Tenant shall remove from the Demised Premises all of the Tenant’s Property (except such items thereof as Landlord shall have expressly permitted to remain, which property shall become the property of Landlord if not removed), and Tenant shall repair any damage to the Demised Premises, the Building and the Common Areas resulting from any installation and/or removal of the Tenant’s Property. Any items of the Tenant’s Property which shall remain in the Demised Premises after the Expiration Date or after a period of fifteen (15) days following an earlier termination date, may, at the option of Landlord, be deemed to have been abandoned, and in such case such items may be retained by Landlord as its property or disposed of by Landlord, without accountability, in such manner as Landlord shall determine at Tenant’s expense.

16.04. At or before the Expiration Date or the date of any earlier termination of this Lease, or within fifteen (15) days after such an earlier termination date, Tenant shall, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, remove from the Demised Premises such rack system as may be installed in the Demised Premises and Tenant shall repair any damage to the Demised Premises, the Building and the Common Areas resulting from any installation and/or removal thereof. Such removal, if any, shall be in accordance with the following procedures (or such substantially equivalent method as Landlord may reasonably approve), unless Landlord shall advise Tenant to the contrary by written notice to Tenant:

Core a hole centered over the anchor bolt with a core bit 1.5 times larger than the bolt to be removed, but in no event smaller than 1” in diameter.

Core hole shall be drilled to a depth equal to the bolt depth, but not less than 2” deep. Remove the cored concrete with the anchor bolt from the hole. Clean all concrete slurry and debris from area to be patched.

Fill the cored hole with a polymer-modified non-shrink mortar, specifically SikaTop 122 or Master Builders Cei1cote 648 CP, or equivalent, and finish to match surrounding concrete surface.

 

25


ARTICLE 17 - REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

17.01. Tenant shall, subject to the provisions of Section 17.02 hereof, throughout the Term, take good care of the Demised Premises, the fixtures and appurtenances therein, and shall not do, suffer, or permit any waste with respect thereto. Tenant shall keep and maintain the Demised Premises including without limitation all building equipment, windows, doors, loading bay doors and shelters, plumbing and electrical systems, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (“HVAC”) systems (whether located in the interior of the Demised Premises or on the exterior of the Building) in a clean and orderly condition. Tenant shall keep and maintain in a clean and orderly condition all HVAC systems and any other mechanical or other systems exclusively serving the Demised Premises which are located in whole or in part outside of the Demised Premises. Tenant shall keep and maintain the roof above the Demised Premises and all exterior components of any windows, doors, loading bay doors and shelters serving the Demised Premises in a clean and orderly condition. The phrase “keep and maintain” as used herein includes repairs, replacement and/or restoration as appropriate. Tenant shall not permit or suffer any over-loading of the floors of the Demised Premises. Tenant shall be responsible for all repairs, interior and exterior, structural and nonstructural, ordinary and extraordinary, in and to the Demised Premises, and the Building (including the facilities and systems thereof) and the Common Areas the need for which arises out of (a) the performance or existence of the Tenant’s Work or alterations, (b) the installation, use or operation of the Tenant’s Property in the Demised Premises, (c) the moving of the Tenant’s Property in or out of the Building, or (d) the act, omission, misuse or neglect of Tenant or any of its subtenants or its or their employees, agents, contractors or invitees. Upon request by Landlord, Tenant shall furnish Landlord with true and complete copies of maintenance contracts and with copies of all invoices for work performed, confirming Tenant’s compliance with its obligations under this Article. In the event Tenant fails to furnish such copies, Landlord shall have the right, at Tenant’s cost and expense, to conduct such inspections or surveys as may be required to determine whether or not Tenant is in compliance with this Article and to have any work required of Tenant performed at Tenant’s cost and expense. Tenant shall promptly replace all scratched, damaged or broken doors and glass in and about the Demised Premises and shall be responsible for all repairs, maintenance and replacement of wall and floor coverings in the Demised Premises and for the repair and maintenance of all sanitary and electrical fixtures and equipment therein. The Tenant shall also arrange for its own cleaning services and rubbish removal, subject to the right of Landlord, at Landlord’s option to perform such services and include the cost of such services in Operating Expenses. Tenant shall promptly make all repairs in or to the Demised Premises for which Tenant is responsible, and any repairs required to be made by Tenant to the mechanical, electrical, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning or other systems of the Building shall be performed only by contractor(s) approved in writing by Landlord.

17.02. Tenant shall be responsible for 100% of the cost for repair and replacement of the roof above the Demised Premises, including but not limited to the roof membrane and non-structural roof components, and for the painting and maintenance of the exterior walls of the Demised Premises. Landlord shall keep and maintain the Common Areas, subject to the provisions of paragraph R11 of the Rider and the cost thereof shall be included in Operating Expenses. Landlord shall, at Landlord’s expense, be responsible for all structural repairs and replacements to the demising wall being installed as part of Landlord’s Work (if any) and to footings, foundations, structural steel, load bearing members (including load bearing walls and

 

26


floors), and roof deck/structure (exclusive of roof membrane and non-structural roof components) of the Building furnished or provided by Landlord resulting from defects in workmanship, materials or from failure of such items, except to the extent the need for any of the foregoing arises out of (a) the performance or existence of the Tenant’s Work or alterations, (b) the installation, use or operation of the Tenant’s Property in the Demised Premises, (c) the moving of the Tenant’s Property in or out of the Building, or (d) the act, omission, misuse or neglect of Tenant or any of its subtenants or its or their employees, agents, contractors or invitees. Landlord shall warrant all construction and equipment against defects in workmanship or materials included in Landlord’s Work for a period of one (1) year from the Rent Commencement Date, of which Landlord is provided timely notice within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such one (1) year period. Landlord shall nonexclusively assign (without recourse) such longer warranties (including but not limited to the roof warranty from the manufacturer, which expires in August 2008) as may be provided by the manufacturer or installer of any item of equipment or material furnished in the Demised Premises by Landlord to Tenant, or, if the same are not assignable, shall non-exclusively assign to Tenant the right to enforce the same. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a waiver by Landlord of any right it may have to reimbursement from any insurance or warranty or other source of payment for such item.

17.03. Tenant shall not permit or suffer the overloading of the floors of the Demised Premises beyond 500 pounds per square foot for the warehouse, and 80 pounds per square foot for the mezzanine area.

17.04. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Lease, Landlord shall have no liability to Tenant, nor shall Tenant’s covenants and obligations under this Lease be reduced or abated in any manner whatsoever, by reason of any inconvenience, annoyance, interruption or injury to business arising from Landlord’s doing any repairs, maintenance, or changes which Landlord is required or permitted by this Lease, or required by Law, to make in or to any portion of the Building.

ARTICLE 18 - UTILITY CHARGES

18.01. Tenant shall pay all charges for gas, water, sewer, electricity, heat or other utility or service supplied to the Demised Premises as measured by meters or sub-meters relating to Tenant’s use, and any cost of repair, maintenance, replacement, and the reasonable and actual costs of reading of any meters measuring Tenant’s consumption thereof. If any utilities or services are not separately metered or assessed or are only partially separately metered or assessed and are used in common with other tenants or occupants of the Building, Tenant shall pay to Landlord on demand Tenant’s proportionate share of such charges for utilities and/or services, which, except as provided below, shall be such charges multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the Floor Space in the Demised Premises and the denominator of which shall be the Floor Space of all tenants and occupants of the Building using such utilities and/or services. If Landlord is permitted by law to provide electric energy to the Demised Premises by re-registering meters or otherwise and to collect any charges for electric energy, Landlord shall have the right to do so, in which event Tenant shall pay to Landlord upon receipt of bills therefor for electric energy provided the rates for such electric energy shall not be more than the rates Tenant would be charged for electric energy if furnished directly to Tenant by the

 

27


public utility which would otherwise have furnished electric energy. In the event Landlord determines that Tenant’s utilization of any such service exceeds the fraction referred to above, Tenant’s proportionate share with respect to such service shall, at Landlord’s option, mean the percentage of any such service (but not less than the fraction referred to above) which Landlord reasonably estimates as Tenant’s utilization thereof. Tenant expressly agrees that Landlord shall not be responsible for the failure of supply to Tenant of any of the aforesaid, or any other utility service. Landlord shall not be responsible for any public or private telephone service to be installed in the space, particularly conduit, if required. Expenses incurred by Landlord for meter reading, if any, shall be included in Operating Expenses. In the event any other tenant or occupant of the Building, uses a disproportionate amount of any utility furnished to the Building which is not separately metered or sub-metered (e.g., water), Tenant’s proportionate share with respect to such service shall mean the percentage of any such service which Landlord reasonably estimates as Tenant’s proportionate utilization thereof.

18.02. Tenant’s use of electric energy in the Demised Premises shall not at any time exceed the capacity of any of the electrical conductors and equipment in or otherwise serving the Demised Premises.

ARTICLE 19 - ACCESS, CHANGES AND NAME

19.01. Except for the space within the inside surfaces of all walls, hung ceilings, floors, windows and doors bounding the Demised Premises, all of the Building, including, without limitation, exterior Building walls, core corridor walls and doors and any core corridor entrance, any terraces or roofs adjacent to the Demised Premises, and any space in or adjacent to the Demised Premises used for shafts, stacks, pipes, conduits, fan rooms, ducts, electric or other utilities, sinks or other Building facilities and the use thereof, as well as access thereto through the Demised Premises, (which shall be during business hours upon prior notice, except that no such notice shall be required in cases of emergency), for the purpose of operating, maintenance, decoration and repair, are reserved to Landlord. Landlord also reserves the right, to install, erect, use and maintain pipes, ducts and conduits in and through the Demised Premises, provided such are properly enclosed and do not unreasonably interfere with Tenant’s use of the Demised Premises.

19.02. Landlord and its agents shall have the right to enter and/or pass through the Demised Premises at any time or times upon prior notice and at all reasonable times during business hours (which notice shall not be required in cases of emergency) (a) to examine the Demised Premises and to show them to actual and prospective Superior Lessors, Superior Mortgagees, or prospective purchasers of the Building, and (b) to make such repairs, alterations, additions and improvements in or to the Demised Premises and/or in or to the Building or its facilities and equipment as Landlord is required or desires to make. Landlord shall be allowed to take all materials into and upon the Demised Premises that may be required in connection therewith, without any liability to Tenant and without any reduction of Tenant’s obligations hereunder. During the period of eighteen (18) months prior to the Expiration Date, Landlord and its agents may exhibit the Demised Premises to prospective tenants.

19.03. If at any time any windows of the Demised Premises are temporarily darkened or obstructed by reason of any repairs, improvements, maintenance and/or cleaning in or about the

 

28


Building, or if any part of the Building or the Common Areas, other than the Demised Premises, is temporarily or permanently closed or inoperable, the same shall not be deemed a constructive eviction and shall not result in any reduction or diminution of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease.

19.04. If, during the last month of the Term, Tenant has removed all or substantially all of the Tenant’s Property from the Demised Premises, Landlord may, without notice to Tenant, immediately enter the Demised Premises and alter, renovate and decorate the same, without liability to Tenant and without reducing or otherwise affecting Tenant’s obligations hereunder.

19.05. Landlord reserves the right, at any time and from time to time, to make such changes, alterations, additions and improvements in or to the Building and the fixtures and equipment thereof as Landlord shall deem necessary or desirable provided same do not unreasonably interfere with Tenant’s use of the Demised Premises.

19.06. Landlord may, subject to the provisions of paragraph R8(a) of the Rider, adopt any name for the Building. Landlord reserves the right, subject to the provisions of paragraph R8(a) of the Rider, to change the name and/or address of the Building at any time.

ARTICLE 20 - MECHANICS’ LIENS AND OTHER LIENS

20.01. Nothing contained in this Lease shall be construed to imply any consent of Landlord to subject Landlord’s interest or estate to any liability under any mechanic’s, construction or other lien law. If any lien or any Notice of Intention (to file a lien), Lis Pendens, or Notice of Unpaid Balance and Right to File Lien is filed against the Land, the Building, or any part thereof, or the Demised Premises, or any part thereof, for any work, labor, services or materials claimed to have been performed or furnished for or on behalf of Tenant, or anyone holding any part of the Demised Premises through or under Tenant, Tenant shall cause the same to be canceled and discharged of record by payment, bond or order of a court of competent jurisdiction within twenty-five (25) days after notice by Landlord to Tenant.

ARTICLE 21 - NON-LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

21.01. Neither Landlord nor any partner, joint venturer, director, officer, agent, servant or employee of Landlord shall be liable to Tenant for any loss, injury or damage to Tenant or to any other Person, or to its or their property, irrespective of the cause of such injury, damage or loss, unless caused by or resulting from the negligence or intentional wrongful act of Landlord, its agents, servants or employees in the operation or maintenance of the Land or Building without contributory negligence on the part of Tenant or any of its subtenants or licensees or its or their employees, agents or contractors. Further, neither Landlord nor any partner, joint venturer, director, officer, agent, servant or employee of Landlord shall be liable for, nor shall the provisions of Section 21.02 (b) apply with respect to (a) any such damage caused by other tenants or Persons in, upon or about the Land or Building, or caused by operations in construction of any private, public or quasi-public work; or (b) for consequential damages arising out of any loss of use of the Demised Premises or any equipment or facilities therein by Tenant or any Person claiming through or under Tenant.

 

29


21.02. (a) Tenant shall indemnify and hold harmless Landlord and all Superior Lessors and its and their respective partners, joint venturers, directors, officers, agents, servants and employees from and against any and all claims arising from or in connection with (a) the conduct or management of the Demised Premises or of any business therein, or any work or thing whatsoever done, or any condition created (other than by Landlord) in the Demised Premises during the Term or during the period of time, if any, prior to the Commencement Date that Tenant may have been given access to the Demised Premises; (b) any act, omission or negligence of Tenant or any of its subtenants or licensees or its or their partners, joint venturers, directors, officers, agents, employees or contractors; (c) any accident, injury or damage whatever (unless caused solely by Landlord’s negligence) occurring in the Demised Premises; and (d) any breach or default by Tenant in the full and prompt payment and performance of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease; together with all costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in or in connection with each such claim or action or proceeding brought thereon, including, without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and expenses. In case of any action or proceeding is brought against Landlord and/or any Superior Lessor and/or its or their partners, joint venturers, directors, officers, agents and/or employees by reason of any such claim, Tenant, upon notice from Landlord or such Superior Lessor, shall resist and defend such action or proceeding (by counsel reasonably satisfactory to Landlord).

(b) Landlord shall indemnify and hold harmless Tenant from and against any and all claims arising from any negligent or intentionally wrongful act of Landlord (to the extent same arise from the negligence or intentionally wrongful act of Landlord) in the conduct or management of the Common Areas by Landlord (not including any services performed or obtained by Tenant pursuant to paragraphs R12 (b) or (c) of the Rider), together with all costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in or in connection with each such claim or action or proceeding brought thereon, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses. In the event any action or proceeding is brought against Tenant and/or its directors, officers, agents and/or employees by reason of any such claim, Landlord, upon notice from Tenant, shall resist and defend such action or proceeding by counsel reasonably satisfactory to Tenant. Counsel satisfactory to Landlord’s insurance carrier shall be deemed satisfactory to Tenant for purposes of this paragraph. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall be construed as relieving any insurer pursuant to any policy of insurance maintained by Tenant or required to be maintained by Tenant pursuant to this Lease from any obligation to defend and indemnify any party referred as being entitled to coverage thereunder pursuant to this Lease.

21.03. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, Tenant shall look solely to the estate and property of Landlord in and to the Land and Building (or the proceeds received by Landlord on a sale of such estate and property but not the proceeds of any financing or refinancing thereof) in the event of any claim against Landlord arising out of or in connection with this Lease, the relationship of Landlord and Tenant or Tenant’s use of the Demised Premises or the Common Areas, and Tenant agrees that the liability of Landlord arising out of or in connection with this Lease, the relationship of Landlord and Tenant or Tenant’s use of the Demised Premises or the Common Areas shall be limited to such estate and property of Landlord (or sale proceeds). No other properties or assets of Landlord or any partner, joint venturer, director, officer, agent, servant or employee of Landlord shall be subject to levy, execution or other enforcement procedures for the satisfaction of any judgement (or other judicial process) or

 

30


for the satisfaction of any other remedy of Tenant arising out of, or in connection with, this Lease, the relationship of Landlord and Tenant or Tenant’s use of the Demised Premises or the Common Areas and if Tenant shall acquire a lien on or interest in any other properties or assets by judgment or otherwise, Tenant shall promptly release such lien on or interest in such other properties and assets by executing, acknowledging and delivering to Landlord an instrument to that effect prepared by Landlord’s attorneys. Tenant hereby waives the right of specific performance and any other remedy allowed in equity if specific performance or such other remedy could result in any liability of Landlord for the payment of money to Tenant, or to any court or governmental authority (by way of fines or otherwise) for Landlord’s failure or refusal to observe a judicial decree or determination, or to any third party.

ARTICLE 22 - DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION

22.01. If the Building or the Demised Premises shall be partially or totally damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty (and if this Lease shall not be terminated as in this Article 22 hereinafter provided), Landlord shall repair the damage and restore and rebuild the Building and/or the Demised Premises (except for the Tenant’s Property) with reasonable dispatch after notice to it of the damage or destruction and the collection of the insurance proceeds attributable to such damage.

22.02. Subject to the provisions of Section 22.05, if all or part of the Demised Premises shall be damaged or destroyed or rendered completely or partially untenantable on account of fire or other casualty, the Rent shall be abated or reduced, as the case may be, in the proportion that the untenantable area of the Demised Premises bears to the total area of the Demised Premises (to the extent of rent insurance proceeds received by Landlord from insurance maintained by Tenant), for the period from the date of the damage or destruction to the date the damage to the Demised Premises shall be substantially repaired provided, however, should Tenant reoccupy a portion of the Demised Premises during the period the repair or restoration work is taking place and prior to the date that the Demised Premises are substantially repaired or made tenantable the Rent allocable to such reoccupied portion, based upon the proportion which the area of the reoccupied portion of the Demised Premises bears to the total area of the Demised Premises, shall be payable by Tenant from the date of such occupancy.

22.03. If (a) the Building or the Demised Premises shall be totally damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty, or (b) the Building shall be so damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty that its repair or restoration requires the expenditure, as estimated by a reputable contractor or architect designated by Landlord, of more than twenty-five percent (25%) (or fifteen percent [15%] if such casualty occurs during the last two [2] years of the Term, including any extensions pursuant to a valid exercise of Tenant’s renewal option, if any, in which event the twenty-five percent (25%) threshold shall be applicable), of the full insurable value of the Building immediately prior to the casualty, or (c) the Building shall be damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty and either the loss shall not be covered by Landlord’s insurance or the net insurance proceeds (after deducting all expenses in connection with obtaining such proceeds) shall, in the estimation of a reputable contractor or architect designated by Landlord be insufficient to pay for the repair or restoration work, then in either such case Landlord may terminate this Lease by giving Tenant notice to such effect within ninety (90) days after the date of the fire or other casualty. Landlord agrees that it shall not exercise its right to terminate this

 

31


Lease under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 22.03, unless one or more of the following conditions shall have occurred: (i) Landlord is required to exercise such right by a Mortgagee, (ii) such damage or destruction occurs in the last two (2) years of the Term including any extensions pursuant to a valid exercise of Tenant’s renewal option, if any, (iii) a Mortgagee fails or refuses to disburse the proceeds of insurance for such restoration, or (iv) a Mortgagee or its assign becomes a Successor Landlord or appoints a receiver to or otherwise succeeds to the rights of Landlord under this Lease. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as limiting Landlords right to terminate with respect to any damage or destruction giving Landlord the right to terminate this Lease pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 22.03 or under any other provision of this Lease.

22.04. Tenant shall not be entitled to terminate this Lease and no damages, compensation or claim shall be payable by Landlord for inconvenience, loss of business or annoyance arising from any repair or restoration of any portion of the Demised Premises or of the Building pursuant to this Article 22. Landlord shall use its best efforts to make such repair or restoration promptly and in such manner as not unreasonably to interfere with Tenant’s use and occupancy of the Demised Premises, but Landlord shall not be required to do such repair or restoration work except during Landlord’s business hours on business days.

22.05. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this Article 22, if by reason of some act or omission on the part of Tenant or any of its subtenants or its or their partners, directors, officers, servants, employees, agents or contractors, either (a) Landlord or any Superior Lessor or any Superior Mortgagee shall be unable to collect all of the insurance proceeds (including, without limitation, rent insurance proceeds) applicable to damage or destruction of the Demised Premises or the Building by fire or other casualty, or (b) the Demised Premises or the Building shall be damaged or destroyed or rendered completely or partially untenantable on account of fire or other casualty, then, without prejudice to any other remedies which may be available against Tenant, there shall be no abatement or reduction of the Rent. Further, nothing contained in this Article 22 shall relieve Tenant from any liability that may exist as a result of any damage or destruction by fire or other casualty.

22.06. Landlord will not carry insurance of any kind on the Tenant’s Property and, except as provided by law or by reason of Landlord’s breach of any of its obligations hereunder, shall not be obligated to repair any damage to or replace the Tenant’s Property.

22.07. The provisions of this Article 22 shall be deemed an express agreement governing any case of damage or destruction of the Demised Premises and/or Building by fire or other casualty, and any law providing for such a contingency in the absence of an express agreement, now or hereafter in force, shall have no application in such case.

22.08. In the event of damage or destruction with respect to the Building the repair or restoration of which requires the expenditure, as estimated by a reputable contractor or architect designated by Landlord, of more than forty percent (40%) of the full insurable value of the Building immediately prior to the casualty (or twenty percent [20%] if such casualty occurs during the last two [2] years of the Term), then in either of such events Tenant (provided such damage or destruction prevents the effective use of the Demised Premises by Tenant) shall have the right to request within thirty (30) days after such event the Architect to determine the

 

32


estimated time for restoration. The Landlord shall cause the Architect to provide notice to Landlord and Tenant of such determination (the “Architect’s Notice”) within thirty (30) days after notice from Landlord or Tenant requesting such determination. Any dispute with respect to such determination may be submitted to arbitration pursuant to Article 34 of this Lease. If the Architect determines that the restoration of same is estimated to take more than eighteen (18) months from the date of the casualty, Tenant shall (provided, however that Tenant’s right shall be conditioned upon (i) Tenant not being in monetary or material non-monetary default under this Lease beyond any applicable notice and cure period, and in any event curing such default(s) prior to termination, and (ii) the Demised Premises not being reasonably useable by Tenant for the operation of its business therein as a result of such damage or destruction for a period of not less than eighteen (18) months as estimated by such Architect) have the right to terminate this Lease upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to Landlord, given within thirty (30) days of the Architect’s Notice. Tenant’s right to terminate the Lease pursuant to this Section shall be in addition to and not in limitation of Landlord’s rights pursuant to this Article 22, including but not limited to Landlord’s right to terminate the Lease pursuant to Section 22.01 hereof. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as limiting Landlord’s right to collect the full amount of the proceeds of insurance, including but not limited to rent insurance or business interruption insurance.

ARTICLE 23 - EMINENT DOMAIN

23.01. If the whole of the Demised Premises shall be taken by any public or quasi-public authority under the power of condemnation, eminent domain or expropriation, or in the event of conveyance of the whole of the Demised Premises in lieu thereof, this Lease shall terminate as of the day possession shall be taken by such authority. If 15% or less of the Floor Space of the Demised Premises shall be so taken or conveyed, this Lease shall terminate only in respect of the part so taken or conveyed as of the day possession shall be taken by such authority. Further, if more than 15% of the Floor Space of the Demised Premises shall be so taken or conveyed or if access to the Building and/or the Demised Premises shall be materially impaired, or shall not be usable for Tenant’s business purposes as reasonably determined by Tenant, then Tenant shall have the right to terminate this Lease upon notice given to Landlord within 30 days after such taking. If more than 15% of the Floor Space of the Demised Premises shall be so taken or conveyed, this Lease shall terminate only in respect of the part so taken or conveyed as of the day possession shall be taken by such authority, but either party shall have the right to terminate this Lease upon notice given to the other party within 30 days after such taking possession. If more than 15% of the Floor Space of the Building shall be so taken or conveyed, Landlord may, by notice to Tenant, terminate this Lease as of the day possession shall be taken. If so much of the parking facilities shall be so taken or conveyed that the number of parking spaces necessary, in Landlord’s judgment, for the continued operation of the Building shall not be available, Landlord shall, by notice to Tenant, terminate this Lease as of the day possession shall be taken. If this Lease shall continue in effect as to any portion of the Demised Premises not so taken or conveyed, the Rent shall be computed as of the day possession shall be taken on the basis of the remaining Floor Space of the Demised Premises. Except as specifically provided herein, in the event of any such taking or conveyance there shall be no reduction in Rent. If this Lease shall continue in effect, Landlord shall, at its expense, but shall be obligated only to the extent of the net award or other compensation (after deducting all expenses in connection with obtaining same) available to Landlord for the improvements taken or conveyed (excluding any award or

 

33


other compensation for land or for the unexpired portion of the term of any Superior Lease), make all necessary alterations so as to constitute the remaining Building a complete architectural and tenantable unit, except for the Tenant’s Property, and Tenant shall make all alterations or replacements to the Tenant’s Property and decorations in the Demised Premises. All awards and compensation for any taking or conveyance, whether for the whole or a part of the Land or Building, the Demised Premised or otherwise, shall be the property of Landlord, and Tenant hereby assigns to Landlord all of Tenant’s right, title and interest in and to any and all such awards and compensation, including, without limitation, any award or compensation for the value of the unexpired portion of the Term. Tenant shall be entitled to claim, prove and receive in the condemnation proceeding such award or compensation as may be allowed for the Tenant’s Property and for loss of business, good will, and depreciation or injury to and cost of removal of the Tenant’s Property, but only if such award or compensation shall be made by the condemning authority in addition to, and shall not result in a reduction of, the award or compensation made by it to Landlord.

23.02. If the temporary use or occupancy of all or any part of the Demised Premises shall be taken during the Term, Tenant shall be entitled, except as hereinafter set forth, to receive that portion of the award or payment for such taking which represents compensation for the use and occupancy of the Demised Premises, for the taking of the Tenant’s Property and for moving expenses, and Landlord shall be entitled to receive that portion which represents reimbursement for the cost of restoration of the Demised Premises. This Lease shall be and remain unaffected by such taking and Tenant shall continue to be responsible for all of its obligations hereunder insofar as such obligations are not affected by such taking and shall continue to pay the Rent in full when due. If the period of temporary use or occupancy shall extend beyond the Expiration Date, that part of the award or payment which represents compensation for the use and occupancy of the Demised Premises (or a part thereof) shall be divided between Landlord and Tenant so that Tenant shall receive (except as otherwise provided below) so much thereof as represents compensation for the period up to and including the Expiration Date and Landlord shall receive so much thereof as represents compensation for the period after the Expiration Date. All monies to be paid to Tenant as, or as part of, an award or payment for temporary use and occupancy for a period beyond the date to which the Rent has been paid shall be received, held and applied by the first Superior Mortgagee (or if there is no Superior Mortgagee, by Landlord as a trust fund) for payment of the Rent becoming due hereunder.

ARTICLE 24 - SURRENDER

24.01. On the Expiration Date, or upon any earlier termination of this Lease, or upon any re-entry by Landlord upon the Demised Premises, Tenant shall quit and surrender the Demised Premises to Landlord “broom-clean” and in good order, condition and repair, except for ordinary wear and tear and such damage or destruction as Landlord is required to repair or restore under this Lease, and Tenant shall remove all of Tenant’s Property therefrom except as otherwise expressly provided in this Lease.

24.02. If Tenant remains in possession of the Demised Premises after the expiration of the Term, Tenant shall be deemed to be occupying the Demised Premises at the sufferance of Landlord subject to all of the provisions of this Lease, except that the monthly Fixed Rent shall be twice the Fixed Rent in effect during the last month of the Term.

 

34


24.03. No act or thing done by Landlord or its agents shall be deemed an acceptance of a surrender of the Demised Premises, and no agreement to accept such surrender shall be valid unless in writing and signed by Landlord.

ARTICLE 25 - CONDITIONS OF LIMITATION

25.01. This Lease is subject to the limitation that whenever Tenant (a) shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (b) shall commence a voluntary case or have entered against it an order for relief under any chapter of the Federal Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) or any similar order or decree under any federal or state law, now in existence, or hereafter enacted having the same general purpose, and such order or decree shall have not been stayed or vacated within 30 days after entry, or (c) shall cause, suffer, permit or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, administrator, conservator, sequestrator, liquidator or similar official in any federal, state or foreign judicial or nonjudicial proceeding, to hold, administer and/or liquidate all or substantially all of its assets, and such appointment shall not have been revoked, terminated, stayed or vacated and such official discharged of his duties within 30 days of his appointment, then Landlord, at any time after the occurrence of any such event, may give Tenant a notice of intention to end the Term at the expiration of five (5) days from the date of service of such notice of intention, and upon the expiration of said five (5) day period, whether or not the Term shall theretofore have commenced, this Lease shall terminate with the same effect as if that day were the expiration date of this Lease, but Tenant shall remain liable for damages as provided in Article 27.

25.02. This Lease is subject to the further limitations that: (a) if Tenant shall default in the payment of any Rent, and such default shall not be cured within five (5) days after written notice or (b) if Tenant shall, whether by action or inaction, be in default of any of its obligations under this Lease (other than a default in the payment of Rent) and such default shall continue and not be remedied within fifteen (15) days after Landlord shall have given to Tenant a notice specifying the same, or, in the case of a default which cannot with due diligence be cured within a period of fifteen (15) days and the continuance of which for the period required for cure will not subject Landlord or any Superior Lessor to prosecution for a crime (as more particularly described in the penultimate sentence of Section 12.02) or termination of any Superior Lease or foreclosure of any Superior Mortgage, if Tenant shall not, (i) within said fifteen (15) day period advise Landlord of Tenant’s intention to take all steps necessary to remedy such default, (ii) duly commence within said fifteen (15) day period, and thereafter diligently prosecute to completion all steps necessary to remedy the default, and (iii) complete such remedy within a reasonable time after the date of said notice by Landlord, or (c) if any event shall occur or any contingency shall arise whereby this Lease would, by operation of law or otherwise, devolve upon or pass to any Person, firm or corporation other than Tenant, except as expressly permitted by Article 11, or (d) if Tenant shall abandon the Demised Premises, then in any of said cases Landlord may give to Tenant a notice of intention to end the Term at the expiration of five (5) days from the date of the service of such notice of intention, and upon the expiration of said five (5) days, whether or not the Term shall theretofore have commenced, this Lease shall terminate with the same effect as if that day were the expiration date of this Lease, but Tenant shall remain liable for damages as provided in Article 27.

 

35


ARTICLE 26 - RE-ENTRY BY LANDLORD

26.01. If Tenant shall default in the payment of any Rent and such default shall not be cured within five (5) days after written notice, or if this Lease shall terminate as provided in Article 25, Landlord or Landlord’s agents and employees may immediately or at any time thereafter re-enter the Demised Premises, or any part thereof, either by summary dispossess proceedings or by any suitable action or proceeding at law without being liable to indictment, prosecution or damages therefor, and may repossess the same, and may remove any Person therefrom, to the end that Landlord may have, hold and enjoy the Demised Premises. The word “re-enter,” as used herein, is not restricted to its technical legal meaning. If this Lease is terminated under the provisions of Article 25, or if Landlord shall re-enter the Demised Premises under the provisions of this Article 26, or in the event of the termination of this Lease, or of re-entry, by or under any summary dispossess or other proceedings or action or any provision of law by reason of default hereunder on the part of Tenant, Tenant shall thereupon pay to Landlord the Rent payable up to the time of such termination of this Lease, or of such recovery of possession of the Demised Premises by Landlord, as the case may be, and shall also pay to Landlord damages as provided in Article 27.

26.02. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Tenant of any of its obligations under this Lease, Landlord shall also have the right of injunction. The special remedies to which Landlord may resort hereunder are cumulative and are not intended to be exclusive of any other remedies to which Landlord may lawfully be entitled at any time and Landlord may invoke any remedy allowed at law or in equity as if specific remedies were not provided for herein.

26.03. If this Lease shall terminate under the provisions of Article 25, or if Landlord shall re-enter the Demised Premises under the provisions of this Article 26, or in the event of the termination of this Lease, or of re-entry, by or under any summary dispossess or other proceeding or action or any provision of law by reason of default hereunder on the part of Tenant, Landlord shall be entitled to retain all monies, if any, paid by Tenant to Landlord, whether as Advance Rent, security or otherwise, but such monies shall be credited by Landlord against any Rent due from Tenant at the time of such termination or re-entry or, at Landlord’s option, against any damages payable by Tenant under Article 27 or pursuant to law.

ARTICLE 27 - DAMAGES

27.01. If this Lease is terminated under the provisions of Article 25 or if Landlord shall reenter the Demised Premises under the provisions of Article 26, or in the event of the termination of this Lease, or of re-entry, by or under any summary dispossess or other proceeding or action or any provision of law by reason of default hereunder on the part of Tenant, Tenant shall pay as Additional Charges to Landlord, at the election of Landlord, either or any combination of:

(a) a sum which at the time of such termination of this Lease or at the time of any such re-entry by Landlord, as the case may be, represents the then present value (calculated using a discount rate equal to the lesser of the prime rate of JP Morgan Chase bank, or if such rate is no longer published such other similar reference rate in effect with a bank with offices in New

 

36


York, New York as may be selected by Landlord in its sole discretion, or 4% per annum) of the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate amount of the Rent which would have been payable by Tenant (conclusively presuming the average Additional Charges to be the same as were the average Additional Charges payable for the year, or if less than three hundred sixty five (365) days have then elapsed since the Commencement Date, the partial year, immediately preceding such termination or re-entry) for the period commencing with such earlier termination of this Lease or the date of any such re-entry, as the case may be, and ending with the Expiration Date, over (ii) the aggregate rental value of the Demised Premises for the same period; or

(b) sums equal to the Fixed Rent, and the Additional Charges which would have been payable by Tenant had this Lease not so terminated, or had Landlord not so reentered the Demised Premises, payable upon the due dates therefor specified herein following such termination or such re-entry and until the Expiration Date, provided, however, that if Landlord shall relet the Demised Premises during said period, Landlord shall credit Tenant with the net rents received by Landlord from such reletting, such net rents to be determined by first deducting from the gross rents as and when received by Landlord from such reletting the expenses incurred or paid by Landlord in terminating this Lease or in re-entering the Demised Premises and in securing possession thereof, as well as the expenses of reletting, including, without limitation, altering and preparing the Demised Premises for new tenants, brokers’ commissions, legal fees, and all other expenses properly chargeable against the Demised Premises and the rental therefrom, it being understood that any such reletting may be for a period shorter or longer than the period ending on the Expiration Date; but in no event shall Tenant be entitled to receive any excess of such net rents over the sums payable by Tenant to Landlord hereunder, nor shall Tenant be entitled in any such for the collection of damages pursuant to this subdivision (b) to a credit in respect of any rents from a reletting, except to the extent that such net rents are actually received by Landlord. If the Demised Premises or any part thereof should be relet in combination with other space, then proper apportionment on a square foot basis shall be made of the rent received from such reletting and of the expenses of reletting.

If the Demised Premises or any part thereof should be relet by Landlord before presentation of proof of such damages to any court, commission or tribunal, the amount of rent reserved upon such reletting shall, prima facie, be the fair and reasonable rental value for the Demised Premises, or part thereof, so relet during the term of the reletting, subject to rebuttal by Tenant. Landlord shall not be liable in any way whatsoever for its failure to relet the Demised Premises or any part thereof, or if the Demised Premises or any part thereof are relet, for its failure to collect the rent under such reletting. Landlord shall use commercially reasonable efforts to relet the Demised Premises to mitigate Landlord’s damages. For the purposes hereof, Tenant agrees that any of the following actions, alone or in combination, shall create an irrebuttable

 

37


presumption that Landlord has fulfilled its obligation, if any, to mitigate its damages: (i) Landlord may include the availability of the Demised Premises in Landlord’s monthly listing to brokers (if any), commencing with the first such report (if any) issued following Landlord’s recovery of possession of the Demised Premises, and ending upon re-leasing of the Demised Premises; (ii) Landlord may include the availability of the Demised Premises in Landlord’s periodic real estate guide (if any) or web page (if any), following Landlord’s recovery of possession of the Demised Premises, and ending upon re-leasing of the Demised Premises; (iii) Landlord may hold an “Open House” for the Demised Premises within sixty (60) days of Landlord’s recovery of possession of the Demised Premises; or (iv) Landlord may, but shall not be obligated to, engage an independent commercial real estate broker to relet the Demised Premises, the cost and expense of which shall be an element of Landlord’s damages in addition to any other damages recoverable pursuant to Section 27.01 hereof. Nothing contained herein shall require Landlord to relet the Demised Premises prior to or with any preference over the leasing of any other similar premises of Landlord or any affiliate of Landlord, nor shall any rental of such other premises reduce the damages which Landlord would be entitled to recover from Tenant. In the event Tenant, on behalf of itself or any and all Persons claiming through or under Tenant, attempts to raise a defense or assert any affirmative obligations on Landlord’s part to mitigate such damages or relet the Demised Premises other than as provided herein, Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for any costs and expenses incurred by Landlord as a result of any such defense or assertion, including but not limited to Landlord’s attorneys’ fees incurred in connection therewith.

27.02. Suit or suits for the recovery of such damages or, any installments thereof, may be brought by Landlord at any time and from time to time at its election, and nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require Landlord to postpone suit until the date when the Term would have expired if it had not been so terminated under the provisions of Article 25, or under any provision of law, or had Landlord not re-entered the Demised Premises. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or preclude recovery by Landlord against Tenant of any sums or damages to which, in addition to the damages for particularly provided above, Landlord may lawfully be entitled by reason of any default hereunder on the part of Tenant, except that claims for acceleration of rent shall be governed by Section 27.01. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or prejudice the right of Landlord to prove for and obtain as damages by reason of the termination of this Lease or re-entry of the Demised Premises for the default of Tenant under this Lease, an amount equal to the maximum allowed by any statute or rule of law in effect at the time, whether or not such amount be greater than, equal to, or less than any of the sums referred to in Section 27.01, except that claims for acceleration of rent shall be governed by Section 27.01.

27.03. In addition, if this Lease is terminated under the provisions of Article 25, or if Landlord shall re-enter the Demised Premises under the provisions of Article 26, Tenant covenants that: (a) the Demised Premises then shall be in the same condition as that in which Tenant has agreed to surrender the same to Landlord at the Expiration Date; (b) Tenant shall have performed prior to any such termination any obligation of Tenant contained in this Lease for the making of any alteration or for restoring or rebuilding the Demised Premises or the Building, or any part thereof; and (c) for the breach of any covenant of Tenant set forth above in this Section 27.03, Landlord shall be entitled immediately, without notice or other action by Landlord, to recover, and Tenant shall pay, as and for liquidated damages therefor, the cost of performing such covenant (as estimated by an independent contractor selected by Landlord).

 

38


27.04. In addition to any other remedies Landlord may have under this Lease, and without reducing or adversely affecting any of Landlord’s rights and remedies under this Article 27, if any Rent or damages payable hereunder by Tenant to Landlord are not paid upon demand therefor, the same shall bear interest at the Late Payment Rate or the maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is less, from the due date thereof until paid, and the amounts of such interest shall be Additional Charges hereunder.

ARTICLE 28 - AFFIRMATIVE WAIVERS

28.01. Tenant, on behalf of itself and any and all Persons claiming through or under Tenant, does hereby waive and surrender all right and privilege which it, they or any of them might have under or by reason of any present or future law, to redeem the Demised Premises or to have a continuance of this Lease after being dispossessed or ejected from the Demised Premises by process of law or under the terms of this Lease or after the termination of this Lease as provided in this Lease.

28.02. Landlord and Tenant hereby waive trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim brought by either against the other on any matter whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with this Lease, the relationship of Landlord and Tenant, and Tenant’s use or occupancy of the Demised Premises and use of the Common Area, including, without limitation, any claim of injury or damage, and any emergency and other statutory remedy with respect thereto. Tenant shall not interpose any counterclaim of any kind in any action or proceeding commenced by Landlord to recover possession of the Demised Premises.

ARTICLE 29 - NO WAIVERS

29.01. The failure of either party to insist in any one or more instances upon the strict performance of any one or more of the obligations of this Lease, or to exercise any election herein contained, shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment for the future of the performance of such one or more obligations of this Lease or of the right to exercise such election, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect with respect to any subsequent breach, act or omission. The receipt by Landlord of Fixed Rent or Additional Charges with knowledge of breach by Tenant of any obligation of this Lease shall not be deemed a waiver of such breach.

ARTICLE 30 - CURING DEFAULTS

30.01. If Tenant shall default in the performance of any of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease, Landlord, without thereby waiving such default, may (but shall not be obligated to) perform the same for the account and at the expense of Tenant, without notice in a case of emergency, and in any other case only if such default continues after the expiration of fifteen (15) days from the date Landlord gives Tenant notice of the default. Charges for any expenses incurred by Landlord in connection with any such performance by it for the account of Tenant, and charges for all costs, expenses and disbursements of every kind and nature whatsoever, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, involved in collecting or endeavoring to

 

39


collect the Rent or any part thereof or enforcing or endeavoring to enforce any rights against Tenant or Tenant’s obligations hereunder, under or in connection with this Lease or pursuant to law, including any such cost, expense and disbursement involved in instituting and prosecuting summary proceedings or in recovering possession of the Demised Premises after default by Tenant or upon the expiration of the Term or sooner termination of this Lease, and interest on all sums advanced by Landlord under this Article at the Late Payment Rate or the maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is less, shall be payable by Tenant and may be invoiced by Landlord to Tenant monthly, or immediately, or at any time, at Landlord’s option, and such amounts shall be due and payable upon demand.

30.02. If Landlord shall default in the performance of any of Landlord’s obligations under this Lease beyond any applicable notice or cure period, Tenant, without thereby waiving such default, may (but shall not be obligated to) perform the same for the account and at the expense of Landlord, without notice in a case of emergency posing a threat to life or safety or property, and in any other case only if such default continues after the expiration of sixty (60) days from the date Tenant gives Landlord notice of the default and advising Landlord that Tenant intends to exercise its self help rights under this Section 30.02, unless Landlord has commenced and is then diligently pursuing such cure. In the event of an emergency (such emergency posing a threat to life or safety or property) Tenant shall have the right to perform such obligation itself and seek reimbursement from Landlord, but Tenant shall, as soon as practicable, notify Landlord (including, but not limited to telephonic or personal notification) of such emergency. Any costs or expenses incurred by Tenant in connection with any such performance by it for the account of Landlord, and interest on all sums advanced by Tenant under this Article at the Prime Rate as announced in the Wall Street Journal (or a successor index reasonably selected by Landlord), plus two percent (2%) per annum, or the maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is less, shall be payable by Landlord within thirty (30) days of demand and, in addition to any other rights or remedies of Tenant under this Lease, any bills received by Tenant for same may be sent by Tenant to Landlord for payment by Landlord monthly, or immediately, at Tenant’s option. In no event shall the failure of Landlord to perform any repair or other obligation which is the subject matter hereof, whether or not requested by Tenant, be deemed to be an acknowledgment that the Landlord had a duty or obligation to perform the same. In the event Landlord disputes the necessity of the performance of the repair or other obligation in question, its obligations to make same, or the cost thereof, or if Landlord fails to pay same when due hereunder, Tenant’s remedy shall, subject to Landlord’s and Tenant’s option to require arbitration of such claim under Article 34 hereof, be an action at law to recover such claimed amount and Tenant shall not, in any case, be entitled to any offsets or deductions from Rent. Nothing contained in this Section 30.02 shall be construed to allow or permit Tenant to deduct or offset or reduce any amounts due against any Rent under this Lease.

ARTICLE 31 - BROKER

31.01. Tenant and Landlord each represents to the other that no broker except the Broker was instrumental in bringing about or consummating this Lease and that they respectively had no conversations or negotiations with any broker except the Broker concerning the leasing of the Demised Premises. Tenant and Landlord each agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other against and from any claims by any Person claiming to have dealt with or on behalf of the indemnifying party for any brokerage commissions and all costs, expenses and liabilities in

 

40


connection therewith, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, arising out of any conversations or negotiations had by the indemnifying party with any broker other than the Broker. Landlord shall pay any brokerage commissions due the Broker pursuant to a separate agreement between Landlord and the Broker.

ARTICLE 32 - NOTICES

32.01. Any notice, statement, demand, consent, approval or other communication required or permitted to be given, rendered or made by either party to the other, pursuant to this Lease or pursuant to any applicable Legal Requirement, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been properly given, rendered or made only if hand delivered or sent by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the other party at the address hereinabove set forth, Attention: Real Estate Director (except that after the Rent Commencement Date, Tenant’s address, unless Tenant shall give notice to the contrary, shall be the Building) as to Landlord, to the attention of General Counsel with a concurrent notice to the attention of Controller, and shall be deemed to have been given, rendered or made on the second day after the day so mailed, unless mailed outside the State of New Jersey, in which case it shall be deemed to have been given, rendered or made on the third business day after the day so mailed. Either party may, by notice as aforesaid, designate a different address or addresses for notices, statements, demands, consents, approvals or other communications intended for it. In addition, upon and to the extent requested by Landlord, copies of notices shall be sent to the Superior Mortgagee.

ARTICLE 33 - ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATES

33.01. Tenant shall, at any time and from time to time, as requested by Landlord, upon not less than ten (10) days’ prior notice, execute and deliver to the Landlord or a Superior Mortgagee or Superior Lessor certifying that this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or if there have been modifications, that the same is in full force and effect as modified and stating the modifications), certifying the dates to which the Fixed Rent and Additional Charges have been paid, stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of the party giving the statement, the requesting party is in default in performance of any of its obligations under this Lease, and, if so, specifying each such default of which the party giving the statement shall have knowledge, and stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of the party giving the statement, any event has occurred which with the giving of notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute such a default of the requesting party, and, if so, specifying each such event; any such statement delivered pursuant hereto shall be deemed a representation and warranty to be relied upon by the party requesting the certificate and by others with whom such party may be dealing, regardless of independent investigation. Tenant also shall include in any such statement such other information concerning this Lease as Landlord may reasonably request.

33.02. Landlord shall, at any time and from time to time, but not more than two times annually upon request of Tenant, upon not less than ten business (10) days’ prior notice, to execute and deliver to the Tenant certifying that to the best of Landlord’s knowledge, this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or if there have been modifications, that the same is in full force and effect as modified and stating the modifications), certifying the dates to which the Fixed Rent and Additional Charges have been paid, stating whether or not, to the best knowledge

 

41


of the party giving the statement, the requesting party is in default in performance of any of its obligations under this Lease, and, if so, specifying each such default of which the party giving the statement shall have knowledge, and stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of the party giving the statement, any event has occurred which with the giving of notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute such a default of the requesting party, and, if so, specifying each such event. The provisions of this Section 33.02 and any certificates provided pursuant to this Section 33.02 shall not be binding on any Superior Mortgagee or Successor Landlord.

ARTICLE 34 - ARBITRATION

34.01. Landlord may at any time request arbitration, and Tenant may at any time when not in default in the payment of any Rent request arbitration, of any matter in dispute but only where arbitration is expressly provided for in this Lease. The party requesting arbitration shall do so by giving notice to that effect to the other party, specifying in said notice the nature of the dispute, and said dispute shall be determined in Newark, New Jersey, by a single arbitrator, in accordance with the rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration Association (or any comparable organization designated by Landlord). The award in such arbitration may be enforced on the application of either party by the order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The fees and expenses of any arbitration shall be borne by the parties equally, but each party shall bear the expense of its own attorneys and experts and the additional expenses of presenting its own proof. If Tenant gives notice requesting arbitration as provided in this Article, Tenant shall simultaneously serve a duplicate of the notice on each Superior Mortgagee and Superior Lessor whose name and address shall previously have been furnished to Tenant, and such Superior Mortgagees and Superior Lessor shall have the right to participate in such arbitration.

ARTICLE 35 - MEMORANDUM OF LEASE

35.01. Tenant shall not record this Lease. However, at the request of Landlord, Tenant shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord a memorandum of lease in respect of this Lease sufficient for recording. Such memorandum shall not be deemed to change or otherwise affect any of the obligations or provisions of this Lease. Whichever party records such memorandum of Lease shall pay all recording costs and expenses, including any taxes that are due upon such recording.

ARTICLE 36 - MISCELLANEOUS

36.01. Tenant expressly acknowledges and agrees that Landlord has not made and is not making, and Tenant, in executing and delivering this Lease, is not relying upon, any warranties, representations, promises or statements, except to the extent that the same are expressly set forth in this Lease or in any other written agreement(s) which may be made between the parties concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Lease. All understandings and agreements heretofore had between the parties are merged in this Lease and any other written agreement(s) made concurrently herewith, which alone fully and completely express the agreement of the parties and which are entered into after full investigation. Neither party has relied upon any statement or representation not embodied in this Lease or in any other written agreement(s) made concurrently herewith. The submission of this Lease to Tenant does not constitute by Landlord a

 

42


reservation of, or an option to Tenant for, the Demised Premises, or an offer to lease on the terms set forth herein and this Lease shall become effective as a lease agreement only upon execution and delivery thereof by Landlord and Tenant.

36.02. No agreement shall be effective to change, modify, waive, release, discharge, terminate or effect an abandonment of this Lease, in whole or in part, unless such agreement is in writing, refers expressly to this Lease and is signed by the party against whom enforcement of the change, modification, waiver, release, discharge, termination or effectuation of abandonment is sought.

36.03. If Tenant shall at any time request Landlord to sublet or let the Demised Premises for Tenant’s account, Landlord or its agent is authorized to receive keys for such purposes without releasing Tenant from any of its obligations under this Lease, and Tenant hereby releases Landlord of any liability for loss or damage to any of the Tenant’s Property in connection with such subletting or letting.

36.04. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Lease, the obligations under this Lease shall bind and benefit the successors and assigns of the parties hereto with the same effect as if mentioned in each instance where a party is named or referred to; provided, however, that (a) no violation of the provisions of Article 11 shall operate to vest any rights in any successor or assignee of Tenant and (b) the provisions of this Section 36.04 shall not be construed as modifying the conditions of limitation contained in Article 25.

36.05. Except for Tenant’s obligations to pay Rent, the time for Landlord or Tenant, as the case may be, to perform any of its respective obligations hereunder shall be extended if and to the extent that the performance thereof shall be prevented due to any Unavoidable Delay. Except as expressly provided to the contrary, the obligations of Tenant hereunder shall not be affected, impaired or excused, nor shall Landlord have any liability whatsoever to Tenant, (a) because Landlord is unable to fulfill, or is delayed in fulfilling, any of its obligations under this Lease due to any of the matters set forth in the first sentence of this Section 36.05, or (b) because of any failure or defect in the supply, quality or character of electricity, water or any other utility or service furnished to the Demised Premises for any reason beyond Landlord’s reasonable control.

36.06. Any liability for payments hereunder (including, without limitation, Additional Charges) shall survive the expiration of the Term or earlier termination of this Lease.

36.07. If Tenant shall request Landlord’s consent and Landlord shall fail or refuse to give such consent, Tenant shall not be entitled to any damages for any withholding by Landlord of its consent; Tenant’s sole remedy shall be an action for specific performance or injunction, and such remedy shall be available only in those cases where Landlord has expressly agreed in writing not to unreasonably withhold or delay its consent or where as a matter of law Landlord may not unreasonably withhold its consent.

36.08. If an excavation shall be made upon land adjacent to or under the Building, or shall be authorized to be made, Tenant shall afford to the Person causing or authorized to cause such excavation, license to enter the Demised Premises for the purpose of performing such work

 

43


as said Person shall reasonably deem necessary or desirable to preserve and protect the Building from injury or damage and to support the same by proper foundations, without any claim for damages or liability against Landlord and without reducing or otherwise affecting Tenant’s obligations under this Lease.

36.09. Tenant shall not exercise its rights under Article 15 or any other provision of this Lease in a manner which would violate Landlord’s union contracts or create any work stoppage, picketing, labor disruption or dispute or any interference with the business of Landlord or any tenant or occupant of the Building. Landlord agrees to consent to the use by Tenant of non-union labor for Tenant’s Work or alterations after such time as Landlord obtains a Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Continued Occupancy for the Demised Premises, provided however that Tenant shall comply with the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 36.09.

36.10. Tenant shall give prompt notice to Landlord of (a) any occurrence in or about the Demised Premises for which Landlord might be liable, (b) any fire or other casualty in the Demised Premises, (c) any damage to or defect in the Demised Premises, including the fixtures and equipment thereof, for the repair of which Landlord might be responsible, and (d) any damage to or defect in any part of the Building’s sanitary, electrical, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, elevator or other systems located in or passing through the Demised Premises or any part thereof.

36.11. This Lease shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey. Tenant hereby irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Lease may be brought in the Courts of the State of New Jersey, or the Federal District Court for the District of New Jersey, as Landlord may elect. By execution and delivery of this Lease, Tenant hereby irrevocably accepts and submits generally and unconditionally for itself and with respect to its properties, to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such action or proceeding, and hereby waives in the case of any such action or proceeding brought in the courts of the State of New Jersey, or Federal District Court for the District of New Jersey, any defenses based on jurisdiction, venue or forum non convenience. If any provision of this Lease shall be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Lease shall not be affected and shall be enforced to the extent permitted by law. The table of contents, captions, headings and titles in this Lease are solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect its interpretation. This Lease shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the party causing this Lease to be drafted. If any words or phrases in this Lease shall have been stricken out or otherwise eliminated, whether or not any other words or phrases have been added, this Lease shall be construed as if the words or phrases so stricken out or otherwise eliminated were never included in this Lease and no implication or inference shall be drawn from the fact that said words or phrases were so stricken out or otherwise eliminated. Each covenant, agreement, obligation or other provision of this Lease on Tenant’s part to be performed, shall be deemed and construed as a separate and independent covenant of Tenant, not dependent on any other provision of this Lease. All terms and words used in this Lease, regardless of the number or gender in which they are used, shall be deemed to include any other number and any other gender as the context may require. Tenant specifically agrees to pay all of Landlord’s costs, charges and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any document review requested by Tenant and upon submission of bills therefor. In the event Landlord permits Tenant to examine Landlord’s books and records with respect to any

 

44


Additional Charge imposed under this Lease, such examination shall be conducted at Tenant’s sole cost and expense and shall be conditioned upon Tenant retaining an independent accounting firm for such purposes which shall not be compensated on any type of contingent fee basis with respect to such examination. Wherever in this Lease or by law Landlord is authorized to charge or recover costs and expenses for legal services or attorneys’ fees, same shall include, without limitation, the costs and expenses for in-house or staff legal counsel or outside counsel at rates not to exceed the reasonable and customary charges for any such services as would be imposed in an arms length third party agreement for such services.

36.12. Within five (5) business days after request by Landlord (but not more than once annually, unless requested by a Mortgagee or prospective Mortgagee), Tenant shall furnish to Landlord a copy of its then current financial statement which shall be certified by Tenant’s chief financial officer and shall be audited, if available, which shall be employed by Landlord for purposes of financing the Premises and not distributed otherwise without prior authorization of Tenant.

36.13. (i) At least ninety (90) days prior to Tenant’s termination of its lease, and any extensions thereof, Tenant agrees to seek a determination from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) in the form of a Letter of Non-applicability (“LNA”), that the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act, N.J.S.A. 13:1K-6 et seq. (“ISRA”), is inapplicable to the Tenant’s cessation of operations and termination of its lease. Tenant represents, warrants, and covenants that any information contained in any application for an LNA submitted pursuant to this subsection will be true and complete. Tenant represents that the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) number applicable to Tenant’s operations would not subject this transaction to the requirements of ISRA.

(ii) In the event that an LNA is denied by NJDEP, notice of such denial will be given to Landlord within two (2) business days of Tenant’s receipt of NJDEP’s denial of the LNA. Tenant shall satisfy its obligations under ISRA prior to its lease termination date: (1) by securing an approval of the Tenant’s Negative Declaration; or (2) by securing an approval of the Tenant’s Remedial Action Workplan, and completing the implementation of such Plan, and obtaining from NJDEP a “No Further Action” letter. Tenant shall bear sole responsibility for any investigation and cleanup costs, fees, penalties, or damages associated with ISRA compliance. In the event that Tenant is unable to complete the its ISRA compliance obligations by the date of its lease termination, Landlord shall continue to provide Tenant with reasonable access to the Demised Premises, provided that any work undertaken by Tenant shall be performed in such a manner as to minimize interference with Landlord’s or any other tenant’s use of the Demised Premises. However, Landlord reserves its rights to deem Tenant a holdover tenant in the event that Tenant’s ISRA compliance unreasonably restricts the Landlord’s use of the Demised Premises.

 

45


(iii) Tenant shall provide Landlord with copies of all correspondence, documents and reports, including sampling results submitted to or received from any governmental agency or third party in connection with Tenant’s compliance with ISRA.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have duly executed this Lease as of the day and year first above written.

 

Landlord:
HARTZ MOUNTAIN INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent J. Rubino, Jr.

  Vincent J. Rubino, Jr.
  Senior Vice President
Tenant:
VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey J. Horowitz

  Jeffrey J. Horowitz, CEO


RIDER TO LEASE DATED MAY 2, 2002, BETWEEN HARTZ MOUNTAIN INDUSTRIES, INC., AS LANDLORD AND VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC., AS TENANT.

R1. If any of the provisions of this Rider shall conflict with any of the provisions, printed or typewritten, of this Lease, such conflict shall resolve in every instance in favor of the provisions of this Rider.

R2. Renewal Option . Provided Tenant is in compliance with all of the terms and conditions contained herein and provided Tenant has not assigned this Lease or sublet all or any portion of the Demised Premises and is itself in occupation and conducting business in the whole of the Demised Premises in accordance with the terms of this Lease (other than a permitted assignment or sublease to an Affiliate of Tenant or a transaction expressly permitted without Landlord’s consent pursuant to Section 11.02 of this Lease), Tenant expressly acknowledging and agreeing that the option rights contained herein are personal to the original named Tenant, Tenant shall have one (1) option to extend the Term of its lease of the Demised Premises, from the date upon which this Lease would otherwise expire for one (1) extended period(s) of five (5) years (herein referred to as an “Extended Period”), upon the following terms and conditions:

1. If Tenant elects to exercise said option, it shall do so by giving notice of such election to Landlord on or before the date which is one (1) year before the beginning of the Extended Period. Tenant agrees that it shall have forever waived its right to exercise such option if it shall fail for any reason whatsoever to give such notice to Landlord by the time provided herein for the giving of such notice, whether such failure is inadvertent or intentional, time being of the essence as to the exercise of such option.

2. If Tenant elects to exercise said option, the Term shall be automatically extended for the Extended Period covered by the option so exercised without execution of an extension or renewal lease. Within ten (10) days after request of either party following the effective exercise of any such option, however, Landlord and Tenant shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to each other duplicate originals of an instrument in recordable form confirming that such option was effectively exercised.

3. The Extended Period shall be upon the same terms and conditions as are in effect immediately preceding the commencement of the Extended Period except as otherwise expressly provided herein. Tenant shall have no right or option to extend the Term for any period of time beyond the expiration of the Extended Period. In the Extended Period (1) the provisions of paragraph R4 of this Rider shall not be applicable and Tenant shall be responsible for all Real Estate Taxes with respect to the Demised Premises pursuant to Article 6 of this Lease and (2) in the Extended Period the Fixed Rent shall be as follows:

(a) The Fixed Rent during the Extended Period shall be at Fair Market Value (“FMV”). FMV shall be determined by mutual agreement of the parties. If the parties are unable to agree on the FMV, the parties shall choose a licensed Real Estate Appraiser who shall determine the FMV. The cost of said Real Estate Appraiser shall be borne equally by the parties. If the parties are unable to agree on a licensed Real Estate Appraiser, each party shall select one


Appraiser to appraise the FMV. If the difference between the two appraisals is 20% or less of the lower appraisal, then the FMV shall be the average of the two appraisals. If the difference between the two appraisals is greater than 20% of the lower appraisal, the two Appraisers shall select a third licensed Real Estate Appraiser to appraise the FMV. The FMV shall in such case be the average of the three appraisals. The cost of the third appraisal shall be borne equally by the parties.

The Fixed Rent for the Extended Period shall be calculated without the applicability of paragraph R4 of this Rider.

Anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, the Fixed Rent for the Extended Period shall not be less than $8.35 per square foot of Floor Space per annum.

4. Any termination, expiration, cancellation or surrender of this Lease shall terminate any right or option for the Extended Period(s) not yet exercised.

5. Landlord shall have the right, for thirty (30) days after receipt of notice of Tenant’s election to exercise any option to extend the Term, to reject Tenant’s election if Tenant gave such notice while Tenant was in default in the performance of any of its obligations under the Lease, and such rejection shall automatically render Tenant’s election to exercise such option null and void and of no effect (unless such default is timely cured within any applicable notice or cure period, if any, expressly provided in this Lease).

6. The options provided herein to extend the Term of the Lease may not be severed from the Lease or separately sold, assigned or otherwise transferred.

R3. Retail Premises . Landlord shall not unreasonably withhold its consent, to the operation by Tenant, subject to compliance by Tenant with all Legal Requirements at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, to operate a Vitamin Shoppe warehouse outlet store in a portion of the Demised Premises containing not more than 7,000 square feet of Floor Space (hereinafter referred to as the “Retail Premises”). Landlord shall, use its reasonable efforts, at no cost or expense to Landlord, to cooperate with Tenant, in an application by Tenant to open an outlet store in the Retail Premises, subject to approval by Landlord of any alterations in connection therewith pursuant to Article 15 of this Lease.

R4. Real Estate Taxes . (a) During the initial term of this Lease, the provisions of Section 6.01 of this Lease shall be amended to provide as follows:

(i) Tenant shall pay to Landlord, as an additional charge, as hereinafter provided, Tenant’s Fraction of the Real Estate Taxes. Tenant’s Fraction of the Real Estate Taxes shall be the Real Estate Taxes in respect of the Building for the period in question, less the Base Year Real Estate Taxes (as herein defined); as used herein Base Year Real Estate Taxes shall mean the Real Estate Taxes attributable to the Base Year (as hereinafter defined), multiplied by the Tenant’s Fraction, plus the Real Estate Taxes in respect of the Land for the period in question, less the Real Estate Taxes attributable to the Base Year, multiplied by the Tenant’s Fraction. For purposes of this Section R4, the term “Base Year” shall mean calendar year 2002, subject to the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph R4(a)(ii) hereof. If any portion of the Building shall be exempt from all or any part of the Real Estate Taxes, then for the period of time when

 

48


such exemption is in effect, the Floor Space on such exempt portion shall be excluded when making the above computations in respect of the part of the Real Estate Taxes for which such portion shall be exempt. Landlord shall estimate the annual amount of Tenant’s Fraction of the Real Estate Taxes (which estimate may be changed by Landlord at any time and from time to time), and Tenant shall pay to Landlord 1/12th of the amount so estimated on the first day of each month in advance. Tenant shall also pay to Landlord on demand from time to time the amount which, together with said monthly installments, will be sufficient in Landlord’s estimation to pay Tenant’s Fraction of any Real Estate Taxes thirty (30) days prior to the date when such Real Estate Taxes shall first become due. When the amount of any item comprising Real Estate Taxes is finally determined for a real estate fiscal tax year, Landlord shall submit to Tenant a statement in reasonable detail of the same, and the figures used for computing Tenant’s Fraction of the same, and if Tenant’s Fraction so stated is more or less than the amount theretofore paid by Tenant for such item based on Landlord’s estimate, Tenant shall pay to Landlord the deficiency within ten (10) days after submission of such statement, or Landlord shall, at its sole election, either refund to Tenant the excess or apply same to future installments of Real Estate Taxes due hereunder. Any Real Estate Taxes for a real estate fiscal tax year, a part of which is included within the Term and a part of which is not so included, shall be apportioned on the basis of the number of days in the real estate fiscal tax year included in the Term, and the real estate fiscal tax year for any improvement assessment will be deemed to be the one-year period commencing on the date when such assessment is due, except that if any improvement assessment is payable in installments, the real estate fiscal tax year for each installment will be deemed to be the. one-year period commencing on the date when such installment is due. If any special or added assessment is payable in installments Landlord will elect that same shall be payable in the longest period offered by the municipality (provided however that any such assessment resulting from any alteration or other work performed by Tenant shall be paid by Tenant in its entirety during the Term and prior to the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease). The above computations shall be made by Landlord in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Floor Space referred to will be based upon the average of the Floor Space in existence on the first day of each month during the period in question. In addition to the foregoing, Tenant shall be responsible for any Real Estate Taxes attributable to assessments for improvements installed by or for the account of Tenant at the Demised Premises. If the Demised Premises are not separately assessed, the amount of any such increase shall be determined by reference to the records of the tax assessor. The Tenant shall not be responsible for any increases in Real Estate Taxes attributable to assessments for interior improvements installed by or for the account of any other tenant of the Building outside of the Demised Premises which are solely for the exclusive benefit of such other tenant.

(ii) In the event the Real Estate Taxes with respect to the Demised Premises for any calendar year of the Lease are reduced to less than $1.50 per square foot of Floor Space per annum (herein the “Base Amount”), the Tenant shall be entitled to a reduction in the Fixed Rent for such period equal to the amount by which the Real Estate Taxes payable by Landlord with respect to the Demised Premises for such period (exclusive of any refunds attributable to other periods) are less than the Base Amount. In the event the Real Estate Taxes with respect to the Demised Premises are reduced below or are equal to the Base Year Real Estate Taxes, such amount shall be the new Base Year Real Estate Taxes for purposes of paragraph R4(a)(i) hereof. Tenant shall not be entitled to a rebate for any reduction of Real Estate Taxes between the Base Year Real Estate Taxes and the Base Amount. Payments and reductions pursuant to this

 

49


paragraph shall be estimated by Landlord and payable by Tenant in monthly installments, or as may be otherwise invoiced by Landlord. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as limiting Tenant’s obligation to pay, as an Additional Charge 100% of any Real Estate Taxes attributable to Tenant alterations, improvements or installations. Set forth on Exhibit H, for purposes of illustration only, are hypothetical examples of calculations pursuant to this Section R4(a).

(b) In the event Tenant exercises its option to extend the Term, the provisions of Section R4(a) shall not be applicable to such Extended Period and the provisions of Section 6.01 of the Lease shall govern with respect thereto as if not amended by Section R4(a). Real Estate Taxes for any calendar year which is partially within the original Term and partially within an Extended Period shall be apportioned based on the portions thereof within the original Term and the Extended Period.

R5. Tenant Improvements . Landlord agrees not to unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to (a) the conversion by Tenant, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, of 15,000 square feet of first floor warehouse space to office space within the Demised Premises, and (b) the upgrade by Tenant, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense upgrade the exterior office facade of the Demised Premises. All such installations or modifications shall be subject to compliance by Tenant, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense with all applicable Legal requirements and compliance by Tenant with the provisions of this Lease, including but not limited to Article 15 hereof.

R6. Right of First Refusal . (a) Provided Tenant is not in default of its obligations under this Lease beyond any applicable notice and cure periods and provided Tenant has not assigned this Lease (other than a permitted assignment to an Affiliate of Tenant or a transaction expressly permitted without Landlord’s consent pursuant to Section 11.02 of this Lease), or sublet all or any portion of the Demised Premises (other than a permitted sublease to an Affiliate of Tenant) and is itself in occupation and conducting business in the whole of the Demised Premises in accordance with the terms of this Lease, Tenant expressly acknowledging and agreeing that the rights contained herein are personal to the original named Tenant, Landlord agrees, that prior to entering into a new lease for any space in the Building on or after the third (3rd) anniversary of the Commencement Date (other than extensions or renewals of then existing leases), Landlord shall, provided Tenant is not in default of this Lease, first notify Tenant in writing, in the manner provided in Article 32 of the Lease, of its intention so to do, which notice shall set forth the rent, terms and other conditions upon which such lease is intended to be consummated (“Landlord’s Notice”). Tenant shall have a period of five (5) days following the giving of Landlord’s Notice to notify Landlord, in writing, in the manner provided in Article 34 of the Lease, of its election to enter into a lease for such additional premises upon the rent, terms and conditions set forth in Landlord’s Notice. If Tenant shall notify Landlord in writing of its election to enter into such lease as tenant for the additional premises within the said five (5) day period, Landlord shall deliver and Tenant shall execute a modification of this lease incorporating the rent, terms and conditions as set forth in Landlord’s Notice to Tenant with respect to the additional premises. Time is of the essence with respect to Tenant’s exercise of its right of first refusal.

(b) If Tenant shall fail to notify Landlord in writing of its election to enter into a modification to the Lease incorporating the additional premises, within the five (5) day period referred to in subsection (a) hereof, then the right of first refusal granted to the tenant as set forth in subsection (a) of this Section with respect to the additional premises referred to in Landlord’s notice, shall automatically terminate.

 

50


(c) If Tenant shall not elect to lease the additional premises referred to in Landlord’s Notice within the five (5) day period following Landlord’s Notice then, Landlord may thereafter deliver the lease for such additional premises to the proposed tenant free of the restrictions herein stated.

(d) This right of first refusal so granted to Tenant shall terminate and become null and void upon the earlier of (i) Tenant’s exercise or failure to exercise its option with respect to the first Landlord’s Notice; or (ii) the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease.

(e) If the Lease is to expire in less than five (5) years from the date Tenant exercises its right of first refusal hereunder, then Tenant must exercise its right to extend the Term of this Lease for the next available option period, if any, as a condition to such right of first refusal.

(f) Landlord shall have the right, for thirty (30) days after receipt of notice of Tenant’s election to exercise any right hereunder, to reject Tenant’s election if Tenant gave such notice while Tenant was in default in the performance of any of its obligations under the Lease, and such rejection shall automatically render Tenant’s election to exercise such right null and void and of no effect (unless such default is timely cured within any applicable notice or cure period, if any, expressly provided in this Lease).

(g) If Landlord does not consummate the subject transaction after such notice to Tenant, and such transaction is terminated, Landlord shall again be required to provide notice pursuant to provisions of paragraph R6 (a) prior to entering into a new lease for any space in the Building for which notice would be required by the provisions of paragraph R6 (a) above, had the prior notice not been given.

R7. Space Availability . Upon request of Tenant, provided Tenant is not in default of its obligations under this Lease, Landlord shall provide Tenant with a schedule of the dates for expiration of the other leases of space in the Building. Tenant shall keep such schedule strictly confidential and shall not disclose such schedule or the contents thereof to any third party. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as obligating Landlord to enter into any negotiations with Tenant for, or lease to Tenant, any such space in the Building.

R8. Leasing of the Building . (a) Provided Tenant is not in default of its obligations under this Lease beyond any applicable notice and cure periods and provided Tenant has not assigned this Lease (other than a permitted assignment to an Affiliate of Tenant or a permitted merger or consolidation pursuant to Section 11.02 of this Lease), or sublet all or more than one third (1/3) of the Demised Premises (other than a permitted sublease to an Affiliate of Tenant) and is itself in occupation and conducting business in the Demised Premises, Landlord shall not, without Tenant’s consent, lease any space in the Building during the Term to a vitamin company for use as a vitamin warehouse or the retail sale of vitamins, or permit any other major direct vitamin competitor of Tenant to install a sign bearing the name or logo of such competitor on the exterior of the Building, or include such competitor’s name or logo as part of the Building’s name. Said restrictions shall not apply to any lease to or with a tenant which purchases or is

 

51


purchased by or is merged or consolidated with any such company. Tenant shall indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from and against any claims that the provisions of this paragraph violate or breach any Legal Requirement, and from all loss damage liability and expense incurred in connection therewith, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys fees.

(b) Provided Tenant is not in default of its obligations under this Lease beyond any applicable notice and cure periods and provided Tenant has not assigned this Lease other than a permitted assignment to an Affiliate of Tenant, or sublet all or more than one third (1/3) of the Demised Premises other than a permitted sublease to an Affiliate of Tenant and is itself in occupation and conducting business in the Building in accordance with the terms of this Lease, Landlord shall not, without Tenant’s consent, lease any space in the Building during the Terms to a tenant for a permitted use which would cause the Land or the Building to be classified as an Industrial Establishment as defined under ISRA.

R9. Roof Replacement . In the event Landlord, in its sole reasonable discretion, determines that the roof must be replaced during the Term, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, with respect to such replacement, an amount per annum (payable monthly) equal to the quotient of (a) cost of such roof, divided by (b) the number of years of useful life of such roof (the determination of useful life not being limited to its tax or accounting meaning, but referencing the expected life) as reasonably determined by Landlord. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as obligating Landlord to replace the roof or as limiting Tenant’s maintenance obligations with respect to the roof.

R10. Access to Demised Premises for Tenant’s Work . Landlord agrees to permit Tenant to enter the Demised Premises prior to the Commencement Date for the sole purpose of performing Tenant’s Work therein as herein contemplated upon not less than seven (7) days prior written notice to Landlord of Tenant’s desire to enter the Demised Premises for such purpose; provided, however, that (i) Tenant first delivers to Landlord evidence of all insurance required to be maintained by Tenant in accordance with Article 13 and 15 of this Lease; (ii) Tenant’s Work does not interfere with or impede the timely performance of Landlord’s Work or Landlord’s workmen or contractors; (iii) Tenant agrees to all reasonable rules and regulations set forth by Landlord during such period; and (iv) Tenant complies in all respects with the terms and provisions of Section 36.09 of the Lease. To the extent Tenant is provided access to the Demised Premises to Tenant for the commencement of Tenant’s Work prior to the completion of Landlord’s Work, Tenant shall cooperate with Landlord so as not to unreasonably interfere with the timely completion of Landlord’s Work.

R11. Satellite Dish . Subject to the provisions of Article 15 of this Lease, Landlord shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to the installation of a satellite dish not to exceed one (1) meter in diameter on the roof of the Building in a location above the Demised Premises by Tenant, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, provided, however, that (i) such satellite dish shall be for the sole and exclusive use of Tenant, and (ii) the size and location of such unit shall not adversely effect the structural or architectural integrity or operation of the Building or the Land, or adversely affect the roof structure or roof membrane, (iii) such satellite dish shall be installed, operated and maintained by Tenant at no cost, liability or expense to Landlord. Tenant shall indemnify and hold Landlord and any Superior Lessors and Superior Mortgagees harmless from all loss, damage, cost, liability and expense arising out of or related to the installation, maintenance, existence or operation of such satellite dish.

 

52


R12. Landscaping and Snow-Plowing . (a) Except as provided in paragraphs R12 (b) and (c), Landlord shall procure landscaping and snow removal services for the Building and the cost thereof shall be included in Operating Expenses, for which Tenant shall pay Tenant’s Fraction.

(b) So long as Tenant is the only tenant of the Building, Tenant shall have the right upon thirty days prior written notice to Landlord, to perform the snow plowing, and landscaping. In the event Tenant is the only tenant of the Building and Tenant performs such snowplowing pursuant to this paragraph R12(b) Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for one half of the reasonable and actual out of pocket cost of Tenant for of snowplowing that portion of the truck access way between the entrance to the Land and the demising line of the Demised Premises on the side of the Building where the alternate truck access (marked in blue on Exhibit B) is located. In the event Tenant is the only tenant of the Building and Tenant performs such landscaping pursuant to this paragraph R12(b) Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for the difference between one Hundred Percent and Tenant’s Fraction of the reasonable and actual out of pocket cost of Tenant for basic landscaping services for the Land.

(c) Landlord shall not unreasonably withhold its consent to such arrangement as Tenant may make directly with the other occupants of the Building, if any, for snow removal or landscaping, in lieu of the performance of such service by Landlord, provided such arrangements are without cost, liability or expense to Landlord and are cancelable by Landlord on five (5) days written notice. Such arrangements by Tenant shall not include any markup or service charge by Tenant and must be subject to agreement in writing by the other occupants and tenants of the Building and the Land.

(d) Landlord shall not include the items performed by Tenant under paragraphs R12 (b) or (c) paragraph in the calculation of Operating Expenses pursuant to Section 6.02 of this Lease.

R13. Parking Area . Tenant shall have the right to the exclusive use of up to 275 parking spaces on the parking area outlined in yellow on Exhibit B adjacent to the Demised Premises.

R14. Railroad Side Track . Landlord will not unreasonably withhold its consent to the use by Tenant of the existing railroad side track serving the Building, provided such use is at no cost or expense to Landlord and does not interfere with the use of the Land or the Building by the other tenants or occupants thereof. Tenant shall indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from all loss, damage, cost, liability and expense (including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees) arising from or in any way connected with the activation and use of such side track by Tenant.

R15. Delivery of Premises; Termination . Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to cause the Demised Premises to be Ready for Occupancy by June 1, 2002, subject to delays caused by Tenant or its agents or contractors, or other Unavoidable Delays. In the event that the Demised

 

53


Premises are not Ready for Occupancy and occupancy of the Demised Premises has not been delivered to Tenant by November 1, 2002, other than as a result of delays caused by Tenant or its agents or contractors, Tenant shall have the right upon ten (10) business days prior written notice to Landlord to terminate this Lease (unless the Demised Premises are Ready for Occupancy on or before the expiration of such ten (10) business day notice period).

R16. No Build Zone; Alternate Truck Access Zone . Landlord agrees that during the Term of this Lease, provided Tenant is not in default of its obligations under this Lease beyond any applicable notice and cure periods, Landlord will not erect any structures in the area outlined in orange on Exhibit B which would either (i) interfere with the visibility, if any, of the Tenant’s exterior signage, if any, or (ii) impair the truck access to the Demised Premises, without Tenant’s prior consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Landlord shall have the right, but not the obligation, to relocate the existing truck access to the area marked in blue on Exhibit B without Tenant’s consent.

R17. Generator Purchase . Tenant shall purchase the existing generator at the Demised Premises from Landlord for the sum of $40,000.00 upon execution of this Lease. The Tenant shall install such generator in the Demised Premises as part of Tenant’s Work, in such location as shall be mutually agreed upon by Landlord and Tenant (or at Tenant’s option the generator may remain in its existing location, in which event Landlord shall permit Tenant to connect its cables and wiring from the interior of the Demised Premises to such location), at no cost, liability, or expense to Landlord. Tenant shall make such connections thereto as may be required in connection with the installation and use thereof and shall maintain and operate such generator at Tenant’s sole cost, liability and expense.

R18. Landlord’s Lien .

(a) With respect to Tenant’s existing equipment and inventory financing with Antares Capital Corporation, and its successors and assigns in effect as of the date of this Lease, Landlord agrees to consent to the collateral assignment of Tenant’s interest in the Leases substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit G-1 and to enter into the Landlord’s waiver of lien substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit G-2.

(b) Provided Tenant is not in default of its obligations under this Lease beyond any applicable notice and cure periods and provided Tenant has not (other than to an Affiliate of Tenant) assigned this Lease or sublet all of the Demised Premises and is itself in occupation and conducting business in the Demised Premises, Landlord agrees, upon written request of Tenant, to subordinate its rights to enforce its landlord’s lien on Tenant’s inventory, furniture, fixtures and equipment to the extent they constitute Tenant’s Property under this Lease to the rights of Tenant’s future secured lender, if any, to enforce its lien thereon, provided such lender is a bona fide third party lender unaffiliated with Tenant or its principals, and holds a perfected security interest in such Tenant’s Property (herein a “Tenant’s Lender”). In addition, Landlord shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to a collateral assignment by Tenant of Tenant’s interest in the Lease to such Tenant’s Lender (provided that there shall be not more than one collateral assignment of Tenant’s interest in Lease in effect at any time). Tenant’s Lender shall have rights only to Tenant’s Property that can be removed without damage to the Demised

 

54


Premises or the Building. Tenant’s Lender may, upon prior written notice to Landlord, remove such Tenant’s Property from the Premises at any time while Tenant has legal possession of the Demised Premises or within fifteen (15) days after termination of this Lease, provided Tenant’s Lender first pays Landlord all Rent due under the Lease (as defined therein) for such period, time being of the essence in connection with the preceding obligations of Tenant’s Lender. Tenant’s Lender shall be responsible for paying the cost of repairing any damage to the Demised Premises and the Building in which its collateral is located resulting from the removal of any such Tenant’s Property or the acts, omissions or negligence of Tenant’s Lender or its agents or representatives, and shall leave the Demised Premises in broom clean condition. As a condition to the subordination provided herein, Tenant’s Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless Landlord and its Superior Lessors and Superior Mortgagees against all loss, damage, costs, claims, suits, liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees arising from or in connection with the negligence or willful misconduct of Tenant’s Lender or its agents or representatives or the enforcement or claim of such lien. Prior to removal of such Tenant’s Property, Tenant’s Lender shall provide Landlord with appropriate proof of its security interest therein and entitlement thereto, as well as proof of liability insurance in the amount of at least $5,000,000.00 covering such entry into the Premises and removal of Tenant’s Property, and shall name Landlord and, at Landlord’s request, any Superior Lessors and Superior Mortgagees as additional insureds. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be an assignment of this Lease or a consent to an assignment of the Lease.

 

(Landlord)
HARTZ MOUNTAIN INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent J. Rubino, Jr.

  Vincent J. Rubino, Jr.
  Senior Vice President
(Tenant)
VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey J. Horowitz

  Jeffrey J. Horowitz, CEO

 

55

Exhibit 10.23

 

Purchase Agreement

 

This Purchase Agreement is entered into as of the 1 day of November, 2004 by and between Nature’s Value, Inc., a New York corporation with a principal place of business at 54 Drexel Drive, Bay Shore, New York 11706 (“Nature’s Value”), and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation with a principal place of business at 2101 91st Street, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047, Attn: Director of Merchandise (“Vitamin Shoppe” and, together with Nature’s Value, the “Parties”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

Whereas , Vitamin Shoppe is a retailer and marketer of vitamin, nutraceutical and herbal products;

 

Whereas , Nature’s Value is a contract manufacturer of vitamins, nutraceutical and herbal products; and

 

Whereas , Nature’s Value has been manufacturing certain product for Vitamin Shoppe and the Parties desire to document and to amend their existing agreement with respect to Nature’s Value prior and future manufacturing of product for Vitamin Shoppe.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of Ten Dollars ($10.00) and other good and valuable consideration paid by each Party to the other, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1. General . This Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions governing Vitamin Shoppe’s purchase of any and an goods, products and merchandise (collectively, “Merchandise”) from Nature’s Value and supersedes an prior agreements. This Agreement shall govern all future purchases of Merchandise, and, except with respect to the pricing thereof, all other Merchandise sold by Nature’s Value to Vitamin Shoppe since January 1, 2000. This Agreement shall also govern the pricing for an orders placed on or after June 3, 2004. Unless agreed to in writing by an officer of Vitamin Shoppe, any and an of Nature’s Value’s terms and conditions, which add to, vary from, or conflict with this Agreement are hereby rejected and are of no legal effect. No Merchandise shall be shipped unless Nature’s Value has received a purchase order. Vitamin Shoppe shall have the right, at any time prior to shipment of the Merchandise, to make changes to the applicable purchase order.

 

2. Forecasts; Price .

 

a. Nature’sValue has manufactured for Vitamin Shoppe the Merchandise set forth on Schedule A hereto at the prices set forth therein. Vitamin Shoppe shall provide to Nature’s Value estimates of its demand for each item of Merchandise over the subsequent twelve (12) month period, and shall update such estimate from time to time, but not less often than semiannually. Vitamin Shoppe’s estimate of its demand that is in effect on May 1 or a calendar year shall govern the period July 1 through December 31 of such calendar year, and the estimate that is in effect on November 1 shall govern the period January 1 through June 30 of the subsequent calendar year, and is herein called the “Operative Forecast”; provided, however, the Operative Forecast for the period July 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004 is attached hereto as Schedule B . If during any


six-month period (commencing on either July 1 or January 1 of a year) Vitamin Shoppe shall purchase Merchandise having a gross aggregate cost (hereinafter called the “Gross Cost of Merchandise”) of not less than the amount provided in the Operative Forecast for such six-month period, the Gross Cost of Merchandise for such six-month period shall be reduced by eight percent (8%) (the “Volume Discount”) of the amount provided on Schedule A based upon the actual purchases by Vitamin Shoppe and the unit prices on Schedule A . It is understood and agreed that the Operative Forecast is an estimate only and that Vitamin Shoppe’s actual purchases may vary significantly from the Operative Forecast for individual items of Merchandise. Vitamin Shoppe shall be entitled to the Volume Discount, and shall be deemed to have satisfied the minimum commitment set forth in this Section 2(b), based upon its aggregate Gross Cost of Merchandise for such six-month period.

 

b. The delivery of an Operative Forecast shall constitute a commitment by Vitamin Shoppe to order Merchandise having a Gross Cost of Merchandise of not less than ninety percent (90%) of the aggregate cost of the Merchandise on the Operative Forecast.

 

c. The eight percent (8%) reduction in the Gross Cost of Merchandise shall be deducted off of each invoice that Nature’s Value shall provide to Vitamin Shoppe. If Vitamin Shoppe shall fail to purchase Merchandise having a Gross Cost of Merchandise of not less than the amount provided in the Operative Forecast for a six-month period, it shall not be entitled to the Volume Discount and shall, within thirty (30) days after request, pay to Nature’s Value an amount equal to the Volume Discount previously taken and attributable to such six-month period.

 

d. The Parties may amend Schedule A hereto from time to time in writing in order to add new Merchandise, in which event the same shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions hereof, including but not limited to the Volume Discount.

 

3. Fill Rates . For orders that are not materially greater than those in the Operative Forecast, Nature’s Value shall satisfy not less than ninety-eight percent (98%) of Vitamin Shoppe’s orders hereunder (based upon dollars, not units) (the “Fill Rate”) within thirty (30) days after placement thereof (or such longer period as Vitamin Shoppe may specify with the order). For orders that are materially greater than those set forth in the Operative Forecast, Nature’s Value shall satisfy not less than ninety-eight percent (98%) of Vitamin Shoppe’s orders hereunder within sixty (60) days after placement thereof (or such longer period as Vitamin Shoppe may specify with the order). If Vendor shall fail to satisfy such 98% Fill Rate on any order, Nature’s Value shall, within ten (10) days, issue to Vitamin Shoppe a credit memo in an amount equal to one-half percent (  1 / 2 %) of the Gross Cost of Merchandise on all Merchandise on such order for each percent (rounded to the nearest whole percent) that the Fill Rate was less than ninety-eight percent (98%). For example, if the Gross Cost of Merchandise on a particular order were Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) and the fill rate for such order was ninety-five percent (95%), the credit memo would equal One Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,350.00), determined by multiplying 3 (98% required Fill Rate minus the actual Fill Rate of 95%) times Y2% (the credit percentage for each percent deficiency in the Fill Rate) times $90,000.00. The issuance of a credit memo on account of Vendor’s failure to maintain such Fill Rate does not constitute a waiver of Vendor’s default for failure to maintain the Fill Rate.


4. Payment . The date on which payments are due from Vitamin Shoppe shall be measured from the latest of Vitamin Shoppe’s receipt of the applicable Merchandise, the bill of lading with respect thereto or the invoice therefor (the “Measurement Date”). All allowances and credits shall be remitted to Vitamin Shoppe within thirty (30) days after Nature’s Value’s receipt of Vitamin Shoppe’s claim. Vitamin Shoppe shall be entitled to set-off any amounts owing at any time from Nature’s Value to Vitamin Shoppe against any amounts payable by Vitamin Shoppe to Nature’s Value. Vitamin Shoppe shall be entitled to a discount of three percent (3%) off of the Gross Cost of Merchandise for all payments made within ten (10) days after the Measurement Date.

 

5. Delivery .

 

a. Unless otherwise specified herein, all orders shall be F.O.B. Vitamin Shoppe’s destination 2101 91s1 Street, North Bergen, NJ 07047, freight prepaid. Merchandise shall be packaged and shipped in accordance with Vitamin Shoppe Merchandise Supply Chain Requirements, a copy of which are attached hereto as Schedule C , and which Vitamin Shoppe may modify from time to time upon notice to Nature’s Value.

 

b. Vitamin Shoppe shall have the option, upon not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice to Nature’s Value, to elect to have orders of Merchandise delivered F.O.B. Origin - Freight Collect. If Vitamin Shoppe shall make such election~ Nature’s Value shall provide and off-invoice allowance on each invoice in an amount equal to two percent (2%) of the Gross Cost of Merchandise.

 

c. The risk of loss with respect to any Merchandise shall not pass to Vitamin Shoppe until the Merchandise has been delivered in full conformity with the applicable purchase order and this Agreement to Vitamin Shoppe’s designated location. All Merchandise shall be subject to inspection and approval by Vitamin Shoppe for a reasonable period of time after receipt, notwithstanding payment therefor, and may be rejected in whole or in part, as if it had never been accepted, if the Merchandise is not in full compliance herewith. With respect to all returns, Nature’s Value shall issue a credit equal to the original cost of such Merchandise plus all transportation and handling costs associated therewith. Any Merchandise that has been seized or condemned shall be deemed to have been returned to Nature’s Value hereunder.

 

6. Prices Increases . If Nature’s Value desires to increase the price of any item of the Merchandise, it shall provide not less than six (6) months’ prior written notice thereof to Vitamin Shoppe, along with the amount of the proposed price increase. Nature’s Value shall not request any price increases for any item of Merchandise unless the same is directly attributable to an increase in the cost of raw materials that are components of such Merchandise, and each such request shall be accompanied by a certification executed by the chief executive officer of Nature’s Value stating Nature’s Value’s prior and increased cost of the raw materials, the cost of which is the cause of such request for a price increase. Vitamin Shoppe shall have the right, within thirty (30) days after receipt of Nature’s Value’s notice, to agree to such price increase or to reject the same. If Vitamin Shoppe shall agree to such price increase, such price increase shall be effective for all orders placed after the expiration of the six-month period set forth herein. If Vitamin Shoppe shall not agree to a proposed price increase, Nature’s Value shall have the right, by written notice to Vitamin Shoppe not later than sixty (60) days after Vitamin Shoppe has informed Nature’s Value that Vitamin Shoppe will not accept the proposed price increase, to not continue to


sell such item of Merchandise to Vitamin Shoppe, provided that all orders placed prior to the expiration of the six-month notice period for price increases shall be fined by Nature’s Value at the then price for such Merchandise. If Nature’s Value’s cost of any raw material that is a component of any item of Merchandise decreases for any reason, Nature’s Value shall notify Vitamin Shoppe of the same, and the price set forth on Schedule A for such item of Merchandise shall decrease by an amount equal to the decrease in the cost of raw materials that are components of such Merchandise, all of which costs shall be certified by the. chief executive officer of Nature’s Value.

 

7. Assurances . Nature’s Value represents and warrants as of the date hereof that to its knowledge that following are materially true and correct, and further covenants that:

 

(a) Nature’s Value has good title to the Merchandise, free and clear of encumbrances of any kind;

 

(b) Nature’s Value will inform Vitamin Shoppe in the event that the country of origin if other than the United States so that such country of origin may be reflected by Vitamin Shoppe in the packaging;

 

(c) the Merchandise prices and all components thereof, including without limitation all discounts, credit terms, rebates, reductions and additions of any type, as well as all forms of payments, allowances, credits, services, facilities, and commissions, whether related to Nature’s Value’s sale of the Merchandise to Vitamin Shoppe, to the promotion of Vitamin Shoppe’s resale of the Merchandise or to any other aspect of the parties’ business relationship, that Nature’s Value provides to Vitamin Shoppe comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation all sections of the Robinson-Patman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 13 (the “Act”). To the extent that any Merchandise price or component thereof, or any payment, allowance, credit, service, facility, or commission, that Nature’s Value provides to Vitamin Sharpe differs from that which Nature’s Value provides to any purchaser other than Vitamin Sharpe, such difference is justified or otherwise lawful under the Act;

 

(d) the Merchandise, including, without limitation, the packaging, labeling and registration thereof, does not and shall not infringe upon any patent, trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights of any third party, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any portion thereof that Vitamin Shoppe shall design;

 

(e) the Merchandise may be introduced lawfully into interstate and intrastate commerce, and does and shall conform to any product specifications currently in existence or contained in the purchase order or Nature’s Value’s literature or samples provided that Vitamin Shoppe shall be responsible for lawfulness of the Merchandise in connection with all statements on any packaging designed by or performed by Vitamin Shoppe (other than statements provided to Vitamin Shoppe by Nature’s Value concerning the Merchandise);

 

(f) all of the information provided by Nature’s Value to Vitamin Shoppe with respect to the Merchandise shall be true and correct, and sufficient substantiation shall exist for any claim made by Nature’s Value to Vitamin Shoppe for Vitamin Shoppe to publish and use the same in compliance with the provisions of all Federal, State and local laws and regulations now in effect or hereafter enacted;


(g) if any of the Merchandise shall require specialized handling upon either receipt or shipment by Vitamin Shoppe, including but not limited to handling necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration, Nature’s Value shall notify Vitamin Shoppe in writing prior to shipment thereof to Vitamin Shoppe;

 

(h) the Merchandise shall be new product not previously delivered to any other person or entity, fit and sufficient for the purposes intended, merchantable, of good material and workmanship and free from defect, and not adulterated or misbranded under any provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the “FFDC Act”), the regulations thereunder or any other Federal or State law or regulation; .

 

(i) the Merchandise which requires the approval of, or conformance to, the regulations, standards and/or interpretations of any Federal, State, local or quasi-governmental regulatory agency, including but not limited to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration or the Federal Trade Commission (including those applicable to foods and dietary supplements), shall bear the approval of such agency and/or comply with the regulations and standards thereof;

 

(j) except to the extent that Vitamin Shoppe shall design the same, Nature’s Value shall comply with the provisions of all Federal, State and local laws and regulations now in effect or hereafter enacted applicable to the Merchandise and its packaging, advertising, labeling and registration (including but not limited to those of the agencies specifically identified in this Section 7), and the use and sale by Vitamin Shoppe and its customers of the Merchandise shall not cause them to be in violation of any such law or regulation. All Merchandise that is manufactured to the specifications of Vitamin Shoppe shall comply fully with all such specifications;

 

(k) the Merchandise comprising each shipment or other delivery hereafter made by Nature’s Value to Vitamin Shoppe or any of its vendors, vendees or customers shall not be, as of shipment or delivery, adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the FFDC Act, nor shall it be an article which may not, under the provisions of section 404, 505, or 512 of the FFDC Act, be introduced into interstate commerce;

 

(l) Nature’s Value, within twenty-four (24) hours of learning of the same, shall notify Vitamin Shoppe if any Merchandise shall become subject to a product concern, warning, withdrawal or recall;

 

(m) each item of Merchandise shall be manufactured in such a manner so that neither the appearance, weight nor taste thereof shall vary between lots; and

 

(n) the expiration date of all Merchandise shall be marked on each label, and no Merchandise shall be shipped to Vitamin Shoppe if the expiration date shall be less than a specified number of months after the date of shipment for each item of Merchandise, which number of months is set forth on Schedule A hereto.

 

8. Confidentiality .

 

(a) “Confidential Information” of a Party shall mean all information disclosed to or otherwise obtained, whether in writing or orally, by a Party (the “Receiving Party”) by or from


the other Party (the “Disclosing Party”) prior to or during the Term (i) that the Receiving Party knows, or should reasonably know, are or contain trade secrets or other proprietary information of the Disclosing Party, or (ii) that bears a legend or other marking indicating that such information is confidential, or (iii) without limiting subsection (i) above, if such information is disclosed orally, that is reduced to writing within thirty (30) days of such disclosure and marked as confidential. The following information shall not be considered “Confidential Information,” information which: (1) was already in the public domain prior to its disclosure hereunder, (2) became available to the public after the date of disclosure hereunder through no fault of the Receiving Party, (3) the Receiving Party can reasonably demonstrate is already possessed by it without any confidentiality obligation at the time of receipt thereof from the Disclosing Party, (4) is independently developed by the Receiving Party without use of the Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party, (5) the Receiving Party has obtained non-confidentially from a third party that duly possesses it and without any confidentiality obligations, and (6) is required to .be disclosed by law or regulation or by order of a court or other governmental body (but only after consultation with the Disclosing Party and only to the extent required thereby and seeking confidential treatment where available). The existence of this written Agreement, and the volume of sales hereunder, shall also be deemed Confidential Information. All Confidential Information disclosed hereunder shall remain the property of the Disclosing Party.

 

(b) During the Term, and for a period of five (5) years thereafter, except as expressly authorized by the Disclosing Party in writing, the Receiving Party agrees to use diligent efforts, and at least the same degree of care that it uses to protect its own confidential information of like importance (which shall in no event be less than reasonable care), to prevent unauthorized use and disclosure of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information. With respect to Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party, the Receiving Party shall (i) use such Confidential Information exclusively for the purpose of exercising its rights and fulfilling its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) restrict disclosure of such Confidential Information to those of its employees, agents and consultants who have a need to know such information and who are bound by obligations of confidentiality at least as stringent as those set forth herein, and refrain from disclosing such Confidential Information to anyone other than such employees, agents and consultants on a need-to-know basis. Each Party shall also have the right to disclose Confidential Information to the extent required by law, including but not limited to the Securities Laws.

 

(c) Upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement, if requested by the Disclosing Party, the Receiving Party shall promptly return to the Disclosing party all Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party in its possession or control; provided that each Receiving Party may retain one copy of such Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party solely for archival purposes.

 

9. Insurance . Nature’s Value shall, within thirty (30) days after execution hereof, increase its existing insurance to have limits through underlying and excess coverage of not less than $10,000,000.00 per occurrence which contains bodily injury, personal injury, products and completed operations, advertising injury coverage, and a contractual liability endorsement which coverage shall name Vitamin Shoppe as an insured. Nature’s Value represents and warrants that it shall continue to maintain, at all times while it is supplying Merchandise to Vitamin Shoppe (and for at least five [5] years after the most recent delivery of Merchandise), such insurance, and that it currently has the aforesaid coverages, but with limits of $5,000,000.00. Nature’s Value shall


satisfy Vitamin Shoppe’s insurance requirements, a copy of which is attached as Schedule D hereto, and which Vitamin Shoppe may reasonably modify .from time to time upon written notice to Nature’s Value. Vitamin Shoppe has engaged LRF/RM, Inc. (or a substitute advisor) to review Vitamin Shoppe’s insurance requirements (including, but not limited to, addition Vitamin Shoppe as an additional insured thereon) and Periculum Services Group (or a substitute advisor) to monitor Nature’s Value’s compliance therewith, and Nature’s Value shall provide all requested information to any such advisor.

 

10. Term . The term (“Term”) of this Agreement shall be three (3) years, with automatic one-year extensions unless a Party notifies the other of an intention to cancel not less than six (6) months prior to the expiration hereof.

 

11. Indemnification .

 

a. Nature’s Value shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Vitamin Shoppe, its affiliates and customers, and their respective officers, directors, agents and employees, from and . against any and all claims, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs, increased and/or punitive awards) which result in whole or in part from (i) any actual or alleged defect in any Merchandise (latent or patent), (ii) the use or purchase of any Merchandise by Vitamin Shoppe and/or its direct or indirect customers, and/or (iii) the failure of the Merchandise to comply with any of the representations or warranties set forth herein or any other express, implied or statutory warranties, in any such event whether or not any demand for payment is made to Nature’s Value and/or any lawsuit is actually filed against Vitamin Shoppe. The defense of any matter shall be by counsel reasonably selected by Vitamin Shoppe and with the consent of Nature’s Value, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. The foregoing indemnification shall not be applicable to the extent the claim, liability or expense arises out of any formulation specified by Vitamin Shoppe and prepared by Nature’s Value in . accordance with Vitamin Shoppe’s specifications, or to Merchandise that is altered by Vitamin Shoppe after the same is received .from Nature’s Value.

 

b. Vitamin Shoppe shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Nature’s Value and its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, agents and employees, from and against any and all claims, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs, increased and/or punitive awards) which result in whole or in part from (i) any statements or artwork provided by Vitamin Shoppe for use in the Merchandise packaging (so long as the Merchandise conformed to the description thereof provided to Vitamin Shoppe), (ii) advertising or marketing efforts of Vitamin Shoppe (or its sub-licensees), and/or (iii) Merchandise that is altered by Vitamin Shoppe after the same is received from Nature’s Value; in any such event whether or not any demand for payment is made to Nature’s Value and/or any lawsuit is actually filed against Nature’s Value. The defense of any matter shall be by counsel reasonably selected by Nature’s Value and with the consent of Vitamin Shoppe, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 

12. Vitamin Shoppe’s Private Label Products . Vitamin Shoppe shall-be and remain the owner of all right, title and interest in and to any and all trademarks (the “Trademarks”) for the Merchandise throughout the world, and any and all rights in any Trademark occasioned by the use of that mark in connection with the Merchandise or other products supplied or produced by Nature’s Value shall inure solely to Vitamin Shoppe. Nature’s Value represents, warrants and


covenants that: (a) the Trademarks shall only be applied to labels and packaging for products sold or supplied exclusively to Vitamin Shoppe; (b) Nature’s Value shall not apply any Trademark to, or sell, ship, or transfer to any person other than Vitamin Shoppe, anywhere in the world, any product bearing a Trademark or any colorable imitation thereof; and (c) Nature’s Value shall not contest, before any governmental agency or unit, in any court or proceeding, or otherwise, the sole and exclusive ownership of all right, title and interest in and to the Trademarks in Vitamin Shoppe, and/or the validity thereof, and expressly waives any claim to any right, title or interest, anywhere in the world, to the Trademarks. Vitamin Shoppe shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Nature’s Value from and against any and all claims, liabilities and expenses (including attorney’s fees and costs, increased and/or punitive awards) which result from a claim by any party other than Nature’s Value, its. related companies or customers, arising out of the use of the Trademarks for Merchandise in accordance with this Agreement.

 

13. Quality Controls .

 

a. Nature’s Value shall comply with “Good Manufacturing Practices” protocols for food, and, upon promulgation of final regulations by applicable governmental authorities, those applicable to dietary supplements. Nature’s Value shall conduct periodic Merchandise quality tests and provide Vitamin Shoppe with the results upon the Vitamin Shoppe’s reasonable request. Basic quality control evaluations, including but not limited to tests for efficacy, will be performed during and directly following the manufacture of each and every batch. Third party laboratories, such as Covance, shall perform advanced analyses on the first five (5) batches of all new items of Merchandise. On all existing items of Merchandise, and after the initial testing of new Merchandise described in the preceding sentence, every fifth (5 th ) batch shall be tested. Nature’s Value shall supply the testing and quality control information set forth on Schedule E hereto with respect to the Merchandise, including but not limited to those pertaining to retainers and consumer complaints. Vitamin Shoppe reserves the right to reasonably modify Schedule E from time to time.

 

b. Vitamin Shoppe shall have the right, at its sale cost and expense, to perform such tests upon Merchandise as it deems necessary or desirable in order to confirm that the Merchandise shall comply with all requirements set forth herein. If any Merchandise shall fail such test Nature’s Value shall (i) take such actions as are reasonably necessary in order to correct such deficiencies, including but not limited to replacing the same with Merchandise that is in full compliance with all of the requirements hereof and reimbursing all of Vitamin Shoppe’s costs associated therewith, (ii) reimburse the costs of the tests that Vitamin Shoppe performed that evidenced that the Merchandise failed to comply. If any item of Merchandise shall fail a quality control evaluation two (2) or more times within a six-month period and as a result thereof Vitamin Shoppe is out of stock at any of its stores or its distribution center as a consequence thereof, in addition to all of its other rights and remedies hereunder, including but not limited to the right to terminate this Agreement, Nature’s Value shall pay to Vitamin Shoppe an amount equal to the gross margin dollars that Vitamin Shoppe would have received :tram its customers for the sale of such Merchandise if the same had been in stock.

 

c. In order to improve its contract manufacturing operations and maintain and enhance the quality of the “Vitamin Shoppe” brand, Vitamin Shoppe is in the process of adopting procedures to monitor the quality of Merchandise that it purchases. Such procedures shall include, but not be limited to, on-site monitoring and inspection of the manufacturing processes of contract


manufacturers performing services for Vitamin Shoppe. Nature’s Value shall cooperate with Vitamin Shoppe’s efforts in this area, including but not limited to permitting an on-site quality control person engaged by Vitamin Shoppe to be located at Nature’s Value’s manufacturing facility :tram time to time, or all of the time.

 

14. Packaging of Merchandise . The Parties acknowledge that during calendar year 2004 they have transitioned the packaging of Merchandise from Nature’s Value to Vitamin Shoppe. The pricing set forth on Schedule A hereto reflects the current pricing thereof, with Nature’s Value packaging and labeling the same. The Parties acknowledge that the pricing for certain Merchandise that was sold in bulk by Nature’s Value to Vitamin Shoppe since June 3, 2004 was less than the sum set forth on Schedule A. and that all of the Parties obligations set forth herein based upon dollar commitments for the period through December 31, 2004, including but not limited to Vitamin Shoppe’s purchase commitment set forth in Section 2(b), the Volume Discount set forth in Section 2(a) and the Fill Rate set forth in Section 3, shall be based upon actual prices for that Merchandise which has been sold at prices lower than those set forth on Schedule A because Vitamin Shoppe packaged the same.

 

15. Default .

 

a. If Nature’s Value breaches any of the terms or conditions contained in this Agreement, including, but not limited to, its representations and warranties, fails to comply with any of the terms contained in a Purchase Order, fails to make timely deliveries of Merchandise, or any proceedings by or against Nature’s Value in bankruptcy or insolvency are instituted, Vitamin Shoppe shall have the right, in addition to any other right or remedy provided in this Agreement or by law or in equity, upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to Nature’s Value, to terminate this Agreement and all or any part of any outstanding Purchase Order, and without liability to Vitamin Shoppe (except for Merchandise already received by Vitamin Shoppe).

 

b. If Vitamin Shoppe breaches any of the terms or conditions contained in this Agreement, including, but not limited to, its representations and warranties, or any proceedings by or against Vitamin Shoppe in bankruptcy or insolvency are instituted, Nature’s Value shall have the right, in addition to any other right or remedy provided in this. Agreement or by law or in equity, upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to Vitamin Shoppe to terminate this Agreement and all or any part of any outstanding Purchase Order, and without liability to Nature’s Value (except for Merchandise already received by Vitamin Shoppe).

 

c. In addition to any other legal or equitable remedies available to Vitamin Shoppe to which Vitamin Shoppe may avail itself if Nature’s Value defaults hereunder, Vitamin Shoppe shall have the right to purchase Merchandise or reasonable substitutes from a different manufacturer or supplier and if the cost to Vitamin Shoppe for such purchases exceeds that which Vitamin Shoppe would be obligated to pay hereunder, Nature’s Value shall pay the amount of such difference to Vitamin Shoppe, together with any loss incurred by Vitamin Shoppe, including consequential damages such as losses resulting from obligations incurred by Vitamin Shoppe to third parties in reliance on Nature’s Value’s performance.

 

16. Arbitration: Attorneys’ Fees . All controversies and claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, to which the Parties are the only parties shall be settled


solely by arbitration held in Newark, New Jersey in accordance with the rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon any award thereon, may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. If the parties hereto become involved in any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the Merchandise (including, without limitation, the enforcement or interpretation of this Agreement or either Party’s rights, duties or obligations hereunder), the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover from the non-prevailing Party all reasonable expenses of attorneys’ fees, paralegal fees and costs, expenses and disbursements incurred by the prevailing Party in such action or proceeding, without the necessity for a cross-action by the prevailing Party. Such reimbursement shall include all such expenses incurred prior to’ and at any such trial or proceeding and at all levels of appeal and post judgment proceedings. In the event of a good faith dispute hereunder, the parties shall continue to perform each of their other obligations hereunder while resolving any such dispute.

 

17. Notices . All requests, demands, approvals, consents and other notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall not be effective for any purposes unless sent via registered or certified mail, postage pre-paid, return receipt requested, or by a nationally-recognized overnight delivery service (such as Federal Express and UPS), postage pre-paid, with proof of delivery requested. Notices shall be addressed to the parties at the addressees) set forth in the Preamble or to such other address or addresses as either Party may, from time to time, specify on thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the other Party. Duplicate copies of any notice shall be sent as follows:

 

if to Nature’s Value:

 

Jantra Van Roy, Esquire

Zeichner, Ellman & Krause LLP

575 Lexington

New York, NY 10022

 

if to Vitamin Shoppe:

 

Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

2101915t Street

North Bergen, NJ 07047

Attn: General Counsel

 

Notices shall be deemed given as of the date received or the date on which delivery is first refused as evidenced by the return receipt of the registered or certified mail or the overnight . delivery receipt, as the case may be.

 

18. Subcontracting; Assignment .

 

a. Nature’s Value shall not subcontract any portion of the services provided hereunder, other than the purchase of raw materials and testing services that are performed by third party laboratories.

 

b. This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Neither Party may assign its


obligations or rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Vitamin Shoppe may assign this Agreement in connection with the sale of all or substantially all of its assets, and (ii) Nature’s Value may assign this Agreement in connection with the sale of all or substantially all of its assets, provided that it has complied with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 18(c).

 

c. In no event shall Nature’s Value assign, or permit the assignment of, any portion of its rights or obligations hereunder to a person or entity that owns, operates, controls, or is under common control with, any business that competes with Vitamin Shoppe’s retail, catalog and/or internet business operations, including but not limited to an assignment by operation of law or the transfer of any interest in Nature’s Value. In the event of such an assignment or transfer, Vitamin Shoppe shall have the right, at any time within six (6) months after it receives written notice of such an assignment or transfer, to terminate this Agreement, and during such six-month period the price for any Merchandise that Vitamin Shoppe shall obtain from Nature’s Value shall be reduced by twenty-five percent (25%) and Vitamin Shoppe shall be entitled to a reduction in any sums due and owing by Vitamin Shoppe to Nature’s Value the amount of fifty percent (50%).

 

19. Miscellaneous . This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a writing signed by the Parties. The failure of a Party at any time or times to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall in no manner affect its right at a later time to enforce the same provision. No waiver by a Party shall be effective unless in writing. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by that holding, and there shall be deemed substituted for the provision at issue a valid, legal and enforceable provision as similar as possible to the provision at issue. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement on the date first above written.

 

NATURE’S VALUE, INC.

     

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

/s/ Oscar Ramjeet       /s/ Wayne Richman

By: Oscar Ramjeet

     

By:

 

Wayne Richman

Title: President

     

Title:

 

C.O.O.

Exhibit 10.24

ADVISORY SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Advisory Services Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of November 27, 2002 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ BSMB ”), VS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”) and Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation (“ VSI ” and, together with Holdings, the “ Companies ”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 9 below.

WHEREAS, the Companies and BSMB/VSI Acquisition, Inc., a New York corporation, and certain securityholders of VSI are parties to an agreement and plan of merger, dated as of October 8, 2002 (the “ Merger Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, the Companies desire to retain BSMB with respect to the services described herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

1. Term . The term of this Agreement (the “ Term ”) shall commence on the date hereof and shall terminate on the first to occur of (a) the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, (b) the consummation of a Company Sale, (c) the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering, and (d) such other date as to which BSMB and the Companies agree.

2. Services . BSMB shall perform or cause to be performed such services for the Companies and their respective subsidiaries as mutually agreed by BSMB and the Companies’ boards of directors, which may include, without limitation, the following:

(a) general advisory and management services;

(b) identification, support, negotiation and analysis of acquisitions and dispositions by the Companies or their subsidiaries;

(c) support, negotiation and analysis of financing alternatives, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions, capital expenditures and refinancing of existing indebtedness;

(d) finance functions, including assistance in the preparation of financial projections, and monitoring of compliance with financing agreements;

(e) marketing functions, including monitoring of marketing plans and strategies;

(f) human resource functions, including searching, identifying and hiring of executives and directors; and

(g) other services for the Company and its subsidiaries upon which the Companies’ boards of directors and BSMB agree.


3. Advisory Fee .

(a) In consideration of BSMB’s undertaking to provide advisory services hereunder, the Companies shall pay BSMB an annual advisory fee (the “Advisory Fee”) in an amount for each fiscal year equal to the greater of (i) $750,000 and (ii) 0.25% of the annual gross sales of VSI and its subsidiaries for such fiscal year, calculated as provided below and payable in advance in quarterly installments, for the period beginning on the date hereof and ending upon the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 1 hereof. The Companies shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of all Advisory Fees payable under this Agreement, and the Advisory Fees shall be payable by the Companies whether or not the Companies actually request that BSMB provide the services described in Section 2 above. All Advisory Fees shall be fully earned when paid.

(b) The first installment of the Advisory Fee, for the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the last Saturday in March 2003, shall be payable on the date hereof (unless otherwise directed by BSMB) in an amount equal to $375,000 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is the actual number of days from and including the date hereof to and including the last Saturday in March 2003, and (ii) the denominator of which is 180.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3(d), (e) or (f) hereof, all subsequent payments of the Advisory Fee shall be in quarterly installments, payable within 15 days after the commencement of the fiscal quarter, in an amount equal to the greater of (i) $187,500, and (ii) 0.25% of the gross sales of VSI and its subsidiaries for the preceding fiscal quarter, based on available internal financial statements of VSI and its subsidiaries.

(d) Within 45 days after the end of each fiscal year of VSI (commencing with the fiscal year ended on the last Saturday in December, 2003, VSI will certify the amount of its annual gross sales for the preceding fiscal year to BSMB. To the extent that the aggregate installments of the Advisory Fees paid to BSMB with respect to such preceding fiscal year exceed the greater of (i) $750,000, and (ii) 0.25% of the gross sales of VSI and its subsidiaries for the preceding fiscal year, then VSI may set off the amount of such excess (the “ Excess Fee Amount ”) against its obligation to pay the next installment of the Advisory Fee (and subsequent installments as needed to recover such Excess Fee Amount in full).

(e) Upon a Company Sale or the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering, the Companies shall be obligated, jointly and severally, to pay to BSMB the minimum Advisory Fees that would be payable to BSMB pursuant to Section 3 in respect of the remainder of the then current fiscal quarter and for the next four successive fiscal quarters.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Companies shall accrue but not pay the Advisory Fee if and for so long as (i) any such payment would constitute a default (or any event which might, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, constitute a default) under the Companies’ financing agreements (a “ Default ”); provided that the Companies shall be obligated to pay any accrued Advisory Fees deferred under this Section 2(f)(i) to the extent that such payment would not constitute a Default or (ii) BSMB instructs the Companies not to pay all or any portion of the Advisory Fee during any fiscal year. Interest will accrue on all due and unpaid Advisory Fees not paid pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence at 10% per annum until such Advisory Fees are paid, and such interest shall compound annually. The Companies shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of such interest.

(g) In addition to the Advisory Fee, the Companies shall be jointly and severally liable to reimburse BSMB, promptly upon request, for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business by BSMB in connection with BSMB’s obligations hereunder, including fees and expenses paid to consultants, subcontractors and other third parties in connection with such obligations.

 

2


4. Transaction Fees .

(a) The Companies hereby agree, jointly and severally, to pay to BSMB upon the Effective Date a fee (the “ Closing Fee ”) for services rendered in connection with securing, structuring of and negotiating the equity and debt financing for the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and certain other management services, in an amount equal to $4,575,000. The Closing Fee shall be payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to BSMB or one or more of its designees.

(b) During the Term, the Companies shall provide BSMB a right of first offer to serve as financial advisor in connection with any transaction relating to (i) an acquisition, divestiture, or other transaction, (ii) an initial public offering by Holdings or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) a debt or equity financing, by or involving any of the Companies or their subsidiaries. If BSMB agrees to serve as the Companies’ financial advisor, BSMB shall be entitled to receive the customary amount charged by financial advisors for similar transactions plus the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of BSMB in connection with such acquisition, divestiture, financing or other transaction. BSMB may assign its rights under this Section 4(b) generally or in connection with any actual or prospective transaction to any of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. and its subsidiaries. If BSMB does not elect to serve as the Companies’ financial advisor, BSMB shall not receive any fees for any such financial advisory services performed for a transaction described in this Section 4(b) if and to the extent that the Companies have retained another investment bank that is also providing the same services.

5. Personnel . BSMB shall provide and devote to the performance of this Agreement such partners, employees and agents of BSMB as BSMB shall deem appropriate to the furnishing of the services required.

6. Liability . None of BSMB, any of its affiliates nor their respective partners, members, employees or agents (collectively, the “ BSMB Group ”) shall be liable to the Companies or the Companies’ subsidiaries or affiliates for any loss, liability, damage or expense (collectively, a “ Loss ”) arising out of or in connection with the performance of services contemplated by this Agreement, unless and then only to the extent that such Loss is determined by a court in a final order from which no appeal can be taken, to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such member of the BSMB Group. BSMB makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, in respect of the services to be provided by the BSMB Group. Except as BSMB may otherwise agree in writing on or after the date hereof: (i) each member of the BSMB Group shall have the right to, and shall have no duty (contractual or otherwise) not to, directly or indirectly: (A) engage in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Companies or their subsidiaries and (B) do business with any client or customer of the Companies or their subsidiaries; (ii) no member of the BSMB Group shall be liable to the Companies or their subsidiaries or affiliates for breach of any duty (contractual or otherwise) by reason of any such activities or of such person’s participation therein; and (iii) in the event that any member of the BSMB Group acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate opportunity for both (x) a Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and (y) BSMB, on the other hand, or any other person, no member of the BSMB Group shall have any duty (contractual or otherwise) to communicate or present such corporate opportunity to such Company or its subsidiaries and, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, shall not be liable to any of the Companies, their subsidiaries or any of their affiliates for breach of any duty (contractual or otherwise) by reasons of the fact that any member of the BSMB Group directly or indirectly pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, directs such opportunity to another person, or does not present such opportunity to such Company, its subsidiaries or any of their affiliates. In no event will any of the parties hereto be liable

 

3


to any other party hereto for any punitive, exemplary, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, including lost profits or savings, whether or not such damages are foreseeable, or in respect of any liabilities relating to any third party claims (whether based in contract, tort or otherwise) other than for the Claims (as defined in Section 7 below) relating to the services which may be provided by BSMB hereunder.

7. Indemnity . The Companies and their subsidiaries shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless each member of the BSMB Group from and against any and all Losses arising from any claim by any person with respect to, or in any way related to, this Agreement (including attorneys’ fees) (collectively, “ Claims ”) resulting from any act or omission of any member of the BSMB Group except to the extent that such Loss is determined by a court in a final order from which no appeal can be taken to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct by such member of the BSMB Group. The Companies and their subsidiaries shall defend at their own cost and expense any and all suits or actions (just or unjust) which may be brought against the Companies and their subsidiaries or any member of the BSMB Group, or in which any member of the BSMB Group may be impleaded with others upon any Claims, or upon any matter, directly or indirectly, related to or arising out of this Agreement or the performance of the obligations hereunder by the BSMB Group, except that if such damage shall be proven to be the direct result of gross negligence or willful misconduct by a member of the BSMB Group then such member of the BSMB Group shall reimburse the Companies and their subsidiaries for the costs of defense and other costs incurred by the Companies and their subsidiaries.

8. Notices . All notices hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or mailed by United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the parties as follows:

To the Companies :

c/o Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

4700 Westside Avenue

North Bergen, NJ 07047

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Fax: (201) 866-5227

with a copy to

VS Holdings, Inc.

c/o BSMB/VSI Acquisition, Inc.

383 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10179

Attention: Richard L. Perkal

Fax: (212) 272-7425

To BSMB :

Bear Stearns Merchant Manager II, LLC

c/o Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc.

383 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10179

Attention: Richard L. Perkal

Fax: (212) 272-7425

 

4


9. Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement,

Company Sale ” means the consummation of a transaction, whether in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, with an independent third party or group of independent third parties pursuant to which such party or parties (a) acquire (whether by merger, consolidation, or transfer or issuance of capital stock or otherwise) capital stock of Holdings (or any surviving or resulting corporation) possessing the voting power to elect a majority in voting power of the board of directors of Holdings (or such surviving or resulting corporation), or (b) acquire assets constituting all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings and its subsidiaries (as determined on a consolidated basis).

Public Offering ” means any offering by Holdings of its capital stock or equity securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided that a Public Offering shall not include an offering made in connection with a business acquisition or combination or an employee benefit plan.

Qualified Public Offering ” means the consummation of an underwritten Public Offering of shares, of Holdings’ common stock, in which the aggregate gross proceeds to Holdings and any selling stockholders for the sale of such shares exceed $80,000,000.

10. Assignment . Except as provided in Section 4(b) , no party hereto may assign any obligations hereunder to any other party without the prior written consent of the other parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided that BSMB may, without the consent of the Companies, assign its rights under this Agreement to any of its affiliates.

11. No Waiver . The failure of a party to this Agreement to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing.

12. Successors . This Agreement and all the obligations and benefits hereunder shall inure to the successors and assigns of the parties.

13. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered by each party hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same agreement.

14. Entire Agreement; Modification; Governing Law . The terms and conditions hereof constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all previous communications, either oral or written, representations or warranties of any kind whatsoever, except as expressly set forth herein. No modifications of this Agreement nor waiver of the terms or conditions thereof shall be binding upon either party unless approved in writing by an authorized representative of such party. All issues concerning this agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

[END OF PAGE]

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

VS HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/    Thomas Tolworthy

   
Name:   Thomas Tolworthy
Title:   President
VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

By:

 

/s/    Thomas Tolworthy

   
Name:   Thomas Tolworthy
Title:   President
BEAR STEARNS MERCHANT MANAGER II, LLC
By:   JDH Management LLC,
  its Manager
By:  

/s/    Richard L. Perkal

   
Name:   Richard L. Perkal
Title:  

Exhibit 12.1

 

VS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Computation of the Ratio or Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

(In thousands)

                                        Predecessor

     Three Months
Ended


   Fiscal

   Period
from


     Period
from


   Fiscal

     April
1, 2006


   March 26,
2005


   December 31,
2005


    December 25,
2004


     December 27,
2003


   Nov. 23-
Dec. 28,
2002


     Jan. 1-
Nov.
22,
2002


   December 31,
2001


Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes and minority interest in loss of subsidiary

   $ 3,896    $ 2,263    $ (13,052 )   $ (972 )    $ 3,330    $ (608 )    $ 21,145    $ 11,889

Plus: fixed charges (see components below)

     8,708      7,396      31,817       25,915        24,139      2,077           9,085      10,118
    

  

  


 


  

  


  

  

     $ 12,604    $ 9,659    $ 18,765     $ 24,943      $ 27,469    $ 1,469      $ 30,230    $ 22,007
    

  

  


 


  

  


  

  

Fixed Charges:

                                                            

Portions of rent expense representing interest (1)

   $ 3,333    $ 2,917    $ 12,431     $ 9,567      $ 6,967    $ 500      $ 4,867    $ 4,400

Interest expense, net (2)

     5,375      4,479      19,386       16,348        17,172      1,577        4,218      5,718
    

  

  


 


  

  


  

  

Fixed charges

   $ 8,708    $ 7,396    $ 31,817     $ 25,915      $ 24,139    $ 2,077      $ 9,085    $ 10,118
    

  

  


 


  

  


  

  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     1.4x      1.3x      0.6x       1.0x        1.1x      0.7x        3.3x      2.2x

 

(1) The portion of rent expense representing interest is estimated to be 33% of the rent expense for purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
(2) Interest expense, net consists of interest expense, amortization of debt discount and amortization of deferred financing fees.

Exhibit 21.1

 

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF VS HOLDINGS, INC.

 

VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC. (NEW YORK)

 

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF VITAMIN SHOPPE INDUSTRIES INC.

 

VS DIRECT INC. (DELAWARE)

 

 

SUBSIDIARIES OF VS DIRECT INC.

 

NONE.

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-4 of our report dated April 14, 2006 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph referring to a change in method of accounting for costs included in inventory in Fiscal 2005 and a change in method of accounting for the Company’s customer loyalty program in Fiscal 2003) relating to the consolidated financial statements of VS Holdings Inc. and Subsidiary appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Parsippany, New Jersey

June 13, 2006

Exhibit 25.1

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER

THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

 


WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   51-0055023

(State or other jurisdiction or incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001

(302) 651-1000

(Address of principal executive offices)

Carolyn McKinney Afshar

Vice President and Counsel

Wilmington Trust Company

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19890

(302) 651-8516

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent of service)

Vitamin Shoppe Industries, Inc.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO

 

New York   13-2993785

(State or other jurisdiction or incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2101 91st Street

North Bergen, New Jersey 07047

(800) 223-1216

(Address of principal executive offices)

 


Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 



SCHEDULE A

 

Guarantor

 

State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization

 

I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number

VS Holdings, Inc.

  Delaware   11-3664322

VS Direct Inc.

  Delaware   13-4289833

 

2


ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.

 

    Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Federal Deposit Insurance Co.   State Bank Commissioner
20 Exchange Place, Room 6014   555 Loockerman Street, Suite 210
New York, New York 10005   Dover, Delaware 19901

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

    The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.

 

    If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each affiliation:

Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee and upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee.

ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.

List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of Eligibility and Qualification.

 

  1. Copy of the Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which includes the certificate of authority of Wilmington Trust Company to commence business (Exhibit 2) and the authorization of Wilmington Trust Company to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3).

 

  2. Copy of By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.

 

  3. Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of Trust Indenture Act.

 

  4. Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust Company.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 9th day of May, 2006.

 

    WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
[SEAL]      
Attest:  

/s/ Michael G. Oller, Jr.

  By:  

/s/ Denise M. Geran

  Assistant Secretary   Name:   Denise M. Geran
    Title:   Vice President

 

3


EXHIBIT 1

AMENDED CHARTER

Wilmington Trust Company

Wilmington, Delaware

As existing on May 9, 1987


Amended Charter

or

Act of Incorporation

of

Wilmington Trust Company

Wilmington Trust Company , originally incorporated by an Act of the General Assembly of the State of Delaware, entitled “An Act to Incorporate the Delaware Guarantee and Trust Company”, approved March 2, A.D. 1901, and the name of which company was changed to “ Wilmington Trust Company ” by an amendment filed in the Office of the Secretary of State on March 18, A.D. 1903, and the Charter or Act of Incorporation of which company has been from time to time amended and changed by merger agreements pursuant to the corporation law for state banks and trust companies of the State of Delaware, does hereby alter and amend its Charter or Act of Incorporation so that the same as so altered and amended shall in its entirety read as follows:

First: - The name of this corporation is Wilmington Trust Company .

Second: - The location of its principal office in the State of Delaware is at Rodney Square North, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle; the name of its resident agent is Wilmington Trust Company whose address is Rodney Square North, in said City. In addition to such principal office, the said corporation maintains and operates branch offices in the City of Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, the Town of Newport, New Castle County, Delaware, at Claymont, New Castle County, Delaware, at Greenville, New Castle County Delaware, and at Milford Cross Roads, New Castle County, Delaware, and shall be empowered to open, maintain and operate branch offices at Ninth and Shipley Streets, 418 Delaware Avenue, 2120 Market Street, and 3605 Market Street, all in the City of Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, and such other branch offices or places of business as may be authorized from time to time by the agency or agencies of the government of the State of Delaware empowered to confer such authority.

Third: - (a) The nature of the business and the objects and purposes proposed to be transacted, promoted or carried on by this Corporation are to do any or all of the things herein mentioned as fully and to the same extent as natural persons might or could do and in any part of the world, viz.:

(1) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any Court of law or equity and to make and use a common seal, and alter the seal at pleasure, to hold, purchase, convey, mortgage or otherwise deal in real and personal estate and property, and to appoint such officers and agents as the business of the Corporation shall require, to make by-laws not inconsistent with the Constitution or laws of the United States or of this State, to discount bills, notes or other evidences of debt, to receive deposits of money, or securities for money, to buy gold and silver bullion and foreign coins, to buy and sell bills of exchange, and generally to use,


exercise and enjoy all the powers, rights, privileges and franchises incident to a corporation which are proper or necessary for the transaction of the business of the Corporation hereby created.

(2) To insure titles to real and personal property, or any estate or interests therein, and to guarantee the holder of such property, real or personal, against any claim or claims, adverse to his interest therein, and to prepare and give certificates of title for any lands or premises in the State of Delaware, or elsewhere.

(3) To act as factor, agent, broker or attorney in the receipt, collection, custody, investment and management of funds, and the purchase, sale, management and disposal of property of all descriptions, and to prepare and execute all papers which may be necessary or proper in such business.

(4) To prepare and draw agreements, contracts, deeds, leases, conveyances, mortgages, bonds and legal papers of every description, and to carry on the business of conveyancing in all its branches.

(5) To receive upon deposit for safekeeping money, jewelry, plate, deeds, bonds and any and all other personal property of every sort and kind, from executors, administrators, guardians, public officers, courts, receivers, assignees, trustees, and from all fiduciaries, and from all other persons and individuals, and from all corporations whether state, municipal, corporate or private, and to rent boxes, safes, vaults and other receptacles for such property.

(6) To act as agent or otherwise for the purpose of registering, issuing, certificating, countersigning, transferring or underwriting the stock, bonds or other obligations of any corporation, association, state or municipality, and may receive and manage any sinking fund therefor on such terms as may be agreed upon between the two parties, and in like manner may act as Treasurer of any corporation or municipality.

(7) To act as Trustee under any deed of trust, mortgage, bond or other instrument issued by any state, municipality, body politic, corporation, association or person, either alone or in conjunction with any other person or persons, corporation or corporations.

(8) To guarantee the validity, performance or effect of any contract or agreement, and the fidelity of persons holding places of responsibility or trust; to become surety for any person, or persons, for the faithful performance of any trust, office, duty, contract or agreement, either by itself or in conjunction with any other person, or persons, corporation, or corporations, or in like manner become surety upon any bond, recognizance, obligation, judgment, suit, order, or

 

2


decree to be entered in any court of record within the State of Delaware or elsewhere, or which may now or hereafter be required by any law, judge, officer or court in the State of Delaware or elsewhere.

(9) To act by any and every method of appointment as trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other trust capacity in the receiving, holding, managing, and disposing of any and all estates and property, real, personal or mixed, and to be appointed as such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian or bailee by any persons, corporations, court, officer, or authority, in the State of Delaware or elsewhere; and whenever this Corporation is so appointed by any person, corporation, court, officer or authority such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other trust capacity, it shall not be required to give bond with surety, but its capital stock shall be taken and held as security for the performance of the duties devolving upon it by such appointment.

(10) And for its care, management and trouble, and the exercise of any of its powers hereby given, or for the performance of any of the duties which it may undertake or be called upon to perform, or for the assumption of any responsibility the said Corporation may be entitled to receive a proper compensation.

(11) To purchase, receive, hold and own bonds, mortgages, debentures, shares of capital stock, and other securities, obligations, contracts and evidences of indebtedness, of any private, public or municipal corporation within and without the State of Delaware, or of the Government of the United States, or of any state, territory, colony, or possession thereof, or of any foreign government or country; to receive, collect, receipt for, and dispose of interest, dividends and income upon and from any of the bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other property held and owned by it, and to exercise in respect of all such bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities, obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other property, any and all the rights, powers and privileges of individual owners thereof, including the right to vote thereon; to invest and deal in and with any of the moneys of the Corporation upon such securities and in such manner as it may think fit and proper, and from time to time to vary or realize such investments; to issue bonds and secure the same by pledges or deeds of trust or mortgages of or upon the whole or any part of the property held or owned by the Corporation, and to sell and pledge such bonds, as and when the Board of Directors shall determine, and in the promotion of its said corporate business of investment and to the extent authorized by law, to lease, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, mortgage and convey real and personal property of any name and nature and any estate or interest therein.

 

3


(b) In furtherance of, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, it is hereby expressly provided that the said Corporation shall also have the following powers:

(1) To do any or all of the things herein set forth, to the same extent as natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the world.

(2) To acquire the good will, rights, property and franchises and to undertake the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of any person, firm, association or corporation, and to pay for the same in cash, stock of this Corporation, bonds or otherwise; to hold or in any manner to dispose of the whole or any part of the property so purchased; to conduct in any lawful manner the whole or any part of any business so acquired, and to exercise all the powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct and management of such business.

(3) To take, hold, own, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien, and to lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner whatever dispose of property, real, personal or mixed, wherever situated.

(4) To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every kind with any person, firm, association or corporation, and, without limit as to amount, to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures, and other negotiable or transferable instruments.

(5) To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of its operations and businesses, without restriction to the same extent as natural persons might or could do, to purchase or otherwise acquire, to hold, own, to mortgage, sell, convey or otherwise dispose of, real and personal property, of every class and description, in any State, District, Territory or Colony of the United States, and in any foreign country or place.

(6) It is the intention that the objects, purposes and powers specified and clauses contained in this paragraph shall (except where otherwise expressed in said paragraph) be nowise limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other clause of this or any other paragraph in this charter, but that the objects, purposes and powers specified in each of the clauses of this paragraph shall be regarded as independent objects, purposes and powers.

Fourth: - (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty-one million (41,000,000) shares, consisting of:

(1) One million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred stock, par value $10.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as “Preferred Stock”); and

 

4


(2) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as “Common Stock”).

(b) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors each of said series to be distinctly designated. All shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular, except that there may be different dates from which dividends, if any, thereon shall be cumulative, if made cumulative. The voting powers and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding; and, subject to the provisions of subparagraph 1 of Paragraph (c) of this Article Fourth , the Board of Directors of the Corporation is hereby expressly granted authority to fix by resolution or resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any shares of a particular series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers and the designations, preferences and relative, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such series, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:

(1) The distinctive designation of, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock which shall constitute such series, which number may be increased (except where otherwise provided by the Board of Directors) or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time by like action of the Board of Directors;

(2) The rate and times at which, and the terms and conditions on which, dividends, if any, on Preferred Stock of such series shall be paid, the extent of the preference or relation, if any, of such dividends to the dividends payable on any other class or classes, or series of the same or other class of stock and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative;

(3) The right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such series to convert the same into or exchange the same for, shares of any other class or classes or of any series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation and the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;

(4) Whether or not Preferred Stock of such series shall be subject to redemption, and the redemption price or prices and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions on which, Preferred Stock of such series may be redeemed.

(5) The rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, merger, consolidation, distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding-up, of the Corporation.

 

5


(6) The terms of the sinking fund or redemption or purchase account, if any, to be provided for the Preferred Stock of such series; and

(7) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series of Preferred Stock which may, without limiting the generality of the foregoing include the right, voting as a series or by itself or together with other series of Preferred Stock or all series of Preferred Stock as a class, to elect one or more directors of the Corporation if there shall have been a default in the payment of dividends on any one or more series of Preferred Stock or under such circumstances and on such conditions as the Board of Directors may determine.

(c) (1) After the requirements with respect to preferential dividends on the Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article Fourth ), if any, shall have been met and after the Corporation shall have complied with all the requirements, if any, with respect to the setting aside of sums as sinking funds or redemption or purchase accounts (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article Fourth ), and subject further to any conditions which may be fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article Fourth , then and not otherwise the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors.

(2) After distribution in full of the preferential amount, if any, (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article Fourth ), to be distributed to the holders of Preferred Stock in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding-up, of the Corporation, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation, tangible and intangible, of whatever kind available for distribution to stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them respectively.

(3) Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the provisions of such resolution or resolutions as may be adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to section (b) of this Article Fourth , each holder of Common Stock shall have one vote in respect of each share of Common Stock held on all matters voted upon by the stockholders.

(d) No holder of any of the shares of any class or series of stock or of options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of any class or series of stock or of other securities of the Corporation shall have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any class or series or any additional shares of any class or series to be issued by reason of any increase of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation of any class or series, or bonds, certificates of indebtedness, debentures or other securities

 

6


convertible into or exchangeable for stock of the Corporation of any class or series, or carrying any right to purchase stock of any class or series, but any such unissued stock, additional authorized issue of shares of any class or series of stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock, or carrying any right to purchase stock, may be issued and disposed of pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors to such persons, firms, corporations or associations, whether such holders or others, and upon such terms as may be deemed advisable by the Board of Directors in the exercise of its sole discretion.

(e) The relative powers, preferences and rights of each series of Preferred Stock in relation to the relative powers, preferences and rights of each other series of Preferred Stock shall, in each case, be as fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions adopted pursuant to authority granted in section (b) of this Article Fourth and the consent, by class or series vote or otherwise, of the holders of such of the series of Preferred Stock as are from time to time outstanding shall not be required for the issuance by the Board of Directors of any other series of Preferred Stock whether or not the powers, preferences and rights of such other series shall be fixed by the Board of Directors as senior to, or on a parity with, the powers, preferences and rights of such outstanding series, or any of them; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may provide in the resolution or resolutions as to any series of Preferred Stock adopted pursuant to section (b) of this Article Fourth that the consent of the holders of a majority (or such greater proportion as shall be therein fixed) of the outstanding shares of such series voting thereon shall be required for the issuance of any or all other series of Preferred Stock.

(f) Subject to the provisions of section (e), shares of any series of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

(g) Shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

(h) The authorized amount of shares of Common Stock and of Preferred Stock may, without a class or series vote, be increased or decreased from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.

Fifth: - (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The number of directors constituting the entire Board shall be not less than five nor more than twenty-five as fixed from time to time by vote of a majority of the whole Board, provided, however, that the number of directors shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any director at the time in office, and provided further, that the number of directors constituting the whole Board shall be twenty-four until otherwise fixed by a majority of the whole Board.

 

7


(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors constituting the whole Board permits, with the term of office of one class expiring each year. At the annual meeting of stockholders in 1982, directors of the first class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting, directors of the second class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting and directors of the third class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting. Any vacancies in the Board of Directors for any reason, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the directors, may be filled by the Board of Directors, acting by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, and any directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election of directors. At such election, the stockholders shall elect a successor to such director to hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his successor shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter or Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Charter or Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation), any director or the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation may be removed at any time without cause, but only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class) cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

(d) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of directors. Such nominations shall be made by notice in writing, delivered or mailed by first class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of the stockholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days’ notice of the meeting is given to stockholders, such written notice shall be delivered or mailed, as prescribed, to the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of the seventh day following the day on which notice of the meeting was mailed to stockholders. Notice of nominations which are proposed by the Board of Directors shall be given by the Chairman on behalf of the Board.

(e) Each notice under subsection (d) shall set forth (i) the name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee and (iii) the number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by each such nominee.

 

8


(f) The Chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

(g) No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing, without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.

Sixth: - The Directors shall choose such officers, agents and servants as may be provided in the By-Laws as they may from time to time find necessary or proper.

Seventh: - The Corporation hereby created is hereby given the same powers, rights and privileges as may be conferred upon corporations organized under the Act entitled “An Act Providing a General Corporation Law”, approved March 10, 1899, as from time to time amended.

Eighth: - This Act shall be deemed and taken to be a private Act.

Ninth: - This Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

Tenth: - The Board of Directors, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, may designate any of their number to constitute an Executive Committee, which Committee, to the extent provided in said resolution, or in the By-Laws of the Company, shall have and may exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall have power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.

Eleventh: - The private property of the stockholders shall not be liable for the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.

Twelfth: - The Corporation may transact business in any part of the world.

Thirteenth: - The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation by a vote of the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders may make, alter or repeal any By-Law whether or not adopted by them, provided however, that any such additional By-Laws, alterations or repeal may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class).

 

9


Fourteenth: - Meetings of the Directors may be held outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time designated by the Board, and the Directors may keep the books of the Company outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time designated by them.

Fifteenth: - (a) (1) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law, and except as otherwise expressly provided in sections (b) and (c) of this Article Fifteenth:

(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any Interested Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested Stockholder), which, after such merger or consolidation, would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested Stockholder, or

(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to or with any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, or

(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, or

(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation, or

(E) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any similar transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder, or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder,

shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, considered for the purpose of this Article Fifteenth as one class (“Voting Shares”). Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise.

 

10


(2) The term “business combination” as used in this Article Fifteenth shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any one or more of clauses (A) through (E) of paragraph 1 of the section (a).

(b) The provisions of section (a) of this Article Fifteenth shall not be applicable to any particular business combination and such business combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is required by law and any other provisions of the Charter or Act of Incorporation or By-Laws if such business combination has been approved by a majority of the whole Board.

(c) For the purposes of this Article Fifteenth :

(1) A “person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity.

(2) “Interested Stockholder” shall mean, in respect of any business combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who or which as of the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote on such business combination, or immediately prior to the consummation of any such transaction:

(A) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the Voting Shares, or

(B) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within two years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of not less than 10% of the then outstanding voting Shares, or

(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded in any share of capital stock of the Corporation which were at any time within two years prior thereto beneficially owned by any Interested Stockholder, and such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.

(3) A person shall be the “beneficial owner” of any Voting Shares:

(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and Associates (as hereafter defined) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or

(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or

 

11


(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such first mentioned person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

(4) The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned through application of paragraph (3) above but shall not include any other Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or otherwise.

(5) “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings given those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1981.

(6) “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any class of equity security (as defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1981) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Investment Stockholder set forth in paragraph (2) of this section (c), the term “Subsidiary” shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.

(d) majority of the directors shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article Fifteenth on the basis of information known to them, (1) the number of Voting Shares beneficially owned by any person (2) whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (3) whether a person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to the matters referred to in paragraph (3) of section (c), or (4) whether the assets subject to any business combination or the consideration received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation, or any Subsidiary has an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more.

(e) Nothing contained in this Article Fifteenth shall be construed to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.

Sixteenth: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter or Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by law, this Charter or Act of Incorporation by the By-Laws), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class) shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of Articles Fifth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth or Sixteenth of this Charter or Act of Incorporation.

 

12


Seventeenth: (a) a Director of this Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Laws as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.

(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.”

 

13


EXHIBIT 4

BY-LAWS

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE

As existing on December 16, 2004


BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

ARTICLE 1

Stockholders’ Meetings

Section 1. Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on the third Thursday in April each year at the principal office at the Company or at such other date, time or place as may be designated by resolution by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Special Meetings . Special meetings of stockholders may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

Section 3. Notice . Notice of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given by mailing to each stockholder at least ten (10) days before said meeting, at his last known address, a written or printed notice fixing the time and place of such meeting.

Section 4. Quorum . A majority in the amount of the capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding on the record date, as herein determined, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of stockholders for the transaction of any business, but the holders of a smaller number of shares may adjourn from time to time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured. At each annual or special meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote, either in person or by proxy, for each share of stock registered in the stockholder’s name on the books of the Company on the record date for any such meeting as determined herein.

ARTICLE 2

Directors

Section 1. Management . The affairs and business of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Number . The authorized number of directors that shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by or pursuant to a resolution passed by a majority of the Board of Directors within the parameters set by the Charter of the Company. No more than two directors may also be employees of the Company or any affiliate thereof.

Section 3. Qualification . In addition to any other provisions of these Bylaws, to be qualified for nomination for election or appointment to the Board of Directors, a person must have not attained the age of sixty-nine years at the time of such election or appointment, provided however, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may waive such qualification as to a particular candidate otherwise qualified to serve as a director upon a good faith determination by such committee that such a waiver is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer shall not be qualified to continue to serve as directors upon the termination of their service in those offices for any reason.


Section 4. Meetings . The Board of Directors shall meet at the principal office of the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a majority of its members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

Section 5. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, and shall be called upon the written request of a majority of the directors.

Section 6. Quorum . A majority of the directors elected and qualified shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 7. Notice . Written notice shall be sent by mail to each director of any special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of any change in the time or place of any regular meeting, stating the time and place of such meeting, which shall be mailed not less than two days before the time of holding such meeting.

Section 8. Vacancies . In the event of the death, resignation, removal, inability to act or disqualification of any director, the Board of Directors, although less than a quorum, shall have the right to elect the successor who shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred, and until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

Section 9. Organization Meeting . The Board of Directors at its first meeting after its election by the stockholders shall appoint an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and shall elect from its own members a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer and a President, who may be the same person. The Board of Directors shall also elect at such meeting a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer, who may be the same person, and may appoint at any time such committees as it may deem advisable. The Board of Directors may also elect at such meeting one or more Associate Directors. The Board of Directors, or a committee designated by the Board of Directors may elect or appoint such other officers as they may deem advisable.

Section 10. Removal . The Board of Directors may at any time remove, with or without cause, any member of any committee appointed by it or any associate director or officer elected by it and may appoint or elect his successor.

Section 11. Responsibility of Officers . The Board of Directors may designate an officer to be in charge of such departments or divisions of the Company as it may deem advisable.

 

2


Section 12. Participation in Meetings . The Board of Directors or any committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, by conference telephone, video facilities or other communications equipment. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all of the members of the Board of Directors or the committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the Board of Directors or such committee.

ARTICLE 3

Committees of the Board of Directors

Section 1. Audit Committee.

(A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of not more than five (5) members, who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members, none of whom shall be an officer or employee of the Company, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board.

(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision over the Audit Services Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the Board of Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by the officer in charge of the Audit Services Division, review all reports of examination of the Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor employed for that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining to auditing the Company as it shall deem desirable.

(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever its Chairperson, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a majority of the Committee’s members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of its business. A majority of the Committee’s members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The acts of the majority at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute action by the Committee.

Section 2. Compensation Committee.

(A) The Compensation Committee shall be composed of not more than five (5) members, who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members, none of whom shall be an officer or employee of the Company, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

(B) The Compensation Committee shall in general advise upon all matters of policy concerning compensation, including salaries and employee benefits.

(C) The Compensation Committee shall meet whenever and wherever its

 

3


Chairperson, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a majority of the Committee’s members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of its business. A majority of the Committee’s members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The acts of the majority at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute action by the Committee.

Section 3. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

(A) The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be composed of not more than five members, who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members, none of whom shall be an officer or employee of the Company, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

(B) The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall provide counsel and make recommendations to the Chairman of the Board and the full Board with respect to the performance of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, candidates for membership on the Board of Directors and its committees, matters of corporate governance, succession planning for the Company’s executive management and significant shareholder relations issues.

(C) The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall meet whenever and wherever its Chairperson, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or a majority of the Committee’s members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of its business. A majority of the Committee’s members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The acts of the majority at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute action by the Committee.

Section 4. Other Committees . The Company may have such other committees with such powers as the Board may designate from time to time by resolution or by an amendment to these Bylaws.

Section 5. Associate Directors.

(A) Any person who has served as a director may be elected by the Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

(B) Associate directors shall be entitled to attend all meetings of directors and participate in the discussion of all matters brought to the Board of Directors, but will not have a right to vote.

Section 6. Absence or Disqualification of Any Member of a Committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee created under Article III of these Bylaws, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

4


ARTICLE 4

Officers

Section 1. Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall have such further authority and powers and shall perform such duties the Board of Directors may assign to him from time to time.

Section 2. Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall have the powers and duties pertaining to the office of Chief Executive Officer conferred or imposed upon him by statute, incident to his office or as the Board of Directors may assign to him from time to time. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board.

Section 3. President . The President shall have the powers and duties pertaining to the office of the President conferred or imposed upon him by statute, incident to his office or as the Board of Directors may assign to him from time to time. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board.

Section 4. Duties . The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, as designated by the Board of Directors, shall carry into effect all legal directions of the Board of Directors and shall at all times exercise general supervision over the interest, affairs and operations of the Company and perform all duties incident to his office.

Section 5. Vice Presidents . There may be one or more Vice Presidents, however denominated by the Board of Directors, who may at any time perform all of the duties of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and/or the President and such other powers and duties incident to their respective offices or as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President or the officer in charge of the department or division to which they are assigned may assign to them from time to time.

Section 6. Secretary . The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, as well as the committees thereof, to the keeping of accurate minutes of all such meetings, recording the same in the minute books of the Company and in general notifying the Board of Directors of material matters affecting the Company on a timely basis. In addition to the other notice requirements of these Bylaws and as may be practicable under the circumstances, all such notices shall be in writing and mailed well in advance of the scheduled date of any such meeting. He shall have custody of the corporate seal, affix the same to any documents requiring such corporate seal, attest the same and perform other duties incident to his office.

 

5


Section 7. Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer shall have general supervision over all assets and liabilities of the Company. He shall be custodian of and responsible for all monies, funds and valuables of the Company and for the keeping of proper records of the evidence of property or indebtedness and of all transactions of the Company. He shall have general supervision of the expenditures of the Company and periodically shall report to the Board of Directors the condition of the Company, and perform such other duties incident to his office or as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may assign to him from time to time.

Section 8. Controller . There may be a Controller who shall exercise general supervision over the internal operations of the Company, including accounting, and shall render to the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee at appropriate times a report relating to the general condition and internal operations of the Company and perform other duties incident to his office.

There may be one or more subordinate accounting or controller officers however denominated, who may perform the duties of the Controller and such duties as may be prescribed by the Controller.

Section 9. Audit Officers . The officer designated by the Board of Directors to be in charge of the Audit Services Division of the Company, with such title as the Board of Directors shall prescribe, shall report to and be directly responsible to the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.

There shall be an Auditor and there may be one or more Audit Officers, however denominated, who may perform all the duties of the Auditor and such duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the Audit Services Division.

Section 10. Other Officers . There may be one or more officers, subordinate in rank to all Vice Presidents with such functional titles as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors, who shall ex officio hold the office of Assistant Secretary of the Company and who may perform such duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the department or division to which they are assigned.

Section 11. Powers and Duties of Other Officers . The powers and duties of all other officers of the Company shall be those usually pertaining to their respective offices, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the officer in charge of the department or division to which they are assigned.

Section 12. Number of Offices . Any one or more offices of the Company may be held by the same person, except that (A) no individual may hold more than one of the offices of Chief Financial Officer, Controller or Audit Officer and (B) none of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may hold any office mentioned in Section 12(A).

 

6


ARTICLE 5

Stock and Stock Certificates

Section 1. Transfer . Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Company and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded.

Section 2. Certificates . Every holder of stock shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President or a Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, certifying the number of shares owned by him in the Company. The corporate seal affixed thereto, and any of or all the signatures on the certificate, may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. Duplicate certificates of stock shall be issued only upon giving such security as may be satisfactory to the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Record Date . The Board of Directors is authorized to fix in advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders and any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or to any allotment of rights, or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or in connection with obtaining the consent of stockholders for any purpose, which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with obtaining such consent.

 

7


ARTICLE 6

Seal

The corporate seal of the Company shall be in the following form:

Between two concentric circles the words “Wilmington Trust Company” within the inner circle the words “Wilmington, Delaware.”

ARTICLE 7

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year.

ARTICLE 8

Execution of Instruments of the Company

The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President, however denominated by the Board of Directors, shall have full power and authority to enter into, make, sign, execute, acknowledge and/or deliver and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall have full power and authority to attest and affix the corporate seal of the Company to any and all deeds, conveyances, assignments, releases, contracts, agreements, bonds, notes, mortgages and all other instruments incident to the business of this Company or in acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, agent or in any other fiduciary or representative capacity by any and every method of appointment or by whatever person, corporation, court officer or authority in the State of Delaware, or elsewhere, without any specific authority, ratification, approval or confirmation by the Board of Directors, and any and all such instruments shall have the same force and validity as though expressly authorized by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 9

Compensation of Directors and Members of Committees

Directors and associate directors of the Company, other than salaried officers of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for attending meetings of the Board of Directors as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Directors and associate directors who serve as members of committees, other than salaried employees of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for services as members of committees as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine and directors and associate directors may be authorized by the Company to perform such special services as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine in accordance with any guidelines the Board of Directors may adopt for such services, and shall be paid for such special services so performed reasonable compensation as may be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

8


ARTICLE 10

Indemnification

Section 1. Persons Covered . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or associate director of the Company, a member of an advisory board the Board of Directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries may appoint from time to time or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity that is not a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person. The Company shall be required to indemnify such a person in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if the proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors.

The Company may indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any proceeding by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was an officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person. The Company may indemnify any such person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Advance of Expenses . The Company shall pay the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding involving a person who is or may be indemnified pursuant to Section 1 in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that the payment of expenses incurred by such a person in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by that person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article 10 or otherwise.

Section 3. Certain Rights . If a claim under this Article 10 for (A) payment of expenses or (B) indemnification by a director, associate director, member of an advisory board the Board of Directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries may appoint from time to time or a person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity that is not a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, is not paid in full within sixty days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Company, the claimant may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and,

 

9


if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action, the Company shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

Section 4. Non-Exclusive . The rights conferred on any person by this Article 10 shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Charter or Act of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Section 5. Reduction of Amount . The Company’s obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity.

Section 6. Effect of Modification . Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article 10 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

ARTICLE 11

Amendments to the Bylaws

These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, and any new Bylaw or Bylaws adopted at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors by a vote of a majority of all the members of the Board of Directors then in office.

ARTICLE 12

Miscellaneous

Whenever used in these Bylaws, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular unless the context requires otherwise and the use of either gender shall include both genders.

 

10


EXHIBIT 6

Section 321(b) Consent

Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, Wilmington Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.

 

  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: May 9, 2006   By:  

/s/ Denise M. Geran

  Name:   Denise M. Geran
  Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

NOTICE

This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings banks with state publication requirements. It has not been approved by any state banking authorities. Refer to your appropriate state banking authorities for your state publication requirements.

REPORT OF CONDITION

Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY    of    WILMINGTON
            Name of Bank                           City

in the State of DELAWARE , at the close of business on December 31, 2005.

ASSETS

 

     Thousands of dollars

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

     

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coins

      242,974

Interest-bearing balances

      0

Held-to-maturity securities

      2,263

Available-for-sale securities

      1,544,051

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

      310,739

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

      14,128

Loans and lease financing receivables:

     

Loans and leases held for sale

   0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income

   6,799,976   

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

   82,655   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve

      6,717,321

Assets held in trading accounts

      0

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

      135,853

Other real estate owned

      199

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

      2,545

Customers’ liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding

      0

Intangible assets:

     

a. Goodwill

      1,923

b. Other intangible assets

      6,600

Other assets

      207,442

Total assets

      9,186,038

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

 

2


LIABILITIES

 

Deposits:

     

In domestic offices

      7,081,644  

Noninterest-bearing

   988,301   

Interest-bearing

   6,093,343   

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

      454,938  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

      364,013  

Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)

      0  

Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases:

      396,467  

Bank’s liability on acceptances executed and outstanding

      0  

Subordinated notes and debentures

      0  

Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)

      125,938  

Total liabilities

      8,423,000  

EQUITY CAPITAL

     

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

      0  

Common Stock

      500  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

      112,358  

a. Retained earnings

      668,545  

b. Accumulated other comprehensive income

      (18,365 )

Total equity capital

      763,038  

Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital

      9,186,038  

 

3

Exhibit 99.1

 

CUSIP Number: 92849A AC 3

 

TRANSMITTAL LETTER

 

With respect to the Exchange Offer Regarding the Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

issued by Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc.

 

   

THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE

AT 5:00PM, NEW YORK CITY TIME,

ON                    , 2006

   

 

To My Broker or Account Representative:

 

I, the undersigned, hereby acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus, dated                     , 2006 (the “Prospectus”) of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., a New York corporation ( the “Issuer”) with respect to the exchange offer of the Issuer set forth therein (the “Exchange Offer”). I have read the Prospectus and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth therein. I understand that the exchange offer must be accepted on or prior to 5:00PM, New York City Time, on                     , 2006.

 

This letter instructs you as to action to be taken by you relating to the Exchange Offer with respect to the Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012 (the “Existing Notes”) held by you for the account of the undersigned.

 

The aggregate face amount of the Existing Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned is (FILL IN AMOUNT):

 

$                       of the Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2012

 

With respect to the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby instructs you (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX):

 

  ¨ TO TENDER the following Existing Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned (INSERT PRINCIPAL AMOUNT AT MATURITY OF EXISTING NOTES TO BE TENDERED, IF ANY):

 

$                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

  ¨ NOT TO TENDER any Existing Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned.

 

If the undersigned instructs you to tender the Existing Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned, it is understood that you are authorized (a) to make, on behalf of the undersigned (and the undersigned, by its signature below, hereby makes to you), the representation and warranties contained in the Prospectus that are to be made with respect to the undersigned as a beneficial owner, including but not limited to the representations that (i) the undersigned is acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of business of the undersigned, (ii) the undersigned is not participating, does not participate, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes, (iii) the undersigned acknowledges that any person participating in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Notes must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) in connection with a secondary resale transaction of the Exchange Notes acquired by such person and cannot rely on the position of the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission set forth in no-action letters that are discussed in the section of the Prospectus entitled “The Exchange Offer,” and (iv) the undersigned is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, of the Issuer; (b) to agree, on behalf of the undersigned, as set forth in the Prospectus; and (c) to take such other action as necessary under the Prospectus to effect the valid tender of such Existing Notes.


Name of beneficial owner(s):                                                                                                                                                                      

 

Signatures:                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Name (please print):                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

Address:                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

Telephone number:                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number:                                                                                                                         

 

Date: