EXHIBIT 10.1
 
VCA Antech, Inc.
Senior Notes due 2010
 
Acknowledgment and Waiver
 
This Acknowledgment and Waiver (“Acknowledgment and Waiver”) is dated as of
January 29, 2003.
 
Reference is hereby made to the VCA Antech, Inc. Senior Notes due 2010 (the
“Holdings Notes”), issued pursuant to the Indenture (the “Holdings Indenture”),
dated as of September 20, 2000, as amended on November 20, 2001 and January 7,
2003, by and between VCA Antech, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc.) (“Holdings”) and J.P. Morgan Trust Company,
National Association (formerly Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust Company, National
Association), a national banking association organized under the federal laws of
the United States, as trustee. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined
herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Holdings
Indenture.
 
The undersigned, being all of the holders of the Holdings Notes acknowledge
Holdings’ planned optional redemption of the entire aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding Holdings Notes at a price of 110% of the aggregate principal
amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest as of the date of the
redemption, with the redemption to be effected on a pro rata basis among the
outstanding Holdings Notes to be paid with a portion of the proceeds of the firm
commitment underwritten secondary public offering of shares of Common Stock of
the Company pursuant to that certain Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No.
333-102439) filed with the Commission on January 10, 2003, as amended (the
“Secondary Offering”).
 
The undersigned also irrevocably waive any breach of the following provisions,
solely to the extent resulting from the consummation of the optional redemption
acknowledged above:
 

 
(i)
 
The time-period for the notice requirements and the minimum prepayment amount
requirements of paragraph 5 of the Holdings Notes;

 

 
(ii)
 
the first sentence of paragraph 7 of the Holdings Notes; and

 

 
(iii)
 
the time-period for the notice requirements of section 3.03(a) of the Holdings
Indenture.

 
Pursuant to Section 13 of the Purchase Agreement, Holdings shall pay all
expenses incurred by the Purchasers (including, without limitation, the
reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of Fried, Frank, Harris,
Shriver & Jacobson, counsel to the Purchasers) in connection with this
Acknowledgment and Waiver and any other agreements, instruments or documents
executed pursuant to the transactions acknowledged herein, whether or not the
same shall become effective.
 
This Acknowledgment and Waiver shall become effective upon and contingent on the
consummation of the Secondary Offering.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have signed this instrument as of the date
first written above:
 
GS MEZZANINE PARTNERS II, L.P.
 
By:
 
GS Mezzanine Advisors II, L.L.C.,
its general partner
By:
 
/s/    JOHN E. BOWMAN            

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Name: John E. Bowman
Title:   Vice President

 
GS MEZZANINE PARTNERS II OFFSHORE, L.P.
By:
 
GS Mezzanine Advisors II, L.L.C.
its general partner

By:
 
/s/    JOHN E. BOWMAN            

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Name: John E. Bowman
Title:   Vice President

 
TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST, L.P.
 
By:
 
TCW Advisers (Bermuda), Ltd.
as its General Partner

By:
 
/s/    JAMES M. HASSETT            

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Name: James M. Hassett
Title:   Managing Director

By:
 
TCW Investment Management Company
as Investment Adviser

By:
 
/s/    JAMES C. SHEVLET, JR.            

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Name: James C. Shevlet, Jr.
Title:   Senior Vice President

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TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST II, L.P.
 
By:
 
TCW (LINC II), L.P.
as its General Partner     
By:
 
TCW Advisers (Bermuda), Ltd.
its General Partner

By:
 
/s/    James M. Hassett                        

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Name: James M. Hassett
Title:   Managing Director

By:
 
TCW Investment Management Company
as Investment Adviser
By:
 
/s/    James C. Shevlet, Jr.                    

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Name: James C. Shevlet, Jr.
Title:   Senior Vice President

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TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST IV, L.P.
 
By:
 
TCW Asset Management Company
As its Investment Adviser

By:
 
/s/    JAMES M. HASSETT            

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Name: James M. Hassett
Title:   Managing Director

By:
 
TCW Asset Management Company
As its Managing Member of TCW (LINC IV), L.L.C., the General Partner
By:
 
/s/    JAMES C. SHEVLET, JR.            

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Name: James C. Shevlet, Jr.
Title:   Senior Vice President

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TCW/CRESCENT MEZZANINE PARTNERS II, L.P.
By:
 
TCW/Crescent Mezzanine II, L.P.
its general partner or managing owner
By:
 
TCW/Crescent Mezzanine, L.L.C.
its general partner

By:
 
/s/    JAMES C. SHEVLET, JR.            

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Name: James C. Shevlet, Jr.
Title:   Senior Vice President

 
TCW/CRESCENT MEZZANINE TRUST II
By:
 
TCW/Crescent Mezzanine II, L.P.
its general partner or managing owner
By:
 
TCW/Crescent Mezzanine, L.L.C.
its general partner

By:
 
/s/    JAMES C. SHEVLET, JR.            

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Name: James C. Shevlet, Jr.
Title:   Senior Vice President

 
THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
By:
 
/s/    MARK E. KISHLER                

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Name: Mark E. Kishler
Title:   Its Authorized Representative

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Agreed to and accepted by:
 
VCA ANTECH, INC.
 
By:
 
/s/    TOMAS W. FULLER                

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Name: Tomas W. Fuller
Title:   Vice President

 
J.P. MORGAN TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 
By:
 
/s/    JAMES NAGY                    

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Name: James Nagy
Title:   Assistant Vice President