Document:

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

    THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is entered into this 28th day of October, 2002 by
and between SHOPKO STORES, INC., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and
Sam K. Duncan (the "Executive").

                                    RECITALS

    The Executive has been offered the position of President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company. The Company desires to employ the Executive pursuant to
the terms of this Employment Agreement and the Executive desires to be employed
by the Company in accordance with the terms and provisions contained herein.

    In consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows.

    1. Employment.

    (a) Agreement. The Company hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive
hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and subject to the conditions
contained herein. The Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he
has no non-compete, non-solicitation or other agreements with his current or
former employers which would prevent him from accepting employment with the
Company or fulfilling the obligations of his position as set forth herein.

    (b) Title and Duties. During the Employment Term (as defined in Section 2
below), the Executive shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer
("CEO") of the Company. In such capacity, the Executive shall faithfully and to
the best of his ability supervise, manage and administer the operations,
business and affairs of the Company. The Executive shall have responsibility,
subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors, for the overall
strategic policies, management and leadership of Company and its subsidiaries.

    (c) Other Responsibilities. The Executive will be appointed as a director of
the Company by the Board of Directors as soon as reasonably practicable and will
also serve as an officer and/or director of such subsidiaries of the Company as
may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Executive will not receive
compensation in addition to that specified in this Agreement for serving as a
director of the Company or an officer or director of any Company subsidiaries.
If the Executive's employment with the Company terminates for any reason, he
will promptly resign as an officer and/or director of the Company and any of its
subsidiaries.

    (d) Commitment. During the Employment Term, and excluding any periods of
vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive shall
devote substantially all of his business time, efforts and skills to the
business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge
the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During his employment with the Company, Executive may
participate in charitable activities and personal investment activities to a
reasonable extent, so long as such activities do not interfere with the
performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder.

<PAGE>

    2. Employment Term.

    The term of the employment of the Executive under this Agreement (the
"Employment Term") shall commence as on October 30, 2002 (the "Effective Date")
and shall continue, unless sooner terminated under Section 7 hereof, until the
third anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that the Employment
Term shall be automatically extended for one additional year on the third
anniversary of the Effective Date and on every subsequent anniversary thereafter
(such date and each anniversary thereof referred to as a "Renewal Date"), until
the earlier of (i) termination of the Employment Term under Section 7 hereof or
(ii) the Company giving Executive notice 60 days prior to a Renewal Date that
the Employment Term will not be so extended.

    3. Salary.

         (a) Annual Base Salary. During the Employment Term, the Executive shall
    be paid a salary at the rate of $725,000 per annum (the "Annual Base
    Salary"), payable in equal installments in accordance with the Company's
    customary payroll practices for its senior executives in effect from time to
    time, but not less frequently than monthly.

         (b) Review. The Board of Directors, or a designated committee of the
    Board, shall review the Executive's Annual Base Salary at least annually,
    and may increase such Annual Base Salary at any time and from time to time
    as the Board of Directors, or its designee, in its sole discretion, shall
    deem appropriate. The term "Annual Base Salary" as utilized in this
    Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. Any increase in
    Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation
    to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be
    reduced at any time during the Employment Term.

    4. Bonus and Long-Employment Term Incentives.

         (a) Signing Bonus. Once the Executive has (i) signed this Agreement and
    (ii) worked for the Company in its Green Bay, Wisconsin offices for five
    business days, the Company will pay the Executive a one-time, signing bonus
    in the amount of $150,000. The bonus will be paid as soon as
    administratively practicable after the criteria for the signing bonus are
    met.

         (b) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive
    shall be eligible to receive, for each fiscal year ending during the
    Employment Term, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") determined in
    accordance with the Company's 1999 Executive Incentive Plan, as amended, or
    if the Executive Incentive Plan is no longer in effect, such successor plan
    as is approved by the Board of Directors (the "Bonus Plan"). The amount of
    the Executive's Annual Bonus shall be 60% of Annual Base Salary at the
    target level of performance and 120% of Annual Base Salary if the maximum
    level of performance is achieved. The performance goals to be used in
    determining the amount of the Executive's Annual Bonus shall be determined
    by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors of
    the Company (the "Compensation Committee") and Board of Directors. Any
    Annual Bonus payable to the Executive shall

                                       2
<PAGE>

    be paid at the same time as bonus payments are made to the Company's other
    senior executives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Annual Bonus for the
    fiscal year which ends on February 1, 2003 will be determined based on the
    company-wide performance goals established by the Compensation Committee for
    that fiscal year and will be prorated in accordance with the provisions of
    the Bonus Plan to take into account the fact that he was not employed for
    the entire performance period. As regards the Annual Bonus for the fiscal
    year ending in January 2004, the minimum that the Executive will be paid is
    $275,000.

         (c) Participation in Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Executive shall be a
    participant in the 2000 Executive Long Term Incentive Plan or any successor
    thereto (the "Incentive Plan"). Awards under the Incentive Plan will equal
    50% of Annual Base Salary at the target level of performance and 100% of
    Annual Base Salary if the maximum level of performance is achieved. The
    performance goals under the Incentive Plan will be determined from time to
    time by the Compensation Committee. The Incentive Plan award is based on the
    performance over a three-year period. Thus, the first complete program for
    which the Executive will be eligible to participate begins in February of
    2003 and ends with January of 2006. For the three-year periods ending prior
    thereto, the Executive will be entitled to the award he otherwise would have
    received, prorated in accordance with the provisions of the Incentive Plan
    to take into account the fact that he was not employed for the entire
    performance period.

         (d) Award of Options. On the Effective Date, the Executive will be
    awarded options for 100,000 shares of Company common stock (the "Option").
    The exercise price shall be the closing sale price of a share of the
    Company's common stock on the date of grant, and the Option shall vest as to
    33,333 shares on the first anniversary of the date of grant, as to 33,333
    shares on the second anniversary of the date of grant and as to the
    remaining 33,334 shares on the third anniversary of the date of grant. All
    other terms and conditions of the Option shall be governed by the Company's
    2001 Stock Incentive Plan and the standard option grant form thereunder.

         (e) Award of Restricted Stock. On the Effective Date, the Executive
    will be awarded 50,000 shares of Company common stock subject to the
    following transfer restrictions (the "Restricted Stock"). The Executive will
    not have to pay anything for the Restricted Stock. The transfer restrictions
    will lapse ratably over four years, i.e., as to 12,500 shares on the first
    anniversary of the date of grant and as to 12,500 shares on each of the
    second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant. All other terms
    and conditions of the Restricted Stock shall be governed by the Company's
    1993 Restricted Stock Plan and the standard form used for awards of
    restricted stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive so
    requests before the Effective Date, the period over which the transfer
    restrictions lapse may be extended. The Executive also has the right under
    the federal income tax laws to file a Section 83(b) election as regards the
    Restricted Stock during the first thirty days after the Effective Date. The
    Executive should consult with his tax advisor as to the advisability of
    filing such an election.

         (f) SERP Participation. The Executive shall also be eligible to
    participate in the Company's Executive Retirement Plan (the "SERP") starting
    on the Effective Date with

                                       3
<PAGE>

    the following modification: the reference under "Early Retirement Date" in
    Section 1.8 to "at least ten Years of Service" shall be "at least five Years
    of Service." Any dispute as to the computation of Executive's Retirement
    Benefit under the SERP shall be decided by the Company's outside actuarial
    firm. Such decision shall be conclusive and binding on both Executive and
    the Company.

         (g) Reservation of Rights. Notwithstanding anything contained herein,
    the Company will have the right to amend or discontinue the Bonus Plan
    and/or Incentive Plan, to substitute another plan for one or both of these
    Plans or to change the percentages for different performance levels. Such
    amendment, discontinuance, substitution or change will not give rise to any
    claim by the Executive against the Company unless the Executive is
    discriminated against (when compared with the other senior officers of the
    Company) in connection with such amendment, discontinuance, substitution or
    change.

    5. Benefits.

         (a) In General. Subject to the application of any applicable
    anti-discrimination rules, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in
    all employee benefit plans, programs, practices or arrangements of the
    Company in which other senior executives of the Company are eligible to
    participate from time to time, including, without limitation, any qualified
    or non-qualified pension, profit sharing and savings plans including the
    Senior Officers Deferred Compensation Plan, any death benefit and disability
    benefit plans, and any medical, dental, health and welfare plans. In
    addition, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company's
    Executive Retirement Plan in accordance with its terms.

         (b) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Term, the Executive shall be
    entitled to fringe benefits applicable to other senior executives of the
    Company. In addition to the foregoing, the Company will allow the Executive
    to use one of its corporate golf memberships at Oneida Golf & Country Club
    while the Executive is employed by the Company. The Company will reimburse
    the Executive for the annual dues for the golf membership, but all other
    club expenses, except to the extent they are reimbursable as business
    expenses, will be the Executive's responsibility.

         (c) Vacation. The Executive will be entitled to five weeks of vacation
    per year, except that if the Executive is not employed by the Company for
    the entire calendar year, the amount of vacation to which he is entitled
    will be prorated based on the number of days in the calendar year he is
    employed by the Company. To the extent the full amount of vacation time is
    not taken, the Executive may only carry over vacation time to a subsequent
    year to the extent provided by the Company's policies, procedures and/or
    practices applicable to senior executives then in effect.

    6. Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in the course of performing
his duties for the Company in accordance with the Company's reimbursement
policies as in effect from time to time for other senior executives of the
Company. the Executive shall keep accurate records and receipts of

                                       4
<PAGE>

such expenditures and shall submit such accounts and proof thereof as may from
time to time be required in accordance with such expense account or
reimbursement policies that the Company may establish for its senior executives
generally. In addition the Executive will be entitled to reimbursement for
moving expenses to Green Bay, Wisconsin and reasonable temporary living expenses
in Green Bay, Wisconsin in accordance with the Company policy applicable to
senior executives.

    7. Termination of Employment. During the Employment Term, the Executive's
employment hereunder may be terminated under any of the following circumstances:

         (a) Death or Disability. The Executive's employment hereunder shall
    terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment
    Term. If the Company determines in good faith that a Disability (as defined
    below) of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Term, the Company
    may give the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 7(d) of
    this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment
    hereunder. In such event, the Executive 's employment with the Company shall
    terminate effective on the thirtieth (30th) day after receipt of such notice
    by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within
    thirty (30) days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned
    to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this
    Agreement, "Disability" means a mental or physical condition which, in the
    opinion of the Board of Directors, renders the Executive unable or
    incompetent to carry out the material job responsibilities which the
    Executive held or the material duties to which the Executive was assigned at
    the time the disability was incurred, which has existed for at least three
    months and which, in the opinion of a physician mutually agreed upon by the
    Company and the Executive, or his representative if the Executive his unable
    to agree (provided that neither party shall unreasonably withhold such
    agreement), is expected to be permanent or to last for an indefinite
    duration or a duration in excess of six months.

         (b) Termination by Company. The Company may terminate the Executive's
    employment for Cause or without Cause in accordance with the provisions of
    this Section 7. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means:

                           (i) an act or acts of personal dishonesty taken by
                  the Executive and intended to result in substantial personal
                  enrichment of the Executive or his family at the expense of
                  the Company,

                           (ii) repeated violations by the Executive of the
                  Executive's obligations under Section l(b) of this Agreement
                  which are demonstrably willful and deliberate on the
                  Executive's part and which are not remedied in all material
                  respects within 30 days after the Executive's receipt of
                  written notice from the Company that specifically describes
                  such violations,

                           (iii)  the conviction of the Executive of a felony;

                                       5
<PAGE>

                           (iv) conduct by the Executive which evinces a want of
                  integrity or an intentional breach of trust and which directly
                  causes (or the Board of Directors determines is reasonably
                  likely to cause) material injury to the Company; or

                           (v) a violation of Section 9 or 10 of this Agreement.

         (c) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate his
    employment with the Company for Good Reason upon 60 days advance written
    notice to the Company in accordance with Section 7(d) of this Agreement. For
    purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means (i) a breach of any of the
    material terms or conditions of this Agreement by the Company, not caused by
    the Executive, which breach has not been cured by the Company within 30 days
    after written notice thereof to the Company from the Executive; (ii) a
    reduction in the Executive's Base Salary; (iii) a reduction in his title of
    President and Chief Executive Officer or a material reduction in the duties
    which might reasonably be associated with such title without the Executive's
    consent; or (iv) the Company giving the Executive notice that the Employment
    Term will not be renewed pursuant to Section 2 hereof.

         (d) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of the Executive's
    employment by either party shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to
    the other party. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination"
    shall mean a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination
    provision in this Agreement relied upon; (ii) if applicable, sets forth in
    reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
    termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated;
    and (iii) indicates the Termination Date. "Termination Date" shall mean in
    the case of the Executive's death, his date of death, or in all other cases
    of termination by the Company, the date specified in the Notice of
    Termination; provided, however, that the date specified in the Notice of
    Termination shall be at least thirty (30) days after the date the Notice of
    Termination is given by the Company to the Executive or by the Executive to
    the Company (other than in the case of death); and provided, further, that
    in the case of Disability, the Executive shall not have returned to the
    full-time performance of his duties during such period of at least thirty
    (30) days.

    8. Obligations Upon Termination.

         (a) Termination by the Company for Cause. If the Executive's employment
    with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause, the Company will
    pay and/or provide the Executive with the following: (i) in a lump sum
    within thirty (30) days after the Termination Date, all amounts of the
    Executive's Annual Base Salary, vacation pay (but only for unused vacation
    days during the current year (including any unused vacation days for the
    prior year that pursuant to Company policy may be carried forward to the
    current year and which have not yet been used)), Annual Bonus (for the prior
    fiscal year), and long-term incentive awards (for a completed performance
    measurement period) that have been earned but are unpaid as of the
    Termination Date (such amounts collectively, the "Accrued Obligations") and
    (ii) all benefits to which the Executive is entitled under any benefit plans
    set forth in Section 5 hereof in accordance with the terms of such plans
    through the Termination Date.

                                       6
<PAGE>

         (b) Termination by Reason of Disability or Death. If the Executive's
    employment with the Company is terminated during the Employment Term by
    reason of the Executive's Disability or death, the Company will pay and/or
    provide the Executive or the Executive's legal representative or
    Beneficiary, as the case may be, with the following:

                  (i) in a lump sum within thirty (30) days after compliance
         with subsection (d) hereof, all Accrued Obligations;

                  (ii) no later than the date on which the other senior
         executives receive their Annual Bonus payments and after compliance
         with subsection (d) hereof, a fraction of the Annual Bonus that would
         have been earned by the Executive for the fiscal year including the
         Termination Date, determined in accordance with the terms of the Bonus
         Plan; and

                  (iii) all benefits to which the Executive is entitled under
         any benefit plans set forth in Section 5 hereof in accordance with the
         terms of such plans through the Termination Date.

         (c) Termination by the Company Without Cause or by the Executive for
    Good Reason.  If the Company terminates the Executive's employment without
    Cause, or the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, the
    Company will pay and/or provide the Executive with the following:

                  (i) after compliance with subsection (d) hereof, Salary
         continuation for longer of (a) two years or (b) the remainder of the
         Employment Term, with Salary being defined as the sum of (x) the Annual
         Base Salary as in effect on the day the Notice of Termination is
         delivered and (y) the lesser of (A) the target bonus under the Bonus
         Plan or (B) the average Bonus actually paid to the Executive during the
         Employment Term, annualizing any part-year payment and treating the
         bonus amount as zero for any year in which the minimum target was not
         achieved; and

                  (ii) continuation of health and dental coverage under the
         Company's plans, subsidized by the Company to the same extent as active
         employees, as in effect on the day the Notice of Termination is
         delivered for the longer of (a) two years or (b) the remainder of the
         Employment Term; provided, however, that if the Executive becomes
         eligible to receive health or other benefits under another
         employer-provided plan, the health and dental benefits provided
         hereunder shall cease. The coverage period for purposes of the group
         health and dental continuation requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus
         Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, as amended ("COBRA"), shall commence
         on the Termination Date.

         (d) Release of Claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will
    not pay to the Executive, and the Executive will not have any right to
    receive any payments described in Sections 8(b) and (c), above, unless and
    until the Executive or his legal representative (in the case of the
    Executive's death or if the Executive is disabled such that he is unable to
    consent) executes, and there shall be effective following any statutory

                                       7
<PAGE>

    period for revocation, a release, in a form reasonably acceptable to the
    Company, that irrevocably and unconditionally releases, waives, and fully
    and forever discharges the Company and its past and current shareholders,
    directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all
    claims, liabilities, obligations, covenants, rights, demands and damages of
    any nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, anticipated or
    unanticipated, relating to or arising out of the Executive's employment with
    the Company, including without limitation claims arising under the Age
    Discrimination in Employment Act of 1977, as amended, Title VII of the Civil
    Rights Act of 1974, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended,
    the Equal Pay Act, as amended, and any other federal, state, or local law or
    regulation.

    9. Nondisclosure.

         (a) During the Employment Term and during the two-year period following
    his termination of employment with the Company, the Executive shall not make
    any Unauthorized Disclosure. For purposes of this Agreement, "Unauthorized
    Disclosure" shall mean use by the Executive or disclosure by the Executive
    without the consent of tile Board of Directors to any person, other than use
    or disclosure that is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with
    the performance by the Executive of his duties as an executive of the
    Company or as may be legally required (provided the provisions of Section
    9(c) hereof are complied with), of any confidential information obtained by
    the Executive while in the employ of the Company, including, but not limited
    to, confidential information with respect to any of the Company's customers,
    suppliers, contractors, methods of operation, services, products,
    mechanisms, databases, processes, programs and access codes (the
    "Confidential Information"); provided, however, that Confidential
    Information shall not include any information which was or becomes generally
    available to the public (i) other than as a result of a wrongful disclosure
    by the Executive, (ii) as a result of disclosure by the Executive during the
    Employment Term which he reasonably and in good faith believes is required
    by the performance of his duties under this Agreement, or (iii) any
    information compelled to be disclosed by applicable law or administrative
    regulation; provided that the Executive, to the extent not prohibited from
    doing so by applicable law or administrative regulation, shall give the
    Company written notice of the information to be so disclosed pursuant to
    clause (iii) of this sentence as far in advance of its disclosure as is
    practicable. Nothing herein shall limit the Executive's confidentiality
    obligation as regards any information which is a trade secret as defined in
    Section 134.90 of the Wisconsin Statutes, or any successor thereto.

         (b) All memoranda, notes, records, papers, financial models,
    mechanisms, programs, flow charts, work papers, source codes, computer
    codes, designs, software, data and other documents and all copies thereof
    relating to the operations or business of the Company, some of which may be
    prepared by the Executive, and all objects associated therewith (such as
    samples) in any way obtained by him in connection with the performance of
    the Executive's duties hereunder shall be the exclusive property of the
    Company. The Executive shall not, except for the Company's use, copy or
    duplicate any of the aforementioned, not remove them from the Company's
    facilities, nor use any information concerning them, in each case, except
    for the Company's benefit, either

                                       8
<PAGE>

    during his employment or thereafter. The Executive will deliver the original
    and all copies of all of the aforementioned that may be in his possession to
    the Company on termination of his employment, or at any other time on the
    request of the Board of Directors.

         (c) If the Executive is requested or becomes legally required or
    compelled (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or
    documents, subpoena, civil or criminal investigative demand, or similar
    process) or is required by a governmental body to make any disclosure that
    is prohibited or otherwise constrained by this Agreement, the Executive will
    provide the Company with prompt notice of such request so that it may seek
    an appropriate protective order or other appropriate remedy. Subject to the
    foregoing, the Executive may furnish that portion (and only that portion) of
    the Confidential Information that the Executive is legally compelled or is
    otherwise required to disclose or else stand liable for contempt or suffer
    other material censure or material penalty.

    10. Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Nondisparagement. In consideration
for the Company entering into this Agreement, during the Employment Term and
during the two-year period following termination of the Executive's employment
with the Company:

         (a) The Executive will not, directly or indirectly, contact any
    supplier or prospective supplier of the Company with whom the Executive has
    had contact on behalf of the Company during the two-year period preceding
    the date of such termination so as to cause or attempt to cause such
    supplier or prospective supplier of the Company not to do business or to
    reduce or limit such supplier's business with the Company or divert any
    business from the Company.

         (b) The Executive will not, directly or indirectly, own more than five
    percent (5%) of, or act as an officer, director, partner, principal,
    employee, agent, representative, advisor, consultant or independent
    contractor of, or in any way assist, whether or not for consideration, any
    business, incorporated or otherwise, which is engaged, directly or
    indirectly, in the retail sale of a diversified offering of apparel and
    household goods, the retail sale of a diversified offering of discount
    household goods, the retail sale of health, hygiene or prescriptive
    products, or the retail sale of grocery products and which engages in
    business within, or is located within, any state in which the Company's
    business generated more than $30 million in revenues in the fiscal year
    preceding the termination of the Executive's employment with the Company.
    The Executive acknowledges that the scope of this limitation is reasonable
    in that, among other things, providing any such services or assistance
    during such two-year period would permit the Executive to use unfairly his
    close identification with the Company and the supplier contacts the
    Executive developed while employed by the Company and would involve the use
    or disclosure of Confidential Information pertaining to the Company.

         (c) The Executive will not, directly or indirectly, induce, solicit,
    entice or procure any person who is a management or exempt employee of the
    Company, or has been such a management or exempt employee within the six
    months preceding such contact by the Executive, to terminate his or her
    employment with the Company so as to accept

                                       9
<PAGE>

    employment with any person, company, business entity, or other organization
    whatsoever.

         (d) The Executive, except as may be required by legal process, will
    refrain from making any written or oral statement, publicly or privately,
    which disparages the Company or its current or former directors or
    employees.

         (e) The Company (by and through its executive officers and directors),
    except as may be required by law or by the rules of any stock exchange on
    which the Company's securities trade, will refrain from making any written
    or oral statement, publicly or privately, which disparages the Executive.

    11. Enforcement of Covenants. The Executive recognizes that irreparable and
incalculable injury will result to the Company, its businesses or properties in
the event of his breach of any of the restrictions imposed by Sections 9 and 10,
above. In the event of any such actual, impending or threatened breach, the
Company will be entitled, in addition to any other remedies and damages, to stop
payment under Section 8 hereof and to temporary and permanent injunctive relief
(without the necessity of posting a bond or other security) restraining the
violation, or further violation, of such restrictions by the Executive and by
any other person or entity for whom the Executive may be acting or who is acting
for the Executive or in concert with the Executive.

    12. Exclusive Remedy. The payments, severance benefits and severance
protections provided to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement are to be paid
and provided in lieu of any severance payments, severance benefits and severance
protections provided in any other plan or policy of the Company, and any
payments relating to the period after employment terminates are not to be
included as compensation for purposes of any qualified or nonqualified pension,
deferred compensation or welfare benefit plan or program of the Company.

    13. Successors.

         (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior
    written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive
    otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This
    Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
    Executive's legal representatives.

         (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
    the Company and its successors.

    14. Legal Fees and Disbursements. The Company shall pay on the Executive's
behalf reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements incurred in connection with
the negotiation of this Agreement to the law firm retained by the Executive for
this purpose upon receipt of an itemized statement for such services, but not in
an amount in excess of $5,000.

    15. Miscellaneous.

         (a) Choice of Law, Captions and Amendment. This Agreement shall be
    governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
    Wisconsin,

                                       10
<PAGE>

    without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this
    Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or
    effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a
    written agreement executed by the Company and the Executive or their
    respective successors and legal representatives.

         (b) Beneficiaries. If the Executive dies prior to receiving all of the
    amounts payable to him in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
    Agreement, such amounts shall be paid to the beneficiary ("Beneficiary")
    designated by the Executive in writing to the Company during his lifetime,
    or if no such Beneficiary is designated, to the Executive's estate. Such
    payments shall be made in a lump sum to the extent so payable and, to the
    extent not payable in a lump sum, in accordance with the terms of this
    Agreement. The Executive, without the consent of any prior Beneficiary, may
    change his designation of Beneficiary or Beneficiaries at any time or from
    time to time by a submitting to the Company a new designation in writing.

         (c) Notice. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
    writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party, delivered by
    nationally-recognized overnight courier, or by certified mail, return
    receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

    If to the Executive:            His most recent home address on file with
                                    the Company

    If to the Company:              ShopKo Stores, Inc.
                                    700 Pilgrim Way
                                    P.O. Box 19070
                                    Green Bay, WI  54307-9070
                                    Attention:  Secretary

    With a copy to:                 Debra Sadow Koenig
                                    Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
                                    780 North Water Street
                                    Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202

    or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other
    in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be
    effective when actually received by the addressee.

         (d) Enforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
    of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
    other provision of this Agreement.

         (e) No Waiver. The Executive's or Company's failure to insist upon
    strict compliance with any provision hereof shall not be deemed to be a
    waiver of such provision or any other provision thereof.

         (f) Entire Understanding. This Agreement contains the entire
    understanding of the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject
    matter hereof. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any other agreements,
    if any, understandings and

                                       11
<PAGE>

    arrangements, oral or written, between the parties hereto regarding the
    subject matter of this Agreement other than the Change of Control Severance
    Agreement between the Company and the Executive entered into on the same
    date as this Agreement (the "Change of Control Agreement"). In all events,
    and notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, if a Change
    of Control (as defined in the Change of Control Agreement) occurs, this
    Agreement shall be of no further force and effect and the Change of Control
    Agreement shall govern the terms of the Executive's employment and any
    payments he is to receive upon the termination of his employment with the
    Company. In no event will the Executive be entitled to payments upon
    termination of his employment under this Agreement if he is entitled to
    payments upon termination of his employment under the Change of Control
    Agreement.

         (g) Withholding Taxes. All dollar amounts set forth herein are stated
    before reduction for any applicable federal and state income and employment
    tax withholding and all payments to be made and benefits to be provided to
    the Executive hereunder shall be reduced by any such applicable withholding
    taxes to the extent required by law.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Employment
Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

                                    SHOPKO STORES, INC.

                                    By:
                                        ----------------------------------
                                         Jack W. Eugster
                                         Chairman of the Board

                                    EXECUTIVE

                                    --------------------------------------
                                    Sam K. Duncan

                                       12Public Service Company of Colorado

 

Exhibit 4.1

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO

7.875 % First Collateral Trust Bonds, Series No. 8 due 2012

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

New York, New York

September 26, 2002

Banc of America Securities LLC

Salomon Smith Barney Inc.

    As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers

c/o Salomon Smith Barney Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Public Service Company of Colorado, a corporation organized under the laws
of the State of Colorado (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to certain
purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”) the Company’s 7.875% First Collateral
Trust Bonds, Series No. 8 due 2012 (the “Securities”), upon the terms set
forth in a purchase agreement dated as of September 18, 2002 (the “Purchase
Agreement”), relating to the initial placement of the Securities (the “Initial
Placement”). To induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase
Agreement and to satisfy a condition of your obligations thereunder, the
Company agrees with you for your benefit and the benefit of the holders from
time to time of the Securities (including the Initial Purchasers) (each a
“Holder” and, together, the “Holders”), as follows:

     1.     Definitions. Each of the capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used
in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the
following meanings:

		
	 	     “Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
	 
	 	     “Affiliate” of any specified Person shall mean any other Person that,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, control
of a Person shall mean the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or
otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
	 
	 	     “Broker-Dealer” shall mean any broker or dealer registered as such under
the Exchange Act.

 

 

		
	 	     “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are
authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
	 
	 	     “Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
	 
	 	     “Consummation Deadline” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.
	 
	 	     “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
	 
	 	     “Exchange Offer Registration Period” shall mean the 210-day period
following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any
period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
	 
	 	     “Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean a registration
statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to
the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments thereto, in each
case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
	 
	 	     “Exchanging Dealer” shall mean any Holder (which may include any Initial
Purchaser) that is a Broker-Dealer and elects to exchange any Securities that
it acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities (but not directly from the Company or any Affiliate of
the Company) for New Securities.
	 
	 	     “Filing Deadline” shall have the meaning set forth in the Section 2(a)
hereof.
	 
	 	     “Final Memorandum” shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
	 
	 	     “Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
	 
	 	     “Indenture” shall mean the Company’s Indenture, dated as of October 1,
1993 (the “Original Indenture”) to U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as
successor trustee (the “Trustee”), as heretofore supplemented including the
supplemental indenture creating the Bonds, as the same may be further amended
and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
	 
	 	     “Initial Placement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
	 
	 	     “Initial Purchaser” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
	 
	 	     “Liquidated Damages” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.

2

 

		
	 	     “Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
	 
	 	     “Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of Securities registered under a Registration Statement.
	 
	 	     “Managing Underwriters” shall mean the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering
of the Securities offered pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
	 
	 	     “New Securities” shall mean debt securities of the Company identical in
all material respects to the Securities (except that the interest rate step-up
provisions and the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as
appropriate) and to be issued under the Indenture.
	 
	 	     “Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities covered by such
Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.
	 
	 	     “Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
	 
	 	     “Registered Exchange Offer” shall mean the proposed offer of the Company
to issue and deliver to the Holders of the Securities that are not prohibited
by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in such offer, in
exchange for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of the New
Securities.
	 
	 	     “Registration Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.
	 
	 	     “Registration Statement” shall mean any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or
the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, any amendments
and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective
amendments (in each case including the Prospectus contained therein), all
exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
	 
	 	     “Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
	 
	 	     “Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 3 hereof.
	 
	 	     “Shelf Registration Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b)
hereof.
	 
	 	     “Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement
of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which covers some
or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an appropriate
form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by
the Commission, amendments and supplements

3

 

		
	 	to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in
each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and
all material incorporated by reference therein.

     2.     Registered Exchange Offer.

		
	 	     (a) The Company shall prepare and, not later than 90 days following the
date of the original issuance of the Securities (or if such 90th day is not a
Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day, such day being a “Filing
Deadline”), shall file with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall
cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the
Act within 180 days of the date of the original issuance of the Securities (or
if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day, such
day being an “Effectiveness Deadline”). To the extent not prohibited by any
applicable law or applicable interpretation of the Staff of the Commission, the
Company shall use its best efforts to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer
within 210 days of the date of the original issuance of the Securities (or if
such 210th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day, such
day being the “Consummation Deadline”).
	 
	 	     (b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the
objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to
exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an
Affiliate of the Company, acquires the New Securities in the ordinary course of
such Holder’s business, has no arrangements or understandings with any Person
to participate in the distribution of the New Securities and is not prohibited
by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered
Exchange Offer) to trade such New Securities from and after their receipt
without any limitations or restrictions under the Act and without material
restrictions under the securities laws of a substantial proportion of the
several states of the United States.
	 
	 	     (c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

		
	 	     (i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

		
	 	     (ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20
Business Days and not more than 30 Business Days after the date
notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or, in each case, longer
if required by applicable law);

		
	 	     (iii) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Act, supplemented and
amended as required, under the Act to ensure that it is available
for sales of New Securities by Exchanging Dealers during the
Exchange Offer Registration Period;

4

 

		
	 	     (iv) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, which may be the Trustee or an Affiliate of the
Trustee;

		
	 	     (v) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business
Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer is open;

		
	 	     (vi) prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A)
stating that the Company is conducting the Registered Exchange
Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission in Exxon
Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988) and Morgan
Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991); and (B) including
a representation that the Company has not entered into any
arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the New
Securities to be received in the Registered Exchange Offer and
that, to the best of the Company’s information and belief, each
Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer is acquiring
the New Securities in the ordinary course of business and has no
arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the
distribution of the New Securities; and
	 
	 	     (vii) comply in all respects with all applicable laws.

		
	 	     (d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange
Offer, the Company shall:

		
	 	     (i) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer in accordance
with the terms of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement;

		
	 	     (ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with
Section 4(s) all Securities so accepted for exchange; and

		
	 	     (iii) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to
each Holder of Securities a principal amount of New Securities
equal to the principal amount of the Securities of such Holder so
accepted for exchange.

		
	 	     (e) Each Holder, by its purchase and acceptance of the Securities held by
it, shall be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that any Broker-Dealer and
any Holder using the Registered Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution
of the New Securities (x) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the
date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission in Morgan Stanley
and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation
(pub. avail. May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to
Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters; and (y)
must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Act in connection with any 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

5

 

		
	 	Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K under the Act if the
resales are of New Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for
Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or one of its
Affiliates. Accordingly, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange
Offer shall be required to represent to the Company that, at the time of the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer:

		
	 	     (i) any New Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in
the ordinary course of business;

		
	 	     (ii) such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the
New Securities within the meaning of the Act; and
	 
	 	     (iii) such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company.

		
	 	     (f) If any Initial Purchaser determines that it is not eligible to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the exchange of
Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the request of
such Initial Purchaser, the Company shall issue and deliver to such Initial
Purchaser or the Person purchasing New Securities registered under a Shelf
Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such Initial
Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a like principal amount of New
Securities. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the CUSIP Service
Bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for such New Securities as for New
Securities issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.

     3.     Shelf Registration.

		
	 	     (a) If (i) due to any change in law or applicable interpretations thereof
by the Commission’s staff, the Company determines upon advice of its outside
counsel that it is not permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as
contemplated by Section 2 hereof; or

		
	 	     (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not
consummated within 210 days of the date hereof;

		
	 	     (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to Securities
that are not eligible to be exchanged for New Securities in the
Registered Exchange Offer and that are held by it following
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer;

		
	 	     (iv) any Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) is not eligible
to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer; or

		
	 	     (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser that participates in the
Registered Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities pursuant to
Section 2(f) hereof, such Initial Purchaser does not receive freely
tradeable New Securities in exchange for Securities constituting
any portion of an unsold allotment (it being understood that (x)
the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus
containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of
Regulation S-K under the Act in connection with sales of New
Securities acquired in exchange for such Securities

6

 

		
	 	shall result in such New Securities being not “freely tradeable”;
and (y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a
Prospectus in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in
the Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired
as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities
shall not result in such New Securities being not “freely
tradeable”), the Company shall effect a Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with subsection (b) below.

		
	 	     (b) (i) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the Staff of the Commission, the Company shall as promptly as
practicable (but in no event more than 90 days after so required or requested
pursuant to this Section 3, such day being a “Filing Deadline”), file with the
Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts to cause to be declared
effective under the Act within 180 days after so requested or required pursuant
to this Section 3 (such day being an “Effectiveness Deadline”) a Shelf
Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Securities or the
New Securities, as applicable, by the Holders thereof from time to time in
accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and set
forth in such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Holder
(other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held
by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in
writing to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to
such Holder; and provided further, that with respect to New Securities received
by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of
an unsold allotment, the Company may, if permitted by current interpretations
by the Commission’s staff, file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement containing the information required by Item 507 or
508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under
this subsection with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed by the
provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.

		
	 	     (ii) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and
amended as required by the Act, in order to permit the Prospectus
forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two
years (or such shorter period as may hereafter be provided in Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act) from the date of the original
issuance of the Securities or such shorter period that will
terminate when all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable,
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant
to the Shelf Registration Statement (in any such case, such period
being called the “Shelf Registration Period”). The Company shall
be deemed not to have used its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it
voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of
Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such
Securities during that period, unless (A) such action is required
by applicable law, or (B) such action is taken by the Company in
good faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance
of the Company’s obligations hereunder), including the acquisition
or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company promptly
thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 4(k) hereof,
if applicable.

7

 

		
	 	     (iii) The Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
and the related Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto,
as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or
such amendment or supplement, (A) to comply in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission; and (B) not to contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.

     4.     Additional Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply.

		
	 	     (a) The Company shall:

		
	 	     (i) furnish to you, not less than five Business Days prior to the
filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement, and
each amendment thereof and each amendment or supplement, if any, to
the Prospectus included therein and shall use its best efforts to
reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission,
such comments as you reasonably propose;

		
	 	     (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the
facing page of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex
B hereto in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement in a section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer,
in Annex C hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution
section of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, and in Annex D hereto in the letter of
transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

		
	 	     (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information
required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement; and

		
	 	     (iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the
names of the Holders that propose to sell Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement as selling security holders.

		
	 	     (b) The Company shall ensure that:

		
	 	     (i) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any
Prospectus forming part thereof and any amendment or supplement
thereto complies in all material respects with the Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder; and

		
	 	     (ii) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not,
when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a

8

 

		
	 	material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading.

		
	 	     (c) The Company shall promptly give written notice to you, the Holders of
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement and any Exchanging
Dealer under any Exchange Offer Registration Statement that has provided in
writing to the Company a telephone or facsimile number and address for notices,
and, if requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, shall confirm
such advice in writing (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall
be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the
Company shall have remedied the basis for such suspension):

		
	 	     (i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has
been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

		
	 	     (ii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus included
therein or for additional information;

		
	 	     (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

		
	 	     (iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
the securities included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; and

		
	 	     (v) of the happening of any event that requires any change in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein so that,
as of such date, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus do
not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading.

		
	 	     (d) The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the
qualification of the securities therein for sale in any jurisdiction at the
earliest possible time.
	 
	 	     (e) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities covered by any
Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all
periodic reports incorporated therein by reference, and, if the Holder so
requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by
reference therein).
	 
	 	     (f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to
each Holder of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary
Prospectus) included in such Shelf

9

 

		
	 	Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
Holder may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders of securities in connection with the offering and sale of the
securities covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

		
	 	     (g) The Company shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so requests,
without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all periodic reports
incorporated by reference therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer so requests in
writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference
therein).
	 
	 	     (h) The Company shall promptly deliver to each Initial Purchaser, each
Exchanging Dealer and each other Person required to deliver a Prospectus during
the Exchange Offer Registration Period, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto as any such Person may reasonably request. The
Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by any Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer and any such other
Person that may be required to deliver a Prospectus following the Registered
Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the New Securities
covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
	 
	 	     (i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of
Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall arrange,
if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities or the New Securities for
sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder shall reasonably
request and will maintain such qualification in effect so long as required;
provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any
action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those
arising out of the Initial Placement, the Registered Exchange Offer or any
offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, in any such jurisdiction
where it is not then so subject.
	 
	 	     (j) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing New
Securities or Securities to be issued or sold pursuant to any Registration
Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and
registered in such names as Holders may request.
	 
	 	     (k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by subsections (c)(ii)
through (v) above, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective
amendment to the applicable Registration Statement or an amendment or
supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to the Holders of the Securities included therein
or purchasers of 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. In such circumstances, the period of effectiveness
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement

10

 

		
	 	provided for in Section 2 and the Shelf Registration Statement provided
for in Section 3(b) shall each be extended by the number of days from and
including the date of the giving of a notice of suspension pursuant to Section
4(d) to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the
Securities and any known Exchanging Dealer shall have received such amended or
supplemented Prospectus pursuant to this Section.

		
	 	     (l) Not later than the effective date of any Registration Statement, the
Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the Securities or the New Securities,
as the case may be, registered under such Registration Statement and provide
the Trustee with printed certificates for such Securities or New Securities, in
a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
	 
	 	     (m) The Company will comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission and make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement
an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act;
provided that, in no event shall such earnings statement be delivered later
than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days if such period is a
fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal
quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement,
which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
	 
	 	     (n) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act in a timely manner.
	 
	 	     (o) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant
to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the Holder and the distribution of such Securities as the Company may
from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Registration
Statement. The Company may exclude from such Shelf Registration Statement the
Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
	 
	 	     (p) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall
enter into such customary agreements (including if requested an underwriting
agreement in customary form) and take all other appropriate actions in order to
expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Securities,
and in connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into,
cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less
favorable than those set forth in Section 6 (or such other provisions and
procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if
any, with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 6.
	 
	 	     (q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall, if
requested by (A) and Initial Purchaser in the case where such Initial Purchaser
holds Securities acquired in the Initial Placement or (B) Holders of at least
25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities:

		
	 	     (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of
Securities to be registered thereunder, any underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant

11

 

		
	 	to such Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or
other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter all
relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents
and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries;

		
	 	     (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to
supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders
or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in
connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for
similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any
information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good
faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information
shall be kept confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter,
attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in
connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such
information becomes available to the public generally or through a
third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;

		
	 	     (iii) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of
Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in
form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
underwriters in underwritten offerings and covering matters
including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase
Agreement;

		
	 	     (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof
(which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any)
addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any,
covering such matters as are customarily covered in opinions
requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may
be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;

		
	 	     (v) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of
any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or
are required to be, included in the Registration Statement),
addressed to each selling Holder of Securities registered
thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort”
letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings; and

		
	 	     (vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if
any, including those to evidence compliance with any customary
conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company.

		
	 	     The actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section
shall be

12

 

		
	 	performed at (A) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and each
post-effective amendment thereto; and (B) each closing under any underwriting
or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.

		
	 	     (r) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company
shall:

		
	 	     (i) make reasonably available for inspection by such Initial
Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by
such Initial Purchaser, all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries;

		
	 	     (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to
supply all relevant information reasonably requested by such
Initial Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent in
connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for
similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any
information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good
faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information
shall be kept confidential by such Initial Purchaser or any such
attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in
connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such
information becomes available to the public generally or through a
third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;

		
	 	     (iii) make such representations and warranties to such Initial
Purchaser, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by
issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and
covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in
the Purchase Agreement;

		
	 	     (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof
(which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be
reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser and its counsel,
addressed to such Initial Purchaser, covering such matters as are
customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings
and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such
Initial Purchaser or its counsel;

		
	 	     (v) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of
any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or
are required to be, included in the Registration Statement),
addressed to such Initial Purchaser, in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters
in connection with primary underwritten offerings, or if requested
by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel in lieu of a “cold
comfort” letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter under Statement
on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters requested by such
Initial Purchaser or its counsel; and

13

 

		
	 	     (vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel, including those
to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with conditions
customarily contained in underwriting agreements.

		
	 	     The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of
this Section shall be performed at the close of the Registered Exchange Offer
and the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.

		
	 	     (s) If a Registered Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of
the Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed
by the Company) in exchange for the New Securities, the Company shall mark, or
caused to be marked, on the Securities so exchanged that such Securities are
being canceled in exchange for the New Securities. In no event shall the
Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
	 
	 	     (t) The Company will use its best efforts (i) if the Securities have been
rated prior to the initial sale of such Securities pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement, to confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities or the New
Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement; or (ii) if
the Securities were not previously rated, to cause the Securities covered by a
Registration Statement to be rated with at least one nationally recognized
statistical rating agency, if so requested by Majority Holders with respect to
the related Registration Statement or by any Managing Underwriters.
	 
	 	     (u) In the event that any Broker-Dealer shall underwrite any Securities or
participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or
“assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Rules of Fair Practice
and the By-Laws of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.)
thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a
placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or
otherwise, assist such Broker-Dealer in complying with the requirements of such
Rules and By-Laws, including, without limitation, by:

		
	 	     (i) if such Rules or By-Laws shall so require, engaging a
“qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in such Rules) to
participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement, to
exercise usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto and,
if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration
Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a
placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
Securities;

		
	 	     (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the
extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 6
hereof; and

		
	 	     (iii) providing such information to such Broker-Dealer as may be
required in order for such Broker-Dealer to comply with the
requirements of such Rules.

		
	 	     (v) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration of the Securities or the New Securities,
as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement.

14

 

     5.     Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and, in the event
of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the Holders for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel designated by the
Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in connection therewith,
and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, will reimburse
the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements of their
counsel incurred in connection with their review of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement.

     6.     Indemnification and Contribution.

		
	 	     (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of
Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, covered by any Registration
Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus
delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer), the
directors, officers, employees and agents of each such Holder and each Person
who controls any such Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint
or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the
Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (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 Registration
Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any
preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, 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 required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to
reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability 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 furnished
to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for inclusion
therein; provided, further, that the foregoing indemnity with respect to any
untrue statement contained in or omission from any preliminary prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Holder (or any of the directors, officers,
employees and agents of such Holder or any person controlling such Holder) from
whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased
the Securities which are the subject thereof if such person did not receive a
copy of the final prospectus (or the final prospectus as then amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto) at or prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such
person in any case where such delivery is required by the Act and the untrue
statement or omission of a material fact contained in such preliminary
prospectus was corrected in the final prospectus (or the final prospectus as so
amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto), and it is finally judicially determined that such
delivery was required to be made under the Act and was not so made. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.

15

 

     The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute as provided in Section
6(d) to Losses of each and any person deemed an “underwriter”, under the Act or
the rules and regulations thereunder, of Securities or New Securities, as the
case may be, registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their directors,
officers, employees or agents and each Person who controls such underwriter on
substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Initial
Purchasers and the selling Holders provided in this Section 6(a) and shall, if
requested by any Holder, enter into an underwriting agreement reflecting such
agreement, as provided in Section 4(p) hereof.

		
	 	     (b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement
(including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery
as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company each of its directors each of
its officers who signs such Registration Statement and each Person who controls
the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the
same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each such Holder,
but only with reference to written information relating to such Holder
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder
may otherwise have.
	 
	 	     (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 or
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under
this Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not
relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the
extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in
the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses;
and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any
obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation
provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be
entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the
indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action
for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall
not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel
retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below);
provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to
appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the
indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including
local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees,
costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by
the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such
counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants
in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed
counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action;
or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ
separate

16

 

		
	 	counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, it being understood,
however, that in each case the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with
any one such 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 reasonable fees and expenses of more than one
separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for
all such indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated by the
Representatives if the indemnified parties consist of the Initial Purchasers or
their directors, officers, employees or agents. An indemnifying party will
not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending
or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties t
o such claim or action)
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release
of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action,
suit or proceeding.

		
	 	     (d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of
this Section is for any reason held to be unenforceable by an indemnified party
although applicable in accordance with its terms, then each applicable
indemnifying party shall have a several and not joint obligation to contribute
to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or
defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which such indemnified party may be
subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified
party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the Registration
Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in no case
shall any Initial Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Security or New
Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the
purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of
a New Security, applicable to the Security that was exchangeable into such New
Security, as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, nor shall any
underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting
discount or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such
underwriter under the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. If
the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable
for any reason, the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on
the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with
the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the sum of (x) the total net proceeds from the Initial
Placement (before deducting expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the
Final Memorandum and (y) the total amount of Additional Interest (as defined in
Section 8) which the Company was not required to pay as a result of registering
the securities covered by the Registration Statement which resulted in such
Losses. Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be
equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions as set forth on the cover
page of the Final Memorandum, and benefits received by any other Holders shall
be deemed to be equal to the value of receiving Securities or New Securities,
as applicable, registered under the Act. Benefits received by any underwriter
shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of
the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall
be determined by reference to, among other things,

17

 

		
	 	whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information
provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified
party, on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their relative
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
untrue statement or omission. The parties agree that it would not be just and
equitable if c
ontribution were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the
Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), 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, each
Person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder
shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each Person who
controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act,
each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement
and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as
the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of
this paragraph (d).
	 
	 	     (e) The provisions of this Section will remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or the
Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling Persons referred to in
this Section hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities
covered by a Registration Statement.

     7.     Underwritten Registrations.

		
	 	     (a) If any of the Securities or New Securities, as the case may be,
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an underwritten
offering, the Managing Underwriters shall be selected by the Majority Holders.
	 
	 	     (b) No Person may participate in any underwritten offering pursuant to any
Shelf Registration Statement, unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such
Person’s Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, on the basis
reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons
entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements; and (ii) completes and
executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.

     8.     Liquidated Damages.

		
	 	     (a) If any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i)
through (iv) below being herein called a “Registration Default”):

		
	 	     (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing
Deadline;

		
	 	     (ii) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable
Effectiveness Deadline;

18

 

		
	 	     (iii) the Registration Exchange Offer has not been consummated on
or prior to the Consummation Deadline; or

		
	 	     (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been
declared effective by the Commission but (A) such Registration
Statement thereafter ceases to be effective, without being
succeeded within 45 days by an additional Registration Statement
filed and declared effective or (B) such Registration Statement or
the related Prospectus ceases to be usable for a period of more
than 45 days in connection with resales of Securities during the
periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a
result of which the related Prospectus forming part of such
Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make
the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary
to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related
Prospectus, to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act.

then, as liquidated damages for such Registration default, subject to the
provisions of Section 10, liquidated damages (“Liquidated Damages”), in
addition to the interest set forth in the title of the Securities, will incur
from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur
to and including the first week in which all such Registration Defaults have
been cured, in an amount equal to $0.10 per week per $1,000 principal amount of
outstanding Securities. In no event shall the Liquidated Damages exceed $0.10
per week per $1,000 principal amount of outstanding Securities.

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the Company
shall not be required to pay Liquidated Damages to a Holder if such Holder
failed to comply with its obligations to make the representations set forth in
Section 2(e) or failed to provide the information required to be provided by
it, if any, pursuant to Section 4(o).

		
	 	     (b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 8(a)(iv) hereof shall be
deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with
respect to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus (which could include
description in a report filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated by
reference in such Shelf Registration Statement) and (ii) in the case of clause
(y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or
supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and/or related prospectus to
describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration
Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 45 days, Additional
Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day
such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

19

 

     9.     Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Act and the Exchange
Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file
such reports, it will, upon the written request of any Holder of Securities,
make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales
of such Holder’s Securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A under the Act. The
Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of
Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time
to enable such Holder to sell Securities without registration under the Act
within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A
(including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). Upon the written request of
any Holder of Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. The Company
will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Securities
identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to
require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange
Act.

     10.     Remedies. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure by the
Company to comply with its obligations hereunder 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, the Initial
Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company’s obligations hereunder. The Company further
agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a
remedy at law would be adequate.

     11.     No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into,
any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof.

     12.     Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the
Majority Holders (or, after the consummation of any Registered Exchange Offer
in accordance with Section 2 hereof, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of New Securities); provided that, with respect to any matter
that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser
hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial
Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or
consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the
foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof
with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders
whose Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, are being sold pursuant
to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the
rights of other Holders may be given by the Majority Holders, determined on the
basis of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, being sold rather
than registered under such Registration Statement.

20

 

     13.     Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
mail, telex, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

		
	 	     (a) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such holder to
the Company, with a copy in like manner to Salomon Smith Barney Inc.;
	 
	 	     (b) if to you, initially at the respective addresses set forth in the
Purchase Agreement; and
	 
	 	     (c) if to the Company, initially at its address set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.

     All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received.

     The Initial Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other parties may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.

     14.     Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including,
without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Company
thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and the New Securities, provided that
nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other
disposition of securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement
or the Indenture. The Company hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this
Agreement to any Holder of Securities and the New Securities, and any such
Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an
original party hereto.

     15.     Counterparts. This agreement may be in signed counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

     16.     Headings. The headings used herein are for convenience only and shall
not affect the construction hereof.

     17.     Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made
and to be performed in the State of New York.

     18.     Severability. In the event that any one of more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity,
legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of
the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected
thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties
shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

21

 

     19.     Securities Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent or approval
of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities or New
Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New Securities, as applicable,
held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of
Securities or New Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities or New
Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or
approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

[signature page follows]

22

 

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof,
whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement
among the Company and the several Initial Purchasers.

	 	 	 
	 	Very truly yours,

	 	 
	 	PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY

OF COLORADO

	 	 
	 	By:  /s/  Paul E. Pender

Name:  Paul E. Pender

Title:  Vice President & Treasurer

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and

accepted as of the date first above written.

	 	 
	BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC	 
	 	 
	By: /s/ Lily Chang

Name: Lily Chang

Title: Principal
	 
	 	 
	SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.	 
	 	 
	By: /s/ Peter Kind

Name: Peter Kind

Title: Managing Director
	 

For themselves and the other

several Initial Purchasers

named in Schedule I to the

Purchase Agreement.

 

 

ANNEX A

     Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within
the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection
with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such
Securities were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting
on the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business
210 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus available to
any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of
Distribution”.

 

 

ANNEX B

     Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account in
exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such
Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such New Securities. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

 

ANNEX C

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in
exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business 210
days after the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, available to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any
such resale. In addition, until           , 20     , all dealers effecting
transactions in the New Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.

     The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Securities
by Broker-Dealers. New Securities received by Broker-Dealers for their own
account pursuant to 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 New Securities or a combination of such
methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices
related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale
may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may
receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such
Broker-Dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Securities. Any
Broker-Dealer that resells New Securities that were received by it for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that
participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be deemed to be an
“underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any
such resale of New Securities and any commissions or concessions received by
any such Persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the
Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it
will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed
to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

     For a period commencing on Expiration Date and ending 210 days after the
Expiration Date, the Company will promptly send additional copies of this
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any
Broker-Dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The
Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer
(including the expenses of one counsel for the holder of the Securities) other
than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify
the holders of the Securities (including any Broker-Dealers) against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

 

ANNEX D

Rider A

	 	 	CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES
OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

	 	 	 	 
	Name:	 	 
	 	 	

	Address:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	

Rider B

If the undersigned is not a Broker-Dealer, the undersigned represents that it
acquired the New Securities in the ordinary course of its business, it is not
engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Securities
and it has not arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in
a distribution of the New Securities. If the undersigned is a Broker-Dealer
that will receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for
Securities, it represents that the Securities to be exchange for New Securities
were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by
delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is
an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00045-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00045-of-00352.parquet"}]]