1
EXHIBIT 4.4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF AUGUST 11, 1998
BY AND AMONG ALBECCA INC.,
THE GUARANTORS (DEFINED HEREIN)
AND
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES CORPORATION,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
AND
SUNTRUST EQUITABLE SECURITIES CORPORATION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of August 11, 1998, by and among Albecca Inc., a Georgia
corporation (the "COMPANY"), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in the
Indenture) (each a "GUARANTOR" and, collectively, the "GUARANTORS"), and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
Incorporated and SunTrust Equitable Securities Corporation (each an "INITIAL
PURCHASER" and, collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"), each of whom has
agreed to purchase the Company's 10 3/4% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due
2008 (the "SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as
defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated
August 6, 1998, (the "PURCHASE Agreement"), by and among the Company, the
Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial
Purchasers to purchase the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Company and has
agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The
execution delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the
Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning
assigned to them in the Indenture, dated as of August 11, 1998, between the
Company, the Guarantors and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee,
relating to the Senior Subordinated Notes (as defined below) and the Exchange
Notes (the "INDENTURE").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have
the following meanings:
ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
AFFILIATE: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
BROKER-DEALER: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES: Definitive Notes, as defined in the
Indenture.
CLOSING DATE: The date hereof.
COMMISSION: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSUMMATE: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously
effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than
the period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the
Company to the
3
Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal
amount as the aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes tendered
by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
CONSUMMATION DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXCHANGE EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
EXCHANGE NOTES: The Company's 10 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due
2008 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii)
as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
EXCHANGE OFFER: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a
principal amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal
amount of Senior Subordinated Notes that are tendered by such Holders in
connection with such exchange and issuance.
EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
EXEMPT RESALES: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Senior Subordinated Notes to certain "qualified
institutional buyers," as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act and
pursuant to Regulation S under the Act.
HOLDERS: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the
time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Prospectus.
RECOMMENCEMENT DATE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
REGISTRATION DEFAULT: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company and
the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an
Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that
is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii)
3
4
including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements
thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material
incorporated by reference therein.
REGULATION S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
RULE 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
SHELF EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
SHELF FILING DEADLINE: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
SUSPENSION NODE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each (A) Senior Subordinated Note,
until the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which such Senior Subordinated
Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer for a Exchange Note which is entitled
to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (ii) the date on which such Senior
Subordinated Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration
Statement (and the purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange Notes), or
(iii) the date on which such Senior Subordinated Note is distributed to the
public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act, and (B) Exchange Note held by a
Broker Dealer until the date on which such Exchange Note is disposed of by a
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including the delivery of the Prospectus
contained therein).
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "HOLDER" whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable federal law
(after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied
with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable
after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 120 days after the Closing
Date (such 120th day being the "EXCHANGE FILING DEADLINE"), (ii) use its best
efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective
at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 180 days after the
Closing Date (such 180th
4
5
day being the "EXCHANGE EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"), (iii) in connection with the
foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it to become
effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause
all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Exchange Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Exchange Notes to be
offered in exchange for the Senior Subordinated Notes that are Transfer
Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that
tendered into the Exchange Offer Senior Subordinated Notes that such
Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market making
activities or other trading activities (other than Senior Subordinated Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as contemplated by
Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts
to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective
continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less
than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities
laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event
shall such period be less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors
shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state
securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included
in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors
shall use their respective best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be
Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 30 days
thereafter (such 30th day being the "Consummation Deadline").
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that
were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Senior
Subordinated Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the
Company), may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all
other information with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the
Commission may require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such
"Plan of Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except
to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy,
rules or regulations after the date of this Agreement. See the Shearman &
Sterling no-action letter (available July 2, 1993).
(d) Because such, Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the
5
6
Act in connection with its initial sale of any Exchange Notes received by such
Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and Guarantors shall permit
the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery
requirement. To the extent necessary to ensure that the prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Exchange
Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use their
respective best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and
subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) and (c) hereof and in conformity with
the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of
one year from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as will
terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company and the Guarantors shall
provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such
Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later than one day after
such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not permitted to Consummate
the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable
law or Commission policy (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied
with the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days
following the Consummation Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law
or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer (other than due
solely to the status of such Holder as an Affiliate of the Company) or (B) such
Holder may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer
to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for
such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and owns
Senior Subordinated Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates, then the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 75 days after the earlier of (i)
the date, on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date
on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above,
(such earlier date, the "SHELF FILING DEADLINE"), a Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")),
relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities, and
(y) use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
Statement to become effective on or prior to 75 days after the Shelf Filing
Deadline (such 75th day the "SHELF EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE").
6
7
If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is
required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e.,
clause (a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above;
provided that, in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the
Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y) above.
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration
Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other
securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii)
hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts
to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a)
continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and
subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity
with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of
at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the
Closing Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such
information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information
previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Exchange Filing
Deadline or Shelf Filing Deadline, as the case may be, (ii) any such
Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or
prior to the applicable Exchange Effectiveness Deadline or Shelf Effectiveness
Deadline, as the case may be, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated
on or prior to the Consummation Deadline or (iv) any Registration Statement
required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter
cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without
being succeeded within 2 days by a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared
effective within 5 days of filing such post-effective amendment to such
7
8
Registration Statement (each such event referred to in the foregoing clauses
(i) through (iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"), then the Company and the
Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to
$.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration
Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately following the
occurrence of such Registration Default. The amount of the liquidated damages
shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period
until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of
liquidated damages of $.30 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities; provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall in no
event be required to pay liquidated damages for more than one Registration
Default at any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or,
if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2)
upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4)
upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv)
above, the liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted
Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable,
shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture,
on each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which liquidated
damages are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of
the Company and the Guarantors to pay liquidated damages with respect to
securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to
such securities shall have been satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall (x) comply with all
applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use their respective best
efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by
Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Senior Subordinated Notes
that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market
making activities or other trading activities (other than Senior Subordinated
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold
in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and
(z) comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a change
in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the
Exchange Offer, that in
8
9
the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a substantial
question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable
federal law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to seek a
no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer
for such Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company and the Guarantors
hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the
Commission staff level. In connection with the foregoing, the Company
and the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other actions as may
be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with
the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A)
participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B)
delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to
the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such
counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted
and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable)
by the Commission staff.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer,
each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without
limitation, any Holder who is a Broker Dealer) shall finish, upon the
request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange
Offer, a written representation to the Company and the Guarantor(s)
(which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is
not an Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not
intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any
person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes to be
issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes
in its ordinary course of business. As a condition to its participation
in the Exchange Offer each Holder using the Exchange Offer to
participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes shall acknowledge
and agree that, if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such
Holder in exchange for Senior Subordinated Notes acquired directly from
the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission
policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position
of the Commission enunciated in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (available
June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13,
1988), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling
dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if
applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i)
above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale
transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must be
covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling
security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable,
of Regulation S-K.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental
letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the
Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the
position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings
9
10
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc.
(available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission' s letter to
Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any
no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a
representation that neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered
into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the
Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the
best of the Company's and each Guarantors information and belief, each
Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange
Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or
understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the
Exchange Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other
undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set forth
in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if
applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall
(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and use
their respective best efforts to effect such registration to permit the
sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as
indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to
Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the
Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration
Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under
the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods
of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in
accordance with the provisions hereof, and
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser of Senior
Subordinated Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement, Exchange Notes having an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Senior
Subordinated Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement
and surrendered to the Company for cancellation; the Company shall
register Exchange Notes on the Shelf Registration Statement for this
purpose and issue the Exchange Notes to the purchaser(s) of securities
subject to the Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such
purchaser(s) shall designate.
(c) General Provision. In connection with any Registration Statement
and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this
Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would
cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained
therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state any material
10
11
fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) not
to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
during the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is
required, use their respective best efforts to cause such amendment to
be declared effective as soon as practicable thereafter.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as
may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may
be, or such shorter period as will terminate upon the earlier of the
following (A) when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold and (B) when, in the opinion of
counsel to the Company, all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities
may be resold without registration under the Act pursuant to Rule
144(k) under the Act or any successor provision thereto; cause the
Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act,
and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under
the Act in a timely mariner; and comply with the provisions of the Act
with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with
the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof
set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus;
(iii) advise each Holder promptly and, if requested by such Holder,
confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and,
with respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective,
(B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration
Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for
additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state
securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation
of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the
existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document
incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making
of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order
to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the
making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. If at any time the Commission
shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification
or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities
under
11
12
state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the Guarantors shall
use their respective best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting
of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated
by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to
the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will
not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange or
sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any
Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any
amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be
subject to the review and comment of such Holders in connection with
such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and the
Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to
which such Holders shall reasonably object within five Business Days
after the receipt thereof. A Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably
objected to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment,
Prospectus or supplement as applicable, as proposed to be filed,
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to each Holder in connection with such
exchange or sale, if any, make the Company's and the Guarantors'
representatives available for discussion of such document and other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
document prior to the filing thereof as such Holders may reasonably
request;
(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by each
Holder and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, all
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of the
Company and the Guarantors and cause the Company's and the Guarantors'
officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such Holder, attorney or accountant in connection with
such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
12
13
(viii) if requested by any Holders in connection with such exchange
or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus,
pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such
information as such Holders may reasonably request to have included
therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the
"Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities and make
all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the
matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment;
(ix) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange or
sale without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement,
as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto,
including all documents incorporated by reference therein and all
exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(x) deliver to each Holder without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company
and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with law)
of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each
selling Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such agreements
(including underwriting agreements) and make such representations and
warranties and take all such other actions in connection therewith in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any
Holder in connection with any sale or, resale pursuant to any
applicable Registration Statement. In such connection, the Company and
the Guarantors shall:
(A) upon request of any Holder, furnish (or in the
case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its best efforts to cause
to be furnished) to each Holder, upon Consummation of the
Exchange Offer or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed
on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor by (x)
the President or any Vice President and (y) a
principal financial or accounting officer of the
Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of the
date thereof, the matters set forth in Sections
6(x), 9(a) and 9(b) of the Purchase Agreement and
such other similar matters as such Holders may
reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
13
14
Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the
Company and the Guarantors covering matters similar
to those set forth in paragraph (e) of Section 9 of
the Purchase Agreement and such other matters as
such Holder may reasonably request, and in any event
including a statement to the effect that such
counsel has participated in conferences with
officers and other representatives of the Company
and the Guarantors, representatives of the
independent public accountants for the Company and
the Guarantors and have considered the matters
required to be stated therein and the statements
contained therein, although such counsel has not
independently verified the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of such statements; and that such counsel
advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying
as to materiality to the extent such counsel deems
appropriate upon the statements of officers and
other representatives of the Company and the
Guarantors) and without independent check or
verification, no facts came to such counsel's
attention that caused such counsel to believe that
the applicable Registration Statement, at the time
such Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto became effective and, in the case
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of
the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer,
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus
contained in such Registration Statement as of its
date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date
of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the
date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. Without
limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state
further that such counsel assumes no responsibility
for, and has not independently verified, the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial
statements, notes and schedules and other financial
data included in any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement or the related
Prospectus; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the
date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of
the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, from the Company's
independent accountants, in the customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in
comfort letters to underwriters in connection with
underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters
set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant
to Section 9(g) of the Purchase Agreement; and
14
15
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as
may be reasonably requested by the selling Holders to
evidence compliance with the matters covered in clause (A)
above and with any customary conditions contained in any
agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors
pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Holders may request and do any and all
other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition
in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by
the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither
the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to register or qualify
as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take
any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or
to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the
Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
subject;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer
Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive
legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such
denominations and such names as the selling Holders may request at
least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities;
(xiv) use their respective best efforts to cause the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such
Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in
clause (xii) above;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration
Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the
Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer
Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the
Depository Trust Company;
(xvi) otherwise use their respective best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make
generally available to its security holders with regard to any
applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a
consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158
(which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning
after the effective date of the
15
16
Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of
Rule 158 under the Act);
(xvii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement
required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with
the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as
may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance
with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its best efforts to
cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to
effect such changes and all other f filed with the Commission to enable
such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xviii) provide promptly to each Holder, upon request, each
document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any
fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration
Statement until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder
is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be
resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that
are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the
"RECOMMENCEMENT DATE"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees
that it will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file
copies, then in such Holder's possession which have been replaced by the
Company with more recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to the Company
(at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then
in such Holder's possession of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted
Securities that was current at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice.
The time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set
forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by a number of
days equal to the number of days in the period from and including the date of
delivery of the Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the Recommencement
Date.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's and the Guarantors'
performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including
without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all
fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or
securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing
certificates for the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and
printing of Prospectuses
16
17
whether for exchanges, sales or otherwise), messenger and delivery services and
telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the
Guarantors and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all
application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a
national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the
requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent
certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (including the
expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to
such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors' internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of
any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special
experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement). the Company and the Guarantors
will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted
Securities who are tendering Senior Subordinated Notes into in the Exchange
offer and/or selling or reselling Senior Subordinated Notes or Exchange Notes
pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for
the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall
be ▇▇▇▇▇, Day, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, unless another firm shall be chosen by the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities
for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being prepared.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally, to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each
Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, (including without limitation,
any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or
defending any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto) provided by the Company to any Holder or any prospective
purchaser of Exchange Notes or registered Senior Subordinated Notes, or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission that is based upon information relating to any of the
Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the Holders.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and
not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and
their respective
17
18
directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the
Company, or the Guarantors to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from
the Company and the Guarantors set forth in section (a) above, but only with
reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In no
event shall any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such
Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which
the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the
amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the
amount of any damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any Person
who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and
the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that
in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the
defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate
counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder).
Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any
such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing
by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to
assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including
any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different
from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case
the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such
action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying
party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but
substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out
of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local
counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a
majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 8(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify
and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any
action (i) effected with its written consent or (ii) effected without its
written consent if the
18
19
settlement is entered into more than twenty business days after the
indemnifying party shall have received a request from the indemnified party for
reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees
and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the
date of such settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply
with such reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise
of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or
threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought
hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or
judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from
all liability on claims that are or could have been the subject matter of such
action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section
8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their
sale of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause 8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on
the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the
one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or such Guarantor,
on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the other hand, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments referred to above
shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second
paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim.
The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in
the immediately
19
20
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any matter,
including any action that could have given rise to such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 8, no Holder, its directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who
controls such Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder with
respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such
Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages which such
Holding has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant
to this Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not
joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A AND RULE 144
The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as
any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in
which the Company or such Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such
Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with
any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted
Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii) is subject to
Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby
in a timely manner in order to permit sales of such Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that
any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their
respective obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material
irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is
no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for
such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the
Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company's and the Guarantors' obligations under
Sections 3 and 4 hereof The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive
the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would
be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor
will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with
respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the
Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts
20
21
with the provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has
previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with
respect to its securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's and the Guarantors' securities
under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held
by the Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly
the rights of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being
tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a
majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
subject to such Exchange Offer.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may
deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the
rights of Holders hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, fax, or air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of
the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under
the Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
Albecca Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Executive Officer
21
22
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Scarborough, L.L.P.
First Union Plaza, Suite 1400
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
receipt acknowledged, if faxed; and on the next business day, if timely
delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any
assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in
violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If
any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in
any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by
taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities such Person shall be
conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the
terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale
set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and
such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
22
23
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect
of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer
Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
ALBECCA INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
[Signatures continued on following pages]
23
24
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ US LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.
ART MATERIALS, FRAMES AND
MOULDING COMPANY, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, INC.
GLASS CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, INC.
EASTERN MOULDING, INC.
EASTERN MOULDINGS, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ AUSTRALIA L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ FRANCE L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ SOUTH AFRICA L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ KOREA L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ SEOUL L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ NETHERLANDS L.L.C.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, as:
Chairman, President and CEO of:
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.
Chairman and CEO of
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ US LLC
President of:
ART MATERIALS, FRAMES AND
MOULDING COMPANY, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, INC.
GLASS CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, INC.
EASTERN MOULDING, INC.
EASTERN MOULDINGS, INC.
Manager of:
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ AUSTRALIA L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ FRANCE L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ SOUTH AFRICA L.L.C
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ KOREA L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ SEOUL L.L.C.
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ NETHERLANDS LLC
24
25
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇
Title: Principal
SUNTRUST EQUITABLE SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
25
