EXHIBIT 4.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GFSI, INC.
----------------------------------------
$125,000,000
9 5/8% SERIES A SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007
----------------------------------------
-------------------
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 27, 1997
-------------------
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc.
Securities Corporation
================================================================================
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of February 27, 1997 by and among GFSI Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation and
Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. (each a "Purchaser" and, collectively, the
"Purchasers"), each of which has agreed to purchase the Company's 9 5/8% Series
A Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Series A Notes") pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement (as defined).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated February
20, 1997 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and between the Company and the
Purchasers. In order to induce the Purchasers to purchase the Series A Notes,
the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the
obligations of the Purchasers set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the
following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Business Day: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day in the City of
New York, or in the city of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, on which
banks are authorized to close.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Notes: Series B Notes that are acquired
by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Series A Notes that
such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired
directly from the Company or any of its affiliates).
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 Series B Notes
to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Registration
Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for
a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b)
hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture
of Series B Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate
principal amount of Series A Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the
Exchange Offer.
Damages Payment Date: Each Interest Payment Date.
Effectiveness Target Date: As defined in Section 5.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
1
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Act of the Series
B Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to which
the Company shall offer the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Notes
the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Notes for
Series B Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of the Transfer Restricted Notes tendered in such exchange offer by such
Holders.
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 Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers," as such
term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act, and to certain "accredited
investors," as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3), (5) and (7) of
Regulation D under the Act.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated the Closing Date, between the Company and
Fleet National Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"), pursuant to which the Notes are
to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the Notes.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes: The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, unincorporated
organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
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.
Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date, each Person who is
a Holder of Notes on the record date with respect to the Interest Payment Date
on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company relating
to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the
registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, in each case, (i) which is filed pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included therein,
all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and
all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
2
Restricted Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer which holds Broker-Dealer
Transfer Restricted Notes.
Series B Notes: The Company's 9 5/8% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due
2007 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii)
upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement, in exchange for such Series A Notes.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 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 Notes: Each Note, until the earliest to occur of (a)
the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and entitled to
be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such Note has
been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the date
on which such Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) or (d) the date on
which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in which
securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Notes (each, a
"Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Notes.
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 shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 90 days after the
Closing Date, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (ii) use their best
efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective
at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 150 days after the
Closing Date, (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 such Exchange Offer Registration Statement 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 Series B 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 registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange for
the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Notes and to permit sales of
Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Notes by Restricted Broker-Dealers as
contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company shall use its 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
3
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 shall cause the Exchange Offer
to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities
other than the Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement. The Company shall use its 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
Business Days thereafter.
(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 Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds Series A Notes that are
Transfer Restricted Notes and that were acquired for the account of such
Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, may exchange such Series A Notes (other than Transfer Restricted
Notes acquired directly from the Company) pursuant to the Exchange Offer;
however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of each Series B
Note received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus
delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such
"Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with
respect to such sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Notes by Restricted
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 Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer
except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in
policy after the date of this Agreement.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as
required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to
ensure that it is available for sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Notes
by Restricted Broker-Dealers, and to ensure that such Registration Statement
conforms 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 120 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer is Consummated.
The Company shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the latest version
of such Prospectus to such Restricted Broker-Dealers upon such Restricted
Broker-Dealers' reasonable request, and in no event later than two Business Days
after such request, at any time during such 120-day period in order to
facilitate such sales.
4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Series B Notes because
the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law (after the procedures set
forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with) or (ii) if any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Notes shall notify the Company in writing within 20 Business
Days following the Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is
prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer
or (B) such Holder may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by it in the
Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or
available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer
and holds Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or one of its
affiliates, then the Company shall (x) cause to be filed on or prior to the
4
earliest of (1) 60 days after the date on which the Company is notified by the
Commission or otherwise determines that it is not required to file the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement pursuant to clause (i) above and (2) 60 days after
the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (ii)
above, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act, (which
may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either
event, the "Shelf Registration Statement")), relating to all Transfer Restricted
Notes the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant
to Section 4(b) hereof, and (y) use their best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in
no event later than 120 days after the date on which the Company becomes
obligated to file such Shelf Registration Statement. If, after the Company has
filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement which 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 shall not be
permitted under applicable federal law, then the filing of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x)
above. Such an event shall have no effect on the requirements of clause (y)
above, or on the Effectiveness Target Date as defined in Section 5 below. The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration
Statement discussed in this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented
and amended as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and
(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of
Transfer Restricted Notes by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this
Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms 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 three years (as extended
pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration
Statement first becomes effective under the Act or such shorter period that will
terminate when all Transfer Restricted Notes covered by the 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 Notes may include
any of its Transfer Restricted Notes 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, such information
specified in item 507 of Regulation S-K under the Act for use in connection with
any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus
included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes shall be entitled to
Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder
shall have used its best efforts to provide all such information. Each Holder as
to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish
promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to
make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not
materially misleading.
5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed
with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this
Agreement, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective
by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in
this Agreement (the "Effectiveness Target Date"), (iii) the Exchange Offer has
not been Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Target Date
with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (iv) subject to the
provisions of Section 6(c)(i) below, 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
immediately (but in any event within five Business Days thereafter) by a
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure
and that is itself declared effective within such five Business Day period,
other than, in the case of clause (iv) above, for such period in which such
Registration Statement shall cease to be effective as a result of post-
5
effective amendments to incorporate annual filings which the Company is required
to file with the Commission or post-effective amendments not otherwise covered
by Section 6(c)(i) hereof, provided that the Company in good faith attempts to
cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as reasonably
practicable (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a
"Registration Default"), the Company hereby agrees to pay to each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Notes, for the first 90-day period immediately following the
occurrence of such Registration Default, liquidated damages in an amount equal
to $.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Notes constituting Transfer
Restricted Notes held by such Holder for so long as the Registration Default
continues. The amount of liquidated damages payable to each Holder shall
increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Notes held by such Holder for each subsequent 90-day period
up to a maximum of $.40 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes
constituting Transfer Restricted Notes held by such Holder; provided, however,
that (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 such Transfer Restricted Notes as a result of
such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid by the Company to the Global
Note Holder by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds
check and to Holders of Certificated Securities by wire transfer to the accounts
specified by them or by mailing checks to their registered addresses if no such
accounts have been specified on each Damages Payment Date. All obligations of
the Company set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with
respect to any Transfer Restricted Note at the time such security ceases to be a
Transfer Restricted Note shall survive until such time as all such obligations
with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.
6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange
Offer, the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of Section 6(c)
below, shall use their best efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the
sale of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Notes being sold in accordance with
the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and shall comply with
all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been published a change in
Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange
Offer, such that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there
is a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by
applicable federal law or Commission policy, the Company hereby agrees to
seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission
allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Series A
Notes. The Company hereby agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision
to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take
commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy.
In connection with the foregoing, the Company hereby agrees, however, to
take all such other actions as are 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
6
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 of such submission.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Notes shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company
(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 Series B Notes to be issued in the
Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary
course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any
Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate
in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer
(1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this
Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx 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 if the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder
in exchange for Series A Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the
Company or an affiliate thereof.
(iii) To the extent required by the Commission, prior to effectiveness
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall provide a
supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company is
registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May
13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and, if
applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B)
including a representation that the Company has not entered into any
arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Series B
Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the
Company's information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange
Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business
and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in
the distribution of the Series B 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.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c)
below and shall use its best efforts to effect such registration to permit the
sale of the Transfer Restricted Notes 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 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 Notes in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within the time
periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof.
7
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and
any related Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale
of Transfer Restricted Notes (including, without limitation, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, to the extent that the same
are required to be available to permit sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer
Restricted Notes by Restricted Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:
(i) use its reasonable 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 a material
misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale
of Transfer Restricted Notes during the period required by this Agreement,
the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
Registration Statement, (1) in the case of clause (A), correcting any such
misstatement or omission, and (2) in the case of either clause (A) or (B),
use its reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective
and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable
for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (A) the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in good faith that it is in the best interests of the Company
not to disclose the existence of or facts surrounding any proposed or
pending material corporate transaction involving the Company or its
subsidiaries and (B) the Company notifies the Holders within two Business
Days after the Board of Directors makes such determination, the Company may
allow the Shelf Registration Statement to fail to be effective and usable
as a result of such nondisclosure for up to 60 days during the three-year
period of effectiveness required by Section 4 hereof, but in no event for
any period in excess of 30 consecutive days; provided, however, that the
three-year period referred to in Section 4 hereof during which the Shelf
Registration Statement is required to be effective and usable shall be
extended by the number of days during which such registration statement was
not effective or usable pursuant to the foregoing provisions.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary
to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set
forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, or such shorter period as will terminate
when all Transfer Restricted Notes covered by such Registration Statement
have been sold; 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 and 430A, as
applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the
provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the
sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to
the Prospectus;
(iii) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly
upon becoming aware and, if requested by such Persons, 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
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
Notes for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the
8
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 Notes under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the
Company shall use its reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or
lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, use reasonable
efforts to furnish to the Purchaser, each selling Holder named in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the underwriter(s) in
connection with such 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) prior to filing, reasonably
respond to comments received from such persons, and make the Company's
representatives available for discussion of such documents and other
customary due diligence matters.
(v) subject to execution of confidentiality agreements that are
reasonably satisfactory to the Company as to the disclosure of any
non-public information obtained pursuant to this Section 6(c)(v) and upon
reasonable notice and at reasonable times, make available for inspection at
the Company's offices located in Lenexa, Kansas by the selling Holders, any
managing underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such
Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such
selling Holders or any of such underwriter(s), all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and
cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, 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;
(vi) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, if requested by
any selling Holders or the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if
any, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant
to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information
as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request
to have included therein, including, without limitation, information
relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Notes,
information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Notes being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid
therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted
Notes to be sold in such offering; 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 reasonably requested to be
included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(vii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish to each
selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale,
if any, without charge, at least one copy
9
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);
(viii) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s),
if any, 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 hereby consents to the use (in
accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if
any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer
Restricted Notes covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto;
(ix) enter into such customary agreements and make such customary
representations and warranties and take all such other customary actions in
connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of
the Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any Holder
of Transfer Restricted Notes or underwriter in connection with any sale or
resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement
is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten
Registration, the Company shall:
(A) furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its
best efforts to furnish) to each selling Holder and each underwriter,
if any, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement and
to each Restricted Broker-Dealer upon Consummation of the Exchange
Offer:
(1) a certificate, dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, signed on behalf of
the Company by (x) the President or any Vice President and (y) a
principal financial or accounting officer of the Company
confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set forth in
paragraphs (a) through (c) of Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement
and such other similar matters as the Holders and/or
underwriter(s) may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the
Company, covering matters customarily covered in opinions
requested in Underwritten Offerings and dated the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the case may be; and
(3) a customary comfort letter, dated as of the date of
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, 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, without exception;
10
(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the
underwriting agreement, if any, in connection with any sale or resale
pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement the indemnification
provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all
parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and
(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if
any, to evidence compliance with clause (A) above and with any
customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to this clause (x).
The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or
similar agreement, as and to the extent required thereunder, and if at any
time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated in
(A)(1) above cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise the
underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly and if requested by
such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;
(x) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Notes,
cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of
the Transfer Restricted Notes under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, 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 Notes
covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that
the Company shall not 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;
(xi) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes covered
by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, Series
B Notes, having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by such
Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series B
Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the
purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the case may be; in return, the Series A
Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for
cancellation;
(xii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Notes that
will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted Notes,
cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Transfer Restricted Notes to be sold and not bearing any restrictive
legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Notes in such
denominations and such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any,
may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer
Restricted Notes;
(xiii) use its reasonable efforts to cause the disposition of the
Transfer Restricted Notes covered by the Registration Statement to be
registered with or approved by such other U.S. governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or
the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Notes, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xi) above;
11
(xiv) 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 Notes, 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;
(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Notes not
later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such
Transfer Restricted Notes and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with
printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Notes that are in a form
eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvi) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the
NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any
underwriter (including any "qualified independent underwriter") that is
required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
NASD, and use its reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement
to become effective and approved by such governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holders selling Transfer
Restricted Notes to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted
Notes;
(xvii) otherwise use its reasonable 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
Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule
158 under the Act);
(xviii) 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 of Notes 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 reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee
to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and
all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to
enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and
(xix) 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 Note that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in Section
6(c)(i) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind
described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the applicable Registration
Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof, or until it 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 (the "Advice"). If so directed by
the Company, each Holder will 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 Notes that was current at
the
12
time of receipt of either such notice. In the event the Company shall give any
such 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 the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) or Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof
to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration
Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof or shall have received the
Advice.
7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's 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 (including filings made with the NASD
and counsel fees in connection therewith); (ii) all fees and expenses of
compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii)
all printing expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the
Series B Notes and printing of Prospectuses); (iv) all fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and, in accordance with Section 7(b) below, the Holders
of Transfer Restricted Notes; and (v) all fees and disbursements of independent
certified public accountants of the Company (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 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.
(b) In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement required by this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes
the distribution of which is being registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel
chosen by the Holders of a majority of the principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Notes, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Company in its sole
discretion.
8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and
(ii) each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the persons referred
to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a "con trolling person")
and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees,
representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person (any person
referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an
"Indemnified Holder"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or caused by any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) are caused by any such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon
information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company
by or on behalf of any of the Holders expressly for use therein, (ii) with
respect to the preliminary prospectus, result from the fact that the Holder sold
Transfer Restricted Notes to a person to whom there was not sent or given, at or
prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, if the
13
Company shall have previously furnished copies thereof to the Holder in
accordance with this Agreement and the prospectus, as amended or supplemented,
would have corrected such untrue statement or omission or (iii) are a result of
the use by the Indemnified Holder of any prospectus, when, upon receipt of a
notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in
Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof contemplated by the last paragraph of Section 6
hereof, the Indemnified Holder was not permitted to do so.
In case any action or proceeding shall be brought against any of the
Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the
Company, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such
controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company in writing (provided, that
the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company of its obligations
pursuant to this Agreement). Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to
employ its own counsel in any such action but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Holder or such controlling
person unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the Company, (ii) the Company shall have failed to
assume the defense and employ counsel or (iii) the named parties to any such
action (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnified Holder or
such controlling person and the Company and the Indemnified Holder or such
controlling person shall have been advised in writing 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 Company (in which case the Company shall
not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the
Indemnified Holder or such controlling person), it being understood, however,
that the Company shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding
or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings 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 such Indemnified
Holders, which firm shall be designated by the Holders and be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement
of any such action or proceeding effected without the Company's prior written
consent, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, but if settled with
the Company's written consent, and the Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless any Indemnified Holder from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of
each Indemnified Holder effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Holder is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Holder,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified
Holder from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes agrees, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Company, (ii) any person
controlling the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act) and (iii) the directors, officers, partners, employees,
representatives, and agents of the Company to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with
respect to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by such
Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action or
proceeding shall be brought against the Company or its directors or officers or
any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against
a Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, such Holder shall have the rights and
duties given the Company, and the Company or its directors or officers or such
controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to each Holder by the
preceding paragraph. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder
hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received
by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such
indemnification obligation.
14
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to
an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof (other than by
reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other hand from their sale of
Transfer Restricted Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above
is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Indemnified
Holder on the other 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
on the one hand and of the Indemnified Holder on the other shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or by the Indemnified Holder 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 and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c)
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 losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Xxxxxxx 0, xxxx of the Holders (and their related Indemnified Holders) shall be
required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by
which the dollar amount of proceeds received by any such Holder upon the sale of
Transfer Restricted Notes exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to con tribute pursuant to this
Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of
Series A Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
9. RULE 144A
The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Notes remain outstanding and during any period in which the Company
is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, to make
available, upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, to any
Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Notes in connection with any
sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Notes
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
Notes pursuant to Rule 144A.
15
10. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless
such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Transfer Restricted Notes on the
basis provided in customary underwriting arrangements entered into in connection
therewith and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers
of attorney, lock-up letters and other documents required under the terms of
such underwriting arrangements.
11. SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS
Subject to the Company's consent, for any Underwritten Offering, the
investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers for any
Underwritten Offering that will administer such offering will be selected by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted
Notes included in such offering. Such investment bankers and managers are
referred to herein as the "underwriters."
12. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights provided herein, in the Indenture, the Purchase Agreement or granted by
law, including recovery of liquidated or other damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees that
monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by
reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees
to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law
would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not, on or after the date
of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that
is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company has not 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 securities under any agreement in effect on the date
hereof.
(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company will not take any action,
or voluntarily permit any change to occur, with respect to the Notes that would
materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any
Exchange Offer.
(d) 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 the Company has obtained the
written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to
departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of
Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and
that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose
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 Notes subject to such Exchange Offer.
16
(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, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
GFSI, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: director of finance
With copies to:
The Jordan Company
0 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxx, Xxxxx & Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(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 of Transfer Restricted Notes; provided, however, that this Agreement
shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a
Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer
Restricted Notes directly from such Holder at a time when such Holder could not
transfer such Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement.
(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.
17
(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.
(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 together with the other Operative
Documents (as defined in the Purchase 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 by the Company with respect to
the Transfer Restricted Notes. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter
[NEXT PAGE IS SIGNATURE PAGE]
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
GFSI, INC.
By: /s/ Illegible
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXXXX & COMPANY, INC.
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title: