A/B EXCHANGE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Dated as of November 23, 2004 by and among Broder Bros., Co. ASHI, Inc. TSM Acquisition Co. and UBS Securities LLC
Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION COPY
A/B EXCHANGE
Dated as of November 23, 2004
by and among
Broder Bros., Co.
ASHI, Inc.
TSM Acquisition Co.
and
UBS Securities LLC
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November 23, 2004, by and among Broder Bros., Co., a Michigan corporation (the “Company”), ASHI, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and TSM Acquisition Co., a Delaware corporation (each a Guarantor, and collectively the “Guarantors”), and UBS Securities LLC (the “Initial Purchaser”), who has agreed to purchase the Company’s 11.25% Series A Senior Notes due October 15, 2010 (the “Series A Notes”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated November 18, 2004 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser 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 Initial Purchaser as set forth in Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated September 22, 2003, between the Company, the Guarantors and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Trustee, relating to the Series A Notes and the Series B 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.
Business Day: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in the City of New York, or in the city of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, are authorized or obligated by law or regulation to close.
Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.
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 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 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.
Consummation Deadline: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Act of the Series B Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company offers the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for Series B Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.
Exchange Offer Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Losses: As defined in Section 8(d) hereof.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof or other legal entity.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, 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 Series B 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) including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
Rule 144(k) Period: The period of two years (or such shorter or longer period as may hereafter be referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Act (or similar successor rule)), commencing on the Closing Date.
Series A Notes: As defined in the preamble hereto.
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Series B Notes: The Company’s 11.25% Series B Senior Notes due 2010 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the Exchange Offer.
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 Notice: 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.
Transactions: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each (A) Series A Note, until the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which such Series A Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer for a Series B 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 Series A Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes) or (iii) the date on which such Series A Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act and (B) Series B Note held by a Broker-Dealer until the date on which such Series B 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, has a beneficial interest in Transfer Restricted Securities issued in book-entry form or has the right to acquire such Transfer Restricted Securities, whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected and disregarding any legal restrictions upon the exercise of such right.
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 160 days after the Closing Date (such 160th day being the “Exchange Offer Filing Deadline”), (ii) use their commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event later than 210 days after the Closing Date (such 210th day being the “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
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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 (i) registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in exchange for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer 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) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable 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 Series B 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 Business 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 Series A 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.
Because any such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B 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 Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use their respective commercially reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective 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
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Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days 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 five Business Days after such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) if any Holder shall notify the Company prior to the 20th day following the Consummation Deadline that (A) such Holder was 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 any of its Affiliates, then the Company and the Guarantors shall:
| (x) | cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 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 (provided, however, that notwithstanding this Section 4(a)(x), the Company shall not be required to the file its Shelf Registration Statement prior to the Exchange Offer Filing Deadline), and |
| (y) | shall use their commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 120 days after the Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 120th day being the “Shelf Effectiveness Deadline”). |
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 Shelf Effectiveness Deadline.
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
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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 commercially reasonable 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 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 ten Business 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 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 Filing Deadline, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline or the Shelf Effectiveness Deadline, as applicable, (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 five Business Days by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities affected thereby, liquidated damages in an amount equal to 0.5% per annum on the outstanding principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an additional 0.5% per annum on the outstanding principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages for all Registration Defaults of 2.0% per annum on the outstanding principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of clause (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of clause (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of clause (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement
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that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of clause (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 the next scheduled Interest Payment Date (as such term is defined in the Indenture), 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. The liquidated damages set forth above shall be the exclusive monetary remedy available to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities for Registration Defaults.
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 Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree 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 furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company and the Guarantors (which may
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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. As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Series B Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Series B Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Series A 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 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.
(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 Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx 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 Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company’s and each Guarantor’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, 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 commercially reasonable 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, 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
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(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser 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 sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for cancellation; the Company shall register Series B Notes on the Shelf Registration Statement for this purpose and issue the Series B Notes to the purchaser(s) of securities subject to the Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such purchaser(s) shall designate.
(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 Securities (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Notes by Broker-Dealers), the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective commercially reasonable 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 a material misstatement of material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein (in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use their commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus or become usable for their intended purposes(s) as soon as practicable thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after Consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company may allow the Shelf Registration Statement to cease to become effective and usable 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, and the Company notifies the Holders within two Business Days after the Board of Directors makes such determination or (B) the Prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Rule 144(k) Period referred to in Section 4(a) 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) subject to Section 6(c)(i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as
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may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable; 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 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 Initial Purchaser and, with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, the underwriter(s), if any, and the selling Holders and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in writing (which notice shall not contain any material non-public information, unless such Holder agrees to keep such information confidential), (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 state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable 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;
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(v) furnish to the Initial Purchaser and, with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder named in such Shelf Registration Statement, 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 or prospectus), 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 a material misstatement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein (in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by each selling Holder, any underwriter(s) participating in any disposition pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by such selling Holders, or any such underwriter(s), 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 selling 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;
(vii) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, if requested by any selling Holders in connection with such exchange or sale of the underwriter(s), 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 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;
(viii) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish to each selling Holder in connection with such exchange or sale and each underwriter, if any, 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);
(ix) with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, deliver to each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as
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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 and each underwriter, if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(x) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such agreements (including underwriting 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 Securities pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by such 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, furnish to the Initial Purchaser, any such Holder and each underwriter, if any, 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) the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and each Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof, such matters as such underwriter 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 and the Guarantors covering matters similar to those set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement and such other matters as such Persons 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 a material misstatement 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
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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(l) of the Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the selling Persons to evidence compliance with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the any agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xi) 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 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;
(xii) 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;
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(xiii) use their commercially reasonable 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 (xi) above;
(xiv) shall issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, 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;
(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) 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;
(xvii) otherwise use their commercially reasonable 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) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement;
(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 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 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 of the Exchange Act.
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(d) Restrictions on Holders. With respect to a Shelf Registration Statement, each selling Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in Section 6(c)(iii)(C) of any fact of the kind described in Sections 6(c)(iii)(C) or 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a “Suspension Notice”), such selling Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement and will use its commercially reasonably best efforts to cause any underwriter to forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until (i) such selling Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such selling 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 selling Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in such selling 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 selling 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 and including the Recommencement Date.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any party to this Agreement (and any employee, representative, or other agent of any party to this Agreement) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. federal income tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Transactions”) and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to it relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided, however, that neither party (nor any employee, representative or other agent thereof) shall disclose any information (a) that is not relevant to an understanding of the U.S. federal income tax treatment or tax structure of the Transactions or (b) to the extent such disclosure could result in a violation of any federal or state securities laws.
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 Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors; and (v) 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.
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(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 Purchaser and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering Series A Notes into in the Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling Series A Notes or Series B 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 Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, 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 each Guarantor agrees, 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 the Act or the Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases, sales and registration of Notes), to which that Holder, officer, employee or controlling Person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or Federal or state statutory law or regulations to common law, or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or actions arise out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or (iii) any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Holder in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Notes or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon matters covered by clause (i) or (ii) above (provided that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that it is determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Holder through its gross negligence or willful misconduct), and shall reimburse each Holder and each such officer, employee or controlling Person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Holder, officer, employee or controlling Person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, or in any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder specifically for inclusion therein. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Holder or to any officer, employee or controlling Person of that Holder.
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(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and their respective directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act) the Company, or the Guarantors from an against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases, sales and registration of Notes), to which that the Company, the Guarantors, or their respective officers, employees or controlling Persons may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or federal or state statutory law or regulations to common law, or otherwise, insofar, as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or actions arise out of, or is based upon, 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) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under this Section 8 unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in material prejudice to the indemnifying party and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in this Section 8. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, such Holder shall have the right to employ separate counsel (and local counsel, to the extent necessary) to represent jointly the Holder and its directors, officers, employees and controlling Persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Holder against the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 8 if, in the reasonable judgment of the Holder, it is advisable for the Holder and those directors, officers, employees and controlling Persons to be jointly represented by separate counsel, and in that event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the Company. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties
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are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand, and the Holder on the other hand, agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company, the Guarantors and any Holder may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on one hand and by the Holder, on the other hand, from their sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities. (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.
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 written 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 resales 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 or the Guarantors to comply with their obligations under Sections 3, 4 and 6 of this Agreement may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchaser or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure
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damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchaser or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s and the Guarantor’s obligations under this Agreement. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person that would conflict with the provisions hereof. 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 the 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 Purchaser, 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, 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
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(ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
Broder Bros., Co.
000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxx.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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; 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.
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(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 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.
(Signature Pages Follow)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| BRODER BROS., CO. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| GUARANTORS: | ||
| ASHI, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Secretary and Vice President | |
| TSM ACQUISITION CO. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Secretary and Vice President | |
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| INITIAL PURCHASER: | ||
| UBS SECURITIES LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxx | |
| Title: | Executive Director—High Yield Capital Markets | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx XX | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx XX | |
| Title: | Executive Director—High Yield Capital Markets | |
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