EXHIBIT 4.2
EXECUTION COPY
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 15, 1999
by and among
JUST FOR FEET, INC.,
as Issuer,
SNEAKER STADIUM INC.,
JUST FOR FEET OF TEXAS, INC.,
JUST FOR FEET OF NEVADA, INC.,
JUST FOR FEET SPECIALTY STORES, INC.,
SNKR HOLDING CORP., and
ATHLETIC ATTIC MARKETING, INC.,
as Guarantors
and
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co.
BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated
The Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxxxxx Company, LLC
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
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entered into as of April 15, 1999, by and among Just for Feet, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), Sneaker Stadium, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Just
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For Feet of Texas, Inc., an Alabama corporation, Just for Feet of Nevada, Inc.,
a Nevada corporation, Just For Feet Specialty Stores, Inc., a Michigan
corporation, SNKR Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation, and Athletic Attic
Marketing, Inc., a Florida corporation (each a "Guarantor" and, collectively,
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the "Guarantors") and NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx &
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Co., BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated, The Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxxxxx Company, LLC, (each, an
"Initial Purchaser" and, collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), each of whom
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has agreed to purchase the Company's 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due May 1,
2009 (the "Notes") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
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This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated April
12, 1999 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Guarantors
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and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to
purchase the 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 Purchasers set forth in Section 2 of
the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meaning assigned to them under the Indenture, dated as of
April 15, 1999, entered into by and among the Company, the Guarantors and The
Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to the Notes and the Exchange Notes (the
"Indenture").
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The parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following
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capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
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Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange
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Act.
Certificated Securities: Definitive Notes, as defined in the
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Indenture.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
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Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
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purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective
and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period
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required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to
the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate
principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered by Holders
thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Consummation Deadline: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
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Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
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Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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Exchange Notes: The Company's 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due May
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1, 2009 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or
(ii) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a
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principal amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount
of Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with such exchange and
issuance.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
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relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
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propose to sell the Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers," as such
term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act and pursuant to Regulation S under
the Act.
Filing Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
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Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
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Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at
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the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Prospectus.
Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
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Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
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Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company and
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the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an
Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that
is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii)
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including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements
thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material
incorporated by reference therein.
Regulation S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
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Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
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Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
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Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
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TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in effect on the date of the
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Indenture.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each (A) Note, until the earliest to
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occur of (i) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer for
an Exchange Note which is entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder
thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act,
(ii) the date on which such Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf
Registration Statement (and the purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange
Notes), or (iii) the date on which such Note is distributed to the public
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under
the Act (or similar provisions then in effect) and each (B) Exchange Note held
by a Broker Dealer until the date on which such Exchange Note is disposed of by
a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including the delivery of the Prospectus
contained therein).
Section 2. Holders. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer
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Restricted Securities (each, a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer
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Restricted Securities.
Section 3. Registered Exchange Offer. (a) Unless the Exchange Offer
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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 60 days after the Closing Date (such 60th day being the "Filing
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Deadline"), (ii) use its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration
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Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time, but in no event
later than 150 days after the Closing Date (such 150th day being the
"Effectiveness Deadline"), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all
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pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be
necessary in order to cause it to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a
post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant
to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Notes to be
made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence and Consummate the Exchange
Offer. The Exchange
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Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the
Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the Notes that are Transfer
Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Exchange Notes by any Broker-Dealer
that tendered into the Exchange Offer Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for
its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading
activities (other than Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best
efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective
continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less
than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities
laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall
such period be less than 20 Business Days. The Company and the Guarantors shall
cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state
securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included
in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors
shall use their respective best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be
Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 30
business days thereafter (such 30/th/ day being the "Consummation Deadline").
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(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 Notes acquired directly from
the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Such "Plan of
Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with respect to
such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to
permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not
name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the
Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the
date of this Agreement. See the Shearman & Sterling no-action letter (available
July 2, 1993).
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 Exchange
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and the
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 through the Consummation Deadline and thereafter as
provided in the remainder of this paragraph. To the extent necessary to ensure
that the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is
available for sales of Exchange Notes by any Broker-Dealer that acquired
Exchange Notes as a result of market-making or similar activities such that the
Broker-Dealer would be required to deliver a prospectus under the Act upon a
subsequent sale or other disposition of the Exchange Notes, then the Company and
the
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Guarantors agree to use their respective best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and
current as required by and subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) and (c)
hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and
the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to
time, for a period of one-hundred-eighty (180) days (as extended pursuant to
Section 6(c)(i)) 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 if any such Broker-Dealer desiring
such action shall notify the Company in writing that such Broker-Dealer acquired
Exchange Notes as a result of market-making or other similar activities such
that the Broker-Dealer would be required to deliver a prospectus under the Act
upon a subsequent sale or other disposition of the Exchange Notes. The Company
and the Guarantors shall provide copies of the latest version of such Prospectus
to such Broker-Dealers, in such number as such Broker-Dealers may reasonably
request promptly upon such request, and in no event later than one Business Day
after the date of such request, at any time during such period.
Section 4. Shelf Registration. (a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the
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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 of Transfer Restricted Securities shall notify the Company
in writing within 20 Business Days following the Consummation Deadline that (A)
such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the
Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by
it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not
appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a
Broker-Dealer and holds 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 "Filing
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Deadline"), a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act
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(which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the
"Shelf Registration Statement")), relating to all Transfer Restricted
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Securities, and (y) shall use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 60 days after the
Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 60th day the
"Effectiveness Deadline").
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If, after the Company and the Guarantors filed an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above,
the Company and the Guarantors are 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 and
the Guarantors shall remain obligated to use best efforts to meet the Effective
Deadline set forth in clause (y).
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To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration
Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other
securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii)
hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their respective best efforts
to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a)
continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and
subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity with
the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and
regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at
least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the Closing
Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted
Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant
thereto.
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
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Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
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include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such
information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously
furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
Section 5. Liquidated Damages. If (i) any Registration Statement
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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 applicable Effectiveness
Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to the
Consummation Deadline, (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective but thereafter, pending the announcement of a material corporate
transaction, the Company issues a notice that the Shelf Registration Statement
is unusable, or such notice is required under applicable securities laws to be
issued by the Company, and, during the period specified in Section 4(a) above,
the aggregate number of days in any consecutive twelve-month period for which
all such notices are issued or required to be issued exceeds 45 days, or (v) the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is filed and declared effective but
thereafter (A) during the period through and including the Consummation
Deadline, shall cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended
purpose without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to
such Exchange Offer Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is
itself declared effective immediately or (B) during the period from the day
after the Consummation Deadline through and including the one-hundred-eightieth
day after the Consummation Deadline, pending the announcement of a material
corporate transaction, the Company issues a notice that the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is unusable for the purposes contemplated by the second
paragraph of Section 3(c) above, or such notice is required under applicable
securities laws to be issued by
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the Company, and, during the 180-day period specified in Section 3(c) above, the
aggregate number of days for which all such notices are issued or required to be
issued exceeds 45 days (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (v),
a "Registration Default"), then the Company and the Guarantors hereby jointly
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and severally agree to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to $.05 per week per
$1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder
for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues for the
first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration
Default. The amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an additional
$.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults
have been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages of $.50 per week
per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that
the Company and the Guarantors shall in no event be required to pay liquidated
damages for more than one Registration Default at any given time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf
Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-
effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration
Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or
made usable in the case of (iv) or (v)(A) or (B) above, as applicable, the
liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as
a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v)(A) or (B), as applicable,
shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which liquidated
damages are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of
the Company and the Guarantors to pay accrued liquidated damages with respect to
such securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect
to such securities shall have been satisfied in full.
In the event that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is
declared effective but thereafter the Company issues a notice as contemplated by
clause (v)(B) above, the number of days during which such Registration Statement
is unusable shall be deducted from the first annual 45-day "blackout" period
permitted under clause (iv) above for purposes of determining the number of days
during which Additional Interest would accrue in the event of a Registration
Default under clause (iv) above.
Section 6. Registration Procedures. (a) Exchange Offer Registration
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Statement. In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors
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shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use
their respective best efforts to effect such
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exchange and to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by any Broker-Dealer that
tendered in the Exchange Offer Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its
own account as a result of its market making activities or other trading
activities (other than 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 reasonably requested
by the Commission or otherwise reasonably 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 be contained in
the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company,
(B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no
arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a
distribution of the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and
(C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business.
As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer each Holder using
the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes
shall acknowledge and agree that if the resales are of Exchange Notes
obtained by such Holder in exchange for 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,
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1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as
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interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2,
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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
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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
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13, 1988), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as
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interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2,
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1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause
(i) above, (B) including a representation that neither the Company nor any
Guarantor has entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person
to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and
that, to the best of the Company's and each Guarantor's information and
belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the
Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or
understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the
Exchange Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking
or representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action
letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
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Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:
(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and use their
respective 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 (as indicated
in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b)
hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the Guarantors will prepare
and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the
registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be
available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance
with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within the time
periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof, and
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser of Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement,
Exchange Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement
and surrendered to the Company for cancellation; the Company shall register
Exchange Notes on the Shelf Registration Statement for this purpose and
issue the Exchange Notes to the purchaser(s) of securities subject to the
Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such purchaser(s) shall
designate.
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(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement
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and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the
Guarantors shall:
(i) use their respective best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial
statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as
applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain
an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) not to be
effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during
the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall
file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement
curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required, use their
respective reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared
effective as soon as practicable.
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-
effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable
period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may be; 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 each Holder promptly and, if requested by such Holder,
confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to
any applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the
Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or
supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating
thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the
suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or
the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of
the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any
statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document
incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of
any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order to make
the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the making of any
additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. If
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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 respective 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;
(v) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange or sale,
if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration
Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or
supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all
documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such
Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and
comment of such Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period
of at least four 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 four Business Days after the receipt thereof. A Holder shall be
deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration
Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed
to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to each Holder in connection with such
exchange or sale, if any, make at reasonable times the Company's and the
Guarantors' representatives available for discussion of such document and,
subject to appropriate confidentiality agreements being entered into, other
customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such
document prior to the filing thereof as such Holders may reasonably
request;
(vii) subject to appropriate confidentiality agreements being entered
into, make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by each Holder
and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, all financial and
other records, pertinent corporate documents of the Company and the
Guarantors and cause at reasonable times the
11
Company's and the Guarantors' officers, directors and employees to supply
all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, attorney or
accountant at reasonable times in connection with such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing
thereof and prior to its effectiveness;
(viii) if requested by any Holders in connection with such exchange
or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus,
pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such
information as such Holders may reasonably request to have included
therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the "Plan
of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities; and make all
required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company is notified of the
matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment;
(ix) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange or sale,
without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first
filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all
documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including
exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(x) deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company and
the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with law, rules,
regulations and orders) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto by each selling Holder in connection with the public offering and
the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such agreements
(including underwriting agreements) and make such representations and
warranties and take all such other actions in connection therewith as may
be reasonable and customary in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any
applicable Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be
reasonably requested by any Holder in connection with any sale or resale
pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement. In such connection, the
Company and the Guarantors shall:
(A) upon request of any Holder furnish (or in the case of
paragraphs (2) and (3) below, use its best efforts to cause to be
furnished) to each Holder, upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer or
upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the
case may be:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of the
Company and each Guarantor by (x) the President or any Vice
President and (y) a principal financial or accounting officer of
the Company and such
12
Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set
forth in Section 5(e) of the Purchase Agreement and such other
similar matters as such Holders may reasonably request;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the
Company and the Guarantors covering matters similar to those set
forth in paragraph (c) of Section 5 of the Purchase Agreement and
Exhibit A thereto subject to the same conditions with respect
thereto and to the delivery thereof and such other matter as such
Holder may reasonably request which are customarily covered in
company counsel opinions to underwriters in underwritten public
offerings, and in any event including a statement to the effect
that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers
and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors,
representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company and the Guarantors and have considered the matters
required to be stated therein and the statements contained
therein, although such counsel has not independently verified the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and that
such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying
as to materiality to the extent such counsel deems appropriate
upon the statements of officers and other representatives of the
Company and the Guarantors) and without independent check or
verification), no facts came to such counsel's attention that
caused such counsel to believe that the applicable Registration
Statement, at the time such Registration Statement or any post-
effective amendment thereto became effective and, in the case of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such
Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the
opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as
of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Without limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state further
that such counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not
independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of
the financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial
data and statistical data included in any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
13
(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 public offerings, and covering the matters set forth
in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 5(a) of the
Purchase Agreement subject to the same conditions with respect
thereto and to the delivery thereof; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance
with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary
conditions contained in the any agreement entered into by the Company
and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);
(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities,
cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in connection with the
registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling
Holders may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration
Statement; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor
shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it
is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the
service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and
transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction
where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to
be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register such
Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as the
selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of
such Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xiv) use their respective best efforts to cause the disposition of
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to
be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to
consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject
to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;
14
(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 certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a
form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvi) otherwise use their respective 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) 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);
(xvii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later
than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by
this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and
the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for
such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA;
and execute and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all
documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms
and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(xviii) provide promptly to each Holder, upon request, each document
filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act if not obtainable from the Commission;
and
(ix) the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed not to have used
their best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to
remain, effective during the requisite period if the Company or any of the
Guarantors voluntarily and knowingly takes any action that would, or omits
to take any action which omission would, result in any such Registration
Statement not being declared effective or in the Holders of Registrable
Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell
such Registrable Securities during that period as and to the extent
contemplated hereby, unless (i) such action is required by applicable law
or (ii) such action is taken by the Company and the Guarantors in good
faith and for valid business reasons (but not including avoidance of the
Company's or the Guarantors', as applicable, obligations hereunder),
including a material corporate transaction, so long as the Company and the
Guarantors promptly comply with the requirements of Section 6(c)(iv)
thereof, if applicable.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
-----------------------
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice
15
from the Company of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event of
the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof or, in the case of the Shelf
Registration, the Company shall issue a notice pending the announcement of a
material corporate transaction that the Shelf Registration Statement is unusable
(in each case, a "Suspension Notice"), such Holder will forthwith discontinue
-----------------
disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable
Registration Statement until (i) such Holder has received copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or
(ii) such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the
Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in
each case, the "Recommencement Date"). Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice
-------------------
hereby agrees that it will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than
permanent file copies, then in such Holder's possession which have been replaced
by the Company with more recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to the
Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies,
then in such Holder's possession of the Prospectus covering such Transfer
Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of the Suspension
Notice. The time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended
by a number of days equal to the number of days in the period from and including
the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the
Recommencement Date.
Section 7. Registration Expenses. (a) All expenses incident to the
---------------------
Company's and the Guarantors' performance of or compliance with this Agreement
will be borne, jointly and severally, by the Company and the Guarantors,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including
without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all
fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or
securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates
for the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, the Guarantors and one counsel for the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities chosen by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities; (v) all application and filing
fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a national securities
exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and
(vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of
the Company and the Guarantors (including the expenses of any special audit and
comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).
The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors' internal
expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of
any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special
experts, retained by the Company or the Guarantors.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company and the Guarantors
will reimburse the Initial Purchasers
16
and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering Notes into
the Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling Notes or Exchange Notes pursuant
to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable
fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Shearman &
Sterling unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such
Registration Statement is being prepared.
Section 8. Indemnification. (a) The Company and the Guarantors
---------------
agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its
directors, officers, any underwriter in any underwritten public offering of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and
each Person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against
(i) any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as
incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) pursuant to which Transfer Restricted Securities under the
Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission
or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; (ii) any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
statement or omission, provided that (subject to Section 8(d) below) any such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company and the
Guarantors; and (iii) any and all expenses whatsoever, as incurred (including
the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by any indemnified party, subject
to the limitations in Section 8(c) below), reasonably incurred in investigating,
preparing or defending against any litigation or any investigation or proceeding
by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged
untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid
under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above; provided, however, that this indemnity
agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to
the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company and the Guarantors by the Initial
Purchasers, such Holder or such underwriter expressly for use in a Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto); provided, further, that the Company will not be liable to
any Initial Purchaser, Holder (in its capacity as Holder), or underwriter (or
any person who controls such party within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) with respect to any such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
17
made in any preliminary Prospectus to the extent that the Company shall sustain
the burden of proving that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
resulted from the fact that such Initial Purchaser, Holder (in its capacity as
Holder) or underwriter, as the case may be, sold Transfer Restricted Securities
to a Person to whom such Initial Purchaser, Holder (in its capacity as Holder)
or underwriter, as the case may be, failed to send or give, at or prior to the
written confirmation of the sale of such Securities a copy of the final
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) if the Company has previously furnished
copies thereof (sufficiently in advance of the closing of such sale to allow for
distribution of the final Prospectus in a timely manner) to such Initial
Purchaser, Holder (in its capacity as Holder) or underwriter, as the case may
be, and the loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Initial Purchaser,
Holder (in its capacity as Holder) or underwriter, as the case may be, resulted
solely from an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission of a material fact contained in or omitted from such preliminary
Prospectus which was corrected in the final Prospectus.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors,
and their respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who
controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act) the Company, or the Guarantors to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors set forth in section (a) above,
but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in
writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration
Statement. In no event shall any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person
who controls such Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of
the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its
sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted
Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages that such Holder, its directors,
officers or any Person who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
"indemnified party"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
------------------
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying person") in writing
-------------------
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and
the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that
in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the
defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate
counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder).
Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any
such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by
the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have
18
failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such
action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and
the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by
such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which
are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party
(in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the
defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case,
the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate
but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising
out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local
counsel) for all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed promptly following receipt of invoice therefor as they are incurred.
Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the
case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company and
Guarantors, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The
indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement
of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final non-appealable judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(c) hereof, the
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of
the final terms of such proposed settlement as soon as practicable prior to such
settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have
reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the
date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent
to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding
in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and
indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release
of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject
matter of such action, suit or proceeding.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this
Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and
the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their
sale of Transfer Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause 8(d)(i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
8(d)(i)
19
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 third sentence of Section 8(c), any legal or other
fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined
by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any
action that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its
directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be
required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the
amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the
amount of any damages which such 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 contribute pursuant to this Section 8(c) are several in
proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.
Section 9. Rule 144a and Rule 144. The Company and each Guarantor
----------------------
agree with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain
outstanding and during any period in which the Company or such Guarantor (i) is
not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon
request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted
Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of
such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial
owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to
permit resales of such
20
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 and/or the
Guarantors to comply with their respective obligations under Sections 3 and 4
hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or
the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be
possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event
of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief
as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's and the Guarantors'
obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors
further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a
remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor
--------------------------
will, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with
respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the
Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor has previously entered into any agreement
granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person.
The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and
are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's and
the Guarantors' securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
----------------------
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered
pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to
such Exchange Offer.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
-----------------------
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may
deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights
of Holders hereunder.
21
(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), telecopier, or air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(1) 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
(2) if to the Company or the Guarantors:
Just for Feet, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLP
Promenade Two, Suite 3100
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxx, 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; 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
22
Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be
entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
-------------
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.
(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.
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
JUST FOR FEET, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President
SNEAKER STADIUM, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President
JUST FOR FEET OF TEXAS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President
JUST FOR FEET OF NEVADA, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President
JUST FOR FEET SPECIALTY STORES INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President
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SNKR HOLDING CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President
ATHLETIC ATTIC MARKETING, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President
NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title:
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Managing Director
BT ALEX. XXXXX INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Principal
THE XXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX COMPANY, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Managing Director
25
