REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Dated as of April 15, 2003 Among DAN RIVER INC.

EX-4.3 4 dex43.htm REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Registration Rights Agreement

EXHIBIT 4.3

 


 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of April 15, 2003

 

Among

 

DAN RIVER INC.

 

and

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC. and FLEET SECURITIES, INC.,

as Initial Purchasers

 

12- 3/4% Senior Notes due 2009

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         

Page


1.

  

Definitions

  

1

2.

  

Exchange Offer

  

5

3.

  

Shelf Registration

  

9

4.

  

Additional Interest

  

10

5.

  

Registration Procedures

  

12

6.

  

Registration Expenses

  

21

7.

  

Indemnification and Contribution

  

22

8.

  

Rules 144 and 144A

  

25

9.

  

Underwritten Registrations

  

26

10.

  

Miscellaneous

  

26

 

i


 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of April 15, 2003, among DAN RIVER INC., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC. and FLEET SECURITIES, INC., as initial purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”).

 

This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Initial Purchasers, dated as of April 1, 2003 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for, among other things, the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $157,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 12- 3/4% Senior Notes due 2009 (the “Notes”). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and any subsequent holder or holders of the Notes. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers’ obligation to purchase the Notes under the Purchase Agreement.

 

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional Interest: See Section 4(a) hereof.

 

Advice: See the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof.

 

Affiliate: An “affiliate” of, or person “affiliated” with, a specified person, is a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified.

 

Agreement: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

 

Applicable Period: See Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Business Day: Any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York are authorized or required by law to be closed.

 

Company: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

 

Effectiveness Date: With respect to (i) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the 150th day after the Issue Date and (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement, the 150th day after the Filing Date with respect thereto; provided, however, that if the Effectiveness


Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, then the Effectiveness Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

 

Effectiveness Period: See Section 3(a) hereof.

 

Event Date: See Section 4 hereof.

 

Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Notes: See Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer: See Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement: See Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Filing Date: (A) If no Registration Statement has been filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the 60th day after the Issue Date; and (B) in any other case (which may be applicable notwithstanding the consummation of the Exchange Offer), the 60th day after the delivery of a Shelf Notice as required pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof; provided, however, that if the Filing Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, then the Filing Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

 

Holder: Any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable Notes.

 

Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of April 15, 2003, by and among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto from time to time and HSBC Bank USA, as Trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are being issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Information: See Section 5(l) hereof.

 

Initial Purchasers: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

 

Initial Shelf Registration: See Section 3(a) hereof.

 

Inspectors: See Section 5(l) hereof.

 

Issue Date: April 15, 2003, the date of original issuance of the Notes.

 

NASD: See Section 5(p) hereof.

 

Notes: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

 

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Participant: See Section 7(a) hereof.

 

Participating Broker-Dealer: See Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Person: An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, union, business association, firm or other legal entity.

 

Private Exchange: See Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Private Exchange Notes: See Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act and any term sheet filed pursuant to Rule 434 under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

Purchase Agreement: See the introductory paragraphs hereof.

 

Records: See Section 5(l) hereof.

 

Registrable Notes: Each Note upon its original issuance and at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable upon original issuance and at all times subsequent thereto and each Private Exchange Note upon original issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto, until, in each case, the earliest to occur of (i) a Registration Statement (other than, with respect to any Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) covering such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note has been declared effective by the SEC and such Note, Exchange Note or such Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been disposed of in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Note has been exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Note or Exchange Notes that may be resold without restriction under state and federal securities laws, (iii) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, ceases to be outstanding for purposes of the Indenture, (iv) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, is sold pursuant to Rule 144 under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Note relating to restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture, or (v) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, may be resold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) (as amended or replaced) under the Securities Act.

 

3


 

Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes filed with the SEC under the Securities Act, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Rule 144: Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A: Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 405: Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 415: Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 424: Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

 

SEC: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Shelf Notice: See Section 2(c) hereof.

 

Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b) hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Statement: Any Registration Statement relating to a Shelf Registration.

 

Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b) hereof.

 

Suspension Notice: See the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof.

 

Suspension Period: See Section 5(j) hereof.

 

TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture and the trustee (if any) under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes.

 

Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A registration in which securities of the Company is sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

Except as otherwise specifically provided, all references in this Agreement to acts, laws, statutes, rules, regulations, releases, forms, no-action letters and other regulatory

 

4


requirements (collectively, “Regulatory Requirements”) shall be deemed to refer also to any amendments thereto and all subsequent Regulatory Requirements adopted as a replacement thereto; provided that Rule 144 shall not be deemed to amend or replace Rule 144A.

 

2. Exchange Offer . (a) Unless the Exchange Offer would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall file with the SEC, no later than the Filing Date, a Registration Statement (the “Exchange Offer Registration Statement”) on an appropriate registration form with respect to a registered offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange any and all of the Registrable Notes for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company (the “Exchange Notes”), that are identical in all material respects to the Notes, except that (i) the Exchange Notes shall have been registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, shall not contain provisions for Additional Interest and shall not contain a restrictive legend thereon and (ii) interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes or, if no such interest has been paid, from the Issue Date, and which are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or a trust indenture which is identical in all material respects to the Indenture (other than such changes to the Indenture or any such identical trust indenture as are necessary to comply with the TIA) and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA. The Exchange Offer shall comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and any other applicable laws. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (x) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders (or longer if required by applicable law); and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 180th day following the Issue Date.

 

Each Holder (including, without limitation, each Participating Broker-Dealer) who participates in the Exchange Offer will be required to represent to the Company in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of transmittal) that: (i) any Exchange Notes acquired in exchange for Registrable Notes tendered are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of the Person receiving such Exchange Notes, whether or not such recipient is such Holder itself; (ii) at the time of the commencement or consummation of the Exchange Offer neither such Holder nor, to the actual knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Notes from such Holder has an arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act; (iii) neither the Holder nor, to the actual knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Notes from such Holder is an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 405) of the Company or, if it is an affiliate of the Company, it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable and will provide information to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with Section 5 hereof in order to have their Notes included in the Shelf Registration Statement and benefit from the provisions regarding Additional Interest in Section 4 hereof;

 

5


(iv) neither such Holder nor, to the actual knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Notes from such Holder is engaging in or intends to engage in a distribution of the Exchange Notes; (v) it is not acting, to the actual knowledge of such Holders, on behalf of any Person who could not make the representations contained in clauses (i) through (iv) above and (vi) if such Holder is a Participating Broker-Dealer, such Holder has acquired the Registrable Notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act (including, but not limited to, the prospectus delivery requirements thereunder). Each such Holder shall also have made such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under the applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to render the use of Form S-4 or another appropriate form under the Securities Act available. Each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes is hereby deemed to acknowledge and is hereby deemed to agree that, if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Registrable Notes acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under SEC policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position of the SEC enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the SEC’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters, and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such 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 of the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Notes that are Private Exchange Notes, Exchange Notes as to which Section 2(c)(iv) is applicable and Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Company shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Notes (other than Private Exchange Notes and Exchange Notes as to which clause 2(c)(iv) hereof applies) pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

 

No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

(b) The Company shall include within the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC. Such “Plan of Distribution”

 

6


section shall also expressly permit, to the extent permitted by applicable policies and regulations of the SEC, the use of the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including, to the extent permitted by applicable policies and regulations of the SEC, all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a statement describing the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes in compliance with the Securities Act.

 

The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus contained therein in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as is necessary to comply with applicable law in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes; provided, however, that such period shall not be required to exceed 90 days or such longer period if extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof (the “Applicable Period”).

 

If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial Purchasers hold any Notes acquired by them that have the status of an unsold allotment in the initial distribution, the Company upon the written request of the Initial Purchasers shall simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes issue and deliver to the Initial Purchasers, in exchange (the “Private Exchange”) for such Notes held by any such Holder, a like principal amount of notes (the “Private Exchange Notes”) of the Company, that are identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes except for the placement of a restrictive legend on such Private Exchange Notes. The Private Exchange Notes shall be issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes and bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes if permitted by the CUSIP Service Bureau.

 

In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

 

(1) mail, or cause to be mailed, to each Holder of record entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

 

(2) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;

 

(3) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to the close of business, New York City time, on the last Business Day on which the Exchange Offer remains open; and

 

(4) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

7


 

As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange, if any, the Company shall:

 

(1) accept for exchange all Registrable Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange, if any;

 

(2) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Notes so accepted for exchange; and

 

(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange; provided that, in the case of any Notes held in global form by a depositary, authentication and delivery to such depositary of one or more replacement Notes in global form in an equivalent principal amount thereto for the account of such Holders in accordance with the Indenture shall satisfy such authentication and delivery requirement.

 

The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to any conditions, other than (i) that the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, as the case may be, does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC; (ii) that the Registrable Notes to be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, as the case may be, are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms thereof; (iii) that no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency which might materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, and no material adverse development shall have occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to the Company; (iv) that all governmental approvals shall have been obtained, which approvals the Company deems necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange; and (v) the conditions precedent to the Company’s obligations specified in the second paragraph of Section 2(a) of this Agreement.

 

The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.

 

(c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180 days of the Issue Date, (iii) the Initial Purchasers or any other holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests in writing to the Company at any time after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, or (iv) in the case of any Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive Exchange Notes on the date of the exchange that may be sold without restriction under state and federal securi-

 

8


ties laws (other than due solely to the status of such Holder as an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act) and so notifies the Company within 20 days after such Holder first becomes aware of such restrictions, then in the case of each of clauses (i) to and including (iv) of this sentence the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holders and the Trustee written notice thereof (the “Shelf Notice”) and shall file a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

 

3. Shelf Registration.

 

(a) Shelf Registration. If at any time a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c) hereof, then the Company shall as promptly as practicable after the delivery of such Shelf Notice file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes (the “Initial Shelf Registration”). Following the delivery of such Shelf Notice, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration on or prior to the applicable Filing Date. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including, without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Company shall not permit any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below).

 

The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date that is two years from the Issue Date or such shorter period ending when all Registrable Notes covered by the Initial Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf Registration or, if applicable, a Subsequent Shelf Registration (the “Effectiveness Period”); provided, however, that no Holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration or to use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Notes unless such Holder has provided the Company, within five Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, with the information required by the first two paragraphs which follow Section 5(p), as applicable; and provided, further, however, that the Effectiveness Period in respect of the Initial Shelf Registration shall be extended to the extent required to permit dealers to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174 under the Securities Act and as otherwise provided herein and shall be subject to reduction to the extent that the applicable provisions of Rule 144(k) are amended or revised to reduce the two year holding period set forth therein.

 

(b) Withdrawal of Stop Orders; Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of the

 

9


Notes registered thereunder), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 30 days of such cessation of effectiveness amend such Shelf Registration Statement in a manner to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes covered by and not sold under the Initial Shelf Registration or an earlier Subsequent Shelf Registration (each, a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective for a period equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the aggregate number of days during which the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration was previously continuously effective. As used herein the term “Shelf Registration” means the Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registration.

 

(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall promptly supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act.

 

4. Additional Interest.

 

(a) The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the Company agrees to pay, as liquidated damages, additional interest on the Notes (“Additional Interest”) under the circumstances and to the extent set forth below (each of which shall be given independent effect):

 

(i) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Initial Shelf Registration has been filed on or prior to the Filing Date applicable thereto or (B) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or will consummate the Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration and such Shelf Registration is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date applicable thereto, then, commencing on the day after any such Filing Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of outstanding Notes at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days immediately following such applicable Filing Date, and such Additional Interest rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period; or

 

(ii) if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Initial Shelf Registration is declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the Effectiveness Date applicable thereto or (B) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or

 

10


will consummate the Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration and such Shelf Registration is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the Effectiveness Date applicable to such Shelf Registration, then, commencing on the day after such Effectiveness Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of outstanding Notes at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days immediately following the day after such Effectiveness Date, and such Additional Interest rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period; or

 

(iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 180th day after the Issue Date or (B) if applicable, a Shelf Registration has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than such time as all Notes have been disposed of thereunder) and is not declared effective again within 30 days, then Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of outstanding Notes at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days commencing on the (x) 181st day after the Issue Date, in the case of (A) above, or (y) the 31st day after such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective in the case of (B) above, and such Additional Interest rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each such subsequent 90-day period;

 

provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on outstanding Notes may not accrue under more than one of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) at any one time and at no time shall the aggregate amount of additional interest accruing exceed in the aggregate 0.50% per annum; provided, further, however, that (1) upon the filing of the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the applicable Shelf Registration as required hereunder (in the case of clause (i) above of this Section 4(a)), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the applicable Shelf Registration Statement as required hereunder (in the case of clause (ii) of this Section 4(a)), or (3) upon the exchange of the Exchange Notes for all Notes tendered (in the case of clause (iii)(A) of this Section 4(a)), or upon the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (iii)(B) of this Section 4(a)), Additional Interest on the Notes in respect of which such events relate as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue and the interest rate borne by the Registrable Notes shall be reduced to the original interest rate.

 

(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one Business Day after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid (an “Event Date”). Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section 4 will be payable in cash semiannually on each April 15 and October 15 (to the holders of record on the April 1 and October 1 immediately preceding

 

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such dates), commencing with the first such date occurring after any such Additional Interest commences to accrue. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the principal amount of the Registrable Notes, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30 day months and, in the case of a partial month, the actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which is 360.

 

5. Registration Procedures. In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall effect such registrations to permit the sale of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Company hereunder, the Company shall:

 

(a) Prepare and file with the SEC prior to the applicable Filing Date a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Section 2 or 3 hereof, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that if (1) such filing is pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period relating thereto from whom the Company has received written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to with respect to clause (1) above and only if so requested with respect to clause (2) above, and afford the Holders of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof) or each such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each case at least three Business Days prior to such filing or such other date as is reasonable under the circumstances). The Company shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object on a timely basis; provided, however, that if the Company’s failure to file a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, in the applicable time periods as set forth in Section 4 hereof, is based solely upon such an objection, no Additional Interest shall accrue.

 

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(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period, the Applicable Period or until consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any securities being sold by an Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus.

 

(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period relating thereto from whom the Company has received written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, notify the selling Holders of Registrable Notes who have provided the information to the Company as required by the paragraphs following Section 5(p) hereof (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), or each such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly, and confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective under the Securities Act, (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Registrable Notes or resales of Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof cease to be true and correct, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or, if actually known by the Company, threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the existence of any condition or any information becoming known that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in or

 

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amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the Company’s determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.

 

(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest practicable moment.

 

(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if requested during the Effectiveness Period by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold in connection with an underwritten offering or any Participating Broker-Dealer, (i) as promptly as practicable include in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), such Holders, any Participating Broker-Dealer or counsel for any of them reasonably request to be included therein, in each case relating solely to such parties, (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be included in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, and (iii) supplement or make amendments to such Registration Statement.

 

(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Notes who has provided the information to the Company as required by the paragraphs following Section 5(p) hereof (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), or each such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, their respective counsel, and the underwriters, if any, at the sole expense of the Company, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and any docu-

 

14


ments incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes covered by, or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

(g) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any delivery of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, and to cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the managing underwriter or underwriters reasonably request in writing; provided, however, that where Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or Registrable Notes are offered other than through an underwritten offering, the Company agrees to cause its counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and qualifications required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5(g), keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all other acts or things necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or the Registrable Notes covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(h) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement or if a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, (i) cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates to the Trustee representing Registrable Notes to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company, (ii) enable such Registrable Notes to be in such denominations (subject to applicable requirements contained in the Indenture) and registered in such names as the managing

 

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underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may request and (iii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Notes.

 

(i) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes 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 or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Notes, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder’s business, in which case the Company will cooperate in all respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(j) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file with the SEC, at the sole expense of the Company, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes being sold thereunder (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof) or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), any such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement a Registration Statement, any related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference, in the event that, and for one or more periods that in the aggregate shall not exceed 60 days in any 365-day period (a “Suspension Period”) if, (i) an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the Shelf Registration would, in the Company’s good faith judgment, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii)(a) the Company determines in its good faith judgment that the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or prospects of the Company or (b) the disclosure

 

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otherwise relates to a pending material business transaction that has not yet been publicly disclosed.

 

(k) In connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement as is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes, and, in such connection, (i) make such representations and warranties to, and covenants with, the underwriters with respect to the business of the Company (including any acquired business, properties or entity, if applicable), and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes in connection with securities offerings by the Company, and confirm the same in writing if and when requested; (ii) obtain the written opinions of counsel to the Company, and written updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in opinions reasonably requested in underwritten offerings in connection with securities offerings by the Company; (iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company, for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in connection with securities offerings by the Company in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Notes; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable to the sellers and underwriters, if any, than those set forth in Section 7 hereof. The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.

 

(l) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any selling Holder of such Registrable Notes being sold who has provided the information to the Company as required by the paragraphs following Section 5(p) hereof (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Notes, if any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such

 

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Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, or underwriter (any such Holders, Participating Broker-Dealers, underwriters, attorneys, accountants or agents, collectively, the “Inspectors”), upon written request, at the offices where normally kept, during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Company and subsidiaries of the Company (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities pursuant to the Securities Act, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and any of its subsidiaries to supply all information (“Information”) reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such due diligence responsibilities; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree in writing that it will keep the Records and Information confidential and that it will not disclose any of the Records or Information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and notifies the Inspectors in writing are confidential unless (i) the release of such Records or Information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction (subject to the requirements of such subpoena or other order), (ii) disclosure of such Records or Information is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for any Inspector, in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding directly involving such Inspector and arising out of, based upon, relating to, or involving this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or arising hereunder or thereunder, or (iii) the information in such Records or Information has been made generally available to the public other than by an Inspector or an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 405) thereof; provided, however, that prior notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Company of the potential disclosure of any such information by such Inspector pursuant to clause (i) of this sentence to permit the Company to obtain a protective order or take other actions to prevent the disclosure of such information (or waive the provisions of this paragraph (l)) and that such Inspector shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information (if practicable) to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of the rights and interests of the Holder or any Inspector.

 

(m) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust indenture provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the case may be, to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Notes; and in connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture to effect such changes (if any) to such indenture as may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable such indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

 

18


 

(n) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its securityholders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement, a consolidated earning statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any fiscal quarter (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company, after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods.

 

(o) Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, if so requested by the Trustee, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company, in a form customary for underwritten transactions, addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Notes participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, that the Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and the related indenture constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications. If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company), in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such Registrable Notes are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in no event shall such Registrable Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

 

(p) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”).

 

No Holder of Registrable Notes as to which any registration is being effected may include any such Registrable Notes in any Shelf Registration pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller so long as such seller fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time (but no later than five Business Days) after receiving such request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all

 

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information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such seller not materially misleading.

 

In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the information required to be provided by each selling Holder in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the Company may require such selling Holder to furnish to the Company such additional information regarding such selling Holder and such selling Holder’s intended method of distribution of Registrable Notes as may be required in order to comply with the Securities Act. Each such selling Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as reasonably practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by such selling Holder to the Company or of the occurrence of any event in either case as a result of which any prospectus relating to such Shelf Registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a material fact regarding such selling Holder or such selling Holder’s intended method of disposition of such Registrable Notes or omits to state any material fact regarding such selling Holder or such selling Holder’s intended method of disposition of such Registrable Notes required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made, and as promptly as reasonably practicable to furnish to the Company any additional information required to correct and update any previously furnished information or required so that such prospectus shall not contain, with respect to such selling Holder or the disposition of such Registrable Notes, an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

 

Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi) hereof or upon receipt of notice (a “Suspension Notice”) of a Suspension Period, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such Holder’s or Participating Broker-Dealer’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed. If requested in writing by the Company, such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, will deliver to the Company all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in the possession of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Notes current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement as a result of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof or upon receipt of a Suspension Notice, the Company shall be deemed to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Registration Statement effective during such period of suspension provided

 

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that the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and have declared effective (if an amendment) as soon as practicable an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement. In the event that the Company shall give any such notice, each of the Applicable Period and the Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have received (x) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j) hereof or (y) the Advice. Each Holder of Registrable Notes agrees that the Company has the right to notify such Holders to discontinue dispositions for one or more periods that in the aggregate shall not exceed 60 days in any 365-day period if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that there is a valid purpose for the suspension, and, in connection therewith and upon receipt of such notice, each Holder agrees not to resell Registrable Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement during such period of suspension.

 

6. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company (other than any underwriting discounts or commissions) shall be borne by the Company, whether or not the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any Shelf Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective or the Exchange Offer is consummated, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in an amount not to exceed $5,000 in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the holders of Registrable Notes are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section 5(g) hereof, in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes included in any Registration Statement or in respect of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, as the case may be, (iii) reasonable messenger, telephone and delivery expenses relating to the offering, sale or delivery of Registrable Notes, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, reasonable fees and disbursements of one special counsel for all of the sellers of Registrable Notes selected by the Holder of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such Shelf Registration (exclusive of any counsel retained pursuant to Section 7 hereof), (v) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(k)(iii) hereof (including,

 

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without limitation, the expenses of any “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance), (vi) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company desires such insurance, (vii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company, (viii) the expense of any annual audit, (ix) any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange, if applicable, (x) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and distributing all Registration Statements, underwriting agreements, indentures and any other documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement and (xi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any exchange agent (including the fees and expenses of their counsel).

 

7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, and each Person, if any, who controls such Person or its affiliates within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a “Participant”) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any Participant may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

 

(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus; or

 

(ii) the omission or alleged omission to state, in any (A) Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus or any supplement thereto, a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

and will reimburse, as incurred, the Participant for any legal or other expenses incurred by the Participant in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission (i) made in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus or any supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Participant specifically for use therein or (ii) made in any Prospectus or any amendment or supplement, if applicable, or

 

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any preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, if a copy of any such Prospectus or preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented, was not delivered by or on behalf of a Participant to the person asserting any claim against such Participant and the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement contained in or omission or alleged omission such Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto was corrected in the Final Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, if applicable. The indemnity provided for in this Section 7 will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have to each Participant. The Company shall not be liable under this Section 7 for any settlement of any claim or action effected without its prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Participant shall, without the prior written consent of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Company is or could have been a party, or indemnity could have been sought hereunder by the Company, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Company.

 

(b) Each Participant, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state in any Registration Statement, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, or in the case of a Prospectus only, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information, furnished to the Company by the Participant, specifically for use therein; and subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause will reimburse, as incurred, any legal or other expenses incurred by the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. The indemnity provided for in this Section 7 will be in addition to any liability that the Participants may otherwise have to the Company, its directors, its officers and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act. The Participants shall not be liable under this Section 7 for any settlement of any claim or action effected without their consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of such Partici-

 

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pant (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which such Participant is or could have been a party, or indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Participant, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of such Participant, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Participant, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of such Participant.

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action for which such indemnified party is entitled to indemnification under this Section 7, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof in writing; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from any liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, then, in each such case, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties and such indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties; provided, however, that, in said event, the indemnifying party will not liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any necessary local counsel). After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof, unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that in connection with such action the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to necessary local counsel) in any one action or separate but substantially similar actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, reasonably satisfactory to the Participants who sold a majority in interest of the Registrable Notes and Exchange Notes sold by all such Participants in the case of paragraph (a) of this Section 7 or reasonably satisfactory to the Company in the case of paragraph (b) of this Section 7, representing the indemnified parties

 

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under such paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), as the case may be, who are parties to such action or actions) or (ii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party. All fees and expenses reimbursed pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.

 

(d) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7 is unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), each indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative fault of the parties 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 on the one hand, or the Participants on the other, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or alleged statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The parties agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (d), no Participant shall be obligated to make contributions hereunder in excess of the amount by which proceeds received by such Participant in connection with the sale of the Registrable Notes and Exchange Notes, as the case may be, exceeds the aggregate amount of any damages that such Participant has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statements or omissions or alleged omissions to state a material fact, and no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls a Participant within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Participants, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

 

8. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants and agrees that it will file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, the Company will,

 

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upon the written request of any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Notes, make available such information necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A. The Company further covenants and agrees, for so long as any Registrable Notes remain outstanding, that it will take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Notes may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Notes without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act and Rule 144A.

 

9. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable Notes included in such offering and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

10. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date hereof, and the Company shall not, after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to any of its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof; provided, however, that the parties hereto acknowledge the existence of, and the Company’s obligations under, the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 3, 1991 between the Company, the Senior Management Investors named therein and the Holders named therein. 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 other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.

 

(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written consent of (I) the Company, and (II)(A) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Registrable Notes affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to departures from the provisions hereof and (B) in circumstances that would adversely affect the Participating Broker-Dealers, the Participating Broker-Dealers holding not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however, no amendment, modification, supple-

 

26


ment, waiver or consent to departures from the provisions of Section 7 and this Section 10(b) shall be effective against any Holder of Registrable Notes unless consented to by such Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Notes whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable Notes may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement and with the consent of the Company.

 

(c) Notices. All notices and other communications (including, without limitation, any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:

 

(i) if to a Holder of the Registrable Notes or any Participating Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to the Initial Purchasers as follows:

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

31 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile No.: (646) 324-7467

Attention: Corporate Finance Department

 

with a copy to:

 

Cahill Gordon & Reindel

80 Pine Street

New York, New York 10005

Facsimile No.: (212) 269-5420

Attention: John A. Tripodoro, Esq.

 

  (ii)   if to the Initial Purchasers, at the address specified in Section 10(c)(i);

 

  (iii)   if to the Company, at the address as follows:

 

Dan River Inc.

2291 Memorial Drive

Danville, Virginia 24541

Facsimile No.: (434) 799-7699

Attention: Joseph Lanier, Jr.

 

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with a copy to:

 

King & Spalding LLP

1185 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile No.: (212) 556-2222

Attention: Mary A. Bernard, Esq.

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one Business Day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and upon written confirmation, if sent by facsimile.

 

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 and in the manner specified in such Indenture.

 

(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto, the Holders and the Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Notes in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Notes, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Notes shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Notes, 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.

 

(e) 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.

 

(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(g) Governing Law. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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(h) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

(i) Notes Held by the Company or Its Affiliates. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Company or its Affiliates shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

(j) Third-Party Beneficiaries. Holders of Registrable Notes and Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement, and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.

 

(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings, correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Holders on the one hand and the Company on the other, or between or among any agents, representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are merged herein and replaced hereby.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

DAN RIVER INC.

By:

 

/S/    DENISE LAUSSADE


   

Name: Denise Laussade

Title: Vice President, Finance

 

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The foregoing Agreement is hereby

confirmed and accepted as of the date

first above written.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC.
FLEET SECURITIES, INC.

By:

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

By:

 

/S/    GARRY HERDLER


    Name: Garry Herdler
    Title: Director

By:

 

/S/    AMELIA SILVER


    Name: Amelia Silver
    Title: Managing Director

 

S-2