Exhibit 1
Execution Copy
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GFSI HOLDINGS, INC.
THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS NAMED HEREIN
________________________________________
50,000 Exchangeable Units Consisting of
$25,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of
11 3/8% Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009
and
25,000 Shares of 11 3/8% Series D Preferred Stock due 2009
________________________________________
___________________
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 12, 1997
___________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation
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September 12, 1997
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
GFSI Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("HOLDINGS"), MCIT PLC, as
holder of the 11 3/8% Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009 (the "HOLDINGS
SUBORDINATED NOTES") of Holdings and the holders (together with MCIT PLC, the
"SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS") of all of the outstanding shares of Holdings' 11 3/8%
Cumulative Preferred Stock due 2009, par value $0.01 per share (the "HOLDINGS
PREFERRED STOCK"), propose to issue and sell 50,000 Exchangeable Units (the
"UNITS"), each consisting of $500.00 principal amount upon issue of the Holdings
Subordinated Notes and 0.50 of a share of the Holdings Preferred Stock, to
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation (the "INITIAL PURCHASER").
The Holdings Subordinated Notes will be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the
"SUBORDINATED NOTE INDENTURE"), dated September 17, 1997, between Holdings and
Fleet National Bank, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). Each Unit will, at the option
of Holdings, be exchangeable for 11 3/8% Senior Discount Notes due 2009 (the
"SERIES A NOTES") of Holdings no earlier than ten days after the issuance of the
Units. The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes (as defined) will be issued
pursuant to an indenture (the "INDENTURE") between Holdings and the Trustee,
dated September 17, 1997.
1. ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES. The Units will be offered and sold to the
Initial Purchaser pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "ACT"). Holdings has prepared
a preliminary offering memorandum, dated September 12, 1997 (the "PRELIMINARY
OFFERING MEMORANDUM"), and a final offering memorandum, dated September 12, 1997
(the "OFFERING MEMORANDUM" and, together with the Preliminary Offering
Memorandum, the "OFFERING DOCUMENTS"), relating to Holdings and the Units.
Upon original issuance thereof, and until such time as the same is no
longer required under the applicable requirements of the Act, the Units, the
Holdings Subordinated Notes, the Holdings Preferred Stock and the Series A Notes
(and all securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof)
shall bear the following legend:
"THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY
ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND
THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE
EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY
IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION
PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED
HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF HOLDINGS THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY
BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (1) (a) INSIDE THE
UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE
144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
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REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE
WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF HOLDINGS SO
REQUESTS), (2) TO HOLDINGS OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH
SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE
SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A)
ABOVE."
2. AGREEMENTS TO SELL AND PURCHASE. On the basis of the representations
and warranties contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this
Agreement, Holdings and the Selling Securityholders agree to issue and sell to
the Initial Purchaser, and the Initial Purchaser agrees to purchase from
Holdings and the Selling Securityholders, 50,000 Units at a purchase price of
$972.50 per Unit (the "PURCHASE PRICE") as set forth on Schedule I hereto.
3. TERM OF OFFERING. The Initial Purchaser has advised Holdings that the
Initial Purchaser will make offers (the "EXEMPT RESALES") of the Units purchased
by the Initial Purchaser hereunder on the terms set forth in the Offering
Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, solely to (i) persons (each, a "144A
PURCHASER") whom the Initial Purchaser reasonably believes to be "qualified
institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Act ("QIBs") and (ii)
non-U.S. persons outside the United States in reliance upon Regulation S
("REGULATION S") under the Act (such persons specified in clauses (i) and (ii)
being referred to herein as the "ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS"). The Initial Purchaser
will offer the Units to Eligible Purchasers initially at a price equal to $1,000
per Unit. Such price may be changed at any time without notice.
Holders (including subsequent transferees) of the Units or the Series A
Notes, as applicable, will have the registration rights regarding the Series A
Notes set forth in the registration rights agreement (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT"), to be dated the Closing Date (as defined), in substantially the
form of Exhibit A hereto, for so long as such Series A Notes constitute
"TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, Holdings will agree
to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION"), under
the circumstances set forth therein, (i) a registration statement under the Act
(the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT") relating to (A) Holdings' 11 3/8%
Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2009 (the "SERIES B NOTES" and, together with
the Series A Notes, the "NOTES") to be offered in exchange for the Series A
Notes (such offer to exchange being referred to as the "REGISTERED EXCHANGE
OFFER") and/or (ii) a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Act (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" and together with the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS") relating to the resale by
certain holders of the Series A Notes, and to use their best efforts to cause
such Registration Statements to be declared effective. The Holdings Preferred
Stock, the Holdings Subordinated Notes and the Units are hereinafter referred to
collectively as the Securities. This Agreement, the Subordinated Note Indenture,
the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement are hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "OPERATIVE DOCUMENTS."
4. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT. Delivery to the Initial Purchaser by Holdings
and the Selling Securityholders of, and payment by the Initial Purchaser for,
the Units shall be made at 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on September 17, 1997
(or such other date as Holdings, the Selling Securityholders and the Initial
Purchaser may agree) (the "CLOSING DATE") at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
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One or more Units in definitive form (the "GLOBAL UNIT"), registered in the
name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"),
representing all of the Units sold pursuant to Exempt Resales, shall be
delivered by Holdings and the Selling Securityholders to the Initial Purchaser,
against payment by the Initial Purchaser of the purchase price thereof by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Holdings and
the Selling Securityholders at least one business day prior to the Closing Date.
The Global Unit shall be made available to the Initial Purchaser for inspection
at the offices of DLJ not later than 9:30 a.m. on the business day immediately
preceding the Closing Date.
5. AGREEMENTS OF HOLDINGS. Holdings agrees with the Initial Purchaser:
(a) To advise the Initial Purchaser promptly and, if requested by the
Initial Purchaser, to confirm such advice in writing, (i) of receipt of any
notification with respect to the issuance by any state securities
commission of any stop order suspending the qualification or exemption from
qualification of any of the Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction designated by the Initial Purchaser pursuant to Section 5(f),
or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose by any state
securities commission or other regulatory authority, and (ii) of the
happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in
the Offering Documents (or any amendment or supplement thereto) untrue or
that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Offering
Documents (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they are
made, not misleading. Holdings shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or order suspending the qualification or
exemption from qualification of the Securities under any state securities
or Blue Sky laws, and, if at any time any state securities commission or
other regulatory authority shall issue any stop order or order suspending
the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Securities
under any state securities or Blue Sky laws, Holdings shall use its best
efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest
possible time.
(b) To furnish to the Initial Purchaser, without charge, as many
copies of the Offering Documents, and any amendments or supplements
thereto, as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably request. Holdings consents
to the use of the Offering Documents, and any amendments or supplements
thereto, by the Initial Purchaser in connection with Exempt Resales.
(c) Not to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum, whether
before or after the Closing Date, unless (i) the Initial Purchaser has been
previously advised thereof, and (ii) the Initial Purchaser has not
reasonably objected thereto (unless in the opinion of counsel to Holdings
such amendment or supplement is necessary, in the judgment of counsel to
Holdings, to make the statements made in the Offering Memorandum not
misleading); and to prepare, promptly upon the Initial Purchaser's request,
any amendment or supplement to the Offering Memorandum that the Initial
Purchaser deems necessary or advisable in connection with Exempt Resales
(except to the extent any such amendment or supplement requested would, in
the judgment of counsel to Holdings, render the statements made in the
Offering Memorandum, as proposed to be amended or supplemented,
misleading).
(d) If, after the date hereof, in the opinion of counsel for the
Initial Purchaser, any event shall occur as a result of which it becomes
necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum to comply with any
law or to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances at
the time that the Offering Memorandum are delivered to an Eligible
Purchaser which is a prospective purchaser, not misleading, to promptly (i)
prepare an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Offering Memorandum
so that the statements in the Offering Memorandum, as so amended or
supplemented, will comply with all applicable laws and will not, in the
light of the circumstances at the time it is so delivered, be misleading,
and (ii) furnish the
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Initial Purchaser with such number of copies of the Offering Memorandum, as
amended or supplemented, as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.
(e) Prior to the earlier of consummation of the Exchange Offer or the
effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement if, in the reasonable
judgment of the Initial Purchaser, the Initial Purchaser or any of its
affiliates (as such term is defined in the rules and regulations under the
Act) are required to deliver an offering memorandum in connection with
sales of, or market-making activities with respect to, the Securities or
the Notes, (A) to periodically amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum
so that the information contained in the Offering Memorandum complies with
the requirements of Rule 144A of the Act, (B) to amend or supplement the
Offering Memorandum when necessary to reflect any material changes in the
information provided therein so that the Offering Memorandum will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances existing as of the date the Offering Memorandum are so
delivered, not misleading and (C) to provide the Initial Purchaser with
copies of each such amended or supplemented Offering Memorandum, as the
Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.
Following the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the effectiveness
of a Shelf Registration Statement and for so long as the Notes are
outstanding if, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchaser, the
Initial Purchaser or any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in the
rules and regulations under the Act) are required to deliver a prospectus
in connection with sales of, or market-making activities with respect to,
the Notes, (A) to periodically amend the applicable registration statement
so that the information contained therein complies with the requirements of
Section 10(a) of the Act, (B) to amend the applicable registration
statement or supplement the related prospectus or the documents
incorporated therein when necessary to reflect any material changes in the
information provided therein so that the registration statement and the
prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances existing as of the date the
prospectus is so delivered, not misleading and (C) to provide the Initial
Purchaser with copies of each amendment or supplement filed and such other
documents as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.
The Selling Securityholders, Holdings, and GSFI, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings (the "COMPANY"), hereby
expressly acknowledge that the indemnification and contribution provisions
of Section 9 hereof are specifically applicable and relate to each offering
document, registration statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement
referred to in this Section 5(e).
(f) To (i) cooperate with the Initial Purchaser and counsel for the
Initial Purchaser in connection with the qualification of the Securities
for offer and sale by the Initial Purchaser under the state securities or
Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchaser may request,
(ii) continue such qualification in effect so long as required for Exempt
Resales of the Securities and (iii) file such consents to service of
process or other documents as may be necessary in order to effect such
qualification; provided that in no event shall Holdings be obligated to
qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified, or take any action which would subject it to general service of
process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
(g) So long as any of the Securities or the Notes are outstanding, to
file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), and, during the period of three
years following the date of this Agreement, to deliver to the Initial
Purchaser, promptly upon their becoming available, (i) copies of all
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current, regular and periodic reports filed by Holdings and the Company
with any securities exchange or with the Commission or any governmental
authority succeeding to any of the Commission's functions, and (ii) copies
of each report or other publicly available information of Holdings and the
Company mailed to the holders of the Securities or Notes, as applicable,
and such other publicly available information concerning Holdings and its
subsidiaries as the Initial Purchaser may request.
(h) To use the proceeds from the sale of the Units in the manner
specified in the Offering Documents (and any amendments or supplements
thereto) under the caption "Use of Proceeds."
(i) Not to claim voluntarily, and to resist actively any attempts to
claim, the benefit of any usury laws against the holders of the Securities
or the Notes.
(j) Except as otherwise agreed to by the parties hereto, to pay all
costs, expenses, fees and taxes incident to:
(1) the preparation, printing, filing and distribution under the
Act of the Offering Documents (including financial statements and
exhibits) and all amendments and supplements to any of them;
(2) the printing and delivery of the Operative Documents, the
Securities, the Notes, the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky
memoranda and all other agreements, memoranda, correspondence and
other documents printed and delivered in connection herewith and with
the Exempt Resales (including in each case any disbursements of
counsel to the Initial Purchaser relating to such printing and
delivery);
(3) the issuance and delivery of the Securities and the Notes;
(4) the registration or qualification of the Securities and the
Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the
several states (including in each case the fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Initial Purchaser relating to such registration or
qualification and memoranda relating thereto);
(5) furnishing such copies of the Offering Documents (including
all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments
and supplements thereto as may be requested for use in connection with
the Exempt Resales;
(6) the rating of the Securities and the Notes by rating
agencies, if any;
(7) all expenses and listing fees in connection with the
application for quotation of the Securities and the Notes in the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation
System - PORTAL ("PORTAL");
(8) all fees and expenses (including fees and expenses of
counsel) of Holdings in connection with approval of the Securities and
the Notes by DTC for "book-entry" transfer; and
(9) the performance by Holdings of its other obligations under
this Agreement.
(k) If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to any of the
provisions hereof
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(otherwise than a default by the Initial Purchaser) or if for any reason
Holdings or the Selling Securityholders shall be unable or unwilling to
perform their respective obligations hereunder, Holdings shall, except as
otherwise agreed by the parties hereto, reimburse the Initial Purchaser for
the fees and expenses to be paid or reimbursed pursuant to Section 5(j)
above, and reimburse the Initial Purchaser for all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the
Initial Purchaser) incurred by the Initial Purchaser in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(l) Prior to the Closing Date, to furnish to the Initial Purchaser,
as soon as they have been prepared by Holdings, a copy of any consolidated
financial statements of Holdings for any period subsequent to the period
covered by the financial statements appearing in the Offering Documents.
(m) Not to distribute prior to the Closing Date any offering material
in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than the
Offering Documents.
(n) Not to sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise
negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Act) that would be
integrated with the sale of the Units in a manner that would require the
registration under the Act of the sale to the Initial Purchaser or the
Eligible Purchasers of Units.
(o) For so long as any of the Securities or the Notes remain
outstanding and during any period in which Holdings is not subject to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available to any Eligible
Purchaser or beneficial owner of the Securities or the Notes in connection
with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Securities or
such Notes from such Eligible Purchaser or beneficial owner, the
information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act.
(p) To comply with its agreements in the Registration Rights
Agreement, and all agreements set forth in the representation letters of
Holdings to DTC relating to the approval of the Securities and the Notes by
DTC for "book-entry" transfer.
(q) To cause the Registered Exchange Offer, if available, to be made
in the appropriate form, as contemplated by the Registration Rights
Agreement, to permit registration of the Series B Notes to be offered in
exchange for the Series A Notes and to comply with all applicable federal
and state securities laws in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer.
(r) To use its best efforts to effect the inclusion of the Securities
and the Notes in PORTAL.
(s) To use its best efforts to do and perform all things required or
necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by Holdings prior
to the Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery
of the Units.
(t) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing
to and including the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date, not to
offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, except as provided
hereunder, any securities of Holdings (other than the Series B Notes) that
are substantially similar to the Units or the Notes including but not
limited to any securities (other than the Units) that are convertible into
or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Units or Notes
or any such substantially similar securities (other than pursuant to
employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange
of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of
this Agreement), without the prior written
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consent of the Initial Purchaser.
(u) Not to cause any advertisement of the Units to be published in
any newspaper or periodical or posted in any public place and not to issue
any circular relating to the Units, except such advertisements that include
the statements required by Regulation S.
(v) If Holdings elects to exchange the Units for the Notes, to comply
with all applicable federal and state securities laws in connection with
such exchange.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDINGS. Holdings represents and
warrants to the Initial Purchaser that:
(a) The Offering Documents have been prepared in connection with the
Exempt Resales. The Preliminary Offering Memorandum as of its date did not,
and the Offering Memorandum as of its date does not and as of the Closing
Date will not, and any amendment or supplement thereto will not, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the
representations and warranties contained in this paragraph (a) shall not
apply to statements or omissions in the Offering Documents (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) based upon information relating to the
Initial Purchaser furnished to Holdings in writing by or on behalf of the
Initial Purchaser expressly for use therein. No stop order preventing the
use of the any of the Offering Documents, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or any order asserting that any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement are subject to the registration requirements of the Act,
have been issued.
(b) Each of Holdings and the Company has been duly organized and is
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation, and has full corporate power and authority to carry on its
business as it is currently being and is proposed to be conducted and to
own, lease and operate its properties, and has been duly qualified and is
in good standing as a foreign corporation registered to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the failure
to be so qualified would not be reasonably likely to have a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, property,
prospects, net worth or results of operations of Holdings and the Company,
taken as a whole (a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT"). All of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of Holdings have been duly authorized and validly
issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive
or similar rights other than as set forth in the Operative Documents. The
Company is the only subsidiary, direct or indirect, of Holdings. All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and are
owned by Holdings free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien,
encumbrance or adverse interest of any nature (each, a "Lien"). Holdings
has all necessary corporate power and authority to enter into and perform
its obligations under the Operative Documents and to issue, sell and
deliver the Securities. The Company has all necessary corporate power and
authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(c) Neither Holdings nor the Company is in violation of its charter
or bylaws or in default in any material respect in the performance of any
obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond, Note, note or any
other evidence of indebtedness or in any other agreement, indenture or
instrument material to the conduct of the business of Holdings and the
Company, taken as a whole, to which Holdings or the Company is a party or
by which Holdings or the Company or their respective property is bound.
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(d) The execution, delivery and performance of the Operative
Documents by Holdings, compliance by Holdings with the provisions of the
Operative Documents and the Securities, the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents does not conflict with
or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default
under, or result in the imposition of a lien or encumbrance on any
properties of Holdings or the Company or an acceleration of indebtedness
pursuant to, (i) the charter or bylaws of Holdings or the Company, (ii) any
bond, debenture, note, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other
agreement or instrument to which Holdings or the Company is a party or by
which Holdings, the Company or their respective property is bound, or (iii)
any law or administrative regulation applicable to Holdings, the Company or
any of their respective assets or properties, or any judgment, order or
decree of any court or governmental agency or authority entered in any
proceeding to which Holdings or the Company was or is now a party or to
which Holdings, the Company or their respective properties may be subject,
except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflict,
breach, default or imposition of a lien that would not be reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or
order of, or filing or registration with, any regulatory body,
administrative agency, or other governmental agency (except as securities
or Blue Sky laws of the various states may require) that has not been made
or obtained is required for the execution, delivery and performance of the
Operative Documents and the valid issuance and sale of the Securities. No
consents or waivers from any person are required to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents and the Offering
Documents other than such consents and waivers as have been or, prior to
the Closing Date, will be obtained, except where the failure to obtain any
such consents or waivers, individually or in the aggregate, would not be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed by
each of Holdings and the Company and (assuming the due execution and
delivery thereof by the Initial Purchaser) is a legally valid and binding
obligation of Holdings and the Company, enforceable against each of them in
accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be (i)
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or
similar laws in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors rights
generally, (ii) limited by general principles of equity (whether considered
in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (iii) limited by securities laws
prohibiting or limiting the availability of, and public policy against,
indemnification or contribution.
(f) The Units have been duly and validly authorized by Holdings and,
when issued in accordance with their terms and delivered to and paid for by
the Initial Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, the Units will
conform to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum, and will be
legally valid and binding obligations of Holdings, enforceable against
Holdings in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability
thereof may be (i) subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in effect which affect the
enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii) limited by general
principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity).
(g) The Holdings Preferred Stock has been duly authorized and is fully
paid, nonassessable and entitled to the rights, privileges and preferences
set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of Holdings. The
Holdings Preferred Stock conforms with the description thereof contained in
the Offering Memorandum.
(h) Holdings has duly authorized the Subordinated Note Indenture, and
when Holdings has duly executed and delivered it (assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee), the
Subordinated Note Indenture will be a legally valid and binding obligation
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of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance with its terms,
except as the enforceability thereof may be (i) subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in
effect which affect the enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii)
limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding
at law or in equity).
(i) Holdings has duly authorized the Holdings Subordinated Notes and,
when issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the
Subordinated Note Indenture and delivered by Holdings in accordance with
the terms of the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Holdings Subordinated
Notes will conform to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum,
and will be legally valid and binding obligations of Holdings, enforceable
against Holdings in accordance with their terms, except as the
enforceability thereof may be (i) subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in effect which
affect the enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii) limited by
general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or
in equity).
(j) Holdings has duly authorized the Indenture, and when Holdings has
duly executed and delivered it (assuming the due authorization, execution
and delivery thereof by the Trustee), the Indenture will be a legally valid
and binding obligation of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in
accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be (i)
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or
similar laws in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors rights
generally and (ii) limited by general principles of equity (whether
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
(k) Holdings has duly authorized the Series A Notes and, when issued
and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and
delivered in exchange for the Units in accordance with the terms of such
Units, the Series A Notes will conform to the description thereof in the
Offering Memorandum, and will be legally valid and binding obligations of
Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance with their terms,
except as the enforceability thereof may be (i) subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in
effect which affect the enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii)
limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding
at law or in equity).
(l) Holdings has duly authorized the Series B Notes and, when issued
and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights
Agreement and the Indenture, the Series B Notes will conform to the
description thereof in the Offering Memorandum, and will be legally valid
and binding obligations of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in
accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be
(i) subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
reorganization or similar laws in effect which affect the enforcement of
creditors rights generally and (ii) limited by general principles of equity
(whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
(m) Holdings has duly authorized the Registration Rights Agreement,
and when Holdings has executed and delivered it (assuming the due execution
and delivery thereof by the Initial Purchaser), the Registration Rights
Agreement will be a legally valid and binding obligation of Holdings,
enforceable against Holdings in accordance with its terms, except as the
enforceability thereof may be (i) subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in effect which
affect the enforcement of creditors rights generally, (ii) limited by
general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or
in equity) and (iii) limited by securities laws prohibiting or limiting the
availability of, and public policy against, indemnification or
contribution.
9
(n) There is (i) no action, suit or proceeding before or by any
court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or official, domestic or
foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings, threatened or
contemplated to which Holdings or the Company is or may be a party or to
which the business or property of Holdings or the Company is or may be
subject, (ii) no statute, rule, regulation or order that has been enacted,
adopted or issued by any governmental agency or, to the best knowledge of
Holdings or the Company, proposed by any governmental body and (iii) no
injunction, restraining order or order of any nature issued by a federal or
state court of competent jurisdiction to which Holdings or the Company is
or may be subject that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above,
(A) is required to be disclosed in the Offering Memorandum and that is not
so disclosed, (B) would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect, (C) would interfere with or adversely affect the issuance and sale
of the Securities or (D) in any manner draw into question the validity of
the Operative Documents or the Securities.
(o) No holder of any security of Holdings has any right to require
registration of any security of Holdings.
(p) Neither Holdings nor the Company is involved in any material
labor dispute nor, to the knowledge of Holdings, is any material dispute
threatened which, if such dispute were to occur, would be reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Neither Holdings nor the Company has violated any safety or
similar law applicable to its business, nor any federal or state law
relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees nor
any applicable federal or state wages and hours laws, nor any provisions of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),
or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except for such
instances of noncompliance that, either singly or in the aggregate, would
not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) Except as set forth in the Offering Memorandum, each of Holdings
and the Company is in compliance with all applicable existing federal,
state, local and foreign laws and regulations (collectively, "ENVIRONMENTAL
LAWS") relating to protection of human health or the environment or
imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous
Material (as defined below), except for such instances of noncompliance
that, either singly or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect. The term "HAZARDOUS MATERIAL" means (i)
any "hazardous substance" as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (ii) any
"hazardous waste" as defined by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act,
as amended, (iii) any petroleum or petroleum product, (iv) any
polychlorinated biphenyl and (v) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous,
dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under
or within the meaning of any other Environmental Law. Except as set forth
in the Offering Memorandum, there is, to the best knowledge and information
of Holdings, no alleged or potential liability (including, without
limitation, alleged or potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup
costs, governmental response costs, natural resources damages, property
damages, personal injuries, or penalties) of Holdings or the Company
arising out of, based on, or resulting from (1) the presence or release
into the environment of any Hazardous Material at any location currently or
previously owned by Holdings or the Company or at any location currently or
previously used or leased by Holdings or the Company, or (2) any violation
or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, except in each case with
respect to clause (1) and (2), alleged or potential liabilities that,
singly or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
10
(s) Each of Holdings and the Company owns or possesses the patents,
patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade
secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or
confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks
and trade names (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY") presently or
proposed to be employed by it in connection with the businesses now or
proposed to be operated by it, except where the failure to own or possess
such Intellectual Property would not, either singly or in the aggregate, be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither Holdings
nor the Company has received any notice that its use of any Intellectual
Property allegedly infringes upon, or conflicts with, rights asserted by
others, except for such instances that, singly or in the aggregate, would
not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect if an
unfavorable decision, judgment, ruling or finding is rendered against
Holdings or the Company.
(t) All income tax returns required to be filed by Holdings or the
Company in any jurisdiction have been filed, and all material taxes
(including, but not limited to, withholding taxes, penalties and interest,
assessments, fees and other charges due or claimed to be due from any
taxing authority) have been paid other than those (i) being contested in
good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided, or (ii)
currently payable without penalty or interest.
(u) Except as set forth in the Offering Memorandum or that, singly or
in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect, (i) each of Holdings and the Company has (1) such permits,
licenses, franchises and authorizations of governmental or regulatory
authorities ("PERMITS") as are necessary to own, lease and operate its
respective properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted,
and (2) fulfilled and performed all of its material obligations with
respect to the Permits, and (ii) no event has occurred that would allow, or
after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination of any
Permit or that would result in any other material impairment of the rights
granted to Holdings or the Company under any Permit, and Holdings has no
reason to believe that any governmental body or agency is considering
limiting, suspending or revoking any Permit.
(v) Except as set forth in the Offering Memorandum or that, singly or
in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect, (i) each of Holdings and the Company has good and marketable title,
free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances and restrictions except
liens for taxes not yet due and payable, to all property and assets
described in the Offering Memorandum as being owned by it, (ii) each lease
to which Holdings or the Company is a party is valid and binding and no
default has occurred or is continuing thereunder and (iii) each of Holdings
and the Company enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such
leases to which it is a party as lessee.
(w) Each of Holdings and the Company maintains adequate insurance for
its businesses and the value of its properties (including, without
limitation, public liability insurance, third party property damage
insurance and replacement value insurance), and all such insurance is
outstanding and in force as of the date hereof.
(x) The financial statements, together with related schedules and
notes forming part of the Offering Documents (and any amendment or
supplement thereto), present fairly the consolidated financial position,
results of operations and changes in financial position of Holdings on the
basis stated in the Offering Documents at the respective dates or for the
respective periods to which they apply, and such financial statements and
related schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods
involved, except as disclosed in the Offering Documents. The other
financial and statistical information and data set forth in the Offering
Documents (and any amendment or supplement thereto) is, in all material
respects, accurately presented and prepared
11
on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and
records of Holdings.
(y) Each of Holdings and the Company maintains a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide assurance that: (1) transactions
are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorizations; (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; and (3)
the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets
at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect
thereto.
(z) Subsequent to the dates for which information is given in the
Offering Documents and up to the Closing Date, unless set forth in the
Offering Memorandum: (1) neither Holdings nor the Company has incurred any
liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, which are material,
individually or in the aggregate, to Holdings, nor entered into any
material transactions not in the ordinary course of business; (2) there has
not been any decrease in Holdings' capital stock or any increase in
consolidated long-term indebtedness to meet working capital requirements or
any material increase in consolidated short-term indebtedness of Holdings
or any payment of or declaration to pay any dividends or any other
distribution with respect to Holdings' capital stock, as the case may be;
and (3) there has not been any event or series of events that would be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(aa) Prior to the issuance of the Units, (i) the present fair salable
value of the assets of Holdings exceeded and will exceed the amount that
will be required to be paid on, or in respect of, its debts and other
liabilities (including contingent liabilities) as they become absolute and
matured, (ii) the assets of Holdings do not constitute and will not
constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out its businesses as
conducted or as proposed to be conducted, and (iii) Holdings does not
intend to, or believe that it will, incur debts or other liabilities beyond
its ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature. Upon
consummation of the Offering, (x) the present fair salable value of the
assets of Holdings will exceed the amount that will be required to be paid
on, or in respect of, its debts and other liabilities (including contingent
liabilities) as they become absolute and matured, (y) the assets of
Holdings will not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out its
businesses as conducted or as proposed to be conducted, and (iii) Holdings
does not intend to, or believe that it will, incur debts or other
liabilities beyond its ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they
mature.
(bb) None of Holdings, nor any agent thereof acting on its behalf, has
taken, and none of them will take, any action that might cause this
Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Units to violate Regulation G (12
C.F.R. Part 207), Regulation T (12 C.F.R. Part 220), Regulation U (12
C.F.R. Part 221) or Regulation X (12 C.F.R. Part 224) of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in each case as in effect now or
as the same may hereafter be in effect on the Closing Date.
(cc) Holdings is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled"
by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended.
(dd) Each of Deloitte & Touche LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
are independent public accountants with respect to Holdings and the Company
as required by the Act.
(ee) When the Units are issued and delivered pursuant to this
Agreement, such Units, the Holdings Preferred Stock and the Holdings
Subordinated Notes will not be of the same class (within the meaning of
Rule 144A under the Act) as securities of Holdings that are listed on a
national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act
or that are quoted in
12
a United States automated inter-dealer quotation system.
(ff) Assuming (i) that the representations and warranties of the
Initial Purchaser in Section 8 hereof are true, (ii) compliance by the
Initial Purchaser with its covenants set forth in Section 8 hereof and
(iii) that each of the Eligible Purchasers is a QIB or a non-U.S. person
outside the United States, the purchase and resale of the Units pursuant
hereto (including pursuant to the Exempt Resales) is exempt from the
registration requirements of the Act. No form of general solicitation or
general advertising was used by Holdings or any of its representatives
(other than the Initial Purchaser, as to whom Holdings makes no
representation) in connection with the offer and sale of the Units,
including, but not limited to, articles, notices or other communications
published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar medium or broadcast over
television or radio, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been
invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. No securities
of the same class as the Securities have been issued and sold by Holdings
within the six-month period immediately prior to the date hereof.
(gg) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other
Operative Documents and the sale of the Units to be purchased by the
Eligible Purchasers will not involve any prohibited transaction within the
meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code. The
representation made by Holdings in the preceding sentence is made in
reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of, and compliance with, the
representations and covenants made or deemed made by the Eligible
Purchasers as set forth in the Offering Documents under the section
entitled "Notice to Investors."
7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS. Each
of the Selling Securityholders represents and warrants to the Initial Purchaser
as follows:
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by such Selling Securityholder.
(b) Upon delivery of and payment for the Securities to be sold by
such Selling Securityholder pursuant to this Agreement, good and clear
title to such Securities will pass to the Initial Purchaser, free of all
restrictions on transfer, liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities
and claims whatsoever.
(c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such
Selling Shareholder, the compliance by such Selling Shareholder with all
the provisions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby will not (i) require any consent, approval, authorization or other
order of, or qualification with, any court or governmental body or agency
(except such as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws or
the various states), (ii) conflict with or constitute a breach of any of
the terms or provisions of, or a default under, the organizational
documents of such Selling Securityholder, if such Selling Securityholder is
not an individual, or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or
other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Securityholder is a
party or by which such Selling Securityholder or any property of such
Selling Securityholder is bound or (iii) violate or conflict with any
applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgement, order or decree of any
court of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over such
Selling Securityholder or any property of such Selling Securityholder.
(d) Neither the Selling Securityholders nor anyone acting on their
behalf has offered or sold any of the Securities by means of any "general
solicitation" or "general advertising," as
13
such terms are defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act.
(e) Neither the Selling Securityholders nor anyone acting on their
behalf has offered any of the Securities to any person other than the
Initial Purchaser.
8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INITIAL PURCHASER. The Initial
Purchaser represents and warrants to Holdings as follows:
(a) The Initial Purchaser is a QIB with such knowledge and experience
in financial and business matters as are necessary in order to evaluate the
merits and risks of an investment in the Units.
(b) The Initial Purchaser (i) is not acquiring the Units with a view
to any distribution thereof or with any present intention of offering or
selling any of the Units in a transaction that would violate the Act or the
securities laws of any State of the United States or any other applicable
jurisdiction, (ii) will be reoffering and reselling the Units only to QIBs
in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Act
provided by Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in
reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Act
provided by Regulation S and (iii) has not solicited and, unless and until
the Units are registered under the Act, will not solicit any offer to buy
or offer to sell the Units by means of any form of general solicitation or
general advertising (as such terms are defined in Regulation D under the
Act) or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of the
Act.
(c) The Initial Purchaser also understands that Holdings and, for
purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchaser pursuant
hereto, counsel to Holdings and counsel to the Initial Purchaser will rely
upon the accuracy and truth of the foregoing representations and the
Initial Purchaser hereby consents to such reliance.
(d) The Initial Purchaser further agrees that, in connection with the
Exempt Resales, it will solicit offers to buy the Units only from, and will
offer to sell the Units only to, the Eligible Purchasers. The Initial
Purchaser further agrees that it will offer to sell the Units only to, and
will solicit offers to buy the Units only from, persons who in purchasing
such Units will be deemed to have represented and agreed (1) if such
Eligible Purchaser is a QIB, that it is purchasing the Units for its own
account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment
discretion and that its or such accounts are QIBs, (2) that such Units will
not have been registered under the Act and may be resold, pledged or
otherwise transferred, only (A) (I) inside the United States to a person
who the seller reasonably believes is a "qualified institutional buyer"
within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act in a transaction meeting the
requirements of Rule 144A, (II) in a transaction meeting the requirements
of Rule 144 under the Act, (III) outside the United States to a foreign
person in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 904 under the Act
or (IV) in accordance with another exemption from the registration
requirements of the Act (and based upon an opinion of counsel if Holdings
so requests), (B) to Holdings or (C) pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Act, in each case, in accordance with any applicable
securities laws of any State of the United States or any other applicable
jurisdiction, and (3) that the holder will, and each subsequent holder is
required to, notify any purchaser from it of the security evidenced thereby
of the resale restrictions set forth in (2) above. Accordingly, the Initial
Purchaser represents and agrees that neither it, its affiliates nor any
persons acting on its or their behalf has engaged or will engage in any
directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 901(b) of Regulation S
with respect to the Units, and it, its affiliates and all persons acting on
its or their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering
restrictions requirements of Regulation S.
14
(e) The Initial Purchaser represents and agrees that the Units
offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S have been and will be offered
and sold only in offshore transactions and that such securities have been
and will be represented upon issuance by a global security that may not be
exchanged for definitive securities until the expiration of the restricted
period (as defined in Regulation S) (except to the extent of any beneficial
owners thereof who acquired an interest therein pursuant to another
exemption from registration under the Act and who will take delivery of a
beneficial ownership interest in a Rule 144A Global Note (as defined in the
Indenture), as contemplated by the Indenture) and only upon certification
of beneficial ownership of the securities by a non-U.S. person or a U.S.
person who purchased such securities in a transaction that was exempt from
the registration requirements of the Act.
(f) The Initial Purchaser agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of
a sale of Units (other than a sale pursuant to Rule 144A or pursuant to
Paragraph (i) of this Section 8), it will have sent to each distributor,
dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration
that purchases Units from it during the Restricted Period a confirmation or
notice to substantially the following effect:
"The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the Act
and may not be offered and sold within the United States or to, or for
the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of their
distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the
later of the commencement of the offering and the closing date, except
in either case in accordance with Regulation S (or Rule 144A if
available) under the Act. Terms used above have the meaning given to
them by Regulation S."
(g) The Initial Purchaser further agrees that it has not entered and
will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the
distribution or delivery of the Units, except with its affiliates or with
the prior written consent of Holdings.
(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Units in registered form may be
offered, sold and delivered by the Initial Purchaser in the United States
and to U.S. persons pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement without
delivery of the written statement required by paragraph (f) of this Section
8.
(i) The Initial Purchaser further represents and agrees that (i) it
has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Units to persons in
the United Kingdom prior to the expiry of the period of six months from the
issue date of the Units, except to persons whose ordinary activities
involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments
(as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses or otherwise
in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to
the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Public Offers of
Securities Regulations 1995, (ii) it has complied and will comply with all
applicable provisions of the Financial Services ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ with respect to
anything done by it in relation to the Units in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom, and (iii) it has only issued or passed on and
will only issue or pass on in the United Kingdom any document received by
it in connection with the issuance of the Units to a person who is of a
kind described in Article 11(3) of the Financial Services ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
(Investment Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1996 or is a person to whom
the document may otherwise lawfully be issued or passed on.
(j) The Initial Purchaser agrees that it will not offer, sell or
deliver any of the Units in any jurisdiction outside the United States
except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the
applicable laws thereof, and that it will take at its own expense whatever
action is required to permit its purchase and resale of the Units in such
jurisdictions. The Initial
15
Purchaser understands that no action has been taken to permit a public
offering in any jurisdiction outside the United States where action would
be required for such purpose.
(k) The Initial Purchaser agrees not to cause any advertisement of
the Units to be published in any newspaper or periodical or posted in any
public place and not to issue any circular relating to the Units, except
such advertisements that include the statements required by Regulation S.
(l) The sale of the Units in offshore transactions pursuant to
Regulation S is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration
provisions of the Act.
Terms used in this Section 8 that have meanings assigned to them in
Regulation S are used herein as so defined.
9. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Selling Securityholders, to the extent of each such Selling
Securityholder's pro rata share of the proceeds from the Offering as set
forth on Schedule I hereto, Holdings and the Company, jointly and
severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchaser and
each person, if any, who controls the Initial Purchaser within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Offering Documents (as amended or supplemented if
Holdings shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or
caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to the Initial
Purchaser furnished in writing to Holdings by the Initial Purchaser
expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the indemnification
provided by each of the Selling Securityholders shall only be with
reference to information relating to each such Selling Securityholder
furnished in writing by such Selling Securityholder expressly for use in
the Offering Documents; provided further, however, that the indemnification
contained in this paragraph (a) with respect to the Preliminary Offering
Memorandum shall not inure to the benefit of the Initial Purchaser (or to
the benefit of any person controlling the Initial Purchaser) on account of
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or judgment (i) arising from the
sale of the Units by the Initial Purchaser to any person if a copy of the
Offering Memorandum shall not have been delivered or sent to such person,
at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, and the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of a
material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum was
corrected in the Offering Memorandum, provided that Holdings has delivered
the Offering Memorandum to the Initial Purchaser in requisite quantity on a
timely basis to permit such delivery or sending or (ii) resulting from the
use by the Initial Purchaser of any offering memorandum, registration
statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, referred
to in Section 5(e) hereof when, under Section 11 hereof, the Initial
Purchaser was not permitted to do so.
(b) In case any action shall be brought against the Initial Purchaser
or any person controlling the Initial Purchaser, based upon any Offering
Document or any amendment or supplement thereto and with respect to which
indemnity may be sought against the Selling Securityholders, Holdings and
the Company, the Initial Purchaser shall promptly notify Holdings in
writing, and the Selling Securityholders, Holdings and the Company shall
assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party
16
and payment of all fees and expenses. The Initial Purchaser or any such
controlling person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any
such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the reasonable fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Initial
Purchaser or such controlling person unless (i) the employment of such
counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by Holdings, (ii)
neither the Selling Securityholders, Holdings nor the Company has assumed
the defense and employed counsel or (iii) the named parties to any such
action (including any impleaded parties) include both the Initial Purchaser
or such controlling person and the Selling Securityholders, Holdings or the
Company, and the Initial Purchaser or such controlling person 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 Selling Securityholders, Holdings or the Company (in which case the
Selling Securityholders, Holdings and the Company shall not have the right
to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the Initial Purchaser or
such controlling person, it being understood, however, that the Selling
Securityholders, Holdings and the Company shall not, in connection with any
one such 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 the
Initial Purchaser and all such controlling persons, which firm shall be
designated in writing by the Initial Purchaser, and that all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred). The Selling
Securityholders, Holdings and the Company shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such action effected without the written consent of the
Selling Securityholders, Holdings or the Company, but if settled with the
Selling Securityholders', Holdings' or the Company's written consent, the
Selling Securityholders, Holdings and the Company jointly and severally
agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchaser and any such
controlling person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement. Neither the Selling Securityholders, Holdings nor the Company
shall, without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchaser effect
any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which
the Initial Purchaser is or could have been a party and indemnity could
have been sought hereunder by the Initial Purchaser unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of the Initial Purchaser and each person
controlling the Initial Purchaser from all liability on claims that are the
subject matter of such proceeding.
(c) The Initial Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
Holdings and the Selling Securityholders, each of their respective
directors and officers, and any person controlling either of them within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
(collectively the "ISSUER INDEMNIFIED PARTIES"), to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Selling Securityholders, Holdings, and the
Company to the Initial Purchaser but only with reference to information
relating to the Initial Purchaser furnished in writing by the Initial
Purchaser expressly for use in the Offering Documents. In case any action
shall be brought against any Issuer Indemnified Party in respect of which
indemnity may be sought against the Initial Purchaser, the Initial
Purchaser shall have the rights and duties given to the Selling
Securityholders, Holdings and the Company (except that if the Selling
Securityholders, Holdings or the Company shall have assumed the defense
thereof, the Initial Purchaser shall not be required to do so, but may
employ separate counsel therein and participate in the defense thereof but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the
Initial Purchaser), and the Issuer Indemnified Parties shall have the
rights and duties given to the Initial Purchaser by Section 9(b) hereof.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 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,
17
claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Selling
Securityholders, Holdings and the Company on the one hand and the Initial
Purchaser on the other hand from the offering of the Units or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law,
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the
Selling Securityholders, Holdings and the Company on the one hand and the
Initial Purchaser 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 benefits received by the Selling Securityholders, Holdings and the
Company on the one hand and the Initial Purchaser on the other hand shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the
offering of the Units (before deducting expenses) received by Holdings and
the Selling Securityholders, and the total discounts and commissions
received by the Initial Purchaser, bear to the total price to investors of
the Units, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
Offering Memorandum. The relative fault of the Selling Securityholders,
Holdings and the Company on the one hand and the Initial Purchaser 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
to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Selling
Securityholders, Holdings or the Company on the one hand or the Initial
Purchaser on the other hand and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement
or omission.
The Selling Securityholders, Holdings, the Company and the Initial
Purchaser agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this paragraph were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments of an indemnified party
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 9, the Initial Purchaser shall not be required
to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the discounts and
commissions received by it exceeds the amount of any damages which the
Initial Purchaser 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.
(e) Each of the Selling Securityholders, Holdings and the Company
hereby designates The Jordan Company, ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, as its authorized agent, upon which process may be served in
any action, suit or proceeding which may be instituted in any state or
federal court in the State of New York by the Initial Purchaser or person
controlling the Initial Purchaser asserting a claim for indemnification or
contribution under or pursuant to this Section 9, and the Selling
Securityholders, Holdings and the Company will accept the jurisdiction of
such court in such action, and waive, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, any defense based upon lack of personal jurisdiction or
venue. A copy of any such process shall be sent or given to the Selling
Securityholders, Holdings and the Company, at the address for notices
specified in Section 11(a) hereof.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 9 are in addition to any liability which the indemnifying persons
may otherwise have to the indemnified persons referred to above.
10. CONDITIONS OF THE INITIAL PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS. The obligation
18
of the Initial Purchaser to purchase the Units under this Agreement is subject
to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
(a) All the representations and warranties of Holdings and the
Selling Securityholders contained in this Agreement shall be true and
correct on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on
and as of the Closing Date. Holdings shall have performed or complied with
all of the agreements and satisfied all conditions to be performed,
complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement on or prior to the
Closing Date.
(b) (1) The Offering Memorandum shall have been printed and copies
distributed to the Initial Purchaser not later than 9:00 a.m., New York
City time, on the second business day following the date of this Agreement,
or at such later date and time as the Initial Purchaser may approve in
writing;
(2) no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a
federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been
issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance of the
Units or the sale of the Holdings Preferred Stock or the Holdings
Subordinated Notes; and
(3) at the Closing Date, (i) no stop order preventing the use of
the Offering Documents, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction designated by the Initial
Purchaser pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof shall have been issued and
no proceedings for that purpose shall have been commenced or shall be
pending before or, to the knowledge of Holdings be contemplated.
(c) (1) Since the date of the latest balance sheet included in the
Offering Documents, there shall not have been any event that had a Material
Adverse Effect, or any development involving a prospective change that
would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or
not arising in the ordinary course of business;
(2) since the date of the latest balance sheet included in the
Offering Documents, there has not been any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in the capital stock or in the long-
term debt of Holdings or the Company from that set forth in the
Offering Documents;
(3) neither Holdings nor the Company shall have material
liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than those
reflected in the Offering Memorandum; and
(4) on the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall have
received a certificate dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of
Holdings by the undersigned officers of Holdings, confirming all
matters set forth in Sections 9(a), (b), and (c) hereof.
(d) The Initial Purchaser shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion (satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser and counsel to the Initial
Purchaser) dated the Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, counsel for
Holdings, to the effect that:
(1) Holdings has all necessary corporate power and authority to
enter into and perform its obligations under the Operative Documents
and to issue, sell and deliver the Units to the Initial Purchaser to
be sold by the Initial Purchaser pursuant hereto;
19
(2) The Company and each of the Selling Securityholders has all
necessary power and authority to enter into and perform its
obligations under this Agreement;
(3) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing
or registration with, any regulatory body, administrative agency, or
other governmental agency (except as securities or Blue Sky laws of
the various states may require) which has not been made or obtained is
required for the execution, delivery and performance of the Operative
Documents and the valid issuance and sale of the Securities to the
Initial Purchaser as contemplated by this Agreement or the offering of
the Securities as contemplated by the Offering Memorandum, except
where the failure to obtain any such consents or waivers, individually
or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect or adversely effect the ability to consummate the
Offering;
(4) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, no consents or
waivers from any person are required to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Operative Documents or the Offering Documents
other than such consents and waivers as have been or will be obtained;
(5) This Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed
by each of Holdings, the Company and the Selling Securityholders and
(assuming the due execution and delivery thereof by the Initial
Purchaser) is a legally valid and binding obligation of each of
Holdings, the Company and the Selling Securityholders, enforceable
against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as the
enforceability thereof may be (i) subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in effect which
affect the enforcement of creditors rights generally, (ii) limited by
general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at
law or in equity) and (iii) limited by securities laws prohibiting or
limiting the availability of, and public policy against,
indemnification or contribution;
(6) The Units have been duly and validly authorized by Holdings
and, when issued in accordance with their terms and delivered to and
paid for by the Initial Purchaser in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, the Units will conform to the description thereof in the
Offering Memorandum, and will be legally valid and binding obligations
of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance with their
terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be (i) subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or
similar laws in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors
rights generally, (ii) limited by general principles of equity
(whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (iii)
limited by securities laws prohibiting or limiting the availability
of, and public policy against, indemnification or contribution;
(7) The Holdings Preferred Stock has been duly authorized and is
full paid, nonassessable and entitled to the rights, priviledges and
preferences set forth in the Certificate of Designations. The Holdings
Preferred Stock conforms with the description thereof contained in the
Offering Memorandum.
(8) Holdings has duly authorized, executed and delivered the
Subordinated Note Indenture, and (assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee) the Subordinated Note
Indenture is a legally valid and binding obligation of Holdings,
enforceable against Holdings in accordance with its terms, except as
the enforceability thereof may be (i) subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in
effect which affect the enforcement of
20
creditors rights generally and (ii) limited by general principles of
equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity);
(9) The Holdings Subordinated Notes have been duly authorized,
issued and authenticated in accordance with the Subordinated Note
Indenture and conform to the description thereof in the Offering
Memorandum, and are legally valid and binding obligations of Holdings,
enforceable against Holdings in accordance with their terms, except as
the enforceable thereof may be (i) subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in effect which
affect the enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii) limited
by general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at
law or in equity);
(10) Holdings has duly authorized, executed and delivered the
Indenture, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery
thereof by the Trustee) the Indenture is a legally valid and binding
obligation of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance
with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be (i)
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
reorganization or similar laws in effect which affect the enforcement
of creditors rights generally and (ii) limited by general principles
of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity);
(11) Holdings has duly authorized the Series A Notes and, when
issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
and delivered in exchange for the Units in accordance with the terms
of such Units, the Series A Notes will conform to the description
thereof in the Offering Memorandum, and will be the legally valid and
binding obligations of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in
accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may
be (i) subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
reorganization or similar laws in effect which affect the enforcement
of creditors rights generally and (ii) limited by general principles
of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity);
(12) Holdings has duly authorized the Series B Notes and, when
issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture, the Series B Notes
will conform to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum,
and will be the legally valid and binding obligations of Holdings,
enforceable against Holdings in accordance with their terms, except as
the enforceability thereof may be (i) subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in
effect which affect the enforcement of creditors rights generally and
(ii) limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a
proceeding at law or in equity);
(13) Holdings has duly authorized, executed and delivered the
Registration Rights Agreement, and (assuming the due execution and
delivery thereof by the Initial Purchaser) the Registration Rights
Agreement is a legally valid and binding obligation of Holdings,
enforceable against Holdings in accordance with its terms, except as
the enforceability thereof may be (i) subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws in
effect which affect the enforcement of creditors rights generally,
(ii) limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a
proceeding at law or in equity) and (iii) limited by securities laws
prohibiting or limiting the availability of, and public policy
against, indemnification or contribution;
(14) The statements under the captions "Certain Transactions,"
"Description of Units," "Description of Exchange Notes," "Description
of Capital Stock," "Description of
21
Certain Indebtedness," and "Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations" in the Offering Memorandum, insofar as such statements
constitute a summary of legal matters, documents or proceedings
referred to therein, are correct in all material respects;
(15) Neither Holdings nor the Company is an "investment company"
or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(16) When the Units are issued and delivered pursuant to this
Agreement, such Units, the Holdings Preferred Stock and the Holdings
Subordinated Notes will not be of the same class (within the meaning
of Rule 144A under the Act) as securities of Holdings that are listed
on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the
Exchange Act or that are quoted in a United States automated inter-
dealer quotation system;
(17) The Subordinated Note Indenture is not required to be
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;
(18) The Indenture is not required to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act prior to the first to occur of (i) the Registered
Exchange Offer and (ii) the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement;
(19) No registration under the Act of the Units is required for
the sale of the Units to the Initial Purchaser as contemplated hereby
or for the Exempt Resales (assuming (i) that the Eligible Purchasers
who buy the Units in the Exempt Resales are QIBs or a non-U.S. person
outside the United States and (ii) the accuracy of, and compliance
with, the representations of the Initial Purchaser and those of
Holdings and the Selling Securityholders contained in Sections 6, 7
and 8 hereof.
In addition, such counsel shall state that it has participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of Holdings,
representatives of the independent public accountants for Holdings, the
Initial Purchaser's representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchaser,
at which conferences the contents of the Offering Memorandum and related
matters were discussed, and, although such counsel is not passing upon and
assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Offering Memorandum, and have not made any
independent check or verification thereof, during the course of such
participation (relying as to materiality to the extent such counsel deemed
appropriate upon the statements of officers and other representatives of
Holdings), no facts came to such counsel's attention that caused such
counsel to believe that the Offering Memorandum, as of its date, contained
an untrue statement of material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; it being understood that such counsel expresses no belief
with respect to the financial statements, schedules and other financial and
statistical data included in the Offering Memorandum or incorporated
therein.
(e) The Initial Purchaser shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion (satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser and counsel to the Initial
Purchaser) dated the Closing Date of Rose, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, counsel
for Holdings, to the effect that:
(1) Each of Holdings and the Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, has full corporate power and authority
to carry on its respective business as it is currently being conducted
and to own, lease and operate its respective properties, and, to the
best
22
of such counsel's knowledge, is duly qualified and is in good standing
as a foreign corporation registered to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the
failure to be so qualified would not be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect;
(2) All of the outstanding capital stock of Holdings has been
duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable
and is not subject to preemptive or similar rights;
(3) All of the outstanding capital stock of the Company has been
duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and
nonassessable, and is owned by Holdings free and clear of any Lien;
(4) Neither Holdings nor the Company is in violation of its
charter or bylaws, and, to the best knowledge of such counsel after
due inquiry, neither Holdings nor the Company is in default in the
performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any
bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any
other agreement, indenture or instrument material to the conduct of
the business of Holdings or the Company, to which Holdings or the
Company is a party or by which Holdings, the Company or their
respective property is bound;
(5) The execution, delivery and performance of the Operative
Documents by Holdings, compliance by Holdings with the provisions
thereof and the Securities, the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby does not conflict with or constitute a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under, or
result in the imposition of a lien or encumbrance on any properties of
Holdings or the Company, or an acceleration of indebtedness pursuant
to, (1) the charter or bylaws of Holdings or the Company, (2) any
bond, debenture, note, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other
agreement or instrument known to such counsel after due inquiry to
which Holdings or the Company is a party or by which Holdings, the
Company or any of their respective property is bound, or (3) to the
best of such counsel's knowledge, any law or administrative regulation
applicable to Holdings, the Company or any of their respective assets
or properties, or any judgment, order or decree of any court or
governmental agency or authority entered in any proceeding to which
Holdings or the Company was or is now a party or to which Holdings,
the Company or any of their respective property may be subject;
(6) To the best knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry,
there is (i) no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court,
arbitrator or governmental agency, body or official, domestic or
foreign, now pending, threatened or contemplated to which Holdings or
the Company is or may be a party or to which the business or property
of Holdings or the Company is or may be subject, (ii) no statute,
rule, regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or issued by
any governmental agency or proposed by any governmental body, or (iii)
no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a federal
or state court of competent jurisdiction applicable to Holdings or the
Company has been issued that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) above, (a) is required to be disclosed in the Offering
Memorandum and that is not so disclosed, (b) would interfere with or
adversely affect the issuance of the Securities, or (c) might
invalidate any provision or the validity of the Operative Documents or
the Securities;
23
(7) To the best knowledge of such counsel, there is no contract
or document concerning Holdings or the Company of a character required
to be described in the Offering Memorandum that is not so described or
filed in a registration statement on Form S-4 if the Units were
registered pursuant to the Act;
(8) To the best knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry,
following consummation of the Offering, no holder of any security of
Holdings has any right to require registration of any of Holdings'
securities;
(f) The Initial Purchaser shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion, dated the Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser, and Holdings shall have provided
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ such papers and information as it requests to enable it to
pass upon the matters contained in such opinion.
(g) The Initial Purchaser shall have received letters from Deloitte &
Touche LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, independent public
accountants, on the date hereof and from Deloitte & Touche LLP on the
Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser,
with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information
contained in the Offering Documents.
(h) Holdings shall have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement
on or prior to the Closing Date.
(i) Holdings shall have performed or complied in all material respects
with any of the agreements herein contained and required to be performed or
complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
11. EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT AND TERMINATION. This Agreement shall
become effective at the time that the Selling Securityholders, Holdings, the
Company and the Initial Purchaser execute this Agreement.
The Initial Purchaser may terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the
Closing Date by written notice to Holdings if any of the following has occurred:
(a) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Offering Documents, any adverse change or development involving a
prospective adverse change, whether or not arising in the ordinary course
of business, which would, in the Initial Purchaser's judgment, make it
impracticable to market the Units on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Offering Documents;
(b) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or
international calamity or crisis or material change in economic conditions,
if the effect of such outbreak, escalation, calamity, crisis or change on
the financial markets of the United States or elsewhere would, in the
Initial Purchaser's judgment, make it impracticable to market the Units on
the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering Documents;
(c) the suspension or material limitation of trading in securities on
the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq
National Market or limitation on prices for securities on any such
exchange;
(d) the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any
federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other
governmental authority which in the Initial
24
Purchaser's opinion causes or could cause a Material Adverse Effect;
(e) the declaration of a banking moratorium by either federal or New
York State authorities;
(f) the taking of any action by any federal, state or local government
or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in the Initial
Purchaser's opinion has a material adverse effect on the financial markets
in the United States; or
(g) any of Holdings' or the Company's securities shall have been
downgraded or placed on any "watch list" for possible downgrading by any
nationally recognized statistical rating organization, provided that in the
case of such "watch list" placement, termination shall be permitted only if
such placement would, in the judgment of the Initial Purchaser, make it
impracticable or inadvisable to market the Units or to enforce contracts
for the sale of the Units or materially impair the investment quality of
the Units.
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Notices given pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be
addressed as follows: (i) if to the Selling Securityholders, the Company
or Holdings, The Jordan Company, ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: A. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. and (ii) if to the
Initial Purchaser, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Syndicate Department, or
in any case to such other address as the person to be notified may have
requested in writing.
(b) The respective indemnities, contribution agreements,
representations, warranties and other statements of Holdings, the Selling
Securityholders and the Initial Purchaser set forth in or made pursuant to
this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, and
will survive delivery of and payment for the Units, regardless of (i) any
investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf
of any such person, (ii) acceptance of the Units and payment for them
hereunder and (iii) termination of this Agreement.
(c) Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made
solely for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Selling
Securityholders, Holdings, the Company, the Initial Purchaser, any
controlling persons referred to herein and their respective successors and
assigns, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other
person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement. The term "successors and assigns" shall not include a purchaser
of any of the Units from the Initial Purchaser merely because of such
purchase.
(d) This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and the rights of
the parties determined in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
without reference to its choice of law provisions.
(e) This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
SIGNATURE PAGE IS THE NEXT PAGE
25
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among
Holdings, the Company, the Selling Securityholders and the Initial Purchaser.
Very truly yours,
GFSI HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name: A. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Vice President
GSFI, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------
Name: A. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Titile: Vice President
THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS LISTED
ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------
Name: A ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
26