EX-4.2 4 dex42.txt REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF MAY 6, 2003 EXHIBIT 4.2 Execution Copy ================================================================================ REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Dated as of May 6, 2003 between J. Crew Intermediate LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, on behalf of the Holders ================================================================================ This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of May 6, 2003 between J. Crew Intermediate LLC (the "Company"), a Delaware limited liability company, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture ("U.S. Bank"), on behalf of the Holders, as defined below. WHEREAS, the Company proposes to issues its 16.0% Senior Discount Contingent Principal Notes due 2008 (the "New Notes") as part of an exchange offer (the "Initial Exchange Offer") for the outstanding 13 1/8% Senior Discount Notes due 2008 issued by J. Crew Group, Inc. (the "Existing Debentures"), as described in the Confidential Offering Circular and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated April 4, 2003, relating to the Initial Exchange Offer. NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows: SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings: Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. Additional Interest Payment Date: With respect to the New Notes, each Interest Payment Date. Affiliate: As defined in Rule 405 of the Act. Business Day: Any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day in the City of New York, or in the city of the corporate trust office of the Trustee, on which banks are authorized to close. Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act. Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities: Exchange Notes that are acquired by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer in exchange for New Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities (other than New Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates). Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission. Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Dealer Manager Agreement: The dealer manager agreement dated as of April 4, 2003, among the Company, J. Crew Group, Inc., J. Crew Operating Corp. and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, as the dealer manager, as such dealer manager agreement is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. Exchange Notes: The Company's 16.0% Senior Discount Contingent Principal Notes due 2008 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (a) in the Exchange Offer or (b) upon the request of any Holder of New Notes covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, in exchange for such New Notes, and any replacement Exchange Notes issued therefore in accordance with the Indenture. The Exchange Notes shall be substantially identical in all material respects to the New Notes (except that the transfer restrictions will be modified or eliminated, as appropriate, and the Additional Interest provision will be eliminated). Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Act of the New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company shall offer the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, other than any Holder of the New Notes who is an Affiliate of the Company or who intends to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Notes, the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities for Exchange Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in the Exchange Offer by such Holders. Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus. Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof. Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof. Indenture: The Indenture, dated the Issue Date, between the Company and U.S. Bank, as trustee (U.S. Bank, in such capacity, the "Trustee"), pursuant to which the New Notes or the Exchange Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture. Issue Date: The date on which New Notes are first issued and authenticated under the Indenture. Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof. Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus 2 supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus. Record Holder: With respect to any Additional Interest Payment Date, each Person who is a Holder of New Notes on the record date with respect to the Interest Payment Date on which payment of such Additional Interest shall occur. Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof. Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein. Restricted Broker-Dealer: Any Broker-Dealer which holds Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities. Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof. TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in effect on the date of the Indenture. Transfer Restricted Securities: Each New Note, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such New Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such New Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such New Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) or (d) the date on which such New Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act. SECTION 2. HOLDERS A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities. SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER (a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with), the Company shall (i) cause to be filed with the Commission by the 120th day after the Issue Date (or if such 120th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (ii) use its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective by the 180th day after the Issue Date (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective, (B) file, if 3 applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the New Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below. (b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the New Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated not later than the 210th day after the Issue Date (or if such 210th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day). (c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate therein that any Restricted Broker-Dealer who holds New Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, may exchange such New Notes (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of each Exchange Note received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other information with respect to such sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of New Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement. The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers, and to ensure that such Registration Statement conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer is Consummated. 4 The Company shall promptly provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such Restricted Broker-Dealers upon request, and in no event later than one Business Day after such request, at any time during such 180 days period in order to facilitate such sales. SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION (a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Exchange Notes because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or applicable interpretations of the staff of the Commission (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with) or (ii) if for any other reason the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not effective by the 180th day after the Issue Date (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) then the Company shall (x) cause to be filed as promptly as practicable, but not later than 120 days after being so required or requested a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the "Shelf Registration Statement"), relating to all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, and shall (y) use its best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective not later than 180 days after being so required or requested. If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement which satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted under applicable federal law or applicable interpretations of the staff of the Commission, then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above. Such an event shall have no effect on the requirements of clause (y) above. The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement discussed in this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by and subject to the provisions of Section 6(b) and Section 6(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following the date on which such Shelf Registration Statement first becomes effective under the Act. (b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, such information specified in item 507 of Regulation S-K under the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to Additional Interest pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have used its best efforts to provide all such information. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading. 5 SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL INTEREST (a) If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this Agreement, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in this Agreement, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 210 days after the Issue Date or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but (A) such Registration Statement ceases to be effective, prior to expiration of the applicable time periods described in this Agreement, if so required or (B) such Registration Statement ceases to be useable in connection with the resales of Transfer Restricted Securities prior to expiration of the applicable time periods described in this Agreement, if so required, (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then the Company hereby agrees to pay Additional Interest to each Holder of New Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default, in an amount equal to $0.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues. The amount of the Additional Interest shall increase by an additional $0.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of Additional Interest of $0.25 per week per $1,000 principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the Additional Interest payable with respect to the New Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease. (b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 5(a) above shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (A) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (B) other material events, with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (B), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured. 6 (c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 5(a) shall be payable in cash on the Interest Payment Dates. All obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full. SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES (a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the sale of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and shall comply with all of the following provisions: (i) If, following the date hereof there has been published a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange Offer, such that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there is a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such New Notes. The Company hereby agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level. In connection with the foregoing, the Company hereby agrees to take all such other actions as are requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff of such submission. (ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company, or if it is an Affiliate of the Company, it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act to the extent applicable, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Holder of the New Notes who is an Affiliate of the Company or who intends to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Notes (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action 7 letters (including, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above) (2) will not be entitled to tender its New Notes in the Exchange Offer and (3) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for New Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof. (iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company is registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that the Company has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company's information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above. (b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use its best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof. (c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, to the extent that the same are required to be available to permit sales of Broker-Dealer Transfer Restricted Securities by Restricted Broker-Dealers), the Company shall: (i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, (1) in the case of 8 clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and (2) in the case of clauses (A) and (B), use its best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Company's obligation to use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended shall be suspended in the event continued effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement would, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, require the Company to disclose a material financing, acquisition or other corporate transaction, and the Board of Directors shall have determined in good faith that such disclosure is not in the best interests of the Company, but in no event will any such suspension, individually or in the aggregate, exceed ninety (90) days from the Issue Date. (ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, or such shorter period as will terminate upon the earlier of the following (A) when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold and (B) when, in the written opinion of counsel to the Company, all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by persons that are not Affiliates of the Company may be resold without registration under the Act pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Act or any successor provision thereto; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus; (iii) advise U.S. Bank, the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop 9 order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time; (iv) furnish to U.S. Bank, each selling Holder named in any Registration Statement or Prospectus and each of the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus, which documents will be subject to the review and comment of such Holders and underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus to which the selling Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, shall reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt thereof. A selling Holder or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or omission or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act; (v) make available at reasonable times for inspection by the selling Holders, any managing underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such selling Holders or any of such underwriter(s), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Act; (vi) if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; (vii) furnish to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as 10 first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference); (viii) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company hereby consents to the use (in accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto; (ix) enter into such agreements and make such representations and warranties and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement; (x) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, may request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject; (xi) issue, upon the request of any Holder of New Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, Exchange Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of New Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Exchange Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in return, the New Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation; (xii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities; 11 (xiii) use its best efforts to cause the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (x) above; (xiv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide U.S. Bank with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company; and (xvi) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of New Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner. (d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in Section 6(c)(i) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xiv) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (the "Advice"). If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of either such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) or Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xiv) hereof or shall have received the Advice. 12 SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and U.S. Bank; and (v) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company. The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company. SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person") and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person (any person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an "Indemnified Holder"), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and expenses (including without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any Indemnified Holder) directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the Holders expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnification with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Holder from whom the person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense purchased any of the Exchange Notes if a copy of the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) was not sent or given on behalf of such Indemnified Holder to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Exchange Notes to such person and if the Prospectus (or the Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense. 13 In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the Company, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company in writing (provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement). Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action and the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Company (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Holder is not entitled to indemnification hereunder). The Company shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated by the Holders. The Company shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected with the Company's prior written consent, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, and the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the written consent of the Company. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding. (b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and its organizer, members, directors, officers, and any person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, and the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of each such person, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to claims and actions based on information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action or proceeding shall be brought against the Company or its organizers, members, directors or officers or any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against a Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, such Holder shall have the rights and duties given the Company, and the Company, such organizers, members, directors or officers or such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to each Holder by the preceding paragraph. In no event shall any Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. (c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) hereof (other than by reason of exceptions 14 provided in those Sections) in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from the issuance and sale of the Exchange Notes by the Company or if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Indemnified Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Indemnified Holder and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The Company and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses 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 8, no Holder or its related Indemnified Holders shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total received by such Holder with respect to the sale of its Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the sum of (A) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities plus (B) the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Exchange Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint. SECTION 9. RULE 144A The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer 15 Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A. SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS (a) Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein, in the Indenture or granted by law, including recovery of Additional Interest, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate. (b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof. (c) Adjustments Affecting the New Notes. The Company will not take any action, or voluntarily permit any change to occur, with respect to the New Notes that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer. (d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section 12(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to such Exchange Offer. (e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery: (i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; (ii) if to the Company: J. Crew Intermediate LLC 16 c/o J. Crew Group, Inc. 770 Broadway New York, New York 10003 Attention: General Counsel With a copy to: Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton One Liberty Plaza New York, New York 10006 Attention: Paul J. Shim, Esq.; and (iii) if to U.S. Bank: U.S. Bank National Association 225 Asylum Street, 23rd Floor Hartford, Connecticut 06103 Attention: Corporate Trust Services (J. Crew Intermediate LLC 2003 Registration Rights Agreement) All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notices addressed to U.S. Bank shall be effective only upon receipt. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture. (f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities directly from such Holder. (g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. (h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. (i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF. 17 (j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby. (k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter. [Signature page follows] 18 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above. J. Crew Intermediate LLC By: /s/ Scott M. Rosen ------------------------------------ Name: Scott M. Rosen Title: Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer U.S.Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture, on behalf of the Holders By: /s/ Philip G. Kane, Jr. ------------------------------------ Name: Philip G. Kane, Jr. Title: Vice President