EX-1.1 3 g88289a1exv1w1.txt EX-1.1 FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 1.1 FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY 5,872,113 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT [-], 2004 J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. As Representatives of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto c/o J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. 277 Park Avenue New York, New York 10172 Ladies and Gentlemen: Certain stockholders named in Schedule II hereto (the "SELLING STOCKHOLDERS") of Gaylord Entertainment Company, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), propose to sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto (the "UNDERWRITERS"), for whom you are acting as representatives (the "REPRESENTATIVES"), an aggregate of 5,872,113 shares (the "UNDERWRITTEN SHARES") and, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional 880,816 shares (the "OPTION SHARES"), of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "STOCK"), of the Company to cover overallotments, if any. The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the "Shares". The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows: 1. Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the "SECURITIES ACT"), a registration statement (File No. 333-114293) including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it becomes effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness ("RULE 430 INFORMATION"), is referred to herein as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT"; and as used herein, the term "PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS" means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before it becomes effective, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430A Information, and the term "Prospectus" means the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the "RULE 462 REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), then any reference herein to the term "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be and any reference to "amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the "EXCHANGE ACT") that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. 2. Purchase of the Shares by the Underwriters. (a) Each of the Selling Stockholders agrees, severally and not jointly, to sell the Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from each of the Selling Stockholders at a purchase price per share of $[?] (the "PURCHASE PRICE") the number of Underwritten Shares (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be sold by each of the Selling Stockholders as set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II hereto by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be purchased by all the Underwriters from all of the Selling Stockholders hereunder. In addition, the Selling Stockholders, as and to the extent indicated in Schedule II hereto agree, severally and not jointly, to sell the Option Shares to the several Underwriters and the Underwriters shall have the option to purchase at their election up to 880,816 Option Shares at the Purchase Price to cover overallotments, if any. The Underwriters, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Selling Stockholders at the Purchase Price that portion of the number of Option Shares as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying such number of Option Shares by a fraction the numerator of which is the maximum number of Option Shares which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Option Shares which all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder. Any such election to purchase Option Shares shall be made in proportion to the maximum number of Option Shares to be sold by each Selling Stockholder as set forth in Schedule II hereto. The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase the Option Shares at any time and from time to time on or before the thirtieth day following the date of this Agreement, by written notice from the Representatives to the Attorneys-in-Fact (as defined below). Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the 2 date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein. (b) The Selling Stockholders understand that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Selling Stockholders acknowledge and agree that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Shares purchased by it to or through any Underwriter. (c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Attorneys-in-Fact (as defined below), or any of them, in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022 at 10:00 A.M. New York City time on [?], 2004, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Attorneys-in-Fact may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Underwriters' election to purchase such Option Shares. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares are referred to herein as the "CLOSING DATE" and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, are herein referred to as the "ADDITIONAL CLOSING DATE". Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on such date in definitive form registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request in writing not later than two full business days prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Shares duly paid by the Selling Stockholders. The certificates for the Shares will be made available for inspection and packaging by the Representatives at the office of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. set forth above not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be. 3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter and the Selling Stockholders that: (a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes 3 no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to (a) any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto or (b) any Selling Stockholder furnished to the Company by such Selling Stockholder for use in any Preliminary Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto. (b) Registration Statement and Prospectus. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and the Company has not received notice after due inquiry of any proceeding for that purpose that has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the applicable filing date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to (a) any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto or (b) any Selling Stockholder furnished to the Company by such Selling Stockholder for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto. (c) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when they become effective or were filed or last amended as of the date hereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents, as amended as of the date hereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. (d) Financial Statements. The historical financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and the related notes thereto, as amended or superseded as of the date hereof, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity 4 with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise disclosed therein). The summary historical consolidated financial data and the information under the heading "Capitalization" included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are presented on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. (e) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a "MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE"); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock. (f) Organization and Good Standing. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or general partnership and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has corporate or other power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations, as the case may be, under this Agreement. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or partnership, as applicable, and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock or partnership or other ownership interests of each subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and nonassessable and is owned by the Company directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or on Schedule III hereto. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed on Schedule III hereto. (g) Authorized Capital. The authorized share capital of the Company consists of 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par 5 value, of which (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant the Company's stock option plans described in the Prospectus) [39,508,277] shares of Common Stock are outstanding and no shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders) have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights under Delaware law; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire from the Company, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. (h) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally or by general equitable principles. (i) No Violation or Default. Except with respect to claims disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter, by-laws or other constitutive document, or (ii) is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) ("DEFAULT") under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound (including, without limitation, the agreements listed in Schedule IV), or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries is subject (each, an "EXISTING INSTRUMENT"), or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such Default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. (j) No Conflicts. The Company's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or other constitutive document of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in 6 a Material Adverse Change, and (iii) assuming the accuracy of the representations, warranties and covenants of the Underwriters herein, will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. As used herein, a "DEBT REPAYMENT TRIGGERING EVENT" means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. (k) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws. (l) Legal Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) which has as the subject thereof any property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and which action, suit or proceeding, if determined adversely to the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, as the case may be, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (m) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the Company's financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent public or certified public accountants within the meaning of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. (n) Title to Real and Personal Property. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(d) above (or elsewhere in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or on Schedule III hereto or such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such subsidiary. 7 (o) Title to Intellectual Property. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses, approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS") reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses as now conducted, except where the failure to own or possess such rights would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. (p) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described. (q) Investment Company Act. The Company has been advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, "INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT"). The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. (r) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or have properly requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them except as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(d) above in respect of all material federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined. (s) Licenses and Permits. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change. (t) No Labor Disputes. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, is threatened or imminent. 8 (u) Compliance With Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change: (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products (collectively, "MATERIALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN"), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern (collectively, "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), which violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys' fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, "ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS"), pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and (iii) to the best of the Company's knowledge, there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law. (v) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material 9 Adverse Change, except to the extent otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. (w) Compliance With ERISA. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries and any "employee benefit plan" (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, "ERISA")) established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or its "ERISA Affiliates" (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. "ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any member of any group of organizations described in Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the "CODE") of which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a member. No "reportable event" (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its ERISA Affiliates. No "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its ERISA Affiliates, if such "employee benefit plan" were terminated, would have any "amount of unfunded benefit liabilities" (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any "employee benefit plan" or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification. (x) Accounting Controls. The Company maintains a system of internal controls over financial reporting that is sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. (y) Insurance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries are self-insured or are insured by recognized, financially sound institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able to (i) renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change. 10 Neither of the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied. (z) No Unlawful Payments. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character necessary to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading. (aa) No Broker's Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares. (bb) No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or, to the best knowledge of the Company, the sale of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders hereunder. (cc) No Stabilization. None of the Company or any of its affiliates has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares (but no representation is made concerning the actions of the Selling Stockholders or their affiliates). (dd) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and, to the best of its knowledge, its officers and directors are in compliance in all material respects with applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the "SARBANES-OXLEY ACT") that are effective as of the date hereof. (ee) Stock Exchange Listing. The Company's Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Stock from the NYSE, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the NYSE is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. (ff) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-14 under the Exchange Act), which: (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company's principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being 11 prepared, (ii) have been evaluated for effectiveness as of the end of the period covered by the Company's most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the Commission, and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Based on the evaluation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures described above, the Company is not aware of (a) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in internal controls or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal controls. Since the most recent evaluation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures described above, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls. (gg) No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of the members of any of them. 4. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholders. Each of the Selling Stockholders severally represents and warrants to each Underwriter and the Company that: (a) Required Consents; Authority. All consents, approvals, authorizations and orders necessary for the execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney (the "CUSTODY AGREEMENT AND POWER OF ATTORNEY") hereinafter referred to, and for the sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder, have been obtained; and such Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder; this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder. (b) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Selling Stockholder of this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, the sale of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder and the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of such Selling Stockholder pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which such Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the property or assets of such Selling Stockholder is subject, (ii) if such Selling Stockholder is not an individual, result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory agency. 12 (c) Direct Holder of Securities; Title to Securities. The Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement are certificated securities in registered form and are not held in any securities account or by or through any securities intermediary within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York ("NYUCC"). Such Selling Shareholder has, and, at the Closing Date and, if any Option Shares are purchased, on the Additional Closing Date, will have, full right, power and authority to hold, sell, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement; and upon the Underwriters' acquiring possession of such Shares and paying the purchase price therefore as herein contemplated, the Underwriters will acquire their respective interests in such Shares (including, without limitation, all rights that such Selling Shareholder had or has the power to transfer in such Shares) free of any adverse claim. (d) No Stabilization. Such Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares. (e) Registration Statement and Prospectus. As of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the applicable filing date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph 4(e) only apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement and Prospectus based upon information relating to such Selling Shareholder furnished to the Company in writing by such Selling Stockholder expressly for use therein; and provided, further that such Selling Stockholder makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made relating to the Company or in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto. Each of the Selling Stockholders represents and warrants that certificates representing all of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholders are in suitable form for transfer by delivery or accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer in blank, with signatures guaranteed hereunder have been placed in custody under a Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney relating to such Shares, in the form heretofore furnished to you, duly executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder to Sun Trust Bank, as custodian (the "CUSTODIAN"), and that such Selling Stockholder has duly executed and delivered a Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, in the form heretofore furnished to you, appointing the persons indicated in Schedule II hereto, and any two of them, as such Selling Stockholder's Attorneys-in-fact (the "ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT") with authority to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of such Selling Stockholder, to determine the purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters to the Selling 13 Stockholders as provided herein, to authorize the delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and otherwise to act on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Custody Agreement. Each of the Selling Stockholders specifically agrees that the Shares represented by the certificates held in custody for such Selling Stockholder under the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, are subject to the interests of the Underwriters hereunder, and that the arrangements made by such Selling Stockholder for such custody, and the appointment by such Selling Stockholder of the Attorneys-in-Fact by the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, are to the extent set out in the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney irrevocable. Each of the Selling Stockholders specifically agrees that the obligations of such Selling Stockholder hereunder shall not be terminated by operation of law, whether by the death or incapacity of any individual Selling Stockholder, or, in the case of an estate or trust, by the death or incapacity of any executor or trustee or the termination of such estate or trust, or in the case of a partnership, corporation or similar organization, by the dissolution of such partnership, corporation or organization, or by the occurrence of any other event. If any individual Selling Stockholder or any such executor or trustee should die or become incapacitated, or if any such estate or trust should be terminated, or if any such partnership, corporation or similar organization should be dissolved, or if any other such event should occur, before the delivery of the Shares hereunder, certificates representing such Shares shall be delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, and actions taken by the Attorneys-in-Fact pursuant to the Custody Agreement and Powers of Attorney shall be as valid as if such death, incapacity, termination, dissolution or other event had not occurred, regardless of whether or not the Custodian, the Attorneys-in-Fact, or any of them, shall have received notice of such death, incapacity, termination, dissolution or other event. (f) Absence of Knowledge of Material Adverse Change. Such Selling Stockholder's decision to sell Shares hereunder was not based upon any knowledge of any Material Adverse Change affecting the Company that has not been publicly disclosed by the Company in its filings with the Commission under the Exchange Act. 5. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that: (a) Effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time and, if required, will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A under the Securities Act and to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus to the Underwriters in New York City promptly, but in no case later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day that is two days prior to the Closing Date in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. 14 (b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, two signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith and documents incorporated by reference therein; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term "PROSPECTUS DELIVERY PERIOD" means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer. (c) Amendments or Supplements. Before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, whether before or after the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed amendment or supplement for review and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably objects. (d) Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose; (vi) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof. (e) Ongoing Compliance of the Prospectus. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not 15 misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law. (f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject. (g) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the "effective date" (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement. (h) Clear Market. For a period of 90 days after the date hereof, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, other than the issuance of shares pursuant to any stock purchase warrant outstanding on the date hereof, Shares to be sold hereunder, and the grant of awards under and issuance of any shares of Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or awards granted under, existing employee and director stock incentive plans. (i) Reports. So long as the Shares are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided that the Company need not separately furnish any information that is publicly available on the Commission's EDGAR site or the Company's website. 16 6. Further Agreements of the Selling Stockholders. Each of the Selling Stockholders covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that: (a) Clear Market. For a period of 90 days after the date of the public offering of the Shares, such Selling Stockholder will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (iii) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock without the prior written consent of the Representatives, in each case other than the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder. (b) Tax Form. It will deliver to the Representatives prior to or at the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9 (or other applicable form or statement specified by the Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof) in order to facilitate the Underwriters' documentation of their compliance with the reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 with respect to the transactions herein contemplated. 7. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions: (a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. The Registration Statement (or if a post-effective amendment thereto is required to be filed under the Securities Act, such post-effective amendment) shall have become effective, and the Representatives shall have received notice thereof, not later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date hereof; no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives. (b) Representations and Warranties. The respective representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers and of each of the Selling Stockholders made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be. 17 (c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading). (d) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, no event or condition of a type described in Section 3(e) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus. (e) Officer's Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate (i) of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Representatives (A) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, to the best knowledge of such officers, the representation of the Company set forth in Section 3(b) hereof is true and correct, (B) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date and (C) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above and (ii) of the Selling Stockholders, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, (A) confirming that the representation of such Selling Stockholders set forth in Section 4(e) hereof is true and correct and (B) confirming that the other representations and warranties of such Selling Stockholders in this agreement are true and correct and that the such Selling Stockholders have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date. (f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be shall use a "cut-off" date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be. 18 (g) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. (i) Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A hereto and (ii) ________________, Florida counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A1. (h) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders. (i) Venable LLP, counsel for the Selling Stockholders, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Selling Stockholders, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex B hereto and (ii) Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, New York counsel to the Selling Stockholders, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Selling Stockholders, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex B1. (i) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters. (j) No Legal Impediment to Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the sale of the Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the sale of the Shares. (k) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions. (l) Lock-up Agreements. The "lock-up" agreements, each substantially in the form of Annex C hereto, between you and certain shareholders, officers and directors of the Company listed on Schedule V hereto, relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of 19 Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be full force and effect on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be. (m) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request. All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters. 8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Preliminary Prospectus, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order 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 or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to (a) any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, (it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (c) below) or (b) any Selling Stockholder furnished to the Company by such Selling Stockholder for use therein; provided, further, that the Company and its subsidiaries shall not be liable to the Underwriters or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or controlling persons with respect to any such untrue statement or omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus existing as of the date hereof that is corrected in the Prospectus if (i) the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action purchased Shares from the Underwriters in reliance upon the Preliminary Prospectus but was not delivered or sent a copy of the Prospectus, if required by law, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Shares to such person, unless such failure to deliver or send the Prospectus was a result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 5 of this Agreement and (ii) the Underwriters, and each such officer, director, employee and controlling person, if any, would not have incurred such loss, claim, damage, liability or action had the Prospectus been delivered or sent. (b) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Selling Stockholders. Each of the Selling Stockholders severally in proportion to the number of Shares to be sold by such 20 Selling Stockholder hereunder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, the legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Preliminary Prospectus, 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, provided, however, that such indemnification shall be only with respect to information regarding the Selling Stockholders furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Preliminary Prospectus. The Underwriters agree that the information furnished to the Company specifically for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Preliminary Prospectus includes only the information relating to the Selling Shareholder set forth in Annex D hereto; provided, further that the Selling Stockholders will not be liable to any Underwriter insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (c) below; and provided further, that the liability of the Selling Stockholders pursuant to this Section 8(b) shall not exceed the product of the number of Shares sold by such Selling Stockholders, including the Option Shares and the public offering price of the Shares set out in the Prospectus. (c) Indemnification of the Company and the Selling Stockholders. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each of the Selling Stockholders to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the [third] paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" and the information relating to stabilization in paragraphs [13 through 15] under the caption "Underwriting". 21 (d) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be properly sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 8, such person (the "INDEMNIFIED PERSON") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be properly sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PERSON") in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 8 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel reasonably required to defend the claim) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company and any such separate firm for the Selling Stockholders shall be designated in writing by the Attorneys-in-Fact. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written 22 consent of the Indemnified Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding. (e) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Selling Stockholders from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other 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 and the Selling Stockholders or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. (f) Limitation on Liability. The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (e) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (e) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter 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) 23 of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint. (g) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity. 9. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the later of (i) the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto and (ii) receipt by the Company and the Representatives of notice of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or, if applicable, any post-effective amendment thereto). 10. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus. 11. Defaulting Underwriter. (a) If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company and the Selling Stockholders may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company, counsel for the Selling Stockholders or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that 24 effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section 11, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase. (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholders as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter's pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made. (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholders as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of the Company and the Selling Stockholders, except that the Selling Stockholders will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 12 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 8 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect. (d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company, the Selling Stockholders or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default. 12. Payment of Expenses. (a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Selling Stockholders will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of their respective obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney (excluding the costs of underwriters' counsel); (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company's counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the laws of such jurisdictions 25 as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any "road show" presentation to potential investors; and (x) all expenses and fees of the Custodian. (b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10, (ii) the Selling Stockholders for any reason fail to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Selling Stockholders, severally and not jointly, agree to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby. (c) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10, (ii) the Selling Stockholders for any reason fail to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Selling Stockholders, severally and not jointly, agree to reimburse the Company for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel and its independent auditors) reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby. 13. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase. 14. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters. 15. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term "business day" means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. 26 16. Miscellaneous. (a) Authority of the Representatives. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. shall be binding upon the Underwriters. (b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives: J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., 277 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York, 10172 (fax: (212) 622-8358); Attention: Syndicate Desk, and to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005 (fax: (212) 797-9344); Attention: Syndicate Desk and a copy to the General Counsel's Office (fax: (212) 797-4564), with a copy to Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, 10022-6069, Attention: Andrew R. Schleider, Esq. (fax (212) 848-7179)). Notices to the Company shall be given to it at Gaylord Entertainment Company, One Gaylord Drive, Nashville Tennessee 37214, (fax: (615) 316-6544); Attention: Carter R. Todd, Esq., with a copy to Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, 315 Deaderick Street, Suite 2700, Nashville, Tennessee 37238 (fax: (615) 742-2775); Attention: F. Mitchell Walker, Jr. Notices to the Selling Stockholders shall be given to the Attorneys-in-Fact: Gary C. Pierson, Michael P. Collison and Christine Everest Gaylord, c/o Oklahoma Publishing Company, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125, (fax: (405) 475-3969) with a copy to Venable LLP, 8010 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 300, Vienna, Virginia 22182-2707; Attention: Matthew B. Swartz, Esq. (fax: (703) 821-8949). (c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. (d) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby ("RELATED PROCEEDINGS") may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the "SPECIFIED COURTS"), and each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "RELATED JUDGMENT"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive). Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. (e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 27 (f) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto. (g) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement. [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS] 28 If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below. Very truly yours, GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY By: -------------------------------------- Name: David C. Kloeppel Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer SELLING STOCKHOLDERS By: -------------------------------------- Name: Title: By: -------------------------------------- Name: Title: As Attorneys-in-Fact acting on behalf of each of the Selling Stockholders named in Schedule II to this Agreement. Accepted: ______________, 2004 DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto. By ------------------------------ Authorized Signatory By ------------------------------ Authorized Signatory J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto. By ------------------------------- Authorized Signatory SCHEDULE I Underwriter Number of Shares Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ---------------- Total 5,872,113 Schedule I SCHEDULE II
Number of Number of Selling Stockholders Underwritten Shares Option Shares E. L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation........................... 3,043,479 456,521 GFI Company................................................... 1,829,362 274,404 Christine Gaylord Everest..................................... 303,620 45,543 Louise Gaylord Bennett........................................ 695,652 104,348 ------------------ --------------- 5,872,113 880,816
Schedule II SCHEDULE III List of Company Subsidiaries [Company/Bass Berry to provide] Schedule III SCHEDULE IV List of Debt Instruments [Company/Bass Berry to provide] Schedule IV SCHEDULE V List of Directors, Officers and Stockholders Subject to Lock-up Agreements Michael D. Rose Colin V. Reed David C. Kloeppel Jay D. Sevigny Mark Fiorvanti John P. Caparella Carter R. Todd Rod Connor Robert P. Bowen E. K. Gaylord II E. Gordon Gee Laurence S. Geller Ralph Horn Michael I. Roth Martin Dickinson Mary Christine Gaylord E. L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation GFI Company Christine Gaylord Everest Louise Gaylord Bennett Schedule V ANNEX A FORM OF OPINION OF BASS BERRY & SIMS PLC, COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY (a) The Registration Statement was declared effective under the Securities Act as of the date and time specified in such opinion; the Prospectus was filed with the Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act specified in such opinion on the date specified therein; and no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose is pending or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, threatened by the Commission. (b) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus (other than the financial statements, financial data and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. (c) The Company and each of its subsidiaries listed on Annex 1 attached hereto have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction listed beside their names on Annex 1, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be so qualified or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. (d) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders) have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company listed in Annex 1 are owned, directly or indirectly, of record or beneficially by the Company. (e) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. (f) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement, and compliance by the Company with the terms of, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by, the Underwriting Agreement will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or a Debt Repayment Trigger Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument listed on Schedule IV to the Underwriting Agreement or which has been filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annex A-1 Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (but no opinion is given with respect to Exhibits 10.26-10.41 (Executive Compensation Plans and Management Contracts) or with respect to any matters which would require us to perform a mathematical calculation or make a financial or accounting determination) (the "REVIEWED INSTRUMENTS"). The execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company and the compliance by the Company with all of their obligations under the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (i) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or comparable organizational documents of the Company or of any of the subsidiaries listed on Annex I or (ii) to our knowledge will not result in any violation of any applicable statute, judgment, order, rule or regulation known to us of any court or federal, Tennessee or Delaware governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets. (g) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement, and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters. (h) To the knowledge of such counsel, there is no litigation threatened or to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject except as described in the Prospectus, or if not described therein, would not, individually or in the aggregate with all other such actions, suits and proceedings be reasonably expected to have, if adversely determined, a Material Adverse Change on the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise. (i) The statements contained in the Prospectus under the captions "Description of Capital Stock" and "Business -- Legal Proceedings" insofar as such statements constitute matters of law, summaries of legal matters, documents or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, have been reviewed by us and fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein. To the knowledge of such counsel, there are no contracts and other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been so filed. (j) The Company is not required to register as an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. (k) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, (other than the financial statements, financial data and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the Commission or last amended as of the date hereof, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Annex A-2 Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Such counsel shall also state that they have participated in conferences with representatives of the Company and with representatives of its independent accountants and counsel at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto and related matters were discussed, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel to cause such counsel to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time of its effective date (including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A to be part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto as of its date and the Closing Date contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (other than the financial statements and related notes and schedules and other financial data contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief). In giving this opinion or undertaking the above-described representation, such counsel has not verified and is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto, except to the extent set forth in paragraph (i) of this opinion. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters of fact on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials that are furnished to the Underwriters. The opinion of Bass Berry & Sims PLC described above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (i) state that its opinion is limited to matters governed by the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of Tennessee and the Delaware General Corporation Law and (ii) assume, for the purposes of the opinions expressed in paragraphs (f) and (g) above with respect to an agreement that provides that it is governed by the laws of the State other than Tennessee, that the internal laws of the State of Tennessee would govern such agreements. Annex A-3 ANNEX 1 LIST OF SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY [to be provided by Bass Berry/Company] Annex A-1 ANNEX A1 FORM OF OPINION OF FLORIDA COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY Annex A-1 ANNEX B FORM OF OPINION OF VENABLE LLP, COUNSEL FOR THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS (a) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of each of the Selling Stockholders. (b) A Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Selling Stockholder and constitute valid and binding agreements of each Selling Stockholder in accordance with their terms. (c) The sale of the Shares and the execution and delivery by each Selling Stockholders of, and the performance by each Selling Stockholders of its obligations under, the Underwriting Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, (i) have been duly authorized on the part of each of the Selling Stockholders, and (ii) will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement or instrument to which any Selling Stockholder is a party or by which any Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the property or assets of any Selling Stockholder is subject, nor will any such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of any Selling Stockholder in the case of a Selling Shareholder that is not an individual or any applicable law or statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder or any of its properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Selling Stockholders of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, except such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as have been obtained under the Securities Act and as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters, except as would not have a material adverse effect, which for the purposes of this opinion would exclude such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications that if not obtained may have an adverse effect on the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters or in any way restrict such transfer of Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. Annex B-1 ANNEX B1 FORM OF OPINION OF THELEN REID & PRIEST LLP, NEW YORK COUNSEL FOR THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS (a) Each Selling Shareholder has full right, power and authority to sell, transfer and deliver such Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. Assuming that (i) the certificate or certificates representing the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement have been effectively indorsed in blank in accordance with NYUCC Article 8 and (ii) the Underwriters are without notice of any adverse claim to the Shares, then, upon the Underwriters' acquiring possession of such certificate or certificates for the Shares and paying the purchase price therefore pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter will be a "protected purchaser" of the Shares to be purchased by it (within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the NYUCC) and will acquire its interest in such Securities (including, without limitation, all rights that such Selling Shareholder had or has the power to transfer in such Shares) free of any adverse claim. Annex B-1 ANNEX C [FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT] [o], 2004 J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. As Representatives of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I of the Underwriting Agreement ---------- c/o J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. 277 Park Avenue New York, New York 10172 Re: Gaylord Entertainment Company--- Public Offering Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned understands that you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the "UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT") with Gaylord Entertainment Company, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), providing for the public offering (the "PUBLIC OFFERING") by the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the "UNDERWRITERS"), of the common stock of the Company (the "SECURITIES"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. In consideration of the Underwriters' agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Securities, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the "PROSPECTUS"), (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock, $0.01 per share par value, of the Company (the "COMMON STOCK") or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules Annex C-1 and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned. The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Letter Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement. [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS] Annex C-2 This lock-up agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Very truly yours, [NAME OF STOCKHOLDER/DIRECTOR/OFFICER] By: --------------------------------------- Name: Title: Annex C-3 ANNEX D Information Provided by Selling Stockholders All the information in the Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus under the Caption "Selling Stockholders." Annex D-1