NGTV INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENTInvestors Rights Agreement |
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Search Investors Rights Agreement by:
Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION COPY
NGTV
INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
February 12, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE
I — GENERAL |
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3 |
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1.1
Definitions |
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3 |
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ARTICLE
II — REGISTRATION; RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER |
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6 |
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2.1
Restrictions on Transfer |
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6 |
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2.2
Demand Registration |
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7 |
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2.3
Piggyback Registrations |
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9 |
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2.4
Form S-3 Registration |
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10 |
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2.5
Expenses of Registration |
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12 |
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2.6
Obligations of the Company |
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12 |
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2.7
Termination of Company’s Registration Obligation |
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14 |
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2.8
Delay of Registration; Furnishing Information |
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14 |
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2.9
Indemnification |
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15 |
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2.10
Assignment of Registration Rights |
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18 |
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2.11
Amendment of Registration Rights |
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18 |
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2.12
Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights |
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18 |
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2.13
Rule 144 Reporting |
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18 |
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ARTICLE
III — COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY |
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19 |
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3.1
Basic Financial Information and Reporting |
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19 |
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3.2
Confidentiality of Records |
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20 |
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3.3
Termination of Covenants |
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20 |
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ARTICLE
IV — RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL |
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21 |
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4.1
Subsequent Offerings |
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21 |
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4.2
Exercise of Rights |
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21 |
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4.3
Issuance of Equity Securities to Other Persons |
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21 |
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4.4
Termination and Waiver of Rights of First Refusal |
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21 |
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4.5
Transfer of Rights of First Refusal |
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22 |
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4.6
Excluded Securities |
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22 |
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ARTICLE
V — MISCELLANEOUS |
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23 |
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5.1
Governing Law |
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23 |
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5.2
Survival |
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23 |
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5.3
Successors and Assigns |
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23 |
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5.4
Entire Agreement |
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23 |
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5.5
Severability |
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24 |
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5.6
Amendment and Waiver |
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24 |
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5.7
Delays or Omissions |
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24 |
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5.8
Notices |
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24 |
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5.9
Titles and Subtitles |
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25 |
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5.10
Counterparts |
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25 |
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5.11
Further Assurances |
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25 |
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5.12
Interpretation |
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25 |
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5.13
Rights Cumulative |
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This
Investor Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into
as of February 12. 2004, by and among NGTV , a California
corporation (the “Company”) and the persons and entities
listed on Schedule A hereto, (the “Investors” and each
individually as an “Investor”), Kourosh Taj, Janak Vibhakar
(each referred to herein as a “Founder” and collectively as
the “Founders”) and Gene Simmons LLC, Allan Brown and
Richard Abramson LLC (each referred to herein as a “Principal
Shareholder” and collectively as the “Principal Shareholders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreements and the Agency
Agreement, the Investors are purchasing units (“Units”) of
the Company (the “Financing”) each Unit consisting of one
share of Common Stock of the Company (a “Unit Share”) and
one-half of a warrant (each a “Warrant”) each whole Warrant
entitling the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock (a “Warrant
Share”) for $0.365 for a period of 12 months following the
Closing Date (as defined in the Subscription Agreements);
WHEREAS,
the obligations of the Investors pursuant to the Subscription Agreements
are conditional, among other things, upon the execution and delivery of this
Agreement;
WHEREAS,
as part of the Financing, the HJG Note has been converted into Units in accordance
with the terms thereof and the Agency Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
in connection with the consummation of the Financing, the parties desire to
enter into this Agreement to grant registration, information rights and other
rights to the Investors as set forth below.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
the parties agree hereto as follows:
ARTICLE I — GENERAL
1.1 Definitions
As
used in this Agreement the following terms shall have the following respective
meanings:
“Agency
Agreement” means the Agency Agreement dated the date hereof by and
between the Company and the Agent;
“Agent”
means Standard Securities Capital Corporation;
“Agent’s
Compensation Shares” means the shares of Common Stock of the Company
issued upon exercise by the Agent of the Agent’s Compensation Option in
accordance with its terms;
4.
“Agent’s
Warrant Shares” means the shares of Common Stock of the Company
issued upon exercise of the Agent’s Warrants, in accordance with its
terms;
“Canadian
Go Public Transaction” means a transaction whereby the Company
becomes a publicly traded company on a recognized stock exchange in Canada
whether pursuant to: (i) a final prospectus for which a receipt has been
issued by a securities commission or similar regulatory body in Canada; or
(ii) pursuant to a reverse take-over, statutory amalgamation, statutory
arrangement or similar transaction involving the Company and which, in each
case, results in the Common Stock of the Company or the common stock of the
resulting issuer being listed on a recognized stock exchange in Canada;
“Common
Stock” means the shares of common stock in the capital of the
Company;
“Executive
Officers” means the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
and such other officers who are in a position to direct the policy of the
Company;
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
“Financing”
has the meaning given to such term in the Recitals;
“Form S-3”
means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or
any successor or similar registration form under the Securities Act subsequently
adopted by the SEC which permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial
information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC;
“Founder
Shares” mean all shares of Common Stock registered in the respective
names of the Founders or beneficially owned by them as of the date hereof and
as more specifically set out in Schedule B and any other securities
issuable with respect to or in exchange for such shares of Common Stock;
“Founders”
means Janak Vibhakar and Kourosh Taj;
“HJG
Note” means the promissory note dated as of January 16, 2004
evidencing the loan in the amount of $250,000 made by HJG Partnership to the
Company;
“Holder”
means any person owning of record Registrable Securities that have not been
sold to the public or any assignee of record of such Registrable Securities in
accordance with Section 2.10 hereof.
“Initial
Offering” means the Company’s first firm commitment
underwritten public offering of its Common Stock to the general public registered
under the Securities Act.
“Principal
Shareholder Shares” mean all shares of Common Stock registered in the
respective names of the Principal Shareholders or beneficially owned by them as
of the date hereof and as more specifically set out in Schedule C and any
other securities issuable with respect to or in exchange for such shares of
Common Stock, including with respect to such
5.
options to acquire Common
Stock held by the Principal Shareholders respectively and as set out in
Schedule C;
“Principal
Shareholders” mean Gene Simmons LLC, [Allan Brown] and Richard
Abramson LLC;
“Register”,
“registered”, and “registration” refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or
similar document in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or
ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement or document;
“Registrable
Securities” means (i) the Shares, the Warrant Shares, the
Agent’s Compensation Shares and the Agent’s Warrant Shares, if any,
and (ii) any other securities issued or issuable with respect to or in a
exchange for Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Registrable
Securities shall not include any securities sold by a person to the public
either pursuant to a registration statement or Rule 144 or sold in a
private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under Section 2
of this Agreement are not assigned;
“Registrable
Securities then outstanding” means the number of shares determined by
calculating the total number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that
are Registrable Securities and either (a) are then issued and outstanding
or (b) are issuable pursuant to then exercisable or convertible
securities;
“Registration
Expenses” means all expenses incurred by the Company in complying
with Sections 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 hereof, including, without limitation, all
registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company, reasonable fees and disbursements of a single special
counsel for the Holders, blue sky fees and expenses and the expense of any
special audits incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding
the compensation of regular employees of the Company which shall be paid in any
event by the Company);
“SEC”
or “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange
Commission;
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
“Selling
Expenses” means all underwriting discounts and selling commissions
applicable to the securities registered by the Holders;
“Shares”
means the shares of Common Stock forming part of the Units issued pursuant
to the terms of the Agency Agreement and the Subscription Agreements including
those issued shares pursuant to the mandatory conversion requirements contained
in the HJG Note and those Shares issued to Modena Investments Inc. pursuant to
its convertible note;
“Special
Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement relating
to any employee benefit plan or with respect to any corporate reorganization or
other transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act;
6.
“Subscription
Agreements” means the subscription agreements entered into between
the Investors and the Company in respect of the purchase of Units;
“Units”
has the meaning given to such terms in the Recitals;
“Warrants”
has the meaning given to such term in the Recitals;
“Warrant
Shares” has the meaning given to such term in the Recitals;
ARTICLE II — REGISTRATION; RESTRICTIONS ON
TRANSFER
2.1 Restrictions on
Transfer
(a) Each Holder will not
make any disposition of all or any portion of the Common Stock or Registrable
Securities unless and until:
(i) There is then in
effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed
disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration
statement; or
(ii) (A) The transferee
has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, (B) such
Holder shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and shall
have furnished the Company with a detailed statement of the circumstances
surrounding the proposed disposition, and (C) if reasonably requested by the
Company, such Holder shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of
counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such disposition will not
require registration of such shares under the Securities Act. It is agreed that
the Company will not require opinions of counsel for transactions made pursuant
to Rule 144 except in unusual circumstances or where the disposition is
made by an Investor who is not a U.S. Person within the meaning of
Regulation D under the Securities Act and such trade is completed wholly
outside of the United States.
(iii) Notwithstanding
the provisions of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, no such registration
statement or opinion of counsel shall be necessary for a transfer by a Holder
which is (A) a partnership to its partners or former partners in
accordance with partnership interests, (B) a corporation to its
shareholders in accordance with their interest in the corporation, (C) a
limited liability company to its members or former members in accordance with
their interest in the limited liability company, (D) to the Holder’s
family member or trust for the benefit of an individual Holder, or (E)
otherwise an “affiliate” of a Holder as such term is defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act; provided that in each case the
transferee will be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as
if he were an original Holder hereunder.
7.
(iv) The provisions of
paragraphs (i) and (ii) above shall not apply where the disposition
is made by an Investor who is not a U.S. Person and where such disposition is
made in connection with a Canadian Go Public Transaction or otherwise pursuant
to an exemption to the prospectus and registration requirements under
applicable Canadian securities laws.
(b) Each certificate
representing Common Stock or Registrable Securities shall (unless otherwise permitted
by the provisions of the Agreement) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a
legend substantially similar to the following (in addition to any legend
required under applicable state securities laws):
“THE SECURITIES
REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
(THE “ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED,
ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR
UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE
COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.”
(c) The Company shall be
obligated to reissue promptly unlegended certificates at the request of any
holder thereof if the holder shall have obtained an opinion of counsel (which counsel
may be counsel to the Company) reasonably acceptable to the Company to the
effect that the securities proposed to be disposed of may lawfully be so
disposed of without registration, qualification or legend.
(d) Any legend endorsed
on an instrument pursuant to applicable state securities laws and the
stop-transfer instructions with respect to such securities shall be removed
upon receipt by the Company of an order of the appropriate blue sky authority
authorizing such removal.
2.2 Demand Registration
(a) Subject to the
conditions of this Section 2.2, if after the six month anniversary of the
closing of the Company’s Initial Offering the Company shall receive a
written request from the Holder or Holders of at least fifty percent (50%) of
the Shares requesting that the Company file a registration statement under the
Securities Act covering the registration of the Registrable Securities (the
“Initiating Holders”), then the Company shall, and subject
to the limitations of this Section 2.2 use its reasonable best efforts to
cause such shares to be registered.
(b) If the Initiating
Holders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their
request by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part
of their request made pursuant to this Section 2.2 or any
8.
request pursuant to
Section 2.4 and the Company shall include such information in the written
notice referred to in Section 2.2(a) or Section 2.4(a), as
applicable. In such event, the right of any Holder to include its Registrable
Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s
participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All
Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting
shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the
underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by a majority in
interest of the Initiating Holders (which underwriter or Underwriters shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Company). Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Section 2.2 or Section 2.4, if the underwriter advises the
Company that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of securities
to be underwritten (including Registrable Securities) then the Company shall so
advise all Holders of Registrable Securities which would otherwise be
underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of shares that may be included in
the underwriting shall be allocated to the Holders of such Registrable
Securities on a pro rata basis based on the number of Registrable
Securities held by all such Holders (including the Initiating Holders);
provided, however, that the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be
included in such underwriting and registration shall not be reduced unless,
first, all securities of the Company held by the Founders are entirely excluded
from the underwriting and registration and then all other securities of the
Company are entirely excluded from the underwriting and registration. Any
Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be
withdrawn from the registration.
(c) The Company shall
not be required to effect a registration pursuant to this Section 2.2:
(i) after the Company
has effected two (2) registrations pursuant to this Section 2.2, and
such registrations have been declared or ordered effective;
(ii) during the period
starting with the date of filing of, and ending on the date one hundred eighty
(180) days following the effective date of the registration statement
pertaining to a public offering, other than pursuant to a Special Registration
Statement; provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith all
reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective;
(iii) if within thirty
(30) days of receipt of a written request from Initiating Holders pursuant
to Section 2.2(a), the Company gives notice to the Holders, of the
Company’s intention to make a public offering, other than pursuant to a
Special Registration Statement, within ninety (90) days, which notice may
be delivered only once in any twelve (12) month period;
(iv) if the Company
shall furnish to Holders requesting a registration statement pursuant to this
Section 2.2, a certificate signed by the Chairman
9.
of the Board stating that in
the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be
seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such registration
statement to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have
the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than one hundred twenty
(120) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Holders;
provided that such right to delay a request shall be exercised by the Company
not more than once in any twelve (12) month period;
(v) if the Initiating
Holders propose to dispose of shares of Registrable Securities that may be
immediately registered on Form S-3 pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 2.4
below; or
(vi) if a Canadian Go
Public Transaction has been consummated.
2.3 Piggyback
Registrations
The
Company shall notify all Holders of Registrable Securities in writing at least
fifteen (15) days prior to the filing of any registration statement under
the Securities Act for purposes of a public offering of securities of the
Company (including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to
secondary offerings of securities of the Company, but excluding Special
Registration Statements and will afford each such Holder an opportunity to
include in such registration statement all or part of such Registrable
Securities held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such
registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by it
shall, within fifteen (15) days after the above-described notice from the
Company, so notify the Company in writing. Such notice shall state the intended
method of disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Holder. If a Holder
decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration
statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Holder shall nevertheless
continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any
subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by
the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
(a) Underwriting. If
the registration statement under which the Company gives notice under this
Section 2.3 is for an underwritten offering, the Company shall so advise
the Holders of Registrable Securities. In such event, the right of any such
Holder to be included in a registration pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall
be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and
the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting
to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their
Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an
underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters
selected for such underwriting by the Company. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Agreement, if the Company and its underwriter determines in
good faith that market conditions require a limitation of the number of shares
to be underwritten (including to zero), the number of shares that may be
included in the underwriting shall be allocated, first, to the Company; second,
to the Holders (excluding the
10.
Founders) on a pro rata basis
based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders; third,
to the Founders on a pro rata basis, and fourth, to any stockholder of
the Company (other than a Holder or a Founder) on a pro rata basis. If
any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may
elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the
underwriter, delivered at least fifteen (15) business days prior to the
effective date of the registration statement, provided that the Company
shall have provided the Holders written notice of the proposed effective date
of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn
from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration.
For any Holder which is a partnership, corporation or limited liability
company, the partners, retired partners, shareholders, members and retired
members of such Holder, or the estates and family members of any such partners,
retired partners, members and retired members and any trusts for the benefit of
any of the foregoing persons shall be deemed to be a single “Holder,”
and any pro rata reduction with respect to such “Holder”
shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying registration rights
owned by all entities and individuals included in such “Holder,” as
defined in this sentence.
(b) Right to Terminate
Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any
registration initiated by it under this Section 2.3 prior to the
effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holder has elected to
include securities in such registration. The Registration Expenses of such
withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with
Section 2.5 hereof.
For the purposes of
Section 2.3, “Holder” or “Holders” shall be deemed
to include the Founders and the Principal Shareholders and “Registrable
Securities” shall be deemed to include the Founder Shares and Principal
Shareholder Shares.
To the extent that the
Principal Shareholders and Founders exercise their Piggy Back Registration
Rights as provided for in Section 2.3, then any other reference in this
Agreement to “Holder” or “Holders” or
“Registrable Securities” including, without limitation, in Sections 2.5
and 2.9 hereof, which refer to Section 2.3 shall be deemed to include the
Founders and Founder Shares and the Principal Shareholders and Principal
Shareholder Shares, as applicable.
2.4 Form S-3
Registration
In
case the Company shall receive from any Holder or Holders of Registrable
Securities a written request or requests that the Company effect a registration
on Form S-3 (or any successor to Form S-3) or any similar short-form
registration statement and any related qualification or compliance with respect
to all or a part of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders,
in excess of $1 million, the Company will:
(a) promptly give
written notice of the proposed registration, and any related qualification or
compliance, to all other Holders of Registrable Securities; and
11.
(b) as soon as
practicable, effect such registration and all such qualifications and
compliances as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale
and distribution of all or such portion of such Holder’s or
Holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request,
together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other
Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request
given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from
the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated
to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this
Section 2.4:
(i) if the amount of
securities to be sold pursuant to such registration on Form S-3 is less than
$1 million;
(ii) if Form S-3 is not
available for such offering by the Holders;
(iii) if within thirty
(30) days of receipt of a written request from any Holder or Holders
pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company gives notice to such Holder or
Holders of the Company’s intention to make a public offering within
ninety (90) days, other than pursuant to a Special Registration Statement,
which notice may be delivered only once in any twelve-month period;
(iv) if the Company
shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the
Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the
Company and its shareholders for such Form S-3 registration to be effected at
such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer the filing
of the Form S-3 registration statement for a period of not more than ninety
(90) days after receipt of the request of the Holder or Holders under this
Section 2.4; provided that such right to delay a request shall be
exercised by the Company not more than once in any twelve (12) month
period;
(v) if the Company has,
within the twelve (12) month period preceding the date of such request,
already effected two (2) registrations on Form S-3 for the Holders
pursuant to this Section 2.4; or
(vi) in any particular
jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to qualify to do business
or to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such
registration, qualification or compliance.
(c) Subject to the
foregoing, the Company shall file a Form S-3 registration statement covering
the Registrable Securities and other securities so requested to be registered
as soon as practicable after receipt of the request or requests of the Holders.
Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall not be counted
as
12.
demands for registration or
registrations effected pursuant to Sections 2.2 or 2.3, respectively.
2.5 Expenses of
Registration
All
Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration,
qualification or compliance pursuant to Section 2.2 or any registration
under Section 2.3 or Section 2.4 herein shall be borne by the
Company. All Selling Expenses incurred in connection with any registrations
hereunder, and all expenses in excess of $15,000 for any special audit required
in connection with a demand registration shall be borne by the holders of the
securities so registered pro rata on the basis of the number of shares
so registered. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay for expenses
of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 2.2 or 2.4, the
request of which has been subsequently withdrawn by the Initiating Holders
unless (a) the withdrawal is based upon material adverse information
concerning the Company of which the Initiating Holders were not aware at the
time of such request or (b) the Holders of a majority of Registrable
Securities agree to forfeit their right to one requested registration pursuant
to Section 2.2 or Section 2.4, as applicable, in which event such
right shall be forfeited by all Holders). If the Holders are required to pay
the Registration Expenses, such expenses shall be borne by the holders of
securities (including Registrable Securities) requesting such registration in
proportion to the number of shares for which registration was requested. If the
Company is required to pay the Registration Expenses of a withdrawn offering
pursuant to clause (a) above, then the Holders shall not forfeit their
rights pursuant to Section 2.2 or Section 2.4 to a demand
registration.
2.6 Obligations of the
Company
Whenever
required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company
shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:
(a) Prepare and file
with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable
Securities and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to
become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement
continuously effective for a period of up to ninety (90) days or until the
distribution contemplated in the Registration Statement has been completed;
provided, however, that (i) such 90-day period shall be extended for a
period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains from selling any
securities included in such registration at the request of an underwriter of
Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company; and (ii) in the case of
any registration of Registrable Securities on Form S-3 which are intended to be
offered on a continuous or delayed basis, such 90-day period shall be extended,
if necessary, to keep the registration statement effective continuously until
all such Registrable Securities are sold, provided that Rule 415,
or any successor rule under the Securities Act, permits an offering on a
continuous or delayed basis, and provided further that applicable rules under
the Securities Act governing the obligation to file a post-effective amendment
permit, in lieu of filing a post-effective amendment which (I) includes
any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or
13.
(II) reflects facts or
events representing a material or fundamental change in the information set
forth in the registration statement, the incorporation by reference of
information required to be included in (I) and (II) above to be
contained in periodic reports filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act in the registration statement.
(b) Prepare and file
with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and
the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be
necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to
the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement for
the period set forth in paragraph (a) above.
(c) Furnish to the
Holders such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary
prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such
other documents as they may reasonably request to facilitate the disposition of
Registrable Securities owned by them.
(d) Use its best efforts
to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement
under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be
reasonably requested by the Holders; provided that the Company shall not
be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do
business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states
or jurisdictions unless the Company is already subject to service in such
jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act.
(e) In the event of any
underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing
underwriter(s) of such offering. Each Holder participating in such underwriting
shall also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement.
(f) In the event of any
underwritten public offering, cooperate with the selling Holders, the
underwriters participating in the offering and their counsel in any due
diligence investigation reasonably requested by the selling Holders or the
underwriters in connection therewith, and participate, to the extent reasonably
requested by the managing underwriter for the offering or the selling Holder,
in efforts to sell the Registrable Securities under the offering (including,
without limitation, participating in “roadshow” meetings with
prospective investors) that would be customary for underwritten primary
offerings of a comparable amount of equity securities by the Company.
(g) Cause all such
Registrable Securities registered pursuant hereunder to be listed on each
securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then
listed.
14.
(h) Provide a transfer
agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered pursuant
hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, in each case
not later than the effective date of such registration.
(i) Notify each Holder
of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time
when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the
prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing. The Company will
use its best efforts to amend or supplement such prospectus to cause such
prospectus not to include 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 not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
existing.
(j) Furnish, at the
request of any Holder requesting registration of Registrable Securities, on the
date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for
sale, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such
securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the
registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities becomes
effective, (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, of the counsel
representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and
substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public
offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, or to the Holders requesting
registration of Registrable Securities if no underwriter is involved, and
(ii) a letter dated as of such date, from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by
independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public
offering addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting
registration of Registrable Securities if no underwriter is involved.
2.7 Termination of
Company’s Registration Obligation
The
registration obligations of the Company set out in Section 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4
shall terminate upon the earlier of the following:
(a) the date which is
five (5) years following the completion of the Initial Offering; and
(b) the date following
the completion of the Initial Offering on which each Holder holds less than one
percent (1%) of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and such
shares may be immediately sold pursuant to Rule 144 during any ninety
(90) day period.
2.8 Delay of Registration;
Furnishing Information
15.
(a) No Holder shall have
any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any
such registration as the result of any controversy that might arise with
respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 2.
(b) It shall be a
condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action
pursuant to Section 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4 that the selling Holders shall furnish
to the Company such information regarding themselves, the Registrable
Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of such
securities as shall be required to effect the registration of their Registrable
Securities.
(c) The Company shall
have no obligation with respect to any registration requested pursuant to
Section 2.2 or Section 2.4 if, due to the operation of subsection
2.2(b), the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate offering price of the
Registrable Securities to be included in the registration does not equal or
exceed the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate offering price
required to originally trigger the Company’s obligation to initiate such
registration as specified in Section 2.2 or Section 2.4, whichever is
applicable.
2.9 Indemnification
In the event any Registrable
Securities are included in a registration statement under Sections 2.2,
2.3 or 2.4:
(a) To the extent
permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the
partners, officers, members and directors of each Holder, any underwriter (as
defined in the Securities Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who
controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or
several) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations
(collectively a “Violation”) by the Company: (i) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final
prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
(iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation
promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities
law in connection with the offering covered by such registration statement; and
the Company will pay as incurred to each such Holder, partner, officer, member,
director, underwriter or controlling person for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that
the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.9(a) shall not apply to
amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
if
16.
such settlement is effected
without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it arises out of or is
based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by
such Holder, partner, member, officer, director, underwriter or controlling
person of such Holder.
(b) To the extent
permitted by law, each Holder will (on a several and not a joint and several
basis), if Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in the
securities as to which such registration qualifications or compliance is being
effected, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, its officers
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, any underwriter and any other Holder selling securities under
such registration statement or any of such other Holder’s partners,
members, directors or officers or any person who controls such Holder, against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which the
Company or any such director, officer, member, controlling person, underwriter
or other such Holder, or partner, member, director, officer or controlling
person of such other Holder may become subject under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based
upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that
such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished by such Holder under an instrument duly executed by such
Holder and stated to be specifically for use in connection with such
registration; and each such Holder will pay as incurred any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer,
controlling person, underwriter or other Holder, or partner, member, officer,
director or controlling person of such other Holder in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if
it is judicially determined that there was such a Violation; provided,
however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.9(b)
shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the
Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further,
that in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 2.9 exceed the
net proceeds from the offering received by such Holder.
(c) Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 2.9 of notice of the
commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 2.9, deliver to the indemnifying
party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party
shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying
party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed,
to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the
right to retain its own counsel,
17.
with the fees and expenses to
be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party
by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party (together with all other
indemnified parties which may be represented without conflict by one counsel)
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such
proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party
within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if materially
prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying
party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 2.9,
but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will
not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under this Section 2.9.
(d) If the
indemnification provided for in this Section 2.9 is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect
to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, the
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder,
shall to the extent permitted by applicable law contribute to the amount paid
or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or
liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the
other hand in connection with the Violation(s) that resulted in such loss,
claim, damage or liability, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the
indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission; provided that in no event shall any
contribution by a Holder hereunder exceed the net proceeds from the offering
received by such Holder.
(e) The obligations of
the Company and Holders under this Section 2.9 shall survive completion of
any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement and the
termination of this Agreement. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any
such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified
Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does
not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or
plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect
to such claim or litigation.
(f) Any indemnity
obligation of a Holder hereunder pursuant to Section 2.9(b) is a several
and distinct obligation of such Holder and no other Holder shall have any
obligation or liability to indemnify the Company in respect of such
Holder’s obligations to indemnify.
18.
2.10 Assignment of
Registration Rights
The
rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Section 2 may be assigned by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of
Registrable Securities which (a) is a subsidiary, parent, general partner,
limited partner, retired partner, member or retired member of a Holder,
(b) is a Holder’s family member or trust for the benefit of such
Holder, (c) acquires at least Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (250,000) shares
of Registrable Securities (as adjusted for stock splits and combinations); or
(d) is otherwise an “affiliate” of a Holder as such term is
defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, provided, however, (i) the
transferor shall, within ten (10) business days after such transfer, furnish to
the Company written notice of the name and address of such transferee —
or assignee and the securities with respect to which such registration rights
are being assigned and (ii) such transferee shall agree to be subject to
all restrictions set forth in this Agreement.
2.11 Amendment of
Registration Rights
Any
provision of this Section 2 may be amended and the observance thereof may
be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Shares. Any amendment
or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 2.11 shall be binding
upon each Holder and the Company. By acceptance of any benefits under this
Section 2, Holders of Registrable Securities hereby agree to be bound by
the provisions hereunder.
2.12 Limitation on
Subsequent Registration Rights
The
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of at least
a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, enter into any
agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the
Company that would grant such holder registration rights pari passu or
senior to those granted to the Holders hereunder.
2.13 Rule 144
Reporting
With
a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of certain rules and
regulations of the SEC which may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities
to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its best efforts
to:
(a) Make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144 or any similar or analogous rule promulgated under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration filed by the Company for a






