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AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

Shareholder Agreement

AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

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Warner Music Group Corp. | WMG Holdings Corp. | WMG Acquisition Corp.

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Title: AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Delaware     Date: 5/19/2005
Law Firm: Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; Ropes & Gray LLP    

AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

, Parties: warner music group corp. , wmg holdings corp. , wmg acquisition corp.
50 of the Top 250 law firms use our Products every day

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

among

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

WMG Holdings Corp.

WMG Acquisition Corp.

and

Certain Stockholders of Warner Music Group Corp.

 

 


As Amended and Restated as of May 10, 2005

 

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

1.

EFFECTIVENESS; DEFINITIONS.

2

 

1.1.

Closing

2

 

1.2.

Definitions

2

2.

VOTING AGREEMENT.

2

 

2.1.

Election of Directors.

2

 

 

2.1.1.

Board Size

2

 

 

2.1.2.

Designation of Directors

2

 

 

2.1.3.

Sell-Down Provisions.

4

 

 

2.1.4.

CEO Director

4

 

 

2.1.5.

Independent Directors

4

 

 

2.1.6.

Further Assurances

4

 

2.2.

Removal and Replacement; Vacancies

4

 

2.3.

Grant of Proxies

5

 

2.4.

Reserved.

5

 

2.5.

Committees

5

 

2.6.

Significant Transactions

5

 

2.7.

Reserved.

5

 

2.8.

Reserved.

5

 

2.9.

The Company

6

 

2.10.

Period

6

3.

TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.

6

 

3.1.

Transfers Allowed

6

 

 

3.1.1.

Permitted Transferees

6

 

 

3.1.2.

Distributions and Charitable Contributions

6

 

 

3.1.3.

Public Transfers

6

 

 

3.1.4.

Tag Along and Drag Along

6

 

 

3.1.5.

Other Private Transfers

7

 

3.2.

Permitted Transferees

7

 

3.3.

Restrictions on Public Transfers

7

 

3.4.

Restrictions on Transfers to Strategic Investors

8

 

3.5.

Impermissible Transfer

9

 

3.6.

Notice of Transfer

9

 

3.7.

Period

9

4.

“TAG ALONG” AND “DRAG ALONG” RIGHTS.

9

 

4.1.

Tag Along

9

 

 

4.1.1.

Notice

9

 

 

4.1.2.

Exercise

10

 

i



 

 

 

4.1.3.

Exercise by Holders of Warrants

10

 

 

4.1.4.

Irrevocable Offer

10

 

 

4.1.5.

Reduction of Shares Sold

10

 

 

4.1.6.

Additional Compliance

11

 

4.2.

Drag Along

11

 

 

4.2.1.

Exercise

11

 

4.3.

Miscellaneous

12

 

 

4.3.1.

Certain Legal Requirements

12

 

 

4.3.2.

Further Assurances

13

 

 

4.3.3.

Sale Process

13

 

 

4.3.4.

Treatment of Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities

14

 

 

4.3.5.

Expenses

14

 

 

4.3.6.

Closing

14

 

4.4.

Reserved.

15

 

4.5.

Period

15

 

4.6.

Post-Termination Tag Along

15

5.

RESERVED.

15

6.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

15

 

6.1.

Demand Registration Rights for Investor Registrable Securities.

15

 

 

6.1.1.

General

15

 

 

6.1.2.

Form

16

 

 

6.1.3.

Payment of Expenses

16

 

 

6.1.4.

Additional Procedures

17

 

 

6.1.5.

Suspension of Registration

17

 

6.2.

Piggyback Registration Rights.

18

 

 

6.2.1.

Piggyback Registration.

18

 

 

6.2.2.

Payment of Expenses

19

 

 

6.2.3.

Additional Procedures

19

 

 

6.2.4.

Registration Statement Form

19

 

6.3.

Certain Other Provisions.

19

 

 

6.3.1.

Underwriter’s Cutback

19

 

 

6.3.2.

Registration Procedures

21

 

 

6.3.3.

Selection of Underwriters and Counsel

24

 

 

6.3.4.

Holder Lock-Up

25

 

 

6.3.5.

Company Lock-Up

25

 

 

6.3.6.

Other Agreements

25

 

6.4.

Indemnification and Contribution.

25

 

 

6.4.1.

Indemnities of the Company

25

 

 

6.4.2.

Indemnities to the Company

27

 

 

6.4.3.

Contribution

27

 

 

6.4.4.

Limitation on Liability of Holders of Registrable Securities

28

 

 

6.4.5.

Indemnification Procedures

28

 

 

6.5.

Permitted Assignees.

29

 

ii



 

 

 

6.5.1.

Piggyback Registration Rights

29

7.

COVENANTS.

29

 

7.1.

Reserved.

29

 

7.2.

Confidentiality

29

 

7.3.

Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance

30

8.

REMEDIES.

30

 

8.1.

Generally

30

 

8.2.

Deposit

30

9.

LEGENDS.

31

 

9.1.

Restrictive Legend

31

 

9.2.

1933 Act Legends

31

 

9.3.

Stop Transfer Instruction

31

 

9.4.

Termination of 1933 Act Legend

31

10.

AMENDMENT, TERMINATION, ETC.

32

 

10.1.

Oral Modifications

32

 

10.2.

Written Modifications

32

 

10.3.

Withdrawal from Agreement

33

 

10.4.

Effect of Termination

33

11.

DEFINITIONS

34

 

11.1.

Certain Matters of Construction

34

 

11.2.

Definitions

34

12.

MISCELLANEOUS.

44

 

12.1.

Authority; Effect

44

 

12.2.

Notices

44

 

12.3.

Binding Effect, Etc

45

 

12.4.

Descriptive Headings

45

 

12.5.

Counterparts

45

 

12.6.

Severability

45

 

12.7.

No Recourse

45

 

12.8.

Aggregation of Shares

46

13.

GOVERNING LAW.

46

 

13.1.

Governing Law

46

 

13.2.

Consent to Jurisdiction

46

 

13.3.

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

47

 

13.4.

Exercise of Rights and Remedies

47

 

iii



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

 

This Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement made as of May 10, 2005 (the “ Agreement ”) amends and restates the Stockholders Agreement made as of February 29, 2004 and amended as of July 30, 2004 (the “ Original Agreement ”) by and among:

 

(i)                                      Warner Music Group Corp., a Delaware corporation formerly known as WMG Parent Corp. (the “ Company ”);

 

(ii)                                   WMG Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Midco ”);

 

(iii)                                WMG Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Purchaser ”);

 

(iv)                               each Person executing this Agreement and listed as an Investor on the signature pages hereto (collectively, so long as they remain parties to this Agreement, the “ Investors ”);

 

(v)                                  each Person executing this Agreement or the Original Agreement and listed as a Manager on the signature pages hereto or thereto, together with each Person joining this Agreement as a Manager pursuant to Section 10.2(j) (collectively, so long as they remain parties to this Agreement, the “ Managers ” and together with the Investors, the “ Stockholders ”); and

 

(vi)                               such other Persons, if any, that from time to time become party hereto as holders of Other Holder Shares (as defined below) pursuant to Section 6.5 solely in the capacity of permitted assignees with respect to certain registration rights hereunder (collectively, the “ Other Holders ”).

 

 

RECITALS

 

 

1.             The Company was formed for the purpose of acquiring (the “ Acquisition ”), indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, pursuant to a Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2003 (the “ Acquisition Agreement ”), between Time Warner Inc. and the Purchaser, the Warner Recorded Music Business and the Warner Music Publishing Business (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement).

 

2.             As of the effectiveness of this Agreement pursuant to Section 1.1, the outstanding Shares (as defined below) were held as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

3.             The parties believe that it is in the best interests of the Company, Midco and the Stockholders to set forth their agreements on certain matters.

 



 

AGREEMENT

 

Therefore, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.     EFFECTIVENESS ; DEFINITIONS.

1.1.          Closing .  This Agreement shall become effective on the later of (i) the closing of the Company’s Initial Public Offering or (ii) the date on which this Agreement has been executed by the Company, Midco, the holders of a Majority in Interest of the Shares and each of the Investor Groups in accordance with Section 10.2 of the Original Agreement (it being understood that, for purposes of this sentence, capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Original Agreement), provided that the amendment hereby of Section 3.1.2(b) shall become effective immediately upon full execution hereof as set forth in clause (ii) above.  The Original Agreement became effective upon consummation of the closing under the Acquisition Agreement (the “ Closing ”).

1.2.          Definitions .  Certain terms are used in this Agreement as specifically defined herein.  These definitions are set forth or referred to in Section 11.2 hereof.

2.     VOTING AGREEMENT .

2.1.          Election of Directors .

2.1.1.  Board Size .  Each holder of Company Shares hereby agrees to cast all votes to which such holder is entitled in respect of the Company Shares, whether at any annual or special meeting, by written consent or otherwise, to fix the number of members of the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”):

2.1.1.1.    At fourteen at all times prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company ceases to be a Controlled Company.

2.1.1.2.    At such number (as shall be determined from time to time by the Investor Groups) at all times on or after the first anniversary of the date on which the Company ceases to be a Controlled Company.

2.1.2.  Designation of Directors .  Each holder of Company Shares hereby agrees to cast all votes to which such holder is entitled in respect of the Company Shares, whether at any annual or special meeting, by written consent or otherwise:

(a)           so as to cause the Company’s directors, at all times prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company ceases to be a Controlled Company, to consist of: (i) five THL Directors, (ii) three Bain Directors, (iii) one Providence Director, (iv) one Lexa Director, (v) one director who at all times shall be the then current chief executive officer of the Company (the “ CEO Director ”), who shall initially be Edgar Bronfman, Jr., with Mr. Bronfman also to
 
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serve as Chairman of the Board during his tenure as the CEO Director, and (vi) three additional directors (the “ Independent Directors ”);
(b)           so as to cause the Company’s directors, at all times on or after the first anniversary of the date on which the Company ceases to be a Controlled Company, to consist of such directors as shall have been designated pursuant to such procedures as the Investor Groups shall agree from time to time, subject to the requirements of applicable law (including the rules of the Commission and any exchange upon which equity securities of the Company might be listed); and
(c)           so as to elect as the Company’s directors:
(i)            the number of THL Directors as determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this Section 2.1.2, designated as follows: (A) first, one director designated by Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund V, L.P., if it then holds any Company Shares, (B) then, one director designated by Thomas H. Lee Parallel Fund V, L.P., if it then holds any Company Shares, (C) then, one director designated by THL WMG Equity Investors, L.P., if it then holds any Company Shares and (D) then, such other directors designated by the Majority THL Investors as the remaining THL Directors;
(ii)           the number of Bain Directors as determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this Section 2.1.2, designated as follows: (A) first, one director designated by Bain Capital VII Coinvestment Fund, L.P., if (1) it then holds any Company Shares or (2) it is then the sole member of Bain Capital VII Coinvestment Fund, LLC and the latter then holds any Company Shares, it being understood and agreed that Bain Capital VII Coinvestment Fund, L.P. is intended to be a third party beneficiary of this Section 2.1.2(c)(ii)(A) and the related provisions of Section 2.2 and shall be entitled to enforce such provisions of this Agreement as though it were a party hereto, and (B) then, such other directors designated by the Majority Bain Investors as the remaining Bain Directors;
(iii)          the number of Providence Directors as determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this Section 2.1.2, designated by Providence Equity Partners IV, L.P., if it then holds any Company Shares, otherwise by the Majority Providence Investors;
(iv)          the number of Lexa Directors as determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this Section 2.1.2, designated by Music Capital Partners, L.P., if it then holds any Company Shares, otherwise by the Majority Lexa Investors;
(v)           the CEO Director; and
 
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(vi)          the number of Independent Directors as determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this Section 2.1.2, each of whom shall be  designated unanimously by the members of the Board elected pursuant to clauses (i) through (v) above.

2.1.3.  Investor Directors .  Upon any reduction in the number of THL Directors, Bain Directors, Providence Directors or Lexa Directors in accordance with procedures established pursuant to Section 2.1.2, the applicable Investor Group promptly shall cause one or more of its designated directors, as the case may be, to resign.

2.1.4.  CEO Director .  If at any time a person serving as the CEO Director ceases to be the chief executive officer of the Company, the Company and the holders of Company Shares agree promptly to act in accordance with the provisions hereof to cause the removal of such director and, at such time as a succeeding chief executive officer of the Company is appointed in conformity with the provisions hereof, the election of such person as the CEO Director.  The CEO Director may not be removed, with or without cause, so long as such director continues to serve as the chief executive officer of the Company.

2.1.5.  Independent Directors .  An Independent Director may be removed with, and only with, the consent of each Investor Group then entitled to designate at least one director pursuant to Section 2.1.

2.1.6.  Further Assurances .  Each holder of Company Shares hereby agrees to take, at any time and from time to time, all actions necessary to accomplish the provisions of this Section 2.1.  The Company, subject to the Board’s fiduciary duties, hereby agrees to take, at any time and from time to time, all actions within its control necessary to accomplish the provisions of this Section 2.1 (including (i) causing the nomination of any person designated in accordance with this Section 2.1 in connection with any election in respect of the applicable directorship and (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable law (including the rules of the Commission and any exchange upon which equity securities of the Company might be listed), causing the size of the Board to be adjusted in accordance with any determination from time to time by the Investor Groups pursuant to Section 2.1.2 as to the size and composition of the Board to be in effect on or after the first anniversary of the date on which the Company ceases to be a Controlled Company).

2.2.          Removal and Replacement ; Vacancies .   Members of the Board designated by a particular Investor Group (or member thereof) may be removed by, and only by, the Investor Group (or member thereof) entitled to designate such member of the Board.  The CEO Director and the Independent Directors may be removed only in accordance with Section 2.1.4 or 2.1.5, respectively.  If, prior to his or her election to the Board, any designee for Investor Director or Independent Director is unable or unwilling to serve as a director, then the applicable designating Person or group, as set forth in Section 2.1.2, shall be entitled to nominate a replacement.  If, following election to the Board, any Investor Director or Independent Director resigns, is

 

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removed, or is unable to serve for any reason prior to the expiration of his or her term as a director, then the applicable designating Person or group, determined under or in accordance with procedures established pursuant to Section 2.1.2, shall designate a replacement.  If any designating Person or group fails to designate a person to fill any directorship, then such directorship shall be vacant.

2.3.          Grant of Proxies .  Each holder of Company Shares hereby grants an irrevocable proxy coupled with an interest to vote, including in any action by written consent, such holder’s Company Shares in accordance with such holder’s agreements contained in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 to: (a) each Investor Group then entitled to designate any Investor Directors solely in respect of the election or removal of such Investor Group’s Investor Directors and (b) the Company otherwise.  Each of the foregoing proxies shall be valid and remain in effect until the provisions of Sections 2.1 and 2.2 expire pursuant to Section 2.10.

2.4.          Reserved .

2.5.          Committees .  The Company shall, and each holder of Company Shares shall use its best efforts to, cause the Board to maintain the following committees: (i) an Executive Committee, to be chaired by a THL Director, if any, selected by the Majority THL Investors, and including a Bain Director and a Providence Director, if any, selected by the applicable Investor Group, and the CEO Director (ii) an Audit Committee, (iii) a Compensation Committee and (iv) if the Board determines in its discretion, a Governance Committee.  No committee shall have the power to act for the Board where such action would otherwise require the vote or consent of a majority of the entire Board under applicable law, pursuant to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or pursuant to this Agreement.

2.6.          Significant Transactions .  If a vote of holders of Shares is required under any applicable law or stock exchange regulations in connection with a Change of Control transaction being implemented pursuant to Section 4.2, each holder of Shares agrees to cast all votes to which such holder is entitled in respect of the Shares, whether at any annual or special meeting, by written consent or otherwise, in such manner as the Requisite Stockholder Majority may instruct by written notice to approve any sale, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization or any other transaction or series of transactions involving the Company or its subsidiaries (or all or any portion of their respective assets) in connection with, or in furtherance of, the exercise by the Requisite Stockholder Majority of their rights under Section 4.2.  Each holder of Shares hereby grants to each member of such Requisite Stockholder Majority an irrevocable proxy coupled with an interest to vote, including in any action by written consent, such holder’s Shares in accordance with such holder’s agreements contained in this Section 2.6, which proxy shall be valid and remain in effect until the provisions of this Section 2.6 expire pursuant to Section 2.10.

2.7.          Reserved .

2.8.          Reserve d .

 

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2.9.          The Company .  The Company will not to give effect to any action by any holder of Shares or any other Person which is in contravention of this Section 2.

2.10.        Period .  Each of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2 shall expire on the earlier of (a) a Change of Control and (b) with respect to any particular provision, the last date permitted by applicable law (including the rules of the Commission and any exchange upon which equity securities of the Company might be listed).

3.     TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS .

3.1.          Transfers Allowed .  Until the expiration of the provisions of this Section 3, no holder of Shares shall Transfer any of such holder’s Shares to any other Person except as follows:

3.1.1.  Permitted Transferees .  Subject to Section 3.4, but without regard to any other restrictions on transfer contained elsewhere in this Agreement, any holder of Shares may Transfer any or all of such Shares to such holder’s Permitted Transferees, so long as such Permitted Transferee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement in accordance with Section 3.2 (if not already bound hereby).

3.1.2.  Distributions and Charitable Contributions .  Any holder of Shares may Transfer any or all of such Shares (a) in a pro rata Transfer to its partners, members or stockholders or (b) to a Charitable Organization (whether directly or indirectly by means of one or more intermediate Transfers to any one or more direct or indirect partners, members or stockholders), without regard to any other restrictions on transfer contained elsewhere in this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 6.3.4, if applicable).  Any Shares so Transferred shall conclusively be deemed thereafter not to be Shares under this Agreement but may be deemed Other Holder Shares if and to the extent so provided in Section 6.5.

3.1.3.  Public Transfers .  Any holder of Shares may Transfer any or all of such Shares: (a) in a Public Offering or (b) pursuant to Rule 144 or a block sale to a financial institution in the ordinary course of its trading business, in each case in compliance with Section 3.3 and Section 3.4, but without regard to any other restrictions on transfer contained elsewhere in this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 6.3.4, if applicable).  Shares Transferred pursuant to this Section 3.1.3 shall conclusively be deemed thereafter not to be Shares under this Agreement.

3.1.4.  Tag Along and Drag Along .  Any holder of Shares may Transfer any or all of such Shares pursuant to Section 4.2, without regard to any other restrictions on transfer contained elsewhere in this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 6.3.4, if applicable).  A Participating Seller may Transfer Shares pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.1 without regard to any other restrictions on transfer contained elsewhere in this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 6.3.4, if applicable).  Shares so Transferred shall conclusively be deemed thereafter not to be Shares under this Agreement.

 

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3.1.5.  Other Private Transfers .  In addition to any Transfers made in accordance with Sections 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 and 3.1.4, any holder of Shares may Transfer any or all of such Shares subject to compliance with all of the following conditions:

(i)            Reserved;
(ii)           in compliance with Section 4.1;
(iii)          in compliance with Section 3.4; and
(iv)          if applicable, in compliance with Section 6.3.4.

Any Shares so Transferred to a Person other than a Stockholder or a Permitted Transferee shall conclusively be deemed thereafter not to be Shares under this Agreement but may be deemed Other Holder Shares if and to the extent so provided in Section 6.5.

 

3.2.          Permitted Transferees .  Any Permitted Transferee receiving Shares in a Transfer pursuant to Section 3.1.1 or 3.1.5 shall be subject to the terms and conditions of, and be entitled to enforce, this Agreement to the same extent, and in the same capacity, as the Stockholder that Transfers the Shares to such Permitted Transferee as if such Permitted Transferee were such Stockholder.  Prior to the initial Transfer of any Shares to any Permitted Transferee pursuant to Section 3.1.1 or 3.1.5, and as a condition thereto, each holder of Shares effecting such Transfer shall (i) cause such Permitted Transferee to deliver to the Company and each of the Stockholders (other than the transferor or the Managers) its written agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the extent described in the preceding sentence and (ii) remain directly liable for the performance by the Permitted Transferee of all obligations of such Permitted Transferee under this Agreement.  To the extent a Permitted Transferee is not an individual, a trust or an estate, and the transferor or an Affiliate thereof shall cease to control such Permitted Transferee, (i) such change of control shall be deemed to be a Transfer of the Shares held by such Permitted Transferee subject to the Transfer restrictions contained or referenced in this Section 3 and (ii) to the extent such Permitted Transferee then holds assets in addition to Shares, the determination of the purchase price deemed to have been paid for the Shares held by such Permitted Transferee in such deemed Transfer for purposes of the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 shall be made by the Board in good faith; provided that, Music Capital Partners, L.P. ceasing to control its Permitted Transferee ALP Music Capital Partners, L.P. following the transfer referred to in the second sentence of the definition of Permitted Transferee shall not be a deemed a Transfer of Shares pursuant to the provisions of the foregoing sentence.

3.3.          Restrictions on Public Transfers .  Each Specified Holder promptly shall notify each Related Stockholder (i) when it has commenced a measurement period for purposes of the Rule 144 group volume limit in connection with a Sale that is subject to such limit and (ii) what the volume limit for that measurement period, determined as of its commencement, will be.  Each Related Stockholder shall be entitled to effect Sales that are subject to the Rule 144 group volume limit pro rata during the applicable measurement period based on its percentage

 

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ownership of Shares held by all holders of Shares at the start of such measurement period.  In the event any Related Stockholder agrees to forego its full pro rata share of the Rule 144 group volume limit by written notice to the Specified Holder and all other Related Stockholders, the remainder shall be re-allocated pro rata among Specified Holder and all other Related Stockholders in like manner (except that the Shares held by such forfeiting Related Holder at the start of such measurement period shall be excluded from such calculation).  The provisions of this Section 3.3 shall not apply to any Transfer of Shares (i) in a Public Offering or (ii) not subject to volume limitation under Rule 144.  For purposes of this Section 3.3, a “ Specified Holder ” means a holder of Shares whose sale of Shares pursuant to Rule 144 would be subject to aggregation with another Stockholder (such other Stockholder being a “ Related Stockholder ”).

3.4.          Restrictions on Transfers to Strategic Investors .  In addition to any other provision of this Agreement, no holder of Shares shall Transfer any Shares pursuant to Sections 3.1.1, 3.1.3 or 3.1.5 of this Agreement to a Strategic Investor without the approval of a majority of the entire Board and the approval of the Requisite Stockholder Majority.  If any Prospective Selling Stockholder proposes to Transfer any Shares pursuant to Sections 3.1.1, 3.1.3 or 3.1.5 to any Prospective Buyer, the Prospective Selling Stockholder shall furnish a written notice (which notice may be the same notice as the Tag Along Notice, if any, delivered pursuant to Section 4.1, so long as such notice includes all of the information required by the next sentence) to the Company and each other holder of Shares at least ten business days prior to such proposed Transfer.  Such notice shall set forth the principal terms of the proposed Transfer, including (i) the number and class of the Shares to be Transferred, (ii) the per share purchase price or the formula by which such price is to be determined and (iii) the name and address of the Prospective Buyer.  If the Prospective Buyer (or an Affiliate thereof) has previously been determined by a majority of the entire Board and the Requisite Stockholder Majority to be a Strategic Investor, or is presumed to be a Strategic Investor pursuant to the definition thereof, and such determination or presumption has not been reversed by written notice to all holders of Shares, the Prospective Selling Stockholder shall not Transfer any Shares to such Prospective Buyer without the written approval of a majority of the entire Board and of the Requisite Stockholder Majority.   If the Prospective Buyer (or an Affiliate thereof) has not previously been determined by a majority of the entire Board and the Requisite Stockholder Majority to be a Strategic Investor, or is not presumed to be a Strategic Investor pursuant to the definition thereof, the Prospective Selling Stockholder may Transfer Shares to such Prospective Buyer unless, within eight business days after the date of delivery of the notice required by the second preceding sentence, the majority of the entire Board and the Requisite Stockholder Majority deliver written notice to the Prospective Selling Stockholder and all other Stockholders that such Prospective Buyer has been designated a Strategic Investor.  If, within such time period, a notice designating such Prospective Buyer a Strategic Investor is delivered, than the Prospective Selling Stockholder shall not Transfer any Shares to such Prospective Buyer.  In the event any proposed Transfer to a Strategic Investor is approved in accordance with the foregoing, such approval shall also apply to Transfers made to such Prospective Buyer by any Tag Along Sellers.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the restrictions in this Section 3.4 shall not apply to any Transfers (i) to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) to any Stockholder, (iii) to any Affiliated Fund of any Stockholder, (iv) pursuant to Rule 144 effected as “brokers’ transactions” (as defined in Rule 144); or (v) pursuant to an underwritten Public

 

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Offering or pursuant to Rule 144 directly to a “market maker” (as defined in Rule 144) or pursuant to a block sale to a financial institution in the ordinary course of its trading business, in each case of this clause (vi) in which, to the knowledge of the Prospective Selling Stockholder (after reasonable due inquiry), the underwriter(s), market maker(s) or block sale purchaser(s) do not intend to resell such Shares to any Person that, after giving effect to such resale, would own, directly or indirectly, more than five percent (5%) of then outstanding shares of the applicable class of Shares.

3.5.          Impermissible Transfer .  Any attempted Transfer of Shares not permitted under the terms of this Section 3 shall be null and void, and the Company shall not in any way give effect to any such impermissible Transfer.

3.6.          Notice of Transfer .  To the extent any Stockholder or Permitted Transferee shall Transfer any Shares, such Stockholder or Permitted Transferee shall, within three business days following consummation of such Transfer, deliver notice thereof to the Company and each other Stockholder (other than the Managers).

3.7.          Period .  Each of the foregoing provisions of this Section 3 shall expire upon a Change of Control.

4.     “TAG ALONG” AND “ DRAG ALONG ” RIGHTS.

4.1.          Tag Along .  If any Prospective Selling Stockholder proposes to Sell any Shares to any Prospective Buyer(s) in a Transfer pursuant to Section 3.1.5, other than a Transfer by a holder pursuant to the exercise of such holder’s rights under this Section 4.1:

4.1.1.  Notice .  The Prospective Selling Stockholder shall, prior to any such proposed Transfer, furnish a written notice (the “ Tag Along Notice ”) to each of the other holders of Shares (each, a “ Tag Along Holder ”).  The Tag Along Notice shall include:

(a)           the principal terms and conditions of the proposed Sale, including (i) the number and class of the Shares to be purchased from the Prospective Selling Stockholder, (ii) the fraction(s) expressed as a percentage, determined by dividing the number of Shares of each class to be purchased from the Prospective Selling Stockholder by the total number of Shares of each such class held by the Prospective Selling Stockholder (the “ Tag Along Sale Percentage ”), (iii) the per share purchase price or the formula by which such price is to be determined and the payment terms, including a description of any non-cash consideration sufficiently detailed to permit valuation thereof, (iv) the name and address of each Prospective Buyer and (v) the proposed Transfer date; and
(b)           an invitation to each Tag Along Holder to make an offer to include in the proposed Sale to the applicable Prospective Buyer(s) Shares of the same class(es) being sold by the Prospective Selling Stockholder held by such Tag Along Holder (not in any event to exceed the Tag Along Sale Percentage of the
 
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total number of Shares of the applicable class held by such Tag Along Holder), on the same terms and conditions (subject to Section 4.3.4 in the case of Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities), with respect to each Share Sold, as the Prospective Selling Stockholder shall Sell each of its Shares.

4.1.2.  Exercise .  Within ten business days after the date of delivery of the Tag Along Notice (such date the “ Tag-Along Deadline ”), each Tag Along Holder desiring to make an offer to include Shares in the proposed Sale (each a “ Participating Seller ” and, together with the Prospective Selling Stockholder, collectively, the “ Tag Along Sellers ”) shall furnish a written notice (the “ Tag Along Offer ”) to the Prospective Selling Stockholder indicating the number of Shares which such Participating Seller desires to have included in the proposed Sale (subject to the limitation set forth in Section 4.1.1(b)).  Each Tag Along Holder who does not make a Tag Along Offer in compliance with the above requirements, including the time period, shall be deemed to have waived all of such holder’s rights with respect to such Sale, and the Tag Along Sellers shall thereafter be free to Sell to the Prospective Buyer, at a per share price no greater than the per share price set forth in the Tag Along Notice and on other principal terms and conditions which are not materially more favorable to the Tag Along Sellers than those set forth in the Tag Along Notice, without any further obligation to such non-accepting Tag Along Holder pursuant to this Section 4.1.

4.1.3.  Reserved .

4.1.4.  Irrevocable Offer .  The offer of each Participating Seller contained in such holder’s Tag Along Offer shall be irrevocable, and, to the extent such offer is accepted, such Participating Seller shall be bound and obligated to Sell in the proposed Sale on the same terms and conditions, with respect to each Share Sold (subject to Section 4.3.4 in the case of Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities), as the Prospective Selling Stockholder, up to such number of Shares as such Participating Seller shall have specified in such holder’s Tag Along Offer; provided , however , that if the principal terms of the proposed Sale change with the result that the per share price shall be less than the per share price set forth in the Tag Along Notice or the other principal terms and conditions shall be materially less favorable to the Tag Along Sellers than those set forth in the Tag Along Notice, each Participating Seller shall be permitted to withdraw the offer contained in such holder’s Tag Along Offer by written notice to the Prospective Selling Stockholder and upon such withdrawal shall be released from such holder’s obligations thereunder.

4.1.5.  Reduction of Shares Sold .  The Prospective Selling Stockholder shall attempt to obtain the inclusion in the proposed Sale of the entire number of Shares which each of the Tag Along Sellers requested to have included in the Sale (as evidenced in the case of the Prospective Selling Stockholder by the Tag Along Notice and in the case of each Participating Seller by such Participating Seller’s Tag Along Offer).  In the event the Prospective Selling Stockholder shall be unable to obtain the inclusion of such entire number of Shares in the proposed Sale, the number of Shares

 

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to be sold in the proposed Sale shall be allocated among the Tag Along Sellers in proportion, as nearly as practicable, as follows:

(i)            there shall be first allocated to each Tag Along Seller a number of Shares equal to the lesser of (A) the number of Shares offered (or proposed, in the case of the Prospective Selling Stockholder) to be included by such Tag Along Seller in the proposed Sale pursuant to this Section 4.1, and (B) a number of Shares equal to such Tag Along Seller’s Pro Rata Portion; and
(ii)           the balance, if any, not allocated pursuant to clause (i) above shall be allocated to the Prospective Selling Stockholder, or in such other manner as the Prospective Selling Stockholder may otherwise agree.

4.1.6.  Additional Compliance .  If prior to consummation, the terms of the proposed Sale shall change with the result that the per share price to be paid in such proposed Sale shall be greater than the per share price set forth in the Tag Along Notice or the other principal terms of such proposed Sale shall be materially more favorable to the Tag Along Sellers than those set forth in the Tag Along Notice, the Tag Along Notice shall be null and void, and it shall be necessary for a separate Tag Along Notice to be furnished, and the terms and provisions of this Section 4.1 separately complied with, in order to consummate such proposed Sale pursuant to this Section 4.1; provided , however , that in the case of such a separate Tag Along Notice, the applicable period to which reference is made in Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 shall be three business days and two business days, respectively.  In addition, if the Prospective Selling Stockholders have not completed the proposed Sale by the end of the 180 th day after the date of delivery of the Tag Along Notice, each Participating Seller shall be released from such holder’s obligations under such holder’s Tag Along Offer, the Tag Along Notice shall be null and void, and it shall be necessary for a separate Tag Along Notice to be furnished, and the terms and provisions of this Section 4.1 separately complied with, in order to consummate such proposed Sale pursuant to this Section 4.1, unless the failure to complete such proposed Sale resulted from any failure by any Participating Seller to comply with the terms of this Section 4.

4.2.          Drag Along .  Each holder of Shares hereby agrees, if requested by the Requisite Stockholder Majority, to Sell the same percentage (the “ Drag Along Sale Percentage ”) of each class of such Shares that is proposed to be sold by the Prospective Selling Stockholders to a Prospective Buyer in a Change of Control transaction approved by a majority of the entire Board, in the manner and on the terms set forth in this Section 4.2; provided , however , that no such Prospective Buyer shall be a member of a Principal Investor Group forming part of the acting Requisite Stockholder Majority, any Affiliate of any such member or any Person more than five percent (5%) of the economic interests in or voting power of which are directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any such member, unless such proposed Sale is approved by vote or written consent of each of the Investor Groups, each voting separately.

4.2.1.  Exercise .  The Prospective Selling Stockholders shall furnish a written notice (the “ Drag Along Notice ”) to each other holder of Shares at least ten

 

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business days prior to the consummation of the Change of Control transaction.  The Drag Along Notice shall set forth the principal terms and conditions of the proposed Sale, including (i) the number and class of Shares to be acquired from the Prospective Selling Stockholders, (ii) the Drag Along Sale Percentage for each class, (iii) the per share consideration to be received in the proposed Sale for each class, (iv) the name and address of the Prospective Buyer and (v) if known, the proposed Transfer date.  If the Prospective Selling Stockholders consummate the proposed Sale to which reference is made in the Drag Along Notice, each other holder of Shares (each a “ Participating Seller ”, and, together with the Prospective Selling Stockholders, collectively, the “ Drag Along Sellers ”) shall: (i) be bound and obligated to Sell the Drag Along Sale Percentage of such holder’s Shares of each class in the proposed Sale on the same terms and conditions, with respect to each Share Sold (subject to Section 4.3.4 in the case of Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities) as the Prospective Selling Stockholders shall Sell each Share in the Sale (subject to Section 4.3.4 in the case of Options, Warrants and Convertible Securities); and (ii) except as provided in Section 4.3.1, shall receive the same form and amount of consideration per Share to be received by the Prospective Selling Stockholders for the corresponding class of Shares (on an as converted basis, if applicable).  Except as provided in Section 4.3.1, if any holders of Shares of any class are given an option as to the form and amount of consideration to be received, all holders of Shares of such class will be given the same option.  Unless otherwise agreed by the Drag Along Sellers, any non-cash consideration shall be allocated among the Drag Along Sellers pro rata based upon the aggregate amount of consideration to be received by such Drag Along Sellers.  If at the end of the 180 th day after the date of delivery of the Drag Along Notice the Prospective Selling Stockholders have not completed the proposed Sale, the Drag Along Notice shall be null and void, each Participating Seller shall be released from such holder’s obligation under the Drag Along Notice and it shall be necessary for a separate Drag Along Notice to be furnished and the terms and provisions of this Section 4.2 separately complied with, in order to consummate such proposed Sale pursuant to this Section 4.2.

4.3.          Miscellaneous .  The following provisions shall be applied to any proposed Sale to which Sections 4.1 or 4.2 applies:

4.3.1.  Certain Legal Requirements .  In the event the consideration to be paid in exchange for Shares in a proposed Sale pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 includes any securities, and the receipt thereof by a Participating Seller would require under applicable law (a) the registration or qualification of such securities or of any Person as a broker or dealer or agent with respect to such securities where such registration or qualification is not otherwise required for the Sale by the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) or (b) the provision to any Tag Along Seller or Drag Along Seller of any specified information regarding the Company or any of its subsidiaries, such securities or the issuer thereof that is not otherwise required to be provided for the Sale by the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s), then such Participating Seller shall not have the right to Sell Shares in such proposed Sale.  In such event, the Prospective

 

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Selling Stockholder(s) shall (i) in the case of a Sale pursuant to Section 4.1, have the right, but not the obligation, and (ii) in the case of a Sale pursuant to Section 4.2, have the obligation to cause to be paid to such Participating Seller in lieu thereof, against surrender of the Shares (in accordance with Section 4.3.6 hereof) which would have otherwise been Sold by such Participating Seller to the Prospective Buyer in the proposed Sale, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date such securities would have been issued in exchange for such Shares.

4.3.2.  Further Assurances .  Each Participating Seller, whether in such holder’s capacity as a Participating Seller, stockholder, officer or director of the Company (subject to such officer’s or director’s fiduciary duty), or otherwise, shall take or cause to be taken all such actions as may be necessary or reasonably desirable in order expeditiously to consummate each Sale pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 and any related transactions, including executing, acknowledging and delivering consents, assignments, waivers and other documents or instruments; furnishing information and copies of documents; filing applications, reports, returns, filings and other documents or instruments with governmental authorities; and otherwise cooperating with the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) and the Prospective Buyer; provided , however , that Participating Sellers shall be obligated to become liable in respect of any representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities or otherwise to the Prospective Buyer solely to the extent provided in the immediately following sentence.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Participating Seller agrees to execute and deliver such agreements as may be reasonably specified by the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) to which such Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) will also be party, including agreements to (a) (i) make individual representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements as to the unencumbered title to its Shares and the power, authority and legal right to Transfer such Shares and the absence of any Adverse Claim with respect to such Shares and (ii) be liable as to such representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements, in each case to the same extent (on a pro rata basis) as the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s), and (b) in the case of a Sale pursuant to Sections 4.1 or 4.2, be liable (whether by purchase price adjustment, indemnity payments or otherwise) in respect of representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in respect of the Company and its subsidiaries; provided , however , that the aggregate amount of liability described in this clause (b) in connection with any Sale of Shares shall not exceed the lesser of (i) such Participating Seller’s pro rata portion of any such liability, to be determined in accordance with such Participating Seller’s portion of the aggregate proceeds to all Participating Sellers and Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) in connection with such Sale or (ii) the proceeds to such Participating Seller in connection with such Sale.

4.3.3.  Sale Process .  The Requisite Stockholder Majority, in the case of a proposed Sale pursuant to Section 4.2, or the Prospective Selling Stockholder, in the case of a proposed Sale pursuant to Section 4.1, shall, in their sole discretion, decide whether or not to pursue, consummate, postpone or abandon any proposed Sale and the terms and conditions thereof.  No holder of Shares nor any Affiliate of any such holder

 

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shall have any liability to any other holder of Shares or the Company arising from, relating to or in connection with the pursuit, consummation, postponement, abandonment or terms and conditions of any proposed Sale except to the extent such holder shall have failed to comply with the provisions of this Section 4.

4.3.4.  Treatment of Options , Warrants and Convertible Securities .  Each Participating Seller agrees that to the extent such Participating Seller desires to include Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities in any Sale of Shares pursuant to Section 4, such Participating Seller shall be deemed to have exercised, converted or exchanged such Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities immediately prior to the closing of such Sale to the extent necessary to Sell Stock to the Prospective Buyer, except to the extent permitted under the terms of any such Option, Warrant or Convertible Security and agreed by the Prospective Buyer.  If any Participating Seller shall Sell Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities in any Sale pursuant to Section 4, such Participating Seller shall receive in exchange for such Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities consideration in the amount (if greater than zero) equal to the purchase price received by the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) in such Sale for the number of shares of each class of Stock that would be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange of such Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities less the exercise price, if any, of such Options, Warrants or Convertible Securities (to the extent exercisable, convertible or exchangeable at the time of such Sale), subject to reduction for any tax or other amounts required to be withheld under applicable law.

4.3.5.  Expenses .  All reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) or the Company in connection with any proposed Sale pursuant to Section 4.2 (whether or not consummated), and all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) or the Company in order to comply with the requirements of this Section 4 in connection with any proposed Sale pursuant to Section 4.1 (whether or not consummated), including all attorneys fees and charges, all accounting fees and charges and all finders, brokerage or investment banking fees, charges or commissions, shall be paid by the Company.  The reasonable fees and expenses of a single legal counsel representing any or all of the Participating Sellers in connection with any proposed Sale pursuant to this Section 4 (whether or not consummated) shall be paid by the Company.  Any other costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of any or all of the Participating Sellers in connection with any proposed Sale pursuant to this Section 4 (whether or not consummated) shall be borne by such Participating Seller(s).

4.3.6.  Closing .  The closing of a Sale to which Section 4.1 or 4.2 applies shall take place (i) on the proposed Transfer date, if any, specified in the Tag Along Notice or Drag Along Notice, as applicable ( provided that consummation of any Transfer may be extended beyond such date to the extent necessary to obtain any applicable governmental approval or other required approval or to satisfy other conditions), (ii) if no proposed Transfer date was required to be specified in the Drag Along Notice, at such time as the Prospective Selling

 

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Stockholders shall specify by notice to each Participating Seller and (iii) at such place as the Prospective Selling Stockholder(s) shall specify by notice to each Participating Seller.  At the closing of such Sale, each Participating Seller shall deliver the certificates evidencing the Shares to be Sold by such Participating Seller, duly endorsed, or with stock (or equivalent) powers duly endorsed, for transfer with signature guaranteed, free and clear of any liens or encumbrances, with any stock (or equivalent) transfer tax stamps affixed, against delivery of the applicable consideration.

4.4.          Reserved .

4.5.          Period .  The provisions of this Section 4 above shall expire on a Change of Control.

4.6.          Post-Termination Tag Along .  In connection with a Change of Control in which any Investor Group immediately prior to such Change of Control continues to hold Shares or receives securities of another Person or Persons in consideration thereof, which Shares or securities are of a class that is not publicly traded, if any such Investor Group or member thereof receives “tag along” rights in respect of its Shares or such securities in connection with such Change of Control (whether such “tag along” rights are in respect of another Investor Group or any other holder of Shares or such securities), each other holder of Acquisition Shares shall receive pari passu “tag along” rights on a pro rata basis.

5.              RESERVED

6.              REGISTRATION RIGHTS .  The Company will perform and comply, and cause each of its subsidiaries to perform and comply, with such of the following provisions as are applicable to it.  Each Holder will perform and comply with such of the following provisions as are applicable to such Holder.

6.1.          Demand Registration Rights for Investor Registrable Securities .

6.1.1.  General .  One or more members of an Investor Group (the “ Initiating Investors ”), by notice to the Company specifying the intended method or methods of disposition, may request that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act for a Public Offering of all or a specified part of the Registrable Securities held by such Initiating Investors; provided , however , that the value of Registrable Securities that the Initiating Investors propose to sell in such Public Offering is at least twenty million dollars ($20,000,000); and provided , further , that the Initial Public Offering may not be initiated pursuant to this Section 6.1 without the approval of a majority of the entire Board and the approval of the Requisite Stockholder Majority.  The Company will then use its best efforts to (i) effect the registration under the Securities Act (including by means of a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act if so requested and if the Company is then eligible to use such registration) of the Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register by such Initiating Investors together with all other Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register pursuant to Section 6.2 by other Holders, all to the extent requisite to permit the disposition (in

 

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accordance with the intended methods thereof as aforesaid and as otherwise specified by the Principal Participating Holders) of the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register, and (ii) if requested by the Principal Participating Holders, obtain acceleration of the effective date of the registration statement relating to such registration; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 6.1.1:

(a)           during the effectiveness of any Principal Lock-Up Agreement entered into in connection with any registration statement pertaining to an underwritten public offering of securities of the Company for its own account (other than a Rule 145 Transaction, or a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans); or
(b)           upon the request of any member of an Investor Group on any form other than Form S-3 (or any successor form) if the Company has previously effected a number of registrations of Registrable Securities under this Section 6.1.1 upon the request of the members of such Investor Group on any form other than Form S-3 (or any successor form) equaling or exceeding five (5), two (2), one (1) and one (1) with respect to the THL Investors, the Bain Investors, the Providence Investors and the Lexa Investors, respectively; provided , however , that any registration of Registrable Securities (i) which does not become and remain effective for at least 270 days in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6 or (ii) pursuant to which the Initiating Investors and all other holders of Registrable Securities joining therein are not able to include at least 90% of the Registrable Securities which they desired to include, shall not be included in the calculation of the numbers of registrations contemplated by this clause (b).

6.1.2.  Form .  Except as otherwise provided above, each registration requested pursuant to Section 6.1.1 shall be effected by the filing of a registration statement on Form S-1 (or any other form which includes substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement on such form as currently constituted), unless the use of a different form has been agreed to in writing by the Principal Participating Holders; provided that if any registration requested pursuant to this Section 6.1 is proposed to be effected on Form S-3 (or any successor or similar short-form registration statement) and is in connection with an underwritten offering, and if the managing underwriter shall advise the Company in writing that, in its opinion, it is of material importance to the success of such proposed offering to include in such registration statement information not required to be included pursuant to such form, then the Company will supplement such registration statement as reasonably requested by such managing underwriter.

6.1.3.  Payment of Expenses .  The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with registrations of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6.1, including all reasonable expenses (other than fees and disbursements of counsel that do not constitute Registration Expenses) that any Holder incurs in

 

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connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 6.1.

6.1.4.  Additional Procedures .  In the case of a registration pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, whenever the Principal Participating Holders shall request that such registration shall be effected pursuant to an underwritten offering, the Company shall include such information in the written notices to Holders referred to in Section 6.2.  In such event, the right of any Holder to have securities owned by such Holder included in such registration pursuant to Section 6.1 shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting (unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Principal Participating Holders and such Holder).  If requested by the Principal Participating Holders, the Company together with the Holders proposing to distribute their securities through the underwriting will enter into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters for such offering containing such representations and warranties by the Company and such Holders and such other terms and provisions as are customarily contained in underwriting agreements with respect to secondary distributions, including customary indemnity and contribution provisions (subject, in each case, to the limitations on such liabilities set forth in this Agreement).

6.1.5.  Suspension of Registration .  If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a registration statement, including a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, in respect of a registration pursuant to this Section 6.1 at any time would require the Company to make a public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure in the good faith judgment of the Board (after consultation with external legal counsel) (i) would be required to be made in any registration statement so that such registration statement would not be materially misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing, effectiveness or continued use of such registration statement and (iii) would have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business or on the Company’s ability to effect a material proposed acquisition, disposition, financing, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction, then the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders participating in such registration, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such registration statement; provided , that the Company shall not be permitted to do so (i) more than two times during any 12 month period, (ii) for a period exceeding 30 days on any one occasion or (iii) for a period exceeding 60 days in any 12 month period.  In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, such Holders agree to suspend, promptly upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of any prospectus relating to such registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.  The Company shall promptly notify such Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 6.1.5.  The Company agrees that, in the event it exercises its rights under this Section 6.1.5, it shall, within 30 days following such Holders’ receipt of the notice of suspension, update the suspended registration statement as may be necessary to permit the Holders to resume

 

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use thereof in connection with the offer and sale of their Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law.

6.2.          Piggyback Registration Rights .

6.2.1.  Piggyback Registration .

6.2.1.1.    General .  Each time the Company proposes to register any shares of Common Stock under the Securities Act on a form which would permit registration of Registrable Securities for sale to the public, for its own account and/or for the account of any other Person (pursuant to Section 6.1 or otherwise) for sale in a Public Offering, the Company will give notice to all Holders of its intention to do so.  Any Holder may, by written response delivered to the Company within 20 days after the date of delivery of such notice, request that all or a specified part of such Holder’s Registrable Securities be included in such registration.  The Company thereupon will use its reasonable efforts to cause to be included in such registration under the Securities Act all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by such Holders, to the extent required to permit the disposition (in accordance with the methods to be used by the Company or other Holders in such Public Offering) of the Registrable Securities to be so registered; provided that (i) if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any securities, the Company shall determine for any reason not to proceed with the proposed registration of the securities to be sold by it, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each Holder and, thereupon, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith), and (ii) if such registration involves an underwritten offering, all Holders requesting to be included in the Company’s registration must sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected by the Company on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Company, with such differences as may be customary or appropriate in combined primary and secondary offerings.  No registration of Registrable Securities effected under this Section 6.2 shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations to effect registrations of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof.

6.2.1.2.    Excluded Transactions .  The Company shall not be obligated to effect any registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 6.2 incidental to the registration of any of its securities in connection with:

(a)           Any Public Offering relating to employee benefit plans or dividend reinvestment plans;
(b)           Any Public Offering relating to the acquisition or merger after the date hereof by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of or with any other businesses; or
 
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(c)           The Initial Public Offering, unless such offering shall have been initiated pursuant to Section 6.1.1.

6.2.2.  Payment of Expenses .  The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with registrations of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6.2

6.2.3.  Additional Procedures .  Holders participating in any Public Offering pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall take all such actions and execute all such documents and instruments that are reasonably requested by the Company to effect the sale of their Registrable Securities in such Public Offering, including being parties to the underwriting agreeme


 
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