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SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT

Shareholder Agreement

SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT | Document Parties: WATSCO INC | Carrier Corporation You are currently viewing:
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WATSCO INC | Carrier Corporation

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Title: SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Delaware     Date: 7/8/2009
Industry: Misc. Capital Goods     Law Firm: Akerman Senterfitt     Sector: Capital Goods

SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT, Parties: watsco inc , carrier corporation
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Exhibit 10.3

SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT

by and between

WATSCO, INC.

and

THE SHAREHOLDER IDENTIFIED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HERETO dated as of July 1, 2009


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

  

 

  

Page

ARTICLE I

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1

  

Certain Definitions

  

1

ARTICLE II

VOTING AGREEMENT

Section 2.1

  

Agreement to Vote the Subject Shares

  

8

Section 2.2

  

Fall-Away of Voting Rights and Standstill

  

9

ARTICLE III

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 3.1

  

Required Registrations

  

9

Section 3.2

  

Piggyback Registrations

  

13

Section 3.3

  

Registration Procedures

  

14

Section 3.4

  

Registration Expenses

  

17

Section 3.5

  

Participation in Underwritten Registrations

  

18

Section 3.6

  

Rule 144; Legended Securities; etc.

  

18

Section 3.7

  

Holdback

  

19

Section 3.8

  

Indemnification

  

19

Section 3.9

  

No Inconsistent Agreements

  

21

ARTICLE IV

STANDSTILL AND RESTRICTIONS

Section 4.1

  

Standstill

  

22

Section 4.2

  

Anti-Takeover Provisions

  

23

Section 4.3

  

Restrictive Legend

  

23

Section 4.4

  

Rights of First Refusal on Transfer

  

24

Section 4.5

  

Conversion of Class B Common Stock

  

24

Section 4.6

  

Sections 607.0901 and 607.0902 of the Florida Business Corporation Act

  

24


ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SHAREHOLDER

Section 5.1

  

Due Organization, etc.

  

25

Section 5.2

  

No Conflicts

  

25

Section 5.3

  

No Control Intent

  

25

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY

Section 6.1

  

Due Organization, etc.

  

26

Section 6.2

  

No Conflicts

  

26

ARTICLE VII

TERMINATION

Section 7.1

  

Termination

  

26

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 8.1

  

Further Actions

  

27

Section 8.2

  

Notices

  

27

Section 8.3

  

Assignment; Binding Effect

  

28

Section 8.4

  

Third Party Beneficiaries

  

28

Section 8.5

  

Amendments

  

28

Section 8.6

  

Entire Agreement

  

28

Section 8.7

  

Mediation; Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

  

28

Section 8.8

  

Fee and Expenses

  

29

Section 8.9

  

Headings

  

29

Section 8.10

  

Interpretation

  

29

Section 8.11

  

Waivers

  

29

Section 8.12

  

Severability

  

30

Section 8.13

  

Enforcement of this Agreement

  

30

Section 8.14

  

Counterparts

  

30

 

ii


SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT

This Shareholder Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of this 1st day of July, 2009, by and between Watsco, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “ Company ”), and the Shareholder identified on the signature page hereto.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS , the Company has entered into that certain Purchase and Contribution Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2009 (as amended, the “ Purchase and Contribution Agreement ”);

WHEREAS , the Company and Shareholder are entering into this Agreement in consideration, in part, for the Company and Shareholder entering into, and consummating the transactions contemplated by, the Purchase and Contribution Agreement;

WHEREAS , as of the date of this Agreement and as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase and Contribution Agreement, Shareholder owns of record as of the date hereof, that number of shares of Capital Stock set forth opposite the name of Shareholder on Annex I attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and

WHEREAS , each of the Company and Shareholder are desirous of entering into this Agreement, upon the terms and conditions contained hereinafter.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby agreed to and acknowledged by the parties hereto, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) “ Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to a specified Person, any Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the specified Person. As used in this definition, and elsewhere herein in relation to control of Affiliates, the term “ control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to substantially direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, as director or manager, as trustee or executor, by contract or credit arrangement or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed an Affiliate of a Shareholder Group Member for any purpose hereunder, and no Shareholder Group Member shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any purpose hereunder.

 

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(b) “ Agreement ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the caption to this Agreement.

(c) “ AMEX ” shall mean the American Stock Exchange.

(d) “ Ancillary Agreements ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Purchase and Contribution Agreement.

(e) “ beneficially own ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 (as in effect as of the date hereof) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) (including, but not limited to the entitlement to dispose of (or to direct the disposition of) and to vote (or to direct the voting of), and the right to acquire beneficial ownership of within sixty (60) days). For purposes of this Agreement, the terms “beneficially owns” and “beneficially owned” shall have correlative meanings.

(f) “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(g) “ Capital Stock ” shall mean shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.50 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $.50 per share (the “ Class B Common Stock ”).

(h) “ Carrier ” shall mean Carrier Corporation.

(i) “ Carrier Enterprises ” shall mean Carrier Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

(j) “ Chosen Courts ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.7(b) of this Agreement.

(k) “ Class B Common Stock ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition of “Capital Stock” set forth above.

(l) “ Closing Date ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Purchase and Contribution Agreement.

(m) “ Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act.

(n) “ Common Stock ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition of “Capital Stock” set forth above.

(o) “ Company ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the caption to this Agreement.

(p) “ Company Change of Control ” shall mean a transaction or series of transactions (or the entry by the Company, its stockholders, or any of its Subsidiaries into an agreement to effect such a transaction or series of transactions) with the Company, its stockholders, or any of its Subsidiaries, on one hand, and any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or

 

2


Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) on the other hand, with respect to (i) a merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or similar transaction involving the Company or its Subsidiaries in which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction shall own less than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all shares of voting securities of the surviving entity (or its ultimate parent) outstanding immediately after such transaction, (ii) any purchase of an equity interest (including by means of a tender or exchange offer) resulting in any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) beneficially owning (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) greater than a fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power in the Company, other than, in each case, Mr. Albert Nahmad and any Related Affiliate or (iii) any purchase of assets, securities or ownership interests resulting in any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) owning greater than fifty percent (50%) of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (including stock of the Company’s Subsidiaries). A Company Change of Control shall also be deemed to have occurred if the Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board.

(q) “ Company Equity Securities ” shall mean the equity securities of the Company, including shares of Capital Stock or other equity securities of the Company issuable upon exercise, conversion, exchange or redemption of any warrants, options, rights or other securities issued by the Company.

(r) “ Continuing Director ” shall mean (i) any member of the Board as of the date of this Agreement, or (ii) any member of the Board who becomes such a member subsequent to the date of this Agreement whose nomination for election or election to the Board was recommended or approved by a majority of the individuals described in clause (i) or this clause (ii) then on the Board.

(s) “ Control Solicitation ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement.

(t) “ Covered Person ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.8(a) of this Agreement.

(u) “ Demand Registration ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(b)(i) of this Agreement.

(v) “ Dispute ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.7(a) of this Agreement.

 

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(w) “ Exchange Act ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition of “beneficially own.”

(x) “ Family Member ” shall mean, with respect to Albert Nahmad, any spouse, child (including any child by adoption and any child as to whom Albert Nahmad or his spouse has legal custody), and grandchild (including by adoption) and/or their respective spouses.

(y) “ Governmental Authority ” shall mean any nation or country (including but not limited to the United States) and any commonwealth, territory or possession thereof and any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, including but not limited to courts, departments, commissions, boards, bureaus, agencies, ministries or other instrumentalities.

(z) “ Holdback Period ” shall mean with respect to any registered offering covered by this Agreement, (i) one hundred twenty (120) days after and during the ten (10) days before, the effective date of the related Registration Statement or, in the case of a takedown from a Shelf Registration Statement, ninety (90) days after the date of the prospectus supplement filed with the Commission in connection with such takedown and during such prior period (not to exceed ten (10) days) as the Company has given reasonable written notice to Shareholder or (ii) such shorter period as Shareholder, the Company and the underwriter of such offering, if any, shall agree.

(aa) “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to an offer of the Registrable Securities.

(bb) “ Law ” when described as being applicable to any Person, shall mean any and all laws (statutory, judicial or otherwise), ordinances, regulations, judgments, orders, directives, injunctions, writs, decrees or awards of any Governmental Authority, in each case as and to the extent applicable to such Person or such Person’s business, operations or properties.

(cc) “ Market Value ” of a share of Common Stock or a share of Class B Common Stock, as the case may be, on any trading day means the last reported sale price, regular way, of a share of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable, on such trading day or, in case there is no last reported sale price on such trading day, the average of the reported closing bid and ask prices, regular way, of a share of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable, on such trading day, in either case on the principal stock exchange on which shares of Common Stock are traded, in the case of a share of Common Stock, and the principal stock exchange on which shares of Class B Common Stock are traded, in the Case of a share of Class B Common Stock. The Market Value of a share of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock on any day which is not a trading day on the applicable stock exchange shall be deemed to be the Market Value of a share of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable, on the immediately preceding trading day. The “ Market Value ” of any other security shall have a correlative meaning.

(dd) “ Mediation Termination ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.7(a) of this Agreement.

 

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(ee) “ Notices ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.2 of this Agreement.

(ff) “ NYSE ” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

(gg) “ Ownership Limit ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(a) of this Agreement.

(hh) “ Percentage Interest ” as to a Person means the number of shares of Capital Stock that are owned by such Person, expressed as a percentage of the total number of shares of Capital Stock actually outstanding.

(ii) “ Person ” shall mean any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, union, trust, association, court, agency, government, tribunal, instrumentality, commission, arbitrator, board, bureau or other entity or authority.

(jj) “ Piggyback Registration ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.2(a) of this Agreement.

(kk) “ Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A or Rule 430B promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto, and all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

(ll) “ Purchase and Contribution Agreement ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

(mm) “ Registration Expenses ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.4(a) of this Agreement.

(nn) “ Registration Request ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(b)(i) of this Agreement.

(oo) “ Registrable Securities ” shall mean all shares of Capital Stock issued to Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase and Contribution Agreement and all shares of Common Stock issued to any Shareholder Group Member pursuant to the conversion of any shares of Class B Common Stock issued to Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase and Contribution Agreement; provided, that such shares will cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) they have been effectively registered or qualified for sale by a Prospectus filed under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the applicable Registration Statement, (ii) they have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 145 or other exemption from registration under the Securities Act, (iii) they have been sold (other than to another Shareholder Group Member) in a private transaction or other exemption from registration under the Securities Act or

 

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(iv) they have been acquired by the Company. In the event of a stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Capital Stock by reason of any stock dividend or distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, the term “Registrable Securities” shall be deemed to refer to and include the Registrable Securities as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of the Registrable Securities may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

(pp) “ Registration Statement ” shall mean the Prospectus and other documents filed with the Commission to effect a registration under the Securities Act.

(qq) “ Related Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to Albert Nahmad, (a) a foundation or similar entity established by Albert Nahmad or any Family Member for the principal purpose of serving charitable goals, controlled by Albert Nahmad or any Family Member; (b) any trust and/or estate (so long as such trust and/or estate, and the voting and/or disposition of assets, including securities, held by such trust and/or estate, is controlled by Albert Nahmad or any Family Member), the beneficiaries of which principally include Albert Nahmad, Family Members or the Persons named in clause (a); and (c) any corporation, limited liability company or partnership, the stockholders, members or general or limited partners of which include only Albert Nahmad, Family Members or the Persons named in clauses (a) or (b).

(rr) “ Restricted Transfer ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.4(a) of this Agreement.

(ss) “ Rule 144 ” shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as in effect from time to time.

(tt) “ Rule 144A ” shall mean Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as in effect from time to time.

(uu) “ Rule 145 ” shall mean Rule 145 under the Securities Act, as in effect from time to time.

(vv) “ Rule 415 ” shall mean Rule 415 under the Securities Act, as in effect from time to time.

(ww) “ Rule 424 ” shall mean Rule 424 under the Securities Act, as in effect from time to time.

(xx) “ Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(yy) “ Selling Expenses ” shall mean all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities hereunder and any other Registration Expenses applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities hereunder required by Law to be paid by a selling shareholder.

(zz) “ Shareholder ” means Carrier.

 

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(aaa) “ Shareholder Group Member ” means United Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and each of its Subsidiaries, including Shareholder.

(bbb) “ Shareholder’s Counsel ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.4(b) of this Agreement.

(ccc) “ Shelf Demand Notice ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a)(ii) of this Agreement.

(ddd) “ Shelf Demand Offering ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a)(ii) of this Agreement.

(eee) “ Shelf Period ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a)(i) of this Agreement.

(fff) “ Shelf Registration ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a)(i) of this Agreement.

(ggg) “ Shelf Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a)(i) of this Agreement.

(hhh) “ Subject Shares ” shall mean, with respect to any particular Person, the shares of Capital Stock beneficially owned by such Person (including, without limitation, any shares of Capital Stock set forth opposite the name of such Person in Annex I hereto), together with any other shares of Capital Stock (including the voting power with respect thereto) which are directly or indirectly acquired by such Person at any one or more times prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof. In the event of a stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Capital Stock by reason of any stock dividend or distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, the term “ Subject Shares ” shall be deemed to refer to and include the Subject Shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of the Subject Shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

(iii) “ Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation fifty percent (50%) or more of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation is at the time owned by such Person, directly or indirectly through one or more Subsidiaries, and (ii) any other Person, including but not limited to a joint venture, a general or limited partnership or a limited liability company, in which such Person, directly or indirectly through one or more Subsidiaries, at the time owns at least fifty percent (50%) or more of the ownership interests entitled to vote in the election of managing partners, managers or trustees thereof (or other Persons performing such functions) or acts as the general partner, managing member, trustee (or Persons performing similar functions) of such other Person.

(jjj) “ Suspension Period ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(c) of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE II

VOTING AGREEMENT

Section 2.1 Agreement to Vote the Subject Shares .

(a) The parties hereto hereby agree that from and after the date hereof, for as long as the Percentage Interest of Shareholder exceeds five percent (5%), at any meeting of the Company’s shareholders (or any adjournment or postponement thereof), however called, or in connection with any action by written consent or other action of the Company’s shareholders, Shareholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) all of the Subject Shares beneficially owned by it and by Shareholder Group Members in the same proportion of votes cast for, against or abstain by all other holders of Capital Stock, except that at any meeting of the Company’s shareholders (or any adjournment or postponement thereof), however called, or in connection with any action by written consent or other action of the Company’s shareholders, pursuant to which holders of any class of Capital Stock are entitled to vote as a separate class, Shareholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) all of the shares of such class of Capital Stock beneficially owned by it and by Shareholder Group Members in the same proportion of votes cast for, against or abstain by all other holders of such class of Capital Stock. Any such vote shall be cast or consent shall be given in accordance with such procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent. Shareholder agrees not to enter into any agreement or commitment with any Person the effect of which would violate or be inconsistent with the provisions and agreements set forth in this Article II . In order to enable Shareholder to comply with its obligations under this Section 2.1(a) , the Company shall (prior to the first vote of the Company’s shareholders subject to this Section 2.1(a) ) develop, together with its proxy solicitor and/or transfer agent, a form of proxy, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Shareholder, to be used by Shareholder (and/or any other Shareholder Group Member, as applicable) to enable it to vote the Subject Shares in the manner required by this Section 2.1(a) at any meeting of the Company’s shareholders (or any adjournment or postponement thereof), however called, or in connection with any action by written consent or other action of the Company’s shareholders. For the avoidance of doubt, any vote of Shareholder (or any other Shareholder Group Member) pursuant to the proper use of such form of proxy shall be deemed to have been made in compliance with this Section 2.1(a) .

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 2.1(a) , Shareholder Group Members shall not be required to vote (or cause to be voted) any or all of the Subject Shares beneficially owned by the relevant Shareholder Group Members as provided in Section 2.1(a) with respect to:

(i) any merger, consolidation, combination, acquisition or sale of assets, reorganization or recapitalization, which, if consummated, would result in a Company Change of Control (except when the Company’s proposal is to merge with its wholly-owned Subsidiary);

(ii) dissolution, liquidation or winding up involving the Company; and

 

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(iii) any matter which involves an alteration of any right of any class of Company Equity Securities.

However, for the avoidance of doubt nothing in this Section 2.1(b) requires the Company to obtain the approval of the Company’s shareholders in circumstances where it is not otherwise being proposed to shareholders for approval.

Section 2.2 Fall-Away of Voting Rights and Standstill . The provisions of Section 2.1(a) , Section 2.1(b) , Section 4.1 and Section 4.2 shall terminate and be of no further effect in the event:

(a) of a Company Change of Control,

(b) that any Person or group (as defined, as of the date hereof, under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) announces publicly an offer with respect to any transaction, or commences a proxy solicitation, involving the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their securities or assets, the consummation, or success, of which would result in a Company Change of Control (any such offer or proxy solicitation, a “ Control Solicitation ”), but only if and after the Board either (i) accepts or recommends in favor of such Control Solicitation or (ii) fails to recommend that its stockholders reject such Control Solicitation within ten (10) business days from the date of commencement of such Control Solicitation; provided , that, if the relevant Person or group announces publicly the withdrawal or discontinuation of such Control Solicitation prior to a Company Change of Control, the provisions of Section 2.1(a), Section 2.1(b), Section 4.1 and Section 4.2 shall be reinstated and shall again bind Shareholder and the Company from the date of such announcement; provided , however, that if, before the relevant Person or group announces publicly the withdrawal or discontinuation of such Control Solicitation, a Shareholder Group Member has publicly announced a Control Solicitation, Section 2.1(a), Section 2.1(b) and Section 4.1 shall not bind Shareholder in relation to any action in connection with the conduct of such Control Solicitation unless and until the Shareholder Group Member has publicly withdrawn or discontinued such Control Solicitation, or

(c) that the Board resolves to engage in a formal process that is intended to result in a transaction that if consummated would constitute a Company Change of Control, provided , that if the Board subsequently resolves to terminate the process prior to a Company Change of Control, the provisions of Section 2.1(a) , Section 2.1(b) , Section 4.1 and Section 4.2 shall be reinstated and shall again bind Shareholder and the Company from such date as the Board notifies Shareholder that the process has terminated.

ARTICLE III

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 3.1 Required Registrations .

(a) Shelf Registration .

(i) Shelf Registration Statement . As soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event more than one hundred eighty (180) days following the Closing Date, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the

 

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Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities (the “ Shelf Registration ”) that are not then registered on an effective Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 (such Registration Statement, together with any post-effective amendment thereto and any new Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) , are collectively referred to herein as the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”). The Shelf Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be on Form S-3 or any successor form (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith). Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement filed hereunder to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective (including by filing any necessary post-effective amendments to such Shelf Registration Statement or a new Shelf Registration Statement) under the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement or another Registration Statement filed under the Securities Act or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities (such period of effectiveness, the “ Shelf Period ”). The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the Shelf Registration, whether or not any registration or Prospectus becomes effective or final.

(ii) Shelf Demand Notice . At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement covering Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(i) is effective, if a Shareholder Group Member desires to sell all or any portion of the Registrable Securities under such Shelf Registration Statement in an underwritten offering (“ Shelf Demand Offering ”), Shareholder shall notify (such notice being the “ Shelf Demand Notice ”) the Company of such intent at least fifteen (15) days prior to such proposed sale (or, in the case of a Shelf Demand Offering that does not involve a “road show”, at least three (3) days prior to such proposed sale), which notice shall specify the number of the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Demand Offering.

(iii) Shelf Demand Offering . The Company shall prepare and file a prospectus supplement, post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement and/or Exchange Act reports incorporated by reference into the Shelf Registration Statement and take such other actions as reasonably necessary or appropriate to permit the consummation of such Shelf Demand Offering. In the case of a Shelf Demand Offering that does not involve a “road show”, the Company shall take all actions to enable the Shareholder Group Member to price such offering within three (3) days of receipt of the Shelf Demand Notice; provided, that if a “comfort” letter is required in connection with the pricing of such offering, and the Company was unable to obtain such “comfort” letter within three (3) days of receipt of such Shelf Demand Notice, then the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such “comfort” letter and price such offering as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

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(b) Demand Registrations .

(i) If at any time (x) the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3.1(a) is not effective to register all the Registrable Shares and (y) a Shareholder Group Member continues to hold any Registrable Securities, Shareholder may request in writing that the Company effect the registration of all or any part of the Registrable Securities (a “ Registration Request ”), provided, that the aggregate offering price applicable to any such Registration Request shall not be less than $25 million (determined in accordance with the aggregate Market Value of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Request on the day on which such Registration Request is received by the Company). Promptly after its receipt of any Registration Request, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to register, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, all Registrable Securities that have been requested to be registered in the Registration Request. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) , whether or not any registration or Prospectus becomes effective or final. Any registration requested by Shareholder pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) is referred to in this Agreement as a “ Demand Registration .”

(ii) Limitation on Demand Registrations . Shareholder will be entitled to initiate no more than three (3) Demand Registrations. No request for registration will count for the purposes of the limitations in this Section 3.1(b)(ii) if (i) the relevant Shareholder Group Member determines in good faith to withdraw the proposed registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement relating to such request due to adverse business developments at the Company that were not known to Shareholder at the time of the request to initiate such registration proceedings, (ii) the Registration Statement relating to such request is not declared effective within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date such Registration Statement is first filed with the Commission (other than solely by reason of the relevant Shareholder Group Member having refused to proceed) and Shareholder withdraws its Registration Request prior to such Registration Statement being declared effective, (iii) prior to the sale of at least ninety percent (90%) of the Registrable Securities included in the applicable registration relating to such request, such registration is adversely affected by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental Authority for any reason and the Company fails to have such stop order, injunction or other order or requirement removed, withdrawn or resolved to Shareholder’s reasonable satisfaction within thirty (30) days of the date of such order, (iv) more than fifteen percent (15%) of the Registrable Securities requested by Shareholder to be included in the registration are not so included pursuant to Section 3.1(e) , or (v) the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting agreement or purchase agreement entered into in connection with the registration relating to such request are not satisfied (other than as a result of a default or breach thereunder by the relevant Shareholder Group Member). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any request for a registration pursuant to Section 3.1(b)(i) regardless of whether or not such request counts toward the limitation set forth above.

(c) Restrictions on Required Registrations . If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement with respect to the Shelf Registration or a Demand Registration would (i) require the Company to make a public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure in the good faith judgment of the Board (A) would be required to be made in any

 

11


such Registration Statement so that such Registration Statement would not be materially misleading, (B) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing, effectiveness or continued use of any such Registration Statement and (C) would in the good faith judgment of the Board reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business if made at such time, or (ii) in the good faith judgment of the Board reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business or on the Company’s ability to effect a planned or proposed acquisition, disposition, financing, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction, then the Company may upon giving prompt written notice of such action to Shareholder (which hereby agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all information disclosed to such participants) delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, any such Registration Statement, provided , that the Company shall not be permitted to do so (x) more than two (2) times during any twelve-month period or (y) for periods exceeding, in the aggregate, one hundred twenty (120) days during any twelve-month period (a “ Suspension Period ”). In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, Shareholder agrees to suspend, and to cause any relevant Shareholder Group Member to suspend, promptly upon receipt of the notice referred to above, its use of any Prospectus relating to such registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. Any Suspension Period shall terminate at such time as the public disclosure of such information is made or the requisite financial information becomes publicly available, as applicable. In the case of the Shelf Registration, or a Demand Registration not withdrawn pursuant to the immediately following sentence, after the expiration of any Suspension Period and without any further request from Shareholder (or any Shareholder Group Member), the Company shall as promptly as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any d


 
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