Black-Out Periods (a) Notwithstanding Section 2, and subject to the provisions of this Section 3, the Company shall be permitted, in limited circumstances, to suspend the use, from time to time, of the Prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement (and therefore suspend sales of the Registrable Securities under such Shelf Registration Statement), by providing written notice (a “Suspension Notice”) to the Selling Holders’ Counsel, if any, and the Holders, for such times as the Company reasonably may determine is necessary and advisable (but in no event for more than an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any rolling twelve (12)-month period commencing on the date of this Agreement or more than forty-five (45) consecutive days, except as a result of a refusal by the Commission to declare any post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement effective after the Company has used all reasonable best efforts to cause the post-effective amendment to be declared effective by the Commission, in which case, the Company must terminate the black-out period immediately following the effective date of the post-effective amendment) if either of the following events shall occur: (i) a majority of the Board determines in good faith that (A) the offer or sale of any Registrable Securities would materially impede, delay or interfere with any proposed financing, offer or sale of securities, acquisition, corporate reorganization or other material transaction involving the Company, (B) after the advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement would require disclosure of non-public material information not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C) (x) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction, (y) disclosure would have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Company’s ability to consummate such transaction, or (z) such transaction renders the Company unable to comply with Commission requirements, in each case under circumstances that would make it impractical or inadvisable to cause the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement on a post-effective basis, as applicable; or (ii) a majority of the Board determines in good faith, upon the advice of counsel, that it is in the Company’s best interest or it is required by law, rule or regulation to supplement the Shelf Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement in order to ensure that the Prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement (1) contains the information required under Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (2) discloses any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement (or of the most recent post-effective amendment) that, individually or in the aggregate, represents a fundamental change in the information set forth therein; or (3) discloses any material information with respect to the plan of distribution that was not disclosed in the Shelf Registration Statement or any material change to such information. Upon the occurrence of any such suspension, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement on a post-effective basis or to take such action as is necessary to make resumed use of the Shelf Registration Statement as soon as possible.
(b) In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in paragraph (a) above (a “Suspension Event”), the Company shall give a Suspension Notice to the Selling Holders’ Counsel, if any, and the Holders to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such Suspension Notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing and the Company is using its reasonable best efforts and taking all reasonable steps to terminate suspension of the use of the Shelf Registration Statement as promptly as possible. A Holder shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below). If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) all copies other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession of the Prospectus covering the Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice. The Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the Holders and to the Selling Holders’ Counsel, if any, promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Company shall give a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 3, the Company agrees that it shall extend the period of time during which such Shelf Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the Holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the Holders of the End of Suspension Notice and provide copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Event; provided that such period of time shall not be extended beyond the date that Common Stock covered by such Shelf Registration Statement are no longer Registrable Securities.
