Exemption from Registration Subject to, and in reliance on, the representations, warranties and covenants made herein by the Investor, the offer and sale of the Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D; provided, however, that at the request of and with the express agreements of the Investor (including, without limitation, the representations, warranties and covenants of Investor set forth in Section 4.9 through 4.13), the Shares to be issued from and after Commencement to or for the benefit of the Investor pursuant to this Agreement shall be issued to the Investor or its designee only as DWAC Shares and will not bear legends noting restrictions as to resale of such securities under federal or state securities laws, nor will any such securities be subject to stop transfer instructions.
Exemption from Registration; Valid Issuances The sale and issuance of the Shares, in accordance with the terms and on the bases of the representations and warranties of the undersigned set forth herein, may and shall be properly issued by the Company to the undersigned pursuant to any applicable federal or state law. When issued and paid for as herein provided, the Shares shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable. Neither the sales of the Shares pursuant to, nor the Company's performance of its obligations under, this Agreement shall (a) result in the creation or imposition of any liens, charges, claims or other encumbrances upon the Shares or any of the assets of the Company, or (b) entitle the other holders of the Common Stock of the Company to preemptive or other rights to subscribe to or acquire the Common Stock or other securities of the Company. The Shares shall not subject the undersigned to personal liability by reason of the ownership thereof.
Registration and Qualification If and whenever MSCI is required to effect a Demand Registration or a Piggyback Registration, MSCI shall as promptly as practicable:
(a) prepare, file and use its reasonable best efforts to cause to become effective a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the Registrable Securities to be offered;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities until the earlier of (i) such time as all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition set forth in such registration statement and (ii) the expiration of the 90-day period after such registration statement becomes effective; provided, that, such 90-day period shall be extended for such number of days that equals the number of days elapsing from (x) the date the written notice contemplated by paragraph (f) below is given by MSCI to (y) the date on which MSCI delivers to the Holders of Registrable Securities the supplement or amendment contemplated by paragraph (f) below;
(c) furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities and to any underwriter of such Registrable Securities such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), such number of copies of the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, such documents incorporated by reference in such registration statement or prospectus, and such other documents, as the Holders of Registrable Securities or such underwriter may reasonably request, and a copy of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence to or received from, the SEC or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering;
(d) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders of such Registrable Securities or any underwriter to such Registrable Securities shall request, and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all appropriate registrations, permits and consents in connection therewith, and do any and all other acts and things which may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities or any such underwriter to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of its Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement; provided, that, MSCI shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any such jurisdiction wherein it is not so qualified or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;
(e) (i) use its reasonable best efforts to furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration (each, a “Selling Holder”) and to any underwriter of such Registrable Securities an opinion of counsel for MSCI addressed to each Selling Holder and dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement (if any) (or if such offering is not underwritten, dated the effective date of the registration statement), and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to furnish to each Selling Holder a “cold comfort” letter addressed to each Selling Holder and signed by the independent public accountants who have audited the financial statements of MSCI included in such registration statement, in each such case covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities and such other matters as the Selling Holders may reasonably request and, in the case of such accountants’ letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such financial statements;
(f) as promptly as practicable, notify the Selling Holders in writing (i) at any time when a prospectus relating to a registration pursuant to a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction for any amendment of or supplement to any registration statement or other document relating to such offering, and in either such case, at the request of the Selling Holders prepare and furnish to the Selling Holders a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
(g) if reasonably requested by the lead or managing underwriters, use its reasonable best efforts to list all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration on each securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock of MSCI is then listed;
(h) to the extent reasonably requested by the lead or managing underwriters, send appropriate officers of MSCI to attend any “road shows” scheduled in connection with any such registration, with all out-of-pocket costs and expense incurred by MSCI or such officers in connection with such attendance to be paid by MSCI; and
(i) so long as the board of directors of MSCI shall not have provided by resolution or resolutions that all or some of all classes or series of the stock of MSCI shall be represented by uncertificated shares, furnish for delivery in connection with the closing of any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration unlegended certificates representing ownership of the Registrable Securities being sold in such denominations as shall be requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters.
No Effective Registration Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no amount payable hereunder may be converted into Common Stock unless (a) either (i) an effective current Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) covering the shares of Common Stock to be issued in satisfaction of such obligations exists, or (ii) an exemption from registration of the Common Stock is available pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, and (b) no Event of Default hereunder exists and is continuing, unless such Event of Default is cured within any applicable cure period or is otherwise waived in writing by the Holder in whole or in part at the Holder's option.
Regulation D Qualification Neither the Company nor, to its actual knowledge, any of its affiliates, members, officers, directors or beneficial shareholders of 20% or more of its outstanding securities, has experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
Registration Requirements The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the resale of the Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, the execution of an undertaking to file post-effective amendments, appropriate qualification under applicable blue sky or other state securities laws and appropriate compliance with applicable regulations issued under the Securities Act) as would permit or facilitate the resale of all the Registrable Securities in the manner (including manner of sale) and in all states reasonably requested by the Holder. Such reasonable best efforts by the Company shall include, without limitation, the following:
(a) The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible after the filing of the Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, including the filing of a Form 10-K/A containing a management report and an auditor’s report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting within the time permitted under Exchange Act Release No. 50754 (November 30, 2004) (collectively, the “Company’s 2004 10-K”):
(i) But in any event within 30 days of the filing of the Company’s 2004 10-K, prepare and file a registration statement with the Commission pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act on Form S-3 under the Securities Act (or in the event that the Company is ineligible to use such form, such other form as the Company is eligible to use under the Securities Act provided that such other form shall be converted into an S-3 promptly after Form S-3 becomes available to the Company) covering resales by the Holders as selling stockholders (not underwriters) of the Registrable Securities (the “Registration Statement”). The number of shares of Common Stock initially included in such Registration Statement shall be no less than the sum of (A) the Shares and (B) the Warrant Shares issuable upon full exercise of the Warrant. Thereafter the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement and other filings to be declared effective as soon as possible, and in any event prior to 90 days (or, if the SEC elects to review the Registration Statement, 180 days) following the filing of the Company’s 2004 10-K (the “Effectiveness Deadline”). Without limiting the foregoing, the Company will promptly respond to all SEC comments, inquiries and requests, and shall request acceleration of effectiveness at the earliest possible date. The Company shall provide the Holders reasonable opportunity to review the portions of any such Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto containing disclosure regarding the Holders prior to filing.
(ii) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement and notify the Holders of the filing and effectiveness of such Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements.
(iii) Furnish to each Holder such numbers of copies of a current prospectus conforming with the requirements of the Act, copies of the Registration Statement, any amendment or supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein and such other documents as such Holder may reasonably require in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by such Holder.
(iv) Register and qualify the securities covered by such Registration Statement under the securities or “blue sky” laws of all domestic jurisdictions, to the extent required; provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.
(v) Notify each Holder immediately of the happening of any event (but not the substance or details of any such events unless specifically requested by a Holder) as a result of which the prospectus (including any supplements thereto or thereof) included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and use its reasonable best efforts to promptly update and/or correct such prospectus.
(vi) Notify each Holder immediately of the issuance by the Commission or any state securities commission or agency of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the threat or initiation of any proceedings for that purpose. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.
(vii) Permit counsel to the Holders to review the Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto within a reasonable period of time (but not less than two (2) full Trading Days) prior to each filing and will not request acceleration of the Registration Statement without prior notice to such counsel.
(viii) List the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement on the principal securities exchange and/or market on which the Common Stock is then listed and prepare and file any required filings with such principal market or exchange.
(b) In the event the Registration Statement has become effective and, afterwards, any Holder’s ability to sell Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement is suspended for more than (i) 45 days in any 90-day period or (ii) 90 days in any calendar year, including without limitation by reason of any suspension or stop order with respect to the Registration Statement or the fact that an event has occurred as a result of which the prospectus (including any supplements thereto) included in such Registration Statement then in effect includes an untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, then the Company shall take such action as may be necessary to amend or supplement such Registration Statement or prospectus such that such Registration Statement or prospectus, as so amended, shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements not misleading.
(c) If the Holder(s) intend to distribute the Registrable Securities by means of an underwriting, the Holder(s) shall so advise the Company. Any such underwriting may only be administered by nationally or regionally recognized investment bankers reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
(d) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement containing such representations and warranties by the Company and such other terms and provisions, as are customarily contained in underwriting agreements for comparable offerings and are reasonably satisfactory to the Company) and take all such other actions as the Holder or the underwriters participating in such offering and sale may reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate such offering and sale other than such actions which are disruptive to the Company or require significant management availability.
(e) The Company shall make available for inspection by the Holders, representative(s) of all the Holders together, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement, and any attorney or accountant retained by any Holder or underwriter, all financial and other records customary for purposes of the Holders’ due diligence examination of the Company and review of any Registration Statement, all documents filed with the SEC subsequent to the Closing, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement, provided that such parties agree to keep such information confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the foregoing right shall not extend to any Holder (i) who is not a financial investor or entity or (ii) who, itself or through any affiliate, has any strategic business interest that would reasonably be expected to be in conflict with any business of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(f) The Company may suspend the use of any prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement only in the event, and for such period of time as, (i) such a suspension is required by the rules and regulations of the Commission or (ii) it is determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company that because of valid business reasons (not including the avoidance of the Company’s obligations hereunder), it is in the best interests of the Company to suspend such use, and prior to suspending such use in accordance with this clause (ii) the Company provides the Holders with written notice of such suspension, which notice need not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such suspension. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to cause such suspension to terminate at the earliest possible date.
(g) The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period (as defined below), and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(h)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K or any analogous report under the 1934 Act, the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement.
(h) Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of the Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Sections 5.2(a)(v) or 5.2(a)(vi), and upon notice of any suspension under Section 5.2(f), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 5.2, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph.
(i) If requested by a Holder, the Company shall (i) as soon as practicable incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as a Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) as soon as practicable make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) as soon as practicable, supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement if reasonably requested by a Holder holding any Registrable Securities.
No Registration Required Subject to compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 hereof and with the procedures set forth in Section 7 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers and to each Subsequent Purchaser in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum to register the Securities under the Securities Act or, until such time as the Exchange Securities are issued pursuant to an effective registration statement, to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder).
Effective Registration Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.
Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from FINRA For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and through and including the First Closing Date and, with respect to any Optional Shares purchased after the First Closing Date, each Option Closing Date:
(i) The Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by Rule 430A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information required by such Rule 430A, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective.
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
(iii) FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
Due Organization and Qualification Borrower and each Subsidiary is a corporation duly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and qualified and licensed to do business in, and is in good standing in, any state in which the conduct of its business or its ownership of property requires that it be so qualified.
