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EXHIBITS 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
by and among
XXX RESEARCH CORPORATION
as Issuer
and
THE INITIAL PURCHASERS NAMED HEREIN
Dated as of May 22, 2001
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THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of May
22, 2001 by and among Xxx Research Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and ABN Amro Rothschild
LLC, (the "INITIAL PURCHASERS") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated May
17, 2001 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), among the Company and the Initial
Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth
in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing
under the Purchase Agreement.
The Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, (i) for their benefit as
Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the beneficial owners (including
the Initial Purchasers) from time to time of the Notes (as defined herein) and
the beneficial owners from time to time of the Underlying Common Stock (as
defined herein) issued upon conversion of the Notes (each of the foregoing a
"HOLDER" and, together, the "HOLDERS"), as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in
this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:
"Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
"Additional Interest Accrual Period" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(e) hereof.
"Additional Interest Payment Date" means each interest payment date
under the Indenture.
"Affiliate" with respect to any specified person, means an "affiliate,"
as defined in Rule 144, of such person.
"Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(d) hereof.
"Applicable Conversion Price" as of any date of determination means the
Conversion Price in effect as of such date of determination or, if no Notes are
then outstanding, the Conversion Price that would be in effect were Notes then
outstanding.
"Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York
or San Francisco are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Common Stock" means the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, of the Company and any other shares of common stock as may constitute
"Common Stock" for purposes of the Indenture, including the Underlying Common
Stock.
"Company" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement and also includes the Company's successors.
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"Conversion Price" has the meaning assigned such term in the Indenture.
"Deferral Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(i) hereof.
"Deferral Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(i) hereof.
"Effectiveness Deadline Date" for the purposes of determining the
payment of Additional Interest under Section 2(e) shall mean the one hundred and
eightieth (180th) day after the Issue Date.
"Effectiveness Period" means two years from the date of filing of the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement or, if a shorter period, from the date of
the Initial Shelf Registration Statement until either of (i) the sale pursuant
to a Shelf Registration Statement of all the Registrable Securities or (ii) the
expiration of the holding period applicable to the Registrable Securities held
by Holders that are not Affiliates of the Company under Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act.
"Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
"Event Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
"Event Termination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)
hereof.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
"Filing Deadline Date" for the purposes of determining the payment of
Additional Interest under Section 2(e) shall mean the ninetieth (90th) day after
the Issue Date.
"Holder" has the meaning set forth in the second paragraph of this
Agreement.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the
Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the
Notes are being issued.
"Initial Purchasers" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.
"Initial Shelf Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a) hereof.
"Issue Date" means May 22, 2001, or if later, the latest date of
original issuance of the Notes.
"Losses" has the meaning set forth in Section 6 hereof.
"Managing Underwriters" has the meaning set forth in Section 8 hereof.
"Material Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(i) hereof.
"Notes" means the 4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2006 of
the Company to be purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
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"Notice and Questionnaire" means a written notice delivered to the
Company by a Holder containing any information with respect to the Holder
necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the related
Prospectus with respect to the intended distribution of Registrable Securities
by such Holder.
"Notice Holder" means, on any date, any Holder that has delivered a
Notice and Questionnaire to the Company on or prior to such date and holds
Registrable Securities, as of such dates.
"Offering Circular" means the offering circular dated May 17, 2001
relating to the issuance of the Notes.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any amendment or prospectus supplement, including
post-effective amendments, and all materials incorporated by reference or
explicitly deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Purchase Agreement" has the meaning set forth the first paragraph of
this Agreement.
"Record Holder" means the holder of record of such Note on the record
date with respect to the interest payment date under the Indenture on which such
Additional Interest Payment Date shall occur.
"Registrable Securities" means the Notes, until such Notes have been
converted into or exchanged for the Underlying Common Stock and, at all times
subsequent to any such conversion or exchange, the Underlying Common Stock and
any securities into or for which such Underlying Common Stock have been
converted or exchanged, and any security issued with respect thereto upon any
stock dividend, split or similar event until, in the case of any such security,
(A) the earliest of (i) its effective registration under the Securities Act and
resale in accordance with the Registration Statement covering it, (ii)
expiration of the holding period that would be applicable thereto under Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act were it not held by an Affiliate of the Company
or (iii) its sale to the public pursuant to Rule 144, and (B) as a result of the
event or circumstance described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through
(iii), the legends with respect to transfer restrictions required under the
Indenture are removed or removable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
or such legend, as the case may be.
"Registration Expenses" has the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.
"Registration Statement" means any registration statement of the Company
that covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated
by reference in such registration statement.
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"Restricted Securities" has the meaning for this term as defined in Rule
144.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the SEC.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
"Shelf Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(b) hereof.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
"Trustee" means LaSalle Bank National Association (or any successor
entity), the Trustee under the Indenture.
"Underlying Common Stock" means the Common Stock into which the Notes
are convertible or issued upon any such conversion.
SECTION 2. SHELF REGISTRATION.
(a) The Company shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared
and filed with the SEC, as soon as practicable, a Registration Statement for an
offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the
Securities Act (a "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT") registering the resale from
time to time by Holders thereof of all of the Registrable Securities (the
"INITIAL SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT"). The Initial Shelf Registration
Statement shall be on an appropriate form permitting registration of such
Registrable Securities for resale by such Holders in accordance with the methods
of distribution elected by the Holders and set forth in the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under
the Securities Act as promptly as is practicable, and to keep the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement (or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement)
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period. At the time the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective, each Holder that became a Notice Holder and that has
provided the Company with an appropriately completed Notice and Questionnaire,
in each case on or prior to the date five (5) Business Days prior to such time
of effectiveness, shall be named as a selling securityholder in the Initial
Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus in such a manner as to
permit such Holder to deliver such Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable
Securities in accordance with applicable law.
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None of the Company's security holders (other than the Holders of Registrable
Securities) shall have the right to include any of the Company's securities in
the Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) If the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at
any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because all Registrable
Securities registered thereunder have been resold pursuant thereto or have
otherwise ceased to be Registrable Securities), the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending
the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of
such cessation of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration Statement in a
manner reasonably expected to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration Statement
covering all of the securities that as of the date of such filing are
Registrable Securities (a "SUBSEQUENT SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT"). If a
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to
become effective as promptly as is practicable after such filing and to keep
such Registration Statement (or subsequent Shelf Registration Statement)
continuously effective until the end of the Effectiveness Period.
(c) The Company shall supplement and amend the Shelf
Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions
applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf
Registration Statement, if required by the Securities Act or, to the extent to
which the Company does not reasonably object, as reasonably requested by an
Initial Purchaser in the event that it is participating in the Shelf
Registration Statement or by the Trustee on behalf of a majority in interest of
the registered Holders or by any Managing Underwriter in the event of an
underwritten offering.
(d) Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if such
Holder wishes to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement and related Prospectus, it will do so only in accordance with this
Section 2(d) and Section 3(i). Each Holder of Registrable Securities wishing to
sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus agrees to deliver a Notice and Questionnaire to the Company
at least five (5) Business Days prior to any intended distribution of
Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement. From and after
the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable after the date a Notice and
Questionnaire is delivered (i) if required by applicable law, file with the SEC
a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or prepare and,
if required by applicable law, file a supplement to the related Prospectus or a
supplement or amendment to any document incorporated therein by reference or
file any other document required under the Securities Act so that the Holder
delivering such Notice and Questionnaire is named as a selling securityholder in
the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus in such a manner as
to permit such Holder to deliver such Prospectus to purchasers of the
Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law and, if the Company
shall file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, use
reasonable best efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is practicable, but in any
event by the date (the "AMENDMENT EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE DATE") that is
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forty-five (45) days after the date such post-effective amendment is required by
this clause to be filed; (ii) provide such Holder copies of any documents filed
pursuant to Section 2(d)(i); and (iii) notify such Holder as promptly as
practicable after the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any
post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i); provided that if
such Notice and Questionnaire is delivered during a Deferral Period, the Company
shall so inform the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire and shall
take the actions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above upon expiration
of the Deferral Period in accordance with Section 3(i). Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, (i) the Company shall be under no obligation
to name any Holder that is not a Notice Holder as a selling securityholder in
any Registration Statement or related Prospectus; and the Company shall not be
obligated to file more than one (1) post-effective amendment or supplement for
the purpose of naming Holders as selling securityholders who were not named in
the Initial Shelf Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness in any
thirty (30) day period following the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement. Any Holder who subsequently provides a Notice and
Questionnaire required by this Section 2(d) pursuant to the provisions of this
Section (whether or not such Holder has supplied the Notice and Questionnaire at
the time the Initial Shelf Registration Statement was declared effective) shall
be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus in accordance with the requirements of this Section 2(d).
(e) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Registrable
Securities will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain
the extent of such damages with precision, if (i) the Initial Shelf Registration
Statement has not been filed on or prior to the Filing Deadline Date, (ii) the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement has not been declared effective under the
Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline Date, (iii) the Company
has failed to perform its obligations set forth in Section 2(d) within the time
period required therein or (iv) the aggregate duration of Deferral Period in any
period exceeds the number of days permitted in respect of such period pursuant
to Section 3(i) hereof (each of the events of a type described in any of the
foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) are individually referred to herein as an
"EVENT," and the Filing Deadline Date in the case of clause (i), the
Effectiveness Deadline Date in the case of clause (ii), the Amendment
Effectiveness Deadline Date in the case of clause (iii), and the date on which
the aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in any period exceeds the number of
days permitted by Section 3(i) hereof in the case of clause (iv) being referred
to herein as an "EVENT DATE"). Events shall be deemed to continue until the
"EVENT TERMINATION DATE," which shall be the following dates with respect to the
respective types of Events: the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is
filed in the case of an Event of the type described in clause (i), the date the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities
Act in the case of an Event of the type described in clause (ii), the date the
Company performs its obligations set forth in Section 2(d) in the case of an
Event of the type described in clause (iii) (including, without limitation, the
date the relevant post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement
is declared effective under the Securities Act), and termination of the Deferral
Period that caused the limit on the aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in a
period set forth in Section 3(i) to be exceeded in the case of the commencement
of an Event of the type described in clause (iv).
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Accordingly, subject to the last sentence of Section 3(i), commencing on
(and including) any Event Date and ending on (but excluding) the relevant Event
Termination Date (an "ADDITIONAL INTEREST ACCRUAL PERIOD"), the Company agrees
to pay, as additional interest and not as a penalty, an amount (the "ADDITIONAL
INTEREST"), payable on the Additional Interest Payment Dates to Record Holders
of Registrable Securities and of shares of Underlying Common Stock issued upon
conversion of Notes that are Registrable Securities, as the case may be,
accruing for each portion of such Additional Interest Accrual Period beginning
on and including an Additional Interest Payment Date (or, in respect of the
first time that the Additional Interest is to be paid to Holders on an
Additional Interest Payment Date as a result of the occurrence of any particular
Event, from the Event Date) and ending on but excluding the first to occur of
(A) the date of the end of the Additional Interest Accrual Period or (B) the
next Additional Interest Payment Date at a rate per annum equal to one-half of
one percent (0.5%) of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes or, in the
case of Notes that have been converted into or exchanged for Underlying Common
Stock, the Applicable Conversion Price of such shares of Underlying Common
Stock, as the case may be, in each case determined as of the Business Day
immediately preceding the next Additional Interest Payment Date; provided that
in the case of an Additional Interest Accrual Period that is in effect solely as
a result of an Event of the type described in clause (iii) of the immediately
preceding paragraph, such Additional Interest shall be paid only to the Holders
that have delivered Notice and Questionnaires that caused the Company to incur
the obligations set forth in Section 2(d) the non-performance of which is the
basis of such Event, provided, further, that any Additional Interest accrued
with respect to any Note or portion thereof called for redemption on a
redemption date or converted into Underlying Common Stock on a conversion date
prior to the Additional Interest Payment Date, shall, in any such event, be paid
instead to the Holder who submitted such Note or portion thereof for redemption
or conversion on the applicable redemption date or conversion date, as the case
may be, on such date (or promptly following the conversion date, in the case of
conversion). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Additional Interest shall accrue
as to any Registrable Security from and after the earlier of (x) the date such
security is no longer a Registrable Security and (y) the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period. The rate of accrual of the Additional Interest with
respect to any period shall not exceed the rate provided for in this paragraph
notwithstanding the occurrence of multiple concurrent Events. Following the cure
of all Events requiring the payment by the Company of Additional Interest to the
Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section, the accrual of
Additional Interest will cease (without in any way limiting the effect of any
subsequent Event requiring the payment of Additional Interest by the Company).
The Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of Holders of Notes or
Underlying Common Stock, to seek any available remedy for the enforcement of
this Agreement, including for the payment of any Additional Interest.
All of the Company's obligations set forth in this Section 2(e) that are
outstanding with respect to any Registrable Security at the time such security
ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such time as all such
obligations with respect to such security have been satisfied in full
(notwithstanding termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9(k)).
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The parties hereto agree that the additional interest provided for in
this Section 2(e) constitute a reasonable estimate of the damages that may be
incurred by Holders of Registrable Securities by reason of the failure of the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement to be filed or declared effective or
available for effecting resales of Registrable Securities in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
SECTION 3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with the registration
obligations of the Company under Section 2 hereof, the Company shall:
(a) Before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendments or supplements thereto with the SEC, furnish to the Initial
Purchasers and counsel to the Initial Purchasers copies of all such documents
proposed to be filed and use its reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such
document when so filed with the SEC such comments as the Initial Purchasers and
counsel to the Initial Purchasers shall reasonably propose provided that such
comments are proposed within three (3) Business Days following the delivery of
such copies to the Initial Purchasers and counsel to the Initial Purchasers.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to
keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the applicable
period specified in Section 2(a); cause the related Prospectus to be
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the
Securities Act; and use its reasonable best efforts to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act applicable to it with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the
Effectiveness Period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the sellers thereof as such methods of disposition are set forth in such
Registration Statement as so amended or such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) As promptly as practicable (i) give notice to the Notice
Holders, counsel to the Notice Holders and the Initial Purchasers when any
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has been declared
effective, (ii) give notice to counsel to the Notice Holders and the Initial
Purchasers of any request, following the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement under the Securities Act, by the SEC or any other federal
or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to any
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information and
(iii) give notice to the Notice Holders, counsel to the Notice Holders and the
Initial Purchasers, (A) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state
governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for
that purpose, (B) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of
the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (C) of the occurrence of (but
not the nature of or details concerning) a Material Event and (D) of the
determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement will be filed with the SEC, which notice may, at the discretion of the
Company (or as required pursuant to Section 3(i)), state that it constitutes a
Deferral Notice, in which event the provisions of Section 3(i) shall apply.
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(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the
lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification)
of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction in which they
have been qualified for sale, in either case as promptly as practicable.
(e) As promptly as practicable (if reasonably requested by any
Notice Holder or by an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an
unsold allotment from the original offering if such Initial Purchaser is
participating in the Shelf Registration Statement)), incorporate in a Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement such
information as such Notice Holder or Initial Purchaser shall, on the basis of an
opinion of nationally recognized counsel experienced in such matters, determine
to be required to be included therein and make any required filings of such
Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment; provided, that the
Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 3(e) that,
in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company are not required.
(f) As promptly as practicable furnish to each Initial Purchaser
and counsel to the Notice Holders, without charge, at least one (1) conformed
copy of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, including
financial statements but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits (unless
requested in writing to the Company by such Notice Holder or Initial Purchaser,
as the case may be); provided that the Company will as promptly as practicable
furnish a copy of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto if
requested by a Notice Holder.
(g) During the Effectiveness Period, deliver to each Notice
Holder in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or
Prospectuses relating to such Registrable Securities (including each preliminary
prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Notice Holder may
reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents (except during such periods
that a Deferral Notice is outstanding and has not been revoked) to the use of
such Prospectus or each amendment or supplement thereto by each Notice Holder in
connection with any offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in the manner set forth
therein.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, register or qualify or cooperate
with the Notice Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Notice Holder reasonably requests
in writing (which request may be included in the Notice and Questionnaire);
prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement, keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period in connection
with such Notice Holder's offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to
such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) and do any and all
other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities in the manner set forth in the
relevant
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Registration Statement and the related Prospectus; provided, that the Company
will not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this Agreement or (ii) take any action that would subject it to
general service of process in suits or to taxation in any such jurisdiction
where it is not then so subject.
(i) Upon (A) the issuance by the SEC of a stop order suspending
the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of
proceedings with respect to a Shelf Registration Statement under Section 8(d) or
8(e) of the Securities Act, (B) the occurrence of any event or the existence of
any fact (a "MATERIAL EVENT") as a result of which any Registration Statement
shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or any Prospectus shall contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, or (C) the occurrence or existence
of any pending corporate development, public filing with the SEC or other
similar event with respect to the Company that, in the reasonable discretion of
the Company, makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of a Shelf
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, (i) in the case of clause (B)
above, subject to the next sentence, as promptly as practicable prepare and
file, if necessary pursuant to applicable law, a post-effective amendment to
such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any
document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
that would be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement and
Prospectus so that such Registration Statement does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
such Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement, subject to the next sentence, use its reasonable efforts
to cause it to be declared effective as promptly as is practicable, and (ii)
give notice to the Notice Holders that the availability of the Shelf
Registration Statement is suspended (a "DEFERRAL NOTICE") and, upon receipt of
any Deferral Notice, each Notice Holder agrees not to sell any Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Notice Holder's
receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus provided for in
clause (i) above, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the
Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference
in such Prospectus. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to ensure
that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed (x) in the case of clause (A)
above, as promptly as is practicable, (y) in the case of clause (B) above, as
soon as, in the sole judgment of the Company, public disclosure of such Material
Event would not be prejudicial to or contrary to the interests of the Company
or, if necessary to avoid unreasonable burden or expense, as soon as practicable
thereafter and (z) in the case of clause (C) above, as soon as, in the
discretion of the Company, such suspension is no longer appropriate. The Company
shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(i) to suspend the
availability of the Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus, without
incurring or accruing any obligation to pay Additional Interest pursuant to
Section 2(e), for one or more periods not to
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exceed 60 days in any 6 month period (such period, during which the availability
of the Registration Statement and any Prospectus is suspended being a "DEFERRAL
PERIOD").
(j) Use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its
securityholders earning statements (which need not be audited) satisfying the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or
any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days
after the end of any 3-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month
period if such period is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first
fiscal quarter of the Company commencing after the effective date of a
Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said periods.
(k) In the case of registration of resales of the Notes, cause
the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA, cooperate with the Trustee and the
Notice Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for
the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and
execute, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to
execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other
forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to
be so qualified in a timely manner.
(l) Cooperate with each Notice Holder to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities
sold or to be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates
shall not bear any restrictive legends unless required by applicable law, and
cause such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations as are permitted
by the Indenture and registered in such names as such Notice Holder may request
in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of such Registrable
Securities.
(m) Provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities
covered by each Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such
Registration Statement and provide the Trustee and the transfer agent for the
Common Stock with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities that are
in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(n) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Underlying
Common Stock to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation
system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed, to the
extent the Underlying Common Stock satisfies applicable listing requirements.
(o) Provide such information as is required for any filings
required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(p) In the event of an underwritten offering, enter into such
agreements and take all such other reasonable actions in connection therewith
(including those reasonably and customarily requested by the Managing
Underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such
Registrable Securities. If the registration is an underwritten offering, (i)
make such representations and warranties, subject to the Company's ability to do
so, to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters with
respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the
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Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or
deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and
scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten
offerings and confirm the same if and when requested; (ii) to obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form,
scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing
Underwriters, if any, and counsel to the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold) addressed to each of the underwriters
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten
offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the Managing
Underwriters; (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any
other certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or any
business acquired or to be acquired by the Company for which financial
statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the
Registration Statement), addressed to each of the Managing Underwriters, if any,
such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with underwritten
offerings; and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably
requested by counsel to the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
being sold or the Managing Underwriters to evidence the continued validity of
the representations and warranties of the Company and its subsidiaries made
pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary
conditions contained in the underwriting agreement entered into by the Company.
The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting as and to the
extent required thereunder.
(q) If requested in connection with a disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, make available for inspection
by a representative of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
being sold, any Managing Underwriter participating in any disposition of
Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by the
majority of Registrable Securities being sold or Managing Underwriter, all
relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the executive
officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply
all information reasonably requested by any such representative of the Holders
of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold, Managing Underwriter, or
their respective attorneys or accountants as customary for similar due diligence
examinations; subject to reasonable assurances by each such person that such
information will be used only in connection with matters relating to such
Registration Statement, provided, however, that such persons shall first agree
in writing with the Company that any information made available by the Company
shall be kept confidential by such persons, unless (i) disclosure of such
information is required by court or administrative order or is necessary to
respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure of such
information is required by law, (iii) such information becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to
safeguard by any such person or (iv) such information becomes available to any
such person from a source other than the Company and such source is not bound by
a confidentiality agreement.
SECTION 4. HOLDER'S OBLIGATIONS. Each Holder agrees, by acquisition of
the Registrable Securities, that no Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
entitled to sell any of such
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Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or to receive a
Prospectus relating thereto, unless such Holder has furnished the Company with a
Notice and Questionnaire as required pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof and the
information set forth in the next sentence. Each Notice Holder agrees promptly
to furnish to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to
make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Notice Holder
not misleading and any other information regarding such Notice Holder and the
distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time
reasonably request. Any sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder shall
constitute a representation and warranty by such Holder that the information
relating to such Holder and its plan of distribution is as set forth in the
Prospectus delivered by such Holder in connection with such disposition, that
such Prospectus does not as of the time of such sale contain any untrue
statement of a material fact relating to or provided by such Holder or its plan
of distribution and that such Prospectus does not as of the time of such sale
omit to state any material fact relating to or provided by such Holder or its
plan of distribution necessary to make the statements in such Prospectus, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
SECTION 5. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. The Company shall bear all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance by the Company of its
obligations under this Agreement whether or not any of the Registration
Statements are declared effective. Such fees and expenses shall include, without
limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation,
fees and expenses of counsel (x) with respect to filings required to be made
with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (y) of compliance
with federal and state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of the counsel specified in the
next sentence in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable
Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Notice Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement may designate), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation,
expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible
for deposit with The Depository Trust Company), (iii) duplication expenses
relating to copies of any Registration Statement or Prospectus delivered to any
Holders hereunder, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in
connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, (v) the fees and disbursements
of the independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of
any special audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
performance and compliance, (vi) reasonable fees and disbursements of the
Trustee and of the registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock and their
respective counsel and (vii) Securities Act liability insurance obtained by the
Company in its sole discretion. In addition, the Company shall bear or reimburse
the Notice Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of
legal counsel for the Holders, which shall initially be Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxx, Professional Corporation, but which may, with the written consent of
the Initial Purchasers (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), be another
nationally recognized law firm experienced in securities law matters designated
by the Company. In addition, the Company shall pay the internal expenses of the
Company (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers
and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which similar securities of
the Company are then listed and the fees and expenses of any person,
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including special experts, retained by the Company. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 5, each seller of Registrable Securities shall pay
selling expenses (which include, without limitation, all underwriting fees,
discounts and commissions) and all registration expenses to the extent the
Company is prohibited from paying such registration expenses under applicable
law.
SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall indemnify
and hold harmless each Notice Holder and each person, if any, who controls any
Notice Holder (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act) from and against any losses, liabilities,
claims, damages and expenses (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
such action or claim) (collectively, "LOSSES"), arising out of or based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement contained in or omission or alleged omission from any
of such documents in reliance upon and conformity with any of the information
relating to the Holders furnished to the Company in writing by a Holder
expressly for use therein; provided further that the indemnification contained
in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder of Registrable
Securities (or to the benefit of any person controlling such Holder) on account
of any such Losses arising out of or based upon an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary
prospectus provided in each case the Company has complied with its several
obligations under Section 3(a) hereof if, to the extent that a prospectus
relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder under
the Securities Act, either (A) (i) such Holder failed to send or deliver a copy
of the Prospectus with or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of the
sale by such Holder to the person asserting the claim from which such Losses
arise and (ii) the Prospectus would have corrected such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or such omission or alleged omission, or (B) (x) such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is
corrected in an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus and (y) having
previously been furnished by or on behalf of the Company with copies of the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, such Holder thereafter fails to
deliver such Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, with or prior to the
delivery of written confirmation of the sale of a Registrable Security to the
person asserting the claim from which such Losses arise.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDERS OF REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. Each
Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and its respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who
controls the Company (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) or any other Holder, from and against all
Losses arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary
prospectus, or arising out of or based upon
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any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to
the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder of
Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of
the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement giving rise to such
indemnification obligation.
(c) CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. In case any
proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted
involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
either of the two preceding paragraphs, such person (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY")
shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the
indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the
indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable
fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition
to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties, and that all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such separate firm shall be
designated in writing by, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
6(a), the Holders of a majority (with Holders of Notes deemed to be the Holders,
for purposes of determining such majority, of the number of shares of Underlying
Common Stock into which such Notes are or would be convertible or exchangeable
as of the date on which such designation is made) of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement held by Holders that are indemnified
parties pursuant to Section 6(a) and, in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 6(b), the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for
the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding
in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and does
not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a
failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.
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(d) CONTRIBUTION. To the extent that the indemnification
provided for in this Section 6 is unavailable to an indemnified party under
Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof in respect of any Losses or is insufficient to hold
such indemnified party harmless, then each applicable indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid
or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or
parties on the other hand or (ii) if the allocation provided in clause (i) above
is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also
to the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and
of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the
statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the initial placement pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement (before deducting expenses) of the Notes pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement. Benefits received by any Holder shall be deemed to be
equal to the value of receiving Registrable Securities that are registered under
the Securities Act. The relative fault of the Holders on the one hand and the
Company on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Holders or by the Company, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to
be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on
the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement,
which resulted in such Losses. The Holders' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this paragraph are several in proportion to the respective number of
Registrable Securities they have sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, and
not joint.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method or allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding this Section 6(d), an
indemnifying party that is a selling Holder of Registrable Securities shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net
proceeds received by such indemnifying party from Registrable Securities sold
and distributed to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such
indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) The indemnity, contribution and expense reimbursement
obligations of the parties hereunder shall be in addition to any liability any
indemnified party may otherwise have hereunder, under the Purchase Agreement or
otherwise.
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(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 6 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf
of any Holder or any person controlling any Holder, or the Company, or the
Company's officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii)
the sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder.
SECTION 7. INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS. The Company covenants that, if at
any time before the end of the Effectiveness Period the Company is not subject
to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, it will cooperate with any
Holder of Registrable Securities and take such further reasonable action as any
Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request in writing (including,
without limitation, making such reasonable representations as any such Holder
may reasonably request), all to the extent required from time to time to enable
such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the
Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and
Rule 144A under the Securities Act and customarily taken in connection with
sales pursuant to such exemptions. Upon the written request of any Holder of
Registrable Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such filing requirements, unless
such a statement has been included in the Company's most recent report filed
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to
register any of its securities (other than the Common Stock) under any section
of the Exchange Act.
The Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it under the
Exchange Act and shall comply with all other requirements set forth in the
instructions to Form S-3 in order to allow the Company to be eligible to file
registration statements on Form S-3 as soon as is permissible under the
Securities Act.
SECTION 8. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. If any of the Registrable
Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager
or managers that will administer the offering ("MANAGING UNDERWRITERS") will be
selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be
included in such offering, provided, however, that such Managing Underwriters
must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. No person may participate in any
underwritten registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such
person's Registered Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any
underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably
required under the terms of such underwriting agreements. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to facilitate
an underwritten offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement by any
Holders unless the offering relates to at least $50,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of Notes.
SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) NO CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. The Company (i) is not, as of the
date hereof, a party to, nor shall it, on or after the date of this Agreement,
enter into, any agreement with
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respect to its securities that conflicts with the rights granted to the Holders
of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or that permits other holders of the
Company's outstanding securities to offer such securities for resale under the
Registration Statement, and (ii) represents and warrants that the rights granted
to the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict
with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any
other agreements.
(b) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement
(other than with respect to the payment of Additional Interest), including the
provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and
waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given,
unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of
the then outstanding Underlying Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities
(with Holders of Notes deemed to be the Holders, for purposes of this Section,
of the number of outstanding shares of Underlying Common Stock into which such
Notes are or would be convertible or exchangeable as of the date on which such
consent is requested). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to
depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates
exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose securities
are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly
or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of Registrable Securities may
be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities being
sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided, that the
provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except
in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. Each
Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the time of any such amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consent or thereafter shall be bound by any
such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant to
this Section 9(b), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent appears on the
Registrable Securities or is delivered to such Holder.
(c) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, by telecopier,
by courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or by first-class mail, return
receipt requested, and shall be deemed given (i) when made, if made by hand
delivery, (ii) upon confirmation, if made by telecopier, (iii) one (1) Business
Day after being deposited with such courier, if made by overnight courier or
(iv) on the date indicated on the notice of receipt, if made by first-class
mail, to the parties as follows:
(1)if to a Holder of Registrable Securities that is not
a Notice Holder, at the address for such Holder then appearing in the Note
Register (as defined in the Indenture);
(2)if to a Notice Holder, at the most current address
given by such Holder to the Company in a Notice and Questionnaire or any
amendment thereto;
(3)if to the Company, to:
Xxx Research Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-00-
00
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx White & XxXxxxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
if to the Initial Purchasers to:
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Transaction Advisory Group
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C.
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxx, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
(4) if to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C. at the above address and telecopy number (or as
otherwise requested by the Notice Holders), or to such other address as such
person may have furnished to the other persons identified in this Section 9(c)
in writing in accordance herewith.
(d) APPROVAL OF HOLDERS. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required
hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other
than the Initial Purchasers or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if
such subsequent Holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of
their holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
(e) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Any person who purchases any
Registrable Securities from the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed, for purposes
of this Agreement, to be an assignee of the Initial Purchasers. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of
each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each
Holder of any Registrable Securities.
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(f) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(g) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
(i) SEVERABILITY. If any term provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated thereby, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable best
efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or
substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision,
covenant or restriction, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges
of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(j) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is intended by the parties
as a final expression of their agreement and is intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein and the registration rights
granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. Except as
provided in the Purchase Agreement, there are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein,
with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to
the Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
undertakings among the parties with respect to such registration rights. No
party hereto shall have any rights, duties or obligations other than those
specifically set forth in this Agreement.
(k) TERMINATION. This Agreement and the obligations of the
parties hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the Effectiveness Period,
except for any liabilities or obligations under Section 5 or 6 hereof and the
obligations to make payments of and provide for additional interest under
Section 2(e) hereof to the extent such damages have accrued prior to the end of
the Effectiveness Period, each of which shall remain in effect in accordance
with its terms.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
XXX RESEARCH CORPORATION
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
----------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above written.
By: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION,
Acting on behalf of itself and as the
Representative of the several Initial
Purchasers
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
----------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]
