HYLETE, INC. INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 3.1
HYLETE, INC.
THIS INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of July 16, 2015, by and among Hylete, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), and the investors listed on Exhibit A hereto, referred to hereinafter as the “Investors” and each individually as an “Investor.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement in order to grant registration rights, information rights and other rights to the Investors as set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. GENERAL.
1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
(a) “Derivative Securities” means any securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for (in each case, directly or indirectly) Common Stock, including options and warrants.
(b) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(c) “Form S-3” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor or similar registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC that permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.
(d) “Holder” means any person who is a party to this Agreement owning of record Registrable Securities that have not been sold to the public or any assignee of record of such Registrable Securities in accordance with Section 2.9 hereof.
(e) “Initial Offering” means the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities Act.
(f) “Major Investor” means any Investor that, individually or together with such Investor’s Affiliates, holds at least five percent (5%) of the shares of Registrable Securities (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, or other recapitalization or reclassification effected after the date hereof.
(g) “Register,” “registered,” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement or document.
(h) “Registrable Securities” means (a) any Common Stock of the Company held by a Holder, (b) any Common Stock of the Company issuable or issued upon conversion of the Shares and (c) any Common Stock of the Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, such above-described securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Registrable Securities shall not include any securities (i) sold by a person to the public either pursuant to a registration statement or Rule 144, (ii) sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under Section 2 of this Agreement are not assigned or (iii) held by a Holder (together with its affiliates) if, as reflected on the Company’s list of shareholders, such Holder (together with its affiliates) holds less than 1% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock (treating all shares of Preferred Stock on an as converted basis), the Company has completed its Initial Offering and all shares of Common Stock of the Company issuable or issued upon conversion of the Shares held by and issuable to such Holder (and its affiliates) may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 during any ninety (90) day period.
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(i) “Registrable Securities then outstanding” shall be the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that are Registrable Securities and either (a) are then issued and outstanding or (b) are issuable pursuant to then exercisable or convertible securities.
(j) “Registration Expenses” shall mean all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 hereof, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, reasonable fees and disbursements not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of a single special counsel for the Holders, blue sky fees and expenses and the expense of any special audits incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding the compensation of regular employees of the Company which shall be paid in any event by the Company).
(k) “SEC” or “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(l) “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(m) “Selling Expenses” shall mean all underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale.
(n) “Shares” shall mean the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, Series A-1 Preferred Stock and Series A-2 Preferred Stock, and Preferred Stock held from time to time by the Investors listed on Exhibit A hereto and their permitted assigns.
(o) “Special Registration Statement” shall mean (i) a registration statement relating to any employee benefit plan or (ii) with respect to any corporate reorganization or transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act, including any registration statements related to the issuance or resale of securities issued in such a transaction or (iii) a registration related to stock issued upon conversion of debt securities.
SECTION 2. REGISTRATION.
2.1 Demand Registration.
(a) Subject to the conditions of this Section 2.1, if the Company shall receive a written request from the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities (the “Initiating Holders”) that the Company file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the registration of Registrable Securities with an anticipated aggregate offering price of at least $30,000,000, then the Company shall, within thirty (30) days of the receipt thereof, give written notice of such request to all Holders, and subject to the limitations of this Section 2.1, effect, as expeditiously as reasonably possible, the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities that all Holders request to be registered.
(b) If the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 2.1 or any request pursuant to Section 2.3 and the Company shall include such information in the written notice referred to in Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.3(a), as applicable. In such event, the right of any Holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company (which underwriter or underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.1 or Section 2.3, if the underwriter advises the Company that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of securities to be underwritten (including Registrable Securities) then the Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities which would otherwise be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of shares that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated to the Holders of such Registrable Securities on a pro rata basis based on the number of Registrable Securities held by all such Holders (including the Initiating Holders); provided, that the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting shall not be reduced unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from the registration.
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(c) The Company shall not be required to effect a registration pursuant to this Section 2.1:
(i) prior to the earlier of (A) the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (B) one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of the registration statement pertaining to the Initial Offering;
(ii) after the Company has effected two (2) registrations pursuant to this Section 2.1, and such registrations have been declared or ordered effective and the offerings contemplated thereby have been consummated;
(iii) during the period starting with the date of filing of, and ending on the date one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of a registration statement pertaining to a public offering, other than pursuant to a Special Registration Statement; provided that the Company makes reasonable good faith efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective;
(iv) if within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written request from Initiating Holders pursuant to Section 2.1(a), the Company gives notice to the Holders of the Company’s intention to file a registration statement for its Initial Offering within ninety (90) days;
(v) if the Company shall furnish to Holders requesting a registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.1, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such registration statement to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Holders; provided that such right to delay a request shall be exercised by the Company not more than twice in any twelve (12) month period;
(vi) if the Initiating Holders propose to dispose of shares of Registrable Securities that may be immediately registered on Form S-3 pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 2.3 below; or
(vii) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.
2.2 Piggyback Registrations. The Company shall notify all Holders of Registrable Securities in writing at least fifteen (15) days prior to the filing of any registration statement under the Securities Act for purposes of a public offering of securities of the Company (including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of the Company, but excluding Special Registration Statements) and will afford each such Holder an opportunity to include in such registration statement all or part of such Registrable Securities held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by it shall, within fifteen (15) days after the above-described notice from the Company, so notify the Company in writing. Such notice shall state the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Holder. If a Holder decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Holder shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(a) Underwriting. If the registration statement under which the Company gives notice under this Section 2.2 is for an underwritten offering, the Company shall so advise the Holders of Registrable Securities. In such event, the right of any such Holder to be included in a registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the underwriter determines in good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, the number of shares that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated, first, to the Company; second, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders; and third, to any shareholder of the Company (other than a Holder) on a pro rata basis; provided, however, that no such reduction shall reduce the amount of securities of the selling Holders included in the registration below twenty five percent (25%) of the total amount of securities included in such registration, unless such offering is the Initial Offering and such registration does not include shares of any other selling shareholders, in which event any or all of the Registrable Securities of the Holders may be excluded in accordance with the immediately preceding clause. In no event will any shares of Registrable Securities held by the Holders be excluded from any such registration before the shares proposed to be sold in the offering by all other selling shareholders are first excluded. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriter, delivered at least ten (10) business days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration. For any Holder which is a partnership or corporation, the partners, retired partners and shareholders of such Holder, or the estates and family members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing person shall be deemed to be a single “Holder,” and any pro rata reduction with respect to such “Holder” shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such “Holder,” as defined in this sentence.
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(b) Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2.2 whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration, and shall promptly notify any Holder that has elected to include shares in such registration of such termination or withdrawal. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof.
2.3 Form S-3 Registration. In case the Company shall receive from the Initiating Holders a written request or requests that the Company effect a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor to Form S-3) or any similar short-form registration statement and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders, the Company will:
(a) promptly give written notice of the proposed registration, and any related qualification or compliance, to all other Holders of Registrable Securities;
(b) as soon as practicable, effect such registration and all such qualifications and compliances as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Holder’s or Holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section 2.3:
(i) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering by the Holders, or
(ii) if the Holders, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate price to the public of less than $3,000,000, or
(iii) if within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written request from any Holder or Holders pursuant to this Section 2.3, the Company gives notice to such Holder or Holders of the Company’s intention to make a public offering within ninety (90) days, other than pursuant to a Special Registration Statement;
(iv) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Form S-3 registration to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer the filing of the Form S-3 registration statement for a period of not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 2.4; provided, that such right to delay a request shall be exercised by the Company not more than twice in any twelve (12) month period, or
(v) if the Company has, within the twelve (12) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected two (2) registrations on Form S-3 for the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.3, or
(vi) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.
(c) Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall file a Form S-3 registration statement covering the Registrable Securities and other securities so requested to be registered as soon as practicable after receipt of the requests of the Holders. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as demands for registration or registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1.
2.4 Expenses of Registration. Except as specifically provided herein, all Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to Section 2.1 or any registration under Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 herein shall be borne by the Company. All Selling Expenses incurred in connection with any registrations hereunder, shall be borne by the holders of the securities so registered pro rata on the basis of the number of shares so registered. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay for expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.3, the request of which has been subsequently withdrawn by the Initiating Holders unless (a) the withdrawal is based upon material adverse information concerning the Company of which the Initiating Holders were not aware at the time of such request or (b) the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities agree to forfeit their right to one requested registration pursuant to Section 2.1 (in which event such right shall be forfeited by all Holders). If the Holders are required to pay the Registration Expenses, such expenses shall be borne by the holders of securities (including Registrable Securities) requesting such registration in proportion to the number of shares for which registration was requested. If the Company is required to pay the Registration Expenses of a withdrawn offering pursuant to clause (a) above, then the Holders shall not forfeit their rights pursuant to Section 2.1 to a demand registration.
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2.5 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement effective for up to one hundred twenty (120) days or, if earlier, until the Holder or Holders have completed the distribution related thereto; provided, however, that at any time, upon written notice to the participating Holders and for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days thereafter (the “Suspension Period”), the Company may delay the filing or effectiveness of any registration statement or suspend the use or effectiveness of any registration statement (and the Initiating Holders hereby agree not to offer or sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement during the Suspension Period) if the Company reasonably believes that there is or may be in existence material nonpublic information or events involving the Company, the failure of which to be disclosed in the prospectus included in the registration statement could result in a Violation (as defined below). In the event that the Company shall exercise its right to delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration hereunder, the applicable time period during which the registration statement is to remain effective shall be extended by a period of time equal to the duration of the Suspension Period. The Company may extend the Suspension Period for an additional consecutive sixty (60) days with the consent of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered under the applicable registration statement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If so directed by the Company, all Holders registering shares under such registration statement shall (i) not offer to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement during the period in which the delay or suspension is in effect after receiving notice of such delay or suspension; and (ii) use their commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holders’ possession, of the prospectus relating to such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. The Company shall not be required to file, cause to become effective or maintain the effectiveness of any registration statement that contemplates a distribution of securities on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
(b) 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 Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement for the period set forth in subsection (a) above.
(c) Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them.
(d) Use its reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders; 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.
(e) Promptly make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any underwriter(s) participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney or accountant or other agent retained by any such underwriter or selected by the selling Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents, and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant, or agent, in each case, as necessary or advisable to verify the accuracy of the information in such registration statement and to conduct appropriate due diligence in connection therewith;
(f) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter(s) of such offering. Each Holder participating in such underwriting shall also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement.
(g) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto 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 a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing. The Company will use reasonable efforts to amend or supplement such prospectus in order to cause such prospectus not to include any 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 not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing.
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(h) Use its reasonable efforts to furnish, on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and (ii) a letter, dated as of such date, from the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering addressed to the underwriters.
2.6 Delay of Registration; Furnishing Information.
(a) No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 2.
(b) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Section 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3 that the selling Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the Registrable Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to effect the registration of their Registrable Securities.
(c) The Company shall have no obligation with respect to any registration requested pursuant to Section 2.2 or Section 2.4 if, due to the operation of subsection 2.2(b), the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate offering price of the Registrable Securities to be included in the registration does not equal or exceed the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate offering price required to originally trigger the Company’s obligation to initiate such registration as specified in Section 2.2 or Section 2.4, whichever is applicable.
2.7 Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under Sections 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4:
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the partners, members, officers and directors of each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a “Violation”) by the Company: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement or incorporated reference therein, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law in connection with the offering covered by such registration statement; and the Company will reimburse each such Holder, partner, member, officer, director, underwriter or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.7(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by such Holder, partner, member, officer, director, underwriter or controlling person of such Holder.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration qualifications or compliance is being effected, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter and any other Holder selling securities under such registration statement or any of such other Holder’s partners, directors or officers or any person who controls such Holder, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, underwriter or other such Holder, or partner, director, officer or controlling person of such other Holder may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement or incorporated reference therein, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act (collectively, a “Holder Violation”), in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Holder Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder under an instrument duly executed by such Holder and stated to be specifically for use in connection with such registration; and each such Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, underwriter or other Holder, or partner, officer, director or controlling person of such other Holder in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if it is judicially determined that there was such a Holder Violation; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.7(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided further, that in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 2.7 exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder).
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(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 2.7 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 2.7, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if materially prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 2.7, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 2.7.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.7 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall to the extent permitted by applicable law contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in connection with the Violation(s) or Holder Violation(s) that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, that in no event shall any contribution by a Holder hereunder when combined with any amounts paid or payable by such Holder pursuant to Section 2.7(b), exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder.
(e) The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 2.7 shall survive completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement and the termination of this Agreement. No indemnifying party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
2.8 Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2 may be assigned by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of Registrable Securities (for so long as such shares remain Registrable Securities) that (a) is a general partner, limited partner, retired partner, member or former member of a Holder that is a partnership or limited liability company, (b) is a Holder’s family member or trust for the benefit of an individual Holder, or (c) is an affiliated venture capital fund of such Holder; provided, however, that (i) the transferor shall, within ten (10) days after such transfer, furnish to the Company written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned and (ii) such transferee shall agree to be subject to all restrictions set forth in this Agreement.
2.9 Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. The Company shall not, without the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would grant such holder any registration rights on a parity with or senior to those granted to the Holders hereunder, other than the right to a Special Registration Statement.
2.10 “Market Stand-Off” Agreement. Each Holder hereby agrees that such Holder shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by such Holder (other than those included in the registration) for a period specified by the representative of the underwriters of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days (subject to such extension or extensions as may be required by the underwriters in order to publish research reports while complying with the Rule 2711 of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.) following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided that:
(i) such agreement shall apply only to the Company’s Initial Offering;
(ii) all officers and directors of the Company and holders of at least one percent (1%) of the Company’s voting securities enter into similar agreements; and
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(iii) such agreement shall provide that any discretionary waiver or termination of the restrictions of any or all of such agreements by the Company or the underwriters shall apply to the Investors on a pro rata basis, based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such Investors.
2.11 Agreement to Furnish Information. Each Holder agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company or the underwriter that are consistent with the Holder’s obligations under Section 2.10 or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. In addition, if requested by the Company or the representative of the underwriters of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company, each Holder shall provide, within ten (10) days of such request, such information as may be required by the Company or such representative in connection with the completion of any public offering of the Company’s securities pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act. The obligations described in Section 2.10 and this Section 2.11 shall not apply to a Special Registration Statement. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Common Stock (or other securities) subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of said one hundred eighty (180) day (or longer) period. Each Holder agrees that any transferee of any shares of Registrable Securities shall be bound by Sections 2.10 and 2.11. The underwriters of the Company’s stock are intended third party beneficiaries of Sections 2.10 and 2.11 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.
2.12 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its best efforts to:
(a) Make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144 or any similar or analogous rule promulgated under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public;
(b) File with the SEC, in a timely manner, all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and
(c) So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request: a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144 of the Securities Act, and of the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company filed with the Commission; and such other reports and documents as a Holder may reasonably request in connection with availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing it to sell any such securities without registration.
2.13 Termination of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Company to register securities and to receive notices in connection therewith under Section 2 of this Agreement shall terminate, with respect to each Holder, on the earlier of (i) the date five (5) years after the closing date of the Initial Offering and (ii) with respect to any Holder, if such Holder is eligible to sell all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities without restriction under Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act within any ninety (90)-day period.
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
3.1 Basic Financial Information and Reporting.
(a) The books of the Company shall be kept on such method(s) of accounting for tax and financial reporting purposes as may be determined by the Board of Directors. The fiscal year of the Company shall end on December 31 of each year, or on such other date required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or permitted by the Code and selected by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall cause to be kept, at the principal place of business of the Company, full and proper ledgers, other books of account, and records of all receipts and disbursements, other financial activities, and the internal affairs of the Company for at least the current and past three fiscal years. Investors, personally or through an authorized representative, may, for purposes reasonably related to their Shares, examine and copy (at their own cost and expense), at reasonable business hours, the books and records of the Company.
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(b) The Company will use reasonable efforts to deliver or cause to be delivered to each Investor:
(i) By April 15th (and, in any event, will deliver not later than September 31st) of each year, all information reasonably necessary for the preparation of such Investor’s United States federal income tax returns and any state, local and foreign income tax returns which such Investor is required to file as a result of the Company being engaged in a trade or business within such state, local or foreign jurisdiction for such year for United States federal income tax purposes (and, if applicable, state, local or foreign income tax purposes);
(ii) As soon as practicable, but in any event within one-hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal year, unaudited statements of income and of cash flows for such fiscal year and a statement of shareholders’ equity as of the end of such year (collectively, the “Annual Unaudited Financial Statements”), all prepared in accordance with standard accounting practices consistently applied with prior practice for earlier periods and fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its results of operation for the periods specified therein; provided, however that if the Investors of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities request that such Annual Unaudited Financial Statements be audited then the Company shall, at the Company’s expense, have such Financial Statements audited by a nationally or regionally recognized independent public accounting firm acceptable to the Investors of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities;
(iii) As soon as practicable, but in any event within forty-five (45) days of the end of each quarter, an unaudited income statement and statement of cash flows for such quarter, and an unaudited balance sheet and statement of shareholders’ equity as of the end of such quarter, all prepared in accordance with standard accounting practices consistently applied with prior practice for earlier periods and fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its results of operation for the periods specified therein (except that the financial report may (i) be subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and (ii) not contain all notes thereto that may be required in accordance with standard accounting practices);
(iv) With respect to the financial statements called for in Sections 3.1(b)(ii) and (iii), an instrument executed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifying that such financial statements were prepared in accordance with standard accounting practices consistently applied with prior practice for earlier periods and fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its results of operation for the periods specified therein.
(v) Such other information relating to the financial condition, business, prospects, or corporate affairs of the Company as the Investors of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities may from time to time reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated under this Section 3.1(b) to provide information (i) that the Board of Directors reasonably determines in good faith to be a trade secret or confidential information (unless covered by an enforceable confidentiality agreement) or (ii) the disclosure of which would adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel.
If, for any period, the Company has any subsidiary whose accounts are consolidated with those of the Company, then in respect of such period the financial statements delivered pursuant to the foregoing sections shall be the consolidated and consolidating financial statements of the Company and all such consolidated subsidiaries.
3.2 Confidentiality of Records. Each Investor agrees to use the same degree of care as such Investor uses to protect its own confidential information to keep confidential any information furnished to such Investor pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof that the Company identifies as being confidential or proprietary (so long as such information is not in the public domain), except that such Investor may disclose such proprietary or confidential information (i) to any partner, subsidiary or parent of such Investor for the purpose of evaluating its investment in the Company as long as such partner, subsidiary or parent is advised of and agrees to be bound by the confidentiality provisions of this Section 3.2; (ii) at such time as it enters the public domain through no fault of such Investor; (iii) that is communicated to it free of any obligation of confidentiality; (iv) to its attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors to the extent necessary to obtain their services in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company; or (v) as required by applicable law; and provided, further, that any Investor may provide financial information to its partners or members as required by any partnership agreement or limited liability operating agreement.
3.3 Termination of Covenants. All covenants of the Company contained in Section 3 of this Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 3.2) shall expire and terminate as to each Investor upon the earlier of (i) the effective date of the registration statement pertaining to an Initial Offering or (ii) upon any event deemed to be a liquidation pursuant to the Restated Articles, as in effect from time to time (each such transaction, a “Change in Control”).
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SECTION 4. RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL.
4.1 Subsequent Offerings. Subject to applicable securities laws, each Major Investor shall have a right of first refusal to purchase its pro rata share of all Equity Securities (as defined below), that the Company may, from time to time, propose to sell and issue after the date of this Agreement, other than the Equity Securities excluded by Section 4.6 hereof. Each Major Investor’s pro rata share is equal to the ratio of (a) the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Shares which such Major Investor is deemed to hold immediately prior to the issuance of such Equity Securities to (b) the total number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and held, or issuable upon conversion and/or exercise of the Shares and any other Derivative Securities held immediately prior to the issuance of the Equity Securities. The term “Equity Securities” shall mean (i) any Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other security of the Company, (ii) any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, with or without consideration, any Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other security (including any option to purchase such a convertible security), (iii) any security carrying any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other security or (iv) any such warrant or right.
4.2 Exercise of Rights. If the Company proposes to issue any Equity Securities, it shall give each Major Investor written notice of its intention, describing the Equity Securities, the price and the terms and conditions upon which the Company proposes to issue the same. Each Major Investor shall have fifteen (15) days from the giving of such notice to agree to purchase its pro rata share of the Equity Securities for the price and upon the terms and conditions specified in the notice by giving written notice to the Company and stating therein the quantity of Equity Securities to be purchased. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to offer or sell such Equity Securities to any Major Investor who would cause the Company to be in violation of applicable federal securities laws by virtue of such offer or sale.
4.3 Issuance of Equity Securities to Other Persons. At the expiration of such fifteen (15) day period, the Company shall promptly notify each Investor that elects to purchase or acquire all the shares available to it (each, a “Fully Exercising Investor”) of any other Major Investor’s failure to do likewise. During the five (5) day period commencing after the Company has given such notice, each Fully Exercising Investor may, by giving notice to the Company, elect to purchase or acquire, in addition to the number of shares specified above, up to that portion of the Equity Securities for which Major Investors were entitled to subscribe but that were not subscribed for by the Major Investors which is equal to the proportion that the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of the Shares and any other Derivative Securities then held, by such Fully Exercising Investor bears to the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, or the Shares and any other Derivative Securities then held, by all Fully Exercising Investors who wish to purchase such unsubscribed shares. If the Major Investors fail to exercise in full the rights of first refusal, the Company shall have one hundred twenty (120) days thereafter to sell the Equity Securities in respect of which the Major Investors’ rights were not exercised, at a price and upon general terms and conditions not materially more favorable to the purchasers thereof than specified in the Company’s notice to the Major Investors pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof. If the Company has not sold such Equity Securities within one hundred twenty (120) days of the notice provided pursuant to Section 4.2, the Company shall not thereafter issue or sell any Equity Securities, without first offering such securities to the Major Investors in the manner provided above.
4.4 Termination and Waiver of Rights of First Refusal. The rights of first refusal established by this Section 4 shall not apply to, and shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the effective date of the registration statement pertaining to the Company’s Initial Offering or (ii) a Change in Control. Notwithstanding Section 5.5 hereof, the rights of first refusal established by this Section 4 may be amended, or any provision waived with the written consent of the Company and the Investors holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Investors, or as permitted by Section 5.5.
4.5 Transfer of Rights of First Refusal. The rights of first refusal of each Major Investor under this Section 4 may be transferred to the same parties, subject to the same restrictions as any transfer of registration rights pursuant to Section 2.8.
4.6 Excluded Securities. The rights of first refusal established by this Section 4 shall have no application to any of the following Equity Securities:
(a) Securities issuable upon the conversion of any Shares, or as a dividend or distribution on the Shares;
(b) Any Equity Securities issued or issuable pursuant to any rights or agreements, debentures, options, warrants or other convertible securities outstanding as of the date of this Agreement; and stock issued pursuant to any such rights or agreements granted after the date of this Agreement, so long as the rights of first refusal established by this Section 4 were complied with, waived, or were inapplicable pursuant to any provision of this Section 4.6 with respect to the initial sale or grant by the Company of such rights or agreements;
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(c) Any Equity Securities issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or any subdivision of the Common Stock of the Company;
(d) Shares of Common Stock and/or options, warrants or other Common Stock purchase rights and the Common Stock issued pursuant to such options, warrants or other rights (as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations, splits, recapitalizations and the like) issued or issuable to employees, officers or directors of, or consultants or advisors to the Company or any subsidiary, pursuant to stock purchase or stock option plans or other arrangements that are approved by the Board of Directors;
(e) Any Equity Securities issued pursuant to any equipment loan or leasing arrangement, real property leasing arrangement, or debt financing from a bank or similar financial or lending institution approved by the Board of Directors;
(f) Any Equity Securities issued for consideration other than cash pursuant to a merger, consolidation, acquisition, strategic alliance or similar business combination approved by the Board of Directors; and
(g) Any Equity Securities that are issued by the Company pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act.
SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS.
5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without reference to conflicts of laws or principles thereof.
5.2 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a holder of Registrable Securities from time to time; provided, however, that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written notice of the transfer of any Registrable Securities specifying the full name and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed as the holder of such shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of such shares for all purposes, including the payment of dividends or any redemption price.
5.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Exhibits and Schedules hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any oral or written representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein and therein. Each party expressly represents and warrants that it is not relying on any oral or written representations, warranties, covenants or agreements outside of this Agreement.
5.4 Severability. In the event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
5.5 Amendment and Waiver.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided, this Agreement may be amended or modified only upon the written consent of the Company and the holders of at least a majority of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities.
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided, the obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders under this Agreement may be waived only with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities.
(c) For the purposes of determining the number of Holders or Investors entitled to vote or exercise any rights hereunder, the Company shall be entitled to rely solely on the list of record holders of its stock as maintained by or on behalf of the Company.
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5.6 Delays or Omissions. It is agreed that no delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any party, upon any breach, default or noncompliance by another party under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power, or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of any similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. It is further agreed that any waiver, permit, consent, or approval of any kind or character on any party’s part of any breach, default or noncompliance under the Agreement or any waiver on such party’s part of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement, by law, or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
5.7 Notices. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile (subject to confirmation of delivery) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient; if not, then on the next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the party to be notified at the address as set forth on the signature pages hereof or Exhibit A hereto or at such other address or electronic mail address as such party may designate by ten (10) days advance written notice to the other parties hereto.
5.8 Attorneys’ Fees. In the event that any suit or action is instituted under or in relation to this Agreement, including without limitation to enforce any provision in this Agreement, the prevailing party in such dispute shall be entitled to recover from the losing party all fees, costs and expenses of enforcing any right of such prevailing party under or with respect to this Agreement, including without limitation, such reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and accountants, which shall include, without limitation, all fees, costs and expenses of appeals.
5.9 Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
5.10 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be as effective as original signatures.
5.11 Aggregation of Stock. All shares of Registrable Securities held or acquired by affiliated entities or persons or persons or entities under common management or control shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.
5.12 Pronouns. All pronouns contained herein, and any variations thereof, shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neutral, singular or plural, as to the identity of the parties hereto may require.
[THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
COMPANY: | HYLETE, INC. | |
By: | /s/ /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, XX | |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, XX | ||
Title: | CEO |
Address: | 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, | |
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
INVESTORS:
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement
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EXHIBIT A
SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS
[ATTACHED HERETO]
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