REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.1
Execution Version
FORM OF
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 28, 2022, by and among Xxx Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the Purchasers named in the Securities Purchase Agreement (as defined below). The Purchasers and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties” and each, a “Party”.
RECITALS
A. WHEREAS, the Company has issued and sold 2,105,373 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) to the Purchasers pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company and the Purchasers (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) under the 1933 Act (all references in this Agreement to the “Shares” shall mean the shares of Class A Common Stock purchased by the Purchasers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, including any securities into which such Class A Common Stock may hereafter be reclassified);
B. WHEREAS, in connection with the sale of the Shares, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights in respect of the Shares under the 1933 Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises made herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchasers agree as follows:
1.1 Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Securities Purchase Agreement, and the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person.
“Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City and Texas are open for the general transaction of business.
“Control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” or “under common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“NYSE” means The New York Stock Exchange.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.
“Prospectus” means (i) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.
“Register,” “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the 1933 Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.
“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Shares and (ii) any other shares of Class A Common Stock issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for or in replacement of the Shares; provided, however, that any such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (and the Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of any, or file another, Registration Statement hereunder with respect thereto) upon the first to occur of (a) the disposition of such Registrable Securities by the holder thereof in accordance with an effective Registration Statement or an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, other than a disposition permitted pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, (b) such securities becoming eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to paragraphs (e) and (f) of Rule 144, respectively, and without current public information requirements pursuant to paragraph (c) of Rule 144 and (c) the third anniversary of the Closing Date.
“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.
“Rule 144,” “Rule 415,” and “Rule 424” means Rule 144, Rule 415 and Rule 424, respectively, promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the 1933 Act, as such may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
“SEC Guidance” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance of the SEC staff, or any comments, requirements or requests of the SEC staff and (ii) the 1933 Act.
“Trading Day” means (a) any day on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or quoted and traded on its primary Trading Market, or (b) if the Class A Common Stock is not then listed or quoted and traded on any Trading Market, then any Business Day.
“Trading Market” means any national securities exchange, market or trading or quotation facility on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed or quoted.
“1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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ARTICLE II.
2.1 Registration Rights. Subject to the receipt of the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire, no later than five (5) Business Days after the Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”), the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC one Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities. Subject to any SEC comments, such Registration Statement shall include the plan of distribution, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit A. Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Class A Common Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities. Such Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided to the Purchasers prior to its filing or other submission. In the event a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Deadline, such event shall constitute a default under this Agreement and the Purchasers may pursue monetary, injunctive or other relief to enforce its rights and/or recover any damages incurred as a result of such default.
2.2 Form S-3. The Company shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 if such form is available for use by the Company; provided that if at such time the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
2.3 Effectiveness. The Company shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statements declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. The Company shall notify the Purchasers by facsimile or e-mail as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within forty-eight (48) hours, after any Registration Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide the Purchasers with access to a copy of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby. Subject to Section 2.5 herein, if (a) a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the SEC prior to the earlier of (i) ten Business Days after the SEC informs the Company that no review of such Registration Statement will be made or that the SEC has no further comments on such Registration Statement and (ii) the 45th day after the Closing Date (or the 75th day if the SEC reviews such Registration Statement) (the “Effectiveness Deadline”), or (b) after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s failure to update such Registration Statement), but excluding any Allowed Suspension (as defined below) or, if the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, for a period of twenty (20) days following the date on which the Company files a post-effective amendment to incorporate the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (a “Maintenance Failure”), any such event shall constitute a default under this Agreement and Purchaser may pursue monetary, injunctive or other relief to enforce its rights and/or recover any damages incurred as a result of such default.
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2.4 Allowed Suspension. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Company shall not be required to file a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or, if a Registration Statement has been filed but not declared effective by the SEC, request effectiveness of such Registration Statement, for a period of up to forty-five (45) days, if (a) the Company determines in good faith that a postponement is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders generally due to a pending transaction involving the Company (including a pending securities offering by the Company, or any proposed financing, acquisition, merger, tender offer, business combination, corporate reorganization, consolidation or other significant transaction involving the Company), (b) the Company determines such registration would render the Company unable to comply with applicable securities laws, (c) the Company determines such registration would require disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential, or (d) audited financial statements as of a date other than the fiscal year end of the Company would be required to be prepared; and (ii) the Company may, upon written notice to the Purchaser, suspend the use of any Registration Statement, including any Prospectus that forms a part of a Registration Statement, if the Company (x) determines that it would be required to make disclosure of material information in the Registration Statement that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential, (y) the Company determines it must amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (z) the Company has experienced or is experiencing some other material non-public event, including a pending transaction involving the Company, the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Company, would adversely affect the Company; provided, however, if holders of Registrable Securities are prevented from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement for a period that exceeds forty-five (45) consecutive Trading Days in any 365-day period (any such suspension, an “Allowed Suspension”), such event shall constitute a default under this Agreement and Purchaser may pursue monetary, injunctive or other relief to enforce its rights and/or recover any damages incurred as a result of such default. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Company shall provide notice to the Purchasers within one (1) Business Day, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated hereby.
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2.5 Rule 415; Cutback. If at any time the SEC takes the position that the offering of some or all of the Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement is not eligible to be made on a delayed or continuous basis under the provisions of Rule 415 under the 1933 Act; provided, however, the Company shall be obligated to use commercially reasonable best efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance, including without limitation, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 612.09) or requires the Purchasers to be named as an “underwriter,” the Company shall (i) promptly notify the Purchasers and (ii) make commercially reasonable best efforts to persuade the SEC that the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is a valid secondary offering and not an offering “by or on behalf of the issuer” as defined in Rule 415 and that the Purchasers are not an “underwriter.” The Purchasers shall have the right to select one legal counsel (whose expenses shall be borne by the Purchasers), to review and oversee any registration or matters pursuant to this Section 2.5, including participation in any meetings or discussions with the SEC regarding the SEC’s position and to comment on any written submission made to the SEC with respect thereto. No such written submission with respect to this matter shall be made to the SEC to which the Purchaser’s counsel reasonably objects. In the event that, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable best efforts and compliance with the terms of this Section 2.5, the SEC refuses to alter its position, the Company shall (i) remove from such Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the “Cut Back Shares”) and/or (ii) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities as the SEC may require to assure the Company’s compliance with the requirements of Rule 415 (collectively, the “SEC Restrictions”). The Company shall indemnify the Purchasers with respect to any liabilities or damages incurred in connection with the sale of any Cut Back Shares in accordance with the indemnity provisions provided herein. The Company shall be in default and Purchaser may pursue monetary, injunctive or other relief to enforce its rights and/or recover any damages incurred as a result of such default under this Agreement as to any Cut Back Shares until such date as the Company is able to effect the registration of such Cut Back Shares or the Cut Back Shares are otherwise disposed of by the Purchasers (such date, the “Restriction Termination Date”). In furtherance of the foregoing, the Purchasers shall provide the Company with prompt written notice of its sale of substantially all of the Registrable Securities under such Registration Statement such that the Company will be able to file one or more additional Registration Statements covering the Cut Back Shares. From and after the Restriction Termination Date applicable to any Cut Back Shares, all of the provisions of this Section 2 (including the Company’s obligations with respect to the filing of a Registration Statement and its obligations to use reasonable efforts to have such Registration Statement declared effective within the time periods set forth herein and the damages provisions relating thereto) shall again be applicable to such Cut Back Shares; provided, however, that (i) the Filing Deadline for such Registration Statement including such Cut Back Shares shall be ten (10) Business Days after such Restriction Termination Date, and (ii) the date by which the Company is required to obtain effectiveness with respect to such Cut Back Shares shall be the 30th day immediately after the Restriction Termination Date (or the 60th day if the SEC reviews such Registration Statement).
2.6 Other Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Filing Deadline and each Effectiveness Deadline for a Registration Statement shall be extended and any Maintenance Failure shall be automatically waived with respect to the Purchaser, in each case, without constituting a default by the Company hereunder, in the event that the Company’s failure to make such filing or obtain such effectiveness or a Maintenance Failure results from the failure of the Purchasers to timely provide the Company with information requested by the Company and necessary to complete a Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of the 1933 Act (in which case any such deadline would be extended, and a Maintenance Failure waived, with respect to all Registrable Securities until such time as the Purchasers provides such requested information).
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2.7 Company Obligations in connection with Registration Rights. The Company will use commercially reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously as possible:
(a) use commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective until such time as there are no longer Registrable Securities held by the Purchasers (the “Effectiveness Period”) and advise the Purchasers promptly in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;
(c) provide the Purchasers via e-mail each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto not less than three (3) Trading Days prior to their filing with the SEC, provided that for the avoidance of doubt any report timely filed pursuant to the 1934 Act with the XXXXX system shall not require such notification, and reflect in each such document when so filed with the SEC such comments regarding the Purchasers and the plan of distribution as the Purchasers may reasonably and promptly propose no later than two (2) Trading Days after the Purchasers has been so furnished with copies of such documents as aforesaid;
(d) furnish, without charge to the Purchasers (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, if requested by the Purchasers, as many conformed copies as the Purchasers may reasonably request of the applicable Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference), each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as the Purchasers may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities (it being understood and agreed that such documents, or access thereto, may be provided electronically);
(e) use commercially reasonable best efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment;
(f) subject to the provisions of Section 4.1, prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use reasonable best efforts to assist or cooperate with the Purchasers and their counsel in connection with their registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for the offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions reasonably requested by the Purchaser; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 2.7(f), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section 2.7(f), or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
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(g) use commercially reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on the NYSE (or the primary securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed);
(h) promptly notify the Purchaser, at any time prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the Prospectus contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and as promptly as reasonably practicable, prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such holder a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(i) otherwise use commercially reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, including, without limitation, Rule 172 under the 1933 Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, promptly inform the Purchasers in writing if, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Purchasers are required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and
(j) with a view to making available to the Purchasers the benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Purchasers to sell shares of Class A Common Stock to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to: (i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, until the earlier of (a) six months after such date as all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction by the holders thereof pursuant to Rule 144 or any other rule of similar effect or (b) such date as there are no longer Registrable Securities; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1934 Act pursuant to Rule 144; and (iii) furnish electronically to the Purchasers upon request, as long as the Purchasers own any Registrable Securities, (a) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act under Rule 144, (b) a copy of or electronic access to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail the Purchasers of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration.
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2.8 Due Diligence Review; Information. If the Purchasers are required under applicable securities laws to be described in a Registration Statement as an “underwriter,” the Company shall, upon reasonable prior notice, make available, during normal business hours, for inspection and review by the Purchaser, advisors to and representatives of the Purchasers (who may or may not be affiliated with the Purchasers and who are reasonably acceptable to the Company) (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial and other records, and all other corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”) as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees, within a reasonable time period, to supply all such information reasonably requested by the Inspectors (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of such Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling the Purchasers and their accountants and attorneys to conduct such due diligence solely for the purpose of establishing a due diligence defense to underwriter liability under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to the Purchaser) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement. The Purchasers agree that they shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between the Company and the Purchaser) shall be deemed to limit the Purchaser’s ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not disclose material nonpublic information to the Purchaser, or to advisors to or representatives of the Purchaser, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the Purchaser, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review.
2.9 Obligations of the Purchasers with respect to Registration.
(a) Each of the Purchasers shall execute and deliver a Selling Stockholder Questionnaire prior to the Closing Date. Such Purchaser shall additionally furnish in writing to the Company such other information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. It is agreed and understood that it shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of the Purchasers that (i) the respective Purchasers furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities and (ii) the respective Purchasers execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a waiver of its registration rights hereunder to the extent the applicable Purchaser elects not to have any of its Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement.
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(b) Each of the Purchasers agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Purchaser has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
(c) Each of the Purchasers agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of either (i) the commencement of an Allowed Suspension or (ii) the happening of an event pursuant to Section 2.7(h) hereof, such Purchaser will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until such Purchaser is advised by the Company that such dispositions may again be made.
(d) Each of the Purchasers covenants and agrees that such Purchaser will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement.
(e) Each of the Purchasers covenants and agrees that such Purchaser will promptly notify the Company in writing of each sale by such Purchaser of Registrable Securities.
ARTICLE III.
3.1 Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each of the Purchasers and its officers, directors, members, managers, partners, trustees, employees and agents and other representatives, successors and assigns, and each other Person, if any, who controls such Purchaser within the meaning of the 1933 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they may become subject (x) under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based solely upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Purchaser or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the use by such Purchaser of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Purchaser in writing that such Prospectus is outdated or defective or (iii) such Purchaser’s failure to send or give a copy of the Prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented), if required (and not exempted) to the Persons asserting an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities and (y) as a result of or relating to in whole or in part to (a) the inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement or the failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or (b) any action instituted by (i) any current or former stockholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of the Purchasers, with respect to the Registration Transaction or (ii) any other third-party with respect to the Registration Transaction, and subject to Section 3.1(c), as applicable, in each case will reimburse such Purchaser for legal and other expenses reasonably incurred as such expenses are reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action.
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(b) Indemnification by the Purchasers. Each of the Purchasers agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the 0000 Xxx) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) directly attributable to (i) any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information regarding such Purchaser and furnished in writing by such Purchaser to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the use by such Purchaser of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Purchaser in writing that such Prospectus is outdated or defective or (iii) such Purchaser’s failure to send or give a copy of the Prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented), if required (and not exempted) to the Persons asserting an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities. In no event shall the liability of the Purchasers be greater than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by the Purchasers upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person, (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such Person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person) or (d) the claim seeks an injunction or equitable relief against the indemnified party or any of its affiliates; and provided, further that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or conditioned, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that 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 of such claim or litigation.
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(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the 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 indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be entitled to contribution from any Person not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In no event shall the contribution obligation of a holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such holder in connection with any claim relating to this Section 3 and the amount of any damages such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.
(e) Survival. The obligations of the Company and the Purchasers under this Section 3 shall survive completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement and the termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV.
4.1 Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay its own costs and expenses in connection herewith and incident to its performance of this Agreement, including those of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, regardless of whether the Transactions are consummated, and including the fees and expenses of any and all of its third party service providers involved or required for the successful completion of the Transactions. The Company shall pay all expenses associated with each Registration Statement, including filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and expenses and costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities laws and listing fees, filing fees incurred in connection with registering any sales with FINRA, and all other costs and expenses customarily borne by an issuer incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 4.1. The Purchasers shall pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the Purchasers for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses and transfer or similar taxes incurred by the Purchasers in disposing of the Registrable Securities, except as specifically contemplated above.
ARTICLE V.
5.1 Successors and Assigns. Subject to Section 5.2, this Agreement may not be assigned by a party hereto without the prior written consent of the Company or the Purchaser, as applicable. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar business combination transaction in which the Shares are converted into the equity securities of another Person, from and after the effective time of such transaction, such Person shall, by virtue of such transaction, be deemed to have assumed the obligations of the Company hereunder, including with respect to the registration rights described herein, the term “Company” shall be deemed to refer to such Person and the term “Shares” shall be deemed to refer to the securities received by the Purchasers in connection with such transaction. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective permitted successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
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5.2 Assignments in Connection With Transfers of Registrable Securities. The Purchasers may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of their Affiliates its rights hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by the Purchasers to such Person, provided that (i) the Purchasers agree in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws and (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein. Upon such transfer pursuant to this Section 5.2 all references to the Purchasers in this Agreement shall be deemed to refer to such transferee. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not have any obligations under this Agreement to any Person who received Registrable Securities other than in compliance with this Section 5.2.
5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
5.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
5.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any exhibits, schedules or annexes hereto, contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters.
5.6 Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and are deemed duly delivered when (a) delivered if delivered personally or by nationally recognized overnight courier service (costs prepaid), (b) sent, if sent by electronic mail during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the first Business Day following such transmission, or (c) received or rejected by the addressee, if sent by United States of America certified or registered mail, return receipt requested; in each case to the following addresses or email and marked to the attention of the individual (by name or title) designated in the Securities Purchase Agreement (or to such other address, facsimile number, e-mail address or individual as a party may designate by notice to the other parties).
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5.7 Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Purchasers or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.
5.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law which renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.
5.9 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, the Purchasers and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under this Agreement without posting bond or other security or proving economic harm. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of the obligations contained in this Agreement and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
5.10 Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the Registration Transaction and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.
5.11 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement (including all matters concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation hereof) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the choice of law principles thereof (other than Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law). Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in New York County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of the Registration Transactions. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
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5.12 Termination. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1(e), this Agreement shall terminate on the date that the Purchasers or Affiliates that were assigned Registrable Securities in accordance with Section 5.2 no longer hold any Registrable Securities.
5.13 Interpretation. Wherever required by the context of this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa, and references to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to refer to such agreement, document or instrument as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time. All article, section, paragraph or clause references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such parts of this Agreement, and all exhibit, annex, letter and schedule references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such exhibits, annexes, letters and schedules to this Agreement. In addition, the word "or" is not exclusive; the words "including," "includes," "included" and "include" are deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation"; and the terms "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision.
5.14 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first indicated above.
XXX BRANDS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
PURCHASER | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit A
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling stockholders and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees or other successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of Class A Common Stock or interests in shares of Class A Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may use one or more of the following methods when disposing of the shares or interests therein:
• | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
• | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
• | through brokers, dealers or underwriters that may act solely as agents; |
• | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
• | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
• | privately negotiated transactions; |
• | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
• | broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; |
• | a combination of any such methods of disposition; and |
• | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, if available, or Section 4(a)(1) under the Securities Act, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The selling stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of Class A Common Stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell shares of Class A Common Stock from time to time under this prospectus, or under a supplement or amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.
Upon being notified in writing by a selling stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of Class A Common Stock through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, we will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of such selling stockholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such shares of Class A Common Stock were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. In addition, upon being notified in writing by a selling stockholder that a donee or pledgee intends to sell more than 500 shares of Class A Common Stock, we will file a supplement to this prospectus if then required in accordance with applicable securities law.
The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of Class A Common Stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
In connection with the sale of the shares of Class A Common Stock or interests in shares of Class A Common Stock, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Class A Common Stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of Class A Common Stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the Class A Common Stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
Any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, the compensation received by such broker-dealers or agents may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The maximum commission or discount to be received by any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) or independent broker-dealer will not be greater than 8% of the initial gross proceeds from the sale of any security being sold.
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We have advised the selling stockholders that they are required to comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), during such time as they may be engaged in a distribution of the shares. Underwriters and purchasers that are deemed underwriters under the Securities Act may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities, including the entry of stabilizing bids or syndicate covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids. The selling stockholders and any other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the shares will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder including, without limitation, Regulation M. These provisions may restrict certain activities of, and limit the timing of, purchases by the selling stockholders or other persons or entities. Furthermore, under Regulation M, persons engaged in a distribution of securities are prohibited from simultaneously engaging in market making and certain other activities with respect to such securities for a specified period of time prior to the commencement of such distributions, subject to special exceptions or exemptions. Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the securities to engage in market-making and certain other activities with respect to those securities. In addition, the anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of the securities in the market. All of these limitations may affect the marketability of the shares and the ability of any person to engage in market-making activities with respect to the securities.
The aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the Class A Common Stock offered by them will be the purchase price of the Class A Common Stock less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the selling stockholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of Class A Common Stock to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.
We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the shares. The selling stockholders will bear all discounts, commissions or other amounts payable to underwriters, dealers or agents, as well as transfer taxes and certain other expenses associated with the sale of shares. We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or otherwise.
We may suspend the sale of shares by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus for certain periods of time for certain reasons, including if the prospectus is required to be supplemented or amended to include additional material information.
We have agreed with the selling stockholders to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part effective until the earlier of (a) such time as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in accordance with the registration statement and (b) such time as none of the shares covered by this prospectus constitute “registrable securities”, as such term is defined in the registration rights agreement by and among us and the selling stockholders.
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Exhibit B
Form of Selling Stockholder Questionnaire
[Omitted]