REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Dated as of May __, 2007 by and among RCN CORPORATION as the Company, and the Holders, as defined herein.
Exhibit
(d)(13)
Dated
as
of May __,
2007
by
and
among
RCN
CORPORATION
as
the
Company,
and
the
Holders,
as
defined herein.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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1.
|
Definitions
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1
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2.
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Shelf
Registration
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4
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3.
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Additional
Payment.
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6
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4.
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Registration
Procedures
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7
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5.
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Registration
Expenses
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13
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6.
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Indemnification
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15
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7.
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Rules
144 and 144A
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18
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8.
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Underwritten
Registrations
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19
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9.
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Miscellaneous
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19
|
i
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement")
is
dated as of May __,
2007,
and entered into by and among RCN Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"),
and
the institutional investors whose names and addresses are listed on
Schedule I and Schedule II hereto (each, together with their
respective successors, assigns and transferees, a "Holder"
and
collectively, the "Holders").
WHEREAS,
on the date hereof, the Company is effecting a transaction in accordance with
the terms of the Warrant Agreement, dated as of May __, 2007,
among the Company and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Warrant Agent
(the
"Warrant
Agreement");
WHEREAS,
each Warrant represents the right to purchase one share of common stock of
the
Company, par value $0.01 per share (the "Underlying
Shares").
In
order
to induce each Holder to enter into the Warrant Agreement, the Company has
agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the
benefit of the Holders and certain subsequent holder or holders of the Warrants
or Underlying Shares as provided herein.
The
parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
"Agreement"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the first introductory paragraph
hereto.
"Amendment
Effectiveness Deadline Date"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i)
hereto.
"Amount
of Registrable Securities"
shall
mean (a) with respect to Underlying Shares constituting Registrable
Securities, the aggregate number of all such Underlying Shares outstanding,
(b) with respect to Warrants constituting Registrable Securities, the
aggregate number of Underlying Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants
and payment of the Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) in
effect at the time of computing the Amount of Registrable Securities, and
(c) with respect to combinations thereof, the sum of (a) and
(b) for the relevant Registrable Securities.
"Business
Day"
shall
mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law to be
closed.
"Closing
Date"
shall
mean May __, 2007.
"Company"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the first introductory paragraph hereto and
includes the Company's successors and assigns.
"Controlling
Person"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
"Depositary"
shall
mean The Depository Trust Company or any successor that is appointed by the
Company; provided,
however,
that
such depositary must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City
of
New York.
"Designated
Counsel"
shall
mean one firm of counsel chosen by the Holders of a majority in Amount of
Registrable Securities to be included in a Registration Statement for a Shelf
Registration and identified to the Company in writing prior to the filing of
such Registration Statement.
"Effectiveness
Date"
shall
mean the date that is the 90th day after the date the Initial Shelf
Registration is filed with the SEC.
"Effectiveness
Period"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"End
of
Suspension Notice"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)
hereof.
"Exchange
Act"
shall
mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
"Filing
Date"
shall
mean the date that is 90 days after the issuance of the
Warrants.
"Guarantors"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the second introductory paragraph
hereto.
"Holder"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the first introductory paragraph hereto, and
shall
include any holder of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified
Holder"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
"Indemnified
Person"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
"Indemnifying
Person"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
"Initial
Shelf Registration"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Inspectors"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4(m)
hereof.
"NASD"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4(p)
hereof.
"Notes"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the second introductory paragraph
hereto.
"Notice
and Questionnaire"
shall
mean a written notice delivered to the Company containing substantially the
information called for by the Form of Selling Securityholder Notice and
Questionnaire attached hereto as Appendix A.
"Person"
shall
mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
unincorporated association, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency
or
political subdivision thereof.
"Prospectus"
shall
mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including,
without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a prospectus that
includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part
of
an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated
under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"QIU"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4(p)
hereof.
"Records"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4(m)
hereof.
"Registrable
Securities"
shall
mean all Warrants and all Underlying Shares upon original issuance thereof
and
at all times subsequent thereto until the earliest to occur of (i) a
Registration Statement covering such Warrants and Underlying Shares having
been
declared effective by the SEC and such Underlying Shares having been disposed
of
in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such
Warrants and Underlying Shares having been sold in compliance with Rule 144
(without giving any effect to Rule 144(k)), (iii) such Warrants and
any Underlying Shares ceasing to be outstanding or (iv) the third
anniversary after the initial effective date of such Registration
Statement (subject to extension as provided in Section 2
hereof).
"Registration
Statement"
shall
mean any registration statement of the Company filed with the SEC pursuant
to
the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments,
all exhibits and all documents incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
"Rule 144"
shall
mean Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A)
or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities
being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
"Rule 144A"
shall
mean Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144)
or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
"Rule 415"
shall
mean Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the SEC.
"SEC"
shall
mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities
Act"
shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
3
"Selling
Holder"
shall
mean, on any date, any Holder that has delivered a Notice and Questionnaire
to
the Company on or prior to such date.
"Shelf
Registration"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)
hereof.
"Shelf
Registration Statement"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)
hereof.
"Subsequent
Shelf Registration"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)
hereof.
"Suspension
Event"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)
hereof.
"Suspension
Notice"
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)
hereof.
"Underlying
Shares"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the second introductory paragraph
hereto.
"Underwritten
Registration"
or
"Underwritten
Offering"
shall
mean a registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an
underwriter for reoffering to the public.
"Warrant"
shall
mean each warrant issued to the Holders on the date hereof, exercisable for
one
share of the common stock of the Company, as may be adjusted from time to time
pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agreement.
"Warrant
Agent"
shall
mean the Warrant Agent under the Warrant Agreement.
"Warrant
Agreement"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the second introductory paragraph
hereto.
2. Shelf
Registration.
(a) Shelf
Registration.
The
Company shall file with the SEC a "shelf" Registration Statement for an offering
to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the
Registrable Securities (the "Initial
Shelf Registration")
on or
prior to the Filing Date.
The
Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form X-0, Xxxx X-0 or another
appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Securities for
resale by Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including,
without limitation, one or more Underwritten Offerings; provided,
that
the lead or managing underwriter in any Underwritten Offerings shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Company). The Company may permit securities other
than the Registrable Securities to be included in the Initial Shelf Registration
or any Subsequent Shelf Registration; provided,
however,
that to
the extent that any securities may not be included on any such registration
for
any reason, no securities other than Registrable Securities shall be included
therein unless all Registered Securities requested to be included therein are
so
included.
The
Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Initial
Shelf
Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior
to
the Effectiveness Date and to keep such Initial Shelf Registration continuously
effective under the Securities Act until the date that is three (3) years
after the Effectiveness Date, provided such period shall automatically be
extended to the extent required to permit brokers and dealers to comply with
Rule 174 under the Securities Act, as provided in Section 6
hereof
or as otherwise provided herein (such period, as it may be extended or shortened
pursuant to this Agreement, the "Effectiveness
Period"),
or
such shorter period ending when no Registrable Securities continue to be
outstanding.
4
(b) Subsequent
Shelf Registrations.
If the
Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be
effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other
than
because of the sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the Company
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal
of
any order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within
forty-five (45) days of such cessation of effectiveness amend the Initial
Shelf Registration in a manner to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending
the effectiveness thereof, or file an additional "shelf" Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Securities (a
"Subsequent
Shelf Registration").
If a
Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after such filing
and
to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for a period equal
to
the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the aggregate number of
days
during which the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration
was previously continuously effective. As used herein, the term "Shelf
Registration" means the Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf
Registration and the term "Shelf Registration Statement" means any Registration
Statement filed in connection with a Shelf Registration.
(c) Supplements
and Amendments.
The
Company shall promptly supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required
by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form
used for such Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or, in
the
reasonable discretion of the Company, if reasonably requested by the Holders
of
the majority in Amount of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement or by any underwriter of such Registrable Securities; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be required to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration
Statement during the occurrence of any of the events described in Section 6(a)(i)
or
(ii).
(d) Notice
and Questionnaire.
Each
Holder agrees that if such Holder wishes to sell Registrable Securities pursuant
to a Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus, it will do so only
in
accordance with this Section 2(d)
and
Section 4
hereof.
Each Holder wishing to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement and related Prospectus agrees to deliver a Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company at least five (5) Business Days prior to any
intended distribution of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration
Statement. From and after the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
is
declared effective, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable after the
date
a Notice and Questionnaire is delivered, and in any event upon five
(5) Business Days after such date:
(i) if
required by applicable law, file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to
the
Shelf Registration Statement or prepare and, if required by applicable law,
file
a supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement or amendment to any
document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire is named as a
selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related
Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such Prospectus
to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law
and, if the Company shall file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf
Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
post-effective amendment to be declared effective under the Securities Act
as
promptly as is practicable, but in any event by the date (the "Amendment
Effectiveness Deadline Date")
that
is forty-five (45) days after the date such post-effective amendment is
required by this clause to be filed; provided,
however,
that
such period shall be tolled for so long as information provided by or requested
to be provided by any such Holder is reasonably likely to prevent the
effectiveness of any such post-effective amendment or supplement;
5
(ii) provide
such Holder copies of any documents filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i);
and
(iii) notify
such Holder as promptly as practicable after the effectiveness under the
Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i).
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall
be
under no obligation to name any Holder that has not delivered a complete Notice
and Questionnaire in accordance with this Section 2(d)
and such
other information to the Company as required by Section 4(r)
hereof.
3. Additional
Payment. The
Company agrees that the Holders will suffer damages if the Company fails to
fulfill certain of its obligations under Section 2
hereof
or otherwise permits certain circumstances to exist and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly,
the Company agrees to pay an additional amount of consideration under the
circumstances and to the extent set forth below:
(i) if
the
Initial Shelf Registration is not declared effective by the SEC on the earlier
to occur of the Effectiveness Date or 180 days after the issuance of the
Warrants, then on the second Business Day immediately following such date
(the "Initial
Shelf Payment Date"),
the
Company shall pay to each Holder an amount equal to the Additional Payment
(as
defined below);
(ii) if
the
Initial Shelf Registration is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior
to
the end of each subsequent 30-day period following the Initial Shelf Payment
Date, then on each such 30th
day, the
Company shall promptly pay to each Holder an amount equal to the Additional
Payment; and
(iii) if
a
Shelf Registration has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration
ceases to be effective at any time during the Effectiveness Period
(a "Default
Shelf"),
then
on the second Business Day immediately following the date such Shelf
Registration ceases to be effective (the "Shelf
Default Date"),
the
Company shall pay to each Holder an amount equal to the Additional Payment;
and
6
(iv) if
the
Default Shelf described in clause (iii) above is not declared effective by
the SEC on or prior to the end of each subsequent 30-day period following the
Shelf Default Date, then on each such 30th
day, the
Company shall promptly pay to each Holder an amount equal to the Additional
Payment.
(b) For
purposes of this Section, "Additional
Payment"
shall
mean with respect to each Holder, an amount equal to the product of
(x) $60,000 multiplied by (y) a fraction:
the
numerator of which shall equal (A) in the case of Sections 3(a)(i)
and
3(a)(ii),
the
aggregate number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder on the Initial
Shelf Payment Date or (B) in the case of Sections 3(a)(iii)
and
3(a)(iv),
the
aggregate number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder on the Shelf
Default Date,
and
the
denominator of which shall equal the aggregate number of
Registrable Securities held by all Holders on the Initial Shelf Payment
Date.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the maximum aggregate amount of Additional Payments by the
Company to all Holders pursuant to this Section 3
shall
not exceed $1,000,000.00.
4. Registration
Procedures.
In
connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2
hereof,
the Company shall effect such registrations to permit the sale of the securities
covered thereby in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition
thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection with any Registration Statement
filed by the Company hereunder the Company shall:
(a) Prepare
and file with the SEC, on or prior to the Filing Date, a Registration Statement
or Registration Statements as prescribed by Section 2
hereof,
and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein;
provided,
however,
that
before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to and afford the Holders of
the
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies
of all such documents proposed to be filed (in each case, where possible, at
least three (3) Business Days prior to such filing, or such later date as
is reasonable under the circumstances). The Company shall not file any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto
if
the Holders of a majority in Amount of Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
shall reasonably object in writing within such period.
(b) Prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each
Shelf Registration, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period; cause the related
Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement required by
applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or
any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act;
and
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable
to it with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered
by
such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so
supplemented.
7
(c) Notify
the Selling Holders, Designated Counsel, if any, and the managing underwriter
or
underwriters, if any, promptly (but in any event within two (2) Business
Days), (i) when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or
any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective under the
Securities Act (including in such notice a written statement that any Holder
may, upon request, obtain, at the sole expense of the Company, conformed copies
of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial
statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
by
reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the initiation
of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) of the happening of any event,
the existence of any condition or any information becoming known that makes
any
statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue
in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in or
amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain
any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (iv) of
the Company's determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement would be appropriate.
(d) Use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending
the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of a Prospectus and, if any such order is issued, to use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such order
at
the earliest possible moment, and provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders,
Designated Counsel, if any, and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if
any, of the withdrawal of any such order.
(e) If
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Holders
of
the majority in Amount of Registrable Securities being sold in connection with
an underwritten offering and reasonably acceptable to the Company
(i) promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment such information as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if
any,
or such Holders reasonably determine, in consultation with the Company, is
necessary to be included therein, (ii) make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably
practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be
incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment and
(iii) supplement or make amendments to such Registration
Statement.
8
(f) Furnish
to each Selling Holder, Designated Counsel, if any, and the managing underwriter
or underwriters, if any, at the sole expense of the Company, conformed copies
of
the Registration Statement or Registration Statements and each post-effective
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if
requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein
by
reference and all exhibits.
(g) Deliver
to each Selling Holder, Designated Counsel, if any, and the managing underwriter
or underwriters, if any, at the sole expense of the Company, as many copies
of
the Prospectus (including each form of preliminary prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by reference
therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents
to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each
of the Selling Holders of Registrable Securities, the managing underwriter
or
underwriters, if any, and dealers, if any, in connection with the offering
and
sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment
or supplement thereto.
(h) The
Company agrees to cause the Company's counsel to perform blue sky investigations
and file registrations and qualifications required to be filed in connection
with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration
or
qualification) of such Registrable Securities or offer and sale under the
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States
as
any Selling Holder or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
reasonably request, keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required
to be kept effective and do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary or advisable under blue sky laws to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable
Registration Statement; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business
in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, or (B) subject
itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject.
(i) Cooperate
with the Selling Holders, the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
and
their respective counsel to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of
certificates representing shares of Registrable Securities to be sold, which
certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form
eligible for deposit with the Depositary; and enable such shares of Registrable
Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may reasonably
request.
(j) Upon
the
occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 4(c)(ii),
4(c)(iii)
or
4(c)(iv)
hereof,
as promptly as practicable prepare and (subject to Section 4(a)
hereof)
file with the SEC, at the sole expense of the Company, a supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder,
any such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were
made, not misleading.
9
(k) Prior
to
the effective date of the first Registration Statement relating to the
Registrable Securities, (i) provide the Warrant Agent with certificates for
the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary
and (ii) provide CUSIP numbers for the Registrable Securities.
(l) In
connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable Securities pursuant
to
a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement, reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, as is customary in
underwritten offerings of securities similar to the Registrable Securities
and
take all such other actions as are reasonably requested by the managing
underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the registration
or the disposition of such Registrable Securities and, in such connection,
(i) make such representations and warranties to, and covenants with, the
managing underwriter or underwriters with respect to the business of the Company
and its subsidiaries (including any acquired business, properties or entity,
if
applicable) and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any,
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case,
as
are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings of
securities similar to the Registrable Securities and confirm the same in writing
if and when requested; (ii) obtain the written opinion of counsel to the
Company and written updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the
managing underwriter or underwriters covering the matters customarily covered
in
opinions requested in underwritten offerings of securities similar to the
Registrable Securities and such other matters as may be reasonably requested
by
the managing underwriter or underwriters; (iii) obtain "cold comfort"
letters and updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the managing underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified
public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business
acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are,
or are required to be, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to be in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold
comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings of securities similar
to the Registrable Securities and such other matters as reasonably requested
by
the managing underwriter or underwriters; and (iv) if an underwriting
agreement is entered into, cause the same to contain indemnification provisions
and procedures no less favorable to the sellers and underwriters, if any, than
those set forth in Section 7
hereof
(or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority
in
aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement and the managing underwriter or underwriters or agents,
if any). The above shall be done as and to the extent required by such
underwriting agreement.
(m) Make
available at reasonable times for inspection by one or more representatives
of
the Selling Holders, designated in writing by Holders of a majority in Amount
of
Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration Statement of such
Registrable Securities being sold, any managing underwriter or underwriters
participating in any such disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and
any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such Selling Holder or
underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"),
at
the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours at such time
or times as shall be mutually convenient for the Company and the Inspectors
as a
group, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
instruments of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records")
as
shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due
diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and employees
of
the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information reasonably requested
by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement. Records
that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and any Records
that it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by
any
Inspector unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid
or correct a material misstatement or material omission in such Registration
Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a
subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction,
(iii) disclosure of such information is, in the opinion of counsel for any
Inspector, necessary or advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit
or
proceeding, directly involving or potentially involving such Inspector and
arising out of, based upon, relating to, or involving this Agreement or any
transactions contemplated hereby or arising hereunder or (iv) the
information in such Records has been made generally available to the public
other than through the acts of such Inspector; provided,
however,
that
prior notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Company of the
potential disclosure of any information by such Inspector pursuant to
clauses (ii) or (iii) of this sentence to permit the Company to obtain
a protective order (or waive the provisions of this paragraph (m)). Each
Inspector shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the
confidentiality of such information (if practicable) to the extent such actions
are otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the
rights and interests of the Holder or any Inspector, unless and until such
information in such Records has been made generally available to the public
other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement.
10
(n) Provide
(i) the Holders of the Registrable Securities to be included in such
Registration Statement and Designated Counsel, if any, (ii) the
underwriters (which term, for purposes of this Registration Rights Agreement,
shall include a Person deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of
Section 2(11)
of the
Securities Act), if any, thereof, (iii) the sales or placement agent, if
any, thereof, and (iv) one counsel for such underwriters or agents,
reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Registration
Statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the SEC, and each
amendment or supplement thereto.
(o) Comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally
available to its security holders earning statements satisfying the provisions
of Section 11(a)
of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated
under the Securities Act) no later than forty-five (45) days after the end
of any twelve (12)-month period (or ninety (90) days after the end of any
twelve (12)-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at
the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to
underwriters in a firm commitment or commercially reasonable efforts
underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an
offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company
after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall
cover said twelve (12)-month periods.
(p) Cooperate
with each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities covered by any Registration
Statement and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, participating
in
the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel
in
connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD (the "NASD"),
including, if the Conduct Rules of the NASD or any successor thereto as amended
from time to time so require, engaging a "qualified independent underwriter"
("QIU") as
contemplated therein and making Records available to such QIU as though it
were
a participating underwriter for the purposes of Section 4(m)
and
otherwise applying the provisions of this Agreement to such QIU (including
indemnification) as though it were a participating underwriter.
11
(q) [intentionally
omitted].
(r) Use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary or advisable
to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
Each
Holder agrees, by acquisition of the Registrable Securities, that no Holder
shall be entitled to sell any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement or to receive a Prospectus relating thereto, unless
such
Holder has furnished the Company with a Notice and Questionnaire as required
pursuant to Section 2(d)
hereof
(including the information required to be included in such Notice and
Questionnaire) and the information set forth in the next sentence. Each Selling
Holder agrees promptly to furnish to the Company all information required to
be
disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company
by such Selling Holder not misleading and any other information regarding such
Selling Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the
Company may from time to time reasonably request. Any sale of any Registrable
Securities by any Holder shall constitute a representation and warranty by
such
Holder that the information relating to such Holder and its plan of distribution
is as set forth in the Prospectus delivered by such Holder in connection with
such disposition, that such Prospectus does not as of the time of such sale
contain any untrue statement of a material fact relating to or provided by
such
Holder or its plan of distribution and that such Prospectus does not as of
the
time of such sale omit to state any material fact relating to or provided by
such Holder or its plan of distribution necessary to make the statements in
such
Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
The
Company may require each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities as to which
any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such additional
information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable
Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request to the
extent necessary or advisable to comply with the Securities Act. The Company
may
exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any Selling Holder
if such Holder fails to furnish such additional information within twenty
(20) Business Days after receiving such request. Each Selling Holder as to
which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to
the
Company all information required to be disclosed so that the information
previously furnished to the Company by such Holder is not materially misleading
and does not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances under which they were made.
Each
Holder of Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that upon the happening of any event of the kind described in
Section 4(c)(ii),
4(c)(iii)
or
4(c)(iv)
hereof,
such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus until such
Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 4(j)
hereof,
or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable
Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or
supplements thereto.
12
5. Registration
Expenses.
(a) All
fees
and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement
by
the Company shall be borne by the Company, including, without limitation,
(i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation,
(A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with the NASD in
connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses of
compliance with state securities or blue sky laws, including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with
blue
sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities and determination of the
eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of
such
jurisdictions as provided in Section 4(h)
hereof),
(ii) printing expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of printing
certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with
the
Depositary and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or by the Holders
of the majority in Amount of Registrable Securities included in any Registration
Statement, (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) fees and disbursements of
all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 4(l)(iii)
hereof
(including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and "cold
comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance),
(vi) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company desires such
insurance, (vii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the
Company, (viii) internal expenses of the Company (including, without
limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the Company
performing legal or accounting duties), (ix) the expense of any annual
audit, (x) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of
the securities to be registered on any securities exchange, if applicable,
and
(xi) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and distributing
all Registration Statements, underwriting agreements, securities sales
agreements and any other documents necessary in order to comply with this
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each
Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and brokerage commissions with
respect to any Registrable Securities sold by it and, except as set forth in
Section 5(b)
below
the Company shall not be responsible for the fees and expenses of any counsel
for the Holders.
(b) The
Company shall reimburse the Holders of the Registrable Securities being
registered in a Shelf Registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements,
not to exceed $75,000, of Designated Counsel.
(c) Black-Out
Period.
Subject
to the provisions of this Section 6
and a
good faith determination by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
of the Company that it is in the best interests of the Company to suspend the
use of the Registration Statement, following the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement (and the filings with any international, federal or state
securities commissions), the Company, by written notice to the Holders, may
direct the Holders to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant
to a
Registration Statement for such times as the Company reasonably may determine
is
necessary and advisable (but in no event for more than an aggregate of sixty
(60)-days in any rolling twelve (12)-month period commencing on the Closing
Date, or thirty (30)-days in any rolling ninety (90)-day period, and no more
than two (2) separate times in any rolling 12 month period) if any of
the following events shall occur: (i) a primary Underwritten Offering by
the Company where the Company is advised by the representative of the managing
underwriters for such Underwritten Offering that the sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's Underwritten Offering; (ii) a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith determine that
(A) the offer or sale of any Registrable Securities would materially
impede, delay or interfere with any material proposed acquisition, merger,
tender offer, business combination, corporate reorganization, consolidation
or
other similar material transaction involving the Company, (B) after the
advice of counsel, sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement would require disclosure of non-public material information not
otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C) disclosure
could have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Company's ability
to
consummate such transaction in each case under circumstances that would make
it
impracticable or inadvisable to cause the Registration Statement (or such
filings) to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Registration
Statement on a post-effective basis, as applicable; or (iii) a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined
in
good faith, after the advice of counsel, that it is required by law, rule or
regulation to supplement the Registration Statement or file a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement in order to incorporate information
into
the Registration Statement for the purpose of (A) including in the
Registration Statement any Prospectus required under Section 10(a)(3)
of the
Securities Act; (B) reflecting in the Prospectus included in the
Registration Statement any facts or events arising after the effective date
of
the Registration Statement (or of the most-recent post-effective amendment)
that, individually or in the aggregate, represents a fundamental change in
the
information set forth therein; or (C) including in the Prospectus included
in the Registration Statement any material information with respect to the
plan
of distribution not disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material
change to such information. Upon the occurrence of any such suspension, the
Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the
Registration Statement on a post-effective basis or to take such action as
is
necessary to permit resumed use of the Registration Statement as soon as
possible.
13
(d) In
the
case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Registration
Statement (a "Suspension
Event"),
the
Company shall give written notice (a "Suspension
Notice")
to the
Holders to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall
state generally the basis for the notice and certify, by an officer of the
Company, that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension
Event or its effect is continuing and the Company is taking all reasonable
steps
to terminate suspension of the use of the Registration Statement as promptly
as
possible. The Holders shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after
receiving a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End
of
Suspension Notice (as defined below). If so directed by the Company, each Holder
will deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) all copies other
than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession of the Prospectus
covering the Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of the Suspension
Notice. The Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement (or such filings) following further
notice to such effect (an "End
of
Suspension Notice")
from
the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to
the
Holders in the manner described above promptly following the conclusion of
any
Suspension Event and its effect.
14
(e) Notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, if the Company shall give a Suspension
Notice pursuant to this Section 6
with
respect to any Registration Statement, the Company agrees that it shall extend
the period of time during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained
effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period
from the date of the giving of a Suspension Notice to and including the date
when Holders shall have received an End of Suspension Notice and copies of
the
supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect
to
each Suspension Event; provided such period of time shall not be extended beyond
the date that Underlying Shares are not Registrable Securities.
6. Indemnification.
The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder,
(ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of either
Section 15
of the
Securities Act or Section 20
of the
Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the Persons referred to in this
clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a "Controlling
Person"),
(iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, members, employees,
representatives and agents of any Holder (including any predecessor holder)
or
any controlling person (any person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an "Indemnified
Holder"),
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to which such
Indemnified Holder may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise,
(A) insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in
any Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto
or any related preliminary prospectus, (B) insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon 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, in the light of the circumstances in which
they were made, (C) to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any court
or
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
statement or omission, or (D) insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses arise out of investigating, preparing or defending
against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any court or
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
statement or omission; provided,
however,
that
the Company will not be liable under this paragraph, to the extent that
(i) any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is
based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or
alleged omission made in any such Registration Statement or Prospectus, or
any
amendment or supplement thereto or any related preliminary prospectus in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to any Holder
furnished to the Company or any underwriter by or on behalf of such Holder
specifically for use in therein or (ii) any untrue statement contained in
or omission from a preliminary Prospectus if a copy of the Prospectus (as then
amended or supplemented, if the Company shall have furnished to or on behalf
of
the Holder participating in the distribution relating to the relevant
Registration Statement any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent
or
given by or on behalf of such Holder to the Person asserting any such
liabilities who purchased Underlying Shares, if such Prospectus (or Prospectus
as amended or supplemented) is required by law to be sent or given at or prior
to the written confirmation of the sale of such Underlying Shares to such Person
and the untrue statement contained in or omission from such preliminary
Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto). The indemnity provided for herein shall remain in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any such Holder.
The Company shall notify such Indemnified Holder promptly of the institution,
threat or assertion of any claim, proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) or litigation in connection with the matters addressed by this
Agreement which involves the Company or such Indemnified Holder.
15
The
Company agrees to reimburse each Indemnified Holder upon demand for any legal
or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Holder in connection
with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability, action
or
proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry related to
the
offering of the Registrable Securities, whether or not such Indemnified Holder
is a party to any action or proceeding. In the event that it is finally
judicially determined that an Indemnified Holder was not entitled to receive
payments for legal and other expenses pursuant to this paragraph, such
Indemnified Holder will promptly return all sums that had been advanced pursuant
hereto.
Each
Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company
(within the meaning of either Section 15
of the
Securities Act or Section 20
of the
Exchange Act) to the same extent as the indemnity provided in the first
paragraph of this Section 7
from the
Company to each Holder, but only with reference to such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses which are caused by any untrue statement or omission
or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information relating to a Holder furnished to the Company or any
underwriter in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any related
preliminary prospectus. The liability of any Holder under this paragraph shall
in no event exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder from sales of
Registrable Securities giving rise to such obligation.
In
case
any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory
investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person
in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the first
and
third paragraphs of this Section 7,
such
Person (the "Indemnified
Person")
shall
promptly notify the Person or Persons against whom such indemnity may be sought
(each an "Indemnifying
Person")
in
writing. No indemnification provided for in the first or third paragraphs of
this Section 7
shall be
available to any Person who shall have failed to give notice as provided in
this
paragraph if the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the
proceeding to which such notice would have related and was materially prejudiced
by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to give such notice shall
not relieve the Indemnifying Person or Persons from any liability which it
or
they may have to the Indemnified Person for contribution or otherwise than
on
account of the provisions of the first and third paragraphs of this Section 7.
In case
any such proceeding shall be brought against any Indemnified Person and it
shall
notify the Indemnifying Person of the commencement thereof, the Indemnifying
Person shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it
shall
wish, jointly with any other Indemnifying Person similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified
Person and shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the
fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own
counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnifying
Person shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the fees
and expenses of the counsel retained by the Indemnified Person in the event
(i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually
agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying
Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the
same
counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between them or (iii) the Indemnifying Person shall have failed to assume
the defense and employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Person
within a reasonable period of time after notice of commencement of the action.
It is understood that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with
any
proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the
reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm for all such
Indemnified Persons. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority
in
Amount of Registrable Securities in the case of parties indemnified pursuant
to
the first paragraph of this Section 7
and by
the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to the third paragraph
of this Section 7.
The
Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees
to
indemnify the Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by
reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the Indemnifying Person
will
not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened
claim, action or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder
(whether or not any Indemnified Person is an actual or potential party to such
claim, action or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all liability
arising out of such claim, action or proceeding.
16
To
the
extent the indemnification provided for in this Section 7
is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Person under
the
first or third paragraph of this Section 7
in
respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions
or
proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, except by reason of the
exceptions set forth in the first or third paragraphs of this Section 7
or the
failure of the Indemnified Person to give notice as required in the fourth
paragraph of this Section 7,
then
each Indemnifying Person shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such
Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or
expenses (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion
as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person
on the one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other hand from the offering
of the Warrants pursuant to the Warrant Agreement and the Registrable Securities
pursuant to any Shelf Registration. If, however, the allocation provided by
the
immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each
Indemnifying Person shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Person in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying Person on
the
one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as
well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and any Indemnified Holder on the other shall
be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds (before deducting
expenses) received by the Company from the offering and sale of the Company's
7.375% Convertible Second Lien Notes due 2012 bear to the total net proceeds
received by such Indemnified Holder from sales of Registrable Securities giving
rise to such obligations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such
Indemnified Holder on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement
or
omission.
17
The
Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contributions pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph of this
Section 7
were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified
Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(or
actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim or enforcing any rights hereunder.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph and the immediately preceding
paragraph of this Section 7,
(i) in no event shall any Holder be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holder from
the
offering or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holder would have otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission and (ii) no Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f)
of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Except
as
otherwise provided in this Section 7,
any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an Indemnified Person
is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section 7
shall be
paid by the Indemnifying Person to the Indemnified Person as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred (or within thirty
(30) days of presentation).
The
remedies provided for in this Section 7
are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be
available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7
shall
remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf
of any Holder or any Person controlling any Holder or by or on behalf of the
Company, its officers or directors or any other Person controlling any of the
Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Registrable
Securities.
7. Rules 144
and 144A.
With a
view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 and
Rule 144A, for so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding and
regardless of whether or not the Company has a class of securities registered
under the Exchange Act, the Company shall: (1) keep adequate current public
information available (as required by Rule 144); (2) file with the
Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the
Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (3) furnish to each
Holder promptly upon request, (A) a written statement by the Company, if
true, that it has complied with the applicable reporting requirements of
Rules 144 and 144A, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (B) a
copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and copies
of
such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, (C) the
information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) (or any successor rule) under the
Securities Act, and (D) such other information as may be reasonably
requested to permit the Holders to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant
to
Rule 144 (without regard to Rule 144(k)) and Rule 144A, in each
case, without registration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of
clauses (1) and (2) shall not apply with respect to the filing by the
Company of its (i) Form 10-Q for the first fiscal quarter of 2005
until June 14, 2005 and (ii) Form 10-K for the 2004 fiscal year
until April 30, 2005.
18
8. Underwritten
Registrations.
If any
of the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold
in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and
manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by, and
the
underwriting arrangements with respect thereto will be approved by the majority
in Amount of Registrable Securities to be included in such offering in
consultation with the Company; provided,
that no
managing investment banker or underwriter shall be chosen to which the Company
shall reasonably object.
No
Holder
of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved
by
the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and
(b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney,
indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required
under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
9. Miscellaneous
(a) No
Inconsistent Agreements.
The
Company has not, as of the date hereof, and the Company shall not, after the
date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to any of its
securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof.
(b) Adjustments
Affecting Registrable Securities.
The
Company shall not, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to
the
Registrable Securities as a class that would materially and adversely affect
the
ability of the Holders of Registrable Securities to include such Registrable
Securities in a registration undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Amendments
and Waivers.
The
provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and
waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given,
otherwise than with the prior written consent of the Company and the Holders
of
not less than the majority in Amount of Registrable Securities then outstanding;
provided,
however,
that
Section 7
and this
Section 10(c)
may not
be amended, modified or supplemented without the prior written consent of the
Company and each Holder (including, in the case of an amendment, modification
or
supplement of Section 7,
any
Person who was a Holder of Registrable Securities disposed of pursuant to any
Registration Statement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to
depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates
exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose securities
are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly
or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders
of
Registrable Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority in
principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
19
(d) Notices.
All
notices and other communications (including without limitation any notices
or
other communications to the Warrant Agent) provided for or permitted hereunder
shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day
air courier or facsimile:
(1) if
to a
Holder, at the most current address of such Holder set forth on the records
of
the registrar under the Warrant Agreement, in the case of Holders of Warrants,
and the stock ledger of the Company, in the case of Holders of common stock
of
the Company, unless, in either such case, any Holder shall have provided notice
information in a Notice and Questionnaire or any amendment thereto, in which
case such information shall control.
(2) if
to the
Company:
RCN
Corporation
000
Xxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, General Counsel
with
copies to (which shall not constitute notice):
Milbank,
Tweed, Xxxxxx & XxXxxx LLP
0
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
All
such
notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when
delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five (5) Business Days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one Business Day after
being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and when the addressor
receives facsimile confirmation, if sent by facsimile during normal business
hours, and otherwise on the next Business Day during normal business
hours.
(e) Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors
and
assigns of each of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, the
Holders and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders.
If
any transferee of any Holder shall acquire the Registrable Securities, in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities
shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking
and
holding such Registrable Securities, such Person shall be conclusively deemed
to
have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of
this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits
hereof.
20
(f) Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed
to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and
the
same agreement.
(g) Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New
York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision
or
rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that
would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the
State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of
process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or
proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such
notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute
good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained
herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any
manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid
or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall
not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in
that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
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.
(i) Severability.
If any
term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court
of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find
and
employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result
as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is
hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they
would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions
without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal,
void or unenforceable.
(j) Securities
Held by the Company or Its Affiliates.
Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage in Amount
of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held
by
the Company or its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent
or
approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
21
(k) Third-Party
Beneficiaries.
Holders
of Registrable Securities are intended third party beneficiaries of this
Agreement and the Company and each Holder shall have the right to enforce this
Agreement directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or
advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(l) Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement, together with the Warrant Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and the
Warrant, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive statement of the
agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject
matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or written
agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings,
correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Holders on the one
hand
and the Company on the other, or between or among any agents, representatives,
parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or successors in
interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are merged herein
and replaced hereby.
[signature
page follows]
22
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement
as
of the date first written above.
RCN
CORPORATION
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
23
Appendix A
Notice
and Questionnaire
FORM OF
SELLING SECURITYHOLDER NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE
The
undersigned beneficial holder of the warrants (the "Warrants")
delivered pursuant to the Warrant Agreement dated as of May __,
2007,
between RCN Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company")
and
HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Warrant Agent, each of which such
warrant represents, subject to adjustment in accordance with its terms, the
right to purchase one share of common stock of the Company, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"
and
together with the Warrants, "Underlying
Shares")
of the
Company (the "Registrable
Securities"),
understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission a registration statement (the "Shelf
Registration Statement")
for
the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities in accordance with
the
terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May __, 2007
(the "Registration
Rights Agreement"),
by
and among the Company and the holders named therein. A copy of the Registration
Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at the address
set
forth below.
Each
beneficial owner of Registrable Securities is entitled to the benefits of the
Registration Rights Agreement. In order to sell or otherwise dispose of any
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, a
beneficial owner of Registrable Securities generally will be required to be
named as a selling securityholder in the related prospectus, deliver a
prospectus to each purchaser of Registrable Securities and be bound by those
provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement applicable to such beneficial
owner (including certain indemnification provisions, as described below).
Beneficial owners are encouraged to complete and deliver this Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire prior to the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement so that such beneficial owners may be named as selling
securityholders in the related prospectus at the time of effectiveness. Any
beneficial owner of Warrants wishing to include its Registrable Securities
must
deliver to the Company a properly completed and signed Selling Securityholder
Notice and Questionnaire.
Certain
legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the
Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders
and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their
own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the
related prospectus.
Notice
The
undersigned beneficial owner (the "Selling
Securityholder")
of
Registrable Securities hereby gives notice to the Company of its intention
to
sell or otherwise dispose of Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it
and
listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under Item 3)
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. The undersigned, by signing and
returning this Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire, understands
that
it will be bound by the terms and conditions of this Selling Securityholder
Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration Rights Agreement.
The
undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate and complete as of
the
date below:
Questionnaire
1.
|
(a) Full
Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
|
|
(b) Full
Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above)
through which Registrable Securities listed in (3) below are
held:
|
||
(c) Full
Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same
as
(b) above) through which Registrable Securities listed in
(3) below are held:
|
||
2.
|
Address
for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
|
|
Telephone:
|
||
Fax:
|
||
Contact
Person:
|
||
|
||
3.
|
Beneficial
Ownership of Registrable Securities:
|
|
|
(a)
Type and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
|
|
|
(b)
CUSIP No(s). of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
|
|
4.
|
If
other than a natural person, please indicate the form or organization
of
the Selling Securityholder (e.g. corporation, limited liability
company,
limited partnership, general partnership, trust, estate,
etc.):
|
|
5.
|
If
the Selling Securityholder is not a natural person, and is not
a publicly
traded entity, please identify the individuals who beneficially
own the
shares or interests of the Selling Securityholder (including any
intermediate entities through which such beneficial ownership is
held) and
the amounts and percentages of such
ownership:
|
6.
|
Please
indicate whether the Selling Securityholder is a "broker" or a
"dealer"
(as such terms are defined in Section 3
of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or an affiliate
of any
broker or dealer.
|
|
7.
|
If
the Selling Securityholder is an affiliate of any broker or dealer,
please
indicate by checking the appropriate box whether the answer to
the
following questions is "True" or "False."
|
|
(a)
|
The
Selling Securityholder purchased the Registrable Securities in
the
ordinary course of business.
|
|
¨
True ¨
False
|
||
(b)
|
At
the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold,
the
Selling Securityholder had no agreements or understandings, directly
or
indirectly, with any person to distribute them.
|
|
¨
True ¨
False
|
||
8.
|
Beneficial
Ownership of the Company's securities owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
|
|
Except
as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned is not the
beneficial or registered owner of any "Other Securities," defined
as
securities of the Company other than the Registrable Securities
listed
above in Item (3).
|
||
(a)
|
Type
and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
|
|
(b)
|
CUSIP
No(s). of such Other Securities beneficially owned:
|
|
9.
|
Relationship
with the Company:
|
|
Except
as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates,
officers, directors or principal equityholders (5% or more) has
held any
position or office or has had any other material relationship with
the
Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three
years.
|
State
any exceptions here:
|
|
10.
|
Plan
of Distribution:
|
Except
as set forth below, the undersigned (including its donees or pledgees)
intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in
Item (3) pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement only as follows
(if at all): Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time
to time
directly by the undersigned or alternatively, through underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents (with the prior agreement of the Company).
If the
Registrable Securities are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers,
the Selling Securityholder will be responsible for underwriting
discounts
or commissions or agent's commissions. Such Registrable Securities
may be
sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing
market
prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the
time of
sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in transactions
(which may involve block transactions) (i) on any national securities
exchange or quotation service on which the Registrable Securities
may be
listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in the over-the-counter
market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or
services or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv) through the
writing of options. In connection with sales of the Registrable
Securities
or otherwise, the undersigned may enter into hedging transactions
with
broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
Registrable
Securities and deliver Registrable Securities to close out such
short
positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers
that
in turn may sell such securities.
|
|
State
any exceptions here:
|
|
The
undersigned acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply with
the
provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
thereunder relating to stock manipulation, particularly Regulation M
thereunder (or any successor rules or regulations), in connection with any
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
The undersigned agrees that neither it nor any person acting on its behalf
will
engage in any transaction in violation of such provisions. The Selling
Securityholder hereby acknowledges its obligations under the Registration
Rights
Agreement to indemnify and hold harmless certain persons as set forth
therein.
Pursuant
to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed under certain
circumstances to indemnify the Selling Securityholder against certain
liabilities.
In
accordance with the undersigned's obligation under the Registration Rights
Agreement to provide such information as may be required by law for inclusion
in
the Shelf Registration Statement, the undersigned agrees to promptly notify
the
Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein
that
may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration
Statement remains effective. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing at the address set
forth
below.
By
signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to items (1) through (10) above and
the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and
the
related prospectus. The undersigned understands that such information will
be
relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment
of
the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered
either in person or by its duly authorized agent.
Dated:
|
Beneficial
Owner
|
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
PLEASE
RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED SELLING SECURITYHOLDER NOTICE AND
QUESTIONNAIRE TO:
RCN
Corporation
000
Xxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, General Counsel