Conformed Copy
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is entered into as of November 26,
1997 by and among The Registry, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the
"Company"), and the persons listed on Schedule I attached hereto (each a
"Holder" and together the "Holders").
WHEREAS, the Holders have acquired shares of Common Stock in connection
with the merger (the "Merger") of The Hunter Group, Inc., a Maryland
corporation, with a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders wish to provide certain
arrangements with respect to the registration of shares of Common Stock under
the Securities Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and obligations
contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
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have the following respective meanings:
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other
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Federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.
"Common Stock" means the Common Stock, no par value, of the Company.
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"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
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or any similar Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
issued under such Act, as they each may, from time to time, be in effect.
"Majority Holders" means Holders who collectively own a majority of the
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outstanding Registrable Shares or, when used in connection with an offering in
which less than all Holders are participating, holders of a majority of the
Registrable Shares included in such offering.
"Registration Expenses" means the expenses described in Section 5.
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"Registrable Shares" means (a) the shares of Common Stock issued or
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issuable to the Holders in connection with the Merger and (b) any other shares
of Common Stock issued in respect of such shares (because of stock splits, stock
dividends, reclassifications, recapitalization, or similar events). Registrable
Shares shall cease to be Registrable Shares when (x) a registration statement
with respect to the sale of such shares shall have become effective under the
Securities
Act and such shares shall have been disposed of in accordance with the plan of
distribution described therein, (y) they shall have become eligible for resale
pursuant to Rule 144 (without regard to the volume limitations therein) under
the Securities Act or (z) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.
"Registration Statement" means a registration statement filed by the
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Company with the Commission for a public offering and sale of securities of the
Company for cash (other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or Form S-4,
or their successors, or any other form for a limited purpose, or any
registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in
exchange for securities or assets of another corporation).
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
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similar Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission issued
under such Act, as they each may, from time to time, be in effect.
"Shares" means shares of the Common Stock.
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2. REQUIRED REGISTRATIONS.
2.1. Demand Registration. In the event that either of the Holders
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request, but the Company does not include, that number of Registrable Shares
indicated for such Holder on Schedule I hereto in a Registration Statement
declared effective by the Commission in the first calendar quarter of 1998, then
such Holder may request, in writing, that the Company effect a separate demand
registration of that number of Registrable Shares that when added to the number
of Registrable Shares sold by such Holders in any prior offering, if any, equals
such number set forth on Schedule I opposite such Holder. If the Holders intend
to distribute the Registrable Shares in an underwritten offering, they shall so
advise the Company in their request. In the event such registration is
underwritten, the right of other Holders to participate shall be conditioned on
their participation in such underwriting upon the same terms and conditions.
Upon receipt of any such request, the Company shall promptly give written notice
of such proposed registration to all Holders (and any other person to whom the
Company is obligated to provide such notice) which Holders and other persons
shall have the right, by giving written notice to the Company within 30 days
after the Company provides its notice, to elect to have included in such
registration such of their Registrable Shares or other securities as they may
request; provided that if the underwriter managing the offering determines that,
because of marketing factors all of the Registrable Shares requested to be
registered may not be included in the offering, then all Holders who have
requested registration shall participate in the registration pro rata based on
their total ownership of Registrable Shares; provided, further, however, that if
any shares of Common Stock are to be included in such Registration Statement for
the account of any person other than the Holders, such shares shall be reduced
before any reduction in the number of Registrable Shares requested to be
included by the Holders. The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible, use
its best efforts to effect the registration of all Registrable Shares
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that have been the subject of the request under this paragraph and shall
maintain the effectiveness of such Registration Statement for a period of 90
days.
2.2. Limitations. The Company shall not be required to effect more than
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one registration pursuant to Section 2.1 above. In addition, the Company shall
not be required to effect any registration within three months after the
effective date of any other Registration Statement of the Company.
2.3. Delay for Good Cause. If at the time of any request to register
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Registrable Shares pursuant to this Section 2, the Company (i) is engaged or has
firm plans to engage within 90 days of the time of the request in a registered
public offering as to which the Holders may include Registrable Shares pursuant
to Section 3 or (ii) is engaged in any other activity that, in the good faith
determination of the Company's Board of Directors, would be materially adversely
affected by the requested registration, then the Company may at its option
direct that: (x) in the case of clause (i), such request be delayed for a period
not in excess of 90 days from the effective date of such offering or (y) in the
case of clause (ii), such request be delayed for a period not in excess of 75
days from the date of such request. Such right to delay a request under Section
2.3 shall not be exercised by the Company more than once in any twelve-month
period.
2.4. Selection of Underwriter. In the case of any registration effected
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pursuant to this Section 2, the Majority Holders shall have the right to
designate the managing underwriter, subject to the approval of the Company,
which approval may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
3. INCIDENTAL REGISTRATION.
3.1. Company Initiated Registration. Whenever the Company proposes to
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file a Registration Statement, prior to the declaration of effectiveness of such
Registration Statement it shall give written notice of the filing or the
intended filing to all Holders and, upon the written request of a Holder or
Holders given within 20 days after the Company provides such notice, the Company
shall use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Shares that the Holder or
Holders have requested to register to be included in the Registration Statement;
provided that the Company shall have the right to postpone or withdraw any
proposed registration pursuant to this Section 3.1 without obligation to any
Holder until such registration statement is recommended or refiled where upon
the provisions of this Agreement shall again apply.
3.2. Limitations. In connection with any offering under this Section 3
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involving an underwriting, the Company shall not be required to include any
Registrable Shares in such underwriting unless the Holders requesting inclusion
accept the terms of the underwriting (including the terms of the underwriting
agreement, which agreement shall not contain terms inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement or provisions which materially favor any selling
stockholder over any Holder) as agreed upon between the Company and the
underwriters selected by it. If in the opinion of the managing underwriter the
registration of all, or part of, the
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Registrable Shares that Holders have requested to be included would materially
and adversely affect such public offering, then the Company shall be required to
include in the underwriting only that number of Registrable Shares, if any, that
the managing underwriter believes may be sold without causing such adverse
effect. In the event of such a reduction in the number of shares to be included
in the underwriting, all Holders and other persons who have requested
registration shall participate in the underwriting pro rata based upon their
ownership of Company Common Stock and if any such Holder and such other person
would thus be entitled to include more shares than such Holders or such other
persons requested, the excess shall be allocated among such other requesting
Holders and such other persons on the same pro rata basis.
4. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. If and whenever the Company is required by the
provisions of this Agreement to use its best efforts to effect the registration
of any of the Registrable Shares under the Securities Act, the Company shall:
4.1. Filing. File with the Commission a Registration Statement with
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respect to such Registrable Shares and use its best efforts to cause that
Registration Statement to become and remain effective.
4.2. Amendments and Supplements. As expeditiously as possible prepare
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and file with the Commission any amendments and supplements to the Registration
Statement and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for a period of not less
than 90 days from the effective date.
4.3. Copies of Prospectus. As expeditiously as possible furnish to each
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selling Holder such reasonable numbers of copies of the prospectus, including a
preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities
Act, and such other documents as the selling Holder may reasonably request in
order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable
Shares owned by the selling Holder.
4.4. Blue Sky Qualification. As expeditiously as possible use its best
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efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Shares covered by the
Registration Statement under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such states as
the selling Holder shall reasonably request, and do any and all other acts and
things that may be necessary or desirable to enable the selling Holder to
consummate the public sale or other disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Shares owned by the selling Holder, as the case may be; provided,
however, that the Company shall not thereby be required to qualify as a foreign
corporation or execute a general consent to service of process in any
jurisdiction.
4.5. Underwritten Offering. In the event that Registrable Shares are
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sold pursuant to a Registration Statement in an underwritten offering, enter
into an underwriting agreement containing customary terms, conditions,
representations and warranties with respect to the business and operations of an
issuer of the securities being registered and customary covenants
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and agreements to be performed by such issuer, including without limitation
customary provisions with respect to indemnification by the Company of the
underwriters of such offering.
4.6. Earnings Statement. Use its best efforts to comply with all
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applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and make available to its
security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement of
the Company (in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158 promulgated under
the Securities Act) covering the period of at least 12 months beginning with the
first month following the effective date of the registration statement.
4.7. Listing. Use its best efforts either to list the Registrable
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Shares on a national securities exchange or have them designated as national
market securities by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD").
If the Company has delivered preliminary or final prospectuses to the
selling Holder and after having done so the prospectus is amended to comply with
the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company shall promptly notify the
selling Holder and, if requested, the selling Holder shall immediately cease
making offers of Registrable Shares and shall return all prospectuses to the
Company. The Company shall promptly provide the selling Holder with revised
prospectuses and, following receipt of the revised prospectuses, the selling
Holder shall be free to resume making offers of the Registrable Shares.
Each Holder of Registrable Shares included in any registration shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the
distribution proposed by such Holder as the Company may request in writing and
as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or
compliance referred to in this Section 4. In addition, each Holder agrees to
dispose of any Registrable Shares included in any registration only in
accordance with the plan of distribution described in the Registration
Statement.
5. ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES. The Company shall pay the Registration Expenses for
the registrations pursuant to Section 2 and the registrations pursuant to
Section 3. If a registration requested by the Holders pursuant to Section 2.1 is
withdrawn at the request of the Holders requesting it (other than as a result of
information concerning the business or financial condition of the Company that
is made known to the Holders after the date on which such registration was
requested) and if the requesting Holders elect not to have such registration
counted as a registration requested under such Section, the requesting Holders
shall pay the Registration Expenses of such registration pro rata in accordance
with the number of their Registrable Shares included in such registration. For
purposes of this Section, the term "Registration Expenses" shall mean all
expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 2 and 3, including,
without limitation, all registration and filing fees, exchange or national
market listing fees, all fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue
sky laws, all fees and expenses associated with filings with the NASD, all
printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and its
independent public accountants, and the expense of any special audits incident
to or required by any such registration, but excluding underwriting discounts
and selling
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commissions and fees of counsel for the selling Holders. Such underwriting
discounts and selling commissions shall be borne pro rata by the selling Holders
in accordance with the number of their Registrable Shares taken in the aggregate
included in such registration.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
6.1. Company Indemnification. In the event of any registration of any
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of the Registrable Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement,
then to the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless the seller of such Registrable Shares, each underwriter of such
Registrable Shares and each other person, if any, who controls such seller or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against
any losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses or liabilities, joint or several,
(or actions in respect thereof), to which such seller, underwriter or
controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, state securities laws or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, costs, expenses or liabilities (or actions 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 under which such
Registrable Shares were registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary
prospectus or final prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any
amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or arise out of or are
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a
prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading; and the Company shall reimburse such seller, underwriter and each
such controlling person for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred
by such seller, underwriter or controlling person in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, cost, expense,
liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to
any such seller, underwriter or controlling person in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage, cost, expense or liability arises out
of or is based upon any untrue statement or omission made in such Registration
Statement, preliminary prospectus or prospectus, or any such amendment or
supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company, in writing, by or on behalf of such seller, underwriter or controlling
person specifically for inclusion thereof.
6.2. Seller Indemnification. In the event of any registration of any of
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the Registrable Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, then
to the extent permitted by law, each seller of Registrable Shares severally and
not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its
directors and officers and each underwriter (if any) and each person, if any,
who controls the Company or any such underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages, costs,
expenses or liabilities, joint or several, (or actions in respect thereof) to
which the Company, such directors and officers, underwriter or controlling
person may become subject under the Securities Act, Exchange Act, state
securities laws or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, costs,
expenses or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement under which
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such Registrable Shares were registered under the Securities Act, any
preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or
arise out of or are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made) not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company by or on behalf of such seller, specifically for inclusion in such
Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement; provided, however,
that the obligations of such Holder hereunder shall be limited to an amount
equal to the proceeds to such Holder of Registrable Shares sold as contemplated
herein.
6.3. Notice of Claims, etc. Each party entitled to indemnification
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under this Section 6 (the "Indemnified Party") shall give notice to the party
required to provide indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after
such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity
may be sought (provided that the delay or failure to so notify the Indemnifying
Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any obligation or liability
except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party has been actually prejudiced by
such delay or failure), and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the
defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom; provided, that
counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim
or litigation, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); 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 under this Section 6. The
Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such party's expense;
provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall pay such expense if
representation of such Indemnified Party by the counsel retained by the
Indemnifying Party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between the Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such
claim or litigation shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified Party,
consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not
include as a term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party of a general release from all liability in respect of such
claim or litigation, and no Indemnified Party shall consent to entry of any
judgment or settle such claim or litigation without the prior written consent of
the Indemnifying Party.
6.4. Contribution. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is
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not available, or is insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party, other
than by reason of the exceptions provided herein, then the Indemnifying Party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses or liabilities in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Holder of
Registrable Shares and the Company as well as any other equitable considerations
including the parties' relative knowledge and access to information concerning
the matter with respect to which any claim is asserted and the opportunity to
correct and prevent any such statement or omission leading to such loss, claim,
damage or liability (or actions in respect thereof), but not including the
relative
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benefits received by the Holders of Registrable Shares on the one hand and the
Company on the other; provided, however, that in any such case (i) no Holder of
Registrable Shares will be required to contribute except to the extent and under
such circumstances as such Holder would be required to provide indemnification
hereunder and then only in an amount not in excess of the net proceeds to it of
all Registrable Shares sold in the registration, 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 is not so
guilty.
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
7.1. "Stand-Off" Agreement. In connection with any underwritten public
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offering, if requested by the Company and the managing underwriter, each Holder
hereby agrees, other than with respect to any Registrable Shares included in
such offering, not to effect any public sale or distribution of any Registrable
Shares, nor engage in any transaction that would result in a public sale or
distribution of securities of the same class as the Registrable Shares for a
specified period of time (not to exceed 90 days) following the effective date of
a Registration Statement; provided, that all persons holding more than five
percent of the outstanding Common Stock (other than mutual funds or other
institutional shareholders) and all officers and directors of the Company enter
into similar agreements. Such agreement shall be in writing in a form reasonably
satisfactory to the Company and such underwriter. The Company may impose
stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Registrable Shares or other
securities subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of the stand-off
period.
7.2. Rule 144 Requirements. With a view to making available to the
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Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and any
other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit such
Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the
Company agrees to use its best efforts to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (at any time
after it has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act);
(b) 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 (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting
requirements); and
(c) furnish to any holder of Registrable Shares upon request a
written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting
requirements of said Rule 144 (at any time after 90 days after the closing of
the first sale of securities by the Company pursuant to a Registration
Statement), and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it
has become subject to such reporting requirements), a copy of the most recent
annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents
of the Company as such Holder
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may reasonably request to avail itself of any similar rule or regulation of the
Commission allowing it to sell any such securities without registration.
7.3. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by
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the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without giving effect to the
conflict of laws principles.
7.4. Entire Agreement; Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement constitutes
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the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard
to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term may be
amended, waived, discharged or terminated, except by a written instrument signed
by the Company and Holders holding 66 2/3% or more of the Registrable Shares,
but in no event shall any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination
increase the obligations of any Holder hereunder or reduce the benefits in a
manner that treats Holders differently, except upon the written consent of such
Holder.
7.5. Notices. All notices and other communications required or
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permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
effectively given upon personal delivery or five days after deposit with the
United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to the Company at its principal office and to a Holder at its address
on the records maintained by the Company or at such other address as any party
may designate by ten days' prior written notice to the other party.
7.6. Rights; Separability. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein,
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each Holder's rights hereunder are several rights, not rights jointly held with
any of other Holders. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability
of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
7.7. Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
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rights, interests, or obligations hereunder shall be assigned (whether by
operation of law or otherwise) by Holders without the consent of the Company;
provided that the Holders may assign their respective rights hereunder to a
Permitted Transferee without the consent of the Company. Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Permitted Transferees" means (A) any person who
is the spouse or former spouse of, or any lineal descendant (including adopted
children) of, or any spouse of such lineal descendant (including adopted
children) of, or the grandparent, parent, brother or sister of, or spouse of
such brother or sister of, holder or a Permitted Transferee of such person; (B)
upon the death of Holder or Permitted Transferee of such person, the executors
of the estate of Holder or Permitted Transferee, any of Holder's or Permitted
Transferee's heirs, testamentary trustees, devisees, or legatees; (C) any trust
principally for the benefit of Permitted Transferees (including a charitable
lead or remainder trust); (D) upon the disability of Holder or Permitted
Transferee, any guardian or conservator of Holder or Permitted Transferee;
provided that in each case such transferee assumes and agrees to perform and
becomes a party to this Agreement; or (E) any
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"affiliate" of any Holder as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.
7.8. Titles. The titles of the Sections of this Agreement are for
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convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this
Agreement.
7.9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
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counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one Agreement.
[The Remainder of This Page Has Intentionally Been Left Blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement under seal
as of the date first above written.
THE REGISTRY, INC.
By: /s/ G. Xxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: G. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title: President and CEO
HOLDERS:
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: CFO
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SCHEDULE I
HOLDERS
Holder Number of Registrable Shares in Q1/98 Offering
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx 1,025,000
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Incorporated 175,000*
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* Approximate. This number may be increased/decreased to reflect the actual
number of shares issued to Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Incorporated in connection with the
transaction.
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