EXHIBIT V
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
By and Among
PURCHASERS OF UNITS
and
GEOKINETICS INC.
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Common Stock, par value $.20 per share
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Dated as of April 25, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Registration Under Securities Act, etc..........................................................1
1.1 Registration on Request................................................................1
1.2 Piggy-Back Registration................................................................3
1.3 Registration Procedures................................................................4
1.4 Underwritten Offerings.................................................................6
1.5 Preparation: Reasonable Investigation..................................................7
1.6 Qualification to Obligations under Registration Covenants..............................8
1.7 Indemnification........................................................................8
2. Definitions....................................................................................10
3. Rule 144 and Rule 144A.........................................................................12
4. Amendments and Waivers.........................................................................12
5. Nominees for Beneficial Owners.................................................................13
6. Notices........................................................................................13
7. Assignment.....................................................................................13
8. Calculation of Percentage Interests in Registrable Securities..................................14
9. No Inconsistent Agreements.....................................................................14
10. Remedies.......................................................................................14
11. Severability...................................................................................14
12. Entire Agreement...............................................................................14
13. Descriptive Headings...........................................................................14
14. Governing Law..................................................................................14
15. Counterparts...................................................................................14
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of April 25, 1997,
among Geokinetics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and each of the
undersigned Purchasers of Units identified on the signature page hereto
(individually, a "Purchaser" and collectively, the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is being entered into in connection with a
Securities Purchase Agreement, of even date herewith between the Company and the
Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement") providing for the issuance by the Company
to the Purchasers of Units consisting of Senior Notes of the Company and
Warrants (collectively, the "Warrants") entitling the holders thereof to
purchase up to 1,000,000 shares (subject to adjustment) of Common Stock, par
value $.20 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"), upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth therein. It is a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Company and the Purchasers to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement that the Company and the Purchasers enter
into this Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined
shall have the meanings given them in the Purchase Agreement.
1. Registration Under Securities Act, etc.
1.1 Registration on Request.
(a) Request. At any time, or from time to time,
upon the written request of one or more holders (the "Initiating Holders") of
Registrable Securities representing not less than 25% of the Registrable
Securities that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act of
all or part of such Initiating Holders' Registrable securities, the Company
promptly will give written notice of such requested registration to all
registered holders of Registrable Securities, and thereupon the Company will use
its best efforts to effect, at the earliest possible date, the registration
under the Securities Act of (i) the Registrable Securities which the Company has
been so requested to register by such Initiating Holders, and (ii) all other
Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register by the
holders thereof (such holders together with the Initiating Holders hereinafter
are referred to as the "Selling Holders") by written request given to the
Company within 30 days after the giving of such written notice by the Company,
all to the extent requisite to permit the disposition of the Registrable
Securities so to be registered.
(b) Registration of Other Securities. Whenever the
Company shall effect a registration pursuant to this Section 1.1, no securities
other than Registrable Securities shall be included among the securities covered
by such registration unless Initiating Holders of greater than 51% of the
Registrable Securities to be included in such registration shall have consented
in writing to the inclusion of such other securities, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided however, that the foregoing
limitation shall not apply to any securities of the Company that were subject to
registration rights that were granted by the Company prior to the date hereof
and identified on Schedule 1.1(b) attached hereto (collectively, the "Existing
Registration Rights"), but provided further, that in the event that any notice
is given pursuant to Section 1.1(f) below with respect to such registration, the
Registrable
Securities hereunder shall be given absolute priority over any other securities
subject to Existing Registration Rights with respect to inclusion in such
registration.
(c) Registration Statement Form. Registrations
under this Section 1.1 shall be on such appropriate registration form of the
Commission as shall be reasonably selected by the Company.
(d) Effective Registration Statement. A
registration requested pursuant to this Section 1.1 shall not be deemed to have
been effected unless a registration statement with respect thereto has become
effective and remained effective in compliance with the provisions of the
Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement for a period of at least 120 days.
(e) Selection of Underwriters. If the Selling
Holders of at least 50% of all Registrable Securities to be covered by a
registration so elect, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to
this Section 1.1 shall be in the form of an underwritten offering. The
underwriter or underwriters of each underwritten offering of the Registrable
Securities so to be registered shall be selected by the Selling Holders of at
least 50% of the Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and
shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.
(f) Priority in Requested Registration. If the
managing underwriter of an underwritten offering shall advise the Company in
writing (and the Company shall so advise each Selling Holder of Registrable
Securities requesting registration of such advice) that, in its opinion, the
number of securities requested to be included in such registration is
sufficiently large to materially adversely affect the success of the offering,
the Company, except as provided in the following sentence, will include in such
registration, to the extent of the number and type which the Company is so
advised can be sold in such offering, Registrable Securities requested to be
included in such registration, pro rata among the Selling Holders requesting
such registration on the basis of the estimated gross proceeds from the sale
thereof. To the extent Registrable Securities so requested to be registered are
excluded from the offering, the holders of such Registrable Securities shall be
deemed not to have used a demand registration pursuant to this Section 1.1.
(g) Limitations on Registration on Request.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1.1 to the contrary, the Company shall
not be required to take any action to file a registration statement pursuant to
this Section 1.1:
(i) within 120 days following the effective date of any
subsequent registered offering of the Company's securities to the
general public;
(ii) in any registration having an aggregate sales price
(before deduction of underwriting discounts and expenses of sale) of
less than $1,500,000;
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(iii) any registration having an aggregate sales price (before
deduction of underwriting discounts and expenses of sale) of more than
$5,000,000 unless such registration is firmly underwritten; or
(iv) after the Company has effected an aggregate of three such
registrations.
(h) Expenses. The Company will pay all Registration
Expenses in connection with any registration requested pursuant to this Section
1.1 and each Selling Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts or commissions
with respect to the Registrable Securities sold by such Selling Holder in such
registration.
1.2 Piggy-Back Registration.
(a) Right to Include Registrable Securities. If the
Company at any time proposes to file a registration statement to register any of
its equity securities (or any security convertible into or exchangable for any
equity security of the Company) under the Securities Act (except for
registration on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor or similar forms), whether or
not for sale for its own account, it will each such time give prompt written
notice to all registered holders of Registrable Securities of its intention to
do so and of such holders' rights under this Section 1.2. Upon the written
request of any such holder (a "Requesting Holder") (which request shall specify
the amount of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such
Requesting Holder) made as promptly as practicable and in any event within 30
days after the receipt of any such notice (20 days if the Company states in such
written notice or gives telephonic notice to all registered holders of
Registrable Securities, with written confirmation to follow promptly thereafter,
stating that (i) such registration will be on Form S-3 and (ii) such shorter
period of time is required because of a planned filing date), the Company will
use its best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all
Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by
the Requesting Holders thereof. No registration effected under this Section 1.2
shall relieve the Company of its obligation to effect any registration upon
request under Section 1.1.
(b) Priority in Incidental Registrations. If the managing
underwriter of any underwritten offering shall deliver a written opinion to the
holders of Registrable Securities that the total amount of Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such registration would have a material
adverse effect on such offering, then the Company will include in such
registration, to the extent of the number which the Company is so advised can be
sold in (or during the time of) such offering, first, all securities proposed by
the Company to be sold for its own account, and second, such Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such registration pursuant to this
Agreement, pro rata among Requesting Holders on the basis of the estimated gross
proceeds from the sale thereof; provided that if securities are being offered
for the account of other persons or entities as well as the Company, such
reduction shall not represent a greater fraction of the number of securities
intended to be offered by holders of Registrable Securities than the fraction of
similar reductions imposed on such other persons or entities over the amount of
securities they intended to offer.
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(c) Expenses. The Company will pay all Registration
Expenses in connection with any registration effected pursuant to this Section
1.2 and each Selling Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts or commissions
with respect to the Registrable Securities sold by such Selling Holder in such
registration.
1.3 Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is
required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the
Securities Act as provided in Sections 1.1 and 1.2, the Company will, as
expeditiously an possible use its best efforts to:
(i) prepare and (within 90 days after the end of the
period within which requests for registration may be given to
the Company or in any event as soon thereafter as practicable)
file with the Commission the requisite registration statement
to effect such registration and thereafter use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to become
effective;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments and supplements to such registration statement and
the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be
necessary to keep such registration statement effective and to
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect
to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by
such registration statement for a period of at least 120 days;
(iii) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement such number of
conformed copies of such registration statement and of each
such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including
all exhibits), such number of copies of the prospectus
contained in such registration statement (including each
preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any
other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities
Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities
Act, and such other documents, as such seller may reasonably
request;
(iv) register or qualify all Registrable Securities and
other securities covered by such registration statement under
such other securities or blue sky laws of such States of the
United States of America where an exemption is not available
and as the sellers of Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement shall reasonably request; keep such
registration or qualification in effect for so long as such
registration statement remains in effect; and take any other
action which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to
enable such sellers to consummate the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the securities to be sold by such sellers,
except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be
required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for
the requirements of this subdivision (iv) be obligated to be
so qualified or to consent to general service of process in
any such jurisdiction;
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(v) cause all Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement to be registered with or approved by
such other federal or state governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary in the opinion of counsel to
the Company and counsel to the seller or sellers of
Registrable Securities to enable the seller or sellers thereof
to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(vi) furnish at the effective date of such registration
statement and, if applicable, the date of the closing under
the underwriting agreement, to each seller of Registrable
Securities, and each such seller's underwriters, if any, a
signed counterpart of (x) an opinion of counsel for the
Company, dated the effective date of such registration
statement and (y) a "comfort" letter signed by the independent
public accountants who have certified the Company's financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in such
registration statement, covering substantially the same
matters with respect to such registration statement (and the
prospectus included therein) and, in the case of the
accountants' comfort letter, with respect to events subsequent
to the date of such financial statements, as are customarily
covered in opinions of issuer's counsel and in accountants'
comfort letters delivered to the underwriters in underwritten
public offerings of securities and, in the case of the
accountants' comfort letter, such other financial matters,
and, in the case of the legal opinion, such other legal
matters, as the sellers of the Registrable Securities covered
by such registration statement, or the underwriters, may
reasonably request;
(vii) notify each seller of Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement at any time when a
prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under
the Securities Act, upon discovery that, or upon the happening
of any event as a result of which, the prospectus included in
such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, and at the
request of any such seller promptly prepare and furnish to it
a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an
amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities,
such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made;
(viii) otherwise comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission, and, if required, make
available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably
practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at
least twelve months, but not more than eighteen months,
beginning with the first full calendar month after the
effective date of such registration statement, which earnings
statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities
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Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder, and promptly furnish
to each such seller of Registrable Securities a copy of any
amendment or supplement to such registration statement or
prospectus;
(ix) keep each Selling Holder and each Requesting Holder
advised in writing as to the initiation and progress of any
registration under Section 1.1 or 1.2 hereunder, as the case
may be;
(x) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent
and registrar (which, in each case, may be the Company) for
all Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement from and after a date not later than the effective
date of such registration; and
(xi) list all Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement on any national securities exchange on
which Registrable Securities of the same class and, if
applicable, series, covered by such registration statement are
then listed or on the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotations ("NASDAQ") if the Registrable
Securities are reported on NASDAQ.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any
registration is being effected to furnish the Company such information regarding
such seller and the distribution of such securities, as is required by law or
the Commission to be included within the registration statement or as the
company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of
such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of
the happening of any event of the kind described in subdivision (vii) of this
Section 1.3, such holder will forthwith discontinue such holder's disposition
of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement relating to
such Registrable Securities until such holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subdivision (vii) of this
Section 1.3 and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver to the Company (at
the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in
such holder's possession of the prospectus relating to such Registrable
Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
1.4 Underwritten Offerings.
(a) Requested Underwritten Offerings. If requested
by the underwriters for any underwritten offering by holders of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a registration requested under Section 1.1, the Company
will use all reasonable efforts to enter into an underwriting agreement with
such underwriters for such offering, such agreement to be reasonably
satisfactory in substance and form to each such holder and the underwriters and
to contain such representations and warranties by the Company and such other
terms as are generally prevailing in agreements of that type, including, without
limitation, indemnities to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 1.7.
The holders of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such
underwriters will reasonably cooperate with the Company in the
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negotiation of the underwriting agreement. Such holders of Registrable
Securities to be sold by such underwriters shall be parties to such underwriting
agreement and may, at their option, require that any or all of the
representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the
Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and
for the benefit of such holders of Registrable Securities and that any or all of
the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such
underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of such
holders of Registrable Securities. Any such holder of Registrable Securities
shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements
with the Company other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding
such holder, such holder's Registrable Securities and such holder's intended
method of distribution or any other representations required by applicable law.
(b) Incidental Underwritten Offerings. If the
Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act as
contemplated by Section 1.2 and such securities are to be distributed by or
through one or more underwriters, the Company will, if requested by any
Requesting Holder of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to arrange for
such underwriters to include all the Registrable Securities to be offered and
sold by such Requesting Holder among the securities of the Company to be
distributed by such underwriters. The holders of Registrable Securities to be
distributed by such underwriters shall be parties to the underwriting agreement
between the Company and such underwriters and may, at their option, require that
any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on
the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall also
be made to and for the benefit of such holders of Registrable Securities and
that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such
underwriters under such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the
obligations of such holders of Registrable Securities. Any such Requesting
Holder of Registrable Securities shall not be required to make any
representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the
underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such
Requesting Holder, such Requesting Holder's Registrable Securities and such
Requesting Holder's intended method of distribution or any other representations
required by applicable law.
1.5 Preparation: Reasonable Investigation. In connection with
the preparation and filing of each registration statement under the Securities
Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Company (i) shall give the holders of
Registrable Securities registered under such registration statement, their
underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel and accountants the
reasonable opportunity to participate (at the expense of such holder or holders)
in the preparation of such registration statement, each prospectus included
therein or filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, (ii) shall give each of them such reasonable access to its books and
records and such opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its
officers and the independent public accountants who have certified its financial
statements as shall be necessary, in the opinion of such holders' and such
underwriters' respective counsel, to conduct a reasonable investigation within
the meaning of the Securities Act and (iii) shall promptly notify the registered
holders of Registrable Securities and their counsel of any stop order issued or
threatened by the Commission and take all reasonable actions required to prevent
the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered.
26426-1
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1.6 Qualification to Obligations under Registration Covenants.
The Company shall be entitled to postpone for a reasonable period of time (but
not exceeding 90 days) the filing of any registration statement otherwise
required to be prepared and filed by it pursuant to Section 1.1 if the Company
determines, in its reasonable judgment, that such registration and offering
would interfere with any financing, acquisition, corporate reorganization or
other material transaction involving the Company or any of its affiliates and
promptly gives the holders of Registrable Securities requesting registration
thereof pursuant to Section 1.1 written notice of such determination, containing
a general statement of the reasons for such postponement and an approximation of
the anticipated delay. If the Company shall so postpone the filing of a
registration statement, holders of Registrable Securities requesting
registration thereof pursuant to Section 1.1 and representing not less than 50%
of the Initiating Holders shall have the right to withdraw the request for
registration by giving written notice to the Company within 30 days after
receipt of the notice of postponement and, in the event of such withdrawal, such
request shall not be counted for purposes of the requests for registration to
which holders of Registrable Securities are entitled pursuant to Section 1.1
hereof.
1.7 Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will, and
hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless, in the case of any registration
statement filed pursuant to Section 1.1 or 1.2, each seller of any Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement and each other Person who
participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of such securities and
each other Person, if any, who controls such seller or any such underwriter
within the meaning of the Securities Act, and their respective directors,
officers, partners, employees and affiliates against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several, to which such seller or underwriter or any
such director, officer, partner, employee, affiliate or controlling person may
become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings, whether
commenced or threatened, 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 securities were registered under the
Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary
prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in light of the
circumstances in which they were made not misleading, and the Company will
reimburse such seller or underwriter and each such director, officer, partner,
employee, affiliate and controlling Person for any legal or any other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, liability, action or proceeding; provided, that the Company
shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage, liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof) or expense arises
out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, any such
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or
supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company through an instrument duly executed by or on behalf of such
seller or underwriter, as the case may be, specifically stating that it is for
use in the
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preparation thereof. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such seller or any such
director, officer, employee, affiliate, partner or controlling Person and shall
survive the transfer of such securities by such seller.
(b) Indemnification by the Sellers. As a condition to
including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement, the Company
shall have received an undertaking satisfactory to it from the prospective
seller of such Registrable Securities, to indemnify and hold harmless (in the
same manner and to the same extent as set forth in subdivision (a) of this
Section 1.7) the Company, and each director of the Company, each officer of the
Company and each other Person, if any, who participates as an underwriter in the
offering or sale of such securities and each other Person who controls the
Company or any such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, with
respect to any statement or alleged statement in or omission or alleged omission
from such registration statement, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus
or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
if such statement or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company through an instrument duly executed by such seller specifically stating
that it is for use in the preparation of such registration statement,
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or
supplement; provided, however, that the liability of such indemnifying party
under this Section 1.7(b) shall be limited to the amount of proceeds received by
such indemnifying party in the offering giving rise to such liability. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Company or any such director, officer or controlling
person and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such seller.
(c) Notices of Claims, etc. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding
involving a claim referred to in the preceding subdivisions of this Section 1.7,
such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against
an indemnifying party, give written notice to the latter of the commencement of
such action; provided, however, that the failure of any indemnified party to
give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its
obligations under the preceding subdivisions of this Section 1.7, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced by such failure to
give notice. In case any such action is brought against an indemnified party,
the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and to assume the
defense thereof, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified,
to the extent that it may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the
indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by the latter in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, provided, however,
that if the indemnified party reasonably believes it is advisable for it to be
represented by separate counsel because there exists a conflict of interest
between its interests and those of the indemnifying party with respect to such
claim, or there exist defenses available to such indemnified party which may not
be available to the indemnifying party, or if the indemnifying party shall fail
to assume responsibility for such
9
defense, the indemnified party may retain counsel satisfactory to it and the
indemnifying party shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.
No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action or
proceeding effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall,
without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment
or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term
thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a
release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation or which
requires action other than the payment of money by the indemnifying party.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in
this Section 1.7 shall for any reason be held by a court to be unavailable to an
indemnified party under subparagraph (a) or (b) hereof in respect of any loss,
claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, then, in lieu of
the amount paid or payable under subparagraph (a) or (b) hereof, the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party under subparagraph (a) or (b) hereof shall
contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating the
same), (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
the Company and the prospective sellers of Registrable Securities covered by the
registration statement which resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability,
or action in respect thereof, with respect to the statements or omissions which
resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof,
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
the Company and such prospective sellers from the offering of the securities
covered by such registration statement. 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. Such prospective sellers' obligations to
contribute as provided in this subparagraph (d) are several in proportion to the
relative value of their respective Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement and not joint. In addition, no Person shall be obligated
to contribute hereunder any amounts in payment for any settlement of any action
or claim effected without such Person's consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(e) Other Indemnification. Indemnification and
contribution similar to that specified in the preceding subdivisions of this
section 1.7 (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and
each seller of Registrable Securities with respect to any required registration
or other qualification of securities under any federal or state law or
regulation of any governmental authority other than the Securities Act.
(f) Indemnification Payments. The indemnification and
contribution required by this Section 1.7 shall be made by periodic payments of
the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and
when bills are received or expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred.
2. Definitions. As used herein, unless the context otherwise
requires, the following terms have the following respective meanings:
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"Affiliate" means any person that directly or indirectly
controls or is controlled by or is under common control with any Purchaser. For
purposes of this definition, an Affiliate of any Purchaser shall be deemed to
include any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity
in which such Purchaser (whether directly, or indirectly through any other
Person that is an Affiliate) is an officer or director, general partner,
managing member or otherwise holds a significant equity interest.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.
"Common Stock" is defined in the second introductory paragraph
on page 1.
"Company" is defined in the first introductory paragraph on
page 1.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. Reference
to a particular section of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
shall include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such similar
Federal statute.
"Existing Registration Rights" is defined in Section 1.1(b).
"Initiating Holder" is defined in Section 1.1.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock
company, government (or an agency or political subdivision thereof) or other
entity of any kind.
"Purchaser" and "Purchasers" are defined in the first
introductory paragraph on page 1.
"Purchase Agreement" is defined in the second introductory
paragraph on page 1.
"Registrable Securities" means (i) any shares of Common Stock
issued from time to time upon exercise of the Warrants, (ii) any shares of
Common Stock issued from time to time as PIK Stock Interest (as such term is
defined in the Senior Notes) or upon any conversion of the Senior Notes, (iii)
any shares of Common Stock acquired from time time time by any Purchaser or any
Affiliate thereof, and (iv) any Related Registrable Securities. As to any
particular Registrable Securities, once issued such securities shall cease to be
Registrable Securities when (a) a registration statement with respect to the
sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and
such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration
statement, (b) they shall have been distributed to the public pursuant to Rule
144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act, (c) they shall have
been otherwise transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend
restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and
subsequent public distribution of them shall not require
11
registration of them under the Securities Act, or (d) they shall have ceased to
be outstanding. All references to percentages of Registrable Securities shall be
calculated pursuant to Section 8.
"Registration Expenses" means all expenses incident to the
Company's performance of or compliance with Section 1, including, without
limitation, all registration, filing and NASD fees, all fees and expenses of
complying with securities or blue sky laws, all word processing, duplicating and
printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, the fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company and of its independent public accountants, including
the expenses of "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such
performance and compliance, any fees and disbursements of underwriters
customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities (excluding any underwriting
discounts or commissions with respect to the Registrable Securities) with
respect to an underwritten offering.
"Related Registrable Securities" means any securities of the
Company issued or issuable with respect to the securities by way of a dividend
or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation or other reorganization or otherwise.
"Requesting Holder" is defined in Section 1.2.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, or any
similar Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. References to a
particular section of the Securities Act of 1933 shall include a reference to
the comparable section, if any, of any such similar statute.
"Selling Holder" is defined in Section 1.1.
"Warrants" is defined in the second introductory paragraph on
page 1.
3. Rule 144 and Rule 144A. The Company shall take all actions
reasonably necessary to enable holders of Registrable Securities to sell such
securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, (b) Rule 144A under the Securities Act,
as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (c) any similar rules or
regulations hereafter adopted by the Commission, including, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, filing on a timely basis all reports required to be
filed by the Exchange Act. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable
Securities, the Company will deliver to such holder a written statement as to
whether the Company has complied with such requirements.
4. Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended with
the written consent of the Company and the Company may take any action herein
prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it,
only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent to such amendment,
action or omission to act of the holder or holders of at least 50% of the
Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, action or omission to act.
Each holder of any Registrable Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding
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shall be bound by any consent authorized by this Section 4, whether or not such
Registrable Securities shall have been marked to indicate such consent.
5. Nominees for Beneficial Owners. In the event that any
Registrable Securities are held by a nominee for the beneficial owner thereof,
the beneficial owner thereof may, at its election in writing delivered to the
Company, be treated as the holder of such Registrable Securities for purposes of
any request or other action by any holder or holders of Registrable Securities
pursuant to this Agreement or any determination of any number or percentage of
shares of Registrable Securities hold by any holder or holders of Registrable
Securities contemplated by this Agreement. If the beneficial owner of any
Registrable Securities so elects, the Company may require assurances reasonably
satisfactory to it of such owner's beneficial ownership of such Registrable
Securities.
6. Notices. All notices, demands and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be by
registered or certified first-class mail, return receipt requested, telex,
telegram, telecopier, reputable courier service or personal delivery:
(a) if to the Purchasers, addressed to them in the
manner set forth in the Purchase Agreement, or at such other
address as it shall have furnished to the Company in writing;
(b) if to any other holder of Registrable Securities, at
the address that such holder shall have furnished to the
Company in writing, or, until any such other holder so
furnishes to the Company an address, then to and at the
address of the last holder of such Registrable Securities who
has furnished an address to the Company; or
(c) if to the Company, addressed to it in the manner
set forth in the Purchase Agreement, or at such other address
as the Company shall have furnished to each holder of
Registrable Securities at the time outstanding.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business
day after being sent by reputable courier service; three business days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if
telexed; and when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied.
7. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and, with respect to
the Company, its respective successors and assigns and, with respect to each
Purchaser, any holder who is an affiliate or successor entity to such Purchaser
or a transferee therefrom of any Registrable Securities, subject to the
provisions respecting the minimum numbers of percentages of shares of
Registrable Securities required in order to be entitled to certain rights, or
take certain actions, contained herein. The Purchasers named on the signature
page of this Agreement (and not any other holder of Registrable Securities or
any other Person) shall be permitted, in connection with
13
a transfer or disposition of Registrable Securities, to eliminate or impose
conditions or constraints on the ability of the transferee, as a holder of
Registrable Securities, to request a registration pursuant to Sections 1.1 and
1.2 and shall provide the Company with copies of such conditions or constraints
and the identity of such transferees.
8. Calculation of Percentage Interests in Registrable
Securities. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to a percentage of
the Registrable Securities shall be calculated based upon the number of shares
of Registrable Securities outstanding at the time such calculation is made.
9. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not hereafter
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this
Agreement.
10. Remedies. Each holder of Registrable Securities, is
entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages;
such rights not to extend to incidental or consequential damages.
11. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be in any way
impaired thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the
Purchaser shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete
and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto
in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
13. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of the
several sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and
enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by,
the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be
performed entirely within such State.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to
be executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized
as of the date first above written.
GEOKINETICS INC.
By:/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
PURCHASERS:
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
--------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Individually
/s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
--------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Individually
15
SCHEDULE 1.1(b)
EXISTING REGISTRATION RIGHTS
(See Attached)
16
