AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
Execution Version
AMENDED AND RESTATED
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 21, 2021, is made and entered into by and among: (i) MarketWise, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares prior to its domestication as a Delaware corporation) (the “Company”); (ii) Ascendant Sponsor LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (the “Sponsor”); (iii) the persons or entities identified as “MarketWise Holders” on the signature pages hereto (collectively, the “MarketWise Holders”); and (iv) the persons or entities identified as “Other Holders” on the signature pages hereto (the “Other Holders” and, together with the Sponsor, the MarketWise Holders and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, the Sponsor and the Other Holders are party to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 23, 2020 (the “Original RRA”);
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2021 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, MarketWise, LLC (“MarketWise”), certain of the MarketWise Holders and the Seller Representative (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), pursuant to which and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein (i) MarketWise will reclassify the Class A Units and Class B Units (each as defined in the Purchase Agreement) held by the MarketWise Holders into new common units in MarketWise (the “Common Units”), (ii) the Company will purchase Common Units from certain MarketWise Holders and (iii) the Company will contribute to MarketWise the Subscription Amount (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and, in consideration thereof, MarketWise will issue to the Company Common Units, Sponsor Earnout Units (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and Company Warrants (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) (collectively, the “Transactions”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the amended and restated its certificate of incorporation of the Company (such amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified form time, the “Company Certificate of Incorporation”), the Company is authorized to issue the following classes of stock: (A) Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”); (B) Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”); and (C) preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share;
WHEREAS, following the consummation of the Transactions, MarketWise has provided the MarketWise Holders with a redemption right pursuant to which the MarketWise Holders may redeem their Common Units for cash or, at the Company’s option, exchange Common Units for an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of MarketWise (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “MarketWise LLC Agreement”) and the Company Certificate of Incorporation;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Original RRA, the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth therein may be amended or modified upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders (as defined in the Original RRA) of at least a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities (as defined
in the Original RRA) at the time in question, and the Sponsor is a Holder of at least a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Original RRA) as of the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions described above, the Company and the Sponsor desire to amend and restate the Original RRA in its entirety as set forth herein, and the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Additional Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 6.10 hereof.
“Additional Holder Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in Section 6.10 hereof.
“Additional Registrable Security” shall mean (i) any shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company to a Holder in connection with the redemption by a Holder of Common Units owned by any Holder and (ii) any other equity security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (i) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, after consultation with counsel to the Company, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company or the Board, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, declared effective or used, as the case may be, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Action” shall mean any claim, action, suit, audit, examination, assessment, arbitration, mediation or inquiry, or any proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
“MarketWise” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“MarketWise Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“MarketWise LLC Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
2
“Class A Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Class B Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Purchase Agreement.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning given in the Purchase Agreement.
“Commission” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Common Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto and includes the Company’s successors by recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.
“Company Certificate of Incorporation” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5 hereof.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
“Form S-1 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1 hereof.
“Form S-3 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1 hereof.
“Governmental Authority” shall mean any federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign government, governmental authority, regulatory or administrative agency (which for the purposes of this Agreement shall include FINRA and the Commission), governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, court or tribunal.
“Governmental Order” shall mean any order, judgment, injunction, decree, writ, stipulation, determination or award, in each case, entered by or with any Governmental Authority.
“Holder Information” shall have the meaning given in Section 4.1.2 hereof.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto, for so long as such person or entity holds any Registrable Securities.
“Initial Registrable Security” shall mean (i) any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock held by a Holder immediately following the Closing (other than Sponsor Earn Out Shares or Company Management Member Earn Out Shares (each as defined in the Purchase Agreement)), (ii) any shares of Class A Common Stock that may be acquired by Holders upon the exercise of a warrant or other right to acquire Class A Common Stock held by a Holder immediately following the Closing (other than Sponsor Earn Out Shares or Company Management Member Earn Out Shares), (iii) the Sponsor Earn Out Shares (provided that, prior to the release of such shares to the Sponsor in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Escrow Agreement (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), the Sponsor Earn Out Shares shall only be deemed to be “Registrable Securities” for purposes of Sections 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3
3
hereof), (iv) the Company Management Members Earn Out Shares (provided that, prior to the release of such shares to the Company Management Members (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) that are allocated Company Management Member Earn Out Shares in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, the Company Management Members Earn Out Shares shall only be deemed to be “Registrable Securities” for purposes of Sections 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 hereof), (v) any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or warrants to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock (including any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such warrant) of the Company held by a Holder following the date hereof to the extent that such securities are “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or are otherwise held by an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company and (vi) any other equity security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.
“Insider Letter” means that certain letter agreement, dated as of July 23, 2020, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors.
“Issuer Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.2 hereof.
“Joinder” shall have the meaning given in Section 6.10 hereof.
“Lock-Up” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.1 hereof.
“Lock-Up Period” shall mean the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending, (A)(i) with respect to the Sponsor and the MarketWise Holders that are members of the Company’s management team, on the earlier of (x) the date that is the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date and (y) the date on which the last reported sale price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing Date and (ii) with respect to the MarketWise Holders that are not members of the Company’s management team, the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date and (B) with respect to the Sponsor, on the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock for cash, securities or other property (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Transactions).
“Lock-Up Shares” shall mean, (i) with respect to the Sponsor and its Permitted Transferees, the shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Sponsor immediately following the Closing (for the avoidance of doubt, such shares of Class A Common Stock shall not include any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any warrants held by the Sponsor), and (ii) with respect to the MarketWise Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, (a) the shares of Class A Common Stock received by the MarketWise Holders on the Closing Date and (b) any shares of Class A Common Stock received by the MarketWise Holders after the Closing Date pursuant to a direct exchange or redemption of Common Units held as of the Closing Date under the MarketWise LLC Agreement.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.6 hereof.
“Minimum Takedown Threshold” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5 hereof.
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in
4
a Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Original RRA” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor and its respective Permitted Transferees, (i) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, any person or entity to whom such Holder is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof and (ii) after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, any person or entity to whom such Holder is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities, subject to and in accordance with any applicable agreement between such Holder and/or their respective Permitted Transferees and the Company and any transferee thereafter; (b) with respect to the MarketWise Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, (i) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, any person or entity to whom such Holder is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof and (ii) after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, any person or entity to whom such Holder is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities, subject to and in accordance with any applicable agreement between such Holder and/or their respective Permitted Transferees and the Company and any transferee thereafter; and (c) with respect to all other Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, any person or entity to whom such Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities, subject to and in accordance with any applicable agreement between such Holder and/or their respective Permitted Transferees and the Company and any transferee thereafter.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.2.1 hereof.
“Primary Shares” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.2 hereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Registrable Security” shall mean collectively the Initial Registrable Securities and the Additional Registrable Securities; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following events: (i) 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 sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement by the applicable Holder; (ii) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing (or book-entry positions not subject to) a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iv) following the second anniversary of this Agreement, such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (but without the requirement to comply with any volume or manner of sale limitations); and (v) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, while Common Units or other securities of the Company or MarketWise may constitute Registrable Securities, under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to register Common Units or other securities of the Company or MarketWise, and only shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon redemption or exchange of Common Units or upon exercise or conversion of such other securities of the Company or MarketWise will be registered.
5
“Registration” shall mean a registration, including any related Shelf Takedown, effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement, Prospectus or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the documented, out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with FINRA) and any national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed;
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of outside counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers of securities in a secondary offering, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, with respect to Registrable Securities sold by Holders;
(D) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(F) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(G) reasonable fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders in an Underwritten Offering.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including any Shelf, and, in each case, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement and all exhibits to, and all material incorporated by reference in, such registration statement.
“Requesting Holders” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.6 hereof.
“Restricted Shares” shall mean shares of Class A Common Stock issued under an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement which if sold by the holder thereof would constitute “restricted securities” as defined under Rule 144 when acquired by a transferee.
“Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto that may be promulgated by the Commission.
“Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf” shall mean the Form S-1 Shelf, the Form S-3 Shelf, any Issuer Shelf Registration Statement or any Subsequent Shelf Registration, as the case may be.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration of securities pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act,
6
as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto that may be promulgated by the Commission.
“Shelf Takedown” shall mean an Underwritten Shelf Takedown or any proposed transfer or sale using a Registration Statement, including a Piggyback Registration.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Subsequent Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.3 hereof.
“Total Limit” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5 hereof.
“Transactions” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Transfer” shall mean the (i) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecation, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any security, (ii) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii).
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Lock-Up Period” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.3 hereof.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Underwritten Shelf Takedown” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5 hereof.
“Withdrawal Notice” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.7 hereof.
“Yearly Limit” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5 hereof.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS AND OFFERINGS
2.1 Shelf Registration.
2.1.1 Filing. The Company shall, subject to Section 3.4 hereof, submit or file within 30 days of the Closing Date, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective as soon as practicable thereafter, a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Shelf”) or, if the Company is eligible to use a Registration Statement on Form S-3, a Shelf Registration on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3 Shelf”), in each case, covering the resale of all the Initial Registrable Securities (determined as of two business days prior to such submission or filing) on a delayed or continuous basis and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Shelf declared effective after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (a) the 60th calendar day following the filing date thereof if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement and (b) the tenth business day after
7
the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. Such Shelf shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. Subject to Sections 2.1.3 and 3.4 hereof, the Company shall maintain a Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep a Shelf continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. In the event the Company files a Form S-1 Shelf, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration) to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3.
2.1.2 Issuer Shelf Registration. The Company shall, subject to Section 3.4 hereof, submit or file within 90 days of the Closing Date, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, a Registration Statement on an appropriate form covering issuance and resale of the Additional Registrable Securities on a delayed or continuous basis (an “Issuer Shelf Registration Statement”). Such Shelf shall provide for (i) the issuance by the Company, from time to time, to the Holders of Common Units, of shares of Class A Common Stock registered under the Securities Act in connection with the redemption thereof (the “Primary Shares”) and (ii) to the extent such Primary Shares constitute Restricted Shares, the registered resale of such Class A Common Stock by their Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Holders and set forth therein. Subject to Sections 2.1.3 and 3.4 hereof, the Company shall maintain an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Additional Registrable Securities. In the event the Company files a Form S-1 Shelf, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration) to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3. If the Company shall exercise its rights under this Section 2.1.2, Holders shall have no right to have shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon exchange of Common Units included in a Shelf pursuant to Section 2.1.1 hereof.
2.1.3 Subsequent Shelf Registration. If any Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4 hereof, use its commercially reasonable efforts to, as promptly as is reasonably practicable, cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including using its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to, as promptly as is reasonably practicable, amend such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional registration statement as a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities under such Shelf (determined as of two business days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) at the most recent applicable eligibility determination date) and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration
8
continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on another appropriate form.
2.1.4 New Registrable Securities. Subject to Section 3.4 hereof, in the event that any Holder or Holders, collectively, hold Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon request of any MarketWise Holder or the Sponsor, shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered by either, at the Company’s option, any then-available Shelf (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or a Subsequent Shelf Registration and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Shelf or Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered if the total offering price thereof is reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $50 million and (ii) the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered once per calendar year.
2.1.5 Requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns. Following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, any MarketWise Holder or the Sponsor (any of the MarketWise Holders or the Sponsor, a “Demanding Holder”) may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder, either individually or together with other Demanding Holders, with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $50 million (the “Minimum Takedown Threshold”). All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown. The Company shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the initial Demanding Holder’s prior approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The MarketWise Holders, collectively, on the one hand, and the Sponsor, on the other hand, may each demand Underwritten Shelf Takedowns pursuant to this Section 2.1.5 (i) not more than two times in any 12-month period (the “Yearly Limit”) and (ii) not more than five times in the aggregate (the “Total Limit”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may effect any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any then-effective Registration Statement, including a Form S-3, that is then available for such offering.
2.1.6 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Holders requesting piggy back rights pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (the “Requesting Holders”) (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and all other shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, that have been requested to be sold in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, before including
9
any shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities proposed to be sold by Company or by other holders of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders (if any) have requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.7 Underwritten Shelf Takedown Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red xxxxxxx” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown; provided that any other Demanding Holder(s) may elect to have the Company continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if the Minimum Takedown Threshold would still be satisfied by the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown by the Demanding Holder(s). If withdrawn, a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall constitute a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown by the withdrawing Demanding Holder for purposes of Section 2.1.5 hereof and shall count toward the Yearly Limit and the Total Limit, unless either (i) the Demanding Holder(s) making the withdrawal has not previously withdrawn any Underwritten Shelf Takedown or (ii) the Demanding Holder(s) making the withdrawal reimburses the Company for all Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (or, if there is more than one Demanding Holder, a pro rata portion of such Registration Expenses based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown); provided that, if any other Demanding Holder(s) elects to continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, such Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall instead count as an Underwritten Shelf Takedown demanded by the Demanding Holders for purposes of Section 2.1.5 hereof and shall count toward the Yearly Limit and the Total Limit. Following the receipt of any Withdrawal Notice, the Company shall promptly forward such Withdrawal Notice to any other Requesting Holders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Shelf Takedown prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.1.7, other than if a Demanding Holder elects to pay such Registration Expenses pursuant to clause (ii) of the second sentence of this Section 2.1.7.
2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If the Company or any Holder proposes to conduct a registered offering of, or if the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration of, equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (or any registered offering with respect thereto) (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), (iv) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (v) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed offering to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the applicable “red xxxxxxx” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such offering, which notice shall (A) describe the
10
amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to include in such registered offering such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration, a “Piggyback Registration”). Subject to Section 2.2.2 hereof, the Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and, if applicable, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of such Piggyback Registration to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.2.1 to be included therein on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such registered offering and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The inclusion of any Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration shall be subject to such Holder’s agreement to enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company or the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to this Section 2.2 and (iii) the shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) if the Registration or registered offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1 hereof, pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) if the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1 hereof, pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included
11
in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(c) if the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a request by Holder(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering securities in the priority set forth in Section 2.1.6 hereof.
2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities (other than a Demanding Holder, whose right to withdraw from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, and related obligations, shall be governed by Section 2.1.7 hereof) shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or, in the case of a Piggyback Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the filing of the applicable “red xxxxxxx” prospectus or prospectus supplement with respect to such Piggyback Registration used for marketing such transaction. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons or entities pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (other than Section 2.1.7 hereof), the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, subject to Section 2.1.7 hereof, any Piggyback Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under Section 2.1.5 hereof and shall not count toward the Yearly Limit or the Total Limit.
2.3 Market Stand-off. In connection with any Underwritten Offering of equity securities of the Company or any Company-initiated Registration for the account of the Company (subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 2.2 hereof), each Holder that is an executive officer, director or Holder in excess of 2.5% of the then-outstanding Common Stock agrees that it shall not Transfer any shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (other than those included in such offering pursuant to this Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Company, during the 90-day period (or such shorter time agreed to by the managing Underwriters) beginning on the date of pricing of such offering (the “Underwritten Lock-Up Period”), except as expressly permitted by such lock-up agreement or in the event the Underwriters managing the offering otherwise consent in writing. Each Holder agrees to execute a customary lock-up agreement in favor of the Underwriters to such effect (in each case on substantially the same terms and conditions as the Company’s directors and executive officers or the other stockholders of the Company). The Company will not be obligated to undertake an Underwritten Shelf Takedown during any Underwritten Lock-Up Period binding on the Holders, nor will the Company be obligated to include in any Piggyback Registration any Registrable Securities that are then subject to a “lock-up” agreement.
12
ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. In connection with any Shelf and/or Shelf Takedown, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as reasonably practicable, a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by any Holder that holds at least 5% percent of the Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus) and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request (or provide evidence satisfactory to such Holders that the Registrable Securities are exempt from such registration or qualification) and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
13
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 at least three days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus (or such shorter period of time as may be necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable), furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel (excluding any exhibits thereto and any filing made under the Exchange Act that is to be incorporated by reference therein);
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;
3.1.10 in the event of an Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering that is registered pursuant to a Registration Statement, permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;
3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering that is registered pursuant to a Registration Statement, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter or other similar type of sales agent or placement agent may reasonably request;
3.1.12 in the event of an Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering that is registered pursuant to a Registration Statement, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the participating Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the participating Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters;
3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering that is registered pursuant to a Registration Statement, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, sales agreement or placement agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter, sales agent or placement agent of such offering;
14
3.1.14 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least 12 months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule thereto);
3.1.15 with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1.5 hereof, use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in such Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders participating in such Registration, in connection with such Registration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide any documents or information to an Underwriter or other sales agent or placement agent if such Underwriter or other sales agent or placement agent has not then been named with respect to the applicable Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering that is registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.
3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ or agents’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any Holder does not timely provide the Company with its requested Holder Information, the Company may exclude such Holder’s Registrable Securities from the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such information is necessary to effect the registration and such Holder continues thereafter to withhold such information. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) timely completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting or other agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such arrangements. The exclusion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities as a result of this Section 3.3 shall not affect the registration of the other Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration.
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure; Restrictions on Registration Rights.
3.4.1 Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.
3.4.2 If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would (i) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (ii) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the
15
Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control or (iii) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the Board, be seriously detrimental to the Company and the majority of the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use at such time, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders (which notice shall not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such delay or suspension), delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under this Section 3.4.2, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities until such Holder receives written notice from the Company that such sales or offers of Registrable Securities may be resumed, and in each case maintain the confidentiality of such notice and its contents.
3.4.3 Subject to Section 3.4.4 hereof, if (i) during the period starting with the date 60 days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date 120 days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated Registration, and provided that the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement, or (ii) if, pursuant to Section 2.1.5 hereof, Holders have requested an Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the Company and such Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite such offering, then, in each case, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay any other registered offering pursuant to Section 2.1.5 hereof.
3.4.4 The right to delay or suspend any filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3.4.2 hereof or a registered offering pursuant to Section 3.4.3 hereof shall be exercised by the Company, in the aggregate, for not more than 90 consecutive calendar days or more 180 total calendar days in each case, during any 12-month period.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to use commercially reasonable efforts to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person or entity who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such
16
Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish (or cause to be furnished) to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (the “Holder Information”) and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each person or entity who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement is contained in (or not contained in, in the case of an omission) any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
4.1.3 Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s or entity’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement 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.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
17
damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by in the case of an omission), such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this Section 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 hereof, any legal or other fees, charges or out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 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 this Section 4.1.5. No person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE V
LOCK-UP
5.1 Lock-Up. Subject to Section 5.2 hereof, the Sponsor and MarketWise Holders agree that they shall not Transfer any Lock-Up Shares until the end of the Lock-Up Period (the “Lock-Up”).
5.2 Permitted Transferees. Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Section 5.1 hereof, the Sponsor, the MarketWise Holders or their respective Permitted Transferees may Transfer the Lock-Up Shares during the Lock-Up Period: (a) to (i) the Company’s officers or directors, (ii) any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors, (iii) any affiliate of the Sponsor, (iv) any members or equityholders of the Sponsor or any of their affiliates or (v) the MarketWise Holders, any direct or indirect partners, members or equityholders of the MarketWise Holders, any affiliate or family member of any of the MarketWise Holders or any related investment funds or vehicles controlled or managed by such persons or entities or their respective affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, family limited partnership or other estate planning vehicle, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such individual, or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or the Sponsor’s partnership agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; (f) in connection with any bona fide mortgage, encumbrance or pledge to a financial institution in connection with any bona fide loan or debt transaction or enforcement thereunder, including foreclosure thereof; (g) to the Company; or (h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Closing Date; provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (a) through (e), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Article V.
18
5.3 Termination of Existing Lock-Up. The lock-up provisions in this Article V shall supersede the lock-up provisions contained in Section 7 of the Insider Letter, which provision in Section 7 of the Insider Letter shall be of no further force or effect.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: MarketWise, Inc., 0000 X. Xxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, General Counsel, Email: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx; and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective 30 days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 6.1.
6.2 Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
6.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.
6.2.2 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Holders hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Holders in whole or in part; provided, however, that, subject to Section 6.2.5 hereof, a Holder may assign the rights and obligations of such Holder hereunder relating to particular Registrable Securities in connection with the transfer of such Registrable Securities to a Permitted Transferee of such Holder.
6.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
6.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 6.2 hereof.
6.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 6.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 6.2 shall be null and void.
6.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
19
6.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN EACH CASE, LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
6.5 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy that may arise under this Agreement and the Transactions is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each such party hereby irrevocably, unconditionally and voluntarily waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any action, suit or proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the Transactions.
6.6 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of (i) the Company and (ii) the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects the Sponsor shall also require the written consent of the Sponsor so long as the Sponsor holds at least 2% of the outstanding Common Stock; provided further that any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity), shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
6.7 Other Registration Rights. Other than the PIPE Investors who have registration rights with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock purchased in the PIPE Investment pursuant to their respective Subscription Agreements (each as defined in the Purchase Agreement), the Company represents and warrants that no person or entity, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration Statement filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person or entity. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions, and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
6.8 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (ii) with respect to any Holder, the date that such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Article IV hereof shall survive any termination.
20
6.9 Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder.
6.10 Additional Holders; Joinder. In addition to persons or entities who may become Holders pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, subject to the prior written consent of the Sponsor and each MarketWise Holder (in each case, so long as such Holder and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company, calculated as if all Common Units are exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock), the Company may make any person or entity who acquires Class A Common Stock or rights to acquire Class A Common Stock after the date hereof a party to this Agreement (each such person or entity, an “Additional Holder”) by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Holder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Such Joinder shall specify the rights and obligations of the applicable Additional Holder under this Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery and subject to the terms of a Joinder by such Additional Holder, the Class Common Stock of the Company then owned, or underlying any rights then owned, by such Additional Holder (the “Additional Holder Common Stock”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein and therein, and such Additional Holder shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to such Additional Holder Common Stock.
6.11 Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
6.12 Entire Agreement; Restatement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter. Upon the Closing, the Original RRA shall no longer be of any force or effect.
[Signature Pages Follow]
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | |||||
MARKETWISE, INC., a Delaware corporation | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxx Arnold Title: Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
SPONSOR: | |||||
ASCENDANT SPONSOR LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxx Gerhard Title: Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
MARKETWISE HOLDERS: | |||||
MONUMENT & CATHEDRAL HOLDINGS, LLC | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx Title: President | |||||
XXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX | |||||
XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX | |||||
XXXXXXX XXXXXX | |||||
XXXX XXXXXX | |||||
XXXXX XXXXX | |||||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
XXXX XXXXXXX | |||||
XXXXXXXX XXXX | |||||
XXXXX XXXXX | |||||
XXXX XXXXXXX | |||||
XXXX XXXXX | |||||
XXXXX XXXXX | |||||
XXXX BEACON, LLC | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx Title: Manager | |||||
XXXXX XXXXX, LLC | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx Title: Manager | |||||
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX | |||||
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX MD ONLY QTIP TRUST | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxx X. Barnhill Title: Trustee | |||||
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX MARITAL TRUST B | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxx X. Barnhill Title: Trustee |
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX | |||||
XXXXXXXXX X. X. XXXXXX 2009 IRREVOCABLE TRUST NUMBER TWO | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. XxXxxxx | |||||
Title: Trustee | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. | |||||
Title: Trustee | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: Trustee | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: Trustee | |||||
Xxxxxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxx Electing Small Business Trust | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. XxXxxxx | |||||
Title: Trustee | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. | |||||
Title: Trustee | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: Trustee |
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: Trustee | |||||
PALIMI, INC. | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxx Xxxx | |||||
Title: President | |||||
XXXXXXX XXXXX | |||||
XXXXXX HOLDINGS, LLC | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |||||
Title: Manager | |||||
CHARLESTON IVY, LLC | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: Manager | |||||
JAMA 2021, LLC | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: Manager |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
XXXXXXX FAMILY ENTERPRISES, LLC | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||
Title: Manager |
CCL FAMILY, LLC | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | |||||
Title: Authorized Member |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
OTHER HOLDERS: | |||||
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX 12/18/80 TRUST | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||
Title: Trustee | |||||
XXXXXX XXXXXXXX | |||||
XXXXX XXXXXX | |||||
XXXXXX XXXXX | |||||
XXXXXX XXXXX | |||||
XXXXX XXXXXX | |||||
XXXXXX XXXXXX | |||||
XXXXXXX XXXXXX |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit A
AMENDED AND RESTATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
JOINDER
The undersigned is executing and delivering this joinder (this “Joinder”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [____], 2021 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among MarketWise, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the other persons or entities named as parties therein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.
By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, and upon acceptance hereof by the Company upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by and to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein; provided, however, that the undersigned and its permitted assigns (if any) shall not have any rights as Holders, and the undersigned’s (and its transferees’) shares of Class A Common Stock shall not be included as Registrable Securities, for purposes of the Excluded Sections.
For purposes of this Joinder, “Excluded Sections” shall mean [ ].
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the __________ day of __________, 20__.
Signature of Stockholder | |||||||||||
Print Name of Stockholder | |||||||||||
Its: | |||||||||||
Address: | |||||||||||
Agreed and Accepted as of | ||||||||||||||
, 20 | ||||||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||||||
Name: | ||||||||||||||
Its: |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]