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EXHIBIT 10.8
NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC.
INVESTORS' RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Investors' Rights Agreement (the "Agreement" is made as of the 31st
day of August, 1999, by and among Novo MediaGroup, Inc., a California
corporation (the "Company"), the holders of the Company's Series A Preferred
Stock (the "Investors"), X.X. Xxxx Communications, Inc. (solely as to the Right
of First Offer set forth in Section 3 hereof) and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx ("Xxxxxxxxx", together with "Xxxxxxxxx", collectively, the "Founders"
and each, a "Founder").
RECITALS
The Company and the Investors have entered into a Stock Purchase
Agreement (the "Acquisition Agreement") of even date herewith pursuant to which
the Company desires to sell to the Investors and the Investors desire to
purchase from the Company shares of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock. A
condition to the Investors' obligations under the Acquisition Agreement is that
the Company, the Founders and the Investors enter into this Agreement in order
to provide (i) the Investors with certain rights to register shares of the
Company's Common. Stock issuable upon conversion of the Company's Series A
Preferred Stock held by the Investors, (ii) the Investors with certain rights to
receive or inspect information pertaining to the, Company, (iii) the Investors
with a right of first offer with respect to certain issuances by the Company of
its securities; and (iv) the Investors with co-sale rights with respect to
proposed share dispositions by the Founders and other members of the Company's
management. The Company and the Founders each desire to induce the Investors to
purchase shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement by agreeing to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
AGREEMENT
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Registration Rights. The Company and the Investors covenant and agree
as follows:
1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Section 1:
(a) The terms "register," "registered," and
"registration" refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a
registration statement or similar document in compliance with the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the declaration or ordering of
effectiveness of such registration statement or document by the Commission;
(b) The term "Registrable Securities" means:
(i) The shares of Series A Common Stock of
the Company issuable or issued upon
conversion of the Series A
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Preferred Stock of the Company held by
the Investors (including the Series A
Common Stock issued upon conversion of
the Series C Common Stock initially to
be issued upon conversion of the Series
A Preferred Stock);
(ii) any other shares of Common Stock of the
Company issued as (or issuable upon the
conversion or exercise of any warrant,
right or other security which is issued
as) a dividend or other distribution
with respect to, or in exchange for or
in replacement of the shares listed in
(i) above, provided, however, that the
foregoing definition shall exclude in
all cases any Registrable Securities
sold by a person in a transaction in
which his or her rights under this
Agreement are not assigned.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Common
Stock and other securities shall only be
treated as Registrable Securities if and
so long as they have not been (A) sold
to or through a broker or dealer or
underwriter in a public distribution or
a public securities transaction, or (B)
sold in a transaction exempt from the
registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act under
Section 4(l) thereof so that all
transfer restrictions, and restrictive
legends with respect thereto, if any,
are removed upon the consummation of
such sale;
(c) The number of shares of "Registrable Securities then
outstanding" shall be determined by the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding which are Registrable Securities and the number of shares of
Registrable Securities that are shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to then
exercisable and/or convertible securities;
(d) The term "Holder" means any person owning or having
the right to acquire Registrable Securities or any assignee thereof in
accordance with Section 1.11 hereof;
(e) "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities
Act.
(f) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of
1933, 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.
(g) "Registration Expenses" shall mean all expenses
incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 2.2,2.3 and 2.10 hereof,
including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing
expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, fees and
disbursements of a single counsel for the Holders, blue sky fees and expenses,
and the expense of any special audits incident to or required by any such
registration (but excluding the compensation of regular employees of the Company
which shall be paid in any event by the Company).
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(h) "Selling Expenses" shall mean all underwriting
discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale.
(i) "Founder Shares" shall mean vested shares of the
Company's Common Stock now owned or subsequently acquired by the Founders
excluding any Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Preferred Stock which
may be subsequently purchased by the Founders.
1.2 Requested Registration. In case the Company shall receive
from Holders owning at least 33% of the Registrable Securities (the "Initiating
Holders") at any time after the Company's initial registration statement
including shares on its behalf to be sold to the public is declared effective by
the Commission, a written request that the Company effect any registration with
respect to at least thirty-three percent (33%) of all the Registrable Securities
then outstanding (or any lesser percentage if the anticipated offering price,
net of underwriter's commissions, would exceed $5,000,000), the Company will:
(a) promptly give written notice of the proposed
registration to all other Holders; and
(b) as soon as practicable, use its diligent best
efforts to effect such registration (including, without limitation, the
execution of an undertaking to file post effective amendments, appropriate
qualification under applicable blue sky or other state securities laws and
appropriate compliance with applicable regulations issued under the Securities
Act) as may be so requested at the earliest possible date and as would permit or
facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Registrable
Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion
of the Registrable Securities of any Holder or Holders joining in such request
as are specified in a written request given within fifteen (15) days after
receipt of such written notice from the Company; provided that the Company shall
not be obligated to take any action to effect any such registration,
qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section 1.2:
(i) In any particular jurisdiction in which
the Company would be required to execute
a general consent to service of process
in effecting such registration,
qualification or compliance unless the
Company is already subject to service in
such jurisdiction and except as may be
required by the Securities Act;
(ii) At any time after the date that is five
years following the effective date of
the Company's first registered
underwritten offering to the general
public of its securities for its own
account;
(iii) Within six (6) months immediately
following the effective date of the
filing of the initial registration
statement pertaining to an underwritten
public offering of securities of the
Company for its own account (other than
a
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registration relating solely to a
Commission Rule 145 transaction or a
registration relating solely to employee
benefit plans or a registration on any
registration form which does not include
substantially the same information as
would be required to be included in a
registration statement covering the sale
of Registrable Securities), and within
four (4) months of any subsequent
registration pursuant to an underwritten
public offering; and
(iv) After the Company has effected one
registration pursuant to this Section
1.2 and such registration has been
declared or ordered effective.
Subject to the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) and to Section 1.2(d),
the Company shall file a registration statement covering the Registrable
Securities so requested to be registered as soon as practicable after receipt of
the request of the Initiating Holders, and in any event within ninety (90) days
of such request; provided, however, that if the Company shall furnish to such
Initiating Holders, within 30 days after receipt of notice from the Initiating
Holders, a certificate signed by the President of the Company stating that in
the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be
seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such registration
statement to be filed on or before the date filing would be required and it is
therefore essential to defer the date of such filing, the Company shall have the
right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after
receipt of the request of the Initiating Holders; provided, however that the
Company may not make such certification more than once in any 12 month period.
(c) Underwriting. If the Initiating Holders intend to
distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an
underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made
pursuant to Section 1.2 and the Company shall include such information in the
written notice referred to in Section 1.2(a). The right of any Holder to
registration pursuant to Section 1.2 shall be conditioned upon such Holder's
participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's
Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent requested (unless
otherwise mutually agreed by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders
and such Holder) to the extent provided herein.
The Company shall (together with all Holders proposing to distribute
their securities through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement
in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such
underwriting by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1.2, if the underwriter (or
the managing underwriter on behalf of the underwriters) determines that
marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten and so advises the Initiating Holders in writing, then the
Initiating Holders shall so advise all Holders (except those Holders who have
indicated to the Company their decision not to distribute any of their
Registrable Securities through such underwriting) and the number of shares of
Registrable Securities that may be included in the registration and underwriting
shall be allocated among all such Holders in proportion, as nearly as
practicable, to the respective amounts of Registrable Securities owned by such
Holders at the time of filing the registration statement. No Registrable
Securities excluded
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from the underwriting by reason of the underwriter's marketing limitation shall
be included in such registration.
If any Holder disapproves of the terms of the underwriting, such person
may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company, the
underwriter (or managing underwriter on behalf of all of the underwriters) and
the Initiating Holders. The Registrable Securities and/or other securities so
withdrawn from such underwriting shall also be withdrawn from such registration;
provided, however, that, if by the withdrawal of such Registrable Securities a
greater number of Registrable Securities held by other Holders may be Included
in such registration (up to the maximum of any limitation imposed by the
underwriters), then the Company shall offer to all Holders who have included
Registrable Securities in the registration the right to include additional
Registrable Securities in the same proportion used in determining the
underwriter limitation in this Section 1.2(c).
If the underwriter (or managing underwriter on behalf of all of the
underwriters) has not limited the number of Registrable Securities to be
underwritten, the Company may include securities for its own account in such
registration if the underwriters so agree and if the number of Registrable
Securities which would otherwise have been included in such registration and
underwriting will not thereby be limited.
(d) Delay of Registration. If at the time of any request to
register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 1.2 the Company is
engaged or has fixed plans to engage within sixty (60) days of the time of the
request in a registered public offering as to which the Holders will be able to
include Registrable Securities pursuant to Sections 1.2 or 1.3, then the Company
may at its option direct that such request be delayed for a period not in excess
of six months from the effective date of such offering, provided that the
Company is actively employing in good faith all reasonable efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective and, provided further, that no other
person or entity could require the Company to file a registration statement
during such period. Such right to delay a request may be exercised by the
Company not more than once in any two-year period.
1.3 Company Registration.
(a) If at any time or from time to time, the Company shall
determine to register any of its Common Stock, for its own account or for the
account of shareholders (other than the Holders) exercising any demand
registration rights which they may have, other than a registration relating
solely to employee benefit plans, or a registration relating solely to a
Commission Rule 145 transaction or any Rule adopted by the Commission in
substitution thereof or in amendment thereto, or a registration on any
registration form which does not include substantially the same information as
would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale
of Registrable Securities, the Company will:
(i) promptly give to each Holder written
notice thereof; and
(ii) include in such registration (and any
related qualification under blue sky
laws or other compliance therewith), and
in any underwriting involved therein,
all the Registrable
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Securities specified in a written
request or requests, made within fifteen
(15) days after receipt of such written
notice from the Company, by any Holder
or Holders.
(b) Underwriting. If the registration of which the
Company gives notice is for a registered public offering involving an
underwriting, THE Company shall so advise the Holders as a part of the written
notice given pursuant to Section 13(a)(i). In such event the right of any Holder
to registration pursuant to Section 1.3 shall be conditioned upon such Holder's
participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's
Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All
Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall
(together with the Company and the other holders distributing their securities
through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary
form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the
Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1.3, if the
underwriter (or managing underwriter on behalf of all of the underwriters)
determines in good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the
number of shares to be underwritten, the underwriter (or managing underwriter on
behalf of all of the underwriters) may exclude some or all Registrable
Securities from such registration and underwriting -- the Company will, however,
use its best efforts to include such Registrable Shares in such offering. The
Company shall so advise all Holders (except those Holders who have indicated to
the Company their decision not to distribute any of their Registrable Securities
through such underwriting), and the number of shares of Registrable Securities
that may be included in the registration and underwriting shall be allocated
among such Holders in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective
amounts of Registrable Securities owned by such Holders at the time of filing
the registration statement. No Registrable Securities excluded from the
underwriting by reason of the underwriter's marketing limitation shall be
included in such registration. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any
such underwriting, such person may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice
to the Company and the underwriter. The Registrable Securities and/or other
securities so withdrawn from such underwriting shall also be withdrawn from such
registration.
1.4 Form S-3 Registration. In case the Company shall receive
from any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities a written request or
requests that the Company effect a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor to
Form S-3) or any similar short-form registration statement and any related
qualification or compliance with respect to all or a part of the Registrable
Securities owned by such Holder or Holders, the Company will:
(a) promptly give written notice of the proposed registration,
and any related qualification or compliance, to all other Holders of Registrable
Securities; and
(b) as soon as practicable, effect such registration and all
such qualifications and compliances as may be so requested and as would permit
or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Holder's
or Holders' Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together
with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holder or
Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given
within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such
registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section 1.4:
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(i) if Form S-3 (or any successor or similar form) is
not available for such offering by the Holders, or
(ii) if the Holders, together with the holders of any
other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration,
propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an
aggregate price to the public of less than two million dollars ($2,000,000), or
(iii) if within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written
request from any Holder or Holders pursuant to this Section 1.4, the Company
shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board
of Directors of the Company it is the Company's intention to make a public
offering within ninety (90) days;
(iv) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a
certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company
stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the
Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders
for such Form S-3 registration to be effected at such time, in which event the
Company shall have the right to defer the filing of the Form S-3 registration
statement for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the
request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 1.4; provided, that such
right to delay a request shall be exercised by the Company not more than once in
any twelve (12) month period, or
(v) if the Company has already effected three (3)
registrations on Form S-3 for the Holders pursuant to this Section 1.4, or
(vi) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company
would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to
service of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance,
unless the Company is already subject to service in such a jurisdiction and
except as may be required by the Securities Act.
(c) Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall file a Form S-3
registration statement covering the Registrable Securities and other securities
so requested to be registered as soon as practicable after receipt of the
request or requests of the Holders. Registrations effected pursuant to this
Section 1.4 shall not be counted as demands for registration or registrations
effected pursuant to Sections 1.2.
1.5 Expenses of Registration. All Registration Expenses incurred
in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to
Section 1.2 or any registration under Section 1.3 shall be borne by the Company;
and all Selling Expenses shall be borne by the holders of the securities so
registered pro rata, on the basis of the number of shares so registered. The
Company and the holders shall mutually bear the cost of a registration under
Section 1.4 on a 50/50 basis with the Holders portion of such costs being borne
on a pro-rata basis based on the number of securities so registered.
1.6 Registration Procedures. In the case of each registration,
qualification or compliance effected by the Company pursuant to this Section 1,
the Company will keep each
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Holder advised in writing as to the initiation of each registration,
qualification and compliance and as to the completion thereof. At its expense
the Company will:
(a) Keep such registration, qualification or compliance
effective for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days or until the Holder or
Holders have completed the distribution described in the registration statement
relating thereto, whichever first occurs;
(b) Furnish such number of prospectuses and other
documents incident thereto as a Holder from time to time may reasonably request;
(c) Use its best efforts and qualify the securities
covered by such registration statement under such securities or Blue Sky laws of
such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, provided
that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of
process in such states or jurisdictions;
(d) In the event of any underwritten public offering,
enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement in usual
and customary form, with the underwriter or underwriters of such offering. Each
Holder participating in such underwriting shall also enter into and perform its
obligations under such an agreement; and
(e) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered
by such registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto
covered by 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
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits 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 then existing.
1.7 Indemnification,
(a) The Company will indemnify each Holder, each of its
officers and directors and partners, and such Holder's legal counsel and
independent accountants and each person controlling such Holder, with respect to
whose Registrable Securities registration, qualification or compliance has been
effected pursuant to this Section 1, and each underwriter, if any, and each
person who controls any underwriter against all claims, losses, damages and
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), including any of the foregoing
incurred in settlement of any litigation, commenced or threatened, arising out
of or based on (i) any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a
material fact contained in any prospectus, offering circular or other similar
document (including any amendment or supplement thereto and any related
registration statement notification or the like) incident to any such
registration, qualification or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged
omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, or (ii) any violation by the Company
of any federal, state or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company
and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with
any such registration, qualification or compliance, and will reimburse each such
Holder, each of its officers, directors and partners, and
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such holder's legal counsel and independent accountants and each person
controlling such Holder, each such underwriter and each person who controls any
such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage,
liability or action, provided that the Company will not be liable in any such
case to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage, liability or expense
arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or commission based upon
written information furnished to the Company by an instrument duly executed by
such Holder or underwriter and stated to be specifically for use therein.
(b) Each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by
such Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration,
qualification or compliance is being effected, indemnify the Company, each of
its directors and officers, each legal counsel and independent accountant of the
Company, each underwriter, if any, of the Company's securities covered by such a
registration statement, each person who controls the Company or such underwriter
within the meaning of the Securities Act, and each other such Holder, each of
its officers and directors and each person controlling such Holder, against all
claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising
out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a
material fact contained in any such registration statement, prospectus, offering
circular of other similar document (including 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 not
misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, and
will reimburse the Company, such Holders, such directors, officers, persons,
underwriters or control persons for any legal or any other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss,
damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent,
that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged
omission) is made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular
or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by an instrument duly executed by such Holder and
stated to be specifically for use therein; provided, however, that (i) the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 1.7(b) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage or liability if such
settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and (ii), in no event shall the
liability of any Holder under this Section 1.7(b) exceed the net proceeds from
the offering received by such Holder; and (iii) the indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph shall not apply in the case of a sale directly by
the Company of its securities (including a sale of such securities through any
lead institution or underwriter retained by the Company to engage in a
distribution solely on behalf of the Company) in which an untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue state or omission was contained in a preliminary
prospectus and corrected in a final or amended prospectus, and the Company or
such lead institution or underwriter failed to deliver a copy of the final or
amended prospectus at or prior to the sale of the Registrable Securities.
(c) Each party entitled to indemnification under this
Section 1.6 (the "Indemnified Party") shall give notice to the party required to
provide indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after such
Indemnified Party has received written notice of any claim as to which indemnity
may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of
any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided that counsel for
the
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Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or litigation,
shall be approved by the indemnified Party (whose approval shall not
unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party may participate in such
defense at such party's expense, provided, however that the indemnifying Party
shall bear the expense of such indemnified Party if the indemnified Party
reasonably determines that representation of both parties by the same counsel
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicts of interest. The
failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not
relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 1.7 unless
such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the Indemnifying
Party in the defense of any such claim or any such litigation. No Indemnifying
Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the
consent of each indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter
into any settlement 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.
1.8 Information by Holder. The Holder or Holders of Registrable
Securities included in any registration shall furnish to the Company such
information regarding such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by
such Holder or Holders as the Company may request in writing and as shall be
required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance
referred to in this Section 1.
1.9 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission which may at any
time permit the sale of the Restricted Securities to the public without
registration, after such time as a public market exists for the Common Stock of
the Company, the Company agrees to:
(a) Use its best efforts to facilitate the sale of the
Restricted Securities to the public, without registration under the Securities
Act pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act ("Rule 144"), provided that
nothing contained in this Section 1.8 shall require the Company to file reports
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at anytime prior to the Company's
being otherwise required to file such reports.
(b) Make and keep public information available, as those
terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act at all
times after the effective date of the first registration under the Securities
Act filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general
public;
(c) Use its best efforts to file with the Commission in
a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as amended (at any time after it has
become subject to such reporting requirements);
(d) So long as a Purchaser owns any Restricted
Securities, to furnish to the Purchaser forthwith upon request (i) a written
statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of
Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the
first registration statement filed by the Company for an offering of its
securities to the general public), and of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements),
(ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report
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of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents so filed by the
Company as a Purchaser may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or
regulation of the Commission allowing a Purchaser to sell any such securities
without registration.
1.10 "Market Stand-off" Agreement. Investors hereby agree, if
requested by the Company and the underwriter managing the offering of Common
Stock (or other securities) of the Company, not to sell or otherwise transfer or
dispose of any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by
Investors, without the prior consent of the Company or of such underwriter
during any period requested by the Company and such underwriter (not to exceed
one hundred eighty (180) days) following the effective date of a registration
statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act provided that:
(a) such agreement shall only apply to the first such
registration statement of the Company including shares (or securities) to be
sold on its behalf to the public in an underwritten offering;
(b) all officers and directors and 5% or greater
shareholders of the Company enter into similar agreements. The Company may
impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares (or securities)
subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of said period.
1.11 Transfer of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the
Company to register securities granted Investors under Sections 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4
may be assigned or otherwise conveyed by any Holder; provided, that the Company
is given written notice by such transferee at the time of or within a reasonable
time after said transfer, stating the name and address of said transferee and
said transferee's agreement to be bound by the provisions of Section 1 of this
agreement; provided, however, that the failure to so notify shall not affect the
validity or effectiveness of such transfer or assignment. Each Purchaser will
cause any proposed transferee of the Shares (or of the Common Stock into which
the Shares are convertible) held by a Purchaser to agree to take and hold such
securities subject to the provisions and upon the conditions specified in this
Section 1.
1.12 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required to effect the
registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously
as reasonably possible:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration
statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use all reasonable
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and keep such
registration statement effective for up to one hundred twenty (120) days or, if
earlier, until the Holder or Holders have completed the distribution related
thereto. The Company shall not be required to file, cause to become effective or
maintain the effectiveness of any registration statement that contemplates a
distribution of securities on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415
under the Securities Act.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the
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disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement for the
period set forth in paragraph (a) above.
(c) Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a
prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable
Securities owned by them.
(d) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities
covered by Such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky
laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders;
provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a
condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to
service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.
(e) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into
and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and
customary form, with the managing underwriter(s) of such offering. Each Holder
participating in such underwriting shall also enter into and perform its
obligations under such an agreement.
(f) Notify each Holder 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 of 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 a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
existing.
(g) Use its best efforts to furnish, on the date that such
Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale, if such
securities are being sold through underwriters, (i) an opinion, dated as of
such date, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such
registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in
an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and (ii)
a letter dated as of such date, from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by
independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten
public offering addressed to the underwriters.
(h) Immediately notify each Holder of Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement and confirm such advice in writing: (i)
when the registration statement has become effective and (ii) when any
post-effective amendment to the registration statement becomes effective.
(i) Cause all Registrable Securities registered pursuant hereto
on a Registration Statement for resale by a Holder to be listed on each
securities exchange or included for trading in such automated quotation system
on or in which the shares of Common Stock of the Company are then listed or
included.
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1.13 Delay of Registration.
(a) No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an
injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as the result
of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of this Section 1.
(b) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to register the shares of any Holder pursuant to Section 1.2, 1.3 or 1.4
that such selling Holders shall furnish to the Company such information
regarding themselves, the Registrable Securities hold by them and their intended
method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to effect the
registration of their Registrable Securities.
(c) The Company shall have no obligation with respect to any
registration requested pursuant to Section 1.2, if, due to the operation of
subsection 1.2(c), the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate offering
price of the Registrable Securities to be included in the registration does not
equal or exceed the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate offering price
required to originally trigger the Company's obligation to initiate such
registration as specified in Section 1.2.
1.14 Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and
after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior
written consent of a majority in interest of the Holders, enter into any
agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company
giving such holder or prospective holder any registration rights the terms of
which are more favorable than the registration rights granted to the Holders
hereunder.
1.15 Termination of Registration Rights. The rights granted to
any Holder under this Section 1 shall terminate five (5) years from the date of
the Company's initial registration statement including shares on its behalf to
be sold to the public is declared effective by the Commission and shall also
terminate earlier (but in no event prior to one year after the date of the
Company's initial public offering) as to any Holder who could sell all shares of
Common Stock in any 90 day period pursuant to Rule 144.
2. Covenants of the Company.
2.1 Delivery of Financial Statements. The Company shall deliver
to each Holder of, at least 10% of all Registrable Securities (including for the
purposes hereof the Series A Preferred Stock and Series C Common Stock into
which it may convert) (each, a "Major Investor"):
(a) as soon as practicable after the end of each
calendar year (assuming that the calendar year and the fiscal year are the same,
and if not, then delivery of financials will follow the fiscal year) of the
Company, an income statement for such calendar year, a balance sheet of the
Company and statement of shareholder's equity as of the end of such year, and a
statement of cash flows for such year, such year-end financial reports to be in
reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP"), and audited and certified by an independent public
accounting firm of nationally recognized standing selected by the Company -
provided, however, that unaudited financials will
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be provided within a minimum of 90 days after the end of the calendar year and
that the audited financials will be provided as soon as practicable after the
completion of the applicable audit;
(b) as soon as practicable, but in any event within
forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of
each fiscal year of the Company, an unaudited profit or loss statement for such
fiscal quarter and an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal
quarter;
(c) within forty-five (45) days of the end of each
month, an unaudited income statement and balance sheet for and as of the end of
such month, in reasonable detail;
(d) as soon as practicable, but in any event no later
than the beginning of each fiscal year, a budget and business plan for such
fiscal year, prepared on a monthly basis, including balance sheets and sources
and applications of funds statements for such months and, as soon as prepared,
any other budgets or revised budgets prepared by the Company; and
(e) provided, however, that with respect to the
financial information provided for in Section 2.1(a) to (d), that except as
may be required by law or as otherwise permitted or expressly contemplated
herein, no Holder or their respective affiliates, employees, agents and
representatives shall disclose to any third party any confidential information
or other proprietary knowledge concerning the business or affairs of the
Company which it may have acquired from the Company without the prior consent
of the Company; provided, that (i) any information that is otherwise publicly
available, without breach of this provision, or has been obtained from a third
party without a breach of such third party's duties, shall not be deemed
confidential information and (ii) that either party hereto shall be able to
disclose such information to its employees and agents and to such other third
parties as necessary as part of the operation of its business, including
disclosure to existing or potential investors, lenders, acquirors or
joint-venture candidates or as required by law or court order.
2.2 Inspection. The Company shall permit each Major Investor, at
such Major Investor's expense, to visit and inspect the Company's properties, to
examine its books of account and records and to discuss the Company's affairs,
finances and accounts with its officers, all at such reasonable times as may be
requested by such Major Investor; provided, however, that the Company shall not
be obligated pursuant to this Section 2.2 to provide access to any information
which it reasonably considers to be a trade secret or similar confidential
information.
2.3 Right to Maintain Interest.
(a) Mechanics. Each time the Company proposes to offer
any shares of, or securities convertible into or exercisable for any shares of,
any class of its capital stock ("Shares"), the Company shall notify each
Investor of such proposal and permit each Investor to participate in such
offering in order to maintain such Investor's percentage ownership interest in
the Company in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) The, Company shall deliver a notice
("Notice") to each Investor stating (A)
its bona fide intention to offer such
Shares; (B) the number of such Shares to
be offered; and
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(C) the price and terms, if any, upon
which it proposes to offer such Shares.
(ii) Within fifteen (15) days after delivery
of the Notice, each Investor may submit
to the Company an irrevocable commitment
to purchase or obtain, within
thirty-five (35) days after receipt of
the Notice, at the price and on the
terms specified in the Notice, up to
that portion of such Shares which equals
the proportion that the number of shares
of Common Stock, including Common Stock
then issuable upon conversion of any
Preferred Stock held by such Investor
bears to the total number of shares of
Common Stock and Preferred Stock then
outstanding (assuming the exercise or
conversion of all securities exercisable
for or convertible into Common Stock).
(iii) The Company may, during the 60-day
period following the expiration of the
35-day period provided in Section
2.3(a)(ii), offer the remaining
unsubscribed portion of the Shares to
any person or persons at a price not
less than, and upon terms no more
favorable to the offeree than those
specified in the Notice. If the Company
does not enter into an agreement for the
sale of the Shares within such period,
or if such agreement is not consummated
within sixty (60) days of the execution
thereof, the right provided hereunder
shall be deemed to be revived and such
Shares shall not be offered unless the
Investors are permitted to maintain
their percentage ownership interest in
the Company in such offering in
accordance with this Section 2.3.
(b) Exclusions. The right to maintain interest in this Section
2.3 shall not be applicable to the issuance of:
(i) securities issued pursuant to the
conversion or exercise of convertible or
exercisable securities, subject to
adjustments hereunder and under the
Company's charter documents;
(ii) securities in connection with the
acquisition by the Company of another
entity, as approved by the Board of
Directors, whether by merger,
consolidation, sale of assets, sale or
exchange of stock or otherwise, subject
to the provisions of the Company's
charter documents;
(iii) securities to financial institutions or
lessors in connection with commercial
credit arrangements, equipment
financings or similar transactions
approved by the Board of Directors; or
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(iv) securities to any person or entity in
which such issuance is approved by the
Board of Directors in connection with a
strategic business relationship between
the Company and such person or entity
also involving material marketing,
distribution, product development or
technology licensing rights, as
determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company and securities
offered to the Company by the holders of
Registrable Securities and any
transferees of holder of Registrable
Securities as part of any Right of First
Refusal subsequently agreed to between
the holders of Registrable Securities as
applied to shares of Registrable
Securities and any other securities of
the Company which a holder of
Registrable Securities may obtain from
the Company.
(c) Assignment of Right. Each Investor shall be
permitted to assign the right to maintain interest in this Section 2.3 to
constituent partners or members of such investor or any entity controlling,
controlled by or under common control with such Investor.
2.4 Co-Sale Rights.
(a) Sales by a Founder.
(i) If any Founder proposes to sell or
transfer any Founder Shares in one or
more related transactions which will
result in the transfer of 50,000 or more
shares of Founder Shares by such
Founder, then such Founder shall
promptly give written notice (the
"Notice") to the Company and to each of
the Major Investors at least 30 days
prior to the closing of such sale or
transfer. The Notice shall describe in
reasonable detail the proposed sale or
transfer including, without limitation,
the number of Founder Shares to be sold
or transferred, the nature of such sale
or transfer, the consideration to be
paid, and the name and address of each
prospective purchaser or transferee. In
the event that the sale or transfer is
being made pursuant to the provisions of
subsection (b) hereof, the Notice shall
state under which section and subsection
the sale or transfer is being made.
(ii) Each Major Investor shall have the
right, exercisable upon written notice
to such Founder within twenty (20) days
after receipt of the Notice, to
participate in such sale on the same
terms and conditions specified in the
Notice. To the extent that one or more
of the Major Investors exercise such
right of participation in accordance
with the terms and conditions set forth
below, the number of Founder Shares
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that the Founder may sell in the
transaction shall be correspondingly
reduced.
(iii) Each Major Investor may sell all or any
part of that number of shares of Common
Stock equal to the product obtained by
multiplying (A) the aggregate number of
Founder Shares covered by the Notice by
(B) a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of shares of Common Stock
owned by the Major Investor at the time
of the sale or transfer and the
denominator of which is the total number
of shares of Common Stock owned by the
Founder and the Major Investors at the
time of the sale or transfer (each such
Major Investor who elects to sell shares
in such a transaction is defined as a
"Participant" for purposes of such
sale).
(iv) If any Major Investor fails to elect to
fully participate in such Founder's sale
pursuant to this subsection (b), then
the other Major Investors may elect to
purchase such shares on a pro-rata basis
within 10 days of such notice not to
participate, and thereafter such Founder
may sell an additional number of Founder
Shares that is equal to the pro-rata
share of any such Major Investor who so
elects not to become a Participant and
with respect to which there is room for
additional sales of stock by such
Founder.
(v) Each Participant shall effect its
participation in the sale by promptly
delivering to the Founder for transfer
to the prospective purchaser one or more
certificates, properly endorsed for
transfer, which represent:
(A) the number of shares of Common
Stock which such Participant elects
to sell; or
(B) that number of shares of Preferred
Stock which is at such time
convertible into the number of
shares of Common Stock which such
Participant elects to sell;
provided, however, that if the
prospective purchaser objects to
the delivery of Preferred Stock in
lieu of Common Stock, such
Participant shall convert such
Preferred Stock into Common Stock
and deliver Common Stork as
provided in subparagraph 2(e)(i)
above. The Company agrees to make
any such conversion concurrent with
the actual transfer of such shares,
to the purchaser.
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(vi) The stock certificate or certificates
that the Participant delivers to the
Founder pursuant to paragraph 2(e) shall
be transferred to the prospective
purchaser in consummation of the sale of
the Common Stock pursuant to the terms
and conditions specified in the Notice,
and the Founder shall concurrently
therewith remit to such Participant that
portion of the sale proceeds to which
such Participant is entitled by reason
of such participant's participation in
such sale. To the extent that any
prospective purchaser, or purchasers,
prohibits such assignment or otherwise
refuses to purchase shares or other
securities a Participant exercising
rights of co-sale hereunder, the Founder
shall not sell to such prospective
purchaser or purchasers any Founder
Shares unless and until, simultaneously
with such sale, the Founder shall
purchase such shares or other securities
from such Participant.
(vii) The exercise or non-exercise of the
rights of the Participants hereunder to
participate in one or more sales of
Founder Shares made by a Founder shall
not adversely affect their rights to
participate in subsequent sales of
Founder Shares subject to paragraph
2(a).
(viii) If none of the Major Investors elects to
participate in the sale of the Founder
Shares subject to the Notice, the
Founder may, not later than sixty (60)
days following delivery to the Company
and each of the Major Investors of the
Notice, enter into an agreement
providing for the closing of the
transfer of the Founder Shares covered
by the Notice within thirty (30) days of
such agreement on terms and conditions
not more favorable to the transferor
than those described in the Notice. Any
proposed transfer on terms and
conditions more favorable than those
described in the Notice, as well as any
subsequent proposed transfer of any of
the Founder Shares by the Founder, shall
again be subject to the co-sale rights
of the Major Investors and shall require
compliance by the Founder with the
procedures described in this subsection
(b).
(b) Exempt Transfers.
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
provisions of subsections (a)(ii)
through (a)(viii) shall not apply to (A)
any pledge of Founder Shares made
pursuant to a bona fide loan transaction
that creates a mere security interest;
(B) any transfer to the ancestors,
descendants or spouse of a Founder or to
trusts for the benefit of such persons
or a
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Founder; or (C) any bona fide gift;
provided that (I) the transferring
Founder shall inform the Major Investors
of such pledge, transfer or gift prior
to effecting it and (II) the pledgee,
transferee or donee shall furnish the
Major Investors with a written agreement
to be bound by and comply with all
provisions of subsection (a) above, as
well as the terms of any stock purchase
or other agreement pursuant to which
such Founder Shares were issued. Such
transferred Founder Shares shall remain
"Founder Shares" hereunder, and such
pledgee, transferee or donee shall be
treated as a "Founder" for purposes of
this Agreement.
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
provisions of subsection (a) above shall
not apply to the sale of any Founder
Shares (i) to the public pursuant to a
registration statement filed with, and
declared effective by, the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"); (ii) to the Company,
or (iii) if prior to such sale, the
Founder held less than 5% of the
Company's outstanding shares or the
Founders collectively held less than 10%
of the Company's outstanding shares.
(c) Prohibited Transfers.
(i) In the event a Founder should sell any
Founder Shares in contravention of the
co-sale rights of the Major Investors
under this Agreement (a "Prohibited
Transfer"), each Major Investor, in
addition to such other remedies as may
be available at law, in equity or
hereunder, shall have the put option
provided below, and the Founder shall
be bound by the applicable provisions of
such option.
(ii) In the event of a Prohibited Transfer by
a Founder, each Major Investor shall
have the right to sell to such Founder
the number of shares of Common Stock
equal to the number of shares each Major
Investor would have been entitled to
transfer to the purchaser under
subsection (a)(iii) had the Prohibited
Transfer hereof been effected pursuant
to and in compliance with the terms
hereof. Such sale shall be made on the
following terms and conditions:
(A) The price per share at which the
shares are to be sold to the
Founder shall be equal to the price
per share paid by the purchaser to
the Founder in the Prohibited
Transfer. 'The Founder shall also
reimburse each Major Investor for
any and all fees and expenses,
including legal fees and expenses,
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incurred pursuant to the exercise
or the attempted exercise of the
Major Investor's rights under
subsection (b).
(B) Within 90 days after the later of
the dates on which the Major
Investor (I) received notice of the
Prohibited Transfer or (II)
otherwise became aware of the
Prohibited Transfer, each Major
Investor shall, if exercising the
option created hereby, deliver to
the Founder the certificate or
certificates representing shares to
be sold, each certificate to be
properly endorsed for transfer.
(C) The Founder shall, upon receipt of
the certificate or certificates for
the shares to be sold by a Major
Investor, pursuant to this
subparagraph (c)(ii), pay the
aggregate purchase price therefor
and the amount of reimbursable fees
and expenses, as specified in
subparagraph (c)(2)(A), in cash or
by other means acceptable to the
Major Investor
(D) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
attempt by a Founder to transfer
Founder Shares in violation of
subsection (b) hereof shall be void
and the Company agrees it will not
effect such a transfer nor will it
treat any alleged transferee as the
holder of such shares without the
written consent of a majority in
interest of the Major Investors.
(d) Legend.
(i) Each certificate representing shares of
Stock now or hereafter owned by the
Founders or issued to any person in
connection with a transfer pursuant to
subsection (a)(i) hereof shall be
endorsed with the following legend:
"THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR TRANSFER OF THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN CO-SALE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE SHAREHOLDER, THE
CORPORATION AND CERTAIN HOLDERS OF PREFERRED STOCK OF THE CORPORATION. COPIES OF
SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
CORPORATION."
(ii) Each Founder agrees that the Company may
instruct its transfer agent to impose
transfer restrictions on the shares
represented by certificates bearing the
legend referred to in subsection (d)(i)
above to enforce the provisions of this
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Agreement and the Company agrees
promptly to do so. The legend shall be
removed upon termination of this
Agreement.
(e) Right of First Offer
(i) In the event that a Notice is delivered
to each Major Investor pursuant to
subsection (a)(i) above, each such Major
Investor, in lieu of the exercise of the
rights set forth in subsection (a)(ii)
above, shall have the right within
twenty (20) days following receipt of
the Notice, to purchase any or all of
the Founder Shares specified in the
Notice (including any shares being sold
by Participants pursuant to this
paragraph 2) upon substantially the same
terms and conditions specified therein.
Each such Major Investor so electing to
purchase such Founder Shares is referred
to herein as a "Purchasing Investor."
Such right shall be exercisable by
written notice (the "Purchase Notice")
delivered by the Purchasing Investor(s)
to the Company, the Founders and the
Participants prior to the expiration of
the twenty (20) day exercise period. If
such right is exercised with respect to
all or any of the Founder Shares
specified in the Notice, then the
Purchasing Investor(s) shall effect the
purchase of the Founder Shares,
including payment of the purchase price,
not more than ten (10) business days
after delivery of the Purchase Notice;
and at such time the Founder and/or
Participant shall deliver to the
Purchasing Investor the certificates
representing the Founder Shares to be
purchased, properly endorsed for
transfer.
(ii) In the event that no Major Investor
exercises the rights provided in this
subsection (e), the Founder Shares shall
be sold pursuant to the provisions of
subsection (a)(viii) above. In the event
that the Purchasing Investor(s) make a
timely exercise of the rights contained
in this subsection (e) with respect to a
portion, but not all of the Founder
Shares subject to the Notice, then the
remainder of the Founder Shares subject
to such Notice shall be sold pursuant to
the provisions of subsection (a)(viii)
above.
2.6 Termination of Covenants. The covenants set forth in
Sections 2.1 through Section 2.4 shall terminate as to each Major Investor and
be of no further force or effect upon the earliest of (a) the effective date of
the Company's first registration statement filed under the Securities Act for
the sale of its securities to the public; (b) the closing of the sale,
conveyance, or other disposition or encumbrance all or substantially all of the
Company's assets or business or the merger into or consolidation with any other
entity (other than a wholly-owned
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subsidiary corporation) or any other transaction or series of related
transactions in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the
Company is disposed of (other than a merger effected exclusively for the purpose
of changing the domicile of the Company); and (c) when the Company first becomes
subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act.
2.7 Aggregation of Stock. For purposes of the share threshold
used in determining which Investors are "Major Investors" under this Agreement,
all shares of Registrable Securities held or acquired by affiliated entities or
persons shall be aggregated together.
3. Right of First Offer of Company.
(a) If MacManus proposes to sell or transfer any shares of the
Series A Preferred Stock or any other stock of Novo which MacManus shall acquire
in respect of the Series A Preferred Stock in any subsequent or simultaneous
transaction or any shares of Series C Common Stock issued to MacManus or an
affiliate of MacManus in connection with any share transfer or exchange between
MacManus or its controlled affiliates and Novo (collectively, for purposes of
this Section 3, the "Transfer Shares") to any purchaser other than Novo or as
otherwise set forth below, then MacManus shall promptly give written notice (the
"Offer Notice") to Novo offering to sell to Novo such Transfer Shares at a price
and on such other terms as shall be specified in such Offer Notice.
(b) Upon receipt of an Offer Notice, Novo, or any assignee of
Novo, shall have the right within thirty (30) business days following receipt of
the Transfer Notice, to purchase all (but not less than all) of the Transfer
Shares specified in the Offer Notice (which right shall be exercised at the
discretion of the Board of Directors of Novo or any Committee thereof to which
such power shall be delegated by such Board) upon substantially the same terms
and conditions specified therein. Such right shall be exercisable by written
notice (the "Purchase Notice") delivered by Novo or its assignee to MacManus
prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) business day exercise period. If such
right is exercised with respect to all of the Transfer Shares specified in the
Offer Notice, then Novo shall effect the purchase of such Transfer Shares,
including payment of the purchase price, not more than ten (10) business days
after delivery of the Purchase Notice; and at such time MacManus shall deliver
to Novo or its designate the certificates representing such Transfer Shares to
be purchased, properly endorsed for transfer.
(c) In the event that Novo, or its assignee, elects not to
exercise the rights provided in this Section 3, the Transfer Shares specified in
the Offer Notice may be sold by MacManus to any third party (subject to
paragraph (g) below and the provisions of Article 3 above); provided the terms
of such sale are not materially more favorable to the third party purchaser than
the terms set forth in the Offer Notice; and further provided that such sale
takes place within one hundred twenty (120) days after the Offer Notice was
first delivered to Novo. MacManus shall be required to satisfy again with the
procedures contained in this Section 3 in the event any such proposed sale to
the third party shall not comply with the provisos contained in the immediately
preceding sentence.
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(d) The covenants set forth in this Section 3 shall terminate
and be of no further force or effect upon the earliest of (i) the effective date
of Novo's first registration statement filed under the Securities Act for the
sale of its securities to the public; and (ii) when Novo first becomes subject
to the periodic reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act or (iii) when MacManus ceases to own Series A Preferred Stock and/or Series
C Common Stock representing at least 20% of the total outstanding voting stock
of Novo.
(e) In the event of any subsequent receipt of shares of Novo by
MacManus in respect of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock acquired
hereunder, whether by stock dividend, reclassification, share exchange or any
other form of transaction, MacMamus agrees that such shares shall be
automatically subject to the terms of this Right of First Offer set forth above.
(f) The Right of First Offer contained in this Section 3 shall
not apply to any transfer of Transfer Shares by MacManus to any MacManus
Affiliate, including for these purposes any transfer directly to or to any
company controlled by the shareholders of MacManus or in correction with any
transaction where MacManus is selling all or a substantial portion of its
business.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above, in the event
the Transfer Shares that MacManus intends to transfer to a third party represent
30% or more of the then outstanding voting capital stock of Novo, Novo shall
have the right, to the extent it has reasonable, good faith objections to the
identity of the proposed purchaser (such as if such purchaser is a direct
competitor of Novo or has an unfavorable reputation in the Internet industry) to
require that MacManus not sell shares constituting 30% or more of such voting
stock to such proposed purchaser. Any such objection by Novo must be made in
writing to MacManus within 10 business days of the date Novo is first informed
by MacManus of the identity of such proposed purchaser.
(h) So long as the securities subject to this Agreement are
subject to the Right of First Offer set forth in this Agreement, such shares
subject to the Right of First Offer shall have the following legend:
"THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD,
TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED OR IN ANY MANNER DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH
THE TERMS OF A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE INITIAL HOLDER
HEREOF. SUCH AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR CERTAIN TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING
RIGHTS OF FIRST OFFER UPON AN ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES. THE SECRETARY OF
THE COMPANY WILL UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FURNISH A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT TO THE
HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE."
4. Miscellaneous.
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4.1 Additional Parties. In the event of (a) an additional
closing or closings of the purchase of shares of Series A Preferred Stock; or
(b) the issuance of any additional warrants to purchase shares of Series A
Preferred Stock to financial institutions or lessors in connection with
commercial credit arrangements, equipment financings or similar transactions,
the terms of which approved are by the Board of Directors, then upon execution
of a signature page counterpart hereto by any purchaser, financial institution
or lessor and without need for an amendment hereto except to add such entity's
name to Exhibit A hereto, any such entity shall become a party to this
Agreement, shall be deemed an "Investor" for purposes of this Agreement, and
shall have the identical rights and obligations hereunder as the other
Investors, in each case as of the date of execution of such counterpart
signature page.
4.2 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein,
the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties
(including transferees of any of the Registrable Securities). Nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than
the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights,
remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement,
except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
4.3 Governing Law. This Agreement and all acts and transactions
pursuant hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with
the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to principles of
conflicts of laws.
4.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
4.5 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this
Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.
4.6 Notices. Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or
permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient
upon delivery, when delivered personally or by overnight courier or sent by
telegram or fax, or forty-eight (48) hours after being deposited in the U.S.
mail, as certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, and addressed to
the party to be notified at such party's address or fax number as set forth on
the signature pages hereto or on Exhibit A hereto or as subsequently modified by
written notice, and if to the Company, with a copy to (i) Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx,
Esq., c/o Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000 and (ii) Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq., c/o Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, 0000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
4.7 Prevailing Party. If any action at law or in equity is
necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing
party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and necessary
disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be
entitled.
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4.8 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be
amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either
generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, not including the
Founders' Stock; provided that if such amendment has the effect of affecting the
Founders' Stock (a) in a manner different than securities issued to the
Investors and (b) in a manner adverse to the interests of the holders of the
Founders' Stock, then such amendment shall require the consent of the holder or
holders of a majority of the Founders' Stock. Any amendment or waiver effected
in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each holder of any
Registrable Securities then outstanding, each future holder of all such
Registrable Securities, and the Company.
4.9 Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement
are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to
renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot
reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then
(a) such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (b) the balance of the
Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (c) the
balance of the Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.
4.10 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any
right, power or remedy accruing to any party to this Agreement upon any breach
or default of any other party under this Agreement shall impair any such right,
power or remedy of such party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any
such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar
breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single
breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore
or thereafter occurring.
4.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof,
and any and all other written or oral agreements existing between the parties
hereto are expressly canceled.
[Signature Page Follows]
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The parties have executed this Investors' Rights Agreement as of the
date first above written.
COMPANY: INVESTORS:
NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC. THE MACMANUS GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXX By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
----------------------------- -------------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, C.E.O. Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: VP/SECRETARY
----------------------------------
Address:
Address:
Facsimile:
Facsimile:
FOUNDERS:
/s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXX /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
-------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Address: 000 Xxxxxx 0xx Xxxxx Address: 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX. 00000 Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX. 00000
Facsimile: Facsimile:
X.X. XXXX COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (to be
bound by the Right of First Offer in
Section 3 hereof as relates to the
Series C Common Stock and any
distributions thereon)
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: VP/SECRETARY
----------------------------------
Address:
Facsimile:
