REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.2
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of [●], 2021 by and among IHS Holding Limited, a private company currently incorporated in accordance with the laws of Mauritius (including any successors, the “Company”), and each of the Holders (as defined below) identified on Schedule A attached hereto (the “Schedule of Investors”) as of the date hereof.
“Acquired Ordinary Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.
“Additional Investor” has the meaning set forth in Section 10, and shall be deemed to include each such Person’s Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.
“Affiliate” has the meaning given to it in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Business Day” means any day of the year on which national banking institutions in New York, New York are open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.
“Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all Ordinary Shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether ordinary or preferred), (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of the issuing Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any security described in clause (i) or (ii) above.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Demand Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“End of Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
“Foreign Private Issuer” means a “foreign private issuer” within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
“Form F-1” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for use by a Foreign Private Issuer or, if the Company is no longer a Foreign Private Issuer, a Form S-1 under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for use by domestic issuers.
“Form F-3” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for use by a Foreign Private Issuer that permits incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission or, if the Company is no longer a Foreign Private Issuer, a Form S-3 under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for use by domestic issuers that permits incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Free Writing Prospectus” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
“Holder” means any Person who is the registered holder of Registrable Securities.
“Holder Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).
“IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Joinder” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.
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“Lock-up Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Long-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“MNPI” means material non-public information within the meaning of Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act, which shall, other than for the purposes of Section 2(e), include the receipt of the notice of a Demand Registration or Shelf Offering Notice pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(c) and the information contained in such notice.
“MTN” means Mobile Telephone Networks (Netherlands) B.V.
“MTN Shareholder Arrangements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d).
“MTN Shares” means either the Class B ordinary shares of the Company held by MTN or the ordinary shares redesignated from such Class B ordinary shares of the Company held by MTN immediately prior the IPO, as the context may require.
“Opt-Out Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(d).
“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).
“Pricing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Public Offering” means any sale or distribution to the public of Capital Stock of the Company pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, whether by the Company, by Holders and/or by any other holders of the Company’s Capital Stock.
“Registrable Securities” means Ordinary Shares owned at any time after the consummation of the IPO, as well as any Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon conversion and/or exercise or exchange of any other securities of the Company held by the Holders at any time after the consummation of the IPO. As to any particular Registrable Securities owned by any Person, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (a) on the date such securities have been sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) on the date such securities have been sold in compliance with Rule 144 following the consummation of the IPO, (c) on the date such securities have been repurchased by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, (d) at any time after 24 months following the Pricing Date, if such securities at that time (i) may be disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 in a single transaction without any volume or manner of sale limitations and (ii) are not subject to restrictions on transfer provided for thereunder or under any agreement with the Company (including any requirement that such Ordinary Shares be sold only in a registered offering), or (e) on the date such securities cease to be outstanding. Following the time that is 24 months following the IPO, if a Holder, together with its affiliates, still owns at least 2% of the Company’s then outstanding Ordinary Shares but is no longer an Affiliate, then, notwithstanding the foregoing, if requested by such Holder on the grounds that it would facilitate or optimize its sale of such shares, the Company will use good faith efforts to assist such Holder to sell such shares pursuant to a registered offering (as described below). For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a Holder, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a Holder hereunder; provided a Holder may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Capital Stock of the Company that is registered or to be registered as a class under Section 12 of the Exchange Act be registered pursuant to this Agreement.
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“Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).
“Representatives” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).
“Rule 144,” “Rule 405” and “Rule 415” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.
“Schedule of Investors” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Shareholders’ Agreement” means the Shareholders’ Agreement, dated [●], by and among the Company and each of the shareholders identified on Schedule 1 thereto.
“Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).
“Shelf Offering Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).
“Shelf Offering Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).
“Shelf Registrable Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).
“Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Shelf Registration Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).
“Shelf Registration Participation Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).
“Shelf Registration Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).
“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).
“Short-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, either (x) a majority of the Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of managers, general partners or other oversight board vested with the authority to direct management of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or (y) the Company or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole manager or general partner of such Person.
“Suspension Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).
“Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).
“Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(i).
“Underwritten Takedown” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).
“Violation” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).
“Xxxxxx” means Xxxxxx XX.
“WKSI” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.
Section 2. Demand Registrations.
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(i) As promptly as practicable after the Company receives written notice of a request for a Shelf Registration from a Holder (a “Shelf Registration Request”) and the expiration of the Shelf Registration Participation Deadline (as defined below), the Company shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration (a “Shelf Registration Statement”) (and, in no event longer than 30 days after the date of delivery of a Shelf Registration Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing two-thirds of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request). As promptly as practicable, but no later than five Business Days after the date of delivery of a Shelf Registration Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “Shelf Registration Notice”) of such Shelf Registration Request to all other Holders. The Company, subject to Sections 2(d) and 9 hereof and the MTN Shareholder Arrangements (as defined below), shall include in such Shelf Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities of each Holder with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein within five Business Days after the Shelf Registration Notice was delivered (such deadline, the “Shelf Registration Participation Deadline”); provided however, if on the date of a Shelf Registration Request the Company is a WKSI, then such Shelf Registration Request may request registration of an unspecified amount of Registrable Securities. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after the initial filing of such Shelf Registration Statement and, once effective, the Company shall cause such Shelf Registration Statement to remain continuously effective for such time period as is specified in the request by the Holders, but for no time period longer than the period ending on the earliest of (A) the third anniversary of the initial effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement or such longer period as such Shelf Registration Statement shall be effective, in which case the Company shall cause a new Shelf Registration Statement to become effective prior to such anniversary or other date, (B) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and (C) the date as of which there are no longer any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in existence.
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(ii) In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, (A) Holders representing individually or in the aggregate 5% of all the Registrable Securities outstanding or (B) any Holder of Registrable Securities, to the extent such request is made at least twenty-four (24) months following the Pricing Date, shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to offer and sell (including pursuant to an underwritten offering (an “Underwritten Takedown”)) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (“Shelf Registrable Securities”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains effective. The applicable Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Company a written request (a “Shelf Offering Request”) for such offering specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that such Holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “Shelf Offering”). As promptly as practicable, but no later than five Business Days after the date of delivery of a Shelf Offering Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “Shelf Offering Notice”) of such Shelf Offering Request to all other holders of Shelf Registrable Securities. The Company, subject to Sections 2(d) and 9 hereof, the MTN Shareholder Arrangements (as defined below) and any Lock-up Agreement, shall include in such Shelf Offering (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder that shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be sold by such Holder) within five Business Days after the date of delivery of the Shelf Offering Notice. The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within 15 Business Days after the date of delivery of a Shelf Offering Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing two-thirds of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request), file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a prospectus or prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424, as necessary, and shall take all other necessary steps and enter into such agreements as are necessary to facilitate such Shelf Offering.
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(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Holder wishes to engage in an underwritten block trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or through a take-down from an existing Shelf Registration Statement or existing Automatic Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such Holder only needs to notify the Company of the block trade Shelf Offering five Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing two-thirds of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Company shall promptly (and in any event within three Business Days after receiving written notice of a request for such an underwritten block trade by a Holder, unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing two-thirds of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) notify other Holders and such other Holders must elect whether or not to participate by the next Business Day (unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing two-thirds of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such offering; provided that Holders of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade shall use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with the Company and the managing underwriters (if any) prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the underwritten block trade, including the notification to and participation of other Holders as set out herein.
(iv) The Company shall, at the reasonable request of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, as soon as practicable file any prospectus supplement or any post-effective amendments, or incorporate by reference any required information, and otherwise take any action to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by such Holders to effect such Shelf Offering.
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(e) Restrictions on Demand Registration and Shelf Offerings.
(i) The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than three Long-Form Registrations for all Holders in the aggregate in any twelve-month period and the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than two Demand Registrations for all Holders in the aggregate in the first full twelve calendar months following the Pricing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration within 90 days after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration, and the Company shall not be obligated to effect any Shelf Offering within 45 days after the effective date of a previous Shelf Offering. The Company may defer taking action with respect to a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering Request for up to 90 days from the date of such request (such period, the “Suspension Period”) by furnishing to Holders a certificate signed by the Company’s chief executive officer or chief financial officer stating that in the good faith judgment of the Company’s board of directors it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its stockholders to effectuate such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering Request because: (A) the registration, offer or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Company or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Company or any Subsidiary, or (B) (x) upon advice of outside counsel, the registration, offer or sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of MNPI not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, (y) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such material information and (z) disclosure of such MNPI could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or, if the MNPI relates to a material transaction, the Company’s ability to consummate such material transaction (provided, however, that the Company shall not be permitted to defer taking action under this Section 2(e)(i) solely on the basis of MNPI relating to a potential primary share offering); provided that in such event, the Holders shall be entitled to withdraw such request for a Demand Registration or Shelf Offering. The Company may defer taking action with respect to, delay or suspend a Demand Registration or Shelf Offering under this Section 2(e)(i) not more than twice in any twelve-month period, with a maximum aggregate length of all deferrals and delays not to exceed 90 days in any twelve-month period, except with the consent of all applicable Holders, and the Company shall not register any securities for its own account or that of any other shareholder during the Suspension Period, other than pursuant to a registration relating to the sale or grant of securities to employees of the Company or a subsidiary pursuant to a share option, share purchase, equity incentive or similar plan pursuant to a Form S-8 or a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable Securities.
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(ii) In the case of an event that causes the Company to defer taking action with respect to a Shelf Offering Request as set forth in Section 2(e)(i) or pursuant to applicable subsections of Section 5(a)(vii) (a “Suspension Event”), the Company shall give a notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “Suspension Notice”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing. If the basis of such suspension is nondisclosure of MNPI, the Company shall not be required to disclose the subject matter of such MNPI to Holders. A Holder shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below). Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following written notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the Holders as soon as practicable following the conclusion of any Suspension Event and in any event by the earlier of (i) five Business Days after conclusion of any Suspension Event and (ii) the latest date on which the Suspension Period may end pursuant to Section 2(e)(i).
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Section 3. Piggyback Registrations.
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Section 4. Holdback Agreements and Clear Market.
Section 5. Registration Procedures.
(a) Subject to the requirements set forth in Section 5(b) and Section 9, whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or made a Shelf Offering Request, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
(i) in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and remain effective for such period of time as is necessary to enable the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement;
(ii) in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements, and any prospectuses or prospectus supplements used in connection with such registration statements, as may be necessary to comply with the Securities Act in order to enable the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;
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(iii) notify each Holder of (A) the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Company or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (C) the filing and subsequent effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder, and (D) the filing and subsequent effectiveness of any supplement to, or amendment of, any prospectus forming part of each registration statement filed hereunder;
(iv) subject to the requirements set forth in Section 5(b) and Section 9, and subject always to the provisions of Section 2, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period as may be required in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(c)(i), and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act, as applicable to the Company, with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;
(v) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;
(vi) use reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any selling Holder reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such selling Holder to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such selling Holder (provided that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction in which it was not otherwise subject to taxation or (C) produce a prospectus or other disclosure or similar document in such jurisdiction, except as may be required by the Securities Act);
(vii) notify each selling Holder (A) as soon as practicable after receipt thereof, of any written comments by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission or other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such registration statement or such prospectus, or for additional information (whether before or after the effective date of the registration statement) or any other correspondence with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to, or which may affect, the registration and make every reasonable effort to respond to, and as applicable, resolve, such comments and (B) 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 contains, to the Company’s knowledge, an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in any material respect, and, subject to Section 2(e), at the reasonable request of any such seller, the Company shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in any material respect;
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(viii) use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on such securities exchange on which the other Ordinary Shares issued by the Company are then listed;
(ix) provide a transfer agent, registrar and CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;
(x) enter into and perform its obligations under such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form), which may include indemnification provisions in favor of underwriters, and make such representations and warranties to the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in public offerings similar to the offering then being undertaken;
(xi) make available for inspection by any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney retained by any such underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Company as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s employees and independent accountants to make themselves available (upon adequate notice and as reasonably required) to discuss the business of the Company and to supply all information reasonably requested by any such underwriter or its attorney in connection with such registration statement, in each case, to the extent in accordance with customary practice for such dispositions or transactions;
(xii) use reasonable best efforts to ensure that any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, and is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby;
(xiii) in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Ordinary Shares included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction, use reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;
(xiv) cooperate with any selling Holder and underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their counsel as may be reasonably requested in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;
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(xv) use reasonable best efforts to make available officers of the Company to participate with any underwriters in any “road shows” or other customary selling efforts that may be agreed in advance between the Holders and the Company in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;
(xvi) in the case of any underwritten Public Offering pursuant to the rights contained in this Agreement and to the extent reasonably requested by the managing underwriters, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain one or more comfort letters from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters;
(xvii) subject to the requirements set forth in Section 5(b) and Section 9, in the case of any underwritten Public Offering pursuant to the rights contained in this Agreement and to the extent reasonably requested by the managing underwriters, use its reasonable best efforts to provide a legal opinion and negative assurance statement of the Company’s outside counsel (which may be addressed to the underwriters), dated the closing date of the Public Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions and negative assurance statements of such nature, which opinion and negative assurance statement shall be addressed to the underwriters;
(xviii) if the Company files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(c)(i);
(xix) take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act;
(xx) if required by the Company’s transfer agent in connection with a proposed sale of shares by a Holder, the Company will use reasonable efforts to cause opinions of Company counsel to be delivered to the transfer agent, together with any authorization or direction letter from the Company, as required by the transfer agent to transfer shares without any restrictive legend;
(xxi) use all reasonable efforts to facilitate the settlement of the shares to be sold pursuant to this Agreement, including through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company; and
(xxii) take all other customary steps reasonably necessary to effect the registration, offering, sale and listing of the Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.
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(b) The Company may require each Holder requesting, or electing to participate in, any registration to furnish the Company such information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing. Each of the Holders severally represents, warrants and agrees that such Holder: (i) will at all times co-operate with the Company in order to carry out this Agreement; (ii) will promptly do all things required of such Holder, and provide the Company or underwriters, as applicable, with all deliverables required from such Holder, in connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration; and (iii) will comply with all requirements of any underwriting agreement applicable to such Holder, including but not limited to, entering into, providing and/or procuring the delivery of certificates, letters, questionnaires, powers of attorney, custody agreements, indemnities, opinions and other reasonably requested documents, in each case as customarily provided in, and in customary form for, offerings similar to the offering then being undertaken. Any obligations of the Company to comply with timing requirements in or pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the distribution of Registrable Securities shall be subject to each such Holder’s performance under this clause (b) and Section 9.
Section 6. Periodic Reporting.
(a) With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form F-3, the Company shall:
(i) use commercially reasonable efforts to (1) file in a timely fashion the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements) and (2) make publicly available adequate current public information and any other information so long as necessary to permit sales in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act (as such rules may be amended from time to time), at all times after the effective date of the Registration Statement filed by the Company for the IPO; and
(ii) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (1) to the extent accurate, a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form F-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies); and (2) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits the selling of any such securities without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act) or pursuant to Form F-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies to use such form), including, in the event that the Company is neither subject to section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act nor exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange Act, the information set forth under Section 4(d)(3) of the Securities Act.
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Section 7. Registration Expenses.
(a) All expenses incurred in connection with the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, as well as any expenses related to: (i) all registration, qualification and filing fees (including filings with FINRA and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters incurred in connection with FINRA qualification of the Registrable Securities subject to any applicable limits or caps agreed), (ii) reasonable and documented fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters incurred in connection with blue sky qualification of the Registrable Securities, subject to any applicable limits or caps agreed), (iii) printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depositary Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is required in connection with the offering), (iv) fees and disbursements of custodians, (v) all expenses related to the “road show” for any underwritten Public Offering pursuant to the rights contained in this Agreement, (vi) fees and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar of the Company’s Ordinary Shares, (vii) reasonable fees and expenses of one special counsel to represent all the participating Holders (as selected by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration) and, to the extent such counsel cannot provide legal opinions in any jurisdiction required by the underwriters, of counsel to any Holder of Registrable Securities providing legal opinions required by the underwriters and (viii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants, and other Persons retained by the Company (all such expenses being herein called “Registration Expenses”) shall be borne by the Company. Each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder shall bear and pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the securities sold for such Person’s account.
Section 8. Indemnification and Contribution.
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Section 9. Underwritten Registrations.
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(a) Each Holder acknowledges that (i) the provisions of this Agreement that require communications by the Company or other Holders to such Holder may result in such Holder and its Representatives (as defined below) acquiring MNPI (which may include, solely by way of illustration, the fact that an offering of the Company’s securities is pending, the number of Company securities being offered or the identity of the selling Holders), and (ii) there is no limitation on the duration of time that such Holder and its Representatives may be in possession of MNPI and no requirement that the Company or other Holders make any public disclosure to cause such information to cease to be MNPI; provided that the Company will use reasonable best efforts to notify each Holder as soon as reasonably practicable if any proposed registration or offering for which a notice has been delivered pursuant to this Agreement has been terminated or aborted.
(b) Each Holder agrees that it will maintain the confidentiality of such MNPI and, to the extent such Holder is not a natural person, such confidential treatment shall be in accordance with procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Holder (“Policies”); provided that a Holder may deliver or disclose MNPI to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, affiliates and financial and other advisors (collectively, the “Representatives”), but solely to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to its evaluation or exercise of its rights under this Agreement and the sale of any Registrable Securities in connection with the subject of the notice, (ii) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Holder, if required by such authority, (iii) any Person, if necessary to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Holder, (iv) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, or (v) in connection with any litigation to which such Holder is a party; provided further that in the case of clause (i), the recipients of such MNPI are subject to the Policies or agree to hold confidential the MNPI in a manner substantially consistent with the terms of this Section 11 and that in the case of clauses (ii) through (v), the relevant Holder promptly notifies the Company of such disclosure to the extent such Holder is legally permitted to give such notice.
(c) Each Holder shall have the right, at any time and from time to time (including after receiving information regarding any potential Public Offering), to elect not to receive any notice that the Company or any other Holders otherwise are required to deliver pursuant to this Agreement by delivering to the Company a written statement signed by such Holder that it does not want to receive any notices hereunder (an “Opt-Out Request”); in which case and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement the Company and other Holders shall not be required to, and shall not, deliver any notice or other information required to be provided to Holders hereunder. An Opt-Out Request may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely. A Holder who previously has given the Company an Opt-Out Request may revoke such request at any time, and there shall be no limit on the ability of a Holder to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-Out Requests; provided that each Holder shall use its best efforts to minimize the administrative burden on the Company arising in connection with any such Opt-Out Requests.
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Section 12. General Provisions.
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IHS Holding Limited
1 Cathedral Piazza
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx XXX0 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Attn: Group Legal
Email: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the Company has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement and any transaction contemplated in this Agreement (including issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
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(k) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN XXX XXXX, XXXXXX XXX XXXXX XX XXX XXXX, XXXXXX XXXXXX OF AMERICA, IN ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BASED ON OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY BE DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR OBJECTIONS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON CT CORPORATION SYSTEM AT 00 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX 00000 (OR SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS THE COMPANY MAY NOTIFY TO THE HOLDERS), AND WRITTEN NOTICE OF SAID SERVICE TO THE COMPANY SHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE COMPANY IN ANY SUCH LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING. EACH HOLDER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH HOLDER’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ON THE SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS (OR SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS THE RELEVANT HOLDER MAY NOTIFY TO THE COMPANY), AND WRITTEN NOTICE OF SAID SERVICE TO THE COMPANY SHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH HOLDER IN ANY SUCH LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
(o) Electronic Delivery. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, may be executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. Federal ESIGN Act of 2000 or the New York Electronic Signature and Records Act, and any such agreement or instrument so delivered shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
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* * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
IHS HOLDING LIMITED |
By: |
Name: | |
Its: |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Towers One Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Towers Two Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Towers Three Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
ECPIV-IHS Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
ECP IHS (Mauritius) Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Emerging Capital Associates III LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
ECP Manager LP | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Emerging Capital Advisors LP | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Africa Telecom Towers S.C.S. represented by its general partner, Oranje-Nassau GP S.á.x.x., itself represented by: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: Manager |
Oranje-Nassau Développement S.C.A., FIAR represented by its sole manager, Xxxxxx Luxembourg S.A., itself represented by: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: Director |
ELQ Investors VIII Ltd. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Mobile Telephone Networks (Netherlands) B.V. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
KOREA INVESTMENT CORPORATION, a statutory judicial corporation established under the Korea Investment Corporation Act of the Republic of Korea, acting in its capacity as agent of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Warrington Investment Pte. Ltd. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
International Finance Corporation | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
IFC Global Infrastructure Fund LP | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
AIIF2 Towers Mauritius | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. | |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Ninety One SA Proprietary Limited, in its capacity as investment manager and agent for and on behalf of Ninety One Fund Managers SA (RF) Proprietary Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Ninety One Africa Frontier Private Equity Associate Fund LP represented by its general partner, Ninety One Africa Frontier Private Equity Fund GP Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Ninety One Africa Frontier Private Equity Fund LP represented by its general partner, Ninety One Africa Frontier Private Equity Fund GP Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Ninety One Africa Private Equity Fund 2 LP represented by its general partner, Ninety One Africa Private Equity Fund 2 GP LP, acting through its general partner Ninety One Africa Private Equity Fund 2 GP Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
UBC Services, Inc. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title | ||
African Tower Investment Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Xxx Xxxxxxx | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Xxxxxxx Xxxx | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title | ||
Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Ayotade Oyinlola | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
SCHEDULE A
Schedule of Investors
Name | Address |
Towers One Limited | Sanne House, Bank Street, TwentyEight, Cybercity, Ebene, Mauritius |
Towers Two Limited | Sanne House, Bank Street, TwentyEight, Cybercity, Ebene, Mauritius |
Towers Three Limited | Sanne House, Bank Street, TwentyEight, Cybercity, Ebene, Mauritius |
ECPIV-IHS Limited | Sanne House, Bank Street, TwentyEight, Cybercity, Ebene, Mauritius |
ECP IHS (Mauritius) | Sanne House, Bank Street, TwentyEight, Cybercity, Ebene, Mauritius |
Emerging Capital Associates III LLC | 0000X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
ECP Manager LP | 0000X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
Africa Telecom Towers S.C.S. | 0, xxx Xxxxxx x’Xxxxxx, 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg |
Oranje-Nassau Développement S.C.A., FIAR | 5, rue Pierre d’Aspelt, 1142 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg |
ELQ Investors VIII Ltd. | Plumtree Court, 00 Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX0X 0XX, with a copy to: Xxxxxx Xxxxx, e-mail: ### |
Mobile Telephone Networks (Netherlands) X.X. | Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 000, 0000 XX Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx with a copy to: MTN Group Limited, 000 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, 0000, Xxxxx Xxxxxx; e-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx |
Korea Investment Corporation | 17-19th Floor, State Tower Namsan, 000 Xxxxxx-xx, Xxxx-xx, Xxxxx 00000, Xxxxxxxx of South Korea |
Warrington Investment Pte. Ltd. | 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, #00-00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 000000, Singapore |
International Finance Corporation | 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx |
IFC Global Infrastructure Fund LP | 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx |
AIIF2 Towers Limited | c/o IQ EQ Fund Services (Mauritius) Ltd, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx-Xxxxx 00000, Xxxxxxxxx |
Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. | Xxxx van Xxxxxxxxxx 00, 0000 XX Xxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx |
Ninety One Fund Managers SA (RF) Proprietary Limited | 36 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Avenue, Foreshore, Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxx 0000, Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
Ninety One Africa Frontier Private Equity Associate Fund LP | 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Avenue, St Xxxxx Port, Guernsey GY1 2HT |
Ninety One Africa Frontier Private Equity Fund LP | 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Avenue, St Xxxxx Port, Guernsey GY1 2HT |
Ninety One Africa Private Equity Fund 2 LP | 1st Floor, Xxxxx Court, Xxxxxxxxx Avenue, St Xxxxx Port, Guernsey GY1 2HT |
UBC Services Inc. | Trident Xxxxxxxx, X.X. Xxx 000, Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
African Tower Investment Limited | 1st Floor, Xxxxx House, 24 Xx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Street, Port Louis, Mauritius |
Xxx Xxxxxxx | 1st Floor, Xxxxx House, 24 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Street, Port Louis, Mauritius |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | 1st Floor, Xxxxx House, 24 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Street, Port Louis, Mauritius |
Xxxxxxx Xxxx | 1st Floor, Xxxxx House, 24 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Street, Port Louis, Mauritius |
Xxxx Xxxxxx | 1 Cathedral Piazza, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxxx Xxxxxx | 1 Cathedral Piazza, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxxx Xxxxxx | 1st Floor, Xxxxx House, 24 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Street, Port Louis, Mauritius |
Ayotade Oyinlola | 1 Cathedral Piazza, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
EXHIBIT A
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER
The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of [●], 2021 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among IHS Holding Limited, a private company incorporated in accordance with the laws of Mauritius (including any successors, the “Company”), and the other person named as parties therein.
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 provisions of 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 Ordinary Shares shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein. The Company is directed to add the address below the undersigned’s signature on this Joinder to the Schedule of Investors attached to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the __________ day of __________, 20__.
Signature of Shareholder | |
Print Name of Shareholder | |
Title: |
Address: |
Agreed and Accepted as of
____________, 20__
IHS Holding Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |