EXHIBIT 4-E
EXECUTION COPY
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of September 21, 1995 by and among National Semiconductor Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated,
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. and Salomon Brothers Inc (the "Initial Purchasers")
pursuant to the Placement Agreement, dated as of September 21, 1995 (the
"Placement Agreement"), between the Company and the Initial Purchasers. In
order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Placement Agreement,
the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under
the Placement Agreement.
The Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, (i) for their benefit as
Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of
the Notes (including the Initial Purchasers) and the holders from time to time
of the Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes (each of the foregoing a
"Holder" and together the "Holders"), as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall
have their respective meanings set forth in the Placement Agreement. As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
AFFILIATE: "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified person,
(i) any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or
under direct or direct common control with, such specified person or (ii) any
officer or director of such other person. For purposes of this definition, the
term "control" (including the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under
common control with") of a person means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power (whether or not exercised) to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract, or otherwise.
BUSINESS DAY: Each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
that is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
COMMON STOCK: The shares of common stock, $0.50 par value per share,
of the Company and any other shares of common stock as may constitute "Common
Stock" for purposes of the Indenture, in each case, as issuable or issued upon
conversion of the Notes.
DAMAGES ACCRUAL PERIOD: See Section 2(c) hereof.
DEFERRAL PERIOD: See Section 2(d) hereof.
EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD: The period commencing with the date hereof and
ending on the earlier of the date that is three years after the latest date of
original issuance of the Notes and the date that all Registrable Securities have
ceased to be Registrable Securities.
EVENT: See Section 2(e) hereof.
EVENT DATE: See Section 2(e) hereof.
EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
FILING DATE: See Section 2(a) hereof.
HOLDER: See the second paragraph of this Agreement.
INDENTURE: The Indenture, dated as of September 15, 1995, between the
Company and The First National Bank of Boston, as trustee, pursuant to which the
Notes are being issued, as amended or supplemented from time to time in
accordance with the terms hereof.
INITIAL PURCHASERS: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc. and Salomon Brothers Inc.
INITIAL SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 2(a) hereof.
LOSSES: See Section 6 hereof.
MANAGING UNDERWRITERS: The investment banking firm or firms that
shall manage or co-manage an Underwritten Offering.
NOTES: The 6-1/2% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2002 of the
Company being issued and sold pursuant to the Placement Agreement and the
Indenture.
NOTICE HOLDER: See Section 2(d)(i) hereof.
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PLACEMENT AGREEMENT: See the first paragraph of this Agreement.
PROSPECTUS: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any amendment or prospectus supplement, including
post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed
to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
REGISTRABLE SECURITIES: The Common Stock of the Company into which
the Notes are convertible or converted; whether or not such Notes have been
converted, and at all times subsequent thereto, and any Common Stock issued with
respect thereto upon any stock dividend, split or similar event until, in the
case of any such Common Stock, (i) it is effectively registered under the
Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Registration Statement
covering it, (ii) it is saleable by the holder thereof pursuant to Rule 144(k)
or (iii) it is sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144, and, as a result of the
event or circumstance described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through
(iii), the legends with respect to transfer restrictions required under the
Indenture (other than any such legends required solely as the consequence of the
fact that the Registrable Securities (or the Notes, upon the conversion of
which, such Registrable Securities were issued or are issuable) are owned by, or
were previously owned by, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) are
removed or removable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
REGISTRATION EXPENSES: See Section 5 hereof.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT: Any registration statement of the Company
which covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such registration statement.
RULE 144: Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the SEC.
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RULE 144A: Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECURITIES ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
SELLING PERIOD: See Section 2(d)(i) hereof.
SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 2(a) hereof.
SPECIAL COUNSEL: Wilson, Sonsini, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C., or such
other successor counsel as shall be specified by the holders of a majority of
the Registerable Securities, the fees and expenses of which will be paid by the
Company pursuant to Section 5 hereof.
SUBSEQUENT SHELF REGISTRATION: See Section 2(b) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
TRUSTEE: The Trustee under the Indenture.
UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION OR UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING: A registration in
which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
2. SHELF REGISTRATION.
(a) SHELF REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare and file with the
SEC, as soon as practicable but in any event on or prior to the date sixty (60)
days following the latest date of original issuance of the Notes (the "Filing
Date"), a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous
basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act (a "Shelf Registration")
registering the resale from time to time by Holders thereof of all of the
Registrable Securities upon and following conversion of the Notes (the "Initial
Shelf Registration"). The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 or
another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Securities
for resale by such Holders in the manner or manners designated by them
(including, without limitation, one or more Underwritten
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Offerings). The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the Initial
Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as
practicable and to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously effective
under the Securities Act until the earlier of the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period or the date a Subsequent Shelf Registration, as defined
below, covering all of the Registrable Securities has been declared effective
under the Securities Act.
(b) If the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf
Registration, as defined below, ceases to be effective for any reason at any
time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because all Registrable
Securities registered thereunder shall have been sold or shall have ceased to be
Registrable Securities), the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the
prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any
event shall within thirty (30) days of such cessation of effectiveness amend the
Shelf Registration in a manner reasonably expected to obtain the withdrawal of
the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an additional Shelf
Registration covering all of the Registrable Securities (a "Subsequent Shelf
Registration"). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared
effective as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective until the end of the Effectiveness Period.
(c) The Company shall supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if
required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration, if required
by the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or
by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Registration Statement or by any Managing Underwriter of such Registrable
Securities.
(d) Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if Holder
wishes to sell its Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration and
related Prospectus, it will do so only in accordance with this Section 2(d).
Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees to give written notice to the
Company at least three Business Days prior to any intended distribution of
Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration, which notice shall specify
the date on which such Holder intends to begin such distribution and any
information with respect to such Holder and the intended distribution of
Registrable Securities by such Holder required to amend or supplement the
Registration Statement with respect to such intended distribution of Registrable
Securities by such Holder. As soon as practicable after the date such notice
is provided, and in any event within two Business Days after such date, the
Company shall either:
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(i) (A) prepare and file with the Commission a post-effective
amendment to the Shelf Registration or a supplement to the related Prospectus or
a supplement or amendment to any document incorporated therein by reference or
file any other required document so that such Registration Statement will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the
Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (B) provide the
Holders of the Registrable Securities who gave such notice copies of any
documents filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i)(A); and (C) inform each such Holder
that the Company has complied with its obligations in Section 2(d)(i)(A) (or
that, if the Company has filed a post-effective amendment to the Shelf
Registration which has not yet been declared effective, the Company will notify
each such Holder to that effect, will use its best efforts to secure the
effectiveness of such post-effective amendment and will immediately notify each
such Holder pursuant to Section 2(d)(i)(A) hereof when the amendment has become
effective); each Holder who has given notice of intention to distribute such
Holder's Registrable Securities in accordance with Section 2(d) hereof (a
"Notice Holder") will sell all or any or such Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration and related Prospectus only during the 45-day period
commencing with the date on which the Company gives notice, pursuant to Section
2(d)(i)(A), that the Registration Statement and Prospectus may be used for such
purpose (such 45-day period is referred to as a "Selling Period"). The Notice
Holders will not sell any Restricted Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement or Prospectus after such Selling Period without giving a new notice of
intention to sell pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof and receiving a further notice
from the Company pursuant to Section 2(d)(i)(A) hereof.
(ii) in the event (A) of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(iv), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof
or (B) that, in the judgment of the Company, it is advisable to suspend use of
the Prospectus for a discrete period of time due to pending material corporate
developments or similar material events that have not yet been publicly
disclosed and as to which the Company believes public disclosure will be
prejudicial to the Company, the Company shall deliver a certificate in writing,
signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General
Counsel, to the Notice Holders, the Special Counsel and the Managing
Underwriters, if any, to the effect of the foregoing and, upon receipt of such
certificate, each such Notice Holder's Selling Period will not commence until
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such Notice Holder's receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
provided for in Section 2(d)(i)(A) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by
the Company that the Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated
by reference in such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to
ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and the Selling Period
will commence, as soon as practicable and, in the case of a pending development
or event referred to in Section 2(d)(ii)(B) hereof, as soon as the earlier of
(x) public disclosure of such pending material corporate development or similar
material event or (y) in the judgment of the Company, public disclosure of such
material corporate development or similar material event would not be
prejudicial to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
not under any circumstances be entitled to exercise its right under this Section
2(d)(ii) to defer the commencement of a Selling Period more than one (1) time in
any three (3) month period or two (2) times in any twelve (12) month period, and
the period in which a Selling Period is suspended shall not exceed fifteen (15)
days unless the Company shall deliver to such Notice Holders a second notice to
the effect set forth above, which shall have the effect of extending the period
during which such Selling Period is deferred by up to an additional fifteen (15)
days, or such shorter period of time as is specified in such second notice. In
no event shall the Company be permitted to extend the period during which such
Selling Period is deferred from and after the date a Notice Holder provides
notice to the Company in accordance with this Section 2(d) of its intention to
distribute Registrable Securities (a "Deferral Period") beyond such thirty (30)
day period.
(e) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Registrable
Securities will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain
the extent of such damages with precision, if (i) the Initial Shelf Registration
has not been filed on or prior to the Filing Date, (ii) prior to the end of the
Effectiveness Period, the SEC shall have issued a stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration or proceedings have been initiated with
respect to the Shelf Registration under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities
Act, (iii) the aggregate number of days in any one Deferral Period exceeds the
periods permitted pursuant to Section 2(d)(ii) hereof or (iv) the number of
Deferral Periods exceeds the number permitted pursuant to Section 2(d)(ii)
hereof (each of the events of a type described in any of the foregoing clauses
(i) through (iv) are individually referred to herein as an "Event", and the
Filing Date in the case of clause (i), the date on which the effectiveness of
the Shelf Registration has been suspended or proceedings with respect to the
Shelf Registration under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act have been
commenced in the case of clause (ii), the date on which the duration of a
Deferral Period exceeds the periods permitted by Section 2(d)(ii) hereof in the
case of clause (iii), and the date of the
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commencement of a Deferral Period that causes the limit on the number of
Deferral Periods under Section 2(d)(ii) hereof to be exceeded in the case of
clause (iv), being referred to herein as an "Event Date"). Events shall be
deemed to continue until the "Event Termination" which shall be the following
dates with respect to the respective types of Events: the date the Initial
Registration Statement is filed in the case of an Event of the type described in
clause (i), the date that all stop orders suspending effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration have been removed and the proceedings initiated with respect to the
Shelf Registration under Section 8(d) or (e) of the Securities Act have
terminated, as the case may be, in the case of Events of the types described in
clause (ii), termination of the Deferral Period which caused the periods
permitted by Section 2(d)(ii) to be exceeded in the case of the commencement of
an Event of the type described in clause (iii), and termination of the Deferral
Period the commencement of which caused the number of Deferral Periods permitted
by Section 2(d)(ii) to be exceeded in the case of Events of the type described
in clause (iv).
Accordingly, upon the occurrence of any Event and until such time as
there are no Events which have occurred and are continuing (a "Damages Accrual
Period"), commencing on the Event Date on which such Damages Accrual Period
began, the Company agrees to pay, as liquidated damages, and not as a penalty,
an additional amount (the "Liquidated Damages Amount"): (A)(i) to each holder
of a Note that is a Notice Holder, accruing at a rate equal to one-half of one
percent per annum (50 basis points) on the aggregate principal amount of Notes
held by such Notice Holder and (ii) to each holder of Common Stock that is a
Notice Holder, accruing at a rate equal to one-half of one percent per annum (50
basis points) calculated on an amount equal to the product of (x) the Conversion
Price (as defined in the Indenture), times (y) the number of shares of Common
Stock held by such holder; and (B) if the Damages Accrual Period continues for
in excess of thirty (30) days, from and after the end of such third (30) day
period until the end of the applicable Event Period, (i) to each holder of a
Note (whether or not a Notice Holder), accruing at a rate equal to one-half of
one percent per annum (50 basis points) on the aggregate principal amount of
Notes held by such holder and (ii) to each holder of Common Stock (whether or
not a Notice Holder), accruing at a rate equal to one-half of one percent per
annum (50 basis points) calculated on an amount equal to the product of (x) the
applicable Conversion Price (as defined in the Indenture), times (y) the number
of shares of Common Stock held by such holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no Liquidated Damages Amounts shall accrue under clause (A) for the preceding
sentence during any period for which Liquidated Damages Amounts accrue under
clause (B) of the foregoing sentence or as to any Registrable Securities from
and after the earlier of (x) the date such securities are no longer Registrable
Securities, and (y) expiration of the Effectiveness Period. The rate
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of accrual of the Liquidated Damages Amount with respect to any period shall not
exceed the rate provided for in this paragraph notwithstanding the occurrence of
multiple concurrent Events.
The Company shall pay the liquidated damages due on any Notes or
Common Stock by depositing with the Trustee under the Indenture, in trust, for
the benefit of the holders of Notes or Common Stock or Notice Holder, as the
case may be, entitled thereto, at least one business day prior to the applicable
payment date, sums sufficient to pay the liquidated damages accrued or accruing
since the last preceding payment date through such payment date. For these
purposes, subject to the proviso set forth in the next sentence, payment dates
will be the same dates as the interest payment dates with respect to the Notes
under the Indenture. The Liquidated Damages Amount due shall be payable to the
holder of Registrable Securities entitled thereto on such payment date to the
holders of record thereof on the applicable record date (corresponding to the
record dates for interest payments on the Notes), provided that accrued
Liquidated Damages Amounts shall be paid on the applicable redemption date upon
the redemption of any Note (to the extent accrued with respect to such Note)
and, in the event of redemption of all Notes, shall also be paid on such
redemption date to the holders of Common Stock (to the extent accrued with
respect to such Common Stock). The Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of the
holders of Notes, Common Stock and Notice Holder, to seek any available remedy
for the enforcement of this Agreement, including for the payment of such
liquidated damages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that the
sole damages payable for a violation of the terms of this Agreement with respect
to which liquidated damages are expressly provided shall be such liquidated
damages. Nothing shall preclude a Notice Holder or holder of Registrable
Securities from pursuing or obtaining specific performance or other equitable
relief with respect to this Agreement.
All of the Company's obligations set forth in this Section 2(e) which are
outstanding with respect to any Registrable Securities at the time such security
ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such time as all such
obligations with respect to such security have been satisfied in full
(notwithstanding termination of the Agreement pursuant to Section 8(o)).
The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided for in
this Section 2(e) constitute a reasonable estimate of the damages that may be
incurred by holders of Registrable Securities (other than the Initial
Purchasers) by reason of the failure of the Shelf Registration to be filed or
declared effective or unavailable
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(absolutely or as a practical matter) for effecting resales of Registrable
Securities, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions hereof.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with the Company's
registration obligations under Section 2 hereof, the Company shall effect such
registrations to permit the sale of the Registrable Securities in accordance
with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto
the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
Registration Statements on any appropriate form under the Securities Act
available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and use
its reasonable efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become
effective and remain effective as provided herein; PROVIDED, that before filing
any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto (other than documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference and that the Company is required by applicable
securities laws or stock exchange requirements to file) the Company shall
furnish to the Initial Purchasers, the Special Counsel and the Managing
Underwriters of such offering, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to
be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of the Initial
Purchasers, the Special Counsel and such Managing Underwriters, and the Company
shall not file any such Registration Statement or amendment thereto or any
Prospectus or any supplement thereto (other than such documents which, upon
filing, would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein
and that the Company is required by applicable securities laws or stock exchange
requirements to file) to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement, the Initial Purchasers or the
Special Counsel shall reasonably object in writing within two full Business
Days.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective for the applicable period
specified in Section 2; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act; and
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition
of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable
period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers
thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or such
Prospectus as so supplemented.
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(c) Notify the selling Holders, the Initial Purchasers, the Special
Counsel and the Managing Underwriters, if any, promptly, and (if requested by
any such person) confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus, any
Prospectus supplement, a Registration Statement or a post-effective amendment to
a Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC, and, with respect to a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state
governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement
or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by
the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation or
threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose, (v) of the existence of any fact or happening of any event which makes
any statement of a material fact in such Registration Statement or related
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference untrue or which would require the making of any changes in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus in order that, in the case of the
Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of
the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact or omit to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the
Company's determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement would be appropriate.
(d) Use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any
suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest possible
moment.
(e) If reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers, the Special
Counsel, the Managing Underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement such
information as the Initial Purchaser, the Special Counsel, the Managing
Underwriters, if any, or such Holders, in connection with any offering of
Registrable Securities, agree should be included therein as required by
applicable law, and (ii) make all required filings of
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such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as
practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
PROVIDED, that the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this
Section 3(e) that are not, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company,
in compliance with applicable law.
(f) Furnish to each selling Holder, the Special Counsel and the
Initial Purchasers, and each Managing Underwriter, if any, without charge, at
least one conformed copy of the Registration Statement or Statements and any
amendment thereto, including financial statements but excluding schedules, all
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all
exhibits (unless requested in writing by such holder, counsel, Initial
Purchasers or underwriter).
(g) Deliver to each selling Holder, the Special Counsel and the
Initial Purchasers and each Managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with any
offering of Registrable Securities, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus or Prospectuses relating to such Registrable Securities (including
each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
persons may reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents to the use of
such Prospectus or each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities and the Underwriters, if any, in connection
with any offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, to
register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders, the Managing
Underwriters, if any, and the Special Counsel in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as
any selling Holder or Managing Underwriter reasonably requests in writing; keep
each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective
and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the
applicable Registration Statement; PROVIDED, that the Company will not be
required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is
not then so qualified or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general
service of process in suits or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject.
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(i) Cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities within the United States, except as may be
required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder, in which
case the Company will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of
such Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals, as may be
necessary to enable the selling Holder or Holders thereof or the Managing
Underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities.
(j) During any Selling Period (other than during a Deferral Period),
immediately upon the existence of any fact or the occurrence of any event as a
result of which a Registration Statement shall contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or a Prospectus
shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to each
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document (such as a
Current Report on Form 8-K) that would be incorporated by reference into the
Registration Statement so that the Registration Statement shall not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and so that the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold
thereunder, and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement, use its best efforts to cause it to become effective as soon as
practicable.
(k) Enter into such agreements (including, in the event of an
Underwritten Offering, an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as
is customary in Underwritten Offerings) and take all such other actions in
connection therewith (including, in the event of an underwritten offering, those
reasonably requested by the Managing Underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and in such
connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into, and if the
registration is an underwritten registration, (i)
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make such representations and warranties, subject to the Company's ability to do
so, to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters with
respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration
Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed
incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as
are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and
confirm the same if and when requested; (ii) use its reasonable efforts to
obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and
opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Managing Underwriters, if any, Special Counsel and the Holders of a majority of
the Registrable Securities being sold) addressed to each of the underwriters
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten
offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Special
Counsel and Managing Underwriters; (iii) use its reasonable efforts to obtain
"cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public
accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or any business acquired or to be
acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data is, or
is required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of
the Managing Underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
connection with Underwritten Offerings; and (iv) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, the Special Counsel and the Managing
Underwriters, if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations
and warranties of the Company and its subsidiaries made pursuant to clause (i)
above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The
above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement
as and to the extent required thereunder.
(l) If requested in connection with a disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, make available for inspection
by a representative of the Holders of Registrable Securities being sold, any
Managing Underwriter participating in any disposition of Registrable Securities,
if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such selling holders or
underwriter, financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the executive
officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply
all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Managing
Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such disposition; subject
to reasonable assurances by each such person that such
-14-
information will only be used in connection with matters relating to such
Registration Statement.
(m) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
make generally available to its securityholders earning statements (which need
not be audited) satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act
and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities
Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days
after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are
sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering,
and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the
first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company commencing after the
effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said
12-month periods.
(n) Cooperate with the selling holders of Registrable Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the holders may request.
(o) Provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities not later
than the effective date of the Registration Statement and provide the Trustee
under the Indenture and the transfer agent for the Common Stock with printed
certificates for the Registrable Securities which are in a form eligible for
deposit with the Depository Trust Company.
(p) Cause all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement to be listed on each securities exchange or quotation system on which
the Company's Common Stock is then listed no later than the date the
Registration Statement is declared effective and, in connection therewith, to
the extent applicable, to make such filings under the Exchange Act (e.g., the
filing of a Registration Statement on Form 8-A) and to have such filings
declared effective thereunder.
(q) Cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
4. HOLDER'S OBLIGATIONS. Each Holder agrees, by acquisition of the Notes
and Registrable Securities, that no Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
entitled to sell any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement or to
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receive a Prospectus relating thereto, unless such Holder has furnished the
Company with the notice required pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof (including the
information required to accompany such notice) and, promptly after the Company's
request, such other information regarding such Holder and the distribution of
such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably
request. The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable
Securities of any Holder who does not furnish such information provided above
for so long as such information is not so furnished. Each Holder of Registrable
Securities as to which any Registration Statement is being effected agrees
promptly to furnish to the Company all information required to be disclosed in
order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder
not misleading. Any sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder shall
constitute a representation and warranty by such Holder that the information
relating to such Holder and its plan of distribution is as set forth in the
Prospectus delivered by such Holder in connection with such disposition, that
such Prospectus does not as of the time of such sale contain any untrue
statement of a material fact relating to such Holder or its plan of distribution
and that such Prospectus does not as of the time of such sale omit to state any
material fact relating to such Holder or its plan of distribution necessary to
make the statements in such Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
5. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. All fees and expenses incident to the
Company's performance of or compliance with this Agreement shall be borne by the
Company whether or not any of the Registration Statements become effective.
Such fees and expenses shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration
and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (x) with
respect to filings required to be made with the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and (y) of compliance with federal securities or Blue
Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of Special
Counsel in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities
laws of such jurisdictions as the Managing Underwriters, if any, or Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities being sold may designate), (ii) printing
expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is
requested by the Special Counsel or the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in any Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses, (iv) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company and the Special Counsel in connection with the Shelf Registration
(provided that the Company shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more
than one separate firm for all parties participating in any transaction
hereunder), (v)
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fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred
to in Section 3(k)(iii) hereof (including the expenses of any special audit and
"cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance) and (vi)
Securities Act liability insurance obtained by the Company in its sole
discretion. In addition, the Company shall pay its internal expenses
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
securities to be registered on any securities exchange on which similar
securities issued by the Company are then listed and the fees and expenses of
any person, including special experts, retained by the Company. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 5, each seller of Registrable Securities shall
pay all registration expenses to the extent that the Company is prohibited by
applicable Blue Sky laws from paying for or on behalf of such seller of
Registrable Securities.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall indemnify and
hold harmless each Holder and each person, if any, who controls any Holder
(within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a)
of the Exchange Act) from and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such
action or claim) (collectively, "Losses"), arising out of or based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or based upon 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, except
insofar as such Losses arise out of or based upon the information relating to
any Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use
therein; PROVIDED, that the Company shall not be liable to any holder of
Registrable Securities (or any person controlling such Holder) to the extent
that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary
prospectus if either (A) (i) such Holder failed to send or deliver a copy of the
Prospectus with or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of the sale by
such Holder to the person asserting the claim from which such Losses arise and
(ii) the Prospectus would have corrected such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or such omission or alleged omission, or (B) (x) such untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is corrected in an
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus and (y) having previously been
furnished by or on behalf of the Company
-17-
with copies of the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, such holder
thereafter fails to deliver such Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, with
or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of the sale of a Registrable
Security to the person asserting the claim from which such Losses arise. The
Company shall also indemnify each underwriter and each person who controls such
person (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a)
of the Exchange Act) to the same extent and with the same limitations as
provided above with respect to the indemnification of the holders of Registrable
Securities.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDER OF REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. Each Holder
agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, its officers who sign a Registration Statement, and each person, if
any, who controls the Company (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against all losses
arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained
in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or arising
out of or based upon any omission of a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is
contained in any information relating to such Holder so furnished in writing by
such Holder to the Company expressly for use in such Registration Statement or
Prospectus. In no event shall the liability of any selling holder of
Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of
the proceeds received by such holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. In case any proceeding
(including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any
person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two
preceding paragraphs, such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly
notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying
party") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified
party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such
counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified
party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the
retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same
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counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in
respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any
proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (a)
the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for all Holders and all persons, if any, who control any Holder within
the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, and (b) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who
sign a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses
shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm
for the Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the
Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at
any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated
by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30
days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii)
such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could
have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability
on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for in this
Section 6 is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 6(a) or 6(b)
hereof in respect of any Losses or is insufficient to hold such indemnified
party harmless, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying
such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such Losses, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party
or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other
hand or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above
-19-
is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also
the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of
the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the
statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the initial placement (before
deducting expenses) of the Notes pursuant to the Placement Agreement. Benefits
received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total
purchase discounts and commissions received by them pursuant to the Placement
Agreement and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be equal
to the value of receiving Notes registered under the Securities Act. Benefits
received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total
underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the
Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which resulted in such
Losses. The relative fault of the Holders on the one hand and the Company on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Holders or by the Company and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Holders' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this paragraph are
several in proportion to the respective number of Registrable Securities they
have sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, and not joint
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by PRO RATA
allocation or by any other method or allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding this Section 6(d), an
indemnifying party that is a selling Holder of Registrable Securities shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of
-20-
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity, contribution and expense reimbursement obligations of the
Company hereunder shall be in addition to any liability the Company may
otherwise have hereunder, under the Placement Agreement or otherwise. The
provisions of this Section 6 shall survive so long as Registrable Securities
remain outstanding, notwithstanding any transfer of the Registrable Securities
by any holder or any termination of this Agreement.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 6 shall
remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination
of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or
any person controlling any Holder, or the Company, its officers or directors or
any person controlling the Company and (iii) the sale of any Registrable
Securities by any Holder.
7. INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS.
(a) The Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and if at any time the Company is
not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any holder of
Registrable Securities, make publicly available other information so long as
necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the
Securities Act. The Company further covenants that it will cooperate with any
holder of Registrable Securities and take such further reasonable action as any
holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request (including, without
limitation making such reasonable representations as any such holder may
reasonably request), all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities
Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and Rule 144A
under the Securities Act. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable
Securities, the Company shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such filing requirements. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to
register any of its securities under any section of the Exchange Act.
(b) The Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Exchange Act and shall comply with all other requirements set forth in
the instructions to Form S-3 in order to allow the Company to be eligible to
file registration statements on Form S-3 after September 30, 1995.
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8. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) REMEDIES. In the event of a breach by the Company of its
obligations under this Agreement, each holder of Registrable Securities, in
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including
recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights
under this Agreement, PROVIDED that the sole damages payable for a violation of
the terms of this Agreement for which liquidated damages are expressly provided
pursuant to Section 2(e) hereof shall be such liquidated damages. The Company
agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss
incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement
and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific
performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy
at law would be adequate.
(b) NO CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. The Company has not, as of the date
hereof, and shall not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities which conflicts with the rights granted
to the holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement. The Company
represents and warrants that the rights granted to the holders of Registrable
Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict with the rights granted to the
holders of the Company's securities under any other agreements.
(c) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of holders
of a majority of the then outstanding Common Stock constituting Registrable
Securities (with holders of Notes deemed to be the holders, for purposes of this
Section, of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock into which such
Notes are convertible). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to
depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates
exclusively to the rights of holders of Registrable Securities whose securities
are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly
or indirectly affect the rights of other holders of Registrable Securities may
be given by holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities being
sold by such holders; PROVIDED, that the provisions of this sentence may not be
amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of
the immediately preceding sentence.
(d) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be deemed given (i) when
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made, if made by hand delivery, (ii) upon confirmation, if made by telecopier or
(iii) one business day after being deposited with a reputable next-day courier,
postage prepaid, to the parties as follows (provided that with respect to any
notice of intention to sell given by a Holder to the Company pursuant to Section
2(d) hereof in accordance with this Section 8(d) which is given on or after
December 24 of any year and on or prior to January 1 of the next year, such
notice shall only be deemed given upon the earlier of actual receipt of such
notice by an attorney in the Legal Department of the Company or the first
Business Day next succeeding such January 1):
(x) if to a holder of Registrable Securities, at the most
current address given by such holder to the Company in accordance with
the provisions of Section 8(e);
(y) if to the Company, to:
National Semiconductor Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Mail Stop 16-135
X.X. Xxx 00000
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
; and
(z) if to the Special Counsel, to:
Wilson, Sonsini, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C.
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
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or to such other address as such person may have furnished to the
other persons identified in this Section 8(d) in writing in accordance
herewith.
(e) OWNER OF REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. The Company will maintain, or
will cause its registrar and transfer agent to maintain, a register with respect
to the Registrable Securities in which all transfers of Registrable Securities
of which the Company has received notice will be recorded. The Company may deem
and treat the person in whose name Registrable Securities are registered in such
register of the Company as the owner thereof for all purposes, including,
without limitation, the giving of notices under this Agreement.
(f) APPROVAL OF HOLDERS. Whenever the consent or approval of holders
of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such term is
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (other than the Initial Purchasers
or subsequent holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent holders are
deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such
Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent
or approval was given by the holders of such required percentage.
(g) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Any person who purchases any
Registerable Securities from an Initial Purchaser shall be deemed, for purposes
of this Agreement, to be an assignee of such Initial Purchaser. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of
each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each
holder of any Registrable Securities.
(h) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be original and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(i) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS.
-24-
(k) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated thereby, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to
find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the
same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or
restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the
parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants
and restrictions without including any of such which may be hereafter declared
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(l) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and is intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein and the registration rights
granted by the Company with respect to the Common Stock of the Company into
which Notes are convertible sold pursuant to the Placement Agreement. Except as
provided in the Placement Agreement, there are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein,
with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to
the Common Stock of the Company into which the Notes are convertible. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
with respect to such registration rights.
(m) ATTORNEYS' FEES. In any action or proceeding brought to enforce
any provision of this Agreement, or where any provision hereof is validly
asserted as a defense, the prevailing party, as determined by the court, shall
be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees in addition to any other
available remedy.
(n) FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each of the parties hereto shall use all
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, do or
cause to be done all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable law, and execute and deliver such documents and other papers, as may
be required to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the other
documents contemplated hereby and consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(o) TERMINATION. This Agreement and the obligations of the parties
hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the Effectiveness Period, except for
any liabilities or obligations under Sections 4, 5 or 6 hereof and the
obligations to make payments of and provide for liquidated damages under Section
2 (e) hereof to the extent such damages accrue prior to the end of the
Effectiveness Period, each which shall remain in effect in accordance with their
terms.
-25-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
---------------------------
Title: CFO
----------------------------------
Accepted as of the date first
above written:
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
By: XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
-26-
