INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT MAY 12, 2000

EXHIBIT 4.03

INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT

MAY 12, 2000

TABLE OF CONTENTS


			Page
1.	Registration Rights		1

	1.1	Definitions	1
	1.2	Request for Registration	2
	1.3	Company Registration	4
	1.4	Form S-3 Registration	5
	1.5	Obligations of the Company	6
	1.6	Information from Holder	7
	1.7	Expenses of Registration	7
	1.8	Delay of Registration	7
	1.9	Indemnification	8
	1.10	Reports Under Securities Exchange Act of 1934	10
	1.11	Assignment of Registration Rights	10
	1.12	Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights	11
	1.13	“Market Stand-Off” Agreement	11
	1.14	Termination of Registration Rights	12
	1.15	Further Limitations on Disposition	12

2.	Covenants of the Company		12

	2.1	Delivery of Financial Statements	12
	2.2	Inspection	13
	2.3	Termination of Information and Inspection Covenants	13
	2.4	Special Right of Xxxx Elsevier	13
	2.5	Right of First Offer	14
	2.6	Termination of Certain Covenants	15

3.	Miscellaneous		15

	3.1	Successors and Assigns	15
	3.2	Governing Law	16
	3.3	Counterparts	16
	3.4	Titles and Subtitles	16
	3.5	Notices	16
	3.6	Expenses	16
	3.7	Entire Agreement: Amendments and Waivers	16
	3.8	Severability	16
	3.9	Aggregation of Stock	16

INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made as of the 12th day of May, 2000, by and among Design Within Reach, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), and the investors listed on Schedule A hereto, each of which is herein referred to as an “Investor”.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company and certain of the Investors are parties to the Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement of even date herewith (the “Series B Agreement”);

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Company to approve the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock and to induce certain of the Investors to invest funds in the Company pursuant to the Series B Agreement, the Investors and the Company hereby agree that this Agreement shall govern the rights of the Investors to cause the Company to register shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to them and certain other matters as set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Registration Rights. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Section 1:

(a) The term “Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(b) The term “Form S-3” means such form under the Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Act subsequently adopted by the SEC that permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

(c) The term “Holder” means any person owning or having the right to acquire Registrable Securities or any assignee thereof in accordance with Section 1.11 hereof.

(d) The term “Initial Offering” means the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock under the Act.

(e) The term “Major Investor” means an Investor that holds not less than 500,000 shares of Registrable Securities.

(f) The term “1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(g) The term “Qualified Public Offering” means a firmly underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock of the Company at a per share price not

less than $12.00 (as adjusted for stock splits, dividends and the like) and for a total offering of not less than $20,000,000 (before deduction of underwriters commissions and expenses).

(h) The term “register,” “registered,” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement or document.

(i) The term “Registrable Securities” means (i) the Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock, and (ii) any Common Stock of the Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security that is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for, or in replacement of, the shares referenced in (i) above, excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a person in a transaction in which his rights under this Section 1 are not assigned.

(j) The number of shares of “Registrable Securities” outstanding shall be determined by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding that are, and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to then exercisable or convertible securities that are, Registrable Securities.

(k) The term “SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

1.2 Request for Registration.

(a) Subject to the conditions of this Section 1.2, if the Company shall receive at any time after the effective date of the Initial Offering, a written request from the Holders of thirty percent (30%) or more of the Registrable Securities then outstanding (the “Initiating Holders”) that the Company file a registration statement under the Act covering the registration of Registrable Securities with an anticipated aggregate offering price of at least $5,000,000, then the Company shall, within twenty (20) days of the receipt thereof, give written notice of such request to all Holders, and subject to the limitations of this Section 1.2, use its best efforts to effect, as soon as practicable, the registration under the Act of all Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holders and all other Holders with remaining registration rights under this Section 1.2 who elect to join in the demand registration (collectively, the “Registering Holders”) request to be registered in a written request received by the Company within twenty (20) days of the mailing of the Company’s notice pursuant to this Section 1.2(a).

(b) If the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 1.2 and the Company shall include such information in the written notice referred to in Section 1.2(a). In such event the right of any Holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting (unless otherwise mutually agreed by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders and such Holder) to the extent provided herein. All Holders

proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company (which underwriter or underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to a majority in interest of the Registering Holders). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1.2, if the underwriter advises the Company that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of securities underwritten (including Registrable Securities), then the Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities that would otherwise be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of shares that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated to the Holders of such Registrable Securities as follows: First, to the Registering Holders and the Company (in the event that the Company also desires to sell securities in such offering); provided that in no event shall the Registering Holders be cut back to less than 50% of the aggregate securities to be sold in the offering; and second, to other Holders of Registrable Securities requesting inclusion in the offering. If either the Registering Holders or the other Holders of Registrable Securities are prevented from selling all securities which they desire to sell as a result of the foregoing cut back provisions, any such cut back shall be on a pro rata basis based on the Registrable Securities owned by the respective Registering Holders (in the case of cut backs limiting sales by the Registering Holders) or other Holders of the Registrable Securities (in the case of cut backs not limiting sales by the Registering Holders). Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from the registration. If any of the Registering Holders is required to cut back the amount of Registrable Securities which such Holder desires to sell, such Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for registration, in which case none of its Registrable Securities shall be registered as part of the offering and the offering shall not be deemed to have utilized one of such Holder’s registration rights pursuant to Section l.2(c)(ii).

(i) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required under the Act; or

(ii) after the Company has effected two (2) registrations pursuant to this Section 1.2, and such registrations have been declared or ordered effective; or

(iii) during the period starting with the date forty five (45) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration subject to Section 1.3 below, provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith all reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; or

(iv) if the Initiating Holders propose to dispose of Registrable Securities that may be registered on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 1.4 hereof; or

(v) if the Company shall furnish to Holders requesting a registration statement pursuant to this Section 1.2, a certificate signed by the Company’s Chief

Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such registration statement to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Holders, provided that such right to delay a request shall be exercised by the Company not more than once in any twelve (12)-month period; or

(vi) if, within thirty (30) days of any registration request pursuant to this Section 1.2, the Company delivers notice to the Holders requesting such registration of its intent to file a registration for such initial offering within ninety (90) days.

1.3 Company Registration.

(a) If (but without any obligation to do so) the Company proposes to register (including for this purpose a registration effected by the Company for shareholders other than the Holders) any of its stock or other securities under the Act in connection with the public offering of such securities (other than a registration relating solely to the sale of securities to participants in a Company stock plan, a registration relating to a corporate reorganization or other transaction under Rule 145 of the Act, 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, or a registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being registered), the Company shall, at such time, promptly give each Holder written notice of such registration. Upon the written request of each Holder given within twenty (20) days after mailing of such notice by the Company in accordance with Section 3.5, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 1.3(c), use all reasonable efforts to cause to be registered under the Act all of the Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be registered.

(b) Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 1.3 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration. The expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 1.7 hereof.

(c) Underwriting Requirements. In connection with any offering involving an underwriting of shares of the Company’s capital stock, the Company shall not be required under this Section 1.3 to include any of the Holders’ securities in such underwriting unless they accept the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the underwriters selected by it and enter into the underwriting agreement in customary form with an underwriter or underwriters selected by the Company, and then only in such quantity as the underwriters determine in their sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company. If the total amount of securities, including Registrable Securities, requested by Holders to be included in such offering exceeds the amount of securities sold other than by the Company that the underwriters determine in their sole discretion (with written notice by such underwriters to the selling Holders of the reasons for such exclusion) is

compatible with the success of the offering, then the Company shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such securities, including Registrable Securities, that the underwriters determine in their sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering (the securities so included to be apportioned pro rata among the selling Holders according to the total amount of securities entitled to be included therein owned by each selling Holder or in such other proportions as shall mutually be agreed to by such selling Holders), but in no event shall (i) the amount of securities of the selling Holders included in the offering be reduced below thirty-five percent (35%) of the total amount of securities included in such offering, unless such offering is the initial public offering of the Company’s securities, in which case the selling Holders may be excluded if the underwriters make the determination described above and no other shareholder’s securities are included, or (ii) notwithstanding (i) above, any shares being sold by a shareholder exercising a demand registration right similar to that granted in Section 1.2 be excluded from such offering. In no event will shares of any other selling shareholder be included in such registration which would reduce the number of shares which may be included by Holders without the written consent of Holders of not less than a majority of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the offering. For purposes of the preceding parenthetical concerning apportionment, for any selling shareholder that is a Holder of Registrable Securities and that is a partnership or corporation, the partners, retired partners and shareholders of such Holder, or the estates and family members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing persons shall be deemed to be a single “selling Holder,” and any pro rata reduction with respect to such “selling Holder” shall be based upon the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities owned by all such related entities and individuals.

1.4 Form S-3 Registration. In case the Company shall receive from any Holder a written request or requests that the Company effect a registration on Form S-3 and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders, the Company shall:

(a) promptly give written notice of the proposed registration, and any related qualification or compliance, to all other Holders; and

(b) use its best efforts to effect, as soon as practicable, such registration and all such qualifications and compliances as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within twenty (20) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company, provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance, pursuant to this section 1.4:

(i) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering by the Holders;

(ii) if the Holders, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate price to the public (net of

any underwriters’ discounts or commissions) of less than $1,000,000;

(iii) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Form S-3 Registration to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer the filing of the Form S-3 registration statement for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 1.4; provided, however, that the Company shall not utilize this right more than once in any twelve month period;

(iv) if the Company has, within the twelve (12) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected two registrations on Form S-3 for the Holders pursuant to this Section 1.4; or

(v) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.

(c) Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall file a registration statement covering the Registrable Securities and other securities so requested to be registered as soon as practicable after receipt of the request or requests of the Holders. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 1.4 shall not be counted as requests for registration effected pursuant to Sections 1.2.

1.5 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Section 1 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

(a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use all reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement effective for a period of up to one hundred twenty (120) days or, if earlier, until the distribution contemplated in the Registration Statement has been completed;

(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;

(c) furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them;

(d) use all reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions;

(e) in the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter of such offering;

(f) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Act or the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing;

(g) cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant hereunder to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed; and

(h) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered pursuant hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such registration.

1.6 Information from Holder. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Section 1 with respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to effect the registration of such Holder’s Registrable Securities.

1.7 Expenses of Registration. All expenses other than underwriting discounts and commissions incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 1.2, 1.3 and 1 .4, including (without limitation) all registration, filing and qualification fees, printers’ and accounting fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holders shall he borne by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 1.2 or Section 1.4 if the registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered (in which case all participating Holders shall bear such expenses pro rata based upon the number of Registrable Securities that were to be requested in the withdrawn registration and such withdrawn registration shall not count as one of the registrations provided for under said sections).

1.8 Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as the result of any

controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 1.

1.9 Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this Section 1:

(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the partners or officers, directors and shareholders of each Holder, legal counsel and accountants for each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Act or the 1934 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the Act, the 1934 Act or any state securities laws, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a “Violation”): (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Act, the 1934 Act, any state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Act, the 1934 Act or any state securities laws; and the Company will reimburse each such Holder, underwriter or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 1.9(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation that occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by any such Holder, underwriter or controlling person; provided further, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or underwriter, or any person controlling such Holder or underwriter, from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased shares in the offering, if a copy of the prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Holder or underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the shares to such person, and if the prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or liability.

(b) To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will severally but not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, legal counsel and accountants for the Company, any underwriter, any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement and any controlling person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities

(joint or several) to which any of the foregoing persons may become subject, under the Act, the 1934 Act or any state securities laws, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such Holder will severally but not jointly reimburse any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this subsection 1.9(b), for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 1.9(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), provided that in no event shall any indemnity under this subsection 1.9(b) exceed the gross proceeds from the offering received by such Holder.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 1.9 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 1.9, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party (together with all other indemnified parties that may be represented without conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, to the extent prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 1.9, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 1.9.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 1.9 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent,

knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with an underwritten public offering of Registrable Securities are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

(f) The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 1.9 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement under this Section 1, and otherwise.

1.10 Reports Under Securities Exchange Act of 1934. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Act and any other rule or regulation of the SEC 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 S-3, the Company agrees to:

(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the Initial Offering;

(b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Act and the 1934 Act; and

(c) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the Initial Offering), the Act and the 1934 Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after it so qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration or pursuant to such form.

1.11 Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 1 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of such securities that (i) is a subsidiary, parent, partner, limited partner, retired partner (or commonly controlled by the parent) or shareholder of a Holder, (ii) is a Holder’s family member or trust for the benefit of an individual Holder, or (iii) after such assignment or transfer, holds at least 100,000 shares of Registrable Securities (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations and other recapitalizations) or all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities if less than 100,000 shares, provided: (a) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned; (b) such transferee or

assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of Section 1.13 below; and (c) such assignment shall be effective only if immediately following such transfer the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Act.

1.12 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights.

(a) From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities (which majority shall include REI (as hereafter defined) as long as REI is a Major Investor), enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would allow such holder or prospective holder (i) to include such securities in any registration filed under Section 1.3 hereof, unless under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not reduce the amount of the Registrable Securities of the Holders that are included or (ii) to demand registration of their securities.

(b) The Company represents that as of the date hereof and except as provided for herein, no person or entity has registration rights with respect to securities issued by the Company.

1.13 “Market Stand-Off” Agreement. Each Holder hereby agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the managing underwriter, during the period commencing on the date of the final prospectus relating to the Company’s Initial Offering and ending on the date specified by the Company and the managing underwriter (such period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) (i) lend, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (whether such shares or any such securities are then owned by the Holder or are thereafter acquired), or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13 shall apply only to the Company’s Initial Offering of equity securities, shall not apply to the sale of any shares to an underwriter pursuant to an underwriting agreement, and shall only be applicable to the Holders if all officers and directors and greater than five percent (5%) shareholders of the Company enter into similar agreements. The underwriters in connection with the Company’s initial public offering are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 1.13 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.

In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Registrable Securities of each Holder (and the shares

or securities of every other person subject to the foregoing restriction) until the end of such period.

1.14 Termination of Registration Rights. No Holder shall be entitled to exercise any right provided for in this Section 1 after, as to any Holder, such time at which all Registrable Securities held by such Holder (and any affiliate of the Holder with whom such Holder must aggregate its sales under Rule 144) can be sold in any three (3)-month period without registration in compliance with Rule 144 of the Act.

1.15 Further Limitations on Disposition. Each Investor agrees not to make any disposition of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities unless and until the transferee has agreed in writing for the benefit of the Company to be bound by this Agreement and:

(a) There is then in effect a registration statement under the Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement; or

(b) (i) Such Investor shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Company, such Investor shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company that such disposition will not require opinions of counsel for transactions made pursuant to Rule 144 except in unusual circumstances.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraphs (a) and (b) above, no such registration statement or opinion of counsel shall be necessary for a transfer by an Investor that is a partnership to a partner of such partnership or a retired partner of such partnership who retires after the date hereof, or to the estate of any such partner or retired partner or the transfer by gift, will or intestate succession of any partner to his or her spouse or the siblings, lineal descendants or ancestors of such partner or his or her spouse, if the transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the terms hereof to the same extent as if he or she were an original Investor hereunder.

2. Covenants of the Company.

2.1 Delivery of Financial Statements. The Company shall deliver:

(a) to each Investor, as soon as practicable, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an income statement for such fiscal year, a balance sheet of the Company and statement of shareholder’s equity as of the end of such year, and a statement of cash flows for such year, such year-end financial reports to be in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles

(“GAAP”), and audited and certified by independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing selected by the Company;

(b) to each Investor, as soon as practicable, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, an unaudited income statement, statement of cash flows for such fiscal quarter and an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal quarter.

(c) to each Major Investor, within thirty (30) days of the end of each month, an unaudited income statement and statement of cash flows and balance sheet for and as of the end of such month, in reasonable detail;

(d) to each Major Investor, as soon as practicable, but in any event at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of each fiscal year, an annual operating plan for the next fiscal year, prepared on a monthly basis, including balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash flows for such months and, as soon as prepared, any other budgets or revised budgets prepared by the Company;

(e) with respect to the financial statements called for in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 2.1, an instrument executed by the Chief Financial Officer or President of the Company certifying that such financials were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied with prior practice for earlier periods (with the exception of footnotes that may be required by GAAP) and fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its results of operation for the period specified, subject to year-end audit adjustment; and

(f) to each Investor, such other information relating to the financial condition, business, prospects or corporate affairs of the Company as the Investor or any assignee of the Investor may from time to time request, provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated under this subsection (f) or any other subsection of Section 2.1 to provide information that it deems in good faith to be a trade secret or similar confidential information.

2.2 Inspection. The Company shall permit each Investor, at such Investor’s expense, to visit and inspect the Company’s properties, to examine its books of account and records and to discuss the Company’s affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, all at such reasonable times as may be requested by the Investor; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to this Section 2.2 to provide access to any information that it reasonably considers to be a trade secret or similar confidential information.

2.3 Termination of Information and Inspection Covenants. The covenants set forth in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 shall terminate as to Investors and be of no further force or effect upon a Qualified Public Offering.

2.4 Special Right of Xxxx Elsevier. Subject to the terms and conditions specified in this Section 2.4, the Company hereby grants to Xxxx Elsevier Inc. (“REI”) a right of first offer with respect to future sales by the Company of its shares of, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of, any class of its capital

stock which are convertible into Common Stock (“Shares”) so that after giving effect to the acquisition of the Shares, REI’s ownership interest in the Company’s fully-diluted Shares will equal thirty percent (30%) (the “Target Ownership”). REI shall have a period of thirty (30) days after notice from the Company of the Shares to be offered and a general description (i.e., term sheet) of the rights, preferences and price of such Shares) to notify the Company whether it will exercise its right of first offer. Failure of REI to timely notify the Company of acceptance shall be deemed a rejection of the offer. This right of first offer shall continue until the first to occur of: (i) the date REI reaches the Target Ownership; (ii) the date REI rejects an offer pursuant to this Section 2.4 in part or in whole; or (iii) as provided in Section 2.6.

If rights of REI under Section 2.4 are in effect immediately prior to the filing of a registration statement with respect to the Company’s initial public offering, REI shall have the right to subscribe to a special class of Preferred Stock which would have a mandatory conversion feature and convert into Common Stock immediately before the effective date of the initial public offering at the initial public offering price. Except with respect to conversion price, such special class of Preferred Stock will have rights and preferences otherwise substantially identical to the most recent class of Preferred Stock which the Company has issued. REI shall be entitled to subscribe to an amount of this special class of Preferred Stock so that immediately prior to the closing of initial public offering (at the anticipated initial public offering price) REI’s percentage ownership of the Shares will equal the Target Ownership.

2.5 Right of First Offer. Subject to the terms and conditions specified in Section 2.4 and this Section 2.5, the Company hereby grants to each Major Investor a right of first offer with respect to future sales by the Company of its Shares (as hereinafter defined). For purposes of this Section 2.5, Major Investor includes any general partners and affiliates of a Major Investor. A Major Investor shall be entitled to apportion the right of first offer hereby granted it among itself and its partners and affiliates in such proportions as it deems appropriate.

Each time the Company proposes to offer any Shares, the Company shall first make an offering of such Shares to each Major Investor in accordance with the following provisions.

(a) The Company shall deliver a notice in accordance with Section 3.5 (“Notice”) to the Major Investors stating (i) its bona fide intention to offer such Shares, (ii) the number of such Shares to be offered, and (iii) the price and terms upon which it proposes to offer such Shares.

(b) By written notification received by the Company, within twenty (20) calendar days after receipt of the Notice, the Major Investor may elect to purchase or obtain, at the price and on the terms specified in the Notice, up to that portion of such Shares that equals the proportion that the number of shares of Common Stock issued and held, or issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and/or Series B Preferred Stock then held, by

such Investor bears to the total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding (assuming full conversion of all convertible securities).

(c) If all Shares that Investors are entitled to obtain pursuant to subsection 2.5(b) are not elected to be obtained as provided in subsection 2.5(b) hereof, the Company may, during the ninety (90) day period following the expiration of the period provided in subsection 2.5(b) hereof, offer the remaining unsubscribed portion of such Shares to any person or persons at a price not less than, and upon terms no more favorable to the offeree than those specified in the Notice. If the Company does not enter into an agreement for the sale of the Shares within such period, or if such agreement is not consummated within ninety (90) days of the execution thereof, the right provided hereunder shall be deemed to be revived and such Shares shall not be offered unless first reoffered to the Major Investors in accordance herewith.

(d) The right of first offer in this paragraph 2.5 shall not be applicable to (i) the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock (or options therefor) to employees, directors and consultants for the primary purpose of soliciting or retaining their services; (ii) the issuance of securities pursuant to a bona fide, firmly underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock, registered under the Act, (iii) the issuance of securities pursuant to the conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities, (iv) the issuance of stock pursuant to any rights or agreements outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, options and warrants outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and stock issued pursuant to any such rights or agreements granted after the date of this Agreement; provided, that the rights of first refusal established by this Section applied with respect to the initial sale or grant by the Company of such rights or agreements; (v) shares of Common Stock issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization of the Company; (vi) any equity securities issued pursuant to any equipment leasing or loan arrangement, or debt financing from a bank or similar financial or lending institution; (vii) the issuance of securities in connection with a bona fide business acquisition of or by the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets, sale or exchange of stock or otherwise or (viii) the issuance of stock, warrants or other securities or rights to persons or entities with which the Company has business relationships provided such issuances are for other than primarily equity financing purposes.

2.6 Termination of Certain Covenants. The covenants set forth in Sections 2.4 and 2.5 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the consummation a Qualified Public Offering.

3. Miscellaneous.

3.1 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties (including transferees of any shares of Registrable Securities). Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

3.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California as applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California.

3.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

3.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

3.5 Notices. Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery to the party to be notified or upon delivery by confirmed facsimile transmission, nationally recognized overnight courier service, or upon deposit with the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid and addressed to the party to be notified at the address indicated for such party on the signature page hereof, or at such other address as such party may designate by ten (10) days’ advance written notice to the other parties.

3.6 Expenses. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.

3.7 Entire Agreement: Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto, if any) constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each holder of any Registrable Securities each future holder of all such Registrable Securities, and the Company.

3.8 Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

3.9 Aggregation of Stock. All shares of Registrable Securities held or acquired by affiliated entities or persons shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the Investor Rights Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.


COMPANY: DESIGN WITHIN REACH, INC.						INVESTORS: XXXXX.XXXXXX CO-INVESTMENT VEHICLE, LP

Signature:						Signature:

Print Name:						Print Name:

Title:						Title:


Address: 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000						Address: 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0^xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000

						JH CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.

						Signature:

						Print Name:

						Title:


						Address: 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0^xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000

						OTHER INVESTORS:

						Signature:

						Print Name:

						Address:






						Entity Name:

						Signature:

						Print Name:

						Title:


						Address:

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INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT MAY 12, 2000

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