REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
2.3
THIS
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of July 25, 2007 among Origin Agritech Ltd., a British
Virgin Islands limited liability company (the “Company”),
State
Harvest Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands limited liability company
wholly-owned by the Company (the “Guarantor”)
and
Citadel Equity Fund Ltd., as the initial purchaser (the “Purchaser”)
of the
Notes (defined below).
This
Agreement is made pursuant to the Notes Purchase Agreement dated July 25, 2007
(the “Purchase
Agreement”)
among
the Purchaser, the Company, the Guarantor, other subsidiaries of the Company
named therein and certain other individuals named therein, which provides for,
among other things, the issuance and sale of the Company’s 1.0% Guaranteed
Senior Secured Convertible Notes Due 2012 (the “Notes”),
each
with a principal amount of US$100,000, for an aggregate principal amount of
US$40,000,000, to the Purchaser, which are guaranteed (the “Guarantees”)
by
each of the Guarantors pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. Capitalized
terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms
in
the Purchase Agreement.
As
an
inducement to the Purchaser to enter into the Purchase Agreement, and in
satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Purchaser thereunder,
the
Company and the Guarantor agree with the Purchaser, for the benefit of the
holders (including the Purchaser) of the Notes and the Shares (as defined below)
(collectively, the “Holders”),
as
follows:
1.
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Certain
Definitions.
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For
purposes of this Registration Rights Agreement the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
(a) “Affiliate”
of
any
specified Person means:
(i) any
other
Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct
or
indirect common control with such specified Person, or
(ii) any
other
Person who is a director or officer of:
(1) such
specified Person,
(2) any
Subsidiary of such specified Person, or
(3) any
Person described in clause (a) above.
For
the
purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person,
means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly
or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
(b) “Additional
Guarantor”
means
any subsidiary of the Company that executes a Guarantee under the Indenture
after the date of this Agreement.
(c) “Additional
Interest”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(d).
(d) “Additional
Interest Payment Date”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(d).
(e) “Agreement”
means
this Registration Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to
time
pursuant to the terms hereof.
(f) “Authorized
Agent”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 11(g).
(g) “Blue
Sky”
means
the statutes of any state regulating the sale of corporate securities within
that state.
(h) “Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions
in New York, New York are authorized or required by law or executive order
to
remain closed.
(i) “Closing
Date”
means
the date on which any Notes are initially issued.
(j) “Commission”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the
time
administering the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant
statute for the particular purpose.
(k) “Company”
has
the
meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
(l) “Deferral
Notice”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 4(b).
(m) “Deferral
Period”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 4(b).
(n) “Effective
Period”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a).
(o) “Eligibility
Date”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a).
(p) “Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(q) “Free
Writing Prospectus”
means
each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)
prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company
in
connection with the sale of the Securities.
(r) “Guarantees”
has
the
meaning specified in the second paragraph of this Agreement.
(s) “Guarantors”
has
the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement and also includes
any
Guarantor’s successors and any Additional Guarantors.
2
(t) “Holder”
means
each holder, from time to time, of Registrable Securities (including the
Purchaser).
(u) “Incidental
Registration”
means
a
registration required to be effected by the Company pursuant to Section
3.
(v) “Incidental
Registration Statement”
means
the registration statement referred to in Section 3(a), as amended or
supplemented by any amendment or supplement, including post-effective
amendments, and all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed
to
be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
(w) “Indenture”
means
the Indenture dated as of the date hereof among the Company, the Guarantor,
certain other subsidiaries of the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee,
pursuant to which the Notes and the Guarantees are being issued.
(x) “Issuer
Information”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.
(y) “Material
Event”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 4(a)(iv).
(z) “Majority
Holders”
shall
mean, on any date, holders of the majority of the Shares constituting
Registrable Securities; for the purposes of this definition, Holders of Notes
constituting Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be the Holders of the
number of Shares into which such Notes are or would be convertible as of such
date.
(aa) “NASD”
shall
mean the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(bb) “NASD
Rules”
shall
mean the Conduct Rules and the By-Laws of the NASD.
(cc) “Notes”
has
the
meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
(dd) “Notice
and Questionnaire”
means
a
written notice delivered to the Company containing substantially the information
called for by the Form of Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
attached as Annex
A
hereto.
(ee) “Notice
Holder”
means,
on any date, any Holder that has delivered a Notice and Questionnaire to the
Company prior to such date.
(ff) “Person”
means
a
corporation, association, partnership, organization, business, individual,
government or political subdivision thereof or governmental agency.
(gg) “Prospectus”
means
the prospectus included in any Relevant Registration Statement, including any
preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented
by
any amendment or prospectus supplement, including post-effective amendments,
and
all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated
by reference in such Prospectus.
3
(hh) “Purchase
Agreement”
has
the
meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
(ii) “Purchaser”
has
the
meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
(jj) “Registrable
Securities”
means
(i)
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any
Notes and the Guarantees until the earliest of (i) their effective
registration under the Securities Act and the resale of all such
Notes and
Guarantees in accordance with the Relevant Registration Statement,
(ii)
the date on which such Notes and Guarantees are (A) sold pursuant
to Rule
144 under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Notes and
Guarantees relating to restrictions on transferability thereof, under
the
Securities Act or otherwise, is removed or (B) freely transferable
without
restriction under Rule 144(k) or (iii) the date on which such Notes
have
been converted (and the related Guarantees have been terminated)
or
otherwise cease to be outstanding;
and
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(ii)
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any
Shares issuable upon conversion of any Notes constituting Registrable
Securities, until the earliest of (i) their effective registration
under
the Securities Act and the resale of all such Shares in accordance
with
the Relevant Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which such
Shares
are (A) sold pursuant to Rule 144 under circumstances in which any
legend
borne by such Shares relating to restrictions on transferability
thereof,
under the Securities Act or otherwise, is removed or (B) freely
transferable without restriction under Rule 144(k) or (iii) the date
on
which such Shares cease to be
outstanding.
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(kk) “Registration
Default”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(d).
(ll) “Registration
Expenses”
has
the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 7.
(mm) “Relevant
Registration Statement”
means
the Shelf Registration Statement or the Incidental Registration Statement,
as
the context may require.
(nn) “Rule
144,”
“Rule
405”
and
“Rule
415”
mean,
in each case, such rule as promulgated under the Securities Act.
(oo) “Securities”
means,
collectively, the Notes and the Shares.
(pp) “Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
4
(qq) “Shares”
means
the shares of common stock of the Company, with no par value, into which the
Notes are convertible or that have been issued upon a conversion from Notes
into
common stock of the Company.
(rr) “Shelf
Registration Statement”
means
the shelf registration statement referred to in Section 2(a), as amended or
supplemented by any amendment or supplement, including post-effective
amendments, and all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed
to
be incorporated by reference in such Shelf Registration Statement.
(ss) “Special
Counsel”
shall
have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7.
(tt) “Guarantee”
means,
individually, any Guarantee of payment of the Securities by a Guarantor pursuant
to the terms of the Indenture and any supplemental indenture thereto and,
collectively, all such Guarantees. Each such Guarantee will be in the form
prescribed by the Indenture.
(uu) “Trustee”
shall
have the meaning assigned such term in the Indenture.
(vv) “Underwritten
Incidental Registration”
shall
have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3(b).
(ww) “Underwritten
Offering”
means
a
sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for
reoffering to the public.
Unless
the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a “Section” or “clause”
refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Agreement, and the
words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other
subdivision. Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to a statute,
rule or regulation refers to the same (including any successor statute, rule
or
regulation thereto) as it may be amended from time to time.
2.
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Registration
Under the Securities Act.
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(a) The
Company and the Guarantor agree to file under the Securities Act as promptly
as
practicable but in any event within 90 days after the latter of (x) the Closing
Date and (y) the date on which the Company becomes eligible to so file (the
latter date hereinafter being referred to as the “Eligibility
Date”),
a
shelf registration statement providing for the registration of, and the sale
on
a continuous or delayed basis by the Holders of, all of the Registrable
Securities, pursuant to Rule 415 or any similar rule that may be adopted by
the
Commission. The Company and the Guarantor agree to use their reasonable efforts
to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become effective within 180 days
after the Eligibility Date; provided, however, that the Company may, upon
written notice to all Holders, postpone having the Shelf Registration Statement
declared effective for a reasonable period not to exceed 30 consecutive days
per
postponement and provided that all such postponement periods total no more
than
60 days in the aggregate in any 365-day period if the Company possesses material
non-public information, the disclosure of which would have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company and
the
Guarantor shall use its reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration
Statement continuously effective until the earlier of (x) the date that there
are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding; (y) the expiration of
the
period referred to in Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act with respect to all
Registerable Securities held by Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company;
and (z) two years from the date (the “Effective Date”) such Registration
Statement is declared effective (the “Effective
Period”).
Without prejudice to any registration rights, existing as of the date hereof,
held by the Company’s securityholders or the Guarantors’ securityholders with
respect to the Company’s securities or the Guarantors’ securities, respectively,
none of the Company’s securityholders or the Guarantors’ securityholders (other
than Holders of Registrable Securities) shall have the right to include any
of
the Company’s securities or the Guarantors’ securities in the Shelf Registration
Statement.
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(b) The
Company and the Guarantor further agree that they shall cause the Shelf
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement
or such amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with
the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act; and (ii) not to contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (in
the
case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were
made) not misleading, and the Company and the Guarantors agree to furnish to
the
Holders of the Registrable Securities copies of any supplement or amendment
prior to its being used or promptly following its filing with the Commission;
provided,
however,
that
the Company shall have no obligation to deliver to Holders of Registrable
Securities copies of any amendment consisting exclusively of an Exchange Act
report or other Exchange Act filing otherwise publicly available on the
Company’s website. If the Shelf Registration Statement, as amended or
supplemented from time to time, ceases to be effective for any reason at any
time during the Effective Period (other than because all Registrable Securities
registered thereunder shall have been sold pursuant thereto or shall have
otherwise ceased to be Registrable Securities), the Company and the Guarantor
shall use their reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of
any
order suspending the effectiveness thereof.
(c) Each
Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if such Holder wishes to sell
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and related
Prospectus, it will do so only in accordance with this Section 2(c) and Section
4(b). From and after the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared
or
becomes effective, the Company and the Guarantor shall, as promptly as is
practicable after the date a Notice and Questionnaire is delivered, and in
any
event within fifteen (15) days after the date of receipt of such Notice and
Questionnaire, or if the use of the Prospectus has been suspended by the Company
under Section 4(b) hereof at the time of receipt of the Notice and
Questionnaire, fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the period during
which
the use of the Prospectus is suspended:
(i) if
required by applicable law, file with the Commission a post-effective amendment
to the Shelf Registration Statement or prepare and, if required by applicable
law, file 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 the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire is named
as
a selling security holder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related
Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such Prospectus
to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law
and, if the Company and the Guarantor shall file a post-effective amendment
to
the Shelf Registration Statement, use their reasonable efforts to cause such
post-effective amendment to be declared or to otherwise become effective under
the Securities Act as promptly as is practicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Company and the Guarantor shall not be required to file more than one
post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or supplement
to
the related Prospectus during any thirty (30) day period;
6
(ii) provide
such Holder copies of any documents filed pursuant to Section 2(c)(i);
and
(iii) notify
such Holder as promptly as practicable after the effectiveness under the
Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section
2(c)(i);
provided
that if
such Notice and Questionnaire is delivered during a Deferral Period, the Company
shall so inform the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire and shall
take the actions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above upon expiration
of the Deferral Period in accordance with Section 4(b). Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, the Company and the Guarantor shall be under
no obligation to name any Holder that is not a Notice Holder as a selling
securityholder in any Shelf Registration Statement or related Prospectus;
provided,
however,
that
any Holder that becomes a Notice Holder pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 2(c) (whether or not such Holder was a Notice Holder at the time the
Shelf Registration Statement was declared or otherwise became effective) shall
be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or
related Prospectus in accordance with the requirements of this Section
2(c).
(d) If
any of
the following events (any such event a “Registration
Default”)
shall
occur, then additional interest (the “Additional
Interest”)
shall
become payable jointly and severally by the Company and the Guarantor to Holders
in respect of the Notes as follows:
(i) if
the
Shelf Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission within 90 days
following the Eligibility Date, then commencing on the 91st day after the
Eligibility Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount
of
the outstanding Notes that are Registrable Securities at a rate of 0.25% per
annum for the first 90 days following such 91st
day and
at a rate of 0.50% per annum thereafter; or
(ii) if
the
Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective and does not otherwise
become effective within 180 days following the Eligibility Date, then commencing
on the 181st
day
after the Eligibility Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal
amount of the outstanding Notes that are Registrable Securities at a rate of
0.25% per annum for the first 90 days following such 181st
day and
at a rate of 0.50% per annum thereafter; or
7
(iii) if
the
Company and the Guarantor have failed to perform their obligations set forth
in
Section 2(c) hereof within the time periods required therein, then commencing
on
the first day after the date by which the Company and the Guarantor were
required to perform such obligations, Additional Interest shall accrue on the
principal amount of the outstanding Notes that are Registrable Securities at
a
rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days and at a rate of 0.50% per annum
thereafter;
(iv) if
the
Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective or has otherwise become
effective but such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any
time during the Effective Period (other than pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof),
then commencing on the day such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be
effective, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the
outstanding Notes that are Registrable Securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum
for the first 90 days following such date on which the Shelf Registration
Statement ceases to be effective and at a rate of 0.50% per annum thereafter;
or
(v) if
the
aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in any period exceeds the number of
days
permitted in respect of such period pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, then
commencing on the day the aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in any period
exceeds the number of days permitted in respect of such period (and again on
the
first day of any subsequent Deferral Period during such period), Additional
Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the outstanding Notes that
are
Registrable Securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days and
at
a rate of 0.50% per annum thereafter;
provided,
however,
that
the Additional Interest rate on the Notes shall not exceed in the aggregate
0.50% per annum and shall not be payable under more than one clause above for
any given period of time, except that if Additional Interest would be payable
under more than one clause above, but at a rate of 0.25% per annum under one
clause and at a rate of 0.50% per annum under the other, then the Additional
Interest rate shall be the higher rate of 0.50% per annum; provided
further,
however, that
(1)
upon the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of clause
(i)
above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (in
the
case of clause (ii) above), (3) upon the performance by the Company and the
Guarantor of their obligations set forth in Section 2(c) hereof within the
time
periods required therein (in the case of clause (iii) above), (4) upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain
effective (in the case of clause (iv) above), (5) upon the termination of the
Deferral Period that caused the limit on the aggregate duration of Deferral
Periods in a period set forth in Section 4(b) to be exceeded (in the case of
clause (v) above) or (6) upon the termination of certain transfer restrictions
on the Securities as a result of the application of Rule 144(k) or any successor
provision, Additional Interest on the Notes as a result of such clause, as
the
case may be, shall cease to accrue.
Additional
Interest on the Notes, if any, will be payable in cash on January 25 and July
25
of each year (the “Additional
Interest Payment Date”)
to
holders of record of outstanding Notes that are Registrable Securities on each
preceding January 11 and July 11; provided
that any
Additional Interest accrued with respect to any Notes or portion thereof called
for redemption on a redemption date or converted into Shares on a conversion
date prior to the Registration Default shall, in any such event, be paid instead
to the Holder who submitted such Notes or portion thereof for redemption or
conversion on the applicable redemption date or conversion date, as the case
may
be, on such date (or promptly following the conversion date, in the case of
conversion). Following the cure of all Registration Defaults requiring the
payment of Additional Interest to the Holders of Notes that are Registrable
Securities pursuant to this Section, the accrual of Additional Interest will
cease (without in any way limiting the effect of any subsequent Registration
Default requiring the payment of Additional Interest).
8
The
Company shall notify the Trustee promptly upon the happening of each and every
Registration Default. The
Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of Holders of Securities, to seek any
available remedy for the enforcement of this Agreement, including for the
payment of any Additional Interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties
agree that the sole monetary damages payable for a violation of the terms of
this Agreement with respect to which additional monetary amounts are expressly
provided shall be as set forth in this Section 2(d). 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.
(e) A
Shelf
Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2 will not be deemed to have
become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is
automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under
the Securities Act.
3.
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Incidental
Registration.
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(a) If
at any
time from and after the date hereof, the Company proposes to register any of
its
securities under the Securities Act (other than (A) any registration of public
sales or distributions solely by and for the account of the Company of
securities issued (x) pursuant to any employee benefit or similar plan or any
dividend reinvestment plan, (y) in any acquisition by the Company or (z)
pursuant to any registration rights agreement, existing as of the date hereof,
with the Company’s existing shareholders, or (B) pursuant to Section 2 hereof),
either in connection with a primary offering for cash for the account of the
Company or a secondary offering, the Company will, each time it intends to
effect such a registration, give written notice to all Holders at least ten
(10)
but no more than thirty (30) business days prior to the expected initial filing
of a Registration Statement with the Commission pertaining thereto, informing
such Holders of its intent to file such Registration Statement, the expected
filing date, and of the Holders’ rights to request the registration of the
Registrable Shares held by such Holder (the “Company
Notice”).
Upon
the written request of any Holder made within ten (10) business days after
any
such Company Notice is given (which request shall specify the Registrable
Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder or its transferees and,
unless the applicable registration is intended to effect a primary offering
of
Shares for cash for the account of the Company, the intended method of
distribution thereof), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to
effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities
which the Company has been so requested to register by such Holders to the
extent required to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended
methods of distribution thereof or, in the case of a registration which is
intended to effect a primary offering for cash for the account of the Company,
in accordance with the Company’s intended method of distribution) of the
Registrable Securities so requested to be registered, including, if necessary,
by filing with the Commission a post-effective amendment or a supplement to
the
Incidental Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or by filing any other required document
or
otherwise supplementing or amending the Incidental Registration Statement,
if
required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form used by the Company for such Incidental Registration Statement
or by the Securities Act, any state securities or blue sky laws, or any rules
and regulations thereunder; provided,
however,
that
if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any
securities and prior to the effective date of the Incidental Registration
Statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall
determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such
securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such
determination to each Holder and, thereupon, (A) in the case of a determination
not to register, the Company shall be relieved of its obligation to register
any
Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but not from its
obligation to pay the Registration Expenses incurred in connection therewith),
and (B) in the case of a determination to delay such registration, the Company
shall be permitted to delay registration of any Registrable Securities requested
to be included in such Incidental Registration Statement for the same period
as
the delay in registering such other securities.
9
The
registration rights granted pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3(a)
shall be in addition to the registration rights granted pursuant to the other
provisions of this Agreement.
(b) Amount
of Inclusion.
The
Company shall be required to include in the Incidental Registration the
percentage of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders in such
registration as will equal the fraction, (x) the numerator of which shall be
the
number of all the Registrable Securities and (y) the denominator of which shall
be the number of shares of the outstanding capital stock of the Company on
a
fully-diluted basis, in each case, immediately prior to the effectiveness of
such registration statement. The number of Registrable Securities to be included
in the Incidental Registration shall be allocated pro
rata
among
the Holders thereof requesting inclusion in such Incidental Registration on
the
basis of the number of securities requested to be included by all such
Holders.
4.
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Registration
Procedures.
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The
following provisions shall apply to the Relevant Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3, as the case may be:
(a) the
Company and the Guarantor:
(i) prepare
and file with the Commission a registration statement on any form which may
be
utilized by the Company and the Guarantor and which shall permit the disposition
of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods
thereof, as specified in writing by the Holders of the Registrable Securities,
and use their reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become
effective in accordance with Section 2(a) or 3(a) above, as the case may
be;
(ii) before
filing any Relevant Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments
or
supplements thereto with the Commission, furnish to the Purchaser copies of
all
such documents proposed to be filed and use reasonable efforts to reflect in
each such document when so filed with the Commission such comments as the
Purchaser reasonably shall propose within three (3) Business Days of the
delivery of such copies to the Purchaser;
10
(iii) use
their
reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the Commission such amendments
and
post-effective amendments to the Relevant Registration Statement and file with
the Commission any other required document as may be necessary to keep such
Relevant Registration Statement continuously effective until the expiration
of
the Effective Period; 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 applicable to it with respect
to the disposition of all Securities covered by such Relevant Registration
Statement during the Effective Period in accordance with the intended methods
of
disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Relevant Registration
Statement as so amended or such Prospectus as so supplemented;
(iv) promptly
notify the Notice Holders of Registrable Securities (A)
when
such Relevant Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein or
any
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or post-effective amendment has been
filed with the Commission, and, with respect to such Relevant Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective,
(B)
of any
request, following the effectiveness of the Relevant Registration Statement,
by
the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority for
amendments or supplements to the Relevant Registration Statement or related
Prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Relevant Registration
Statement or the initiation or written threat of any proceedings for that
purpose, including
the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to
the
use of a Relevant Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act,
(D)
of the
receipt by the Company or any Guarantor of any notification with respect to
the
suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or written threat of any proceeding for such
purpose, (E) of the occurrence of (but not the nature of or details concerning)
any event or the existence of any fact (a “Material
Event”)
as a
result of which any Relevant 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
any 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 (provided,
however,
that no
notice by the Company shall be required pursuant to this clause (E) in the
event
that the Company either promptly files a prospectus supplement to update the
Prospectus or a Form 6-K or other appropriate Exchange Act report that is
incorporated by reference into the Relevant Registration Statement, which,
in
either case, contains the requisite information with respect to such Material
Event that results in such Relevant Registration Statement no longer containing
any untrue statement of material fact or omitting to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading), (F) of
the
determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to the Relevant
Registration Statement will be filed with the Commission, which notice may,
at
the discretion of the Company (or as required pursuant to Section 4(b)), state
that it constitutes a Deferral Notice, in which event the provisions of Section
4(b) shall apply or
(G)
at any
time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act,
that the Relevant Registration Statement, Prospectus, Prospectus amendment
or
supplement or post-effective amendment does not conform in all material respects
to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder;
11
(v) prior
to
any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Relevant
Registration Statement, use
their
reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, or cooperate with the Notice
Holders of Securities included therein and their respective counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification of, such Securities for offer
and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any
such
Notice Holders reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
or
things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions
of the Securities covered by the Relevant
Registration
Statement; prior
to
any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Relevant
Registration Statement, use its reasonable efforts to keep each such
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the
Effective Period in connection with such Notice Holder’s offer and sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) and do any and all other acts or things necessary or
advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable
Securities in the manner set forth in the Relevant Registration Statement and
the related Prospectus; provided
that the
Company and the Guarantors will not be required to qualify generally to do
business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any
action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation
in
any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(vi) use
its
reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of, and if issued, to obtain
the
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Relevant
Registration Statement or, in the event of an objection of the Commission
pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2), promptly file an amendment to such Relevant
Registration Statement on the proper form, and to lift any suspension of the
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction
in which they have been qualified for sale, in each case at the earliest
practicable date;
(vii) upon
reasonable notice, for a reasonable period prior to the filing of the Relevant
Registration Statement, and throughout the Effective Period, (i)
make
reasonably available for inspection by a representative of, and Special Counsel
acting for, Majority Holders of the Securities being sold and any underwriter
(and its counsel) participating in any disposition of Securities pursuant to
such Relevant
Registration
Statement, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries and (ii) use
reasonable best efforts to have their officers, directors, employees,
accountants and counsel supply all relevant information reasonably requested
by
such representative, Special Counsel or any such underwriter in connection
with
such Relevant
Registration
Statement; provided, however, that all records, information and documents that
are designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential shall
be kept confidential by the Majority Holders and their representative and
Special Counsel unless such records, information or documents subsequently
enter
the
public domain (other than as a consequence of the breach of this clause by
the
Majority Holders);
12
(viii) if
requested by Majority Holders of the Securities being sold in an underwriting,
their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) in connection with
such Relevant Registration Statement, use their reasonable best efforts to
cause
(i) their counsel to deliver an opinion relating to the Relevant Registration
Statement and the Securities in customary form, (ii) their officers to execute
and deliver all customary documents and certificates requested by the Majority
Holders of the Securities being sold, their Special Counsel or the managing
underwriters (if any) and (iii) their independent registered public accounting
firm to provide a letter confirming
that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the rules
and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Accounting Oversight
Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act with, in the case
of
an amendment or supplement that includes audited financial information, such
changes as may be necessary to reflect the amended or supplemented financial
information.
(ix) if
reasonably requested by the Purchaser or any Notice Holder, promptly incorporate
in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Relevant
Registration Statement such information as the Purchaser or such Notice Holder
shall, on the basis of a written opinion of nationally-recognized counsel
experienced in such matters, determine to be required to be included therein
by
applicable law and make any required filings of such prospectus supplement
or
such post-effective amendment; provided,
that
the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section
4(a)(ix) that are not, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company,
in
compliance with applicable law;
(x) promptly
furnish to each Notice Holder and the Purchaser, upon their request and without
charge, at least one (1) conformed copy of the Relevant Registration Statement
and any amendments thereto, including financial statements but excluding
schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein
by
reference and all exhibits; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall have no obligation to deliver to Notice Holders or the
Purchaser a copy of any amendment consisting exclusively of an Exchange Act
report or other Exchange Act filing otherwise publicly available on the
Company’s website;
13
(xi) during
the Effective Period, deliver to each Notice Holder in connection with any
sale
of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Relevant Registration Statement,
without charge, at least one copy of the Prospectus relating to such Registrable
Securities (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto; and the Company hereby consents (except during such periods
that a Deferral Notice is outstanding and has not been revoked) to the use
of
such Prospectus or each amendment or supplement thereto by each Notice Holder
in
connection with any offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered
by
such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in the manner set forth
therein; and
(xii) cooperate
with the Notice Holders
of
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Securities to be sold pursuant to the Relevant
Registration
Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and
registered in such names as the Holders thereof may request in writing at least
two business days prior to sales of Securities pursuant to such Relevant
Registration Statement; provided
that
nothing herein shall require the Company to deliver certificated Notes to any
beneficial holder of Notes except as required by the Indenture.
(b) Upon
(A)
the issuance by the Commission of a stop order suspending the effectiveness
of
the Relevant Registration Statement or the initiation of proceedings with
respect to the Relevant Registration Statement under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of
the
Securities Act, (B) the occurrence of any event or the existence of any Material
Event as a result of which the Relevant 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 any 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, or (C) the occurrence or existence of any corporate
development that, in the discretion of the Company, makes it appropriate to
suspend the availability of the Relevant Registration Statement and the related
Prospectus, the Company will (i) in the case of clause (B) above, subject to
the
third sentence of this provision, as promptly as is practicable prepare and
file
a post-effective amendment to such Relevant Registration Statement or a
supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by
reference or file any other required document that would be incorporated by
reference into such Relevant Registration Statement and Prospectus so that
such
Relevant Registration Statement does 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 such Prospectus
does 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made
available) to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold
thereunder, and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to the Relevant
Registration Statement, subject to the third sentence of this provision, use
reasonable efforts to cause it to be declared effective or otherwise become
effective as promptly as is practicable, and (ii) give notice to the Notice
Holders that the availability of the Relevant Registration Statement is
suspended (a “Deferral
Notice”).
Upon
receipt of any Deferral Notice, each Notice Holder agrees not to sell any
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Relevant Registration Statement until
such Notice Holder’s receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
provided for in clause (i) above, 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 reasonable best
efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed (x) in the
case
of clause (A) above, as promptly as is practicable, (y) in the case of clause
(B) above, as soon as, in the sole judgment of the Company, public disclosure
of
such Material Event would not be prejudicial to or contrary to the interests
of
the Company or, if necessary to avoid unreasonable burden or expense, as soon
as
practicable thereafter and (z) in the case of clause (C) above, as soon as,
in
the discretion of the Company, such suspension is no longer appropriate;
provided
that the
period during which the availability of the Relevant Registration Statement
and
any Prospectus is suspended (the “Deferral
Period”),
without the Company incurring any obligation to pay Additional Interest pursuant
to Section 2(d), shall not exceed 120 days in the aggregate in any 12 month
period.
14
(c) Each
Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that upon receipt of any Deferral Notice
from the Company, such Holder shall forthwith discontinue (and cause any
placement or sales agent or underwriters acting on their behalf to discontinue)
the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement
applicable to such Registrable Securities until such Holder (i) shall have
received copies of such amended or supplemented Prospectus and, if so directed
by the Company, such Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company’s
expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s
possession of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time
of
receipt of such notice or (ii) shall have received notice from the Company
that
the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Relevant Registration
may continue.
(d) The
Company and the Guarantor, so long as any Registrable Securities remain
outstanding, cause each Additional Guarantor upon the creation or acquisition
by
the Company of such Additional Guarantor, to (i) execute and deliver a
supplemental indenture to the Indenture and (ii) deliver to the Trustee an
opinion of counsel to the effect that (A) the supplemental indenture has been
duly executed and authorized and (B) the supplemental indenture constitutes
a
valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Additional Guarantor, except
insofar as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar laws (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent
transfers) and except insofar as enforcement thereof is subject to general
principles of equity.
(e) The
Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities as to which any
registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or 3(a), as the case may be, is being
effected to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and
such Holder’s intended method of distribution of such Registrable Securities as
the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing, but only to
the
extent that such information is required in order to comply with the Securities
Act. Each such Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable
of
any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by such Holder
to
the Company or of the occurrence of any event in either case as a result of
which any Prospectus relating to such registration contains or would contain
an
untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Holder or such Holder’s
intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities or omits to state
any material fact regarding such Holder or such Holder’s intended method of
disposition of such Registrable Securities required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and promptly to furnish
to the Company any additional information required to correct and update any
previously furnished information or required so that such Prospectus shall
not
contain, with respect to such Holder or the disposition of such Registrable
Securities, 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.
15
(f) The
Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
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 (i) 40 days after the end of any 12-month
period (or 60 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) if the Company is at such time an “accelerated filer” and (ii) 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) if the Company is not an
“accelerated filer” commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of
the Company commencing after the effective date of the Relevant Registration
Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods.
(g) The
Company shall provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities covered
by
the Relevant Registration Statement not later than the initial effective date
of
such Relevant Registration Statement and provide the Trustee for the Notes
and
the transfer agent for the Shares with printed certificates for the Registrable
Securities that are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company.
(h) The
Company shall use its reasonable efforts to provide such information as is
required for any filings required to be made with the National Association
of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
(i) Until
the
expiration of two years after the Closing Date, the Company will not, and will
not permit any of its “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 144) to, resell any of
the Securities that have been reacquired by any of them except pursuant to
an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
(j) The
Company shall enter into such customary agreements and take all such other
necessary, reasonable and lawful actions in connection therewith (including
those requested by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities covered
by
the Relevant Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate
disposition of such Registrable Securities.
(k) The
Company and the Guarantor shall take all such action prior to the filing of
any
Relevant Registration Statement as may be required, including entry into one
or
more supplemental indentures, in order to qualify the Indenture under the TIA
to
the extent such qualification is in fact required under the terms of the
TIA.
5.
|
Holder’s
Obligations.
|
Each
Holder agrees, by acquisition of the Registrable Securities, that no Holder
of
Registrable Securities shall be entitled to sell any of such Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or to receive a
Prospectus relating thereto, unless such Holder has furnished the Company with
a
Notice and Questionnaire as required pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof (including
the information required to be included in such Notice and Questionnaire) and
the information set forth in the next sentence. Each Notice Holder 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 Notice
Holder not misleading and any other information regarding such Notice Holder
and
the distribution of such Registrable Securities as may be required to be
disclosed in the Shelf Registration Statement under applicable law or pursuant
to Commission comments. Each Holder further agrees not to sell any Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement without delivering,
or
causing to be delivered, a Prospectus to the purchaser thereof and, following
termination of the Effective Period, to notify the Company, within ten (10)
business days of a request by the Company, of the amount of Registrable
Securities sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and, in the absence
of a response, the Company may assume that all of the Holder’s Registrable
Securities were so sold.
16
6.
|
Registration
Expenses.
|
The
Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly upon request
being made therefor all expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or
compliance with this Agreement, including, but not limited to, (a) all
Commission and any NASD registration and filing fees and expenses,
(b)
all fees
and expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering
and sale under the State securities and Blue Sky laws referred to in Section
4(a)(v) hereof, including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel
for
the placement agent or underwriters, if any, in connection with such
qualifications,
(c)
all
expenses relating to the preparation, printing, distribution and reproduction
of
the Relevant Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and each amendment
or supplement to each of the foregoing, the certificates representing the
Securities and all other documents relating hereto,
(d)
fees and
expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, any escrow agent or custodian,
and
of the registrar and transfer agent for the Shares,
(e)
fees,
disbursements and expenses of counsel and independent certified public
accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any opinions or “cold
comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance)
and
(f)
reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of not more than one counsel for
the
Holders of Registrable Securities retained in connection with the Relevant
Registration Statement, as selected by the Company (unless reasonably objected
to by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities being registered,
in
which case the Majority Holders shall select such counsel for the Holders)
(“Special
Counsel”),
and
fees, expenses and disbursements of any other Persons, including special
experts, retained by the Company in connection with such registration
(collectively, the “Registration
Expenses”).
To
the extent that any Registration Expenses are incurred, assumed or paid by
any
Holder of Registrable Securities or any underwriter or placement agent therefor,
the Company shall reimburse such Person for the full amount of the Registration
Expenses so incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a documented
request therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holders of the Registrable
Securities being registered shall pay all underwriting discounts and
commissions, placement agent fees and commissions and transfer taxes
attributable to the sale or disposition of such Registrable Securities and
the
fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisors or experts retained
by
such Holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel and experts
specifically referred to above.
17
7.
|
Indemnification.
|
(a) The
Company and the Guarantor shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder (including, without limitation, the Purchaser), its
affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives
and
agents, and each person, if any, who controls such Holder within the meaning
of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes
of
this Section 7 and Section 8 as a Holder) from and against any loss, claim,
damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof
(including, without limitation, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
relating to purchases and sales of Securities), to which that Holder may become
subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, any Blue Sky laws, any other federal or state statutory law or regulation,
any applicable laws in a jurisdiction other than the United States, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement,
(ii)
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in
any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information”
(“Issuer
Information”)
filed
or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or
(ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and shall reimburse each Holder promptly upon demand for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Holder in connection with
investigating or defending or preparing to defend against or appearing as a
third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however,
that
the Company and the Guarantor shall not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is
based upon, an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission
or
alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity
with any information provided by a Holder in its most recent Notice and
Questionnaire; and provided,
further,
that
with respect to any such untrue statement in or omission from any related
preliminary prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(a)
shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person asserting
any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action received Securities to the extent
that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action of or with respect to such
Holder results from the fact that both (A) a copy of the final prospectus
was not sent or given to such person at or prior to the written confirmation
of
the sale of such Securities to such person and (B) the untrue statement in
or
omission from the related preliminary prospectus was corrected in the final
prospectus unless, in either case, such failure to deliver the final Prospectus
was a result of non-compliance by the Company and the Guarantors with
Section 4. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability
that the Company and the Guarantor may otherwise have.
The
Company and the Guarantor also shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold
harmless as provided in this Section 7(a) or contribute as provided in Section
7
hereof with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action of each
underwriter, if any, of Securities registered under the Relevant Registration
Statement, its affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act on
substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the selling
Holders provided in this paragraph (a) and shall, if requested by any Holder,
enter into an underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement.
18
(b) Each
Holder shall indemnify and hold
harmless
the Company, the Guarantor, and their respective affiliates, their respective
officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, and each person,
if
any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes of
this Section 7(b) and Section 8 as the Company), from and against any loss,
claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof,
to which the Company may become subject, whether commenced or threatened, under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, applicable Blue Sky laws, any other
federal or state statutory law or regulation, any applicable laws in a
jurisdiction other than the United States, at common law or otherwise, insofar
as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based
upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any such Registration Statement or any prospectus forming part
thereof or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case
only
to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with any
information furnished to the Company by such Holder in its most recent Notice
and Questionnaire, and shall reimburse the Company for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating
or
defending or preparing to defend against or appearing as a third party witness
in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; provided,
however,
that no
such Holder shall be liable for any indemnity claims hereunder in excess of
the
amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Securities
pursuant to such Relevant Registration Statement unless
such liability is the direct result of the Holder's gross negligence, willful
misconduct or fraud.
This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder
may otherwise have.
19
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of any
claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a
claim
in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party pursuant to
Section 7(a) or 6(b), notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim
or the commencement of that action; provided,
however,
that
the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent that
it
has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights
or
defenses) by such failure; and provided,
further,
that
the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this
Section 7. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified
party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it
wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume
the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party.
After
notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election
to
assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not
be
liable to the indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with
the
defense thereof other than the reasonable costs of investigation; provided,
however,
that an
indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such
action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel for the
indemnified party will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1)
the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in
writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably
concluded (based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified party) that there
may
be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are
different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party,
(3)
a conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon advice of counsel to the
indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party
(in
which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense
of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying
party
has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after
receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases
the
reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the
expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the
indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding
or
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable
fees,
disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm of attorneys
(in
addition to any local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party
or
parties. Each indemnified party, as a condition of the indemnity agreements
contained in Sections 6(a) and 6(b), shall use all reasonable efforts to
cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or
claim. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any such
action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there
be a
final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against
any
loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment or if the
indemnifying party has not paid the expenses and fees for which it is liable
20
days after notice by the indemnified party of request for reimbursement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), 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 (i) includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include a
statement or admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on
behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) The
provisions of this Section 7 and Section 8 shall remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder,
the
Company, the Guarantor, or any of the indemnified Persons referred to in this
Section 7 and Section 8, and shall survive the sale by a Holder of securities
covered by the Relevant Registration Statement.
(e) Notwithstanding
any other provisions in this Section 7 and Section 8, the indemnified parties
shall not be entitled to recover from the indemnifying parties for any Losses
under this Section 7 and Section 8 unless and until the total amount of all
such
losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions indemnifiable
hereunder exceeds US$100,000, provided that when such amount is exceeded, the
indemnifying parties shall be liable for all amount including the first
US$100,000. In any event, the indemnifying parties’ total liability for any
losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions under
this Section 7 and Section 8 shall not exceed US$60,000,000.
20
8.
|
Contribution.
|
If
the
indemnification provided for in Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to
hold
harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b), then each indemnifying
party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to
the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss,
claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such
proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by
the Company and the Guarantor from the offering and sale of the Notes, on the
one hand, and a Holder with respect to the sale by such Holder of Securities,
on
the other, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above 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 Company and the Guarantor on the one hand and such Holder on the
other with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss,
claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company
and the Guarantor on the one hand and a Holder on the other with respect to
such
offering and such sale shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total
net proceeds from the offering of the Notes (before deducting expenses) received
by or on behalf of the Company and the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the
total
discounts and commissions received by such Holder with respect to the
Securities, on the other, bear to the total gross proceeds from the sale of
Securities. The relative fault 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 the Company
and
the Guarantor or information supplied by the Company and the Guarantor on the
one hand or to any information contained in the relevant Notice and
Questionnaire supplied by such Holder on the other, the intent of the parties
and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct
or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that
it
would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8
were
to be determined by pro
rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable
by
an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or
action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed
to include, for purposes of this Section 8, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending or preparing to defend any such action or claim. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 8, an indemnifying party that is a Holder of
Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the Securities sold by such
indemnifying party to any purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages which
such
indemnifying party has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of
any
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission unless such
party is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) with respect to such statement or omission. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several and not
joint.
21
9.
|
Rule
144A and Rule 144.
|
So
long
as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner
and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will,
upon the written request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, make publicly
available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of such
Holder’s securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company and the
Guarantor covenant that they will take such further action as any Holder of
Registrable Securities 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 Rules 144 and 144A (including, without limitation, the requirements
of Rule 144A(d)(4)). Upon the written request of any Holder of Registrable
Securities, the Company and the Guarantor shall deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 9 shall be deemed to require the Company
to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
10.
|
Third
Party Beneficiaries.
|
The
Other
Investors are intended beneficiaries of this Agreement. Upon execution and
delivery of an Accession Letter pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the
issuance and sale of the Other Notes pursuant to the terms of the Other
Indenture, each Other Investor shall be entitled to the rights, and be subject
to the obligations, of the Purchaser under this Agreement, on a pro-rated basis
as to both the Purchaser and the other Other Investors, in accordance with
the
fraction (x) the numerator of which is the aggregate principal amount of the
Other Notes then outstanding held by such Other Investor and (y) the denominator
of which is the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes and the
aggregate principal amount of the Other Notes, in each case, then
outstanding.
11.
|
Miscellaneous.
|
(a) Amendments
and Waivers.
The
provisions of this Agreement 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 Majority Holders.
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 whose Securities are being sold pursuant to the Relevant Registration
Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other
Holders may be given by Holders of a majority in aggregate amount of the
Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to the Relevant
Registration Statement.
(b) Notices.
All
notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall
be
made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, telecopier or air courier
guaranteeing next-day delivery:
(i) If
to the
Company or the Guarantor, initially
at the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement;
22
(ii) If
to the
Purchaser, initially
at its address set forth in the Purchase Agreement;
and
(iii) If
to a
Holder, to the address of such Holder set forth in the security register, the
Notice and Questionnaire or other records of the Company.
All
such
notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when
delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business day after being
delivered to a next-day air courier; five business days after being deposited
in
the mail; and when receipt is acknowledged by the recipient’s telecopier
machine, if sent by telecopier.
(c) Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns.
Unless
otherwise provided herein, the
Purchaser
may
assign its rights hereunder to any of
its
affiliates,
provided that such assignment shall be in compliance with the Securities
Act.
(d) Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (which may be delivered
in original form or by telecopier) and by the parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
(e) Definition
of Terms.
For
purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “business day” means any day on which
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for trading, (b) the term “subsidiary”
has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and (c)
except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning
set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(f) Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing
Law, Jurisdiction and Service of Process.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of New York.
The
Company and the Guarantor irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts
of the State of New York and the courts of the United States of America located
in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York over any suit, action
or
proceeding with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby. The Company and the Guarantor waive any objection that they may have
to
the venue of any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement
or
the transactions contemplated hereby in the courts of the State of New York
or
the courts of the United States of America, in each case, located in the Borough
of Manhattan, City and State of New York, or that such suit, action or
proceeding brought in the courts of the State of New York or the United States
of America, in each case, located in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State
of
New York was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim
the same.
To
the
extent that the Company or the Guarantor has or hereafter may acquire any
immunity (sovereign or otherwise) from any legal action, suit or proceeding,
from jurisdiction of any court or from set-off or any legal process (whether
service or notice, attachment in aid or otherwise) with respect to itself or
any
of its property, each of the Company and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives
and agrees not to plead or claim such immunity in respect of its obligations
under this Agreement.
23
The
Company and the Guarantor irrevocably appoint CT Corporation System acting
through its office at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000, X.X.X.
(or its
successors as agent for service of process) as its authorized agent (the
“Authorized
Agent”)
in the
Borough of Manhattan in the city of New York upon which process may be served
in
any law suit or proceeding, and agree that service of process upon such agent,
and written notice of said service to the Company and the Guarantor, as the
case
may be, by the person serving the same to the address provided for in Section
11(b) of this Agreement, shall be deemed in every respect effective service
of
process upon the Company and the Guarantor, as the case may be, in any such
suit
or proceeding. The Company and the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall give
notice to the Trustee of the appointment of a successor Authorized Agent. If
for
any reason CT Corporation System ceases to be able to act as the Authorized
Agent of the Company and the Guarantor or ceases to have an address in the
Borough of Manhattan, the city of New York, the Company and the Guarantor will
appoint a successor Authorized Agent in accordance with the preceding sentence.
Should
the Company
or the Guarantor fail
to
appoint and/or maintain an agent for service of process, the Purchaser shall
be
entitled to appoint one for the Issuer and/or such Guarantor (as the case may
be), at the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s cost.
(h) Remedies.
In the
event of a breach by the Company or the Guarantor or by any Holder of any of
their respective obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company
or
the Guarantor, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise
all
rights granted by law, including recovery of damages (other than the recovery
of
damages for a breach by the Company or the Guarantor of their obligations under
Section 2 hereof for which Additional Interest have been paid pursuant to
Section 4 hereof), will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under
this Agreement. The Company, the Guarantor and each Holder agree 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
agree
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.
(i) No
Inconsistent Agreements.
Each of
the Company and the Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that (i) it has
not entered into, and shall not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter
into any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders
in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof, (ii) it
has
not previously entered into any agreement which remains in effect granting
any
registration rights with respect to any of its debt securities to any person
and
(iii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Registrable Securities, it shall not grant to any person the right
to request the Company to register any debt securities of the Company under
the
Securities Act unless the rights so granted are not in conflict or inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement.
24
(j) No
Piggyback on Registrations.
None of
the Company, the Guarantor, and any of their respective security holders (other
than the Holders of Registrable Securities in such capacity) shall have the
right to include any securities of the Company in the Relevant Registration
Statement other than Registrable Securities.
(k) Severability.
The
remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies
provided by law. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction 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, and the parties hereto shall use
their reasonable 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 that may
be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(l) Survival.
The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and each other
provision set forth in this Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall remain
in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation (or statement as to the
results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Holder of Registrable Securities,
any director, officer or partner of such Holder, any agent or underwriter or
any
director, officer or partner thereof, or any controlling person of any of the
foregoing, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the transfer and registration
of Registrable Securities by such Holder.
(m) Securities
Held by the Company, etc.
Whenever
the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Securities
is
required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other
than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not
be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.
[Signature
Page(s) to Follow]
25
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first
written above.
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name:
Xxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
||
Title:
Director
|
STATE
HARVEST HOLDINGS LIMITED
|
||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: Xxx Xxxxxxxx |
||
Title:
Director
|
CITADEL
EQUITY FUND LTD.
|
||
By: Citadel Limited Partnership, its
Portfolio
Manager
|
||
By:
Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C., its General
Partner
|
||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name:
|
||
Title: Authorized
Signatory
|
Annex
A
Form
of selling securityholder notice and questionnaire
The
undersigned beneficial holder of the Guaranteed Senior Secured Convertible
Notes
due 2012 of Origin Agritech Ltd. (the “Company”), the subsidiary guarantees, or
common stock, with no par value (together with the notes and subsidiary
guarantees, the “registrable securities”), of the Company understands that the
Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “shelf registration statement”) for
the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities Act”), of the registrable securities in accordance with
the terms of the registration rights agreement (the “registration rights
agreement”) among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors and the purchaser named
therein. The registration rights agreement is available from the Company upon
request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the registration
rights agreement.
Each
beneficial owner of registrable securities is entitled to the benefits of the
registration rights agreement. In order to sell or otherwise dispose of any
registrable securities pursuant to the shelf registration statement, a
beneficial owner of registrable securities generally will be required to be
named as a selling securityholder in the related prospectus, deliver a
prospectus to purchasers of registrable securities and be bound by those
provisions of the registration rights agreement applicable to the beneficial
owner (including indemnification provisions as described below). Beneficial
owners are encouraged to complete and deliver this notice and questionnaire
prior to the effectiveness of the shelf registration statement so that the
beneficial owners may be named as selling securityholders in the related
prospectus at the time of effectiveness. Upon receipt of a completed notice
and
questionnaire from a beneficial owner following the effectiveness of the shelf
registration statement, the Company will, within 15 days after the date of
receipt of such questionnaire, or if the use of the shelf registration statement
is suspended at the time of receipt, within 15 days after the expiration of
the
suspension, file the amendments to the shelf registration statement or
supplements to the related prospectus that are necessary to permit the holder
to
deliver the prospectus to purchasers of registrable securities. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, we will not be required to file more than one post-effective
amendment or supplement to the related prospectus during any 30-day
period.
Some
legal consequences arise from being named as selling securityholders in the
shelf registration statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders
and beneficial owners of registrable securities are advised to consult their
own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the shelf registration statement and the
related prospectus.
Notice
The
undersigned beneficial owner (the “selling securityholder”) of registrable
securities hereby gives notice to the Company of its intention to sell or
otherwise dispose of registrable securities beneficially owned by it and listed
below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under Item 3) pursuant to the shelf
registration statement. The undersigned, by signing and returning this notice
and questionnaire, understands that it will be bound by the terms and conditions
of this notice and questionnaire and the registration rights
agreement.
The
undersigned hereby provides the following information and represents and
warrants that the information is accurate and complete:
Questionnaire
1.
|
Your
Identity and Background as the Beneficial Holder of the Registrable
Securities.
|
1.
|
Your
full legal name:
|
2.
|
Your
business address (including street address) (or residence if no business
address), telephone number and facsimile
number:
|
Address:
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Telephone
No.:
_________________________________________________________________
Fax
No.:
_________________________________________________________________
3.
|
Are
you a broker-dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”)?
|
o
Yes. o
No.
4.
|
If
your response to Item 1(c) above is no, are you an “affiliate” of a
broker-dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Exchange
Act?
|
o
Yes. o
No.
For
the
purposes of this Item 1(c), an “affiliate” of a registered broker-dealer shall
include any company that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such broker-dealer, and does not include any individuals employed by such
broker-dealer or its affiliates.
5.
|
Full
legal name of person through which you hold the registrable
securities—(i.e. name of your broker or the DTC participant, if
applicable, through which your Registered Securities are
held):
|
Name
of
broker:
_________________________________________________________________
DTC
number:
_________________________________________________________________
Contact
person:
_________________________________________________________________
Telephone
number:
_________________________________________________________________
2.
|
Your
Relationship with Origin Agritech
Ltd.:
|
1.
|
Have
you or any of your affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity
holders (owners of 5% or more of the equity securities of the undersigned)
held any position or office or have you had any other material
relationship with Origin Agritech Ltd. (or its predecessors or affiliates)
within the past three years?
|
o
Yes. o
No.
2.
|
If
your response to Item 2(a) above is yes, please state the nature
and
duration of your relationship with Origin Agritech
Ltd.:
|
3.
|
Your
Interest in the Registrable
Securities:
|
3.
|
State
the type of registrable securities (notes and subsidiary guarantees
or
common stock) and the principal amount or number of such registrable
securities beneficially owned by you. Check any of the following
that
applies to you.
|
o
I own notes and
subsidiary guarantees:
Principal
amount and CUSIP No. of the notes and subsidiary guarantees beneficially
owned:
_________________________________________________________________
CUSIP
No(s):
_________________________________________________________________
I
own
shares of common stock that were issued upon conversion of the notes:
Number
of
shares and CUSIP No. of the Common Stock beneficially owned:
_________________________________________________________________
CUSIP
Number(s):
_________________________________________________________________
4.
|
Other
than as set forth in your response to Item 3(a) above, do you beneficially
own any other securities of Origin Agritech
Ltd.?
|
o
Yes. o
No.
5.
|
If
your answer to Item 3(b) above is yes, state the type, the aggregate
amount and CUSIP No. of such other securities of Origin Agritech
Ltd.
beneficially owned by you:
|
Type:
_________________________________________________________________
Aggregate
amount:
_________________________________________________________________
CUSIP
Number(s):
_________________________________________________________________
6.
|
Did
you acquire the securities listed in Item 3(a) above in the ordinary
course of business?
|
o
Yes. o
No.
7.
|
At
the time of your purchase of the securities listed in Item 3(a) above,
did
you have any agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly,
with
any person to distribute the
securities?
|
o
Yes. o
No.
8.
|
If
your response to Item 3(e) above is yes, please describe such agreements
or understandings:
|
4.
Nature
of Your Beneficial Ownership:
9.
|
If
the name of the beneficial holder of the registrable securities set
forth
in your response to Item 1(a) above is that of a limited partnership,
state the names of the general partners of such limited
partnership:
|
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
10.
|
With
respect to each general partner listed in Item 4(a) above who is
not a
natural person, and is not publicly held, name each shareholder (or
holder
of partnership interests, if applicable) of such general partner.
If any
of these named shareholders are not natural persons or publicly held
entities, please provide the same information. This process should
be
repeated until you reach natural persons or a publicly held
entity.
|
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
11.
|
Name
your controlling shareholder(s) (the “Controlling Entity”). If the
Controlling Entity is not a natural person and is not a publicly
held
entity, name each shareholder of such Controlling Entity. If any
of these
named shareholders are not natural persons or publicly held entities,
please provide the same information. This process should be repeated
until
you reach natural persons or a publicly held
entity.
|
(A)(i)
|
Full
legal name of Controlling Entity(ies) or natural person(s) who have
sole
or shared voting or dispositive power over the registrable
securities:
|
(ii)
|
Business
address (including street address) (or residence if no business address),
telephone number and facsimile number of such
person(s):
|
Address:
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Telephone
Number:
_________________________________________________________________
Fax
Number:
_________________________________________________________________
(iii)
|
Name
of shareholders:
|
(B)(i)
|
Full
legal name of Controlling
Entity(ies):
|
(ii)
|
Business
address (including street address) (or residence if no business address),
telephone number and facsimile number of such
person(s):
|
Address:
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Telephone
Number:
_________________________________________________________________
Fax
Number:
_________________________________________________________________
(iii)
|
Name
of shareholders:
|
If
you need more space for this response, please attach additional sheets of paper.
Please be sure to indicate your name and the number of the item being responded
to on each such additional sheet of paper, and to sign each such additional
sheet of paper before attaching it to this Questionnaire. Please note that
you
may be asked to answer additional questions depending on your responses to
the
following questions.
4.
|
Plan
of Distribution:
|
Except
as set forth below, the undersigned (including its donees or pledgees) intends
to distribute the registrable securities listed above in Item 3 pursuant to
the
shelf registration statement only as follows (if at all): Such registrable
securities may be sold from time to time directly by the undersigned or,
alternatively, through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the
registrable securities are sold through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents,
the selling securityholder will be responsible for underwriting discounts or
commissions or agents’ commissions. Such registrable securities may be sold in
one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the
time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated
prices. Such sales may be effected in transactions (which may involve block
transactions) (i) on any national securities exchange or quotation service
on
which the registrable securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale,
(ii) in the over-the-counter market, or (iii) in transactions otherwise than
on
such exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market. The undersigned
may also sell registrable securities short and deliver registrable securities
to
close out short positions, or loan or pledge registrable securities to
broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.
State
any
exceptions here:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Note:
In
no
event will such method(s) of distribution take the form of an underwritten
offering of the registrable securities without the prior agreement of the
Company.
The
Company hereby advises each selling securityholder of the following
Interpretation A.65 of the July 1997 SEC Manual of Publicly Available Telephone
Interpretations regarding short selling:
“An
issuer filed a Form S-3 registration statement for a secondary offering of
common stock which is not yet effective. One of the selling shareholders wanted
to do a short sale of common stock “against the box” and cover the short sale
with registered shares after the effective date. The issuer was advised that
the
short sale could not be made before the registration statement becomes
effective, because the shares underlying the short sale are deemed to be sold
at
the time such sale is made. There would, therefore, be a violation of Section
5
if the shares were effectively sold prior to the effective
date.”
By
returning this Election and Questionnaire, the selling securityholder will
be
deemed to be aware of the foregoing interpretation.
The
undersigned acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply with
the
provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules thereunder relating to stock
manipulation, particularly Regulation M thereunder (or any successor rules
or
regulations) and the provisions of the securities act relating to prospectus
delivery, in connection with any offering of registrable securities pursuant
to
the shelf registration statement. The undersigned agrees that neither it nor
any
person acting on its behalf will engage in any transaction in violation of
such
provisions.
The
selling securityholder hereby acknowledges its obligations under the
registration rights agreement to indemnify and hold harmless certain persons
set
forth therein.
Pursuant
to the registration rights agreement, the Company and the subsidiary guarantors
have agreed under certain circumstances to indemnify the selling securityholders
against certain liabilities.
In
accordance with the undersigned’s obligation under the registration rights
agreement to provide such information as may be required by law for inclusion
in
the shelf registration statement, the undersigned agrees to promptly notify
the
Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that
may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the shelf registration
statement remains effective. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the
registration rights agreement shall be made in writing at the address set forth
below.
By
signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to items (1) through (6) above and the inclusion
of such information in the shelf registration statement and the related
prospectus. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied
upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the
shelf
registration statement and the related prospectus.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
notice and questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by
its
authorized agent.
Beneficial
Owner
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Dated:
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Name: |
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Title: |
PLEASE
RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE TO:
Xx.
00
Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
The People’s Republic of China 102206
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
Fax
number: (00) 00 0000 0000