STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT by and among GREATBATCH, INC., KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS & CO. L.P., BAIN CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC, and EACH OF THE STOCKHOLDERS PARTY HERETO Dated as of October 27, 2015
Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION VERSION
by and among
KOHLBERG KRAVIS XXXXXXX & CO. L.P.,
XXXX CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC,
and
EACH OF THE STOCKHOLDERS PARTY HERETO
Dated as of October 27, 2015
THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of October 27, 2015 (the “Agreement”), is by and among GREATBATCH, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), KOHLBERG KRAVIS XXXXXXX & CO. L.P. (“KKR”), XXXX CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC (“Bain”), and each of the stockholders whose name appears on the signature pages hereto and any person who becomes a party pursuant to Section 1.1(b)(i) hereof.
WHEREAS, on August 27, 2015, the Company, Lake Region Medical Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Lake Region”), and Provenance Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Subsidiary”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, the Merger Subsidiary will be merged with and into Lake Region on the Closing Date (the “Merger”), with Lake Region continuing as the surviving company and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each share of outstanding common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Lake Region (the “Lake Region Common Stock”) shall be converted in the Merger into (i) shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) and (ii) cash, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, in connection with the Merger, the Investors (as defined below) are expected to receive shares of Company Common Stock (the shares of Company Common Stock to be received by the Investors in the Merger, the “Shares”) representing, in the aggregate, approximately 12.9% of the Company’s outstanding shares, after giving effect to the issuance of such Shares; and
WHEREAS, each of the parties hereto wishes to set forth in this Agreement certain terms and conditions regarding the Investors’ ownership of the Shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
TRANSFERS; STANDSTILL PROVISIONS
1.1. Transfer Restrictions.
(a) Other than solely in the case of a Permitted Transfer, no Investor shall Transfer any Shares prior to the date that is six (6) months after the Closing (such period, the “Restricted Period”).
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(b) “Permitted Transfers” mean, in each case, so long as such Transfer is in accordance with Applicable Law and, solely in the case of sub-clause (i) below, any such Transfer would not result in the Bain Investors or the KKR Investors, as applicable, exceeding the Bain Ownership Limit or the KKR Ownership Limit, respectively:
(i) a Transfer to a Permitted Transferee of the applicable Investor, so long as such Permitted Transferee, in connection with such Transfer, executes a joinder to this Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, in which such Permitted Transferee agrees to be a “Bain Investor,” in the case of a Transfer by a Bain Investor or a “KKR Investor,” in the case of a Transfer by a KKR Investor; or
(ii) a Transfer solely to tender into a tender or exchange offer commenced by a third party (for the avoidance of doubt, not in violation of this Agreement) or by the Company; provided, that with respect to an unsolicited tender or exchange offer commenced by a third party, such Transfer shall be permitted only if (A) such tender or exchange offer includes an irrevocable minimum tender condition of no less than a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and (B) as of the expiration of such offer (x) no stockholder rights plan or analogous “poison pill” of the Company is in effect or (y) the Board has affirmatively publicly recommended to the Company’s stockholders that such stockholders tender into such offer and has not publicly withdrawn or changed such recommendation.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, including Article IV hereof and the expiration or inapplicability of the Restricted Period, no Investor shall Transfer any Voting Securities other than in accordance with all Applicable Laws and, in the case of Transfers made pursuant to Article IV hereof, the other terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(d) Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of Voting Securities in violation of this Section 1.1 shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, be null and void ab initio, and the Company shall not, and shall instruct its transfer agent and other third parties not to, record or recognize any such purported transaction on the share register of the Company.
(e) With respect to any Bain Investor or KKR Investor, any certificates for Shares shall bear a legend or legends (and appropriate comparable notations or other arrangements will be made with respect to any uncertificated Shares) referencing restrictions on Transfer of such Shares under the Securities Act and under this Agreement, which legend shall state in substance:
“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT IS AVAILABLE.
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THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN A STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF OCTOBER 27, 2015, AMONG GREATBATCH, INC. AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF GREATBATCH, INC.”
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing subsection (e), the holder of any certificate(s) for Shares shall be entitled to receive from the Company new certificates for a like number of Shares not bearing such legend (or the elimination or termination of such notations or arrangements) upon the request of such holder (i) at such time as such restrictions are no longer applicable, and (ii) with respect to the restriction on Transfer of such Shares under the Securities Act or any other applicable Foreign or State Act, unless such Shares are sold pursuant to a registration statement, subject to delivery of an opinion of counsel to such holder, which opinion is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company and its counsel, that the restriction referenced in such legend (or such notations or arrangements) is no longer required in order to ensure compliance with the Securities Act or any such other applicable Foreign or State Act.
1.2. Standstill Provisions.
(a) During the Standstill Period, the Bain Investors, the KKR Investors, Bain and KKR shall not, directly or indirectly, and shall not permit any of their Controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, to, and neither Bain nor KKR shall permit any Bain Investment Fund or KKR Investment Fund, respectively, directly or indirectly, to (i) acquire, agree to acquire, propose or offer to acquire, or facilitate the acquisition or ownership of, Voting Securities, or securities of the Company that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Voting Securities, other than (A) as a result of any stock split, stock dividend or subdivision of Voting Securities or (B) any acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock by any Bain Non-Private Equity Business or KKR Non-Private Equity Business, so long as after giving effect to such acquisition, all Bain Non-Private Equity Businesses, in the aggregate, or KKR Non-Private Equity Businesses, in the aggregate, respectively, would each Beneficially Own less than five percent (5%) of the Total Voting Power and the Total Economic Interest, (ii) deposit any Voting Securities into a voting trust or similar Contract or subject any Voting Securities to any voting agreement, pooling arrangement or similar arrangement or other Contract (other than solely between (x) the Bain Investors, Bain and the Bain Investment Funds or (y) the KKR Investors, KKR and the KKR Investment Funds, and, in the case of each of the foregoing (x) and (y), their respective Controlled Affiliates), or grant any proxy with respect to any Voting Securities (other than to the Company or a Person specified by the Company in a proxy card provided to stockholders of the Company by or on behalf of the Company), (iii) enter, agree to enter, propose or offer to enter into or facilitate any merger, business combination, recapitalization, restructuring, change in control transaction or other similar extraordinary transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries (unless (1) such transaction is affirmatively publicly recommended by the Board and there has otherwise been no breach of this Section 1.2 in connection with or relating to such transaction or (2) such action is expressly permitted by Section 1.1(b)(ii)), (iv) make, or in any way participate or engage in, any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Commission) to vote, or advise or
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knowingly influence any Person with respect to the voting of, any Voting Securities, (v) call, or seek to call, a meeting of the stockholders of the Company or initiate any stockholder proposal for action by stockholders of the Company, (vi) form, join or in any way participate in a Group (other than with its Permitted Transferee that is bound by the restrictions of this Section 1.2(a) or a Group which consists solely of any of (1) Bain, any Bain Investment Fund and the Bain Investors or (2) KKR, any KKR Investment Fund, and the KKR Investors and, in each case, their respective Controlled Affiliates), with respect to any Voting Securities, (vii) otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to seek to Control or influence the management or the policies of the Company, (viii) publicly disclose any intention, plan, arrangement or other Contract prohibited by, or inconsistent with, the foregoing or (ix) advise or knowingly assist or encourage or enter into any discussions, negotiations, agreements, or arrangements or other Contracts with any other Persons in connection with the foregoing. The Bain Investors the KKR Investors, Bain and KKR further agree that, during the Standstill Period, the Bain Investors the KKR Investors, Bain and KKR shall not, directly or indirectly, and shall not permit any of their Controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, to, and neither of Bain or KKR shall permit any Bain Investment Fund or KKR Investment Fund, respectively, directly or indirectly, to (x) request the Company to amend or waive any provision of this Section 1.2 (including this sentence) or (y) take any action that would reasonably be expected to require the Company to make a public announcement regarding the possibility of a business combination, merger or other type of transaction or matter described in this Section 1.2.
(b) For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, at all times during the Standstill Period, each of (A) Bain and the Bain Investors and (B) KKR and the KKR Investors agree that their Beneficial Ownership, on a fully diluted basis, of Voting Securities or securities of the Company that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Voting Securities, shall not exceed the Bain Ownership Limit or the KKR Ownership Limit, respectively.
(c) “Standstill Period” shall mean, with respect to each of (i) Bain and the Bain Investors and (ii) KKR and the KKR Investors, the period from the Closing Date until the date on which (A) Bain and the Bain Investors (with respect to Bain) or (B) KKR and the KKR Investors (with respect to KKR) Beneficially Own twenty five percent (25%) or less of the Shares Beneficially Owned by such Persons as of immediately following the Closing.
ARTICLE II
NON-SOLICIT
2.1. Non-Solicit.
(a) In order to induce the Company to enter into the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Bain, each of the Bain Investors, KKR and each of the KKR Investors each hereby covenants and agrees that, until the one-year anniversary of the Effective Time, such Person shall not solicit for employment any person that is (or was within the six-month period prior to the date of determination) the Chief Executive Officer of Lake Region or any of his direct reports; provided, that (i) employing any person who contacts such Person on his or her own initiative and without any direct solicitation by such Person or as a result of general, non-targeted
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media advertising, (ii) soliciting or employing any such person through the use of an independent search firm that contacts employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or of Lake Region or any of its subsidiaries, without the direction or advice of any of the Persons whose activities are restricted by this Section 2.1 or (iii) soliciting or hiring any Person whose employment with Lake Region or any of its subsidiaries has been terminated for any reason, shall, in each case, not be deemed to be direct or indirect solicitations.
(b) For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a breach of the obligations under this Section 2.1, in addition to all other available remedies, the Company shall be entitled to seek specific performance to enforce the provisions of this Section 2.1 in any court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with Section 6.9.
(c) Each of Bain, the Bain Investors, KKR and the KKR Investors acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Section 2.1 are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Company and constitute a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement. It is the intent of the parties that the provisions of this Section 2.1 shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the Applicable Law and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. If any particular provision or portion of this Section 2.1 shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision or portion thereof shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to render such provision or portion valid and enforceable, such amendment to apply only with respect to the operation of such provision or portion in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1. Representations and Warranties of the Investors. Each Investor, on behalf of itself and not any other Investor, hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows as of the date hereof:
(a) Such Investor: (i) will be acquiring at Closing the Shares for its own account, solely for investment and not with a view toward, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of any foreign, federal, state or local securities or “blue sky” laws, or with any present intention of distributing or selling such Shares in violation of any such laws, (ii) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and in investments of this type that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Shares and of making an informed investment decision and (iii) is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. Such Investor understands that the Shares may not be Transferred except pursuant to the registration provisions of the Securities Act (and in compliance with any other Applicable Law) or pursuant to an applicable exemption therefrom.
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3.2. Representations and Warranties of Bain. Each of Bain and each Initial Bain Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
(a) It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. It has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) The execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement do not and will not conflict with or violate any provision of, or require the consent or approval of any Person (except for any such consents or approvals which have been obtained) under, (x) Applicable Law, (y) its organizational documents or (z) any Contract or agreement to which it is a party.
(c) The execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other analogous action on its part. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity.
3.3. [Reserved.]
3.4. Representations and Warranties of KKR. Each of KKR and each Initial KKR Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
(a) It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. It has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) The execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement do not and will not conflict with or violate any provision of, or require the consent or approval of any Person (except for any such consents or approvals which have been obtained) under, (x) Applicable Law, (y) its organizational documents or (z) any Contract or agreement to which it is a party.
(c) The execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other analogous action on its part. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity.
3.5. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investors as follows:
(a) The Company is a corporation, duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
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(b) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement do not and will not conflict with or violate any provision of, or require the consent or approval of any Person (except for any such consents or approvals which have been obtained) under, (x) Applicable Law, (y) the organizational documents of the Company or (z) any Contract or agreement to which the Company is a party.
(c) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity.
ARTICLE IV
REGISTRATION
4.1. Demand Registrations.
(a) From and after the expiration of the Restricted Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof (x) solely during any period that the Company is then-ineligible under Applicable Law to register Registrable Securities on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 4.3 or, if the Company is so eligible but has failed to comply with its obligations under Section 4.3 or (y) following the expiration of the Company’s obligation to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective pursuant to Section 4.3(c), but only if there is no Shelf Registration Statement then in effect, any Demand Stockholders (the “Requesting Stockholders”) shall be entitled to make an unlimited number of written requests of the Company (each, a “Demand”) for registration under the Securities Act of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by such Requesting Stockholders that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount (a “Demand Registration”). Thereupon the Company will, subject to the terms of this Agreement, use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration as promptly as reasonably practicable under the Securities Act of:
(i) the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Requesting Stockholders for disposition in accordance with the intended method of disposition stated in such Demand;
(ii) all other Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register pursuant to Section 4.1(b), but subject to Section 4.1(g); and
(iii) all shares of Company Common Stock which the Company may elect to register in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 4.1, but subject to Section 4.1(g);
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all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities and the additional shares of Company Common Stock, if any, to be so registered.
(b) A Demand shall specify: (i) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered in such Demand Registration, (ii) the intended method of disposition in connection with such Demand Registration, to the extent then known and (iii) the identity of the Requesting Stockholder(s). Within three (3) Business Days after receipt of a Demand, the Company shall give written notice of such Demand to all holders of Registrable Securities. The Company shall include in the Demand Registration covered by such Demand all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received a written request (which written requests shall specify the number of Registrable Securities requested to be disposed of by such holder of Registrable Securities) for inclusion therein from any holder of Registrable Securities (any such holders requesting to include Registrable Securities in such Demand, together with the Requesting Stockholder, the “Demanding Selling Holders”) within five (5) days after the Company’s notice required by this paragraph has been given, subject to Section 4.1(g). Each such written request shall comply with the requirements of a Demand as set forth in this Section 4.1(b).
(c) A Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have been effected and shall not count as a Demand Registration (i) unless a registration statement with respect thereto has become effective and has remained effective for a period of at least one hundred eighty (180) days or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration have actually been sold thereunder (provided, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the holder of Registrable Securities refrains from selling any securities included in such registration statement at the request of the Company or the lead managing underwriter(s) pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or (ii) if, after it has become effective, such Demand Registration becomes subject, prior to one hundred eighty (180) days after effectiveness, to any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental Authority, other than by reason of any act or omission by the applicable Selling Stockholders.
(d) Demand Registrations shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall be selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Requesting Stockholders.
(e) The Company shall not be obligated to (i) subject to Section 4.1(c), maintain the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act filed pursuant to a Demand Registration, for a period longer than one hundred eighty (180) days or (ii) effect or act upon any request for a Demand Registration (A) if the Company is diligently pursuing a primary Underwritten Offering for which all Demand Stockholders will be offered “piggyback” rights pursuant to Section 4.2, (B) within six (6) months of the completion of a “firm commitment” Underwritten Offering in which all holders of Registrable Securities were offered “piggyback” rights pursuant to Section 4.2 (subject to Section 4.2(b)) and at least 75% of the number of Registrable Securities requested by such holders of Registrable Securities to be included in such Demand Registration were included and sold, (C) within six (6) months of the completion of any other Demand Registration (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Underwritten Offering
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pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement) or (D) if, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, it is not feasible for the Company to proceed with the Demand Registration because of the unavailability of audited or other required financial statements; provided, that the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such financial statements as promptly as reasonably practicable.
(f) The Company shall be entitled (upon written notice to the Demand Stockholders and Bain) to postpone or delay the filing or the effectiveness of, or suspend the continued use of, a registration statement for any Demand Registration in the event of a Blackout Period until the expiration of the applicable Blackout Period. In the event of a Blackout Period under clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Company shall deliver to the Demand Stockholders and Bain a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the conditions described in clause (ii) of the definition of Blackout Period are met. Such certificate shall contain an approximation of the anticipated delay or, if the Company is unable to provide an approximation of the anticipated delay, a certification that the Company is unable to provide an approximation of the anticipated delay. During the Blackout Period, the holders of Registrable Securities agree to suspend use of the applicable prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Securities, upon distribution of the written notice referred to above. After the termination of the Blackout Period and without any further request from a Demand Stockholder, the Company shall, to the extent necessary, as promptly as reasonably practicable, supplement, make amendments to or prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the registration statement for the Demand Registration or the prospectus, or any document incorporated therein by reference, or any Free Writing Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(g) If, in connection with a Demand Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company that, in its (their) opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be registered in connection with such Demand Registration would adversely affect the success thereof, then the Company shall include in such registration statement only such securities as the Company is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such adverse effect as follows and in the following order of priority: (i) first, up to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration by the Demanding Selling Holders, with any required reductions to such amounts requested to be included made in the following manner: (x) first, to the extent that the Demanding Selling Holders are each selling a different percentage of the total Registrable Securities owned by each such Demanding Selling Holder, by reducing the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by a Demanding Selling Holder that is selling a greater percentage of its total Registrable Securities than is requested to be included by the other Demanding Selling Holders until each such Demanding Selling Holder is selling in such Demand the same percentage of the total number of Registrable Securities owned by it after giving effect to such reductions (for example, if the first Demanding Selling Holder is requesting to sell 50% of the total Registrable Securities owned by it and the second Demanding Selling
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Holder is requesting to sell 10% of the total Registrable Securities owned by it, then the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by the first Demanding Selling Holder will be reduced as required until such first Demanding Selling Holder is selling only 10% of its total Registrable Securities and no reductions will be made to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by the second Demanding Selling Holder under this clause (x)) and (y) if additional reductions are required to be made, pro rata among such Demanding Selling Holders on the basis of the number of such Registrable Securities requested to be included by such Demanding Selling Holders after giving effect to the reductions in clause (x); (ii) second, securities the Company proposes to sell; and (iii) third, all other securities of the Company duly requested to be included in such registration statement, pro rata on the basis of the amount of such other securities requested to be included or such other allocation method determined by the Company.
(h) Any time that a Demand Registration involves an Underwritten Offering, the Requesting Stockholder(s) shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) that will serve as managing underwriters (including which such managing underwriters will serve as lead or co-lead) and underwriters with respect to the offering of such Registrable Securities; provided, that such investment banker(s) and manager(s) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
4.2. Piggyback Registrations.
(a) From and after the expiration of the Restricted Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, whenever the Company proposes to register any Company Common Stock under the Securities Act (other than a registration by the Company (i) on Form S-4 or any successor form thereto, (ii) on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto, (iii) on a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 4.3 or (iv) pursuant to Section 4.1) (a “Piggyback Registration”), whether for its own account or for the account of others, the Company shall give reasonably prompt written notice thereof (but not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the filing by the Company with the Commission of any registration statement with respect thereto) to all holders of Registrable Securities. Such notice (a “Piggyback Notice”) shall specify the number of shares of Company Common Stock that the Company proposes to register, the proposed date of filing of such registration statement with the Commission, the proposed means of distribution, the proposed managing underwriter(s) (if any) and a good faith estimate by the Company of the proposed minimum offering price of such shares of Company Common Stock, in each case to the extent then known. Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities held by holders of Registrable Securities (a “Piggyback Seller”) with respect to which the Company has received written requests (which written requests shall specify the number of Registrable Securities requested to be disposed of by such Piggyback Seller) for inclusion therein from any holder of Registrable Securities within ten (10) days after such Piggyback Notice is given by the Company.
(b) If, in connection with a Piggyback Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advises the Company that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all the shares of Company Common Stock sought to be included in such Piggyback Registration by (i) the Company, (ii) other Persons who have sought to have shares of Company Common Stock registered in such Piggyback Registration pursuant to rights to demand
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(other than pursuant to so-called “piggyback” or other incidental or participation registration rights) such registration (such Persons being “Other Demanding Sellers”), (iii) the Piggyback Sellers and (iv) any other proposed sellers of shares of Company Common Stock (such Persons being “Other Proposed Sellers”), as the case may be, would adversely affect the success thereof, then the Company shall include in the registration statement applicable to such Piggyback Registration only such shares of Company Common Stock as the Company is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such an effect, as follows, and in the following order of priority:
(i) if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering for the Company’s own account, then (A) first, such number of shares of Company Common Stock to be sold by the Company as the Company, acting in good faith, shall have determined, (B) second, Registrable Securities of Piggyback Sellers, with any required reductions to such amounts requested to be included made in the following manner: (x) first, to the extent that the Piggyback Sellers are each selling a different percentage of the total Registrable Securities owned by each such Piggyback Seller, by reducing the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by a Piggyback Seller that is selling a greater percentage of its total Registrable Securities than is requested to be included by the other Piggyback Sellers until each such Piggyback Seller is selling in such Piggyback Registration the same percentage of the total number of Registrable Securities owned by it after giving effect to such reductions; and (y) if additional reductions are required to be made, pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Piggyback Sellers, (C) third, shares of Company Common Stock sought to be registered by Other Demanding Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by such Other Demanding Sellers and (D) fourth, other shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by any Other Proposed Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by such Other Proposed Sellers; or
(ii) if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering other than for the Company’s own account, then (A) first, such number of shares of Company Common Stock sought to be registered by each Other Demanding Seller pro rata in proportion to the number of securities sought to be registered by all such Other Demanding Sellers, (B) second, Registrable Securities of Piggyback Sellers, with any required reductions to such amounts requested to be included made in the following manner: (x) first, to the extent that the Piggyback Sellers are each selling a different percentage of the total Registrable Securities owned by each such Piggyback Seller, by reducing the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by a Piggyback Seller that is selling a greater percentage of its total Registrable Securities than is requested to be included by the other Piggyback Sellers until each such Piggyback Seller is selling in such Piggyback Registration the same percentage of the total number of Registrable Securities owned by it after giving effect to such reductions and (y) if additional reductions are required to be made, pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by such Piggyback Sellers, (C) third, shares of Company Common Stock to be sold by the Company and (D) fourth, other shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by any Other Proposed Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by such Other Proposed Sellers.
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(c) For clarity, in connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Section 4.2 for the Company’s account, the Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a Piggyback Seller in the Underwritten Offering unless (i) such Piggyback Seller accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s), which shall be selected by the Company in its sole discretion, and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, custody agreements, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and any other documents reasonably required under the terms of such arrangements within the timeframes set forth in Section 4.8(a) hereof.
(d) If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any shares of Company Common Stock as set forth in this Section 4.2 and prior to the time the registration statement filed in connection with such Piggyback Registration is declared effective, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register such shares of Company Common Stock, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to any Piggyback Seller within five (5) Business Days thereof and thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such particular withdrawn or abandoned Piggyback Registration; provided, that Demand Stockholders may continue the registration as a Demand Registration pursuant to the terms of Section 4.1.
4.3. Shelf Registration Statement.
(a) From and after the expiration of the Restricted Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and further subject to the availability of a registration statement on Form S-3 or any successor form thereto (“Form S-3”) to the Company, any of the Demand Stockholders may by written notice delivered to the Company (the “Shelf Notice”) require the Company to file as soon as reasonably practicable, and to use reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after such filing date, a Form S-3 providing for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) relating to the offer and sale, from time to time, of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by such Demand Stockholders that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that upon the expiration of the Restricted Period the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), a Shelf Notice shall not be required and the Company shall file, as soon as reasonably practicable following the expiration of the Restricted Period, the Shelf Registration Statement in the form of an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or any successor form thereto registering all Registrable Securities then held by any holder of Registrable Securities.
(b) Within five (5) days after receipt of a Shelf Notice pursuant to Section 4.3(a), the Company will deliver written notice thereof to all holders of Registrable Securities. Each other holder of Registrable Securities may elect to participate with respect to its Registrable Securities in the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the plan and method of distribution set forth, or to be set forth, in such Shelf Registration Statement by delivering to the Company a written request to so participate within five (5) days after the Shelf Notice is given by the Company.
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(c) Subject to Section 4.3(d), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement, or any renewal Shelf Registration Statement upon the expiration of the prior Shelf Registration Statement, continuously effective until the earlier of (i) three (3) years after the initial Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective; (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold thereunder in accordance with the plan and method of distribution disclosed in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement, or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities; and (iii) the date on which this Agreement terminates pursuant to Section 6.1.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, from time to time, by providing written notice to any holder of Registrable Securities who elected to participate in the Shelf Registration Statement, to require such holder of Registrable Securities to suspend the use of the prospectus for sales of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement during any Blackout Period. In the event of a Blackout Period under clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Company shall deliver to the Demand Stockholders and Xxxx, a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the conditions described in clause (ii) of the definition of Blackout Period are met. Such certificate shall contain an approximation of the anticipated delay or, if the Company is unable to provide an approximation of the anticipated delay, a certification that the Company is unable to provide an approximation of the anticipated delay. During such Blackout Period, holders of Registrable Securities who elected to participate in the Shelf Registration Statement agree to suspend use of the applicable prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Securities, upon distribution of the written notice referred to above. After the termination of the Blackout Period and without any further request from a holder of Registrable Securities, the Company shall, to the extent necessary, as promptly as reasonably practicable, supplement, make amendments to or prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus, or any document incorporated therein by reference, or any Free Writing Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(e) At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if any Demand Stockholder delivers a notice to the Company (a “Take-Down Notice”) stating that it intends to sell all or part of its Registrable Securities included by it on the Shelf Registration Statement in an Underwritten Offering (a “Shelf Offering”), then, the Company shall promptly amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed pursuant to the Shelf Offering (taking into account
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the inclusion of Registrable Securities by any other holders pursuant to this Section 4.3). In connection with any Shelf Offering that is an Underwritten Offering:
(i) the Company shall within three (3) Business Days send the Take-Down Notice to any holder of Registrable Securities included on the Shelf Registration Statement and the Company and such proposing Demand Stockholder(s) shall permit each such holder to include its Registrable Securities included on the Shelf Registration Statement in such Underwritten Offering if such holder notifies the proposing Demand Stockholder(s) and the Company within three (3) days after distribution of the Take-Down Notice by the Company;
(ii) the Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a holder in such Underwritten Offering unless (A) such holder accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Demand Stockholder and the lead managing underwriter(s), and (B) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, custody agreements, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and any other documents reasonably required under the terms of such arrangements within the timeframes reasonably required by the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s); and
(iii) if the lead managing underwriter(s) advises the Company and the proposing Demand Stockholder(s) that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be sold in connection with such Underwritten Offering would adversely affect the success thereof, then there shall be included in such Underwritten Offering only such securities as the proposing Demand Stockholder(s) is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such adverse effect, and such number of Registrable Securities shall be allocated in the same manner as described in Section 4.1(g). Except as otherwise expressly specified in this Section 4.3, any Shelf Offering that is an Underwritten Offering where the plan of distribution set forth in the applicable Take-Down Notice includes a customary “road show” (including an electronic road show) or other substantial marketing effort by the Company and the underwriters (a “Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering”) shall be subject to the same requirements, limitations and other provisions of this Article IV as would be applicable to a Demand Registration (i.e., as if such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering were a Demand Registration), including Section 4.1(e)(ii) (provided that references therein to six (6) months shall be deemed to be references to four (4) months) and Section 4.1(g).
4.4. Withdrawal Rights. Any holder of Registrable Securities having notified or directed the Company to include any or all of its Registrable Securities in a registration statement under the Securities Act shall have the right to withdraw any such notice or direction with respect to any or all of the Registrable Securities designated by it for registration by giving written notice to such effect to the Company prior to the effective date of such registration statement. In the event of any such withdrawal, the Company shall not include such Registrable Securities in the applicable registration and such Registrable Securities shall continue to be Registrable Securities for all purposes of this Agreement (subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement). No such withdrawal shall affect the obligations of the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities not so withdrawn; provided, however, that in the case of a Demand Registration, if such withdrawal shall reduce the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included in such registration below the Registrable Amount, then the Company shall as promptly as practicable give each Demand Stockholder seeking to register Registrable
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Securities notice to such effect and, within ten (10) days following the mailing of such notice, such Demand Stockholders still seeking registration shall, by written notice to the Company, elect to register additional Registrable Securities to satisfy the Registrable Amount or elect that such registration statement not be filed or, if theretofore filed, be withdrawn. During such ten (10) day period, the Company shall not file such registration statement if not theretofore filed or, if such registration statement has been theretofore filed, the Company shall not seek, and shall use reasonable best efforts to prevent, the effectiveness thereof.
4.5. Holdback Agreements. (a) In connection with any Underwritten Offering, each holder of Registrable Securities, agrees to enter into customary agreements, subject to customary carve-outs, restricting the public sale or distribution of equity securities of the Company (including sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to the extent requested by the lead managing underwriter(s) with respect to an applicable Underwritten Offering during the period commencing on the tenth (10th) day prior to the date of the “pricing” of such Underwritten Offering and continuing for not more than sixty (60) days after the date of the “final” prospectus (or “final” prospectus supplement if the Underwritten Offering is made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement), pursuant to which such Underwritten Offering shall be made, or such lesser period as may be requested by the lead managing underwriter(s). Any discretionary waiver or termination of the requirements under the foregoing provisions made by the Company or applicable lead managing underwriter(s) shall apply to each holder of Registrable Securities on a pro rata basis.
(b) If any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering involves an Underwritten Offering, the Company, if requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), will not effect any public sale or distribution of any common equity (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common equity) (other than a registration statement on Form X-0, Xxxx X-0 or any successor forms thereto) for its own account, subject to customary carve outs, within sixty (60) days after the effective date of such registration, except as may otherwise be agreed (including as to the length of the restricted period) between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) of such Underwritten Offering.
4.6. Registration Procedures.
(a) If and whenever the Company is required to use reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 4.1, Section 4.2 or Section 4.3, the Company shall as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:
(i) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement to effect such registration in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution of such securities and thereafter use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective pursuant to the terms of this Article IV; provided, however, that the Company may discontinue any registration of its securities which are not Registrable Securities at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating thereto; provided, further, that before filing such registration statement or any amendments thereto, the Company will furnish to the Demand Stockholders, on behalf of all holders of Registrable Securities that are including
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Registrable Securities in such registration (such holders of Registrable Securities collectively, the “Selling Stockholders”), their counsel and the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review and reasonable comment of such counsel, and other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the Commission, and, if requested by such counsel, provide such counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such registration statement and each prospectus included therein and such other opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, including reasonable access to the Company’s books and records, officers, accountants and other advisors. The Company shall not file any such registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto with respect to a Demand Registration to which the holders of a majority of Registrable Securities held by the Demand Stockholders, their counsel or the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object, in writing, on a timely basis, unless, in the opinion of the Company, such filing is reasonably necessary to comply with Applicable Law;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective pursuant to the terms of this Article IV, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;
(iii) if requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, or the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an Underwritten Offering, promptly include in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, and such holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 4.6(a)(iii) that are not, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, in compliance with Applicable Law;
(iv) furnish to the Selling Stockholders and each underwriter, if any, of the securities being sold by such Selling Stockholders such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto, such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) (a “Free Writing Prospectus”) utilized in connection therewith and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such Selling Stockholders and underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Stockholders;
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(v) use reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Selling Stockholders, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities laws or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Stockholders and any underwriter of the securities being sold by such Selling Stockholders shall reasonably request, and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such registration statement is required to be kept effective and take any other action which may be necessary or reasonably advisable to enable such Selling Stockholders and underwriters to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Stockholders, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (v) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
(vi) use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and, if no such securities are so listed, use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT or the NASDAQ Stock Market;
(vii) use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Selling Stockholder(s) thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(viii) use reasonable best efforts to provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such registration statement;
(ix) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings) and use its reasonable best efforts to take all such other actions reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Offering (A) make such representations and warranties to the holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, and the registration statement, prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (B) if an
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underwriting agreement has been entered into, the underwriting agreement shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures reasonably similar to those set forth in Section 4.9 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section except as otherwise agreed by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or to the extent the lead managing underwriter(s) for an Underwritten Offering requires otherwise as a condition of completing such Underwritten Offering and (C) deliver such documents and certificates as reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold, their counsel and the lead managing underwriters(s), if any, to evidence the continued validity in all material respects of the representations and warranties made pursuant to sub-clause (A) above and to evidence compliance in all material respects with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder;
(x) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, use reasonable best efforts to obtain for the Selling Stockholders and underwriter(s) (A) opinions of counsel for the Company, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Selling Stockholders and underwriters and (B) “comfort” letters and updates thereof (or, in the case of any such Person which does not satisfy the conditions for receipt of a “comfort” letter specified in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72, an “agreed upon procedures” letter) signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s financial statements and, to the extent required, any other financial statements included in such registration statement, covering the matters customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings;
(xi) upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times and for reasonable periods, make available for inspection by the Selling Stockholders, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained in connection with such offering by such Selling Stockholders or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Company (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary, or as shall otherwise be reasonably requested, to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such registration statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to provide any information under this clause (xi) if (A) the Company believes, after consultation with counsel for the Company, that to do so would cause the Company to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or (B) if either (1) the Company has requested and been granted from the Commission confidential treatment of such information contained in any filing with the Commission or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (2) the Company reasonably determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the Inspectors in writing; unless prior to furnishing any such information with respect to clause (1) or (2) such Selling Stockholder requesting such information enters into, and causes each of its Inspectors to enter into, a confidentiality agreement on terms and conditions
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reasonably acceptable to the Company; provided, further, that each Selling Stockholder agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction or by another Governmental Authority, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action seeking to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;
(xii) as promptly as practicable notify in writing the Selling Stockholder and the underwriters, if any, of the following events: (A) the filing of the registration statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the registration statement or any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection therewith, and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; (B) any request by the Commission or any other U.S. or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus or for additional information; (C) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings by any Person for that purpose; (D) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose; (E) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any mutual agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 4.6(a)(ix) cease to be true and correct in any material respect; and (F) upon the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such registration statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the registration statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, at the request of any Selling Stockholder, promptly prepare and furnish to such Selling Stockholder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such registration statement or prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(xiii) use reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest reasonable practicable date, except that, subject to the requirements of Section 4.6(a)(v), the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (xiii) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
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(xiv) cooperate with the Selling Stockholders and the lead managing underwriter(s) to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (which shall not bear any restrictive legends unless required under Applicable Law) representing securities sold under any registration statement, and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the lead managing underwriter(s) or such Selling Stockholders may request and keep available and make available to the Company’s transfer agent prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement a supply of such certificates;
(xv) cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and
(xvi) have appropriate senior officers of the Company participate in reasonable marketing efforts (which marketing efforts will not, for the avoidance of doubt, include a “road show” requiring such officers to travel outside of the city in which they are primarily located) organized by the underwriters for the offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities.
(b) The Company may require each Selling Stockholder and each underwriter, if any, to furnish the Company in writing such information regarding each Selling Stockholder or underwriter and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing to complete or amend the information required by such registration statement.
(c) Each Selling Stockholder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clauses (B), (C), (D), (E) or (F) of Section 4.6(a)(xii), such Selling Stockholder shall forthwith discontinue such Selling Stockholder’s disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable registration statement and prospectus relating thereto until such Selling Stockholder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4.6(a)(xi), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall extend the time periods under Section 4.1(c) with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a registration statement must be maintained by the amount of time the holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.
(d) With a view to making available to the holders of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit a holder to sell securities of the Company to the public
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without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor form), the Company shall:
(i) use reasonable best efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
(ii) use reasonable best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act, at any time when the Company is subject to such reporting requirements; and
(iii) furnish to any holder so long as the holder owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and of the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed or furnished by the Company with the Commission as such holder may reasonably request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without registration (in each case to the extent not readily publicly available).
4.7. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of its obligations under this Article IV, including (a) all registration and filing fees, including all fees and expenses of compliance with securities and “blue sky” laws (including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements, subject to any cap on fees as may be agreed upon between the Company and the underwriters, of counsel for the underwriters in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.6(a)(v)) and all fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” as such term is defined in FINRA Rule 5121), (b) all printing (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by a holder of Registrable Securities) and copying expenses, (c) all messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (d) all fees and expenses of the Company’s independent certified public accountants and counsel (including with respect to “comfort” letters and opinions), (e) expenses of the Company incurred in connection with any “road show” and (f) reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for all holders of Registrable Securities whose shares are included in a registration statement, which counsel shall be selected by the Demand Stockholder, shall be borne solely by the Company whether or not any registration statement is filed or becomes effective. In connection with the Company’s performance of its obligations under this Article IV, the Company will pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties and the expense of any annual audit) and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange and included in each established over-the-counter market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or traded. Each Selling Stockholder shall pay its portion of all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale of such Selling Stockholder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to any registration.
4.8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Not less than seven (7) Business Days before the expected filing date of each registration statement pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall notify each holder of
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Registrable Securities who has timely provided the requisite notice hereunder entitling such holder to register Registrable Securities in such registration statement of the information, documents and instruments from such holder that the Company or any underwriter reasonably requests in connection with such registration statement, including, to the extent applicable, a questionnaire, custody agreement, power of attorney, lock-up letter, underwriting agreement and any other documents reasonably required under the terms of such arrangements (the “Requested Information”). If the Company has not received, on or before the third Business Day before the expected filing date, the Requested Information from such holder, the Company may file the registration statement without including Registrable Securities of such holder. The failure to so include in any registration statement the Registrable Securities of a holder of Registrable Securities (with regard to that registration statement) shall not result in any liability on the part of the Company to such holder.
(b) The Company shall not grant any demand, piggyback or shelf registration rights the terms of which are senior to or conflict with the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder to any other Person without the prior written consent of Demand Stockholders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities then held by all Demand Stockholders.
4.9. Registration Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees, without limitation as to time, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Selling Stockholder and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, managers, partners, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such Selling Stockholder, from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, the “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 4.9(a)) will reimburse each such Selling Stockholder, each of its Affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, managers, partners, and each such Person who controls each such Selling Stockholder, for any documented legal expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, except insofar as the same are caused by any information furnished in writing to the Company by any other party expressly for use therein.
(b) In connection with any registration statement in which a Selling Stockholder is participating, without limitation as to time, each such Selling Stockholder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and employees, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of, caused
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by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 4.9(b)) will reimburse the Company, its directors, officers and employees and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, in each case solely to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Selling Stockholder for inclusion in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Stockholder shall be liable under this Section 4.9(b) for amounts in excess of the net proceeds received by such holder in the offering giving rise to such liability.
(c) Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification; provided, however, the failure to give such notice shall not release the indemnifying party from its obligation, except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to provide such notice on a timely basis.
(d) In any case in which any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it may wish, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and acknowledging the obligations of the indemnifying party with respect to such proceeding, the indemnifying party will not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest, litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this paragraph) be liable to such indemnified party hereunder for any legal or other expense subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, supervision and monitoring (unless (i) such indemnified party reasonably objects to such assumption on the grounds that there may be defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to the defenses available to such indemnifying party and, as a result, a conflict of interest exists or (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and the indemnified party is or would reasonably be expected to be materially prejudiced by such delay, in either event the indemnified party shall be promptly reimbursed by the indemnifying party for the expenses incurred in connection with retaining one separate legal counsel (for the avoidance of doubt, for all indemnified parties in connection therewith)). For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding any such assumption by an indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such matter and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party except as provided in the previous sentence. An
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indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of an action or claim effected without its consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). No matter shall be settled by an indemnifying party without the consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such settlement (x) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation, (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party and (z) is settled solely for cash for which the indemnified party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.
(e) The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall survive the Transfer of the Registrable Securities and the termination of this Agreement.
(f) If recovery is not available under the foregoing indemnification provisions for any reason or reasons other than as specified therein, any Person who would otherwise be entitled to indemnification by the terms thereof shall nevertheless be entitled to contribution with respect to any Losses with respect to which such Person would be entitled to such indemnification but for such reason or reasons, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party, the Persons’ relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission, and other equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances. It is hereby agreed that it would not necessarily be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation. 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 found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Stockholder shall be required to make a contribution in excess of the amount received by such Selling Stockholder from its sale of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering that gave rise to the contribution obligation.
ARTICLE V
DEFINITIONS
5.1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms when used in this Agreement have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, an “affiliate” as defined in Rule 405 of the regulations promulgated under the Securities Act and with respect to each Investor, an “affiliate” of such Investor as defined in Rule 405 of the regulations promulgated under the Securities Act and any investment fund, vehicle or holding company of which such Investor or an Affiliate of such Investor serves as the general partner, managing member or discretionary manager or
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advisor; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, an Affiliate of an Investor shall not include any portfolio company or other investment of any such Person or of such Investor or any investment fund, vehicle or holding company, or any limited partners of such Investor.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, any foreign, federal, state or local statute, law (including common law), ordinance, rule, regulation or regulatory guideline having the force of law or any order, judgment, injunction, award, decision, determination, stipulation, ruling, subpoena, writ, decree or verdict entered by or with any Governmental Authority applicable to such Person, its assets, properties, operations or business.
“Bain” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Bain Investment Fund” means any investment fund, investment vehicle or other account that is, directly or indirectly, managed or advised by Bain or any of its Controlled Affiliates.
“Bain Investors” means (i) the Initial Bain Investors, (ii) any Permitted Transferee of any Initial Bain Investor to which Shares are Transferred by such Initial Bain Investor in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and (iii) any Permitted Transferee of any of the Persons included in clause (ii) of this definition to which Shares are Transferred by such Person in compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
“Bain Non-Private Equity Business” means any business or investment of Bain and its Affiliates distinct from the private equity business of Bain and its Affiliates; provided, that such business or investment shall not be deemed to be distinct from such private equity business if and at such time that Bain or any of its Affiliates instructs or overtly encourages any such business or investment to take any action that would violate any provision of this Agreement that would be applicable to such business or investment were it to be deemed to be a Bain Investor hereunder.
“Bain Ownership Limit” means a percentage equal to the percentage of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock Beneficially Owned, on a collective basis, by the Initial Bain Investors as of immediately following the Closing; provided, that, the effect of any share repurchases by the Company shall not be counted for purposes of any measurement of the Bain Ownership Limit (and, for the avoidance of doubt, none of the Bain Investors shall be required to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Company Common Stock as a consequence of any such repurchase or any other similar action undertaken by the Company) unless and until any Bain Investor has acquired Beneficial Ownership of additional Voting Securities following such repurchase.
“Beneficial Owner” or “Beneficially Own” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such Rule is actually applicable in such circumstance).
“Blackout Period” means (i) any regular quarterly period during which directors and executive officers of the Company are not permitted to trade under the xxxxxxx xxxxxxx policy of the Company then in effect and (ii) in the event that the Company determines in good faith that
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the registration would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or would require disclosure of information that has not been, and is not otherwise required to be, disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would materially adversely affect the Company or for which the Company has a bona fide business purposes for not disclosing, a period of up to seventy five (75) days; provided, that a Blackout Period described in this clause (ii) may not occur more than twice in any period of eighteen (18) consecutive months.
“Board” means the Company’s board of directors.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in Buffalo, New York are authorized or required to be closed for regular banking business.
“Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Company Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Contract” means any contract, lease, license, indenture, loan, note, agreement or other legally binding commitment, arrangement or undertaking (whether written or oral and whether express or implied).
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Controlled Affiliate” means any Affiliate of the specified Person that is, directly or indirectly, Controlled by the specified Person.
“Demand” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).
“Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).
“Demand Stockholder” means any KKR Investor that holds Registrable Securities.
“Demanding Selling Holders” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. or any successor entity thereto.
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“Foreign or State Act” means, with respect to any Person, any applicable foreign, state or local securities or “blue-sky” laws.
“Form S-3” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).
“Free Writing Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(iv).
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, national, state, local, cantonal, municipal, international or multinational government or political subdivision thereof, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency, taxing or regulatory authority, instrumentality or judicial or administrative body, or arbitrator or SRO, having jurisdiction over the matter or matters in question.
“Group” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“Initial Bain Investors” means Xxxx Capital Integral Investors LLC and BCIP TCV LLC.
“Initial KKR Investor” means Accellent Holdings LLC.
“Inspectors” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(xi).
“Investors” means the Bain Investors and the KKR Investors.
“KKR” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“KKR Investment Fund” means any investment fund, investment vehicle or other account that is, directly or indirectly, managed or advised by KKR or any of its Controlled Affiliates.
“KKR Investors” means (i) the Initial KKR Investor, (ii) any Permitted Transferee of any Initial KKR Investor to which Shares are Transferred by such Initial KKR Investor in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and (iii) any Permitted Transferee of any of the Persons included in clause (ii) of this definition to which Shares are Transferred by such Person in compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
“KKR Non-Private Equity Business” means any business or investment of KKR and its Affiliates distinct from the private equity business of KKR and its Affiliates; provided, that such business or investment shall not be deemed to be distinct from such private equity business if and at such time that KKR or any of its Affiliates instructs or overtly encourages any such business or investment to take any action that would violate any provision of this Agreement that would be applicable to such business or investment were it to be deemed to be a KKR Investor hereunder.
“KKR Ownership Limit” means a percentage equal to the percentage of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock Beneficially Owned, on a collective basis, by the Initial KKR Investor as of immediately following the Closing; provided, that, the effect of any share repurchases by the Company shall not be counted for purposes of any measurement of the KKR Ownership Limit (and, for the avoidance of doubt, none of the KKR Investors shall be required to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Company Common Stock as a consequence of any
28
such repurchase or any other similar action undertaken by the Company) unless and until any KKR Investor has acquired Beneficial Ownership of additional Voting Securities following such repurchase.
“Lake Region” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Lake Region Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).
“Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(e)(iii).
“Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Merger Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Merger Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Non-Liable Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.12.
“Other Demanding Sellers” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
“Other Proposed Sellers” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
“Permitted Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(b).
“Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to any Investor, any Affiliate of such Investor.
“Person” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.
“Piggyback Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“Piggyback Seller” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“Records” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(xi).
“Registrable Amount” means an amount of Registrable Securities having an aggregate value of at least $100 million (based on the anticipated offering price (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company)), without regard to any underwriting discount or commission, or such lesser amount of Registrable Securities as would result in the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by the applicable Requesting Stockholder or Demand Stockholder, as applicable; provided, that if, and as often as, there is any change in the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, spin-offs, split-ups, mergers, reclassifications, reorganizations, recapitalizations, combinations or exchanges of shares and the like, appropriate adjustment shall be made to the Registrable Amount so as to fairly and equitably preserve, as far as practicable, the rights and obligations set forth herein that continue to be applicable on the date of such change.
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“Registrable Securities” means the Shares held by the Investors and any shares of Company Common Stock received by the Investors in respect of the Shares in connection with any stock split or subdivision, stock dividend, distribution or similar transaction; provided, that any such Shares shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) they are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (ii) they are sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (iii) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.
“Requested Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(a).
“Requesting Stockholders” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).
“Restricted Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(a).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Selling Stockholders” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(i).
“Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Shelf Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).
“Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(e).
“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).
“SRO” means (i) any “self regulatory organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act, (ii) any other United States or foreign securities exchange, futures exchange, commodities exchange or contract market, or (iii) any other securities exchange.
“Standstill Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(c).
“Take-Down Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(e).
“Total Economic Interest” means, as of any date of determination, the total economic interests of all Voting Securities then outstanding. The percentage of the Total Economic Interest Beneficially Owned by any Person as of any date of determination is the percentage of the Total Economic Interest then Beneficially Owned by such Person, including pursuant to any swaps or any other agreements, transactions or series of transactions, whether any such swap, agreement, transaction or series of transaction is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise.
“Total Voting Power” means, as of any date of determination, the total number of votes that may be cast in the election of directors of the Company if all Voting Securities then outstanding were present and voted at a meeting held for such purpose. The percentage of the
30
Total Voting Power Beneficially Owned by any Person as of any date of determination is the percentage of the Total Voting Power of the Company that is represented by the total number of votes that may be cast in the election of directors of the Company by Voting Securities then Beneficially Owned by such Person.
“Transfer” means (i) any direct or indirect offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), either voluntary or involuntary, or entry into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock or (ii) in respect of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock, to enter into any swap or any other agreement, transaction or series of transactions that xxxxxx or transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of such capital stock or interest in capital stock, whether any such swap, agreement, transaction or series of transaction is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise. “Transferor” means a Person that Transfers or proposes to Transfer; and “Transferee” means a Person to whom a Transfer is made or is proposed to be made.
“Underwritten Offering” means a sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.
“Voting Securities” means shares of Company Common Stock and any other securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company.
5.2. Interpretation. Whenever used: he words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, and the words “hereof” and “herein” and similar words shall be construed as references to this Agreement as a whole and not limited to the particular Article, Section, Annex, Exhibit or Schedule in which the reference appears. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules mean the Articles, Sections and Annexes of, and Exhibits and Schedules attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. References to “$” or “dollars” means United States dollars. Any reference in this Agreement to any gender shall include all genders. The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms. The Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein. The headings of the Articles and Sections are for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof. No rule of construction against the draftsperson shall be applied in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, as this Agreement is the product of negotiation between sophisticated parties advised by counsel.
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ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1. Term. This Agreement will be effective as of the Closing Date and shall automatically terminate with respect to each of the Bain Investors and KKR Investors upon the date, respectively, that such Investors, individually as to each such Investor, Beneficially Own less than one percent (1%) of the Total Voting Power, so long as, as of such date, all of the then-remaining Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by an Investor may be sold in a single transaction without limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and if that is not the case, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to such Investor when the foregoing shall be the case. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 6.1, this Agreement shall immediately then be terminated and of no further force and effect, except for the provisions set forth in Section 4.9, Section 5.2 and this Article VI, and except that no termination hereof pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall have the effect of shortening the periods defined by Section 2.1(a), which shall survive in accordance with their terms.
6.2. Notices.
(a) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if they are: (a) delivered in person, (b) transmitted by facsimile (deemed given upon confirmation of receipt), (c) delivered by an express courier (deemed given upon receipt of proof of delivery) or (d) delivered by e-mail to a party at its e-mail address listed below (deemed given upon confirmation of receipt by non-automated reply e-mail from the recipient) (or to such other person or at such other facsimile or address as such party shall deliver to the other party by like notice)::
(i) | if to the Company, to: |
00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy (that does not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxx LLP
The Guaranty Building
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxx
Email: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
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(ii) | if to Bain or a Bain Investor, to: |
Xxxx Capital Partners, LLC,
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Tower
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy (that does not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP
000 X. Xx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx.
Email: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
(iii) | if to KKR or a KKR Investor, to: |
Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co., L.P.
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Email: xxxxx@xxx.xxx
With a copy (that does not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
6.3. Investor Actions. Any determination, consent or approval of, or notice or request delivered by, or any similar action of the Investors shall be made by, and shall be valid and binding upon, all Investors if made by a majority of the Total Voting Power then Beneficially Owned by all Investors.
6.4. Amendments and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is in writing and signed by (i) the Company, (ii) the KKR Investors Beneficially Owning a majority of the Total Voting Power then Beneficially Owned by all KKR Investors and (iii) the Bain Investors Beneficially Owning a majority of the Total Voting Power then Beneficially Owned by all Bain Investors; provided, that any waiver of the restrictions set forth in Section 1.1 or Section 1.2 shall only require the consent of the Company. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Applicable Law.
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6.5. Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, provided that any proposed assignment by any of the Bain Investors or the KKR Investors of any of their respective rights herein to any party other than to an Affiliate of Bain or KKR, as applicable, may be granted or withheld in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, it being understood that it is the intention of the parties hereto that the rights afforded to the Bain Investors and the KKR Investors are personal to such Persons and are not transferable except as expressly provided herein. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 6.5 shall be void.
6.6. Severability. It is the intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under Applicable Law and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. If any particular provision or portion of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision or portion thereof shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to render such provision or portion valid and enforceable, and such amendment will apply only with respect to the operation of such provision or portion in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.
6.7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart. A facsimile signature or electronically scanned copy of a signature shall constitute and shall be deemed to be sufficient evidence of a party’s execution of this Agreement, without necessity of further proof. Each such copy shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
6.8. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to in this Agreement), together with the Merger Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
6.9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF. IN THE EVENT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT COMMENCES ANY LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LEGAL ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO NEGOTIATION, EXPLORATION, DUE DILIGENCE WITH RESPECT TO OR ENTERING INTO OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTERS DESCRIBED OR CONTEMPLATED HEREIN, THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY (A) AGREE THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LEGAL ACTION SHALL BE INSTITUTED EXCLUSIVELY IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WHETHER A STATE OR FEDERAL COURT; (B) AGREE THAT
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IN THE EVENT OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION, SUCH PARTIES WILL CONSENT AND SUBMIT TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION IN ANY SUCH COURT DESCRIBED IN CLAUSE (A) OF THIS SECTION 6.9 AND TO SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND STATUTES GOVERNING SERVICE OF PROCESS; (C) AGREE TO WAIVE TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION IN ANY SUCH COURT OR THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION WAS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM; (D) AGREE AS AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF SERVICE TO SERVICE IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING BY MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF TO SUCH PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6.2 FOR COMMUNICATIONS TO SUCH PARTY; (E) AGREE THAT ANY SERVICE MADE AS PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (F) AGREE THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHTS OF ANY PARTY TO EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES OF FACT AND LAW, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE NEGOTIATION, EXPLORATION, DUE DILIGENCE WITH RESPECT TO OR ENTERING INTO OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 6.9.
6.10. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is expressly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance of the terms hereof, this being in addition to any other remedies to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
6.11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights upon any Person other than the parties hereto and each such party’s respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns; provided, that the Persons indemnified under Section 4.9 are intended third party beneficiaries of Section 4.9, and Non-Liable Persons are intended third party beneficiaries of Section 6.12.
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6.12. No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, and notwithstanding the fact that any party hereto may be a partnership or limited liability company, each party hereto, by its acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement, covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Persons other than the named parties hereto shall have any obligation hereunder and that it has no rights of recovery hereunder against, and no recourse hereunder or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith or therewith shall be had against, any former, current or future director, officer, agent, Affiliate, manager, assignee, incorporator, controlling Person, fiduciary, representative or employee of any Investor (or any of their heirs, successors or permitted assigns), or against any former, current or future director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate, manager, assignee, incorporator, controlling Person, fiduciary, representative, general or limited partner, stockholder, manager or member of any of the foregoing Persons, but in each case not including the named parties hereto (each, a “Non-Liable Person”), whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate veil, by or through a claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) by or on behalf of such party against any Non-Liable Person, by the enforcement of any assignment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other Applicable Law or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any Non-Liable Person, as such, for any obligations of the applicable party under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to have been made in connection herewith or therewith or for any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
THE COMPANY: | GREATBATCH, INC. | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
Title: | President & Chief Executive Officer | |||||
KKR: | KOHLBERG KRAVIS XXXXXXX & CO., L.P. | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||||
BAIN: | XXXX CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Managing Director |
INVESTORS: | ACCELLENT HOLDINGS LLC | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Vice President | |||||
XXXX CAPITAL INTEGRAL INVESTORS LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Managing Director | |||||
BCIP TCV LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Managing Director |
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF JOINDER
The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder Agreement pursuant to that certain Stockholders Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Stockholders Agreement”) by and among Greatbatch, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co. L.P., Xxxx Capital Partners, LLC, each of the stockholders whose name appears on the signature pages thereto, and any other Persons who become a party thereto in accordance with the terms thereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Joinder Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Stockholders Agreement.
By executing and delivering this Joinder Agreement to the Stockholders Agreement, the undersigned hereby adopts and approves the Stockholders Agreement and agrees, effective commencing on the date hereof and as a condition to the undersigned’s becoming the transferee of Shares, to become a party to, and to be bound by and comply with the provisions of, the Stockholders Agreement applicable to an Investor and a [Bain Investor] [KKR Investor], respectively, in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Stockholders Agreement.
[The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that, pursuant to this Joinder Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement, it is a Permitted Transferee of [●] and will be the lawful record owner of [●] Shares as of the date hereof. The undersigned and the proposed transferor hereby represent and warrant that the proposed transfer of Shares will not result in [Bain] [KKR] exceeding the [Bain Ownership Limit] [KKR Ownership Limit]]
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that Sections 6.2 through Section 6.12 of the Stockholders Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis.
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Accordingly, the undersigned have executed and delivered this Joinder Agreement as of the day of , .
TRANSFEREE |
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Print Name: |
Address: |
Telephone: |
Facsimile: |
Email: |
AGREED AND ACCEPTED | ||
as of the day of , . | ||
GREATBATCH, INC. | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[TRANSFEROR | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title:] |