EXHIBIT 4.3
EXHIBIT C
to
Securities Purchase
Agreement
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of September 4,
1997 by and among NATIONAL MEDIA CORPORATION, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware , with headquarters located at Eleven Penn Center,
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the
"Company"), and the undersigned (together with affiliates, the "Initial
Investors").
WHEREAS:
a. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement of even date
herewith by and between the Company and the Initial Investors (the "Securities
Purchase Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions contained therein, to issue and sell to the Initial Investors (i)
shares of its Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") that
is convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "Common Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the limitations and
conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designations, Rights and Preferences
with respect to such Preferred Stock (the "Certificate of Designation") and (ii)
warrants (the "Warrants") to acquire shares of Common Stock;
b. To induce the Initial Investors to execute and deliver the Securities
Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration
rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"Securities Act"), and applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Initial
Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(i) "Investors" means the Initial Investors and any transferees
or assignees who agree to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with Section 10 hereof.
(ii) "register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
Statements in compliance with the
Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any
successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous basis ("Rule
415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration
Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
(iii) "Registrable Securities" means the Conversion Shares
and the Warrant Shares (including any Conversion Shares issuable with respect to
Conversion Default Payments under the Certificate of Designation or in
redemption of any Preferred Stock and any Warrant Shares issuable with respect
to Exercise Default Payments under the Warrants) issued or issuable with respect
to the Warrants and the Preferred Stock and any shares of capital stock issued
or issuable, from time to time (with any adjustments), as a distribution on or
in exchange for or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.
(iv) "Registration Statement" means a registration statement of
the Company under the Securities Act.
b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on or
before the twenty-fifth (25th) day after the date hereof, file with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then available, on
such form of Registration Statement as is then available to effect a
registration of all of the Registrable Securities, subject to the consent of the
Initial Investors (as determined pursuant to Section 12(j) hereof)) covering the
resale of at least 7,000,000 Registrable Securities, which Registration
Statement, to the extent allowable under the Securities Act and the Rules
promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall state that such Registration
Statement also covers such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common
Stock as may become issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (i) to
prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar
transactions or (ii) by reason of reductions in the Conversion Price of the
Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms thereof, including, but not limited
to, the terms which cause the Variable Conversion Price to decrease to the
extent the volume weighted average sale price of the Common Stock decreases.
The Registrable Securities initially set forth in the Registration Statement
shall be allocated to the Investors as set forth in Section 12(k) hereof. The
Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each
request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided to (and
subject to the approval of) the Initial Investors and their counsel prior to its
filing or other submission. Holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock,
Buckeye Communications, Inc. and Value Vision International, Inc. have
"piggyback" registration rights with respect to such registration to the extent
required by the terms of the respective agreements with such holders and
entities, all of which are identified on Schedule 3(c) to the Securities
Purchase Agreement.
b. Payments by the Company. The Company shall cause the
Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof to
become effective as soon as practicable, but in no event later than January 2,
1998. If (i) the Registration Statement(s) covering the Registrable Securities
required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof is not
declared effective by the SEC on or before January 2, 1998 (the "Registration
Deadline") or if, after the Registration Statement has been declared effective
by the SEC, sales of all the Registrable
Securities (including any Registrable Securities required to be registered
pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof) cannot be made pursuant to the Registration
Statement (by reason of a stop order or the Company's failure to update the
Registration Statement or any other reason outside the control of the Investors)
or (ii) the Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), the Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq") or the
American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX") at any time after the Registration
Deadline, then the Company will make payments to the Investors in such amounts
and at such times as shall be determined pursuant to this Section 2(b) as
partial relief for the damages to the Investors by reason of any such delay in
or reduction of their ability to sell the Registrable Securities (which remedy
shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity).
The Company shall pay to each Investor an amount equal to the product of (i) the
aggregate Purchase Price of the Preferred Stock and Warrants held by such
Investor (including, without limitation, Preferred Stock that has been converted
into Conversion Shares and Warrants that have been exercised for Warrant Shares
then held by such Investor) (the "Aggregate Share Price") multiplied by (ii) two
hundredths (.02) multiplied by (iii) the sum of: (y) the number of months
(prorated for partial months) after the Registration Deadline and prior to the
date the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is declared
effective by the SEC and (z) the number of months (prorated for partial months)
that sales of any Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant to the
Registration Statement after the Registration Statement has been declared
effective or the Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the
NYSE, Nasdaq or AMEX; provided, however that there shall be excluded from each
such period any delays which are solely attributable to changes (other than
corrections of Company mistakes with respect to information previously provided
by the Investors) required by the Investors in the Registration Statement with
respect to information relating to the Investors, including, without limitation,
changes to the plan of distribution. (For example, if the Registration
Statement is not effective by the Registration Deadline, the Company would pay
$20,000 per month for each $1,000,000 of Aggregate Share Price until the
Registration Statement becomes effective.) Such amounts shall be paid in cash
or, at each Investor's option, may be convertible into Common Stock at the
"Conversion Price" (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) then in
effect. Any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of such amounts shall
be Registrable Securities. If the Investor desires to convert the amounts due
hereunder into Registrable Securities it shall so notify the Company in writing
within two (2) business days after the date on which such amounts are first
payable in cash and such amounts shall be so convertible (pursuant to the
mechanics set forth under Article IV of the Certificate of Designation),
beginning on the last day upon which the cash amount would otherwise be due in
accordance with the following sentence. Payments of cash pursuant hereto shall
be made within five (5) days after the end of each period that gives rise to
such obligation, provided that, if any such period extends for more than thirty
(30) days, interim payments shall be made for each such thirty (30) day period.
c. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the expiration
of the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company shall file with
the SEC a Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or
the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities
(other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents relating to equity
securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity
or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or
other employee benefit plans), the Company shall send to each Investor who is
entitled to registration rights under this Section 2(c) written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after the date of such notice,
such Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities such
Investor requests to be registered, except that if, in connection with any such
registration (A) in the case of an underwritten public offering
the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation on the number of
shares of Common Stock which may be included in the Registration Statement
because, in such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or other factors dictate
such limitation is necessary to facilitate public distribution or (B) in the
case of a registration statement registering securities pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 19, 1994, by and among the
Company and the other signatories thereto (the "December 1994 Agreement"), the
holders of a majority of the securities to be registered pursuant to such
agreement have in good faith determined that the inclusion of Registrable
Securities would be detrimental to the offering of such securities, then in each
case the Company shall be obligated to include in such Registration Statement
only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which
such Investor has requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter or such
holders, respectively, shall permit. Any exclusion of Registrable Securities
shall be made pro rata among the Investors seeking to include Registrable
Securities, in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities sought to be
included by such Investors; provided, however, that the Company shall not
exclude any Registrable Securities unless the Company has first excluded all
outstanding securities, the holders of which are not entitled to inclusion of
such securities in such Registration Statement or are not entitled to pro rata
inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and provided, further, however, that,
after giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other securities
having the right to include such securities in the Registration Statement other
than holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in such
Registration Statement by reason of demand registration rights (and provided
that any reduction of securities to be registered pursuant to the December 1994
Agreement or the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1994,
as amended as of December 19, 1994, by and among the Company and the other
signatories thereto (the "September 1994 Amended Agreement") or the Option
Agreement, dated as of January 13, 1995, between the Company and Buckeye
Communications, Inc., or the Warrant to purchase Common Stock, dated November
24, 1995, issued to Value Vision International, Inc. (the "VVI Warrant") shall
be allocated among the parties thereto as provided therein). No right to
registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2(c) shall be
construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a) hereof. If an
offering in connection with which an Investor is entitled to registration under
this Section 2(c) is an underwritten offering, then each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement shall, unless
otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such Registrable Securities in
an underwritten offering using the same underwriter or underwriters and, subject
to the provisions of this Agreement, on the same terms and conditions as other
shares of Common Stock included in such underwritten offering.
d. Eligibility for Form S-3. The Company represents and warrants
that it meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration of the
sale by the Initial Investors and any other Investor of the Registrable
Securities and the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by the
Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to maintain such eligibility for
the use of Form S-3.
e. Rule 416. The Company and the Investors each acknowledge that an
indeterminate number of Registrable Securities shall be registered pursuant to
Rule 416 under the Securities Act so as to include in such Registration
Statement any and all Registrable Securities which may become issuable (i) to
prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar
transactions and (ii) by reason of reductions in the Conversion Price of the
Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms thereof, including, but not limited
to, the terms which cause the
Variable Conversion Price to decrease to the extent the volume weighted average
sale price of the Common Stock decreases (collectively, the "Rule 416
Securities"). In this regard, the Company agrees to take all steps necessary to
ensure that all Registrable Securities are registered pursuant to Rule 416 under
the Securities Act in the Registration Statement and, absent guidance from the
SEC or other definitive authority to the contrary, the Company shall
affirmatively support and not take any action adverse to the position that the
Registration Statements filed hereunder cover all of the Rule 416 Securities.
If the Company determines that the Registration Statements filed hereunder do
not cover all of the Rule 416 Securities, the Company shall immediately provide
to each Investor written notice (a "Rule 416 Notice") setting forth the basis
for the Company's position and the authority therefor.
3. DELAY PERIODS; SUSPENSION OF SALES.
a. If, at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration
Period (as defined below), in the good faith reasonable judgment of the
Company's Board of Directors, the disposition of Registrable Securities would
require the premature disclosure of material non-public information which may
reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the Company, then the
Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of or amend or
supplement the Registration Statement for a period (a "Disclosure Delay Period")
expiring upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which such material
information is disclosed to the public or ceases to be material or (ii) subject
to Section 3(b) hereof, up to thirty (30) calendar days after the date on which
the Company provides a notice to the Investors under Section 4(f) hereof stating
that the failure to disclose such non-public information causes the prospectus
included in the Registration Statement, as then in effect, to include an untrue
statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. For
the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall a Disclosure Delay Period exceed
thirty (30) calendar days.
b. The Company will give prompt written notice, in the manner
prescribed by Section 12 hereof, to the Investors of each Disclosure Delay
Period. Advance notice of the Disclosure Delay Period shall be given to the
extent practicable. If practicable, such notice shall estimate the duration of
such Disclosure Delay Period. Each Investor, by accepting Registrable
Securities upon conversion of shares of Preferred Stock or exercise of Warrants,
agrees that, upon receipt of such notice prior to Investor's disposition of all
such Registrable Securities, Investor will forthwith discontinue disposition of
such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, and will not
deliver any prospectus forming a part thereof in connection with any sale of
such Registrable Securities until the expiration of such Disclosure Delay
Period. In addition, the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof shall not apply to
the Disclosure Delay Periods. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to the
contrary, there shall not be more than an aggregate of sixty (60) calendar days
in any twelve (12) month period during which the Company is in a Disclosure
Delay Period nor more than an aggregate of thirty (30) calendar days in any
ninety (90) calendar day period during which the Company is in a Disclosure
Delay Period.
c. The Company shall not be obligated to file any Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement within 120 days after the effectiveness of
any registration statement registering securities of the Company pursuant to the
December 1994 Agreement or the September 1994 Amended Agreement or the VVI
Warrant; provided, however, that the conditions of Section 9(b) of the December
1994 Agreement or Section 6.14 of the September 1994 Amended Agreement or
Section 7(l) of the VVI Warrant, as applicable, shall have been satisfied;
provided, further, however, that if such 120 day delay occurs, the Company shall
issue to each Investor a number of
warrants, having identical terms, provisions and conditions as the Warrants,
equal to the number of Warrants purchased by such Investor pursuant to the
Securities Purchase Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the failure to have
the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC on or before the
Registration Deadline including, but not limited to, a failure caused by the
occurrence of a 120 day delay pursuant to this Section 3(c), shall in no way
affect the Company's payment obligations pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall prepare promptly and file with the SEC the
Registration Statement required by Section 2(a), and cause such Registration
Statement relating to Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing, but in no event later than the Registration
Deadline, and keep the Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at
all times until such date as is the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the
Registrable Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which all of the
Registrable Securities (in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Initial
Investors) may be immediately sold to the public without registration under Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act (the "Registration Period"), which Registration
Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses
contained therein and all documents incorporated by reference therein) shall not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration
Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement
as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective at all times
during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration Statement
until such time as all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers
thereof as set forth in the Registration Statement. In the event (i) the
Company delivers a Rule 416 Notice to the Investors or the Investors who hold a
majority in interest of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably determine or
the SEC shall state formally or informally that Rule 416 under the Securities
Act does not permit a registration statement to cover securities which may
become issuable upon conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable
securities by reason of reductions in the conversion or exercise price of such
securities and (ii) the number of shares available under a Registration
Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is, for any three (3) consecutive
trading days (the last of such three (3) trading days being the "Registration
Trigger Date"), insufficient to cover one hundred thirty five percent (135%) of
the Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion (without giving
effect to any limitations on conversion contained in Article IV.C of the
Certificate of Designation) of the Preferred Stock and exercise of the Warrants,
the Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration
Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as
to cover two hundred percent (200%) of the Registrable Securities issued or
issuable (without giving effect to any limitations on conversion contained in
Article IV.C of the Certificate of Designation) as of the Registration Trigger
Date, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event within fifteen (15)
days after the Registration Trigger Date (based on the market price then in
effect of the Common Stock and other relevant
factors on which the Company reasonably elects to rely). The Company shall
cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as
soon as practicable following the filing thereof. In the event the Company
fails to obtain the effectiveness of any such Registration Statement within
sixty (60) days after a Registration Trigger Date, each Investor shall
thereafter have the option, exercisable in whole or in part at any time and from
time to time by delivery of a written notice to the Company (a "Redemption
Notice"), to require the Company to purchase for cash, at an amount per share
equal to the Redemption Amount (as defined in Article VIII.B of the Certificate
of Designation), a portion of the Investor's Preferred Stock such that the total
number of Registrable Securities included on the Registration Statement for
resale by such Investor exceeds 135% of the Registrable Securities issued or
issuable upon conversion (without giving effect to any limitations on conversion
contained in Article IV.C of the Certificate of Designation) of such Investor's
Preferred Stock and exercise of such Investor's Warrants. If the Corporation
fails to redeem any of such shares within five (5) business days after its
receipt of a Redemption Notice, then such Investor shall be entitled to the
remedies provided in Article VIII.C of the Certificate of Designation.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in the Registration Statement and its legal counsel (i)
promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the
SEC, or received by the Company, one copy of the Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statement referred
to in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the
SEC or the staff of the SEC (including, without limitation, any request to
accelerate the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or amendment
thereto), and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC,
in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any portion, if
any, thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought
confidential treatment), (ii) on the date of effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto, a notice stating that the Registration
Statement or amendment has been declared effective, and (iii) such number of
copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments
and supplements thereto and such other documents as such Investor may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned by such Investor.
d. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under
such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United
States as each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being offered
reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other
actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in
effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other
actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities
for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (a) qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for this Section 4(d), (b) subject itself to general taxation in any such
jurisdiction, (c) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that cause the Company undue expense
or burden, or (e) make any change in its charter or bylaws, which in each case
the Board of Directors of the Company determines to be contrary to the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders.
e. In the event the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered in an offering select underwriters for the
offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
underwriters of such offering.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
the Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any event, of which
the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and use its best
efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to the Registration
Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number
of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may
reasonably request.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement,
and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the
earliest practicable moment (including in each case by amending or supplementing
such Registration Statement) and to notify each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities being sold (or, in the event of an underwritten offering, the
managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof
(and if such Registration Statement is supplemented or amended, deliver such
number of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such
Investor may reasonably request).
h. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated by
the Initial Investors to review the Registration Statement and all amendments
and supplements thereto a reasonable period of time prior to their filing with
the SEC, and not file any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably
objects.
i. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the
close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying
with the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a
twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's
fiscal quarter next following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
j. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the
Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Investors, and (iv) one firm of attorneys
retained by all such underwriters (collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent
financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of
the Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed
necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its due
diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request
for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that each Inspector shall
hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) of
any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be
confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless
(a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (b) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court or
government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such
Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure
in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company shall not be required
to disclose any confidential information in such Records to any Inspector until
and unless such Inspector shall have entered into confidentiality agreements (in
form and substance satisfactory to the Company) with the Company with respect
thereto, substantially in the form of this Section 4(j). Each Investor agrees
that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by
a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means,
give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to
undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective
order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein shall be deemed to
limit the Investors' ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is
otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
k. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure
of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, (iv) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement, or (v) such Investor
consents to the form and content of any such disclosure. The Company agrees
that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an
Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such Investor prior
to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, such information.
l. The Company shall use its best efforts to promptly either (i)
cause all the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be
listed on the NYSE or the AMEX or another national securities exchange and on
each additional national securities exchange on which securities of the same
class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of
such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange,
or (ii) secure the designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement on the Nasdaq and, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, to arrange for or maintain at least two market
makers to register with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.
m. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar, which
may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the
effective date of the Registration Statement.
n. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing
Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement and
enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may
be, or the Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as or
the Investors may request, and, within three (3) business days after a
Registration Statement which includes Registrable Securities is ordered
effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel
selected by the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for the Registrable
Securities (with copies
to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement) an opinion of such counsel in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
o. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall prepare and
file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to a Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection
with the Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to change the plan
of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.
p. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws related to a
Registration Statement and offering and sale of securities and all applicable
rules and regulations of governmental authorities in connection therewith
(including without limitation the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC.)
5. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Investors shall have the following obligations:
a. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to
the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable
Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration
of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection
with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five (5)
business days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the Registration
Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company
requires from each such Investor.
b. Each Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable
Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of
such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from the Registration Statement.
c. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4(f) or
4(g), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(f) or 4(g) and, if so directed by
the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
all copies in such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
d. No Investor may participate in any underwritten distribution
hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and
customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements, and (iii) agrees
to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting discounts and commissions and any
expenses in excess of those payable by the Company pursuant to Section 6 below.
6. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions,
incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to
Sections 2 and 4, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel
selected by the Investors shall be borne by the Company. In addition, the
Company shall pay all of the Investors' costs and expenses (including legal
fees) incurred in connection with the enforcement of the rights of the Investors
hereunder.
7. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify, hold
harmless and defend (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities, and
(ii) the directors, officers, partners, members, employees, agents and each
person who controls any Investor within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), if any, (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any joint
or several losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (collectively,
together with actions, proceedings or inquiries by any regulatory or
self-regulatory organization, whether commenced or threatened, in respect
thereof, "Claims") to which any of them may become subject insofar as such
Claims arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to
make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the
statements therein were made, not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other
applicable securities law, including, without limitation, any state securities
law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the
Registrable Securities (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii)
being, collectively, "Violations"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in
Section 7(c) with respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall
reimburse the Investors and each other Indemnified Person, promptly as such
expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable legal fees or
other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 7(a): (i) shall
not apply to a Claim arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company by such Indemnified Person expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (ii) shall not
apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected
without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; and (iii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus,
shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified
Person if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented, if such corrected prospectus was timely made
available by the Company pursuant to Section 4(c) hereof, and the Indemnified
Person was promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect prospectus prior
to the use giving rise to a Violation and such Indemnified Person,
notwithstanding such advice, used it. Such indemnity shall remain in full force
and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities
by the Investors pursuant to Section 10.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees severally and not jointly
to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner set forth in Section 7(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of
its officers who signs the Registration Statement, its employees, agents and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and any other
stockholder selling securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or any of
its directors or officers or any person who controls such stockholder or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified Party"),
against any Claim to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out of or is
based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent)
that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in
connection with such Registration Statement; and subject to Section 7(c) such
Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses (promptly as such expenses
are incurred and are due and payable) reasonably incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(b) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under
this Agreement (including this Section 7(b) and Section 8) for only that amount
as does not exceed the net proceeds actually received by such Investor as a
result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall
survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to
Section 10. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 7(b) with respect to any
preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party
if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented, and the Indemnified Party failed to utilize such
corrected prospectus.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action
(including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to made against any indemnifying
party under this Section 7, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice
of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to
participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the
defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and
the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided,
however, that such indemnifying party shall not be entitled to assume such
defense and an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to
retain its own counsel with the
fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable
opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by
such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying
party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicts of interest
between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party
represented by such counsel in such proceeding or the actual or potential
defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified
Person or the Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party and any such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party reasonably determines that there may be
legal defenses available to such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party which
are different from or in addition to those available to such indemnifying party.
The indemnifying party shall pay for only one separate legal counsel for the
Indemnified Persons or the Indemnified Parties, as applicable, and such legal
counsel shall be selected by Investors holding a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to which the Claim
relates (with the approval of the Initial Investors if they hold Registrable
Securities included in such Registration Statement), if the Investors are
entitled to indemnification hereunder, or by the Company, if the Company is
entitled to indemnification hereunder, as applicable. The failure to deliver
written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the
commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any
liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 7,
except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced in its
ability to defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 7
shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of
the investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is
incurred and is due and payable.
8. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or
limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution
with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section
7 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that (i) no
contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have
been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section
7, (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 12(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution (together with any indemnification or
other obligations under this Agreement) by any seller of Registrable Securities
shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller
from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
9. REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of
the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the Company agrees to:
a. file with the SEC in a timely manner and make and keep available
all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements
(it being understood that nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations
under Section 4(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing and
availability of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable
provisions of Rule 144; and
b. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns shares of
Preferred Stock, Warrants or Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i)
a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting
requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy
of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other
reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information
as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities
under Rule 144 without registration.
10. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights of the Investors hereunder, including the right to have the
Company register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Investor to any transferee of all or any
portion of the shares of Preferred Stock, the Warrants or the Registrable
Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or
assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the
Company after such assignment, (ii) the Company is furnished with written notice
of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the
securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred
or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment, the further
disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under
the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) the transferee or
assignee agrees in writing for the benefit of the Company to be bound by all of
the provisions contained herein, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
11. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may
be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively
or prospectively), only with written consent of the Company and Investors who
hold a majority interest of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that
no amendment hereto which restricts the ability of an Investor to elect not to
participate in an underwritten offering shall be effective against any Investor
which does not consent in writing to such amendment; provided, further, however,
that no consideration shall be paid to an Investor by the Company in connection
with an amendment hereto unless each Investor similarly affected by such
amendment receives a pro-rata amount of consideration from the Company. Unless
an Investor otherwise agrees, each amendment hereto must similarly affect each
Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10
shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company.
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.
b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the terms of
this Agreement shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt
requested) or delivered personally or by courier or by confirmed telecopy, and
shall be effective five (5) days after being placed in the mail, if mailed, or
upon receipt or refusal of receipt, if delivered personally or by
courier or confirmed telecopy, in each case addressed to a party. The addresses
for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
National Media Corporation
Eleven Penn Center
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx,
Chief Executive Officer
and
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx,
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
and if to any Investor, at such address as such Investor shall have provided in
writing to the Company, or at such other address as each such party furnishes by
notice given in accordance with this Section 12(b).
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this
Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy,
shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be
performed in the State of Delaware. The Company irrevocably consents to the
jurisdiction of the United States federal courts and the state courts located in
the State of Delaware in any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this
Agreement and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or
proceeding may be determined in such courts. The Company irrevocably waives the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit or proceeding.
The Company further agrees that service of process upon the Company, mailed by
first class mail shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process
upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect
the Investors' right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The
Company agrees that a final non-appealable judgment in any such suit or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on such judgment or in any other lawful manner.
e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement and the
Warrants (including all schedules and exhibits thereto) constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Warrants
supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 10 hereof, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of
each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and
the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered
to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement
bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
j. All consents and other determinations to be made by the Investors
or the Initial Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by the
Investors or the Initial Investors holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities (determined as if all shares of Preferred Stock and Warrants then
outstanding had been converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities)
held by all Investors or Initial Investors, as the case may be.
k. The initial number of Registrable Securities included on any
Registration Statement and each increase (if any) to the number of Registrable
Securities included thereon shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors
based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time
of such establishment or increase, as the case may be. In the event an Investor
shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder's Registrable Securities,
each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number of
Registrable Securities included on a Registration Statement for such transferor.
Any shares of Common Stock included on a Registration Statement and which remain
allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any Registrable Securities
shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of
shares of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors. For the avoidance
of doubt, the number of Registrable Securities held by any Investor shall be
determined as if all shares of Preferred Stock and Warrants then
outstanding were converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed
as of the date first above written.
NATIONAL MEDIA CORPORATION
By:_______________________________
Name:_____________________________
Its:______________________________
INITIAL INVESTORS:
CAPITAL VENTURES INTERNATIONAL
By: Heights Capital Management, its authorized agent
By:________________________________
Name:______________________________
Its:_______________________________
RGC INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS, LDC
By: Xxxx Xxxx Capital Management, L.P., Investment Manager
By: RGC General Partner Corp., General Partner
By:_________________________________
Name:_______________________________
Its:________________________________
EXHIBIT 1
to
Registration
Rights
Agreement
[Date]
[Name and address
of transfer agent]
RE: NATIONAL MEDIA CORPORATION
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to National Media Corporation, a corporation organized under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"), and we understand that [Name
of Investor] (the "Holder") has purchased from the Company (i) shares of the
Company's Series __ Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") that are
convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Stock") and (ii) warrants (the "Warrants") to acquire shares of
Common Stock. Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
September __, 1997, by and among the Company and the signatories thereto (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"), the Company agreed with the Holder, among
other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as that term is defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), upon the terms provided in the Registration Rights
Agreement. In connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration
Rights Agreement, on _____ __, 1997, the Company filed a Registration Statement
on Form S-___ (File No. 333- _____________) (the "Registration Statement") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable
Securities, which names the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder.
[Other customary introductory and scope of examination language to be
inserted]
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Registrable
Securities have been registered under the Securities Act.
[Other customary language to be included.]
Very truly yours,
cc: [Name of Investor]
