Registration Rights Agreement for New Securities
Registration
Rights Agreement for New Securities
Registration
Rights Agreement for New Securities
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of May 4, 2007 (this “Agreement”),
by and among ION Media Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”),
NBC Universal, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its Affiliates,
“NBCU”)
and CIG Media LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CIG”,
and together with NBCU, the “Investors”).
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Investors entered into that certain Master Transaction
Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2007 (as such agreement may be amended, modified,
supplemented or restated from time to time, the “Master
Transaction Agreement”),
pursuant to which the parties agreed to undertake various transactions to
restructure the Company’s ownership and capital structure (the
“Transaction”);
WHEREAS,
as an integral part of the Transaction, CIG and NBCU will each receive certain
securities of the Company that are convertible into, or exchangeable or
exercisable for, shares of Class A Common Stock, Class C Common Stock, or Class
D Common Stock as the case may be, and the Company has agreed to provide the
Holders (as defined below) certain registration rights with respect to such
securities under the Securities Act;
WHEREAS,
the Company’s shares of Class A Common Stock are currently registered with
the SEC and quoted on the American Stock Exchange; and
WHEREAS,
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto is a
condition to the commencement of the Transaction pursuant to the Master
Transaction Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants set forth
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to
be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
1.
Definitions. (a)
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meaning ascribed to such terms in the Master Transaction Agreement. For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following
meanings:
“Common
Shares”
means shares of (i) Common Stock and (ii) other securities of the Company,
including Convertible Securities, NBCU Option I, NBCU Option II and Warrant,
that are convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Class
A Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or Class D Common Stock.
“control”
(including its correlative meanings, “controlled by” or “under
common control with”) 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
securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or
otherwise.
“Convertible
Securities”
means, collectively, Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt, Series B
Convertible Subordinated Debt, Series A Convertible Preferred, Series B
Convertible Preferred, Series C Convertible Preferred and Series D Convertible
Preferred.
“Holders”
means each of the Investors that from time to time owns Convertible Securities
or Registrable Securities and each of their permitted transferees pursuant to
Section 11(e) who agree to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with said section; provided,
however, that a
Holder shall no longer be a Holder at the date that such Holder owns of record
less than 10,000 shares of Registrable Securities on an as-converted basis.
“Initial
Public Offering”
means the initial underwritten sale of equity securities by the Company or a
Holder pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act.
“NASDAQ”
means National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System.
“Prospectus”
means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without
limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a
prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance
upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion
of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and all
other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable
Securities”
means (A) all shares of Class A Common Stock or Class D Common Stock held from
time to time by the Holders and (B) all shares of Class A Common Stock or Class
D Common Stock issued or issuable upon (i) conversion of the Convertible
Securities held from time to time by the Holders, (ii) exercise of the Warrant
or (iii) conversion of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock;
provided,
however, that
Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (A) a
Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities has been declared
effective by the SEC under the Securities Act and such Registrable Securities
have been disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (B)
such Registrable Securities have been disposed of by a Holder pursuant to Rule
144 or Rule 145 under the Securities Act, (C) the Registrable Securities of a
Holder can, in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company and such
Holder, each in their reasonable judgment, be so distributed to the public
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act in any three-month period or (D)
such Registrable Securities have been sold, assigned or otherwise transferred
to a Person other than a Holder. For purposes of this Agreement, Registrable
Securities shall also include any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class D
Common Stock or other securities (including shares of Class A Common Stock or
Class D Common Stock underlying such other securities) that may be received by
the Holders (x) as a result of a stock dividend, stock distribution or stock
split of Registrable Securities or Convertible Securities or
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(y) on
account of Registrable Securities or Convertible Securities in a merger,
consolidation, combination, reclassification, recapitalization or similar
transaction involving the Company.
“Registration
Statement”
means any registration statement of the Company under the Securities Act that
covers any of the Registrable Securities, Convertible Securities, any shares of
Class A Common Stock or Class D Common Stock or other securities that would be
convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Class A Common
Stock or Class D Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,
including in the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, all amendments and
supplements to such registration statement (including post-effective
amendments), all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed
to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Underwritten
Offering”
shall mean a distribution, registered pursuant to the Securities Act, in which
securities of the Company are sold to the public through one or more
underwriters.
(b) The
following terms have the meanings set forth in the Section set forth opposite
such term:
Term
|
Section
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
|
Authorizing
Certificate |
3(a)
|
|
Black-Out
|
5
|
|
CIG
|
Preamble
|
|
Company
|
Preamble
|
|
Conversion
Securities |
11(d)
|
|
Convertible
Subordinated Debt |
Recitals
|
|
Demand
Notice |
3(a)
|
|
Demand
Registration |
3(a)
|
|
Indemnified
Party |
7(c)
|
|
Indemnifying
Party |
7(c)
|
|
Initiating
Holders |
3(c)
|
|
Investors
|
Preamble
|
|
Losses
|
7(a)
|
|
Maximum
Number of Securities |
3(c)
|
|
Master
Transaction Agreement |
Recitals
|
|
NBCU
|
Preamble
|
|
Participating
Demand Holders |
3(b)
|
|
Participating
Notice |
3(b)
|
|
Participating
Piggy-Back Holders |
4(a)
|
|
Piggy-Back
Registration |
4(a)
|
|
Shelf
Registration |
3(d)
|
|
Shelf
Registration Statement |
3(d)
|
|
Special
Counsel |
5(a)
|
|
Suspension
Notice |
5
|
|
Transaction
|
Recitals
|
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2.
Methodology for Calculation; Effective Timing.
(a) Methodology
for Calculation of Common Shares. For
purposes of calculating (i) the number of Common Shares as of any particular
date and (ii) the number of Common Shares owned by a Person hereunder (and the
percentage of Common Shares owned by a Person), such number of Common Shares
shall be calculated as though each Common Share had been on such date converted
into, or exchanged or exercised for, the number of shares of Class A Common
Stock or Class D Common Stock which such Common Shares would be entitled to be
converted into or exchanged or exercised for. In the event of any stock split,
stock dividend, reverse stock split, any combination of Class A Common Stock or
Class D Common Stock or any similar event, with respect to all references in
this Agreement to a Holder or Holders holding a number of Common Shares, the
applicable number shall be appropriately adjusted to give effect to such stock
split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, any combination of Class A Common
Stock or Class D Common Stock or any similar event.
(b) Effective
Time. The
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 15, 1999, between the
Company and NBCU, as amended from time to time, shall terminate and have no
further force or effect, and this Agreement shall become effective, in each
case upon the Exchange Offer Closing or the Exchange Offer Expiration, as
applicable.
3.
Demand Registration.
(a) Requests
for Registration by Holders.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time and from
time to time after the consummation of an Initial Public Offering, one or more
Holders shall have the right, by delivering the Company a written notice (a
“Demand
Notice”),
to require the Company to register Registrable Securities under the Securities
Act covering all or part of such Holder or Holders’ Registrable Securities
(which specifies the intended method or methods of disposition thereof) (a
“Demand
Registration”),
and after receipt of a Demand Notice, the Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to effect a registration of Registrable Securities under the Securities
Act; provided, that
the Holders shall not make in the aggregate more than three (3) Demand
Registrations each under this Agreement; provided,
further, that:
(i) no such Demand Registration may be required unless the Holders requesting
such Demand Registration provide to the Company a certificate (the
“Authorizing
Certificate”)
seeking to include Registrable Securities in such Demand Registration with an
aggregate market value not less than $25,000,000 (calculated based on the
closing sale price of such securities on the principal securities exchange
where such securities are listed on the trading day immediately preceding the
date of the Demand Notice) as of the date the Demand Notice is given, and (ii)
no Demand Notice may be given prior to ninety (90) days after the effective
date of the immediately preceding Demand Registration or, if later, the date on
which a registration pursuant to this Section 3 is terminated in its entirety
prior to the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement. The
Authorizing Certificate shall set forth (A) the name of each Holder signing
such Authorizing Certificate, (B) the number of Registrable Securities held by
each such Holder, and, if different, the number of Registrable Securities such
Holder has elected to have registered, and (C) the intended methods of
disposition of the Registrable Securities. A Holder shall be permitted to
withdraw in good faith all or a part of the Registrable Securities from a
Demand Registration at any time prior to the effective date of such Demand
Registration, in which event the Company shall promptly amend or, if requested
by the remaining Holders, promptly
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withdraw
the related Registration Statement. A good faith decision by a Holder to
withdraw Registrable Securities from registration shall not affect the
Company’s obligations hereunder even if the amount remaining to be
registered has an aggregate market value of $25,000,000 (calculated in the
manner described above) as of the date the Demand Notice is given; provided, that:
(1) subject to the satisfaction of the requirements in this Section 3, such
continuing registration shall constitute a Demand Registration, (2) any
withdrawing Holders (or the other Holders participating in the subject
registration) did not include the withdrawn Registrable Securities in the
Authorizing Certificate as a means of circumventing the applicable $25,000,000
threshold described in this Section 3(a), and (3) any withdrawing Holders shall
reimburse the Company for any filing fees paid to the SEC with respect to the
withdrawn Registrable Securities. A registration that is terminated in its
entirety prior to the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement
or that has not remained effective for the required period set forth in Section
3(b) shall not constitute a Demand Registration.
(b)
Filing
and Effectiveness. The
Company shall file a Registration Statement relating to any Demand Registration
as promptly as practicable, but in any event no later than sixty (60) days
after receipt of a Demand Notice, with the SEC and use its reasonable best
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon
as practicable thereafter and to remain effective for a period of time
reasonably required for the disposition of the Registrable Securities covered
by such Registration Statement. If any Demand Registration is requested to be
effected as a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
by the Holders demanding such Demand Registration, the Company shall keep the
Registration Statement filed in respect thereof effective for a period of six
(6) months from the date on which the SEC declares such Registration Statement
effective or such shorter period that will terminate when all Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to
such Registration Statement. The Company shall promptly, and in any event
within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of a Demand Notice, notify all
other Holders in writing of the receipt of such Demand Notice and each such
other Holder shall have the right to have all or a part of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities included in such registration thereof by delivering a
written notice (a “Participating
Notice”)
to the Company within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the
aforementioned notice from the Company (each Holder that delivers a
Participating Notice to the Company pursuant to this Section 3(b), a
“Participating
Demand Holder”).
Each Participating Demand Holder shall specify in the Participating Notice the
number of Registrable Securities that such Participating Demand Holder elects
to include in such registration and the Company shall include in such
registration all Registrable Securities requested by the Participating Demand
Holders for inclusion as specified in the Participation Notices.
(c)
Priority
on Demand Registration. If the
Demand Notice includes a request for an Underwritten Offering and the managing
underwriter or underwriters of such Underwritten Offering, selected by the
Company pursuant to Section 8, to which such Demand Registration relates advise
the Holder or Holders initiating the Demand Registration pursuant to Section
3(a) (the “Initiating
Holders”)
and the Participating Demand Holders in writing that the total amount of
Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holders and the Participating Demand
Holders intend to include in such Demand Registration is in the aggregate such
as to materially and adversely affect the success of such offering, then the
number of Registrable Securities to be included in such Demand Registration
shall be reduced and there shall be included in such Underwritten Offering the
number of Registrable Securities that, in the opinion of such
5
managing
underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without materially and adversely
affecting the success of such Underwritten Offering (the “Maximum
Number of Securities”)
and the
Participating Demand Holders and the Initiating Holders shall be entitled to
participate on a pro rata basis based on the amount of Registrable Securities
requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering by each such
Participating Demand Holder and Initiating Holder so as not to exceed the
Maximum Number of Securities.
(d) Postponement
of Demand Registration. The
Company shall be entitled to postpone the filing period of any Demand
Registration or suspend the effectiveness of any Registration Statement for a
reasonable period of time not in excess of ninety (90) calendar days if the
Company determines, in the good faith exercise of the business judgment of the
Board, that such registration and offering could materially interfere with a
bona fide business or financing transaction of the Company or would require
disclosure of information, the premature disclosure of which could materially
and adversely affect the Company; provided, that
the Company shall not invoke this right more than twice in any twelve
(12)-month period; and provided,
further, that
the Company shall not register any of its securities during such postponement
or suspension period. In the event that the Company determines to postpone the
filing of, or suspend the effectiveness of, a Registration Statement, it shall
promptly (i) furnish to all Initiating Holders and Participating Demand Holders
a certificate signed by the Company’s chief executive officer or chief
financial officer stating that the decision to postpone or suspend was made by
the Board in accordance with this Section 3(d) and (ii) notify all Initiating
Holders and Participating Demand Holders in writing when the events or
circumstances permitting such postponement or suspension have
ended.
4.
Piggy-Back Registration.
(a) Right
to Piggyback. If the
Company proposes to file a Registration Statement, whether or not for its own
account, under the Securities Act on any form (other than a registration
statement on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor form for securities to be offered
in a transaction of the type referred to in Rule 145 under the Securities Act
or to employees of the Company pursuant to any employee benefit plan,
respectively) for the registration of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class D
Common Stock or other securities that would be convertible into, or
exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Class A Common Stock or Class D
Common Stock (a “Piggy-Back
Registration”),
it shall give written notice to all Holders at least twenty (20) Business Days
prior to the initial filing with the SEC of such piggy-back Registration
Statement, which notice shall set forth the intended method of disposition of
the securities proposed to be registered by the Company in the Piggy-Back
Registration. The notice referred to in the preceding sentence shall offer the
Holders the opportunity to register such amount of Registrable Securities as
each such Holder may request. Each Holder desiring to have Registrable
Securities registered under this Section 4 (a) (a “Participating
Piggy-Back Holder”)
shall advise the Company in writing within ten (10) Business Days after the
date of receipt of the aforementioned notice from the Company, setting forth
the amount of such Registrable Securities for which registration is requested.
Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4(b), the Company shall
thereupon include in such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities
with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion
therein, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect registration of
such Registrable Securities under the Securities Act. The Participating
Piggy-Back Holders shall be permitted to withdraw all or part
6
of the
Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the
effective date of such Piggyback Registration.
(b) Priority
on Piggyback Registrations. If the
Piggy-Back Registration relates to an Underwritten Offering and the managing
underwriter or underwriters of such Underwritten Offering, selected by the
Company pursuant to Section 8, to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates
advise the Participating Piggy-Back Holders in writing that the total amount of
Registrable Securities that such Participating Piggy-Back Holders intend to
include in the Piggy-Back Registration in addition to any other securities the
Company intends to register would be greater than the total number of
securities which can be sold in such Underwritten Offering without having a
material adverse affect on the success of such Underwritten Offering, the
Company shall include in such Piggy-Back Registration (i) first, 100% of the
Class A Common Stock, Class D Common Stock or other securities that would be
convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Class A Common
Stock or Class D Common Stock the Company proposes to sell, and (ii) second, to
the extent of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in
such registration which, with the advice of such managing underwriter or
underwriters, can be sold without having the adverse effect referred to above,
the number of Registrable Securities which the Participating Piggy-Back Holders
have requested to be included in such registration, such amount to be allocated
pro rata among all Participating Piggy-Back Holders on the basis of the
relative amount of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein by
each Participating Piggy-Back Holder.
5.
Registration Procedures. In connection with the Company’s
registration obligations pursuant to Sections 3 and 4, the Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to effect such registrations to permit the sale of
such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods
of disposition thereof and pursuant thereto, the Company shall as expeditiously
as possible, and in each case to the extent applicable (it being understood
that the obligations of the Company in clauses (a), (b), (d), (e), (h), (j),
(k), (m), (n) and (p) of this Section 5 shall be subject to Section
3(d)):
(a) prepare
and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on
any appropriate form under the Securities Act available for the sale of the
Registrable Securities by the holders thereof in accordance with the intended
method or methods of distribution thereof, and cause each such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein;
provided,
however,
that the
Company agrees that, at the request of a Holder exercising a demand
registration right under Section 3, at such time as the Company becomes a
“well-known seasoned issuer,” as such term is defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act, the Company will register an offering pursuant to
Section 3 on an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as such
term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act, and
provided,
further,
however, that
before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto (including documents that would be incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference) the Company shall furnish to the
Holders holding Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement,
not more than one counsel chosen by the Holders holding a majority of the
Registrable Securities being registered (“Special
Counsel”)
and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, copies of all such
documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review
of such
7
Holders,
such Special Counsel and such underwriter or underwriters, and the Company
shall not file any such Registration Statement or amendment thereto or any
Prospectus or any supplement thereto (excluding such documents that, upon
filing, will be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein)
to which the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities covered
by such Registration Statement or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if
any, could reasonably conclude to be potentially misleading, omit a material
fact or fail to comply with rules or common practice of the SEC or the
securities industry; and the Company shall not be deemed to have used its
reasonable best efforts to keep a Registration Statement effective during the
applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in the
Holders of such Registrable Securities not being able to sell such Registrable
Securities during that period, unless such action is required under applicable
law or otherwise undertaken by the Company in good faith and for valid business
reasons (not including avoidance of the Company’s obligations hereunder),
including the acquisition or divestiture of assets;
(b) prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective for the applicable periods specified in Section 3; cause
the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any
similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act; and comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period
in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof
set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as
so supplemented;
(c) notify
the selling Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
promptly, and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing,
(i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any
request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for
amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or
for additional information or the receipt by the Company of any comment letter
from the SEC with respect to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus,
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if at any
time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any
agreement contemplated by Section 5(m) (including any underwriting agreement)
cease to be true and correct in any material respect, (v) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose, (vi) of the occurrence 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 a Registration Statement,
Prospectus or any such document so that, in the case of the Registration
Statement, it
8
shall
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading and, in the case of the Prospectus, it shall not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vii) of the
Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(d) use
every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of
the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest possible
moment;
(e) if
requested by the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities being
registered or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, (i) promptly
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as such Holders or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if
any, reasonably conclude, based on the advice of their counsel, must be
included therein as may be required by applicable law and (ii) make all
required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment; provided,
however, that
the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 5(e)
that are not, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, in compliance with
applicable law;
(f) furnish
to each selling Holder and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge,
at least one conformed copy of the Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements (but excluding
schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by
reference and all exhibits, unless requested in writing by such Holder or
underwriter);
(g) deliver
to each selling Holder and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge as
many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses relating to such Registrable
Securities (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject to the
last paragraph of this Section 5, the Company hereby consents to the use of
such Prospectus or each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering
and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto;
(h) prior to
any public offering of Registrable Securities, register or qualify or cooperate
with the selling Holders, the managing underwriter or 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 for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any seller or underwriter reasonably
requests in writing; use all reasonable efforts to keep such registration or
qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period the
9
applicable
Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all
other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in each
such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable
Registration Statement; provided,
however, that
the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so required to be qualified or (ii) take any
action that would subject it to taxation or service of process in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(i) cooperate
with the selling Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be sold and enable such Registrable Securities to be
in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing
underwriters, if any, shall request at least two (2) Business Days prior to the
closing of any sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters;
(j) upon the
occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(c)(vi) or 5(c)(vii), prepare
a supplement or post-effective amendment to each Registration Statement or a
supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by
reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered
to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, such
Prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading;
(k) if
requested by the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement or the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement to be (i) listed on each
securities exchange, if any, on which securities issued by the Company of the
same class are then listed or, if no such securities issued by the Company are
then so listed, on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities
exchange if the securities qualify to be so listed or (ii) authorized to be
quoted on the NASDAQ or the National Market System of NASDAQ, if the
securities qualify to be so quoted;
(l) if
needed, engage an appropriate transfer agent and provide the transfer agent
with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company and provide a CUSIP number for the
Registrable Securities;
(m) enter
into such customary agreements (including, in the event of an Underwritten
Offering, an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is
customary in underwritten offerings) and take all such other commercially
reasonable and customary actions in connection therewith (including those
reasonably requested by the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold or, in the event of an Underwritten Offering, those
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters) in order to
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and in such
connection, and where an underwriting agreement is entered into in connection
with
10
an
underwritten registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the
underwriters with respect to the businesses of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated
by reference or deemed incorporated by reference therein, if any, in each case,
in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters
in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested; (ii) in
the case of an Underwritten Offering, obtain opinions of counsel to the Company
and updates thereof, which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance)
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters,
if any, and if such Registrable Securities are not being sold through an
Underwritten Offering, then to the Holders of Registrable Securities requesting
registration, addressed to each of the underwriters or the Holders of
Registrable Securities, as applicable, covering the matters customarily covered
in opinions requested in offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by such underwriters or Holders, as applicable; (iii) in the case of
an Underwritten Offering, use reasonable efforts to obtain “comfort”
letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants
of the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountants of
any Subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for
which financial statements and financial data is, or is required to be,
included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters,
such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with
underwritten offerings; and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may
be reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to
evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the
Company and its Subsidiaries made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence
compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting
agreement entered into by the Company. The foregoing actions shall be taken in
connection with each closing under such underwriting agreement as and to the
extent required thereunder;
(n) upon
three (3) Business Days’ notice, make available for reasonable inspection
during normal business hours by a representative of the Holders holding
Registrable Securities being sold, any underwriter participating in any
disposition of Registrable Securities, and any attorney or accountant retained
by such selling Holders or underwriter, all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company
and its Subsidiaries to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
representative, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such
Registration Statement; provided,
however, that
any records, information or documents that are designated by the Company in
writing as confidential at the time of delivery of such records, information or
documents shall be kept confidential by such Persons unless (i) such records,
information or documents are in the public domain or otherwise publicly
available, (ii) disclosure of such records, information or documents is
required by any Governmental Authority or Governmental Order or is necessary to
respond to inquiries of any Governmental Authority, or (iii) disclosure of such
records, information or documents, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to such
Person, is otherwise required by law (including, without limitation, pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act);
11
(o) comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally
available to its security holders earning statements satisfying the provisions
of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar
rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 calendar days after
the end of any 12 month period (or 90 calendar days after the end of any
12-month period if such period is a fiscal year), subject to any applicable
extension pursuant to Rule 12b-25 of the Exchange Act, (i) commencing at the
end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to
underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering, or
(ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first
day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company, after the effective date of a
Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period; and
(p) In
connection with any Underwritten Offering, cause appropriate members of
management to be available for meetings with prospective purchasers of
Registrable Securities and prepare and present to potential investors customary
“road show” material, in each case in accordance with the
recommendations of the underwriters and in all respects in a manner consistent
with other new issuances of securities in an offering of a similar size to such
offering of Registrable Securities.
The
Company may require each selling Holder of Registrable Securities as to which
any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may,
from time to time, reasonably request in writing, and the Company may exclude
from such registration the Registrable Securities of any Holder who
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after
receiving such request. The Company may require each selling Holder of
Registrable Securities (i) to agree to sell such Registrable Securities on the
basis reasonably provided in any underwriting agreements entered into in
connection with such offering pursuant to Section 5(m) and (ii) to complete and
execute all questionnaires, powers of attorney, custody agreements,
indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the
terms of such underwriting agreements.
Each
Holder shall be deemed to have agreed by virtue of its acquisition of
Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d) or 5(c) (other
than 5(c)(i)) (a “Suspension
Notice”),
such Holder shall forthwith discontinue (“Black-Out”)
disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement or Prospectus until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(j), or until it is
advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may
be resumed, and such Holder has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus. Except as expressly provided herein, there shall
be no limitation with regard to the number of Suspension Notices that the
Company is entitled to give hereunder; provided,
however, that
in no event shall the aggregate number of days the Holders are subject to
Black-Out during any period of 12 consecutive months exceed 90
days.
12
6.
Expenses.
All fees
and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement
by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any of the
Registration Statements become effective. Such fees and expenses shall include,
without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including fees and
expenses for compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws), (ii)
printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for Registrable
Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and
of printing a reasonable number of Prospectuses if the printing of such
Prospectuses is requested by the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in any Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses incurred by the Company, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company incurred by the Company, (v) fees and disbursements of
all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(m)(iii)
(including the expenses of any special audit and “comfort” letter
required by or incident to such performance) incurred by the Company, (vi)
Securities Act liability insurance, if any, (vii) fees and expenses of Special
Counsel retained by the Holders in connection with the registration and sale of
their Registrable Securities not in excess of $50,000 per single registration,
and (viii) fees and expenses of the Company and the underwriters relating to
“road show” investor presentations. In addition, the Company shall
pay internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
securities to be registered on any securities exchange on which securities of
the same class issued by the Company are then listed and the fees and expenses
of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company. In no event,
however, shall the Company be responsible for any underwriting discount or
selling commission with respect to any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant
to this Agreement, and the Holders shall be responsible on a pro rata basis for
any taxes of any kind (including transfer taxes) with respect to any
disposition, sale or transfer of Registrable Securities and for any legal,
accounting and other expenses incurred by them in connection with any
Registration Statement.
7.
Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification
by the Company. The
Company shall, without limitation as to time, indemnify and hold harmless, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, each Holder holding Registrable Securities
registered pursuant to this Agreement, the officers, directors and agents and
employees of each of them, each Person who controls such a Holder (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
and the officers, directors, agents and employees of any such controlling
Person, from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs
(including the costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees) and expenses,
in each case joint or several (collectively, “Losses”),
as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
Prospectus or form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or
in any preliminary prospectus or in any
“free writing prospectus,” as such term is defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act, utilized in connection with any related
offering, or
arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except
13
insofar
and to the extent as the same are based upon information furnished in writing
to the Company by such Holder for use therein.
(b) Indemnification
by Holders. In
connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder is participating,
such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information as the
Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any Registration
Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus and shall severally and not
jointly indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its
directors and officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the
Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20
of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such
controlling Persons, from and against all Losses arising out of or based upon
any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus, or in any
“free writing prospectus,” as such term is defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act, utilized in connection with any related
offering, or
arising out of or based upon any omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to
the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is
contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the
Company for use in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary
prospectus or in any
“free writing prospectus” and was
relied upon by the Company in the preparation of such Registration Statement,
Prospectus or preliminary prospectus. In no event shall the liability of any
selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the
proceeds (net of payment of all expenses) received by such Holder upon the sale
of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification
obligation.
(c) Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings. If any
Person shall become entitled to indemnification hereunder (an
“Indemnified
Party”),
it shall give prompt notice to the party from which such indemnification is
sought (the “Indemnifying
Party”)
of any claim or of the commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to
which such Indemnified Party seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant
hereto; provided,
however, that
the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party from any obligation or liability except to the extent that
such Indemnifying Party has been prejudiced materially by such failure. All
reasonable fees and expenses (including any reasonable fees and expenses
incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such action or
proceeding) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party (provided appropriate
documentation for such expenses is also submitted with such notice), as
incurred, within five (5) calendar days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder). The
Indemnifying Party shall not consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement or otherwise seek to terminate any action or proceeding in which any
Indemnified Party is or could be a party and as to which indemnification or
contribution could be sought by such Indemnified Party under this Section 7,
unless such judgment, settlement or other termination includes as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party of a release, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Indemnified Party, from all liability in respect of such claim or
litigation for which such Indemnified Party would be entitled to
indemnification hereunder. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 7(a) above, counsel to the Indemnified Parties shall be selected by the
Holder or Holders which are the Indemnified Party and, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b) above, counsel to the Indemnified
14
Parties
shall be selected by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, in
case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party, and such
Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party of the commencement thereof,
the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the
extent it may wish and if the Indemnifying Party acknowledges in writing its
obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Party pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b),
as applicable, jointly with any other Indemnifying Party similarly notified, to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party. Notwithstanding the election of the Indemnifying Party to
assume the defense of such litigation or proceeding, such Indemnified Party
shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the
defense of such litigation or proceeding, and the Indemnifying Party shall bear
the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel and shall pay
such fees, costs and expenses at least quarterly (provided that with respect to
any single litigation or proceeding or with respect to several litigations or
proceedings involving substantially similar legal claims, such Indemnifying
Party shall not be required to bear the fees, costs and expenses of more than
one such counsel) if (i) in the reasonable judgment of such Indemnified Party
the use of counsel chosen by such Indemnifying Party to represent such
Indemnified Party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii)
the defendants in, or targets of, any such litigation or proceeding include
both an Indemnifying Party and an Indemnified Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to
it or to other Indemnified Parties which are different from or additional to
those available to such Indemnifying Party (in which case such Indemnifying
Party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf
of the Indemnified Party), (iii) such Indemnifying Party shall not have
employed counsel satisfactory to such Indemnifying Party, in the exercise of
such Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment, to represent such
Indemnified Party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of
such litigation or proceeding or (iv) any Indemnifying Party shall authorize in
writing such Indemnified Party to employ separate counsel at the expense of
such Indemnifying Party.
(d) Contribution. If the
indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to an Indemnified
Party under Section 7(a) or 7(b) in respect of any Losses or is insufficient to
hold such Indemnified Party harmless, then each applicable Indemnifying Party,
in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall, severally but not
jointly, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as
a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the Indemnifying Party or Indemnifying Parties, 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 such
Indemnifying Party or Indemnifying Parties, on the one hand, and such
Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of
a material fact, has been taken or made by, or related to information supplied
by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a
party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include any legal or other
fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any action or
proceeding.
15
The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), an Indemnifying Party that
is a selling Holder shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of
the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities sold by
such Indemnifying Party and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Indemnifying Party has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
The
indemnity, contribution and expense reimbursement obligations of the Company
hereunder shall be in addition to any liability the Company may otherwise have
hereunder or otherwise. The provisions of this Section 7 shall survive the sale
of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement,
notwithstanding any permitted transfer of the Registrable Securities by any
Holder thereof or any termination of this Agreement.
8.
Selection of Managing Underwriters. If any of the Registrable Securities
included in any Demand Registration are to be sold in an Underwritten Offering,
the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the
Demand Notice may select an investment banker or investment bankers and a
manager or managers to manage the Underwritten Offering; provided that
such investment banker or bankers are reasonably acceptable to the Company. If
any Piggyback Registration is an Underwritten Offering, the Company shall have
the exclusive right to select an investment banker or investment bankers and a
manager or managers to administer the offering. The Company agrees that, in
connection with any Underwritten Offering hereunder, it shall undertake to
offer customary indemnification to the participating underwriters.
9.
Limitations on Registration of Other Securities; Representation. From
and after the date hereof, the Company shall not, without the prior written
consent of the Holders of 75% of the Registrable Securities on an as-converted
basis, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any
securities of the Company that would allow such holder or prospective holder to
have any registration rights the terms of which, when taken as a whole, are as
favorable as or more favorable than the registration rights granted to the
Holders hereunder unless the Company shall also give such rights to the Holders
hereunder.
10.
No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company shall not hereafter enter into
any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with or
adversely affects, in any material respects, the rights granted to the Holders
in this Agreement.
11.
Miscellaneous.
(a) Specific
Performance. The
parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any
provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance
16
with the
terms hereof and that the parties and the Holders shall be entitled to specific
performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or
equity.
(b) Amendments
and Waivers.
This
Agreement may be amended or modified only if such amendment or modification is
in wring and signed by the Company and the Holders of 75% of the Registrable
Securities on an as-converted basis. Any waiver of any provisions hereof shall
be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the waiving party
or parties to be bound thereby. The failure of any party to enforce any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such
provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce
any provision hereof in accordance with its terms.
(c) Notices. All
notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party
hereto shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument
delivered in person, by telecopy, by overnight courier or by first class
registered or certified mail (return receipt requested, postage prepaid) to
such party at the address set forth below (or at such other address or to the
attention of such other Person as shall be specified by such party in a notice
given in accordance with this Section 11(c)) and to any Holder at such address
as indicated by the Company’s records (or at such address or to the
attention of such other Person as shall be specified by such Holder in a notice
given in accordance with this Section 11(c)):
If to
NBCU:
00
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
General Counsel
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
With a
copy to:
Shearman
& Sterling LLP
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
If to
CIG:
CIG
Media LLC
000 X.
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
17
with a
copy to:
Fried,
Frank, Harris, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
Xxx Xxx
Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
with a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx,
X.X. 00000
Attention:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
If to
the Company:
ION
Media Networks, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention:
General Counsel
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
With a
copy to:
Holland
& Knight LLP
000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
and
Dow,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, PLLC
0000 Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
18
All such
notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have
been given hereunder when received.
(d) Merger
or Consolidation of the Company. If the
Company is a party to any merger or consolidation pursuant to which the
Convertible Securities or Registrable Securities are converted into, or
exchanged or exercised for, securities or the right to receive securities of
any other Person (“Conversion
Securities”),
the issuer of such Conversion Securities shall assume (in a writing delivered
to all Holders) all obligations of the Company hereunder. The Company shall not
effect any merger or consolidation described in the immediately preceding
sentence unless the issuer of the Conversion Securities complies with this
Section 11(d).
(e) Successors
and Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Stockholders’ Agreement and
this Agreement, any transferee of all or a portion of the Convertible
Securities or Registrable Securities owned from time to time by the Investors
shall become a Holder hereunder to the extent it (i) agrees in writing to be
bound by all of the provisions applicable hereunder to the transferring Holder
(such acknowledgment being evidenced by execution of a Counterpart and
Acknowledgement in the form of Exhibit A) and (ii) owns of record not less than
10,000 shares of Registrable Securities on an as-converted basis. This
Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and be solely enforceable by the
Company, the Investors and the Holders and their respective successors and
permitted assignees.
(f) Headings. The
headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and
identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define
or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision
hereof.
(g) Governing
Law; Jurisdiction. This
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed
in that State. All actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this
Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any New York state or
federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York. The
parties hereto hereby (a) submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or
federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York for
the purpose of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (b) irrevocably waive, and agree not
to assert by way of motion, defense, or otherwise, in any such action or
proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of
the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment
or execution, that the action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient
forum, that the venue of the action or proceeding is improper, or that this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may not be enforced in or by
any of the above-named courts.
(h) Waiver
of Jury Trial. Each
of the parties hereto hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law any right it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any
litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with
this Agreement or the Transaction. Each of the parties hereto (a) certifies
that 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 that foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it
and the
19
other
hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement and the Transaction, as
applicable, by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in
this Section 11(h).
(i) Severability.
Whenever possible, each term and provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law.
If any term or provision hereof is invalid, illegal or incapable of being
enforced by law or public policy, all other terms and provisions hereof shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties
hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect
the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually
acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be
consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent
possible.
(j) Entire
Agreement. This
Agreement, the other Transaction Agreements and the other writings referred to
herein or therein or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto which form a part
hereof or thereof contain the entire agreement and understanding among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof or thereof and
supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations
by or among the parties, written or oral, with respect to the subject matter
hereof or thereof.
(k) Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission)
in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but
all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
[Signature
appears on next page]
20
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.
ION MEDIA NETWORKS, INC. | |||
|
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
|||
Title:
Chief Financial Officer |
NBC UNIVERSAL, INC. | |||
|
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
|||
Title:
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
CIG MEDIA LLC | |||
By: |
Citadel
Limited Partnership, its Portfolio Manager |
||
By: |
Citadel
Investment Group, L.L.C., its General Partner |
||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
|||
Title:
Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel |
21
EXHIBIT A
COUNTERPART
AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
TO: |
The
Company |
RE: |
The
Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”)
dated as of May 4, 2007, by
and
among the Company, NBC Universal, Inc. and CIG Media LLC
|
The
undersigned hereby agrees to be bound by the terms of the Agreement as a party
to the Agreement, and shall be entitled to all benefits of the Holders (as
defined in the Agreement) and shall be subject to all obligations and
restrictions of the Holders pursuant to the Agreement, as fully and effectively
as though the undersigned had executed a counterpart of the Agreement together
with the other parties to the Agreement. The undersigned hereby acknowledges
having received and reviewed a copy of the Agreement.
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title : |
Date: | ||
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Number of Shares of Registrable Securities: ________________ |
Address
for Notices:
with
copies to: