REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT by and among SOLUTIA, INC. and THE HOLDERS SET FORTH HEREIN Dated as of November 19, 2007
Exhibit 10(xx)
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
by and among
SOLUTIA, INC.
and
THE HOLDERS SET FORTH HEREIN
Dated as of November 19, 2007
by and among
SOLUTIA, INC.
and
THE HOLDERS SET FORTH HEREIN
Dated as of November 19, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I.
|
DEFINITIONS | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II.
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 4 | ||||
Section 2.1
|
Representations and Warranties of the Company | 4 | ||||
ARTICLE III.
|
SHELF REGISTRATION | 6 | ||||
Section 3.1
|
Shelf Registration Statement | 6 | ||||
Section 3.2
|
Shelf Registration Procedures | 7 | ||||
ARTICLE IV.
|
UNDERWRITTEN OFFERINGS | 8 | ||||
Section 4.1
|
Right to Underwritten Offerings | 8 | ||||
Section 4.2
|
Underwritten Offering Procedures | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE V.
|
PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION | 10 | ||||
Section 5.1
|
Right to Piggyback | 10 | ||||
Section 5.2
|
Priority on Piggyback Registrations | 10 | ||||
Section 5.3
|
Withdrawal of Piggyback Registration | 11 | ||||
ARTICLE VI.
|
BLACKOUT PERIOD | 11 | ||||
Section 6.1
|
Shelf Registration and Piggyback Registration Blackout | 11 | ||||
Section 6.2
|
Blackout Period Limits | 12 | ||||
ARTICLE VII.
|
PROCEDURES AND EXPENSES | 12 | ||||
Section 7.1
|
Registration Procedures | 12 | ||||
Section 7.2
|
Information from Holders; Holders’ Obligations | 15 | ||||
Section 7.3
|
Suspension of Disposition | 16 | ||||
Section 7.4
|
Registration Expenses | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII.
|
INDEMNIFICATION | 17 | ||||
Section 8.1
|
Indemnification by the Company | 17 | ||||
Section 8.2
|
Indemnification by Holders | 18 | ||||
Section 8.3
|
Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings | 19 | ||||
Section 8.4
|
Contribution, etc. | 19 | ||||
ARTICLE IX.
|
FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE X.
|
RULE 144 | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE XI.
|
PRIVATE PLACEMENT | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE XII.
|
MISCELLANEOUS | 21 | ||||
Section 12.1
|
Notices | 21 | ||||
Section 12.2
|
Severability | 22 | ||||
Section 12.3
|
Assignment; Certain Specified Third Party Beneficiaries | 22 | ||||
Section 12.4
|
Entire Agreement | 22 | ||||
Section 12.5
|
Waivers and Amendments | 22 | ||||
Section 12.6
|
Counterparts | 22 | ||||
Section 12.7
|
Governing Law; Venue | 23 | ||||
Section 12.8
|
Headings | 23 | ||||
Section 12.9
|
Specific Performance | 23 | ||||
Section 12.10
|
Termination | 23 | ||||
Section 12.11
|
No Conflicting Rights | 23 | ||||
EXHIBITS
|
||||||
Exhibit A
|
Form of Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire | |||||
Exhibit B
|
Form of Joinder Agreement |
i
This Registration Rights Agreement (this
“Agreement”), dated as of November 19,
2007, is made by and among (i) subject to the entry of the
Agreement Order (as defined below), Solutia, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (as
debtor-in-possession
and a reorganized debtor, as applicable, the
“Company”), and (ii) the parties
identified as “Backstop Investors” on the signature
pages hereto and any parties identified on the signature pages
of any Joinder Agreements (as defined below) executed and
delivered pursuant to Section 12.3 hereto (each, including
the Backstop Investors, a “Holder” and,
collectively, the “Holders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by that certain Commitment Agreement, dated as of
October 15, 2007 (the “Commitment
Agreement”), by and among the Company and each of the
Backstop Investors has agreed to acquire shares of New Common
Stock (as defined below) in accordance with the provisions of
the Commitment Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the Backstop Investors’
commitment to purchase shares of the New Common Stock pursuant
to and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Commitment
Agreement, the Company has agreed to enter into a registration
rights agreement with respect to all of the shares of New Common
Stock held or acquired by the Holders.
AGREEMENTS
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
covenants and agreements contained herein and in the Commitment
Agreement and Amended Plan (as defined below), and intending to
be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the
following meanings:
“Affiliate” has the meaning given to
that term pursuant to
Rule 12b-2
under the Exchange Act.
“Agreement” has the meaning given to
that term in the introductory paragraph hereof.
“Agreement Order” means the order of the
Bankruptcy Court granting the motion to approve this Agreement
and related relief.
“Amended Plan” means the Debtors’
Fifth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization attached as
Exhibit A to the related Disclosure Statement, as approved
by Order of the Bankruptcy Court entered on October 19,
2007, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Chapter 11,
Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. 101
et seq.
“Bankruptcy Court” means the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
administering the Company’s bankruptcy case under the
Bankruptcy Code together with the applicable district court, to
the extent district court approval of the Amended Plan, or any
transactions contemplated therein, is sought or required.
“Bankruptcy Rules” means the Federal
Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.
“Blackout Period” means any period
during which, in accordance with Article VI hereof, the
Company is not required to effect the filing of a Registration
Statement or is entitled to postpone the preparation, filing or
effectiveness or suspend the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement
and/or the
use of any resale Prospectus.
1
“Business Day” means any day, other than
a Saturday or Sunday, on which banking institutions in New York,
New York, are open.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.
“Company” has the meaning given to that
term in the introductory paragraph hereof.
“Company Indemnified Person” shall have
the meaning given to that term in Section 8.2 of this
Agreement.
“control” has the meaning given to that
term under Rule 405 under the Securities Act (and
“controlled” and “controlling”
shall have correlative meanings).
“Effective Date” means each effective
date or deemed effective date under the Securities Act of any
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto.
“Commitment Agreement” has the meaning
given that term in the recitals hereof.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
“Free Writing Prospectus” means a free
writing prospectus as defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act relating to the Registrable Securities included
in the applicable registration.
“Holder” and
“Holders” have the meanings given to
those terms in the introductory paragraph hereof.
“Holder Indemnified Person” shall have
the meaning given to that term in Section 8.1 of this
Agreement.
“Holder Shelf Offering” has the meaning
given to that term in Section 3.2(a) of this Agreement.
“Indemnified Person” has the meaning
given to that term in Section 8.3 of this Agreement.
“Indemnifying Person” has the meaning
given to that term in Section 8.3 of this Agreement.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means
an issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433
under the Securities Act.
“Joinder Agreement” has the meaning
given to that term in Section 12.3 of this Agreement.
“Lock-Up Period” has the meaning given
to that term in Section 4.2(d) of this Agreement.
“Material Adverse Effect” has the
meaning given to that term in Section 2.1(a) of this
Agreement.
“Monsanto Registration Rights Agreement”
means the registration rights agreement to be entered into
between the Company and Monsanto Company as contemplated by the
Shelf Registration Statement and the Amended Plan.
“NASD” has the meaning given to that
term in Section 7.1(m) of this Agreement.
“NASDAQ” means the NASDAQ National
Market.
“New Common Stock” means the shares of
new common stock of the Company issued on and after the
effective date of the Amended Plan and any additional shares of
common stock paid, issued or distributed in respect of any such
shares by way of a stock dividend, stock split or distribution,
or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization,
reorganization, merger or consolidation, or otherwise.
“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.
“Other Stockholders” means any Person
(other than the Holders) having rights to participate in a
registration of the New Common Stock.
2
“Person” means any individual,
corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, trust or other entity or association,
including without limitation any governmental authority.
“Piggyback Notice” has the meaning given
to that term in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.
“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning
given to that term in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.
“Preliminary Prospectus” has the meaning
given to that term in Section 2.1(l) of this Agreement.
“Prospectus” means the prospectus
relating to the Registrable Securities included in the
applicable Registration Statement, and any such prospectus as
supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as
amended by any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) and including all material incorporated by reference
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
“Questionnaire” has the meaning given to
that term in Section 3.2(a) of this Agreement.
“Registrable Securities” means at any
time (i) any shares of New Common Stock owned beneficially
or of record by a Holder, and (ii) any shares of New Common
Stock or other securities issued or issuable in respect of the
New Common Stock which additional shares were paid, issued or
distributed in respect of any shares of New Common Stock by way
of stock dividend, stock split or distribution, or in connection
with a combination of shares, recapitalization, reorganization,
merger or consolidation, or otherwise; provided,
however, that as to any Registrable Securities, such
securities shall cease to constitute Registrable Securities upon
the earliest to occur of: (i) the date on which the
securities are disposed of pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act; (ii) the date on which
the securities are disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 (or any
successor provision) under the Securities Act; (iii) the
date that all of such securities held by a Holder are eligible
to be disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 or any successor
thereto in a single transaction by such Holder; and
(iv) the date on which the securities cease to be
outstanding.
“Registration Expenses” has the meaning
given to that term in Section 7.4(a) of this Agreement.
“Registration Statement” means any
registration statement of the Company under the Securities Act
that covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement, including the related Prospectus,
all amendments and supplements to such registration statement
(including post-effective amendments), and all exhibits and all
materials incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated
by reference in such registration statement.
“Required Period” means four years
following the later of (i) the Effective Date of the Shelf
Registration Statement and (ii) the effective date of
Amended Plan, in each case as such period may be extended
pursuant to Section 6.2 and Section 7.3.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the SEC.
“SEC” means the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission and any successor United States federal
agency or governmental authority having similar powers.
“Securities Act” means the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
“Selling Holder” means, with respect to
a specified registration pursuant to this Agreement, Holders
whose Registrable Securities are included in such registration.
“Selling Holder Information” has the
meaning given to that term in Section 3.2(a) of this
Agreement.
“Shelf Registration Statement” means the
Registration Statement on
Form S-3
filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities
Act relating to the Registrable Securities on October 26,
2007 and any new Registration Statement filed during the
Required Period pursuant to Section 415(a)(5) of the
Securities Act relating to the Registrable Securities.
3
“Subsidiary” or
“Subsidiaries” means the direct and
indirect subsidiaries of the Company.
“Syndication Agreement” has the meaning
given to such term in the recitals hereof.
“Underwritten Registration” or
“Underwritten Offering” means a
registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an
underwriter for reoffering to the public.
ARTICLE II.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Section 2.1 Representations
and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Holder as set
forth below, (i) with respect to Sections 2.1(a), (b),
(c), (f),(g), (l) and (m), as of the date hereof and
(ii) with respect to all other representations and
warranties not expressly limited as to their date, as of each
Effective Date:
(a) Incorporation and
Qualification. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of their respective
jurisdictions of organization, with the requisite power and
authority to own its properties and conduct its business as
currently conducted, and is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation for the transaction of business and is in good
standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it
owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to
require such qualification, except to the extent the failure to
be so organized, validly existing, qualified or in good standing
has not had or would not reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, a
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any
circumstance, change in or effect on the Company and the
Company’s Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that individually
or in the aggregate with all other circumstances, changes in or
effects on the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, is or is reasonably likely to be materially
adverse to the busi ness, operations, assets or liabilities
(including without limitation contingent liabilities), results
of operations or the conditions (financial or otherwise) of the
Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
provided, however, that none of the following
shall be deemed, either alone or in combination, to constitute a
Material Adverse Effect: (i) changes in any statute, rule
or regulation after the date hereof, (ii) changes generally
affecting the industries in which the Company and its
Subsidiaries operate, (iii) changes in laws, GAAP or
accounting principles, and (iv) changes after the date
hereof resulting from the announcement or the existence of, or
compliance with, this Agreement or the Settlement Term Sheet, or
the announcement of the Rights Offering, the Amended Plan or any
of the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby;
provided, further, that any circumstance, change
or effect described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or
(iv) shall not, either alone or in combination, constitute
a “Material Adverse Effect” only if the impact of such
circumstance, change or effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not materially
disproportionate as compared to its impact on other participants
in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries
operate.
(b) Corporate Power and
Authority. The Company has the requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver
this Agreement and, subject to entry of the Agreement Order and
the expiration, or waiver by the Bankruptcy Court, of any
applicable waiting period set forth in the Bankruptcy Rules,
respectively, to perform its obligations hereunder. The Company
has taken all necessary corporate action required for the due
authorization, execution, delivery and performance by it of this
Agreement.
(c) Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly
and validly executed and delivered by the Company, and, upon the
entry of the Agreement Order and the expiration, or waiver by
the Bankruptcy Court, of any applicable waiting period set forth
in the Bankruptcy Rules, this Agreement will constitute the
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms.
(d) Authorized Capital Stock. The
authorized capital stock of the Company conforms in all material
respects to the authorized capital stock set forth in the
Registration Statement and Preliminary Prospectus and the issued
and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company conforms
in all material respects to the description set forth in the
Registration Statement and Preliminary Prospectus.
4
(e) Issuance. All outstanding
shares of New Common Stock have been duly and validly issued,
are fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of all
taxes, liens, pre-emptive rights, rights of first refusal,
subscription and similar rights.
(f) No Conflict. Subject to the
entry of the Agreement Order and the expiration, or waiver by
the Bankruptcy Court, of any applicable waiting period set forth
in the Bankruptcy Rules, the execution and delivery by the
Company of this Agreement and compliance by the Company with all
of the provisions hereof and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby (i) will not conflict with
or result in a breach or violation of, any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under (with or without
notice or lapse of time, or both), or result in the acceleration
of, or the creation of any lien under, any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument
to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to
which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is subject, (ii) will not result in any
violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation
or bylaws of the Company included in the Amended Plan and as
applicable to the Company from and after the Effective Date and
(iii) will not result in any material violation of, or any
termination or material impairment of any rights under, any
statute or any license, authorization, injunction, judgment,
order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, except in any such
case described in subclause (i) or (iii) as have been
described in an effective Registration Statement or as will not
have and are not reasonably expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Consents and Approvals. No
consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their properties is required for the
execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and
performance of and compliance by the Company with all of the
provisions hereof and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby, except (i) the entry of
the Agreement Order and the expiration, or waiver by the
Bankruptcy Court, of any applicable waiting period set forth in
the Bankruptcy Rules, (ii) the registration under the
Securities Act of the Registrable Securities contemplated hereby
and (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations,
registrations or qualifications (w) as may be required
under NYSE or NASDAQ rules and regulations in order to
consummate the transactions contemplated herein, (x) as may
be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in
connection with the sale of the shares of New Common Stock by
the Holders, (y) as have been described in an effective
Registration Statement or (z) the absence of which will not
have or are not reasonably expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Exchange Act Documents. The
documents incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Preliminary Prospectus, when they became
effective or were filed with the SEC, as the case may be,
conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the
Exchange Act and, when read together with the other information
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, at the time the Registration Statement became
effective or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus, none of
such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement or the Preliminary
Prospectus, when such documents become effective or are filed
with the SEC, as the case may be, will conform in all material
respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not, when read together
with the other information included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Preliminary Prospectus,
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, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(i) Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities
Act, has been filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to
the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the
Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered
5
prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did
not, and at the Effective Date will not, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided, that the Company makes no representation and
warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in
each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in
conformity with information relating to any Holder furnished to
the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(j) Preliminary Prospectus. Each
Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, will
comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided that the Company makes no representation and
warranty to an Holder with respect to any statements or
omissions made in each such Preliminary Prospectus in reliance
upon and in conformity with information relating to such Holder
furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for
use in any Preliminary Prospectus. As used herein, the term
“Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus
included in such registration statement (and any amendments
thereto) before it becomes effective, any prospectus filed with
the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act
and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, at
the time of their respective effectiveness.
(k) Registration Statement and
Prospectus. As of the Effective Date of a
Registration Statement, such Registration Statement complies in
all material respects with the Securities Act, and does not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of
the applicable filing date of the Prospectus and any amendment
or supplement thereto, the Prospectus will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; provided that the
Company makes no representation and warranty to a Holder with
respect to any statements or omissions made in such Registration
Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in
reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to
such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(l) No Registration Rights. Except
(i) to the extent covered by the Registration Statement and
the Preliminary Prospectus and (ii) with respect to rights
granted un der this Agreement or the Monsanto Registration
Rights Agreement, no Person has the right to require the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to register any securities for sale
under the Securities Act or will have the right to require the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to register any securities
for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the
Registration Statement with the SEC.
(m) The Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances
that would prevent the Shelf Registration Statement from being
declared effective on the effective date of the Amended Plan.
ARTICLE III.
SHELF
REGISTRATION
Section 3.1 Shelf
Registration Statement. The Company has filed
the Shelf Registration Statement with the SEC on
October 26, 2007 and will use its reasonable best efforts
to (i) file an amendment to the Shelf Registration
Statement on or prior to two Business Days prior to the
effective date of the Amended Plan and (ii) cause the Shelf
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC no
later than the effective date of Amended Plan on an appropriate
form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of
the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof from time to
time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in
the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the
Securities Act. Once the Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to
6
cause the Shelf Registration Statement to remain continually
effective, supplemented and amended, and not subject to any stop
order, injunction or similar order or requirement of the SEC,
until the earlier of (a) the expiration of the Required
Period or (b) the date on which all Registrable Securities
shall cease to be Registrable Securities. The Company’s
obligations under this Section 3.1 are subject to the
provisions of Article VI.
Section 3.2 Shelf
Registration Procedures.
(a) During the Required Period, any Holder shall be
entitled, subject to the remainder of this Section 3.2, to
register all or any part of its Registrable Securities for sale
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and to sell all or
any part of the Registrable Securities registered on behalf of
such Holder pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement
(“Holder Shelf Offering”). Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, no Holder may include any of
its Registrable Securities in a Holder Shelf Offering pursuant
to this Agreement unless the Holder shall provide to the Company
a fully completed notice and questionnaire in substantially the
form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the
“Questionnaire”) and such other information in
writing as may be reasonably requested by the Company pursuant
to Section 7.2 (the “Selling Holder
Information”). In order to be named as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus
at the time it initially becomes effective under the Securities
Act, each Holder must no later than three Business Days prior to
the Effective Date of the Shelf Registration Statement, which
will be at least 15 days following notice by the Company of
the expected initial Effective Date (the “Company
Registration Notice”), furnish in writing the completed
Questionnaire and such other Selling Holder Information that the
Company may reasonably request in writing, if any, to the
Company. The Company Registration Notice shall set forth
(1) the expected Effective Date of the Shelf Registration
Statement and (2) the date by which Holders must return a
completed Questionnaire in order to be named as selling
securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement. In
addition, if such Company Registration Notice is given prior to
the effective date of the Amended Plan, then the Company shall
provide the following information to the Holders on or prior to
five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date of the
Shelf Registration Statement: (a) for each class under the
Amended Plan receiving shares of New Common Stock, the
approximate number of shares of New Common Stock that a holder
of $1,000 in Allowed Claims (as defined in the Amended Plan) of
such class would receive on the effective date of the Amended
Plan and (b) for each series of notes under the Prepetition
Indenture (as defined in the Amended Plan), the approximate
number of shares of New Common Stock that a holder of $1,000 in
principal amount of such series would receive on the effective
date of the Amended Plan.
The Company shall include in the Shelf Registration Statement
the information from the completed Questionnaire and such other
Selling Holder Information, if any, received by the Company at
least three Business Days prior to the initial Effective Date of
the Shelf Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as
necessary in a manner so that upon such effectiveness of the
Shelf Registration Statement the Holder shall be named as a
selling securityholder and be permitted to deliver (or be deemed
to deliver) such Prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable
Securities in accordance with applicable law. From and after the
date that the Shelf Registration Statement initially becomes
effective, upon receipt of a completed Questionnaire (including
any updated Questionnaire) and such other Selling Holder
Information (including any updated Selling Holder Information)
that the Company may reasonably request in writing (including
any amendments to any prior Questionnaire or Selling Holder
Information), if any, but in any event within 10 Business Days
after the Company receives the completed Questionnaire and such
other Selling Holder Information, if any, the Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to file any amendments or
supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or
the documents incorporated by reference therein necessary for
such Holder to be named as a selling securityholder and permit
such Holder to deliver (or be deemed to deliver) the Prospectus
to purchasers of the Registrable Securities (subject to the
Company’s rights during a Blackout Period). Holders that do
not deliver a completed written Questionnaire and such other
information, as provided for in this Section 3.2(a), shall
not be named as selling securityholders in the Prospectus until
such Holder delivers such information and the appropriate notice
and other periods called for by this Agreement shall have
elapsed. If the Company shall file a post-effective amendment to
the Shelf Registration Statement, it shall use reasonable best
efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably
practicable and notify such Holder as promptly as practicable
after the effectiveness
7
under the Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed
pursuant to this Article III. If such Selling Holder
Information is delivered during a Blackout Period, the Company
shall so inform the Holder delivering such Selling Holder
Information and shall take the actions set forth in this
Section 3.2(a) upon expiration of the Blackout Period as
though such Holder’s Selling Holder Information had been
delivered on the expiration date of such Blackout Period.
(b) Any Holder may, by written notice to the Company,
request that the Company take any commercially reasonable steps
necessary to assist and cooperate with such Holder to facilitate
a Holder Shelf Offering, including by amending the Shelf
Registration Statement
and/or
supplementing the Prospectus, subject to the provisions of this
Agreement. Such written notice shall specify the number of
shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and shall
also specify the intended method of disposition thereof.
(c) At any time and from time to time after the Shelf
Registration Statement becomes effective, any Holder may request
in writing that the Company file a supplement to the Prospectus,
or to the extent that it may be required, a post-effective
amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, in order to
update such Holder’s Selling Holder Information (which
written request shall be addressed to the Company, shall state
that the request is for a supplement or post-effective amendment
pursuant to this Section 3.2(c) and shall specify the
Holder’s updated Selling Holder Information). The Company
shall file a supplement or post-effective amendment covering
such requesting Holder’s or Holders’ Registrable
Securities requested to be registered as promptly as practicable
after receipt of such request.
(d) No Person, other than the Holders as contemplated by
this Agreement and Monsanto Company as contemplated by the Shelf
Registration Statement and the Amended Plan, shall be entitled
to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf
Registration Statement or include any securities to be sold
using the Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
ARTICLE IV.
UNDERWRITTEN
OFFERINGS
Section 4.1 Right
to Underwritten Offerings. Following the
Effective Date of the Shelf Registration Statement, any Holder
or Holders (collectively, the “Demanding
Holders”) shall have the right to request by delivery
of a written notice to the Company (a “Shelf
Underwritten Demand Notice”), that the Company effect
an Underwritten Offering of all or a portion of the Registrable
Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement. Any
such Shelf Underwritten Demand Notice must request an
underwritten offering of Registrable Securities having an
aggregate market value, based on the average per share closing
price of the Registrable Securities as reported on the principal
exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then traded over
the 10 consecutive trading days prior to the date of the Shelf
Underwritten Demand Notice, of not less than $25,000,000. Any
prospectus supplement or other filing with the SEC including a
plan or method of distribution of the securities subject to an
Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall
reflect the plan or method of distribution of such securities as
shall be designated by the managing underwriter of the offering.
The Company shall notify each other Holder of such request (by
delivering a copy of such request to each such Holder) for
registration and each other Holder may, by written notice to the
Company given no later than 10 Business Days after the
Company’s notice is given to such Holder (which notice
shall specify (i) the then-current name and address of the
Holder, (ii) the aggregate number of shares of Registrable
Securities requested to be registered in such registration by
such Holder or group of Holders, and (iii) the total number
of shares of New Common Stock then held by such Holder), request
that all or a part of such Holder’s Registrable Securities
be included in such registration. The Company shall file with
the SEC such amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement and
such Prospectus supplements or other filings that are necessary
in connection with the Underwritten Offering of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Shelf Underwritten Demand Notice as
promptly as practicable (and, in any event, by the applicable
Filing Date) after receipt of such request, subject to
Article VI.
8
Section 4.2 Underwritten
Offering Procedures.
(a) No securities to be sold for the account of any Person
(including the Company) other than a Holder shall be included in
an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 4.1 if the
managing underwriter of the Underwritten Offering relating
thereto advises the Demanding Holders that the total amount of
Registrable Securities requested to be registered, together with
such other securities that the Company and any Other
Stockholders propose to include in such offering is such as to
adversely affect the successful marketing (including the
pricing) of the securities included in such offering, in which
case the Company shall include in such registration all
Registrable Securities requested to be included therein, up to
the full amount that, in the view of such managing underwriter
can be sold without adversely affecting the success of such
offering, before including any securities of any Person
(including the Company) other than the Demanding Holders and the
other Holders. If the number of shares to be included in any
such offering is less than the aggregate number of Registrable
Securities requested by Demanding Holders and the other Holders
to be included therein, then the Registrable Securities to be
included in such offering shall be allocated pro rata among such
Demanding Holders and the other Holders on the basis of the
number of Registrable Securities requested by Demanding Holders
and the other Holders to be included therein.
(b) Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities to be
included in any Underwritten Offering shall in their reasonable
discretion and with the consent of the Company (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld) select an investment banking
firm of national standing to be the managing underwriter for any
Underwritten Offering.
(c) If so requested (pursuant to a timely written notice)
by the managing underwriter for the Underwritten Offering
relating thereto, the Company shall not effect any underwritten
public sale or distribution of any securities for its own
account or the account of any Person not a party hereto that are
the same as, or similar to, the Registrable Securities, or any
securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for,
any securities of the Company that are the same as, or similar
to, the Registrable Securities, during the
15-day
period prior to, and during the
90-day
period after, the date a Registration Statement or amendments
thereof for such Underwritten Offering becomes effective (or if
later, the date of pricing of the Underwritten Offering), as
specified by the managing underwriter.
(d) If and to the extent requested by the managing
underwriter for any Underwritten Offering, each Holder who
“beneficially owns” (as such term is defined under and
determined pursuant to
Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of
New Common Stock that is a party to this Agreement shall agree
with such managing underwriter (such agreement, a
“Lock-Up”), for a period (the “Lock-Up
Period”) beginning on a date not earlier than 5
Business Days prior to the date of pricing of such Underwritten
Offering and ending not later than 90 days after the date
of such pricing, to the effect that such Holder shall not
directly or indirectly (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, grant any options for the sale of, seek the redemption of
or otherwise transfer or dispose of (including pursuant to a
registration statement) any shares of New Common Stock (or
securities exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of New
Common Stock) held by such Holder, (ii) enter into a
transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any
swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in
part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the
shares of New Common Stock held by such Holder, whether any such
aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of
shares of New Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to make
any such offer, sale, pledge, transfer or disposition, or to
enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other
arrangement, so long as the directors and executive officers of
the Company agree to such limits, except for any Holder that,
not later than 5 days following receipt of written notice
from the Company that the Company will be filing a Registration
Statement within 15 days of such notice with respect to an
Underwritten Offering, shall have irrevocably agreed by delivery
of written notice to the Company to terminate all of its rights
under this Agreement, including under any outstanding Shelf
Registration Statement; provided, that neither this
Section 4.2(d) nor any
Lock-Up
shall prohibit a Holder from exercising rights or complying with
agreements entered into by such Holder prior to the commencement
of such
Lock-Up
Period or prevent such Holder from selling pursuant to such
Underwritten Offering; and provided further, that with
respect to any Holder that is a broker-dealer or an affiliate of
a broker-dealer, the provisions of any
Lock-Up
shall not apply to any transactions effected for or on behalf of
9
any bona fide customer or client of such Holder (other than a
customer or client who is a beneficial owner of the Registrable
Securities held by such Holder).
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Company shall have no obligation to effect more than three
(3) Underwritten Offerings in any
12-month
period; provided, that, if such Underwritten Offering is
terminated by any stop order, injunction, or other order of the
SEC or if the conditions to closing specified in any
underwriting agreement or any other agreement entered into in
connection with such Underwritten Offering are not satisfied,
other than by reason of some act or omission by a Selling
Holder, such Underwritten Offering will be deemed not to have
been in effect and will not count as an Underwritten Offering
for purposes of the limitations in this Section 4.2(e).
ARTICLE V.
PIGGYBACK
REGISTRATION
Section 5.1 Right
to Piggyback. If (i) the Shelf
Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time during
the Required Period, (ii) there are Registrable Securities
outstanding and (iii) the Company at any time proposes to
file a registration statement under the Securities Act with
respect to an offering (a “Piggyback
Registration”) of any New Common Stock (other than a
registration statement (a) on
Form S-8
or any successor form thereto, (b) on
Form S-4
or any successor form thereto or (c) relating solely to a
transaction under Rule 145 under the Securities Act),
whether or not for its own account, on a form that would permit
registration of Registrable Securities for sale to the public
under the Securities Act, then the Company shall give prompt
written notice (the “Piggyback Notice”) of such
proposed filing to the Holders at least 10 Business Days before
the anticipated filing date. The Piggyback Notice shall include
the number of shares of New Common Stock proposed to be
registered, the proposed date of filing of such registration
statement, any proposed means of distribution, any proposed
managing underwriter and a good faith estimate by the Company of
the proposed maximum offering price as such price is proposed to
appear on the facing page of such registration statement. The
Company shall, subject to Section 5.2, use its reasonable
best efforts in order to provide the Holders with the
opportunity to request to register such amount of Registrable
Securities as each Holder may specify on the same terms and
conditions as the registration of the Company’s or Other
Stockholders’ securities, as the case may be (a
“Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall
use its reasonable best efforts to include in such Piggyback
Registration all Registrable Securities for which the Company
has received written requests for inclusion within 5 Business
Days after delivery of the Piggyback Notice, subject to
Section 5.2 and Section 7.2. The Company’s
obligations under this Section 5.1 are subject to the
provisions of Article VI.
Section 5.2 Priority
on Piggyback Registrations. If the Piggyback
Registration is an Underwritten Offering, the Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing underwriter of
that proposed offering to permit the Holders that have requested
Registrable Securities to be included in the Piggyback
Registration to include all such Registrable Securities on the
same terms and conditions as the registration of the
Company’s securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
managing underwriter of such Underwritten Offering advises the
Company and the Selling Holders in writing that, in its view,
the total amount of shares of New Common Stock that the Company,
such Holders and any Other Stockholders propose to include in
such offering is such as to adversely affect the successful
marketing (including the pricing) of the securities included in
such Underwritten Offering, then:
(i) if such Piggyback Registration is a primary
registration by the Company for its own account, the Company
shall include in such Piggyback Registration: (A) first,
up to the full amount of (1) Registrable Securities
requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration by the
Holders pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof and
(2) Registrable Securities to be included in such
registration by Holders (as the capitalized terms used in this
clause (2) are defined in the Monsanto Registration Rights
Agreement), allocated among such Holders (as defined herein and
in the Monsanto Registration Rights Agreement) on a pro rata
basis based on the amount of securities requested to be included
in such Piggyback Registration or registration, as the case may
be; (B) second, up to the full amount of securities to be
offered by the Company, and (C) third, up to the full
amount of securities requested to be included in such Piggyback
10
Registration by any Other Stockholders in accordance with the
priorities, if any, then existing among the Company and the
Other Stockholders so that the total amount of securities to be
included in such Underwritten Offering is the full amount that,
in the view of such managing underwriter, can be sold without
adversely affecting the successful marketing (including pricing)
of the securities included in such Underwritten
Offering; and
(ii) if such Piggyback Registration is an underwritten
secondary registration for the account of holders of securities
of the Company, the Company shall include in such registration:
(A) first, up to the full amount of (1) Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback
Registration by the Holders pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof
and (2) Registrable Securities to be included in such
registration by Holders (as the capitalized terms used in this
clause (2) are defined in the Monsanto Registration Rights
Agreement), allocated among such Holders (as defined herein and
in the Monsanto Registration Rights Agreement) on a pro rata
basis based on the amount of securities requested to be included
in such Piggyback Registration or registration, as the case may
be; (B) second, up to the full amount of securities of
the Persons exercising “demand” registration rights
requested to be included therein; (C) third, up to the
full amount of securities proposed to be included in the
registration by the Company; and (D) fourth, up to the
full amount of securities requested to be included in such
Piggyback Registration by the Other Stockholders in accordance
with the priorities, if any, then existing among the Company and
the Other Stockholders so that the total amount of securities to
be included in such Underwritten Offering is the full amount
that, in the view of such managing underwriter, can be sold
without adversely affecting the success of such Underwritten
Offering.
Section 5.3 Withdrawal
of Piggyback Registration.
(a) If at any time after giving the Piggyback Notice and
prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed
in connection with the Piggyback Registration, the Company
determines for any reason not to register or to delay the
Piggyback Registration, the Company may, at its election, give
notice of its determination to all Holders, and in the case of a
determination not to register, shall be relieved of its
obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection
with the abandoned Piggyback Registration, without prejudice.
(b) Any Holder of Registrable Securities requesting to be
included in a Piggyback Registration may withdraw its request
for inclusion by giving written notice to the Company of its
intention to withdraw from that registration,
provided,however, that (i) the Holder’s
request be made in writing and (ii) the withdrawal shall be
irrevocable and, after making the withdrawal, a Holder shall no
longer have any right to include its Registrable Securities in
that Piggyback Registration.
(c) An election by the Company to withdraw a Piggyback
Registration under this Section 5.3 shall not be deemed to
be a breach of the Company’s obligations with respect to
such Piggyback Registration.
ARTICLE VI.
BLACKOUT
PERIOD
Section 6.1 Shelf
Registration and Piggyback Registration
Blackout. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement to the contrary, if the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company determine in good faith, as
evidenced by a signed certificate attesting to same, that the
registration and distribution of Registrable Securities
(a) would materially impede, delay or interfere with, or
require premature disclosure of, any material financing,
offering, acquisition, corporate reorganization or other
significant transaction, or any negotiations, discussions or
pending proposals with respect thereto, involving the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or (b) would require disclosure of
non-public material information, the disclosure of which would
materially and adversely affect the Company, the Company shall
(i) be entitled to postpone the preparation, filing or
effectiveness or suspend the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement
and/or the
use of any resale Prospectus for a reasonable period of time not
to exceed 60 days and (ii) promptly give the Holders
notice of such postponement or suspension (which notice need not
specify the nature of the event giving rise to such suspension).
11
Section 6.2 Blackout
Period Limits. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Article VI to the contrary, the Company
(i) shall not be entitled to more than four Blackout
Periods during any consecutive
12-month
period, and in no event shall the number of days included in all
Blackout Periods during any consecutive
12-month
period exceed an aggregate of 60 days and (ii) in no
event shall the Company be entitled to postpone the preparation,
filing or effectiveness or suspend the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement
and/or the
use of any resale Prospectus included in a Registration
Statement pursuant to this Article VI unless it postpones
or suspends during the Blackout Period the effectiveness of any
registration statements required pursuant to the registration
rights of the Other Stockholders. In the event of the occurrence
of any Blackout Period, during the Required Period, the Required
Period shall be extended by the number of days during which such
Blackout Period is in effect.
ARTICLE VII.
PROCEDURES
AND EXPENSES
Section 7.1 Registration
Procedures. In connection with the
Company’s registration obligations pursuant to
Articles III, IV and V, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to effect such registrations to permit
the sale of Registrable Securities by a Selling Holder in
accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition
thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall as promptly as
reasonably practicable (to the extent such obligation has not
already been fulfilled):
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement
on an appropriate form under the Securities Act available for
the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Selling Holders in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution
thereof; provided, however, that the Company shall
before filing, furnish to one firm of counsel for the Selling
Holders (selected by the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities in accordance with Section 7.4) and
the managing underwriter, if any, within a reasonable period of
time prior to the filing thereof with the SEC to afford to such
counsel, the Selling Holders, the managing underwriter and its
counsel a reasonable opportunity for review, copies of the
Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed, and
reflect in each such document, when so filed with the SEC, such
written comments as such counsel to the Selling Holders and the
managing underwriter may reasonably propose;
(b) furnish, at its expense, to the Selling Holders such
number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement and
each amendment thereto, of the Prospectus and each supplement
thereto, and of such other documents as the Selling Holders
reasonably may request in writing from time to time;
(c) subject to Article VI, prepare and file with the
SEC any amendments and post-effective amendments to the
Registration Statement as may be necessary and any supplements
to the Prospectus as may be required or appropriate, in the view
of the Company and its counsel, by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used by the
Company or by the Securities Act to keep the Registration
Statement effective until the earlier of (i) such time as
all shares of New Common Stock covered by the Registration
Statement cease to be Registrable Securities and (ii) the
termination of the Required Period (giving effect to any
extensions thereof pursuant to Section 6.2 or
Section 7.3);
(d) promptly following its actual knowledge thereof (but in
any event within one Business Day), notify the Selling Holders
and the managing underwriter, if any, in writing:
(i) when a Registration Statement, Prospectus, Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or any supplement or amendment has been filed
and, with respect to a Registration Statement (including but not
limited to the Shelf Registration Statement) or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective;
(ii) of any comments or inquiries by the SEC or any request
by the SEC or any other governmental authority for amendments or
supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information (and to
furnish the Selling Holders with copies of any correspondence
related thereto);
12
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other governmental
authority of any stop order or order preventing or suspending
the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the use of any
Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings
for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any written
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of the Registrable Securities
for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of
any proceeding for such purpose;
(v) of the occurrence of any event during the period a
Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement
made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or
which requires the making of any changes in such Registration
Statement, Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus so that
such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus shall not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading (provided, however, that no notice by
the Company shall be required pursuant to this
Section 7.1(d)(v) in the event that the Company either
promptly files a Prospectus supplement to update the Prospectus
or an appropriate Exchange Act report that is incorporated by
reference into the Registration Statement, which, in either
case, contains the requisite information that results in such
Registration Statement no longer containing any untrue statement
of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein or in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading);
(vi) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be
required by applicable law (in which case the Company shall file
the same as soon as practicable after such determination and use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the same to become
effective as soon as practicable following filing);
(e) use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance
of or 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 practicable date or, if any such
order or suspension is made effective during any Blackout
Period, at the earliest practicable date after the Blackout
Period;
(f) prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, or cooperate
with the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities, or counsel retained by the Selling Holders’ in
accordance with Section 7.4, the managing underwriter, if
any, and its 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 such counsel for the Selling Holders
covered by a shelf Registration Statement or the managing
underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable
Securities reasonably requests in writing and do such other acts
and things as may be reasonably necessary to maintain each such
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the Required Period for such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to qualify generally to do business or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not then so
qualified or take any action which would subject it to general
service of process or taxation in any jurisdiction in which it
is not then so subject;
(g) subject to Article VI, as promptly as reasonably
practicable after the occurrence of any event contemplated by
Sections 7.1(d)(v) or 7.1(d)(vi) hereof, use its reasonable
best efforts to prepare (and furnish at its expense, subject to
any notice by the Company in accordance with
Section 7.1(d), to the Selling Holders a reasonable number
of copies of) a supplement or post-effective amendment to the
applicable Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
Prospectus (including by means of an Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus), or file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus or Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact
13
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading;
(h) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting
agreement containing representations and warranties and
indemnity and contribution provisions of the type made in
customary underwriting agreements for an underwritten public
offering), in usual and customary form, and take such other
actions as may be reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or
the managing underwriter, if any, to expedite the offer for sale
or disposition of the Registrable Securities, and in connection
therewith, upon such request and upon the date of closing of any
sale of Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Registration:
(i) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company (such counsel being reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriter, if any) and updates
thereof covering matters customarily covered in opinions of
counsel in connection with Underwritten Offerings, addressed to
each Selling Holder and the managing underwriter, in each case
which opinion and updates thereof shall each state that it is
being delivered at the request of the Company and solely in
order to assist the Selling Holders and the managing underwriter
in establishing a “due diligence” defense;
(ii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain customary
“comfort” letters from the independent registered
public accountants of the Company (to the extent deliverable in
accordance with their professional standards) addressed to the
Selling Holder (to the extent consistent with Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 100 of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants) and the managing underwriter, if
any, in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection
with Underwritten Offerings; and
(iii) provide officers’ certificates and other
customary closing documents customarily delivered in connection
with Underwritten Offerings and any reasonably requested by the
managing underwriter, if any;
provided that the Company shall only be required to
comply with this clause (h) in connection with an
Underwritten Offering and on the initial Effective Date of any
Registration Statement.
(i) upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times during
normal business hours, make reasonably available for inspection
by a representative of each Selling Holder, one firm of counsel
for the Selling Holders retained in accordance with
Section 7.4, the managing underwriter, if any,
participating in any disposition of Registrable Securities and
its counsel and any single accountant retained by the Selling
Holders or any such underwriter, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company, and cause the appropriate officers, directors and
employees of the Company to make reasonably available for such
inspection all such relevant information reasonably requested in
writing by them in connection with the Registration Statement as
is customary for “due diligence” investigations of the
type, nature and extent appropriate for an offering of the type
contemplated; provided that such Persons shall first
agree in writing with the Company that any information that is
reasonably designated by the Company as confidential at the time
of delivery shall be kept confidential by such Persons and shall
be used solely for the purposes of exercising rights under this
Agreement and such Person shall not engage in trading any
securities of the Company until such material non-public
information becomes publicly available, except nothing in such
writing shall restrict (i) disclosure of such information
if it is required by court or administrative order or is
necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities,
(ii) disclosure of such information if it is required by
law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to federal
or state securities laws in connection with any disposition of
Registrable Securities), (iii) sharing information with
other underwriters, agents or dealers participating in the
disposition of any Registrable Securities, subject to the
execution by such other underwriters, agents or dealers of
reasonable non-disclosure agreements with the Company and
(iv) using any such documents or other information in
investigating or defending itself against claims made or
threatened by purchasers, regulatory authorities or others in
connection with the disposition of any Registrable Securities.
14
(j) use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC relating to such
registration and make generally available to its securityholders
earning statements satisfying the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, provided that
the Company shall be deemed to have complied with this Section
7.1(j) if it has satisfied the provisions of Rule 158 under
the Securities Act (or any similar rule promulgated under the
Securities Act);
(k) use its reasonable best efforts to cause all
Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration
Statement if the New Common Stock is then listed on the NYSE or
quoted on the NASDAQ to continue to be so listed or quoted for a
reasonable period of time after the offering;
(l) use its reasonable best efforts to procure the
cooperation of the Company’s transfer agent in settling any
offering or sale of Registrable Securities;
(m) use its reasonable best efforts to provide such
information as may be reasonably required for any filings
required to be made by the Selling Holders or managing
underwriter, if any, with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) in connection with
the offering under any Registration Statement of the Registrable
Securities (including, without limitation, such as may be
required by NASD Rule 2710 or 2720), and, upon the written
request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities, shall use its reasonable best efforts to cooperate
in connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD
in that regard on or prior to the filing of any Registration
Statement; and
(n) use its reasonable best efforts to assist Holders in
the marketing of such Registrable Securities (including without
limitation, having officers of the Company attend “road
shows” for Underwritten Offerings and analyst or investor
presentations and rating agency presentations and such other
selling or informational activities requested by the Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities or the managing
underwriter for such Offerings upon reasonable prior notice and
subject to reasonable scheduling flexibility; provided,
however, that officers of the Company will not be
required to attend more than one series of road shows in any
120 day period; provided, further, that to
the extent that any Underwritten Offering is suspended or
postponed for any reason not caused by the Holders and then
subsequently re-instated, any previous attendance by officers of
road shows relating to such Underwritten Offering shall not
excuse the officers of the Company from attending subsequent
road shows relating to such Underwritten Offering for purposes
of this Section 7.1(n), regardless if such subsequent road shows
are within 120 days of the previous road shows.
Section 7.2 Information
from Holders; Holders’ Obligations.
(a) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of
the Company to include the Registrable Securities of any Selling
Holder in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, as the case
may be, that such Selling Holder shall take the actions
described in this Section 7.2.
(b) Each Selling Holder that has requested inclusion of its
Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement shall
furnish to the Company (as a condition precedent to such
Holder’s participation in such registration) a completed
Questionnaire. Each Holder agrees promptly to furnish to the
Company in writing all information required to be disclosed in
order to make the information previously furnished to the
Company by such Holder, in light of the circumstances under
which it was made, not misleading, any other information
regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable
Securities as may be required to be disclosed in the Prospectus
or Registration Statement under applicable law or pursuant to
SEC comments and any information otherwise reasonably required
by the Company to comply with applicable law or regulations.
(c) Each Selling Holder shall promptly (i) following
its actual knowledge thereof, notify the Company of the
occurrence of any event that makes any statement made in a
Registration Statement, Prospectus, Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or other Free Writing Prospectus regarding such
Selling Holder untrue in any material respect and that requires
the making of any changes in a Registration Statement,
Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus so that, in such regard,
it shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements regarding such Selling Holder,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading and (ii) provide the Company with
15
such information as may be required to enable the Company to
prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to any such
Registration Statement or a supplement to such Prospectus or
Free Writing Prospectus.
(d) With respect to any Registration Statement for an
Underwritten Offering, the inclusion of a Holder’s
Registrable Securities therein shall be conditioned, at the
managing underwriter’s request, upon the execution and
delivery by such Holder of an underwriting agreement; provided
that the underwriting agreement is in customary form and
reasonably acceptable to Company and the Holders of a majority
of the Registrable Securities to be included in the Underwritten
Offering.
(e) Each Selling Holder shall use reasonable best efforts
to cooperate with the Company in preparing the applicable
registration.
(f) Each Selling Holder agrees that no Holder of
Registrable Securities shall be entitled to sell any of such
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or
to receive a Prospectus relating thereto unless such Holder has
furnished the Company with the Questionnaire and Selling Holder
Information relating to such Holder.
(g) Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a
selling securityholder in a registration statement and related
prospectus. Accordingly, each Selling Holder acknowledges that
it has been advised to consult its own independent securities
law counsel regarding the consequences of demanding or
requesting registration of Registrable Securities hereunder or
being named or not being named as a selling securityholder in
the Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
(h) Each Selling Holder shall keep confidential that the
Company has exercised its rights under Article VI and shall
keep confidential any other information provided by the Company
in connection with this Agreement that such Selling Holder
reasonably believes is confidential or that is reasonably
designated by the Company as confidential at the time of
delivery, except nothing shall restrict (i) disclosure of
such information if it is required by court or administrative
order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory
authorities, (ii) disclosure of such information if it is
required by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant
to federal or state securities laws in connection with any
disposition of Registrable Securities), (iii) sharing
information with underwriters, agents or dealers participating
in the disposition of any Registrable Securities, subject to the
execution by such other underwriters, agents or dealers of
reasonable non-disclosure agreements with the Company,
(iv) using any such documents or other information in
investigating or defending itself against claims made or
threatened by purchasers, regulatory authorities or others in
connection with the disposition of any Registrable Securities.
Section 7.3 Suspension
of Disposition.
(a) Each Selling Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Registrable Security that, upon receipt of any written notice
from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the type
described in Sections 7.1(d)(ii), 7.1(d)(iii), 7.1(d)(iv),
7.1(d)(v) or 7.1(d)(vi), such Holder shall discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and suspend use
of such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus until such
Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 7.1(g) or until
it is advised by the Company in writing that the use of the
applicable Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus may be resumed
and have received copies of any additional or supplemental
filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus. In the
event the Company shall give any such notice, the Required
Period shall be extended by the number of days during the time
period from and including the date of the giving of such notice
to and including the date when each Selling Holder of
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
has received (i) the copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by
Section 7.1(g) or (ii) the advice referenced in this
Section 7.3(a).
(b) Each Selling Holder shall be deemed to have agreed
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company contemplated
by Section 6.1, such Selling Holder shall discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and suspend use
of such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus until the earlier
to occur of the Holder’s receipt of (i) copies of a
16
supplemented or amended Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus and (ii)(A) written notice from the Company that the
use of the applicable Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus may be resumed and (B) copies of any additional
or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus; provided, however, that in no
event shall the number of days during which the offer and sale
of Registrable Securities is discontinued pursuant to this
Section 7.3(b) during any consecutive
12-month
period, together with any other Blackout Periods in such
consecutive
12-month
period, exceed an aggregate of sixty (60) days. In the
event the Company gives any such notice contemplated by Section
6.1, the period of time for which a Registration Statement must
remain effective pursuant to this Agreement shall be extended by
the number of days during the time period from and including the
date of giving of such notice to and including the date when
each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement receives (i) the supplemented or
amended Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or
(ii) written notice from the Company that use of the
applicable Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus may
resume.
(c) If so requested by the Company, each Holder shall
deliver to the Company all copies in such Holder’s
possession, other than permanent file copies then in such
Holder’s possession or as may be required to be retained in
accordance with applicable law, of the Prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities that was current at the time of receipt
of notice from the Company of any suspension contemplated by
this Section 7.3.
Section 7.4 Registration
Expenses.
(a) Without limiting any of the obligations in the
Commitment Agreement or Article VIII hereof, all fees and
expenses incurred by the Company in complying with
Articles III, IV and V and Section 7.1
(“Registration Expenses”) shall be borne by the
Company. These fees and expenses shall include without
limitation (i) all registration, filing and qualification
fees, including fees made with the NASD, (ii) printing,
duplicating and delivery expenses, (iii) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, (iv) fees and
expenses of complying with state securities or “blue
sky” laws (including the reasonable, documented fees and
expenses of the counsel specified in Section 7.4(b) in
connection therewith), (v) fees and disbursements of all
independent registered public accountants referred to in Section
7.1(h)(ii) (including the expenses of any special audit and
“comfort” letters required by or incident to such
performance) and (vi) fees and expenses in connection with
listing the Registrable Securities on the NYSE or quoting the
Registrable Securities on the NASDAQ or any other exchange or
automated trading system in accordance with the other terms of
this Agreement.
(b) The Company shall also reimburse or pay, as the case
may be, the reasonable fees and reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses of one law firm (which shall be a nationally recognized
law firm experienced in securities law matters) retained by the
Holders within 30 days of presentation of an invoice by
such Holders (which law firm shall be selected (i) by
Highland Crusader Holding Corporation
(“Crusader”), if Crusader holds any of the
Registrable Securities included in any applicable registration
and (ii) by the Holders holding at least a majority of the
Registrable Securities included in the applicable registration,
if Crusader does not hold any of the Registrable Securities
included in any applicable registration). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company agrees that until the Effective Date of
the Shelf Registration Statement, all Transaction Expenses (as
defined in the Commitment Agreement), including any expenses
incurred by any Holder or its advisors with respect to the Shelf
Registration Statement, shall be paid by the Company in
accordance with Section 2(d) of the Commitment Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, all underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions
and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable
Securities shall be borne by the Holder owning such Registrable
Securities.
ARTICLE VIII.
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Indemnification
by the Company. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable
Securities that are included in a Registration Statement
pursuant to this Agreement, such Holder’s Affiliates, and
their respective officers, directors, employees, partners and
agents, and each
17
Person, if any, who controls any such Holder within the meaning
of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act and any underwriter (as
defined in the Securities Act), selling agent or other
securities professional for such Holder that facilities the
disposition of Registrable Securities for such Holder, and any
Person who controls such underwriter, selling agent or other
securities professional within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act (each, a “Holder Indemnified
Person”), from and against, and agrees to reimburse
each Holder Indemnified Person with respect to, any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including
without limitation, subject to Section 8.3, the reasonable
legal fees and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred
in investigating, responding to or defending against any claim,
challenge, litigation, investigation or proceeding, including
without limitation, all costs of appearing as a witness in any
claim, challenge, litigation, investigation or proceeding)
(collectively, “Damages”) based upon, arising
out of or resulting from, (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, relating to the Registrable
Securities, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or
any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, to make the statements
therein not misleading or (ii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, any federal or state securities law or any rule or
regulation promulgated under the Securities, the Exchange Act or
any federal or state securities law in connection with any
Registration Statement, Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, relating to the Registrable
Securities, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be
liable in any such case to the extent that any such Damages
arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or omission
or alleged untrue statement or alleged omission made in such
Registration Statement, Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or
Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, in strict conformity with information relating to any
Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder or
Holder Indemnified Person expressly for use therein.
Section 8.2 Indemnification
by Holders. Each Holder agrees, severally and
not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, the Company, the
Company’s Affiliates, and their respective officers,
directors, employees, partners and 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 (each, a “Company Indemnified
Person”), from and against, and to reimburse each
Company Indemnified Person with respect to, any and all Damages,
based upon, arising out of or resulting from, (i) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, Preliminary
Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, relating to the
offer and sale of Registrable Securities, or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, to make the statements therein not misleading,
in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any
such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
alleged omission was made in such Registration Statement,
Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus,
or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, in strict
conformity with information relating to any Holder furnished to
the Company in writing by such Holder or Holder Indemnified
Person expressly for use therein and (ii) any violation or
alleged violation by such Holder of the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, any federal or state securities law or any rule or
regulation promulgated under the Securities, the Exchange Act or
any federal or state securities law in connection with any
Registration Statement, Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, relating to the Registrable
Securities, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto;
provided, however, the liability of each Holder
will be in proportion to, and such liability will be limited to,
the gross amount received by such Holder from the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement;
provided, further, that a Holder shall not be
liable in any case to the extent that prior to the filing of any
such Registration Statement, Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus
or Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, such Holder has furnished in writing to the
Company, information expressly for use in, and within a
reasonable period of time prior to the effectiveness of, such
Registration Statement, Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or
Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto which corrected or made not misleading information
previously provided to the Company.
18
Section 8.3 Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings. If any claim,
challenge, litigation, investigation or proceeding (including
any governmental or regulatory investigation) shall be brought
or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnity may
be sought pursuant to either of Section 8.1 or
Section 8.2, such Person (the “Indemnified
Person”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom
such indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnifying
Person”) in writing; provided that (i) the
omission to so notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve
it from any liability that it may have hereunder except to the
extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure and
(ii) the omission to so notify the Indemnifying Person
shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an
Indemnified Person otherwise than on account of this
Article VIII. In case any such claim, challenge,
litigation, investigation or proceeding is brought against any
Indemnified Person and it notifies the Indemnifying Person of
the commencement thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may
elect by written notice delivered to such Indemnified Person, to
assume the defense thereof and retain counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the
Indemnified Person and any others the Indemnifying Person may
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees
and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any
such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to
retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person
unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified
Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary,
(ii) the Indemnifying Person shall have failed within a
reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person as contemplated by the preceding sentence or
(iii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including
any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and
the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the
same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
conflicts of interests between them. It is understood that the
Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding
or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for
the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and
that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
incurred. Any such separate firm for the Holders and such
control Persons of the Holders shall be designated in writing by
the Holders and any such separate firm for the Company, the
directors and officers of the Company and such control Persons
of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company.
The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement
of any pending or threatened proceeding effected without its
prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), but if settled with such consent or if there be a
final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees
to indemnify in accordance with, and subject to the limitations
of, Section 8.1 and Section 8.2 above, as the case may
be, any Indemnified Person from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No
Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of
the Indemnified Persons (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), effect any settlement of any pending proceeding in
respect of which any Indemnified Person is a party or of any
threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person
could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement
(i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnifi ed
Person from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
of such proceeding and (ii) does not include any statement
as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act
by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
Section 8.4 Contribution,
etc.
(a) If the indemnification provided for in this
Article VIII is held by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in
respect of any Damages referred to therein, then each
Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of
indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified
Person as a result of such Damages (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
the Company on the one hand and the Holder on the other hand
with respect to the sale by such Holder of Registrable
Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also
the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of such
Holder on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions that resulted in such Damages, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the
Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total value received
or proposed to be received (before deducting expenses) by the
Company pursuant to the sale of New Common Stock contemplated by
the Commitment Agreement.
19
Benefits received by any Holder shall be deemed to be equal to
the value to such Holder of having the offer and sale of the
Registrable Securities registered under the Securities Act. The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and such Holder on
the other shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or
by such Holder and the parties’ relevant intent, knowledge,
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement
or omission.
(b) The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Article VIII were determined by pro rata allocation (even
if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or
any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8.4.
The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result
of Damages referred to in this Section 8.4 shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth in
Sections 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 above, any reasonable legal or
other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such
Indemnified Person not otherwise reimbursed in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VIII, in no
event shall any Holder be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the gross amount received by such
Holder with respect to its sale of Registrable Securities
pursuant to any Registration Statement exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Holder 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.
(c) The remedies provided for in this Article VIII are
not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which
may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or
in equity.
(d) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in
this Article VIII shall remain operative and in full force
and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this
Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Holder Indemnified Person or by or on behalf of any Company
Indemnified Person and (iii) the sale by a Holder of
Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement.
ARTICLE IX.
FREE WRITING
PROSPECTUSES
Except a Prospectus, an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other
materials prepared by the Company, each Holder represents and
agrees that it (i) shall not make any offer relating to the
Registrable Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free
Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has not distributed and will
not distribute any written materials in connection with the
offer or sale of New Common Stock, in each case without the
prior written consent of the Company and, in connection with any
Underwritten Offering, the underwriters. The Company represents
and agrees that it shall not make any offer relating to the
Registrable Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free
Writing Prospectus in connection with the offer or sale of
Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities that are
registered under the Registration Statement to be included in an
Underwritten Offering and, in connection with any Underwritten
Offering, the underwriters.
ARTICLE X.
RULE 144
With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules
and regulations of the SEC which may permit the sale of
Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the
Company agrees to (a) use its reasonable best efforts to
file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act;
(b) upon written request of any Holder of Registrable
Securities, furnish to such Holder promptly a written statement
by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting
20
requirements of Rule 144 and of the Exchange Act, and such
other reports and documents as any Holder reasonably may request
in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing
such Holder to sell any Registrable Securities without
registration; and (c) take such other actions as may be
reasonably required by the Company’s transfer agent to
consummate any distribution of Registrable Securities that may
be permitted in accordance with the terms and conditions of
Rule 144.
ARTICLE XI.
PRIVATE
PLACEMENT
Except for Section 4.2(d), the Company agrees that nothing
in this Agreement shall prohibit the Holders, at any time and
from time to time, from selling or otherwise transferring
Registrable Securities pursuant to a private placement or other
transaction which is not registered pursuant to the Securities
Act. To the extent requested by a Holder, the Company shall take
all reasonable steps necessary to assist and cooperate with such
Holder to facilitate such sale or transfer, including providing
due diligence access to potential purchasers, and entering into
a private placement agreement containing customary
representations and warranties, indemnifications, opinions and
other typical closing conditions.
ARTICLE XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.1 Notices. All
notices and other communications in connection with this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given by (and
shall be deemed to have been duly given) as follows: (i) at
the time delivered by hand, if delivered personally;
(ii) when sent via facsimile (with confirmation);
(iii) 5 Business Days after being deposited in the mail, if
sent postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail (return
receipt requested); or (iv) on the next Business Day, if
timely delivered to an express courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (with confirmation). Notices shall be directed to the
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for
a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) If to the Company:
Solutia Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
P.O. Box 66760
St Louis, Missouri
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
P.O. Box 66760
St Louis, Missouri
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP 000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000 Attention: |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx Fax: (000) 000-0000 |
21
(b) If to any Holder to the address and facsimile number
set forth on the signature pages hereto, or the signature page
of any Joinder Agreement executed and delivered pursuant to
Section 12.3:
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx and Xxxxx, LLP
000 Xxxx Xx., Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxx Xx., Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Section 12.2 Severability. If
any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining
provisions of this Agreement, unless the result thereof would be
unreasonable in which case the parties hereto shall negotiate in
good faith as to appropriate amendments hereto.
Section 12.3 Assignment;
Certain Specified Third Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be
binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each
of the parties and their respective successors and assigns;
provided, however, that neither this Agreement nor
any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be
assigned or delegated by a Holder to any third party who
purchases or is otherwise a permitted transferee of such
Registrable Securities from the Holder, unless (i) such
transferee shall receive from the transferring Holder at least
100,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) such transferee
of the Registrable Securities that is not a party to this
Agreement shall have executed and delivered to the Company a
properly completed joinder agreement (“Joinder
Agreement”) substantially in the form of
Exhibit B, and (iii) the Holder selling the
Registrable Securities shall have delivered to the Company
written notice of such transfer setting forth the name of such
Holder, the name and address of the transferee and the number of
Registrable Securities that shall have been so transferred.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, this Agreement and the
rights, interests and obligations hereunder may be assigned,
transferred or delegated by an Holder to any Affiliate of such
Holder, provided that any such transferee or assignee assumes
the obligations of such Holder hereunder and agrees in writing
to be bound by the terms of this Agreement in the same manner as
the Holder pursuant to a properly completed Joinder Agreement.
This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred
to in this Agreement) is not intended to and does not confer
upon any Person any rights or remedies under this Agreement
other than the parties hereto, their permitted successors and
assigns and any Indemnified Person.
Section 12.4 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement (including the
documents and instruments referred to in this Agreement)
constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or
oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of
this Agreement.
Section 12.5 Waivers
and Amendments. This Agreement may be
amended, modified, superseded, cancelled, renewed or extended,
and the terms and conditions of this Agreement may be waived,
only by a written instrument, (A) if prior to the effective
date of the Amended Plan, signed by (i) the Company, and
(ii) holders of a
662/3%
of commitments under the Commitment Agreement, (B) if after
the effective date of the Amended Plan, signed by (i) the
Company, and (ii) Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities. No delay on the part of any party in exercising any
right, power or privilege pursuant to this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of
any party of any right, power or privilege pursuant to this
Agreement, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any
right, power or privilege pursuant to this Agreement, preclude
any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, power or privilege pursuant to this Agreement. The
rights and remedies provided pursuant to this Agreement are
cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which
any party otherwise may have at law or in equity.
Section 12.6 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of
which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall
become effective when counterparts have
22
been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other
party (including via facsimile or other electronic
transmission), it being understood that each party need not sign
the same counterpart.
Section 12.7 Governing
Law; Venue. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES. EACH
PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION
OF, AND VENUE IN, THE DISTRICT COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES
SITTING IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK OR XXX XXXXXX XX
XXX XXXXX XX XXX XXXX SITTING IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK AND
WAIVES ANY OBJECTION BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS.
Section 12.8 Headings. The
headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
Section 12.9 Specific
Performance. The parties acknowledge and
agree that any breach of the terms of this Agreement would give
rise to irreparable harm for which money damages would not be an
adequate remedy, and, accordingly, the parties agree that, in
addition to any other remedies, each will be entitled to enforce
the terms of this Agreement by a decree of specific performance
without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages
as a remedy and without the necessity of posting bond.
Section 12.10 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time by a written instrument
signed by each of the parties hereto. Unless sooner terminated
in accordance with the preceding sentence, this Agreement (other
than Section 7.4 and Article VIII) shall
terminate when there are no Registrable Securities outstanding.
Section 12.11 No
Conflicting Rights. The Company shall not, on
or after the date hereof, grant any registration or similar
rights to any Person which by their terms are not subordinate to
or pari passu with the registration rights granted to the
Holders in this Agreement or which conflict with or impair the
rights granted hereby.
[Signature Page Follows]
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this
Agreement as of the date first written above.
SOLUTIA, INC.
By: |
Name:
Title: |
[Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement]
24
XXXXXXXX FUND MANAGEMENT, L.L.C., as Investment Manager,
on behalf of Xxxxxxxx Master Fund, Ltd and Xxxxxxxx Capital
Partners (QP), L.P.
By: |
|
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Member
Address:
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
[Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement]
25
XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
By: |
|
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: | Director |
Address:
4 World Financial Center
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx/Xxx Xxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
[Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement]
26
GMAM INVESTMENT FUNDS TRUST II
By: Xxxxxx Capital Management, Inc., its agent
By: Xxxxxx Capital Management, Inc., its agent
By: |
|
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: |
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer |
RECAP INTERNATIONAL (MASTER) LTD.
By: Xxxxxx Capital Management, Inc., its agent
By: Xxxxxx Capital Management, Inc., its agent
By: |
|
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: |
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer |
INSTITUTIONAL BENCHMARK SERIES (MASTER FEEDER) LTD., a
segregated accounts company, solely with respect to the Muscida
series.
By: Xxxxxx Capital Management, Inc., its agent
By: |
|
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: |
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer |
Address (for the above three entities):
c/x Xxxxxx
Capital Management, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
[Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement]
27
SOUTHPAW ASSET MANAGEMENT LP, as Investment Manager, on
behalf of Southpaw Credit Opportunity Master Fund LP and
GPC 76, LLC
By: |
|
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Title: |
Managing Member of General Partner-Southpow Holdings LLC |
Address:
Southpaw Asset Management LP
0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
[Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement]
28
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By: |
|
Name: Xxxx Xxxx
Title: | Managing Director |
By: |
|
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: | Director |
Address:
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
W/ Copy To:
Fixed Income Legal
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
[Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement]
29
Exhibit A
Form of Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling
Securityholder”) of common stock (the
“Registrable Securities”) of Solutia Inc. (the
“Company”) understands that the Company has
filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “Commission”) a Registration
Statement for the registration and resale of the Registrable
Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration
Rights Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2007 (the
“Registration Rights Agreement”), among the
Company and the Holders referred to therein. A copy of the
Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon
request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms
used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
NOTICE
The undersigned Selling Securityholder of Registrable Securities
hereby gives notice to the Company of its intention to sell or
otherwise dispose of Registrable Securities beneficially owned
by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise
specified under Item 3) pursuant to the Registration
Statement. The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice
and Questionnaire, understands that it will be bound by the
terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the
Registration Rights Agreement. Pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement, the undersigned has agreed to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company’s directors and officers and each
Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act, from and against losses arising in
connection with statements concerning the undersigned made in
the Registration Statement or the related prospectus in reliance
upon the information provided in this Notice and Questionnaire.
The undersigned Selling Securityholder hereby provides the
following information to the Company and represents and warrants
that such information is accurate and complete:
Exh. A-1
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Name.
(a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same
as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities Listed
in Item 3 below are held:
(c) Full Legal name of DTC Participant (if applicable and
if not the same as (b) above) through which Registrable
Securities listed in Item 3 below are held:
(d) Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means
a natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others
has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered by the
questionnaire):
2. Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
Contact Person:
3. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
Type and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
4. Broker-Dealer Status:
(a) Are you a broker-dealer?
Yes o
No o
Note: If yes, the SEC’s staff has indicated that you
should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
(b) If you are a registered broker-dealer, do you consent
to being named as an underwriter in the Registration Statement?
Yes o
No o
(a) Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
Yes o
No o
If yes, please identify the registered broker-dealer with whom
the Selling Securityholder is affiliated and the nature of the
affiliation:
(b) If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you
certify that you bought the Registrable Securities in the
ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of
the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements
or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to
distribute the Registrable Securities?
Yes o
No o
Note: If no, the SEC’s staff has indicated that you
should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
5. Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the
Company Owned by the Selling Securityholder:
Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned
Selling Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner
of any securities of the Company other than the Registrable
Securities listed above in Item 3.
Exh. A-2
Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the
Selling Securityholder:
6. Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned Selling
Securityholder nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or
principal equity holders (owners of 5% or more of the equity
securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office
or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or
its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any
inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that
may occur subsequent to the date hereof and at any time while
the Registration Statement remains in effect.
By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of
the information contained herein in its answers to Items 1
through 6 and the inclusion of such information in the
Registration Statement and the related prospectus. The
undersigned understands that such information will be relied
upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or
amendment of the Registration Statement and the related
prospectus.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has
caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and
delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.
Dated:
Beneficial Owner:
By: |
Name:
Title: |
PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND
QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
Solutia Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
P.O. Box 66760
St Louis, Missouri
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
P.O. Box 66760
St Louis, Missouri
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Exh. A-3
Exhibit B
FORM OF
JOINDER AGREEMENT
The undersigned, being the transferee of
[ ] shares of the common stock
(the “Registrable Securities”), of Solutia
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
as a condition to obtaining the benefits of the Registration
Rights Agreement dated as of November 19, 2007 initially
among the Company and the Holders referred to therein (the
“Registration Rights Agreement”), acknowledges
that matters pertaining to the registration of such Registrable
Securities is governed by the Registration Rights Agreement, and
the undersigned hereby (1) acknowledges receipt of a copy
of the Registration Rights Agreement, and (2) agrees to be
bound by the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement and
undertakes to perform each obligation as if a “Holder”
thereunder and an original signatory thereto in such capacity.
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Joinder Agreement
shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration
Rights Agreement.
This Joinder Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard
or giving effect to its principles of conflicts of law. This
Joinder Agreement shall bind, and inure to the benefit of, the
parties hereto and their respective devisees, heirs, personal
and legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors
and assigns.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
Exh. B-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Joinder
Agreement this , 200 .
(Print Name of Transferee)
By: |
|
Name:
Title:
Address and Facsimile Number for Notices:
Acknowledged and Agreed by:
SOLUTIA, INC.
By: |
Name:
Title: |
Exh. B-2