EXHIBIT 10.29
EMCON
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is entered into as of April 3, 1998, by
and among EMCON, a California corporation ("EMCON") and the undersigned
shareholders of Advanced Analytical Solutions, Inc., a Colorado corporation
("A2S") (collectively, the "Shareholders"), such Shareholders having received
certain rights to register shares of EMCON common stock to be received upon the
merger (the "Merger") of A2S with and into Advanced Analytical Solutions, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EMCON ("Sub") as set
forth in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated April 3, 1998 (the
"Merger Agreement") among EMCON, A2S, Sub and the Shareholders.
RECITALS:
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, EMCON desires to provide the
shareholders certain registration rights as provided for in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT:
In consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and conditions
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:
1. Registration Rights.
1.1 Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement,
the following terms will have the following respective meanings:
(a) "Commission" will mean the Securities and
Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the
Securities Act.
(b) "Exchange Act" will mean the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the
rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same will be in effect at the time.
(c) "Holder" will mean any person or persons to
whom Registrable Securities were originally issued.
(d) "Securities Act" will mean the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and
regulations thereunder, all as the same will be in effect at the time.
(e) "Registrable Securities" means (i) all
shares of EMCON Common Stock issued to the Shareholders in connection with
the Merger, including shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the
Earnout Payments (as defined in the Merger Agreement), but excluding shares of
EMCON Common Stock issued to the shareholders in the Merger that have been sold
or otherwise transferred by the Shareholders who initially received such shares
in the
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Merger; (ii) all shares of capital stock issued in lieu of any of the stock
referred to in clause (i) in any reorganization, which have not been sold to the
public; and (iii) all shares of capital stock issued in respect of any of the
stock referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) as a result of any stock split, stock
dividend, recapitalization or the like, which have not been sold to the public.
(f) The terms "register", "registered" and
"registration" refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a
registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the
declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement.
(g) "Registration Expenses" will mean all
expenses incurred by EMCON in complying with this Section 1, including,
without limitation, all registration, qualification and filing fees, printing
expenses, escrow fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for EMCON, blue sky
fees and expenses and the expense of any special audits incident to or required
by any such registration (but excluding the compensation of regular employees of
EMCON which will be paid in any event by EMCON).
(h) "Selling Expenses" will mean all
underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of
the Registrable Securities and all fees and expenses of legal counsel for a
Holder.
1.2 Piggyback Registration
(a) If at any time or from time to time, EMCON
will determine to register any of its securities, other than (i) a
registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form X-0, X-0 or
similar forms which may be promulgated in the future, or (ii) a registration on
Form S-4 or similar forms which may be promulgated in the future relating solely
to a Commission Rule 145 transaction, EMCON will:
(A) promptly give to each Holder written
notice thereof; and
(B) include in such registration (and
any related qualification under blue sky laws or other compliance), and in
any underwriting involved therein, all the Registrable Securities specified in a
written request or requests, made within twenty (20) days after receipt of such
written notice from EMCON, by any Holder or Holders, except as set forth in
Subsection 1.2(b).
(b) Underwriting. If the registration of
which EMCON gives notice is for a registered public offering involving an
underwriting, EMCON will so advise the Holders as a part of the written notice
given pursuant to Subsection 1.2(a)(i). In such event the right of any Holder to
registration pursuant to this Section 1.2 will be conditioned upon such Holder's
participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's
Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All
Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting will
(together with EMCON and the other shareholders, if any, distributing their
securities through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement in
customary form with the Underwriter selected for such underwriting by EMCON.
Notwith-standing any other provision of this Section 1.2, if the Underwriter
determines that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares
to be underwritten, the Underwriter may limit the amount of securities to be
included in the registration and underwriting by EMCON's shareholders or exclude
such securities entirely. The number of shares that may be included in the
registration and underwriting by the Holders will be allocated among the Holders
in proportion to
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the number of Registrable Securities then held by each. If any such shareholder
disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, he may elect to withdraw
therefrom by written notice to EMCON and the Underwriter. Any Registrable
Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting will be excluded from
such registration.
1.3 Expenses of Registration. All Registration Expenses
incurred in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance
pursuant to Section 1.2 will be borne by EMCON. All Selling Expenses relating to
securities registered by the Holders will be borne by the Holders of such
securities pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities so
registered.
1.4 Registration Procedures. In the case of each registration,
qualification or compliance effected by EMCON pursuant to this Agreement, EMCON
will, upon request, inform each Holder as to the status of each such
registration, qualification and compliance. At its expense EMCON will:
(a) Keep such registration, and any
qualification or compliance under state securities laws which EMCON
determines to obtain, effective for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days or
until the Holder or Holders have completed the distribution described in the
registration statement relating thereto, whichever first occurs;
(b) Furnish such number of prospectuses and
other documents incident thereto as a Holder from time to time may reasonably
request; and
(c) Use its efforts to register and qualify
the securities covered by such registration statement under such other
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably
requested by the Holders, provided that EMCON will not be required in connection
therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a
general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.
1.5 Delay of Registration. No Holder will have any right to
take any action to restrain, enjoin or otherwise delay any registration pursuant
to Section 1.2 hereof as a result of any controversy that may arise with respect
to the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement.
1.6 Indemnification.
(a) EMCON will indemnify each Holder, each of its
officers, directors, employees, partners, legal counsel and accountants,
and each person controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act, with respect to which any registration, qualification or
compliance has been effected pursuant to this Agreement, and each underwriter,
if any, and each person who controls any underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all expenses, claims, losses, damages
and liabilities (or action in respect thereof), including any of the foregoing
incurred in settlement of any litigation, commenced or threatened, arising out
of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material
fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or
other document, or any amendment or supplement thereof, incident to any such
registration, qualification or compliance, or any omission (or alleged omission)
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by EMCON of any
rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, Exchange
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Act or state securities laws applicable to EMCON and relating to action or
inaction required of EMCON in connection with any such registration,
qualification or compliance, and will reimburse each such Holder, each of its
officers, directors, employees, partners, legal counsel and accountants, and
each person controlling such Holder, each such underwriter and each person who
controls any such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such
claim, loss, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that EMCON will not
be liable in any such case to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage,
liability or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to EMCON by an instrument duly executed by or on behalf of such Holder
or underwriter and stated to be specifically for use therein.
(b) Each Holder will, if Registrable Securities
held by such Holder are included in the securities as to which such
registration, qualification or compliance is being effected, indemnify EMCON,
each of its directors, officers, employees, partners, legal counsel and
accountants, each underwriter, if any, of EMCON's securities covered by such a
registration statement, each person who controls EMCON or such underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and each other such
Holder, each of its officers, directors, employees, partners, legal counsel and
accountants, and each person controlling such Holder within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all claims, losses, damages and
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any
untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in
any such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or other
document, or any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and will reimburse EMCON, such Holders, such directors, officers,
employees, partners, legal counsel, accountants, persons, underwriters or
control persons for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage,
liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent that
such untrue statement or omission is made in such registration statement,
prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to EMCON by an instrument duly
executed by or on behalf of such Holder and stated to be specifically for use
therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will a Holder be liable for
any such claims, losses, damages, or liabilities in excess of the proceeds, net
of underwriting discounts and commissions, received by such Holder in the
offering, except in the event of fraud by such Holder.
(c) Each party entitled to indemnification
under this Section 1.6 (the "Indemnified Party") will give notice to the
party required to provide indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly
after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which
indemnity may be sought, and will permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the
defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided that
counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who will conduct the defense of such claim
or litigation, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval will
not unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party may participate in such
defense at such party's expense, and provided further that the failure of any
Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein will not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Agreement, unless such failure
is prejudicial to the Indemnifying Party in defending such claim or litigation.
No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, will,
except with the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any
judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional
term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party
of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. Subject
to the foregoing, the Indemnifying Party will promptly
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advance all expenses incurred by the Indemnified party in connection with the
investigation and defense of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought
pursuant to this Agreement after written request therefor (but no earlier than
incurred) by the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnified
Party will repay such amounts advanced if and to the extent that it is
ultimately determined that the Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification or contribution under this Agreement.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this
Section 1.6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable
to an Indemnified Party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense referred to therein, then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of
indemnifying such Indemnified Party thereunder, will contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and of the Indemnified
Party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and of
the Indemnified Party will be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the
extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in
any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the relevant public
offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the
underwriting agreement will be controlling.
1.7 Lockup Agreement. In consideration for EMCON agreeing to
its obligations under this Section 1, each Holder agrees, in connection with the
registration of EMCON's securities, that upon the request of EMCON or the
Underwriter, such Holder will not sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any
option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities
(other than those included in the registration) without the prior written
consent of EMCON or Underwriter, as the case may be, for a period of up to 180
days after the effective date of such registration; provided, however, that such
Holder will have no obligation to enter into the agreement described herein
unless all executive officers and directors of EMCON are required to enter into
similar agreements.
1.8 Information by Holder. As a condition to the inclusion of
their Registrable Securities, the Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities
included in any registration will furnish to EMCON such information regarding
such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders
as EMCON may request in writing and as will be reasonably required in connection
with any registration, qualification or compliance contemplated in Section 1.2
of this Agreement.
1.9 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available to the
Holders the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission which
may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without
registration, EMCON agrees to:
(a) Make and keep public information available,
as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
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(b) Use its best efforts to file with the
Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of
EMCON under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act;
(c) So long as a Holder owns any unregistered
Registrable Securities, furnish to such Holder upon request a written
statement by EMCON as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of said
Rule 144, and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, a copy of the most
recent annual or quarterly report of EMCON, and such other reports and documents
of EMCON as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or
regulation of the Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such securities
without registration.
1.10 Termination of Registration Rights. The obligations of
EMCON pursuant to this Section 1 will terminate with respect to any Holder, when
all of the Registrable Securities of such Holder may be sold under Rule 144 in a
three-month period.
2. Miscellaneous.
2.1 Waivers and Amendments. With the written consent of EMCON
and the record holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities,
any provision of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a
particular instance, either retroactively or prospectively and either for a
specified period of time or indefinitely) or amended, and with the same consent
EMCON, when authorized by its Board of Directors, may enter into a supplementary
agreement for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner
or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement. Any waiver, amendment or
supplement to which such consents are obtained will be binding upon all Holders.
Upon the effectuation of each such waiver, amendment or supplement, EMCON will
promptly give written notice thereof to the Holders who have not previously
received notice thereof or consented thereto in writing. In addition, each
Holder, as to such Holder only, may consent in writing to any such waiver,
amendment or supplement, which will be binding upon such Holder. No amendment,
waiver or supplement to this Agreement will be effective unless agreed to in
writing by the party against whom enforcement is sought or, in the case of any
Holder, by such Holder or Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable
Securities.
2.2 Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed in all
respects by the laws of the State of California as such laws are applied to
agreements between California residents entered into and to be performed
entirely within California.
2.3 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, the provisions hereof will inure to the benefit of, and be
binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of
the parties hereto.
2.4 Entire Agreement This Agreement, the exhibits to this
Agreement and the other documents delivered pursuant hereto or incorporated by
reference herein constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement
between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof and supersede
all prior oral and written understandings, agreements and commitments by or
between the parties hereto.
2.5 Notices, etc. All notices and other communications
required or permitted hereunder will be in writing and will be mailed by
certified or registered mail, postage prepaid,
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addressed (a) if to a party other than EMCON, at the address of such party set
forth on such party's signature page to this Agreement, or at such other address
as such party furnishes to EMCON in writing, or (b) if to EMCON, at 000 X. Xx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Chief Financial Officer,
or at such other address as EMCON furnishes to the other parties to this
Agreement.
2.6 No Waivers. No failure on the part of any party to
exercise or delay in exercising any right hereunder will be deemed a waiver
thereof, nor will any such failure or delay, or any single or partial exercise
of any such right, preclude any further or other exercise of such right or any
other right.
2.7 Separability. If any provision of this Agreement, or the
application thereof, is for any reason and to any extent determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this
Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons or
circumstances will be interpreted so as best to reasonably effect the intent of
the parties hereto. The parties agree to use their best efforts to replace such
void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable
provision which will achieve, to the extent greatest possible, the economic,
business and other purposes of the void or unenforceable provision.
2.8 Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and
subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not
to be considered in construing this Agreement.
2.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which will be an original, but all of which together
will constitute one instrument.
2.10 Attorneys' Fees. In the event of any action, suit or
proceeding for the breach of this Agreement or misrepresentation by any party,
the prevailing party will be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and
expenses incurred in such action, suit or proceeding.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereby have executed this Agreement on
the date first above written.
EMCON
By:\o\ R. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------
Its: CFO and VP Legal
----------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS:
\o\ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
\o\ Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
\o\ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
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