STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN AVIZA TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND CAISSE DE DPT ET PLACEMENT DU QUBEC APRIL 24, 2006

EX-10.1 2 a06-10292_1ex10d1.htm EX-10

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

BY AND BETWEEN

 

AVIZA TECHNOLOGY, INC.

 

AND

 

CAISSE DE DÉPÔT ET PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC

 

APRIL 24, 2006

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 1.

Defined Terms

1

 

 

 

Section 2.

Agreement to Sell and Purchase the Shares

2

 

 

 

Section 3.

Closing

2

 

 

 

3.1

Company’s Closing Conditions

3

3.2

Investor’s Closing Conditions

3

 

 

 

Section 4.

Representations and Warranties of the Company

4

 

 

 

4.1

Organization, Good Standing and Qualification

4

4.2

Subsidiaries

4

4.3

Due Authorization

5

4.4

Non-Contravention

5

4.5

Governmental Consents

5

4.6

Reporting Status

5

4.7

Capitalization.

6

4.8

Legal Proceedings

7

4.9

No Violations.

7

4.10

Governmental Permits, Etc.

8

4.11

Intellectual Property

8

4.12

Financial Statements

8

4.13

No Material Adverse Change

9

4.14

NASDAQ Listing

9

4.15

Listing of the Securities

9

4.16

No Manipulation of Stock

10

4.17

Insurance

10

4.18

Tax Matters

10

4.19

Investment Company

10

4.20

No Registration

10

4.21

Internal Accounting Controls

10

4.22

Form D; General Solicitation

10

4.23

Use of Proceeds

11

4.24

Integration

11

4.25

Questionable Payments

11

4.26

Transactions with Affiliates

11

4.27

Broker’s Fees

11

 

 

 

Section 5.

Representations and Warranties of the Investor

11

 

 

 

5.1

Due Authorization

11

5.2

Accredited Investor.

12

5.3

Acknowledgement Regarding Offering of the Shares

12

 

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5.4

Broker Fees

12

5.5

Canadian Addendum

12

 

 

 

Section 6.

Survival of Representations and Warranties

12

 

 

 

Section 7.

Registration of the Shares; Compliance with the Securities Act

13

 

 

 

7.1

Registration Procedures and Expenses

13

7.2

Delay in Effectiveness of Registration Statement

15

7.3

Transfer of Shares; Suspension

15

7.4

Indemnification

17

7.5

Termination of Conditions and Obligations

21

 

 

 

Section 8.

Company Covenants

21

 

 

 

8.1

Rule 144

21

8.2

Observation of Meetings of the Board of Directors

21

 

 

 

Section 9.

Investor Covenants.

22

 

 

 

9.1

Transfer Restrictions

22

9.2

Standstill Provision

22

9.3

Right of First Refusal.

23

 

 

 

Section 10.

Miscellaneous

24

 

 

 

10.1

Legends

24

10.2

Notices

25

10.3

Amendments and Waivers

26

10.4

Headings

26

10.5

Severability

26

10.6

Governing Law

27

10.7

Entire Agreement

27

10.8

Counterparts

27

10.9

Successors and Assigns

27

10.10

Expenses

27

10.11

Arbitration.

28

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A

Form of Officer’s Certificate

 

Exhibit B

Form of Legal Opinion

 

Exhibit C

Form of Secretary’s Certificate

 

Exhibit D

Schedule of Exceptions

 

Exhibit E

Form of Certificate of Subsequent Sale

 

Exhibit F

Restricted Parties

 

 

Canadian Addendum

 

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THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of April 24, 2006 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and between Aviza Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, a body organized under the laws of the Province of Québec (the “Investor”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                   The Company and the Investor are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Regulation D, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act;

 

B.                                     The Investor wishes to purchase from the Company, and the Company wishes to sell and issue to the Investor, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, an aggregate of 3,282,275 newly issued shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), for an aggregate purchase price of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) (the “Purchase Price”); and

 

C.                                     This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and the Investor only upon mutual delivery of a duly signed and executed signature page hereto by the Company and by the Investor.

 

AGREEMENT

 

In consideration of the foregoing, the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Defined Terms. The following terms are defined in this Agreement, as indicated below:

 

AAA

 

Section 10.11(b)

Agreement

 

Preamble

Board

 

Section 8.2

Closing

 

Section 3

Closing Date

 

Section 3

Common Stock

 

Recitals

Company

 

Preamble

Confidentiality Agreement

 

Section 10.7

Dispute

 

Section 10.11(a)

Evaluation Date

 

Section 4.9(c)

Exchange Act

 

Section 4.6

Form S-4

 

Section 4.7(g)

Intellectual Property

 

Section 4.11

 



 

Investor

 

Preamble

Investor Indemnitees

 

Section 7.4(a)

Liquidated Damages Payment

 

Section 7.2(a)(i)

Material Contract

 

Section 4.4

Material Permits

 

Section 4.10

NASD

 

Section 4.13(e)

Notice of Sale

 

Section 9.3(a)

Observer

 

Section 8.2

Offered Shares

 

Section 9.3(a)

Permitted Transferee

 

Section 10.9

Person

 

Section 4.22

Preferred Stock

 

Section 4.7(a)

Prospectus

 

Section 7.4(a)(i)

Purchase Offer

 

Section 9.3(a)

Purchase Price

 

Recitals

Registration Demand

 

Section 7.1

Registration Demand Date

 

Section 7.1

Registration Period

 

Section 7.1(c)

Registration Statement

 

Section 7.1(a)

Registration Termination Date

 

Section 7.1(c)

Reply Notice

 

Section 9.3(b)

Representative

 

Section 10.11(a)

Restricted Party

 

Section 9.3(a)

Schedule of Exceptions

 

Section 4

SEC

 

Recitals

SEC Documents

 

Section 4.6

Securities Act

 

Recitals

Shares

 

Recitals

Subsidiary

 

Section 4.1

Suspension

 

Section 7.3(c)

Suspension Notice

 

Section 7.3(c)

VPVP

 

Section 7.1

 

Section 2.                                            Agreement to Sell and Purchase the Shares. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company will sell to the Investor, and the Investor will purchase from the Company, the Shares for the Purchase Price.

 

Section 3.                                            Closing. The completion of the purchase and sale of the Shares (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP located at 505 Montgomery

 

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Street, San Francisco, California 94111 as soon as practicable after the satisfaction of the Company’s closing conditions and the Investor’s closing conditions as set forth in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2, respectively, on such date as the Company and the Investor shall mutually agree (the “Closing Date”).

 

3.1                                 Company’s Closing Conditions. The Company’s obligation to issue the Shares to the Investor shall be subject to the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by the Company (provided that no such waiver shall be deemed given unless in writing and executed by the Company):

 

(a)                                  receipt by the Company of a countersigned copy of this Agreement executed by the Investor;

 

(b)                                 receipt by the Company of immediately available funds in the full amount of the Purchase Price for the Shares being purchased hereunder;

 

(c)                                  the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Investor in this Agreement; and

 

(d)                                 on the Closing Date, no legal action, suit or proceeding shall be pending or threatened which seeks to restrain or prohibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.2                                 Investor’s Closing Conditions. The Investor’s obligation to purchase the Shares shall be subject to the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by the Investor (provided that no such waiver shall be deemed given unless in writing and executed by the Investor):

 

(a)                                  receipt by the Investor of a countersigned copy of this Agreement executed by the Company;

 

(b)                                 receipt by the Investor of evidence of one or more stock certificates representing the Shares, which evidence may be satisfied by delivery to the Investor of a copy of the executed and delivered instruction letter from the Company to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent, instructing American Stock Transfer & Trust Company to deliver a stock certificate representing the Shares to the Investor;

 

(c)                                  the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement;

 

(d)                                 all outstanding shares of the Aviza, Inc.’s Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock shall have been converted into shares of Common Stock at a conversion price per share of not less than the per share purchase price of the Shares;

 

(e)                                  on the Closing Date, no legal action, suit or proceeding shall be pending or threatened which seeks to restrain or prohibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

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(f)                                    the receipt by the Investor of a certificate in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, dated the Closing Date, duly executed by its Chief Executive Officer to the effect set forth in clauses (c), (d) and (e) above;

 

(g)                                 a legal opinion of counsel to the Company addressed to the Investor in substantially the form as attached hereto as Exhibit B;

 

(h)                                 the receipt by the Investor of a certificate in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, dated the Closing Date, of the Secretary of the Company certifying (i) the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company as in effect on the Closing Date, (ii) all resolutions of the board of directors of the Company relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) the incumbency of all officers of the Company executing this Agreement and any other agreement or document contemplated hereby; and

 

(i)                                     the receipt by the Investor of a certificate from American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent, certifying the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company.

 

Section 4.                                            Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth on the Schedule of Exceptions attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Schedule of Exceptions”), the Company hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Investor, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

 

4.1                                 Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of the Company,  Aviza, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Trikon Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Aviza, Inc. and Trikon Technologies, Inc. are hereinafter referred to individually as a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), is duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has full power and authority to own, operate and occupy its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted and is registered or qualified to do business in and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or transacts business and where the failure to be so qualified would have a material adverse effect upon the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or a material adverse effect upon the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect its obligations under this Agreement, and to the knowledge of the Company, no proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction, revoking, limiting or curtailing, or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail, such power and authority or qualification.

 

4.2                                 Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or in the Form S-4:  (i) the Company does not own or control any equity security or other interest of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity other than the Subsidiaries; (ii) the Subsidiaries do not own or control any equity security or other interest of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity; (iii) neither the Company nor a Subsidiary is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or limited liability company and (iv) since December 1, 2005, neither the Company nor a Subsidiary has consolidated or merged with, acquired all or substantially all of the assets of, or acquired the

 

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stock of or any interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity.

 

4.3                                 Due Authorization. The Company has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and this Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legally valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by state or federal securities laws or the public policy underlying such laws, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ and contracting parties’ rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

4.4                                 Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company under this Agreement, the fulfillment of the terms of this Agreement by the Company and the Company’s consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) conflict with or constitute a violation of, or default (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both) under, (i) any material bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or under any material lease, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or a Subsidiary or their respective properties are bound (each, a “Material Contract”), (ii) the charter, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or the Subsidiaries or (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, any law, administrative regulation, ordinance or order of any court or governmental agency, arbitration panel or authority applicable to the Company or a Subsidiary or their respective properties or (B) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, encumbrance, claim, security interest or restriction upon any of the material properties or assets of the Company or a Subsidiary or an acceleration of indebtedness pursuant to any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any material bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or a Subsidiary is subject.

 

4.5                                 Governmental Consents. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration, qualification or filing with, any regulatory body, administrative agency, self-regulatory organization, stock exchange or market or other governmental body in the United States is required for the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the valid issuance and sale of the Shares to be sold pursuant to this Agreement, except for those that have already been made or obtained and except for any securities filings required to be made after the Closing under foreign, federal or state securities laws.

 

4.6                                 Reporting Status. The Company has filed in a timely manner all documents that the Company was required to file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), since December 1, 2005 (collectively, the “SEC Documents”). The SEC Documents and the Form S-4 complied in all material respects with the SEC’s requirements as of their respective filing dates. None of the SEC Documents or the Form S-4

 

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contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a 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.

 

4.7                                 Capitalization.

 

(a)                                  As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of one hundred million (100,000,000) shares of Common Stock and five million (5,000,000) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

(b)                                 As of April 20, 2006, there were (i) 10,310,689 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, (iii) 322,237 shares of Common Stock available for issuance upon exercise of stock options available for grant under the stock incentive plans of the Company and the Subsidiaries, (iv) 3,798,053 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options issued by the Company or the Subsidiaries to current or former employees, consultants and directors of the Company and the Subsidiaries, (v) 406,725 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants issued by the Company or the Subsidiaries, (vi) 110,000 shares of preferred stock of Aviza, Inc. issued and outstanding and (vii) no other shares or options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into capital stock of the Company.

 

(c)                                  Since February 27, 2006, the Company has not issued any shares or options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into capital stock of the Company other than (i) pursuant to option exercises, (ii) the Shares, as contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) ordinary course grants of options to employees.

 

(d)                                 Except with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock of Aviza, Inc., the Company is, directly or indirectly, the registered and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries.

 

(e)                                  All outstanding shares of Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free from any pledges, liens or encumbrances created by the Company.

 

(f)                                    The Shares to be sold pursuant to this Agreement have been duly authorized, and when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free from any pledges, liens or encumbrances created by the Company.

 

(g)                                 Other than as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-4, as amended (File No. 333-126098) (the “Form S-4”), there are no outstanding rights, options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal agreements, commitments or similar rights for the purchase or acquisition from the Company of any securities of the Company.

 

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(h)                                 Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or in the Form S-4, no holder of any securities of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has any rights (“demand,” “piggyback” or otherwise) to have such securities registered by reason of the intention to file, filing or effectiveness of a Registration Statement.

 

(i)                                     Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or in the Form S-4, to the Company’s knowledge, there are no outstanding proxy or stockholder agreements, or agreements of any kind related to the voting of the Company’s securities.

 

4.8                                 Legal Proceedings. To the knowledge of the Company, there is no material legal or governmental proceeding pending or threatened to which the Company or a Subsidiary or any officer or director of the Company or a Subsidiary in their capacity as such officer or director is or may be a party or of which the business or property of the Company or a Subsidiary is subject that is not disclosed in the SEC Documents or in the Form S-4. To the knowledge of the Company there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public board or body (including, without limitation, the SEC) pending or threatened against or affecting the Company or a Subsidiary wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding could adversely affect the validity or enforceability of, or the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under, this Agreement.

 

4.9                                 No Violations.

 

(a)                                  Neither the Company nor a Subsidiary is in violation of its charter, bylaws or other organizational document, or in violation of any law, administrative regulation, ordinance or order of any court or governmental agency, arbitration panel or authority applicable to the Company or a Subsidiary, which violation, individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or is in violation or default (and there exists no condition which, with or without the passage of time or giving of notice or both, would constitute a violation or default) in any respect in the performance of any Material Contract, including, without limitation, any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or by which the properties of the Company or a Subsidiary are bound, which would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect upon the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise. The Material Contracts attached as exhibits to or incorporated by reference into the Form S-4 and the SEC Documents are in full force and effect as of the date hereof.

 

(b)                                 The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company and the Subsidiaries is made known to the certifying officers by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which the Company’s most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, as the case may be, is being prepared.

 

(c)                                  The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the last day of the fiscal

 

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period (such date, the “Evaluation Date”) covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such terms are defined in Item 307 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) or in other factors that could significantly affect the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.

 

4.10                           Governmental Permits, Etc. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has all necessary franchises, licenses, certificates and other authorizations from any foreign, federal, state or local government or governmental agency, department or body that are currently necessary for the operation of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries as currently conducted, except where the failure to currently possess could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise (the “Material Permits”), and neither the Company nor a Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit.

 

4.11                           Intellectual Property. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries owns or possesses sufficient rights to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, trade names and know-how (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) that are necessary for the conduct of its business as now conducted except where the failure to currently own or possess would not have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, claims, security interests or restrictions, except for such as do not materially interfere with the conduct of the Company’s business as presently conducted. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or in the Form S-4, (i) neither the Company nor a Subsidiary has received any notice of, or has any knowledge of, any infringement of asserted rights of a third party with respect to any Intellectual Property and (ii) neither the Company nor a Subsidiary has received any notice of any infringement rights by a third party with respect to any Intellectual Property.

 

4.12                           Financial Statements. The historical financial statements of the Company and the related notes thereto included in the SEC Documents and the historical financial statements of the Subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included in the Form S-4 present fairly, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the dates indicated, and, as applicable, the results of the Company’s consolidated operations and cash flows for the periods therein specified and the Subsidiaries’ operations and cash flows for the periods therein specified.  Such historical financial statements (including the related notes thereto) (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto; (ii) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods therein specified, except as may be noted in the notes to such financial statements contained in the SEC Documents and the Form S-4 and (iii) fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby. Except as set forth in the historical financial statements included in the SEC Documents, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, other than liabilities incurred in the

 

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ordinary course of business subsequent to December 30, 2005 or liabilities of the type not required under generally accepted accounting principles to be reflected in such financial statements.

 

4.13                           No Material Adverse Change. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, since December 30, 2005 there has not been:

 

(a)                                  any material adverse change, or any event, development or circumstance which could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise;

 

(b)                                 any liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, that are material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, incurred by the Company, except liabilities and obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                  any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company or a Subsidiary;

 

(d)                                 any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the physical property of the Company or a Subsidiary that has been sustained which has a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise; or

 

(e)                                  any notice from or by the SEC or any other state or federal securities regulatory agency, the National Association of Securities Dealers (the “NASD”) or the Nasdaq National Market with respect to (i) any investigation of the Company’s activities or financial results, (ii) the Company’s compliance with applicable laws, rules or regulations or (iii) issues regarding the continued trading of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market.

 

4.14                           NASDAQ Listing. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the Nasdaq National Market, trading in the Common Stock has not been suspended, and the Company has taken no action designed to terminate, or likely to have the effect of terminating, the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delist the Common Stock from the Nasdaq National Market, nor to the knowledge of the Company is the NASD currently contemplating terminating such listing. The Company and the Common Stock are in compliance with all quantitative and qualitative criteria for continued listing and trading on the Nasdaq National Market.

 

4.15                           Listing of the Securities. The Company shall comply with all requirements of the NASD with respect to the issuance of the Shares and the listing thereof on the Nasdaq National Market. In furtherance thereof, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as may be necessary as soon as practicable and in no event later than twenty (20) days after the Closing Date (if not filed prior to the Closing Date), to file with the Nasdaq National Market an application or other document required by the Nasdaq National Market and pay all applicable fees when due for the listing of the Shares with the Nasdaq National Market.

 

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4.16                           No Manipulation of Stock. The Company has not taken, and will not, in violation of applicable law, take any action designed to or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

 

4.17                           Insurance. The Company maintains and will continue to maintain insurance against loss or damage by fire or other casualty and such other insurance, including, but not limited to, product liability insurance, in such amounts and covering such risks as is consistent with industry practice for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties, all of which insurance is in full force and effect.

 

4.18                           Tax Matters. The Company has filed all material federal, state and local income and franchise and other tax returns required to be filed and has paid all taxes due in accordance therewith, and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company which has had (nor does the Company have any knowledge of any tax deficiency which, if determined adversely to the Company, might have) a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.

 

4.19                           Investment Company. The Company is not, and immediately after receipt of the payment for the Shares will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

 

4.20                           No Registration. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Investor in Section 5 hereof, and compliance with the covenants of the Investor in Section 9 hereof, no registration of the Shares under the Securities Act is required in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares by the Company to the Investor as contemplated by this Agreement.

 

4.21                           Internal Accounting Controls. The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient, in the judgment of the Company’s executive officers, to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

4.22                           Form D; General Solicitation. The Company agrees to file a Form D with respect to the Shares on a timely basis as required under Regulation D under the Securities Act to claim the exemption provided by Rule 506 of Regulation D. Neither the Company nor any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity (each a “Person”) acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Shares by any form of general solicitation or general advertising. The Company has offered the Shares for sale only to the Investor.

 

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4.23                           Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

4.24                           Integration. The Company shall not, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that none of its affiliates shall, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any “security” (as defined in the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Shares to the Investor

 

4.25                           Questionable Payments. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its current or former stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents or other persons acting on behalf of the Company, has on behalf of the Company or in connection with its business:  (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payments to any governmental officials or employees from corporate funds; (iii) established or maintained any unlawful or unrecorded fund of corporate monies or other assets; (iv) made any false or fictitious entries on the books and records of the Company or (v) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of any nature.

 

4.26                           Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or in the Form S-4, none of the officers or directors of the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or to a presently contemplated transaction that has been approved by the Board (other than for services as employees, officers and directors) that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

4.27                           Broker’s Fees. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.

 

Section 5.                                            Representations and Warranties of the Investor. The Investor represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Company, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

 

5.1                                 Due Authorization. The Investor has full right, power, authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the Investor enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ and contracting parties’ rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

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5.2                                 Accredited Investor.

 

(a)                                  The Investor is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act, and the Investor has the knowledge, sophistication and experience necessary to make, and is qualified to make decisions with respect to, investments in shares presenting an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of the Shares, including investments in securities issued by the Company and investments in comparable companies, and has requested all information it deemed relevant in making an informed decision to purchase the Shares and has reviewed and considered all information provided in response to such requests.

 

(b)                                 The Investor is acquiring the Shares for its own account for investment only and with no present intention of distributing any of the Shares in violation of the Securities Act or any arrangement or understanding with any other Persons regarding the distribution of such Shares.

 

(c)                                  The Investor will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of) any of the Shares except in compliance with the Securities Act, applicable state securities laws and the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(d)                                 The Investor understands that its acquisition of the Shares has not been registered under the Securities Act or registered or qualified under any state securities law in reliance on specific exemptions therefrom, which exemptions may depend upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the Investor’s investment intent as expressed herein.

 

5.3                                 Acknowledgement Regarding Offering of the Shares. The Investor acknowledges that the Company has represented that no action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States by the Company that would permit an offering of the Shares, or possession or distribution of offering materials in connection with the issuance of the Shares, in any jurisdiction outside the United States where action for that purpose is required. The Investor agrees to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers Shares or has in its possession or distributes any offering material, in all cases at its own expense.

 

5.4                                 Broker Fees. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Investor.

 

5.5                                 Canadian Addendum. The Investor further represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Company, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as set forth in the Canadian Addendum attached hereto.

 

Section 6.                                            Survival of Representations and Warranties. Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement, all representations and warranties made by the Company and the Investor herein shall survive for a period of two (2) years following the Closing Date.

 

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Section 7.                                            Registration of the Shares; Compliance with the Securities Act.

 

7.1                                 Registration Procedures and Expenses. As soon as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the Company shall have received a written request from the Investor (any such request, a “Registration Demand”), which may be given at any time after the Closing Date and before the Registration Termination Date (any such date, a “Registration Demand Date”), to effect any registration with respect to the Shares up to that number of Shares set forth in a Registration Demand; provided, however, that (a) if such Registration Demand Date is prior to the earliest to occur of (i) January 1, 2007 and (ii) the date on which affiliates of VantagePoint Venture Partners (“VPVP”) have distributed an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to the limited partners of such affiliates of VPVP equal to or greater than ten percent (10%) of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the Closing after giving effect to the sale and issuance of the Shares and the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock of Aviza, Inc. (as adjusted for stock splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like), the number of Shares subject to such Registration Demand shall not exceed the greater of (x) one percent (1%) of the Company’s Common Stock outstanding as shown by the then-most-recent report or statement by the Company or (y) the average weekly trading volume for the four (4) weeks immediately preceding such Registration Demand Date; and (b) the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than one (1) such registration in any three- (3)-month period nor more than a total of four (4) such registrations, the Company shall:

 

(a)                                  subject to receipt of necessary information from the Investor, use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement (the “Registration Statement) on Form S-3 (or Form S-1 if Form S-3 is not then available for use by the Company) to enable the resale of the Shares by the Investor on a delayed or continuous basis under Rule 415 of the Securities Act;

 

(b)                                 use its reasonable best efforts, subject to receipt of necessary information from the Investor, to cause the Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after the Registration Demand Date; provided, however, that the Registration Statement shall not be declared effective until at least the ninetieth (90th) day after the Closing Date;

 

(c)                                  use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith and take all such other actions as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement current and effective for a period (the “Registration Period”) ending on the earlier of (i) the Registration Termination Date and (ii) the date on which the Investor has completed the distribution related thereto. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Registration Termination Date” shall be the later of (x) the two- (2)-year anniversary of the Closing Date, and (y) the date that all of the Shares become eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 during any one (1) ninety- (90)-day period;

 

(d)                                 promptly furnish to the Investor with respect to the Shares registered under the Registration Statement such reasonable number of copies of the Registration Statement and Prospectus, including any preliminary Prospectus and any supplements to or

 

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amendments of the Prospectus or Registration Statement, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of all or any of such Shares by the Investor;

 

(e)                                  promptly take such action as may be necessary to qualify, or obtain, an exemption for the Shares under such of the state securities laws of United States jurisdictions as shall be necessary to qualify, or obtain an exemption for, the sale of the Shares in states specified in writing by the Investor; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or consent to service of process in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or has not so consented;

 

(f)                                    bear all expenses in connection with the procedures in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this Section 7.1 and the registration of the Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation:  (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made with the NASD); (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state securities, or “blue sky,” laws; (iii) expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Shares and Prospectuses); (iv) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Shares with the Nasdaq National Market and (v) all fees and disbursements of counsel of the Company and the independent certified public accountants of the Company; provided, however, that the Investor shall be responsible for paying the underwriting commissions or brokerage fees, and taxes of any kind (including, without limitation, transfer taxes) applicable to any disposition, sale or transfer of the Shares. The Company shall, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties);

 

(g)                                 advise the Investor, within two (2) business days by electronic mail, facsimile or other electronic or non-electronic means of communication, and, if requested by the Investor, confirm such advice in writing:  (i) after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge of the issuance of any stop order by the SEC delaying or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for that purpose, or any other order issued by any state securities commission or other regulatory authority suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of such Shares under state securities, or “blue sky,” laws; and it shall promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order or other order should be issued and (ii) when the Prospectus or any supplements to or amendments of the Prospectus have been filed, and, with respect to the Registration Statement or any post effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and

 

(h)                                 in the event that the Shares are to be sold through underwriters, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form (including customary indemnification of such underwriters by the Company), with the managing underwriters of such offering, provided that the Investor enters into and performs its obligations under such underwriting agreement (including customary indemnification of such underwriters by the Investor).

 

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7.2                                 Delay in Effectiveness of Registration Statement.

 

(a)                                  The Company further agrees that:

 

(i)                                     in the event the Registration Statement has not been filed with the SEC within thirty (30) days after the Registration Demand Date, the Investor shall be entitled to receive from the Company liquidated damages in an amount equal to one percent (1.0%) of the total aggregate purchase price of the Shares that are to be registered on such Registration Statement (a “Liquidated Damages Payment”);

 

(ii)                                  in the event the Registration Statement has not been filed with the SEC within sixty (60) days after the Registration Demand Date, the Investor shall be entitled to receive from the Company an additional Liquidated Damages Payment;

 

(iii)                               in the event the Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC within ninety (90) days after the Registration Demand Date, the Investor shall be entitled to receive an additional Liquidated Damages Payment; and

 

(iv)                              the Company shall make an additional Liquidated Damages Payment for each thirty- (30)-day period thereafter (pro-rated for any period of less than thirty (30) days) until the Registration Statement has been declared effective; although in no event shall the aggregate Liquidated Damages Payments in any thirty- (30)-day period exceed one percent (1.0%) of the total aggregate purchase price of the Shares that are to be registered on such Registration Statement.

 

(b)                                 Liquidated Damages Payments may, at the Investor’s option, be delivered to the Investor in the form of cash or Common Stock. The Company shall deliver all Liquidated Damages Payments to the Investor by the fifth (5th) business day after the occurrence of the events described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 7.2(a) hereof, as applicable.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.2 or in any other provision of this Agreement, the Liquidated Damages Payments provided in this Section 7.2 shall be the Investor’s sole and exclusive monetary remedy in the event of the occurrence of any of the events described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 7.2(a) hereof; provided, however, that the Investor shall retain all equitable remedies then available to it.

 

7.3                                 Transfer of Shares; Suspension.

 

(a)                                  The Investor agrees that it shall not effect any sale, offer to sell, solicitation of offers to buy, disposition of, loan, pledge or grant of any right with respect to the Shares or any derivative instruments, arrangement or securities the value of which is derived from the securities of the Company or its right to purchase any securities of the Company or any derivative instruments, arrangement or securities the value of which is derived from the securities of the Company that would constitute a sale within the meaning of the Securities Act, except as contemplated in the Registration Statement referred to in Section 7.1(a) hereof or in accordance with the Securities Act (including any exemption from the registration requirements set forth therein), and that it shall promptly notify the Company of any changes in the

 

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information set forth in the Registration Statement regarding the Investor or its plan of distribution.

 

(b)                                 Except in the event that Section 7.3(c) hereof applies, the Company shall, at all times during the Registration Period, promptly:

 

(i)                                     prepare and file from time to time with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement or amendment to any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that such Registration Statement will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Shares being sold thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(ii)                                  provide the Investor copies of any documents filed pursuant to Section 7.3(b)(i) hereof; and

 

(iii)                               inform the Investor that the Company has complied with its obligations in Section 7.3(b)(i) hereof (or that, if the Company has filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement that has not yet been declared effective, the Company shall notify the Investor to that effect, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to secure the effectiveness of such post-effective amendment as promptly as possible and shall promptly notify the Investor pursuant to this Section 7.3(b)(iii) when the amendment has become effective).

 

(c)                                  Subject to Section 7.3(d) hereof, in the event of:

 

(i)                                     any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information;

 

(ii)                                  the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

 

(iii)                               the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or

 

(iv)                              any event or circumstance that necessitates the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state

 

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a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,

 

then the Company shall deliver a notice in writing to the Investor (the “Suspension Notice”) to the effect of the foregoing and, upon receipt of such Suspension Notice, the Investor shall refrain from selling any Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement (a “Suspension”) until the Investor’s receipt of copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus prepared and filed by the Company, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the current Prospectus may be used. In the event of any Suspension, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, to cause the use of the Prospectus so suspended to be resumed as soon as reasonably practicable after the delivery of a Suspension Notice to the Investor.

 

(d)                                 In the event the Investor is prohibited from selling Shares under the Registration Statement as a result of Suspensions for more than sixty (60) days in any twelve- (12)-month period, then (i) the Company shall pay to the Investor liquidated damages in an amount equal to one percent (1.0%) of the total aggregate purchase price of the Shares registered on such Registration Statement then held by the Investor if, as a result of such Suspensions, the Investor is prohibited from selling Shares under such Registration Statement for a period that exceeds sixty (60) days in the aggregate in any twelve- (12)-month period and (ii) after the date, if any, on which the Company becomes obligated to pay the Investor liquidated damages pursuant to the preceding clause (i), the Company shall pay to the Investor additional liquidated damages in an amount equal to one percent (1.0%) of the total aggregate purchase price of the Shares registered on such Registration Statement then held by the Investor for each additional thirty (30) days thereafter during which as a result of a suspension the Investor is prohibited from selling shares under such Registration Statement; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to pay more than one percent (1.0%) of the total aggregate purchase price of the Shares registered on such Registration Statement then held by the Investor in any thirty- (30)-day period.

 

(e)                                  In the event of a sale of Shares by the Investor under the Registration Statement, the Investor must also deliver to the Company’s transfer agent, with a copy to the Company, a Certificate of Subsequent Sale substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E, so that the Shares may be properly transferred.

 

7.4                                 Indemnification. For the purpose of this Section 7.4, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Prospectus, any preliminary or final prospectus, exhibit, supplement or amendment included in or relating to the Registration Statement referred to in Section 7.1 hereof, and the term “Rules and Regulations” shall mean the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

(a)                                  Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investor, the officers and directors of the Investor and any Person, if any, who controls the Investor within the meaning of the Securities Act (collectively, the “Investor Indemnitees”), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to which the Investor Indemnitees may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other federal or state statutory law or regulation insofar as such losses, claims, damages,

 

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liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arise out of or are based upon:

 

(i)                                     any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, financial statements and schedules, and all other documents filed as a part thereof, as amended at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, including any information deemed to be a part thereof as of the time of effectiveness pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A, or pursuant to Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations, or the Prospectus, in the form first filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, or filed as part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness if no Rule 424(b) filing is required (the “Prospectus”), or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(ii)                                  the omission or alleged omission to state in any of them a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements in any of them, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or

 

(iii)                               any failure of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, and shall reimburse the Investor Indemnitees for any legal and other expenses as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the Investor Indemnitees in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action;

 

provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case (a) to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement of the Registration Statement or Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (ii) the failure of the Investor to comply with the covenants and agreements contained in Section 7.3 hereof respecting resale of the Shares or (iii) any untrue statement or omission of a material fact in any Prospectus that is corrected in any subsequent Prospectus that was delivered to the Investor before the pertinent sale or sales by the Investor or (b) for any amount paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(b)                                 Indemnification by the Investor. The Investor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to which the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who sign the Registration Statement or controlling Person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other federal or state statutory law or regulation insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arise out of or are based upon:

 

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(i)                                     any failure on the part of the Investor to comply with the covenants and agreements contained in Section 7.3 hereof respecting the sale of the Shares; or

 

(ii)                                  any untrue or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein;

 

provided, however, that the Investor shall not be liable for (a) any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of which the Investor has delivered to the Company in writing a correction at least five (5) business days before the occurrence of the transaction from which such loss was incurred, and the Investor shall reimburse the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement or controlling Person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement or controlling Person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action for which such Person is entitled to be indemnified in accordance with this Section 7.4(b) or (b) any amount paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(c)                                  Indemnification Procedure.

 

(i)                                     Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7.4 of notice of the threat or commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7.4, promptly notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7.4 except to the extent it is materially prejudiced as a result of such failure.

 

(ii)                                  In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action

 

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on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense of such action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7.4 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless:

 

(1)                                  the indemnified party shall have employed such counsel in connection with the assumption of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso to the first sentence of clause (ii) above (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one (1) separate counsel, approved by such indemnifying party representing all of the indemnified parties who are parties to such action); or
 
(2)                                  the indemnifying party shall not have counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7.4, (A) with respect to claims made pursuant to clause (i) of Section 7.4(b) hereof, the Investor shall not be liable for any indemnification obligation under this Agreement in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by the Investor from the sale of the Shares and (B) with respect to claims made pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 7.4(b) hereof, the Investor shall not be liable for any indemnification obligation under this Agreement in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by the Investor from the sale of the Shares giving rise to such liability.
 

(d)                                 Contribution.

 

(i)                                     If a claim for indemnification under this Section 7.4 is unavailable to an indemnified party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in this Agreement, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 7.4, any reasonable attorneys’ or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section 7.4 was available to such party in accordance with its terms.

 

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(ii)                                  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7.4, (A) with respect to claims made pursuant to clause (i) of Section 7.4(b) hereof, the Investor shall not be liable to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by the Investor from the sale of the Shares and (B) with respect to claims made pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 7.4(b) hereof, the Investor shall not be liable to contribute any amount in excess of (x) the amount by which the net proceeds received by the Investor from the sale of the Shares giving rise to such liability exceeds (y) the amount of any damages that the Investor has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No party to this Agreement guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any other party to this Agreement who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

7.5                                 Termination of Conditions and Obligations. The restrictions imposed by Section 7.3 hereof upon the transferability of the Shares shall cease and terminate as to any particular number of Shares upon the Registration Termination Date or at such time as an opinion of counsel satisfactory in form and substance to Parent shall have been rendered to the effect that such conditions are not necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly understood that no such opinion of counsel shall be required if the Company shall be furnished with written documentation reasonably satisfactory to it that such Shares are being transferred in a customary transaction exempt from registration under Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

Section 8.                                            Company Covenants.

 

8.1                                 Rule 144. For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date on which the Investor may sell all of the Shares pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act, the Company agrees with the Investor to:

 

(a)                                  comply with the requirements of Rule 144(c) under the Securities Act with respect to current public information about the Company; and

 

(b)                                 file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time it is subject to such reporting requirements).

 

8.2                                 Observation of Meetings of the Board of Directors. The Company shall notify the Investor by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile or other electronic or non-electronic means of communication prior to each meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) at substantially the same time as notice is provided to members of the Board and shall permit the Investor to designate one (1) individual, which individual shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company, to be an observer (the “Observer”) at each meeting of the Board and to attend all such meetings in a non-voting capacity; provided, however, that the Board shall have the right to exclude the Observer from any portion of any such meeting if such exclusion is necessary in order for the Board to preserve the attorney-client privilege, fulfill the Company’s

 

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obligations with respect to confidential or proprietary information of third parties or comply with applicable law.

 

Section 9.                                            Investor Covenants.

 

9.1                                 Transfer Restrictions. The Investor shall not make any sale of the Shares without complying with the provisions of this Agreement, including Section 7.3 hereof, provided that the Company complies with its obligations under Section 7.1 hereof, without effectively causing the prospectus delivery requirement under the Securities Act to be satisfied, if applicable, and the Investor acknowledges that the certificates evidencing the Shares will be imprinted with a legend that prohibits their transfer except in accordance therewith. The Investor acknowledges that there may occasionally be times when the Company, based on the advice of its counsel, determines that, subject to the limitations of Section 7.3 hereof, it must suspend the use of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement until such time as an amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed by the Company and declared effective by the SEC or until the Company has amended or supplemented such Prospectus.

 

9.2                                 Standstill Provision. Except for the Investor’s purchase of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement and Investor’s participation as an observer at meetings of the Board pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof, from the date of this Agreement until the two- (2)-year anniversary of the date of this Agreement, unless the Investor shall have been specifically invited in writing by the Board (or an independent committee thereof), neither the Investor nor any of its affiliates (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) or representatives on behalf of the Investor will in any manner, directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  effect or seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect, or cause or participate in or in any way assist any other Person to effect, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect or participate in:

 

(i)                                     any acquisition of any securities (or beneficial ownership thereof) or assets (other than non-material assets) of the Company that would cause the Investor’s percentage ownership of the Company’s capital stock on a fully diluted basis as of the date of such acquisition immediately after giving effect to such acquisition to exceed the Investor’s percentage ownership of the Company’s capital stock on a fully diluted basis as of the Closing after giving effect to the sale and issuance of the Shares and the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock of Aviza, Inc.;

 

(ii)                                  any tender or exchange offer, merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company;

 

(iii)                               any recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction with respect to the Company or any material portion of the Company’s business; or

 

(iv)                              any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the SEC) or consents to vote any voting securities of the Company;

 

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(b)                                 form, join or in any way participate in a “group” (as defined under the Exchange Act) with respect to the securities of the Company if such group’s percentage ownership of the Company’s capital stock on a fully diluted basis would exceed the Investor’s percentage ownership of the Company’s capital stock on a fully diluted basis as of the Closing after giving effect to the sale and issuance of the Shares and the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock of Aviza, Inc.;

 

(c)                                  take any action which to the knowledge of the Investor requires the Company to make a public announcement regarding any of the types of matters set forth in clause (a) above other than with respect to acquisitions of the Company’s capital stock by the Investor that are permitted by sub-clause (i) of clause (a) above and clause (b) above; or

 

(d)                                 enter into any discussions or arrangements with any third party with respect to any of the foregoing or advise, assist, encourage, finance or seek to persuade others to take any action with respect to the foregoing,

 

in each case other than with respect to acquisitions of the Company’s capital stock by the Investor that are permitted by sub-clause (i) of clause (a) above and clause (b) above. The provisions of this Section 9.2 shall not prohibit the Investor’s Equity Markets Group from engaging in any of the activities set forth in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) above and clause (b) above or from entering into any discussions or arrangements with any third party with respect to any of the activities set forth in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) above and clause (b) above.

 

9.3                                 Right of First Refusal.

 

(a)                                  Should the Investor propose to accept one or more bona fide offers from any Persons identified on Exhibit F attached hereto as a Restricted Party for purposes of this Section 9.3 and such Persons’ affiliates (each, a “Restricted Party”) to purchase from the Investor a number of shares of Common Stock that exceeds five percent (5%) of the Common Stock outstanding as shown by the then-most-recent report or statement by the Company in any single transaction or series of related transactions occurring within a 180-day period (collectively, a “Purchase Offer”), the Investor, prior to accepting any such Purchase Offer, shall promptly deliver a written notice (the “Notice of Sale”) to the Company stating the terms and conditions of such Purchase Offer on which the Investor in good faith believes a binding agreement is obtainable, including, without limitation, the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be sold or transferred (the “Offered Shares”), the nature of such sale or transfer, the consideration to be paid and the name and address of each prospective purchaser or transferee. The Notice of Sale shall also include a copy of any written proposal, term sheet or letter of intent or other agreement relating to the Purchase Offer.

 

(b)                                 The Company shall have an option for thirty (30) business days after receiving the Notice of Sale to deliver written notice (the “Reply Notice”) to the Investor of its election to purchase all, or any portion of, the Offered Shares at the price and upon the terms specified in the Notice of Sale.

 

(c)                                  In the event that the Company through delivery of its Reply Notice elects not to purchase all, or any portion of, the Offered Shares, then and only then shall the

 

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Investor be free to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Offer with respect to that portion of the Offered Shares not purchased by the Company; provided, however, that if such transactions are not consummated within ninety (90) days of the date of the Reply Notice, the Investor shall again comply with all of the provisions of this Section 9.3.

 

(d)                                 The rights of the Company set forth in this Section 9.3 shall be assignable by the Company to any Person in the complete and exclusive discretion of the Company.

 

(e)                                  Additional Restricted Parties may be identified by the Company after the date of this Agreement only upon the written consent of the Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(f)                                    For purposes of clarity, the parties hereto acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 9.3 are not intended to apply to any sale of Shares by the Investor in any open market transaction conducted through a broker/dealer.

 

(g)                                 The restriction set forth in this Section 9.3 shall terminate on the two- (2)-year anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

Section 10.                                      Miscellaneous.

 

10.1                           Legends.

 

(a)                                  In addition to any legends required by law, until the earlier to occur of (i) the termination of this Agreement and (ii) such time as all Shares have been sold pursuant to (A) an effective registration or (B) pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, the certificates representing the Shares shall bear the following legends:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN A STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT. A COPY OF SUCH STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY UPON REQUEST.”

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR IN THE EVENT THAT AVIZA TECHNOLOGY,

 

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INC. (THE “COMPANY”) SHALL HAVE RECEIVED AN OPINION FROM COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT REGISTRATION OF SUCH SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS IS NOT REQUIRED.”

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE HELD BY A PERSON WHO MAY BE DEEMED TO BE AN AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER FOR PURPOSES OF RULE 144 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY BE SOLD ONLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144, PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO A VALID EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

10.2                           Notices. Except as specifically permitted by Section 7.1(g) all notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be mailed (A) if within domestic United States by first-class registered or certified airmail, or nationally recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid, or by facsimile, or (B) if delivered from outside the United States, by International Federal Express or facsimile, and shall be deemed given (i) if delivered by first-class registered or certified mail domestic, three business days after so mailed, (ii) if delivered by nationally recognized overnight carrier, one business day after so mailed, (iii) if delivered by International Federal Express, two business days after so mailed and (iv) if delivered by facsimile, upon electric confirmation of receipt and shall be delivered as addressed as follows:

 

(a)                                  if to the Company, to:

 

Aviza Technology, Inc.
440 Kings Village Road
Scotts Valley, CA  95066
Attn:  President and Chief Executive Officer
Phone:  (831) 438-2100
Facsimile:  (831) 439-6349

 

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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
140 Scott Drive
Menlo Park, CA  94025
Attn:  Christopher L. Kaufman, Esq.
Phone:  (650) 328-4600
Facsimile:  (650) 463-2600

 

(b)                                 if to the Investor, to:

 

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Édifice Price
65, rue Sainte-Anne
14e étage
Quebec City, Quebec
Canada
G1R 3X5
Attn: Bruno Duguay
Phone: (418) 684-2334
Facsimile: (418) 684-2335

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Cooley Godward LLP
3175 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA  94304-1130
Attn: John Geschke
Phone: (650) 843-5757
Facsimile: (650) 849-7400

 

10.3                           Amendments and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Investor or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

 

10.4                           Headings. The headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be part of this Agreement.

 

10.5                           Severability. In case any provision contained in this Agreement should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and

 

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the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.

 

10.6                           Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal law of the State of California without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of California.

 

10.7                           Entire Agreement. This Agreement and that certain Confidentiality Agreement, dated February 22, 2006, by and between the Company and the Investor (the “Confidentiality Agreement”) constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and any and all other written or oral agreements relating to such subject matter are expressly cancelled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the entire paragraph beginning at the bottom of page three (3) of the Confidentiality Agreement and continuing through the middle of page four (4) of the Confidentiality Agreement, beginning with the clause “In consideration of the Evaluation Material being furnished hereunder” is hereby superseded by this Agreement and is of no further force or effect.

 

10.8                           Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties.

 

10.9                           Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the Investor, including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, affiliates of the Investor. With respect to transfers that are not made pursuant to the Registration Statement, the rights and obligations of the Investor under this Agreement shall be automatically assigned by such Investor to any transferee of all or any portion of such Investor’s Shares who is a Permitted Transferee (as defined below); provided, however, that within two business days prior to the transfer, (i) the Company is provided notice of the transfer including the name and address of the transferee and the number of Shares transferred and (ii) that such transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. (For purposes of this Agreement, a “Permitted Transferee” shall mean any Person who (a) is an “accredited investor,” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and (b) is a transferee of at least 250,000 Shares as permitted under the securities laws of the United States). Upon any transfer permitted by this Section 10.9, the Company shall be obligated to such transferee to perform all of its covenants under this Agreement as if such transferee were an Investor.

 

10.10                     Expenses. Each of the Company and the Investor shall bear its respective legal, accounting, advisory and other fees, and all other out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Closing occurs, the Company shall reimburse the Investor for its legal and advisory fees actually incurred up to a maximum aggregate amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

 

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10.11                     Arbitration.

 

(a)                                  The parties hereto agree that any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or breach thereof (“Dispute”), shall be subject to a mandatory period of thirty (30) days during which the parties shall (i) each appoint a representative (each a “Representative” and collectively, the “Representatives”) and (ii) the Representatives shall meet in a timely manner for the purpose of attempting to resolve the Dispute. The Representatives shall negotiate in good faith to resolve the Dispute without resort to formal proceedings. During the course of such negotiations, the parties shall comply with all reasonable requests for access to relevant information. Formal proceedings for the arbitration of such Dispute may not be commenced until the expiration of the foregoing mandatory thirty- (30)-day period. Both parties shall continue to perform their respective obligations hereunder during the negotiations by Representatives attempting to resolve the Dispute.

 

(b)                                 Following the expiration of the mandatory thirty- (30)-day period provided in Section 10.11(a) hereof, any unresolved Dispute shall be settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Commercial Dispute Resolution Procedures, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

(c)                                  The parties agree to the arbitration of the Dispute by a single arbitrator appointed in accordance with the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association.

 

(d)                                 The parties agree to appropriate discovery, including depositions, under the jurisdiction of the arbitrator. The arbitrator’s decision in such matters shall be final and binding on the parties.

 

(e)                                  The parties agree that the arbitrator may grant any remedy or relief that the arbitrator deems just and equitable within the scope of the agreement between the parties, including but not limited to the award of compensatory damages and ordering the specific performance of the contract, but not including the award of exemplary or punitive damages.

 

(f)                                    The parties hereby agree that, notwithstanding the fact that applicable law may not provide for the award of attorneys’ fees and costs and/or otherwise grant the arbitrator the discretion to award such fees and costs, pursuant to this Agreement, the arbitrator may, in his or her reasonable discretion, award payment of attorneys’ fees and costs by a party as a part of the arbitration award rendered by the arbitrator.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Stock Purchase Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

AVIZA TECHNOLOGY, INC.

 

 

/s/ Jerauld J. Cutini

 

By: Jerauld J. Cutini

Its: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

CAISSE DE DÉPÔT ET PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC

 

 

By:

/s/ Sylvain Gareau

 

By:

/s/ Frédéric Godbout

 

Name:

Sylvain Gareau

 

Name:

Frédéric Godbout

 

Title:

Vice President Venture Capital

 

Title:

Investment Manager

 

 

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