Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 15, 2024, by and among Binah Capital Group, Inc. and the holders party thereto
Exhibit 10.2
Execution Version
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of March [ ], 2024, is made and entered into by and among Binah Capital Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the successor to Kingswood Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), each of the members of Wentworth Management Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Wentworth”) and the undersigned parties listed under Holders on the signature page hereto and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.9 or Section 5.17 of this Agreement are each referred to herein as a “Holder” and collectively as the “Holders”.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on November 19, 2020, the Company and Kingswood Global Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”) entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement (the “Sponsor Warrant Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased 6,481,550 warrants in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering on November 24, 2020;
WHEREAS, on July 7, 2022, the Company, Wentworth, Kingswood Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“KWAC”), Wentworth Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Kingswood Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, entered into that certain Merger Agreement (as amended or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of such agreement, the “Merger Agreement”, and the transactions contemplated thereby, the “Transactions”);
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, Company will enter into Lock-Up Agreement with Sponsor, Wentworth, Wentworth Holders, holders of SPAC Private Placement Warrants, and each holder of Continuing Company Units (collectively, the “Investor Parties”), dated as of the Closing Date (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), pursuant to which, in each case, the Investor Parties shall agree to certain rights and restrictions with respect to shares held in Company, including shares in Company received pursuant to the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, as a result of the consummation of the Transactions, among other things, the Holders have received Registrable Securities (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which Company shall grant to Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Additional Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.17.
“Additional Holder Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.17.
“Affiliate” shall mean with respect to a specified person, each other person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified; provided that no Holder shall be deemed an Affiliate of any other Holder by reason of an investment in, or holding of Common Stock (or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for share of Common Stock) of, the Company. As used in this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract or other agreement).
“A&R Wentworth LLC Agreement” means the amended and restated limited liability company agreement of Wentworth dated March___, 2024.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Block Trade” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4(a).
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble and includes the Company’s successors by recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization, or similar transaction.
“Company Class B Preferred Units” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.
“Demanding Holders” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(d).
“Demanding Percentage” shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor Holders, at least fifty percent (50%) of the Registrable Securities held by all Sponsor Holders, and (b) with respect to the Wentworth Holders, at least ten percent (10%) of the Registrable Securities held by all Wentworth Holders.
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“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Filing Date” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(a).
“Form S-1 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(a).
“Form S-3 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(a).
“Founder Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Founder Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean the lock-up applicable to the Founder Shares, as set forth in the Insider Letter.
“Holder Information” shall have the meaning given in Section 4.1(b).
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble, for so long as such person or entity holds any Registrable Securities.
“Joinder” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.9(e).
“KWAC” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.
“Lock-Up Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.
“Lock-Up Period” means, with respect to Registrable Securities, any lock-up restrictions agreed to by the holders of such Registrable Securities, including the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period and the Private Placement Lock-Up Period pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(e).
“Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Merger Sub” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.
“Minimum Takedown Threshold” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(d).
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Notice of Suspension” shall have the meaning given in Section 3.4(b).
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, any shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, any person or entity to whom such Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or Sponsor Warrants Lock-up Period, as the case may be, pursuant to and in accordance with the Insider Letter and any other applicable agreement between such Sponsor Holder and/or their respective Permitted Transferees and the Company, and (b) with respect to the Wentworth Holders and their Permitted Transferees, any person or entity to whom such Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities pursuant to and in accordance with the A&R Wentworth LLC Agreement.
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“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.2(a).
“PIPE Shares” shall mean an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock issued to certain investors (each, a “PIPE Shares Investor”) on the date hereof pursuant to subscriptions agreements dated as of March ___, 2024, in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
“Private Placement Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, the period set forth in the Insider Letter.
“Private Placement Warrants” means the 6,481,550 private placement warrants acquired by the Sponsor from the Company pursuant to that certain Sponsor Warrant Purchase Agreement.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) any outstanding share of Common Stock of the Company held by a Holder immediately following the Closing (including shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon vesting or upon the exercise of any other equity security that is outstanding immediately following the Closing), (b) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to 300% of the number of shares Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of any share of Series A Preferred Stock that is outstanding immediately following the Closing, (c) any Additional Holder Common Stock and (d) any other equity security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clauses (a), (b) or (c) by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold under such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred and new certificates for such securities not bearing (or book entry positions not subject to) a legend restricting further transfer under the Securities Act shall have been delivered by the Company; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, without limitation thereunder on volume or manner of sale; and (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
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“Registration” shall mean a registration, including any related Shelf Takedown, effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement, Prospectus or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such Registration Statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(a) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
(b) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue-sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of outside counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(c) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(d) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(e) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(f) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the Demanding Holders in an Underwritten Offering.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Requesting Holders” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(e).
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf” shall mean the Form S-1 Shelf, the Form S-3 Shelf or any Subsequent Shelf Registration, as the case may be.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration of securities pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect).
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“Shelf Takedown” shall mean an Underwritten Shelf Takedown or any proposed transfer or sale using a Registration Statement, including a Piggyback Registration.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor Holders” shall mean holders of equity interests in Sponsor, including common units (or membership interests).
“Sponsor Warrant Lock-up Period” shall mean the lock-up applicable to Sponsor Warrants and any of the Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Sponsor Warrants as are set forth in the Insider Letter.
“Sponsor Warrant Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Subsequent Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(b).
“Suspension Period” shall have the meaning given in Section 3.4(b).
“Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Underwritten Shelf Takedown” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(d).
“Wentworth” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.
“Wentworth Holders” shall mean holders of equity interests in Wentworth, including common units (or membership interests) and Company Class B Preferred Units.
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“Wentworth Common Units” means (i) each Common Unit (as such term is defined in the Wentworth LLC Agreement) issued as of the date hereof and (ii) each Common Unit that may be issued by Wentworth in the future.
“Wentworth LLC Agreement” means the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Wentworth, dated November 30, 2017 (as amended, supplemented, and modified from time to time).
“Withdrawal Notice” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1(f).
Article II
REGISTRATIONS
Section 2.1 Shelf Registration.
(a) Filing. The Company shall, as soon as practicable, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the Closing Date, file a Registration Statement to permit the public resale of up to all the Registrable Securities (determined as of two business days prior to such filing) held by the Holders on a delayed or continuous basis as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but in no event later than the earlier of (a) the ninetieth (90th) calendar day (or one hundred fiftieth (150th) calendar day if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the Closing and (b) the tenth (10th) business day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. The Registration Statement filed with the Commission shall be a Shelf Registration on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3 Shelf”), or if Form S-3 Shelf is not then available to the Company, a Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Shelf”) or such other form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for the sale or resale of such Registrable Securities on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor rule or provision similar thereto adopted by the Commission, covering such Registrable Securities, and shall contain a Prospectus in such form as to permit any Holder to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement. In the event the Company files a Form S-1 Shelf, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration) to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3. Such Shelf shall provide for the sale or resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders therein. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and to prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep a Shelf continuously effective and available for use to permit all Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. As soon as practicable following the effective date of a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) the Company shall notify the Holders of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.
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(b) Subsequent Shelf Registration. If any Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4, use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including using its commercially reasonably efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional Registration Statement as a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be an automatic shelf Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) at the most recent applicable eligibility determination date) and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective, available for use to permit all Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on another appropriate form.
(c) Additional Registrable Securities. In the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon written request of the Wentworth Holders or Sponsor Holders holding a Demanding Percentage, shall promptly cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered by either, at the Company’s option, any then available Shelf (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or by filing a Subsequent Shelf Registration and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Shelf or Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, that until the Company shall be eligible to file a Form S-3 Shelf for the resale of Registrable Securities, the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered twice per calendar year for all Holders combined.
(d) Requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns. Subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, Wentworth Holders holding a Demanding Percentage or Sponsor Holders holding a Demanding Percentage (in each such case, the “Demanding Holders”) may request to sell all or any portion of their Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder, either individually or together with other Demanding Holders, with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $100 million (the “Minimum Takedown Threshold”). All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, specifying the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Subject to Section 2.4(d), the Company shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the Demanding Holders’ prior approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Sponsor Holders may demand not more than one Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to this Section 2.1(d); provided, however, that if the amount of Registrable Securities that the Sponsor Holders demanded to register is reduced by Registrable Securities included pursuant to Section 2.2, the demand shall not count against the number of Underwritten Shelf Takedowns that the Sponsor Holders may demand. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may effect any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any then effective Registration Statement, including a Form S-3, that is then available for such offering.
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(e) Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Holders requesting piggy back rights pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (the “Requesting Holders”) (if any) that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and all other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, that have been requested to be sold in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, before including any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities proposed to be sold by Company or by other holders of Common Stock or other equity securities, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
(f) Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” Prospectus or Prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, any Demanding Holder initiating an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown; provided that the Requesting Holders may elect to have the Company continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if the Minimum Takedown Threshold would still be satisfied by the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown by the Requesting Holders. If withdrawn, a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall constitute a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown by the withdrawing Demanding Holder for purposes of Section 2.1(d), unless (x) such Demanding Holder reimburses the Company for all Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (or, if there is more than one Demanding Holder, a pro rata portion of such Registration Expenses based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown) or (y) such withdrawal is the result of a Suspension Notice as contemplated by Section 3.4(d). Following the receipt of any Withdrawal Notice, the Company shall promptly forward such Withdrawal Notice to any other Holders that had elected to participate in such Shelf Takedown. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Shelf Takedown prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.1(f), other than if a Demanding Holder elects to pay such Registration Expenses pursuant to clause (ii) of the second sentence of this Section 2.1(f).
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Section 2.2 Piggyback Registration.
(a) Piggyback Rights. Subject to Section 2.4(c) if the Company or any Holder proposes to conduct a registered offering of, or if the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration of, equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a Registration Statement (or any registered offering with respect thereto) (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan or (v) a Block Trade, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed offering to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the applicable “red herring” Prospectus or Prospectus supplement used for marketing such offering, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to include in such registered offering such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such registered offering, a “Piggyback Registration”). Subject to Section 2.2(b), the Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and, if applicable, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of such Piggyback Registration to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.2(a) to be included therein on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such registered offering and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The inclusion of any Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration shall be subject to such Holder’s agreement to enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering.
(b) Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
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(i) if the Registration or registered offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2(a), pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(ii) if the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a demand by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2(a), pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
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(iii) if the Registration or registered offering and Underwritten Shelf Takedown is pursuant to a request by Holder(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1(d) hereof, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering securities in the priority set forth in Section 2.1(e).
(c) Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities (other than a Demanding Holder, whose right to withdraw from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, and related obligations, shall be governed by Section 2.1(f)) shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or, in the case of a Piggyback Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the filing of the applicable “red herring” Prospectus or Prospectus supplement with respect to such Piggyback Registration used for marketing such transaction. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration (which, in no circumstance, shall include a Shelf) at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (other than Section 2.1(f)), the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.2(c).
(d) Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, subject to Section 2.1(f), any Piggyback Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under Section 2.1(d) hereof.
Section 2.3 Market Stand-off. In connection with any Underwritten Offering of Common Stock of the Company, if requested by the Underwriters managing the offering, each Holder that is an executive officer or director of the Company or the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, and any other Holder reasonably requested by the managing Underwriter, agrees not to, and to execute a customary lock-up agreement (in each case on substantially the same terms and conditions as all such Holders, including customary waiver “mfn” provisions) in favor of the managing Underwriters to not, sell or dispose of any shares of Common Stock of the Company (other than those included in such offering pursuant to this Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Company, during the ninety (90)-day period (or such shorter time agreed to by the managing Underwriters) beginning on the date of pricing of such offering, except as expressly permitted by such lock-up agreement or in the event the managing Underwriters otherwise agree by written consent.
Section 2.4 Block Trades.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in an underwritten registered offering not involving a “roadshow,” an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block Trade”), with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, either (x) $100 million or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder only needs to notify the Company of the Block Trade at least five (5) business days prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the Registration Statement, Prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade.
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(b) Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” Prospectus or Prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade, any Demanding Holder initiating such Block Trade shall have the right to submit a Withdrawal Notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.2 shall not apply to a Block Trade initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) The Demanding Holder in a Block Trade shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such Block Trade (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks).
Article III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
Section 3.1 General Procedures. In connection with any Shelf and/or Shelf Takedown, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to:
(a) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
(b) prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (other than those filed to include or incorporate Exchange Act filings, and not including any incorporated documents or exhibits), furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such documents and to consider in good faith any reasonable comments timely provided by such Underwriters or Holders with respect to the disclosure included therein about them;
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(c) cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each national securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
(d) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
(e) advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
(f) notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4;
(g) in connection with an Underwritten Offering or Block Trade (i) permit a representative of the Underwriters, and any attorney retained by such Underwriters, to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement or Prospectus, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative or attorney in connection with the Registration, subject to confidentiality arrangements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information to them; (ii) request the Company’s independent registered public accountants to provide a “cold comfort” letter, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters; (iii) request counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration to provide a legal opinion and disclosure letter in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by such opinions and disclosure letters; and (iv) enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriters;
(h) with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1(d), use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering;
(i) make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission); and
(j) upon request of a Holder, authorize the Company’s transfer agent to remove any legend on share certificates of such Holder’s Common Stock restricting further transfer (or any similar restriction in book entry positions of such Holder) if the Company, based on the advice of its counsel, determines such restrictions are no longer required by the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or any agreement with the Company to which such Holder is a party, including if such shares subject to such a restriction have been sold on a Registration Statement.
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Section 3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that each Holder shall bear, with respect to such Holder’s Registrable Securities being sold, all Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing such Holders.
Section 3.3 Requirements for Participation in Registration Statement in Underwritten Offerings. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any Holder does not provide the Company with its requested Holder Information, the Company may exclude such Holder’s Registrable Securities from the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such information is necessary to effect the registration and such Holder continues thereafter to withhold such information. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. The exclusion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities as a result of this Section 3.3 shall not affect the registration of the other Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration.
Section 3.4 Suspension of Sales; Blackout Period; Restrictions on Registration Rights.
(a) Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, by providing written notice (a “Notice of Suspension”) to the Holders, to delay the filing or effectiveness of a Registration Statement or require the Holders to suspend the use of the Prospectus for sales of Registrable Securities under an effective Registration Statement for a reasonable period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days in the aggregate in any six (6)-month period (a “Suspension Period”) if the Board determines in good faith that such filing, effectiveness or use would (i) require the public disclosure of material non-public information concerning any material transaction or negotiations involving the Company that would interfere with such material transaction or negotiations or (ii) otherwise materially interfere with material financing plans, acquisition activities or business activities of the Company. Immediately upon receipt of a Suspension Notice, the Holder shall discontinue the disposition of Registrable Securities under an effective Registration Statement and Prospectus relating thereto until the Suspension Period is terminated.
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(c) The Company agrees to promptly notify in writing the Holder, to the extent it still holds Registrable Securities, of the termination of a Suspension Period. After the expiration of any Suspension Period in the case of an effective Registration Statement, and without the need for any further request from the Holder, the Company shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable, prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, the relevant Prospectus, or any document incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as applicable, will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) If the Company notifies the Demanding Holders of a Suspension Period with respect to an Underwritten Shelf Takedown requested pursuant to Section 2.1(d), (x) the Demanding Holders may by notice to the Company withdraw such request without such request counting as a demand under Section 2.1(d) and without being obligated to reimburse the Company for any Registration Expenses in connection therewith.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company may delay the filing or effectiveness of a Registration Statement or require the Holders to suspend the use of the Prospectus for sale of Registrable Securities under an effective Registration Statement: (i) during any of the Company’s recurring quarterly earnings blackout periods, determined in accordance with such policy as the Company shall generally maintain and communicate to the Holders from time to time, and any such blackout period shall be deemed to constitute a Suspension Period hereunder but shall not be subject to, and shall not count against, the time periods in Section 3.4(b) or be subject to Section 3.4(d); and (ii) if, in the good faith determination of the Company, it is not feasible for the Company to proceed with the registration or offering because (x) audited financial statements of the Company or (y) audited financial statements of any acquired company or other entity or pro forma financial statements that are required by the Securities Act, by any Underwriters or by customary practice to be included in any related Registration Statement or Prospectus are then unavailable, until such time as such financial statements are prepared or obtained by the Company, and any delay or suspension shall be treated as a Suspension Period hereunder, except that it shall not be subject to, and shall not count against, the time periods in Section 3.4(b) or be subject to Section 3.4(d); provided that, with respect to clause (y), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare or obtain the relevant acquired company or pro forma financial statements as quickly as reasonably practicable.
Section 3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings; provided that any documents publicly filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System shall be deemed to have been furnished or delivered to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.5. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
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Article IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
Section 4.1 Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors and agents and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act), against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by (a) or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein or (b) use of a Prospectus by such Holder notwithstanding that the Company had previously informed such Holder in writing to discontinue use of such Prospectus. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act), and each broker, placement agent or sales agent to or through which a Holder effects or executes the resale of Registrable Securities, to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (the “Holder Information”) and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that (a) such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein or (b) such Holder used a Prospectus notwithstanding that the Company had previously informed such Holder in writing to discontinue use of such Prospectus; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors, and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act), and each broker, placement agent or sales agent to or through which a Holder effects or executes the resale of Registrable Securities, to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
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(c) Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
(d) The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities.
(e) If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the 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 to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this Section 4.1(e) shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1(e) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 4.1(e). No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1(e) from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
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Article V
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 5.1 Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, waiver, consent, approval or other communication which is required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier postage prepaid (receipt requested), (c) on the date sent by email (with confirmation of transmission, and provided, that, unless affirmatively confirmed by the recipient as received, notice is also sent to such party under another method permitted in this Section 5.1 within two Business Days thereafter) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient or (d) on the third Business Day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 5.1):
If to the Company:
Binah Capital Group, Inc.
17 Battery Place, Room 625
New York, NY 10004
Attention: Criag Gould
Email: ***@***
With a required copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
DLA Piper LLP
650 S. Exeter Street Suite 1100
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Attention: Penny J. Minna
Email: ***@***
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if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Holders (or their authorized representatives) share the same address, the Company shall not be obligated to send multiple copies of any notice hereunder to each separate Holder at that address but may deliver one notice to such address which shall be deemed to be notice to all parties at that address and all of the parties sharing the same representative. In addition, the Company may send notice to all Sponsor Holders to Sponsor’s address, which notice shall constitute notice to all Sponsor Holders.
Section 5.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters described herein. Any and all previous agreements and understandings between or among the parties regarding the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral, are superseded by this Agreement.
Section 5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by e-mail shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.
Section 5.4 Expenses and Fees. Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein, each of the parties shall bear its own expenses in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder including, all fees and expenses of its legal counsel, investment bankers, financial advisors, accountants, and other advisors.
Section 5.5 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdictions other than those of the State of Delaware.
Section 5.6 Submission to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. Each of the parties hereto (i) irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, New Castle County, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, a federal court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware (and in each case, any appellate courts thereof) in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (iii) irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it shall not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (iv) agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court. Each party agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party with respect thereto. Any party hereto may make service on another party by sending or delivering a copy of the process to the party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for the giving of notices in Section 5.1. Nothing in this Section 5.6, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives all rights to trial by jury in any action OR proceeding contemplated hereby.
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Section 5.7 Specific Performance. Each party acknowledges that the other parties will be irreparably harmed and that there will be no adequate remedy at law for any violation by any party of any of the covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement. It is accordingly agreed that, in addition to any other remedies which may be available upon the breach of any such covenants or agreements, each party shall have the right to injunctive relief to restrain a breach or threatened breach of, or otherwise to obtain specific performance of, the other parties’ covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, in any court of the United States or any state thereof having jurisdiction over the parties and the matter, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled, at law or in equity. Any party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of any of the covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with such order or injunction.
Section 5.8 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstances is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental authority to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the remainder hereof, and the application of such provision to such Person or circumstances in any other jurisdiction, shall not be affected thereby, and to this end the provisions of this Agreement shall be severable. Upon such determination by such court or other governmental authority, the parties will substitute for any invalid or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision.
Section 5.9 Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
(a) This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.
(b) Subject to Section 5.9(c) and Section 5.9(e), this Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of a Holder hereunder may be assigned in whole or in part to such Holder’s Permitted Transferees in connection with the transfer of the corresponding Registrable Securities. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and Permitted Transferees.
(c) Prior to the expiration of the applicable Lock-up Period, no Holder who is subject to a Lock-up Period may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee and in accordance with the provisions of the agreement providing for such Lock-up Period and this Section 5.9.
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(d) Other than Persons entitled to indemnification under Article IV, who shall be third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement, this Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto.
(e) No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 and (ii) an executed joinder to this Agreement from such successor or permitted assignee in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.9 shall be null and void.
Section 5.10 Mutual Drafting. This Agreement is the mutual product of the parties, and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation, and agreement of each of the parties, and shall not be construed for or against any party.
Section 5.11 Further Representations. Each party acknowledges and represents that it has been represented by its own legal counsel in connection with this Agreement, with the opportunity to seek advice as to its legal rights from such counsel. Each party further represents that it is being independently advised as to the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and is not relying on any representation or statements made by any other party as to such tax consequences
Section 5.13 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided that no amendment or waiver may materially, disproportionately and adversely affect the rights of a Holder without the consent of such Holder (or, if there is more than one such Holder that is so affected, without the consent of a majority in interest of such affected Holders in accordance with their holding of Registrable Securities). Except with respect to any indemnification or contribution rights or obligations under Article IV, which shall survive, this Agreement will terminate as to any Holder when it no longer holds any Registrable Securities. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
Section 5.14 Other Registration Rights. Other than as provided in (a) the Warrant Agreement, dated November 19, 2020, among the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and (b) the Subscription Agreements providing for the issuance of the PIPE Shares, the Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration Statement filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person.
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Section 5.15 Term. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to any Holder on the date that such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.
Section 5.16 Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder.
Section 5.17 Additional Holder; Joinder. In addition to Persons who may become Holders pursuant to Section 5.9 hereto, the Company may make any person or entity who acquires Common Stock or rights to acquire Common Stock after the date hereof a party to this Agreement (each such Person, an “Additional Holder”) by obtaining an executed Joinder from such Additional Holder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. Such Joinder shall specify the rights and obligations of the applicable Additional Holder under this Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery and subject to the terms of a Joinder by such Additional Holder, the Common Stock of the Company then owned, or underlying any rights then owned, by such Additional Holder (the “Additional Holder Common Stock”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein and therein and such Additional Holder shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to such Additional Holder Common Stock.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
| Binah Capital Group, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael Nessim | |
| Name: Michael Nessim | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Wentworth management services llc | ||
| By: | /s/ Craig Gould | |
| Name: Craig Gould | ||
| Title: President | ||
| /s/ Craig Gould | ||
| Craig Gould | ||
| MHC Securities, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Alexander C. Markowitz | |
| Name: Alexander C. Markowitz | ||
| Title: Managing Member | ||
| /s/ Larry Roth | ||
| Name: Larry Roth | ||
| /s/ Lisa Roth | ||
| Name: Lisa Roth | ||
| /s/ Caroline O'Connell | ||
| Name: Caroline O'Connell | ||
| /s/ Gary Wilder | ||
| Name: Gary Wilder | ||
| /s/ Jonathan Massing | ||
| Name: Jonathan Massing | ||
| UMB Bank | ||
| By: | /s/ Madelyn Wallace | |
| Title: Vice President | ||
| /s/ David Hudd | ||
| Name: David Hudd | ||
| KPI (Nominees) Limited | ||
| By: | /s/ Gary Wilder | |
| Name: Gary Wilder | ||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
| Seopanack LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael Nessim | |
| Name: Michael Nessim | ||
| Title: CEO | ||
| Pollen Street Limited | ||
| By: | /s/ Lindsay McMurray | |
| Name: Linday McMurray | ||
| Title: Managing Partner | ||
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER
The undersigned is executing and delivering this joinder (this “Joinder”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of _____________ (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among Binah Capital Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the successor to Kingswood Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the other persons or entities named as parties therein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.
By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, and upon acceptance hereof by the Company upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein.
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the ___ day of ________________, 20__.
Signature of Stockholder
Print Name of Stockholder
| By: | |
| Its: |
| Address: |
Agreed and Accepted as of ____________, 20__.
| BINAH CAPITAL GROUP, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Its: | ||
