Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2023, among Conns, Inc., Franchise Group Newco BHF, LLC and Freedom VCM Interco Holdings, Inc

EX-10.3 6 d661220dex103.htm EX-10.3 EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

CONN’S, INC.,

FRANCHISE GROUP NEWCO BHF, LLC,

AND

FREEDOM VCM INTERCO HOLDINGS, INC.

Dated as of December 18, 2023


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I  

Resale Shelf Registration

     1  

Section 1.1.

 

Resale Shelf Registration Statement

     1  

Section 1.2.

 

Effectiveness Period

     2  

Section 1.3.

 

Subsequent Shelf Registration

     2  

Section 1.4.

 

Supplements and Amendments

     2  

Section 1.5.

 

Subsequent Holder Notice

     2  

Section 1.6.

 

Underwritten Offering

     3  

Section 1.7.

 

Take-Down Notice

     3  
ARTICLE II  

Company Registration

     4  

Section 2.1.

 

Notice of Registration

     4  

Section 2.2.

 

Underwriting

     4  

Section 2.3.

 

Right to Terminate Registration

     5  
ARTICLE III  

Additional Provisions Regarding Registration Rights

     5  

Section 3.1.

 

Registration Procedures

     5  

Section 3.2.

 

Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights

     8  

Section 3.3.

 

Expenses of Registration

     8  

Section 3.4.

 

Information by Holders

     8  

Section 3.5.

 

Rule 144 Reporting

     9  
ARTICLE IV  

Indemnification

     10  

Section 4.1.

 

Indemnification by Company

     10  

Section 4.2.

 

Indemnification by Holders

     10  

Section 4.3.

 

Notification

     11  

Section 4.4.

 

Contribution

     12  
ARTICLE V  

Termination of Registration Rights; ASSIGNMENT

     12  

Section 5.1.

 

Termination of Registration Rights

     12  

Section 5.2.

 

Assignment

     12  
ARTICLE VI  

Miscellaneous

     13  

Section 6.1.

 

Amendment

     13  

Section 6.2.

 

Waiver

     13  

Section 6.3.

 

Expenses and Obligations

     13  

Section 6.4.

 

Notices

     13  

Section 6.5.

 

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Specific Performance; Remedies

     14  

Section 6.6.

 

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     15  

Section 6.7.

 

Entire Agreement; Counterparts; Electronic Exchanges

     15  

Section 6.8.

 

Construction

     16  

Section 6.9.

 

Assignability; No Third-Party Rights

     16  

Section 6.10.

 

Severability

     17  

 

i


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of December 18, 2023, by and among Conn’s, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Freedom VCM Interco Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Freedom VCM”) and Franchise Group Newco BHF, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with Freedom VCM, the “Investors” and each, an “Investor”). Capitalized terms used but not defined elsewhere herein are defined in Exhibit A and if not defined herein then as defined in the Investment Agreement (as defined below).

Concurrently with this Agreement, the Company is entering into an Investment Agreement with the Investors, W.S. Badcock LLC (f/k/a W.S. Badcock Corporation) and Franchise Group, Inc. (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Investment Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions in exchange for certain shares of a newly-created series of shares of senior preferred convertible stock, par value $0.01 per share of the Company (the “Convertible Preferred Stock”).

As a condition to each of the parties’ obligations under the Investment Agreement, the Company and the Investors are entering into this Agreement for the purpose of granting certain registration and other rights to the Investors.

In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

RESALE SHELF REGISTRATION

Section 1.1. Resale Shelf Registration Statement. Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and make effective immediately following the Issuer Stockholders Meeting (as defined in the Investment Agreement), a registration statement covering the sale or distribution from time to time by the Holders, on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act of all of the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, then such registration shall be on another appropriate form and shall provide for the registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such Holders in accordance with any reasonable method of distribution elected by the Holders) (the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement” and such registration, the “Resale Shelf Registration”), and if the Company is a WKSI as of the filing date, the Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall be an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement. If the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is not an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, then the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the date that is one hundred twenty (120) days after the Closing Date (as defined in the Investment Agreement).

 

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Section 1.2. Effectiveness Period. Once declared effective, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days thereof, file a prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act and, subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be continuously effective and usable until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities (the “Effectiveness Period”).

Section 1.3. Subsequent Shelf Registration. If (i) any Shelf Registration ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period, or (ii) the Company issues additional Registrable Securities to a Holder that are not covered by any previously filed Shelf Registration, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to, in the case of clause (i), promptly cause such Shelf Registration to again become effective under the Securities Act (including obtaining the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration), and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of such cessation of effectiveness, amend such Shelf Registration in a manner reasonably expected to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration or, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), file a post-effective amendment to a previously filed registration statement or file an additional registration statement (each, a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”) for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act registering the resale from time to time by Holders thereof of all securities that are Registrable Securities as of the time of such filing. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (a) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after such filing, but in no event later than the date that is ninety (90) days after such Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed and (b) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration (or another Subsequent Shelf Registration) continuously effective until the end of the Effectiveness Period. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form, and if the Company is a WKSI as of the filing date, such Registration Statement shall be an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on another appropriate form and shall provide for the registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such Holders in accordance with any reasonable method of distribution elected by the Holders.

Section 1.4. Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall supplement and amend any Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration if required by the Securities Act or as reasonably requested by the Holders covered by such Shelf Registration.

Section 1.5. Subsequent Holder Notice. If a Person becomes a Holder of Registrable Securities after a Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, the Company shall, as promptly as is reasonably practicable following delivery of written notice to the Company of such Person becoming a Holder and requesting for its name to be included as a selling securityholder in the prospectus related to the Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Holder Notice”):

(a) if required and permitted by applicable law, file with the Commission a supplement to the related prospectus or a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration so that such Holder is named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration and the related prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver a prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law;

 

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(b) if, pursuant to Section 1.5(a), the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration that is not automatically effective, use its reasonable best efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable, but in any event by the date that is ninety (90) days after the date such post-effective amendment is required by Section 1.5(a) to be filed; and

(c) notify such Holder as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section 1.5(a).

Section 1.6. Underwritten Offering. The Holders of Registrable Securities may on up to three (3) occasions after the Resale Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective deliver a written notice to the Company (with copy to the other Holders) specifying that the sale of some or all of the Registrable Securities subject to the Shelf Registration is intended to be conducted through an underwritten offering, so long as the anticipated gross proceeds of such underwritten offering is not less than ten million dollars ($10,000,000) (unless the Holders are proposing to sell all of their remaining Registrable Securities) (the “Underwritten Offering”). The Company will not be obligated to effect more than two (2) Underwritten Offerings under this Section 1.6 during any twelve (12) month period. In the event of an Underwritten Offering:

(a) The Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities participating in the Underwritten Offering shall select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer the Underwritten Offering; provided, that the choice of such managing underwriter or underwriters shall be subject to the written consent of the Company, which is not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1.6, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering advises the Board of Directors of the Company that in its or their opinion the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the number which can be sold in such Underwritten Offering in light of market conditions, the Registrable Securities shall be included on a pro rata basis upon the number of securities that each Holder shall have requested to be included in such offering. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the managing underwriter or underwriters.

Section 1.7. Take-Down Notice. Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, at any time that any Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if a Holder delivers a notice to the Company (a “Take-Down Notice”) stating that it intends to effect a sale or distribution of all or part of its Registrable Securities included by it on any Shelf Registration Statement (a “Shelf Offering”) and stating the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Offering, then, subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be sold and distributed pursuant to the Shelf Offering.

 

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ARTICLE II

COMPANY REGISTRATION

Section 2.1. Notice of Registration. If at any time or from time to time the Company shall determine to file a registration statement with respect to an offering (or to make an underwritten public offering pursuant to a previously filed registration statement) of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), whether or not for its own account (other than (i) a registration statement on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms, (ii) a registration statement relating solely to employment benefit plans, (iii) a registration statement the primary purpose of which is to register debt securities, or (iv) a registration statement on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities), the Company will:

(a) promptly give to each Holder written notice thereof, which notice shall be given, to the extent reasonably practicable, no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the filing or launch date (except in the case of an offering that is an “overnight offering”, in which case such notice must given no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the filing or launch date); and

(b) subject to Section 2.2, include in such registration or underwritten offering (and any related qualification under blue sky laws or other compliance) all the Registrable Securities specified in a written request or requests made within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such written notice from the Company by any Holder (except in the case of an offering that is an “overnight offering”, in which case such notice must given no later than one (1) Business Day after receipt of such written notice from the Company).

Section 2.2. Underwriting. The right of any Holder to registration pursuant to Section 1.6 or this Article II shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. Each Holder proposing to distribute its securities through such underwriting shall (together with the Company and the other holders distributing their securities through such underwriting) enter into and perform such Holder’s obligations under an underwriting agreement with the managing underwriter selected for such underwriting by the Company or by the stockholders of the Company who have the right to select the underwriters (such underwriting agreement to be in the form negotiated by the Company or such stockholders, as the case may be). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering with respect to which Holders of Registrable Securities have exercised their piggyback registration rights advise the Board of Directors of the Company that in its or their opinion the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in the offering thereby and all other securities proposed to be sold in the offering exceeds the number which can be sold in such underwritten offering in light of market conditions, the Registrable Securities and such other securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated, (a) first, (i) in the event such offering was initiated by the Company, up to the total number of securities that the Company has requested to be included in such registration and (ii) in the event such offering was initiated by the Holders who have exercised their registration rights pursuant to Section 1.6, up to the total

 

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number of securities that such Holders of such securities have requested to be included in such offering, (b) second, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (a) have been included, up to the total number of securities that the Holders and other holders of securities that have contractual rights to be included in such registration have requested to be included in such offering (pro rata based upon the number of securities that each of them shall have requested to be included in such offering) and (c) third, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (b) have been included, all other securities proposed to be included in such offering that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or underwriters can be sold without having such adverse effect. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the managing underwriter or underwriters. Any securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from such registration.

Section 2.3. Right to Terminate Registration. The Company or the holders of securities who have caused a registration statement to be filed as contemplated by this Article II, as the case may be, shall have the right to have any registration initiated by it or them under this Article II terminated or withdrawn prior to the effectiveness thereof, whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration.

ARTICLE III

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 3.1. Registration Procedures. In the case of each registration effected by the Company pursuant to Article I or II, the Company will keep each Holder participating in such registration reasonably informed as to the status thereof and, at its expense, the Company will:

(a) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement with respect to such securities in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement, provided that no Holder shall be identified as an underwriter in any such registration statement without the prior written consent of such Holder;

(b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement (including to permit the intended method of distribution thereof) and as may be necessary to keep the registration statement continuously effective for the period set forth in this Agreement;

(c) furnish to the Holders participating in such registration and to their legal counsel copies of the registration statement proposed to be filed, and provide such Holders and their legal counsel the reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such registration statement;

(d) furnish to the Holders participating in such registration and to the underwriters of the securities being registered such reasonable number of copies of the registration statement, preliminary prospectus and final prospectus as the such underwriters may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public offering of such securities;

 

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(e) use reasonable best efforts to notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the Company’s knowledge of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or incomplete in the light of the circumstances then existing, and, subject to Section 3.1(n), at the request of any such Holder, prepare promptly and furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchaser of such shares, such prospectus shall not include 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 or incomplete in the light of the circumstances then existing;

(f) use reasonable best efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions;

(g) in the event that the Registrable Securities are being offered in an underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement on customary terms and in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement;

(h) in connection with an underwritten public offering, cause its officers to use their reasonable best efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by such offering (including participation in “road shows” or other similar marketing efforts);

(i) if such securities are being sold through underwriters, (i) furnish, on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters, an opinion, dated as of such date, of the legal counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and a “negative assurance letter,” dated as of such date, of the legal counsel representing the Company for purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters and (ii) furnish, on the date of the underwriting agreement and on the date that the Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters, a letter dated as of such date, from the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters;

(j) use reasonable best efforts to list the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement with any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;

 

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(k) in connection with a customary due diligence review, make available for inspection by the Holders, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any counsel or accountants retained by the Holders or underwriter (collectively, the “Offering Persons”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information and participate in customary due diligence sessions in each case reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, counsel or accountant in connection with such registration statement, subject to customary confidentiality obligations to be agreed with the Offering Persons;

(l) cooperate with the Holders and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

(m) as promptly as is reasonably practicable notify the Holders (i) when the prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed and, with respect to such registration statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission or other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such registration statement or related prospectus or to amend or to supplement such prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose, (iv) if at any time the Company has reason to believe that the representations and warranties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement contemplated by Section 3.1(g) above) cease to be true and correct or (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;

(n) notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to effect any Underwritten Offering or Shelf Offering within thirty (30) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of a registration statement for an underwritten public offering of the Company’s securities and for such a period of time after such a filing as the managing underwriters request, provided that such period shall not exceed ninety (90) days from the closing date of any such underwritten public offering and provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Holders shall be entitled to the rights set forth in Section 2.1 with respect to any such underwritten offering; and

(o) notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the Board of Directors of the Company has determined in good faith that the disclosure necessary for continued use of the prospectus and registration statement by the Holders would be materially detrimental to the Company, the Company shall have the right not to file or not to cause the effectiveness of any registration covering any Registrable Securities and to suspend the use of the prospectus and the registration statement covering any Registrable Security for such period of time as its use would be materially detrimental to the Company by delivering written notice of such suspension to all Holders listed on the Company’s records; provided, however, that in any 12-month period the Company may exercise the right to such suspension not more than once. From and after the date of a notice of suspension under this Section 3.1(o), each Holder agrees not to use the prospectus or registration statement until the earlier of (i) notice from the Company that such suspension has been lifted or (ii) the day following the sixtieth (60th) day of suspension, at which time the Company shall be required to lift such suspension.

 

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Section 3.2. Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date hereof, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would (i) allow such holder or prospective holder to include such securities in any registration unless, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not reduce the number of the Registrable Securities of the Holders that are included; (ii) allow such holder or prospective holder to initiate a demand for registration of any securities held by such holder or prospective holder; or (iii) otherwise conflict with the rights granted to the Holders herein. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company hereby represents and warrants that it has entered into any Agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would (i) allow such holder or prospective holder to include such securities in any registration under the terms of this Agreement unless, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not reduce the number of the Registrable Securities of the Holders that are included; (ii) allow such holder to initiate a demand for registration of any securities held by such holder; or (iii) otherwise conflict with the rights granted to the Holders herein.

Section 3.3. Expenses of Registration. All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration pursuant to Article I or II shall be borne by the Company. All Selling Expenses relating to securities registered on behalf of the Holders shall be borne by the Holders of the registered securities included in such registration.

Section 3.4. Information by Holders. The Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder or Holders and their respective Affiliates, the Registrable Securities held by them and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders and their respective Affiliates as the Company may reasonably request in writing and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to in this Agreement. It is understood and agreed that the obligations of the Company under Article I or II are conditioned on the timely provisions of the foregoing information by such Holder or Holders and, without limitation of the foregoing, will be conditioned on compliance by such Holder or Holders with the following:

(a) such Holder or Holders will, and will cause their respective Affiliates to, cooperate with the Company in connection with the preparation of the applicable registration statement, and for so long as the Company is obligated to keep such registration statement effective, such Holder or Holders will and will cause their respective Affiliates to, provide to the Company, in writing and in a timely manner, for use in such registration statement (and expressly identified in writing as such), all information regarding themselves and their respective Affiliates and such other information as may be required by applicable law to enable the Company to prepare such registration statement and the related prospectus covering the applicable Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders and to maintain the currency and effectiveness thereof;

 

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(b) during such time as such Holder or Holders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a distribution of the Registrable Securities, such Holder or Holders will, and they will cause their respective Affiliates to, comply with all laws applicable to such distribution, including Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act, and, to the extent required by such laws, will, and will cause their respective Affiliates to, among other things: (i) not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with the securities of the Company in contravention of such laws; (ii) distribute the Registrable Securities acquired by it solely in the manner described in the applicable registration statement; and (iii) if required by applicable law, cause to be furnished to each agent or broker-dealer to or through whom such Registrable Securities may be offered, or to the offeree if an offer is made directly by such Holder or Holders or their respective Affiliates, such copies of the applicable prospectus (as amended and supplemented to such date) and documents incorporated by reference therein as may be required by such agent, broker-dealer or offeree;

(c) such Holder or Holders shall, and they shall cause their respective Affiliates to, permit the Company and its representatives and agents to examine such documents and records and will supply in a timely manner any information as they may be reasonably request to provide in connection with the offering or other distribution of Registrable Securities by such Holder or Holders; and

(d) on receipt of written notice from the Company of the happening of any of the events specified in Section 3.1(m) or Section 3.1(o), or that requires the suspension by such Holder or Holders and their respective Affiliates of the distribution of any of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders, then such Holders shall, and they shall cause their respective Affiliates to, cease offering or distributing the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders until the offering and distribution of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders may recommence in accordance with the terms hereof and applicable law.

Section 3.5. Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of Rule 144 to the Holders, the Company agrees that, for so long as a Holder owns Registrable Securities, the Company will use reasonable best efforts to:

(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and

(c) so long as a Holder owns any Restricted Securities, furnish to the Holder forthwith upon written request a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

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ARTICLE IV

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 4.1. Indemnification by Company. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will, with respect to any Registrable Securities as to which registration or qualification or compliance under applicable “blue sky” laws has been effected pursuant to this Agreement, indemnify each Holder, each Holder’s current and former officers, directors, partners and members, and each Person controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and each underwriter thereof, if any, and each Person who controls any such underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, the “Company Indemnified Parties”), against all expenses, claims, losses, damages and liabilities, joint or several, (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus, offering circular or other document, or any amendment or supplement thereto incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance or based on any 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 in which they were made, not misleading, or any violation by the Company of any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, Exchange Act or state securities laws applicable to the Company in connection with any such registration, and the Company will reimburse each of the Company Indemnified Parties for any reasonable legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, as such expenses are incurred. The indemnity agreement contained in this Section 4.1 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), nor shall the Company be liable to a Holder in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action (a) to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a violation or alleged violation of any state or federal law (including any claim arising out of or based on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in the registration statement or prospectus) which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by or on behalf of any Holder or (b) in the case of a sale directly by a Holder of Registrable Securities (including a sale of such Registrable Securities through any underwriter retained by such Holder engaging in a distribution solely on behalf of such Holder), such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was corrected in a final or amended prospectus, and such Holder failed to deliver a copy of the final or amended prospectus at or prior to the confirmation of the sale of the Registrable Securities to the Person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability in any case in which such delivery is required by the Securities Act.

Section 4.2. Indemnification by Holders. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Holder will, if identified as a selling stockholder as to which such registration or qualification or compliance under applicable “blue sky” laws is being effected, indemnify, severally and not jointly, the Company, each of its current and former directors, officers, partners and members, and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, the “Holder Indemnified Parties”), against all expenses, claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus, offering circular or other document, or any amendment or supplement thereto incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance or based on any 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 in which they were made, not misleading, or any violation by such Holder of any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, Exchange Act or state securities law applicable to such Holder, and will reimburse each of the

 

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Holder Indemnified Parties for any reasonable legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, as such expenses are incurred, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder and stated to be specifically for use therein, provided, however, that in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 4.2 payable by a Holder exceed the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities included in such registration exceeds the amount of any other losses, expenses, settlements, damages, claims and liabilities that such Holder has been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission or violation. The indemnity agreement contained in this Section 4.2 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the applicable Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), nor shall the Holder be liable for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action where such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was corrected in a final or amended prospectus, and the Company or the underwriters failed to deliver a copy of the final or amended prospectus at or prior to the confirmation of the sale of the Registrable Securities to the Person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability in any case in which such delivery is required by the Securities Act

Section 4.3. Notification. Each party entitled to indemnification under this Article IV (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give written notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the “Indemnifying Party”) promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided, however, that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or litigation, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed), and the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such party’s expense; provided, further, however, that an Indemnified Party (together with all other Indemnified Parties) shall have the right to retain one (1) separate counsel, with the reasonable fees and expenses to be paid by the Indemnifying Party, if representation of such Indemnified Party by the counsel retained by the Indemnifying Party would be reasonably inappropriate due to conflicting interests between such Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. 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). The failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article IV, only to the extent that, the failure to give such notice is materially prejudicial or harmful to an Indemnifying Party’s ability to defend such action. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the prior written consent of each Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. The indemnity agreements contained in this Article IV shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The indemnification set forth in this Article IV shall be in addition to any other indemnification rights or agreements that an Indemnified Party may have.

 

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Section 4.4. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Article IV is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party, other than pursuant to its terms, with respect to any claim, loss, damage, liability or action referred to therein, then, subject to the limitations contained in Article IV, the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such claim, loss, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on the other in connection with the actions that resulted in such claims, loss, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and of the Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact related to information supplied by the Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 were based solely upon the number of entities from whom contribution was requested or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 4.4. In no event shall any Holder’s contribution obligation under this Section 4.4 exceed the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities included in such registration exceeds the amount of any other losses, expenses, settlements, damages, claims and liabilities that such Holder has been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission or violation. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

ARTICLE V

TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS; ASSIGNMENT

Section 5.1. Termination of Registration Rights. The rights of any particular Holder to cause the Company to register securities under Articles I and II shall terminate with respect to such Holder upon the date upon which such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities.

Section 5.2. Assignment. The rights under this Agreement may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to any Permitted Transferee in connection with any permitted transfer, assignment or other conveyance of Registrable Securities (other than a transfer pursuant to a registration statement or under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act); provided, however, that (x) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred; and (y) such transferee agrees in a written instrument delivered to the Company to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS.

Section 6.1. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by an authorized representative of each of the parties hereto.

Section 6.2. Waiver.

(a) Except as expressly set forth herein to the contrary, no failure on the part of any party to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of any party in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy. The rights and remedies hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies that any party would otherwise have.

(b) No party shall be deemed to have waived any claim arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of such party; and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.

Section 6.3. Expenses and Obligations. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred by the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne solely and entirely by the party that has incurred such expenses.

Section 6.4. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made as follows: (a) if sent by registered or certified mail in the U.S. return receipt requested, upon receipt; (b) if sent by nationally recognized overnight air courier (such as Federal Express), two Business Days after mailing; (c) if sent by e-mail before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, when transmitted and receipt is confirmed; (d) if sent by e-mail after 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and receipt is confirmed, on the following Business Day; or (e) if otherwise actually personally delivered, when delivered; provided, that such notices, requests, demands and other communications are delivered to the physical address, e-mail address or facsimile number set forth below, or to such other address as any party shall provide by like notice to the other parties to this Agreement:

If to the Company, to:

Conn’s, Inc.

2445 Technology Forest Blvd., Suite 800

The Woodlands, TX 77381

Attention: General Counsel

Email: ***@***

 

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

Sidley Austin LLP

1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5900

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Kevin Lewis

Email: ***@***

and

Sidley Austin LLP

2021 McKinney Ave., Suite 2000

Dallas, TX 75201

Attention: Bill Howell; Ryan Scofield

Email: ***@***; ***@***

If to the Investors, to:

Franchise Group, Inc.

109 Innovation Court, Suite J

Delaware, Ohio 43015

Attention: Tiffany McMillan-McWaters

Email: ***@***

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

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Russell L. Leaf; Jared N. Fertman

Email: ***@***; ***@***

Section 6.5. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Specific Performance; Remedies. This Agreement and all actions, proceedings or counterclaims (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the actions of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance and enforcement thereof, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, including its statute of limitations, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof that would cause the applications of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. In any Legal Proceeding between any of the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby: (a) each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, (solely if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any other state or federal courts within the State of Delaware) and any appellate court from any thereof; and (b) each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, any claim (i) that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason; (ii) that it or its property is exempt or

 

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immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts; and (iii) that (x) the claim, action, suit or other Legal Proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum; (y) the venue of such claim, action, suit or other Legal Proceeding is improper; or (z) this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such courts. Each of the parties hereto further agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such Person’s respective address set forth in Section 6.4 will be effective service of process for any claim, action, suit or other Legal Proceeding in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent required by Legal Requirements, any state or federal court in the State of Delaware, with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth in this paragraph. The parties hereto hereby agree that a final judgment in any such claim, suit, action or other Legal Proceeding will be conclusive, subject to any appeal, and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Legal Requirements. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the parties would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement without the requirement for the posting of any bond, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Except as expressly set forth herein to the contrary, all rights and remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

Section 6.6. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY THAT MAY ARISE PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT THAT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING (WHETHER FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORTIOUS CONDUCT OR OTHERWISE) DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) IT MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 6.6.

Section 6.7. Entire Agreement; Counterparts; Electronic Exchanges. This Agreement, including the schedules, exhibits and amendments hereto and thereto shall together constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among or between any of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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Section 6.8. Construction.

(a) Each of the parties acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel of its choice throughout all negotiations that have preceded the execution of this Agreement and that it has executed the same with the advice of said independent counsel. Each party and its counsel cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents referred to herein, and any and all drafts relating thereto exchanged between the parties shall be deemed the work product of the parties and may not be construed against any party by reason of its preparation. Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against any party that drafted it is of no application and is hereby expressly waived.

(b) All references in this Agreement to Exhibits, Schedules, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions refer to the corresponding Exhibits, Schedules, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Titles appearing at the beginning of any Articles, Sections, subsections or other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of such Articles, Sections, subsections or other subdivisions, and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained therein. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and “hereof” and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The words “this Section,” “this subsection” and words of similar import, refer only to the Sections or subsections hereof in which such words occur. The word “including” (in its various forms) means “including, without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender and words, terms and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise expressly requires. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to a specific time shall refer to Houston, Texas time. The word “or” is disjunctive but not exclusive.

(c) In this Agreement, except as the context may otherwise require, references to: (i) any agreement (including this Agreement) or contract, are to the agreement or contract as amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time; (ii) any applicable Legal Requirement refers to such applicable Legal Requirement as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules and regulations promulgated under such statute) and references to any section of any applicable Legal Requirement or other law include any successor to such section; and (iii) days mean calendar days.

Section 6.9. Assignability; No Third-Party Rights. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall be enforceable by and inure solely to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that, other than as expressly set forth in Section 5.2, neither this Agreement nor any party’s rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated by any such party without the prior written consent of the other parties, and any attempted assignment or delegation of this Agreement or any of such rights, interests or obligations by any party without the prior written consent of the other parties shall be void and of no effect. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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Section 6.10. Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement (or part thereof) that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision (or part thereof) in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement (or part thereof) is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision (or part thereof), to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision (or part thereof), and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties hereto agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision (or part thereof) with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

(The next page is the signature page)

 

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

 

COMPANY:
CONN’S, INC.
By:  

/s/ Mark Prior

  Name: Mark Prior
  Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel
INVESTORS:
FRANCHISE GROUP NEWCO BHF, LLC
By:  

/s/ Brian Kahn

Name: Brian Kahn
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
FREEDOM VCM INTERCO HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Andrew Laurence

Name: Andrew Laurence
Title: Vice President, Treasurer

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

DEFINED TERMS

1. The following capitalized terms have the meanings indicated:

Affiliate” of any Person means any Person, directly or indirectly, controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” means an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or any day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

Holder” means (a) any Investor holding Registrable Securities and (b) any Permitted Transferee to which the rights under this Agreement have been transferred in accordance with Section 5.1.

Permitted Transferee” has the meaning given to such term in the Investors Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among, among other persons, the Company and the Investors (as may be amended, modified or otherwise supplemented).

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, other legal entity, or any government or governmental agency or authority.

register”, “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement.

Registration Expenses” means (a) all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Articles I and II, including, without limitation, all registration, qualification, listing and filing fees, printing expenses, escrow fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, blue sky fees and expenses, and the expense of any special audits incident to or required by any such registration; and (b) the reasonable fees and expenses of any one counsel to the Holders (and one local counsel, if necessary); provided, however, that, in the case of this clause (b), such fees and expenses shall not exceed $75,000 with respect to any particular registration pursuant to Article I or II.


Registrable Securities” means (a) any shares of non-voting common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, issued upon conversion of any shares of Convertible Preferred Stock, (b) any other shares of Common Stock issued in respect of preemptive rights of the Holders or acquired by the Holders in the open market or otherwise and (c) any Common Stock or other securities issued in respect of the securities described in clauses (a) or (b) above or this clause (c) upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or similar event; provided, however, that the securities described in clauses (a), (b), and (c) above shall only be treated as Registrable Securities until the earliest of: (i) the date on which such security has been registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with an effective Registration Statement relating thereto; (ii) the date on which such security has been sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or another transaction that constitutes a sale under the Securities Act) and the security is no longer a Restricted Security; and (iii) the date on which such security shall have ceased to be outstanding.

Restricted Securities” means any securities of the Company (including any Registrable Securities) required to bear a legend of the type described in Article II, Section 4 of the Certificate of Designations of the Nonvoting Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company.

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and any successor provision.

Rule 405” means Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act and any successor provision.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the securities registered by the Holders.

Shelf Registration” means the Resale Shelf Registration or a Subsequent Shelf Registration, as applicable.

WKSI” means a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.


2. The following terms are defined in the Sections of the Agreement indicated:

INDEX OF TERMS

 

Agreement

     Preamble  

Company

     Preamble  

Company Indemnified Parties

     Section 4.1  

Convertible Preferred Stock

     Preamble  

Effectiveness Period

     Section 1.2  

Freedom VCM

     Preamble  

Holder Indemnified Parties

     Section 4.2  

Indemnified Party

     Section 4.3  

Indemnifying Party

     Section 4.3  

Investment Agreement

     Preamble  

Investor

     Preamble  

Investors

     Preamble  

Offering Persons

     Section 3.1(k)  

Resale Shelf Registration

     Section 1.1  

Resale Shelf Registration Statement

     Section 1.1  

Shelf Offering

     Section 1.7  

Subsequent Holder Notice

     Section 1.5  

Subsequent Shelf Registration

     Section 1.3  

Take-Down Notice

     Section 1.7  

Underwritten Offering

     Section 1.6