Form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among FG Merger Corp., and others
EXHIBIT 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 25, 2023, is made and entered into by and among FG Merger Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), FG Merger Investors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc. (“ThinkEquity”), the equityholders designated as Legacy iCore Equityholders on Schedule A hereto (the “Legacy iCore Equityholders”), the equityholders of the Company listed on Schedule B hereto (the “Legacy Company Equityholders, and each such party, together with the Sponsor, ThinkEquity, the Legacy iCore Equityholders and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Sponsor holds 1,692,374 of the Founder Shares (as defined below) and has transferred, pursuant to certain Non-redemption Agreements (the “NRAs”), 375,126 of the Founder Shares to the counterparties to such NRAs;
WHEREAS, each of M. Wesley Schrader, D. Kyle Cerminara, Jeff L. Sutton, Ryan Turner , Hassan R. Baqar and Larry G. Swets, Jr. own 1,692,374 Founder Shares in aggregate;
WHEREAS, the Sponsor holds 3,950,000 private placement warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50.00 per share (the “11.50 Exercise Price Warrants”);
WHEREAS, the Sponsor additionally holds 1,000,000 private placement warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $15.00 per share (the “$15 Exercise Price Warrants”);
WHEREAS, the Sponsor additionally holds 55,000 units (the “Private Units”), each Private Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “Private Shares”) and three-quarters of one warrant (the “Private Warrants” and, together with the $11.50 Exercise Price Warrants and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the “Private Placement Warrants”);
WHEREAS, the Sponsor additionally holds 44,500 units (the “Sponsor Loan Units”), pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Promissory Note dated as of June 23, 2023, given by the Company in favor of the Sponsor, each Sponsor Loan Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “Sponsor Loan Shares”) and three-quarters of one warrant (the “Sponsor Loan Warrants”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to certain convertible promissory notes given by the Company in favor of following lenders, each dated May 31, 2023, each such lender holds units (the “Target Lenders Units” as follows, each Target Lender Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “Target Lender Shares”) and three-quarters of one warrant (the “Target Lender Warrants”):
Jeffrey Stellinga 5,000
Robert McDermott 5,000
Joseph Gitto 1,000
Harry Travis 1,000
Aaron Lindsey 2,000
Gary Boyer 16,000
Edward Liff 1,000
Nicole Pasqual 2,500
Noel Tiell 1,000
Kevin McDermott 1,000
ClearThink Capital Partners 4,500
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Loan and Security Agreement entered into as of March 15, 2023 by and between iCoreConnect Inc. (“iCore”), FG Financial Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation, as administrative agent (in such capacity and together with its successors and permitted assigns, the “Administrative Agent”), and the lenders party thereto (the “Bridge Lenders”), the Bridge Lenders hold 26,155,352 shares of iCore common stock, par value $0.001 (the “Bridge Lender Shares”);
WHEREAS, Waverider Partners SPV I-C LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, Ryan Turner, Hassan Sajjad Baqar and Mark Penway collectively hold 2,844,841 shares of iCoreConnect common stock, par value $0.001 stock (the “Purchased Shares”);
WHEREAS, ThinkEquity holds 40,250 private units (the “Underwriter Units”), each Underwriter Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “Underwriter Shares”) and three-quarters of one warrant (the “Underwriter Warrants”);
WHEREAS, RiverNorth SPAC Arbitrage Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership holds certain shares of Common Stock (the “RiverNorth Shares”) pursuant to that certain Prepaid Forward Purchase Agreement dated as of August 14, 2023, by and among the Company, iCore and RiverNorth SPAC Arbitrage Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership;
WHEREAS, on February 25, 2022, the Company, the Sponsor, ThinkEquity and certain other parties entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Original Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company granted certain parties thereto certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company;
WHEREAS, upon the closing of the transactions (such transactions, the “Transactions”) contemplated by that certain Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of January 5, 2023, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, FG Merger Sub LLC, a Nevada corporation (“Merger Sub”), and iCoreConnect Inc., a Nevada corporation (“iCore”), iCore shall be merged with Merger Sub, with iCore being the surviving entity (“NewCo”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the closing of the Transactions, the Company and the stockholders of the Company shall have effectuated an equity conversion, whereby the Common stock of the Company will be converted into a single class of preferred stock of the Company (the “Parent Preferred Stock”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the Merger, each share of iCore Common Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall be canceled and converted into shares of Company Common Stock;
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, the Company and the Holders party to the Original Agreement desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement in order to provide the Holders with registration rights on the terms set forth herein.
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
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (a) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (c) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
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“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law or regulation to close in the City of New York, New York.
“Converted Common Stock” shall mean shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the conversion of Parent Preferred Stock.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Demand Exercise Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.
“Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.
“Demand Registration Period” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.
“Demand Registration Request” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.
“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“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 subsection 2.1.1.
“Form S-1 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Form S-3” shall mean Form S-3 for the registration of securities under the Securities Act promulgated by the Commission.
“Form S-4” shall mean Form S-4 for the registration of securities under the Securities Act promulgated by the Commission.
“Founder Shares” shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, initially purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement and which are issued and outstanding prior to the signing of the Merger Agreement.
“Founder Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending 180 days after the Merger Closing Date, as set forth in the Lock-up Agreement.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Initiating Holders” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.
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“Insider Letter” shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of February 25, 2022, by and among the Company, the Sponsor, and each of the Company’s officers and directors.
“Lock-Up Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.
“Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Merger Closing Date” shall mean the date on which the Transactions are consummated in accordance with the Merger Agreement.
“Minimum Demand Threshold” shall mean $25,000,000.
“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 light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Original Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean any person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, Private Placement Lock-up Period, Underwriter Lock-up Period or any other lock-up period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter, the Lock-Up Agreement, this Agreement and any other applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.
“Private Placement Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Private Units and Private Placement Warrants that are held by the initial purchasers of such Private Placement Warrants and Private Units or their Permitted Transferees, the Private Units, the securities underlying such Private Units, the Private Placement Warrants, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants and that are held by the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees the period ending thirty (30) days after the Merger Closing Date.
“Private Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Private Placement Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Private Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Private Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.
“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) the shares of Parent Preferred Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares,
(b) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock or Parent Preferred Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants),
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(c) the Sponsor Loan Shares, the Sponsor Loan Warrants and any shares of Common Stock or Parent Preferred Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Sponsor Loan Warrants),
(d) the Target Lender Shares, the Target Lender Warrants and any shares of Common Stock or Parent Preferred Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Target Lender Warrants),
(e) the Bridge Lender Shares,
(f) the Purchased Shares,
(g) the Underwriter Shares, the Underwriter Warrants and any shares of Common Stock or Parent Preferred Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Underwriter Warrants),
(h) the Private Shares, the Private Warrants and any shares of Common Stock or Parent Preferred Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Warrants),
(i) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable in connection with the Transactions,
(j) the RiverNorth Shares;
(k) any outstanding shares of Parent Preferred Stock, or Converted Common Stock, owned or acquired by Holder, and
(l) any other shares of Common Stock or any other equity security (including, without limitation, the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of any other equity security, warrant and rights, including the Parent Preferred Stock) of the Company otherwise acquired or owned by a Holder following the date hereof, as well as any other equity security issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (i) 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, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (ii) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iv) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (v) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
“Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement 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 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 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;
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(e) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration;
(f) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration; and
(g) the costs and expenses of the Company and any of its officers, directors, counsel or other representatives in connection with presentations or meetings undertaken in connection with the offering of the Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics and the production and hosting of any electronic road shows, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with road show presentations, and travel, lodging, transportation, and other expenses of the officers, directors, counsel and other representatives of the Company incurred in connection with any such presentations or meetings.
“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 Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf Registrable Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1(b)
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1(a).
“Shelf Underwriting” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1(b).
“Shelf Underwriting Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1(b).
“Shelf Underwriting Request” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1(b).
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Transactions” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“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.
“Underwriter Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Underwriter Units and the securities underlying such Underwriter Units that are held by ThinkEquity or its Permitted Transferees, the period ending after the completion of the Merger Closing Date.
“Underwriter Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Underwriter Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Underwriter Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Underwritten Block Trade” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1(b).
“Underwritten Registration” or “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.
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ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1 Demand Registration.
2.1.1 Shelf Registration Statement.
(a) As soon as practicable but no later than twenty (20) Business Days after the Merger Closing Date (the “Filing Date”), the Company shall prepare and file with (or confidentially submit to) the Commission a shelf registration statement under Rule 415 of the Securities Act (such registration statement, a “Shelf Registration Statement”) covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) Business Days prior to such filing) on a delayed or continuous basis and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof and no later than the earlier of (i) the sixtieth (60th) calendar day (or ninetieth (90th) calendar day if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the date hereof and (ii) 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. Such Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. The Company shall maintain the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments supplements and new registration statements as contemplated by Rule 415(a)(6) as may be necessary to keep a Shelf Registration Statement 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. In the event the Company files the Shelf Registration Statement on a Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Shelf”), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf (and any subsequent Shelf Registration Statement) to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3. As soon as practicable following the effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement but in any event within one (1) business day of such date, the Company shall notify the Holders of the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) Subject to Section 2.3 and Section 2.4, at any time and from time to time, any of (i) the Sponsor Holder, (ii) the Holders of a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities, or (iii) any Holder or group of Holders, if the total offering price is reasonably expected to equal or exceed, in the aggregate, the Minimum Demand Threshold, may make a written demand from time to time to elect to sell all or any part of their Registrable Securities (the “Demanding Holder(s)”), pursuant to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Demanding Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Company a written request (a “Shelf Underwriting Request”) for such Underwritten Offering specifying the number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders desire to sell pursuant to such Underwritten Offering (the “Shelf Underwriting”). As promptly as practicable, but no later than three (3) Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Underwriting Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “Shelf Underwriting Notice”) of such Shelf Underwriting Request to the Holders of record of other Registrable Securities registered on such Shelf Registration Statement (“Shelf Registrable Securities”). The Company, subject to Section 2.1.3, shall include in such Shelf Underwriting (i) the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and (ii) the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder of Shelf Registrable Securities which shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Underwriting (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder) within five (5) calendar days after the receipt of the Shelf Underwriting Notice. The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the receipt of a Shelf Underwriting Request), but subject to Section 2.3, use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Shelf Underwriting. The Company shall, at the request of any Demanding Holders, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by the Demanding Holders or any other Holder of Shelf Registrable Securities to effect such Shelf Underwriting. Once a Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective, each Demanding Holder may request, and the Company shall be required to facilitate, an aggregate of three (3) Shelf Underwritings pursuant to this subsection 2.1.1(b) with respect to any or all Registrable Securities; provided, however, that a Shelf Underwriting shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Registration Statement has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by such Demanding Holder to be registered in such Shelf Underwriting have been sold; and provided, further, that the number of Shelf Underwritings the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to request shall be reduced by each Demand Registration effected for such Demanding Holder pursuant to Section 2.1.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in an underwritten block trade or similar transaction or other transaction with a two (2)-day or less marketing period (collectively, “Underwritten Block Trade”) off of a Shelf Registration Statement, then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such Demanding Holder only needs to notify the Company of the Underwritten Block Trade two (2) Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Holders of record of other Registrable Securities shall not be entitled to notice of such Underwritten Block Trade and shall not be entitled to participate in such Underwritten Block Trade and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade; provided, however, that the Demanding Holder requesting such Underwritten Block Trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Underwritten Block Trade. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders 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 Company’s prior written approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
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2.1.2 Other Demand Registration. At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2.1.1(a) is not available for use by the Holders following such Shelf Registration Statement being declared effective by the Commission (a “Demand Registration Period”), subject to this Section 2.1.2 and Section 2.3 and Section 2.4, at any time and from time to time during such Demand Registration Period, the Demanding Holders shall have the right to make a written demand to effect one or more registration statements under the Securities Act covering all or any part of their Registrable Securities, with a total offering price reasonably expected to equal or exceed, in the aggregate, the Minimum Demand Threshold, by delivering a written demand therefor to the Company, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. Any such request by any Demanding Holder pursuant to this subsection 2.1.2 is referred to herein as a “Demand Registration Request,” and the registration so requested is referred to herein as a “Demand Registration” (with respect to any Demand Registration, the Demanding Holders making such demand for registration being referred to as the “Initiating Holders”). Subject to Section 2.3, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to request (and the Company shall be required to effect) an aggregate of three (3) Demand Registrations in any twelve (12)-month period pursuant to this subsection 2.1.2 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities; provided, however, that a Demand Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Registration Statement has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders to be registered on behalf of the Demanding Holders in such Demand Registration have been sold; provided, further, that the number of Demand Registrations the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to request shall be reduced by each Shelf Underwriting effected for such Demanding Holder pursuant to subsection 2.1.1(b). The Company shall give written notice (the “Demand Exercise Notice”) of such Demand Registration Request to each of the Holders of record of Registrable Securities as promptly as practicable but no later than three (3) Business Days after receipt of the Demand Registration Request. The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.4, shall include in a Demand Registration (a) the Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holders and (b) the Registrable Securities of any other Holder of Registrable Securities which shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such registration pursuant to Section 2.1.2 (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder) within five (5) calendar days following the receipt of any such Demand Exercise Notice. The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible, but subject to Section 2.3, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) file or confidentially submit with the Commission (no later than (A) forty-five (45) days from the Company’s receipt of the applicable Demand Registration Request if the Demand Registration is on Form S-1 or similar long-form registration or (B) fifteen (15) days from the Company’s receipt of the applicable Demand Registration Request if the Demand Registration is on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration), (ii) cause to be declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable such registration statement under the Securities Act that includes the Registrable Securities that the Company has been so requested to register, for distribution in accordance with the intended method of distribution and (iii) if requested by the Initiating Holders, obtain acceleration of the effective date of the registration statement relating to such registration.
2.1.3 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Shelf Underwriting or Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and any other Holders participating in the Underwritten Registration (if any) (the “Requesting Holders”) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that such Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights entered into after the date hereof held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, 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, as follows: (a) the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (b) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (a), the Registrable Securities of Holders (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested) exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (c) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), the 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) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c), the Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements entered into after the date hereof with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
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2.1.4 Demand Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Shelf Underwriting or Demand Registration, pursuant to a Registration under subsections 2.1.1 or 2.1.2 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Shelf Underwriting or Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to (a) in the case of a Shelf Underwriting, the filing of a preliminary prospectus supplement setting forth the terms of the Underwritten Offering with the Commission and (b) in the case of a Demand Registration, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Shelf Underwriting or Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.4.
2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the date hereof, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering 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, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (a) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (b) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (c) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (d) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing 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, which notice shall (i) 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 (ii) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company; provided, that no Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties, or provide any indemnity or legal opinion, regarding the Company, any other Holder or any other matter not pertaining specifically to such Holder.
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2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration 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 the shares of Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (x) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (y) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (z) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company entered into after the date hereof, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (i) the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof (Pro Rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that such Holder has requested be included in such Registration), which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company entered into after the date hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (i) the 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; (ii) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, Pro Rata based on the number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Registration, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (iii) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iv) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements entered into after the date hereof with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities 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. 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 at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.
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2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Shelf Underwriting or Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.
2.3 Restrictions on Registration Rights. The Company shall not be obligated to effect any Shelf Underwriting or Demand Registration (a) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Registration; provided, that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective or (b) if the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer. If, in the good faith judgment of the Board, any Registration would be materially detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be materially detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any twelve (12)-month period.
ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. If at any time on or after the date hereof the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, 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, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;
3.1.2 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 majority in interest of the Holders with 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;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, 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 Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request (or provide evidence satisfactory to such Holders that the Registrable Securities are exempt from such registration or qualification) and (b) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
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3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 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;
3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus (or such shorter period of time as may be (a) necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable or (b) advisable in order to reduce the number of days that sales are suspended pursuant to Section 3.4) furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities and its counsel (excluding any exhibits thereto and any filing made under the Exchange Act that is to be incorporated by reference therein), including, without limitation, providing copies promptly upon receipt of any comment letters received with respect to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus;
3.1.9 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;
3.1.10 permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in customary form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information; and provided, further, the Company may not include the name of any Holder or Underwriter or any information regarding any Holder or Underwriter in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any response to any comment letter, without the prior written consent of such Holder or Underwriter and providing each such Holder or Underwriter a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such applicable document, which comments the Company shall include unless contrary to applicable law;
3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration which the participating Holders may rely on, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.12 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;
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3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;
3.1.14 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 (1st) day of the Company’s first (1st) 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);
3.1.15 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, use its commercially 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; and
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by, the participating Holders, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with such Registration.
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, severally and not jointly, 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 the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering or other offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (a) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting, sales, distribution or placement arrangements approved by the Company and (b) 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, sales, distribution or placement 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.
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. 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 he, she or 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 he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would (a) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control or (c) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the Board, be seriously detrimental to the Company and the majority of the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use at such time, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose, but in no event shall the Company delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement or Prospectus on more than three (3) occasions or for a time exceeding one hundred twenty (120) calendar days in total, in each case during any twelve (12)-month period. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4, and, upon the expiration of any such period, the Holders shall be entitled to resume the use of any such Prospectus in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.
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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. 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 customary 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.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the greatest extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, the partners, members, managers, officers, directors and stockholders of each such Holder and each other person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation any legal or other fees and expenses incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, and pay promptly as any such expenses are incurred) (collectively, “Damages”), whether joint or several, caused by 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 (except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein), and any violation or alleged violation by the Company (or any of its agents or affiliates) of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any state securities law.
4.1.2 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 and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and stockholders and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act), and any other Holder selling securities in such Registration Statement, and any controlling person of any such other Holder, against any Damages resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the 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 such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; 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) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
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4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (a) 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 (b) 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). 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 (plus local 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, 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 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.
4.1.4 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. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any Damages 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 Damages 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 subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 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 subsection 4.1.5. 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 subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (a) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (b) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (c) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third (3rd) Business Day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to:
iCoreConnect, Inc.
529 Crown Point Road, Suite 250
Ocoee, FL 34761
Attention: Chief Executive Officer,
and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information 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.
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5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
5.2.1 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.
5.2.2 The rights granted to a Holder by the Company under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder; provided, that (a) such transfer or assignment of Registrable Securities is effected in accordance with applicable securities laws, (b) 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 (c) 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; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, Private Placement Lock-up Period, Underwriter Lock-up Period, or lock-up period as set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement as the case may be, no Holder 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 but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement. 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 (a) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (b) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.2.3 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 the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
5.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereof.
5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced. The delivery of an electronic signature to, or a copy/scan of a manual signature on a counterpart to, this Agreement by facsimile, email or other electronic transmission shall be deemed an original signature for all purposes hereunder.
5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (A) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION AND (B) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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5.5 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Companyand 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, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. 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.
5.6 Other Registration Rights. [reserved].
5.7 Term. This Agreement shall become effective upon the Merger Closing Date and shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the Merger Closing Date or (ii) the date as of which (a) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (b) the Holders of all Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable Securities without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act with no volume or other restrictions or limitations. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
