Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022, by and among Lawson Products, Inc., 301 HW Opus Investors, LLC and LKCM TE Investors, LLC

EX-10.1 2 d345714dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and among

LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.,

301 HW OPUS INVESTORS, LLC

and

LKCM TE INVESTORS, LLC

Dated as of April 1, 2022

 


Table of Contents

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

1.1

 

Certain Definitions

     1  

1.2

 

Other Terms

     4  

ARTICLE II REGISTRATION

     5  

2.1

 

Demand Registrations

     5  

2.2

 

Piggyback Registrations

     8  

2.3

 

Shelf Registration Statement

     9  

2.4

 

Withdrawal Rights

     12  

2.5

 

Holdback Agreements

     12  

2.6

 

Registration Procedures

     13  

2.7

 

Registration Expenses

     18  

2.8

 

Miscellaneous

     19  

2.9

 

Registration Indemnification

     20  

2.10

 

Free Writing Prospectuses

     22  

2.11

 

Termination of Registration Rights

     22  

ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS

     22  

3.1

 

Amendment

     22  

3.2

 

Fees and Expenses

     22  

3.3

 

Notices

     22  

3.4

 

Waivers

     24  

3.5

 

Interpretations

     24  

3.6

 

Successors and Assigns

     24  

3.7

 

Third Party Beneficiaries

     24  

3.8

 

Entire Understanding

     25  

3.9

 

Applicable Law

     25  

3.10

 

Jurisdiction of Disputes

     25  

3.11

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     25  

3.12

 

Specific Performance

     25  

3.13

 

Severability

     26  

3.14

 

Construction

     26  

3.15

 

Counterparts

     26  

3.16

 

Relationship of the Parties

     26  

 

 

i


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of April 1, 2022 (this “Agreement”), among Lawson Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), 301 HW Opus Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“301 HW Opus Investors”), and LKCM TE Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LKCM TE Investors” and, together with 301 HW Opus Investors, the “Shareholders”). Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 1.1.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2021, by and among 301 Opus Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Gexpro”), the Company, Gulf Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Gexpro Merger Sub”), and 301 HW Opus Investors (the “Gexpro Merger Agreement”), Gexpro, the Company, Gexpro Merger Sub and 301 HW Opus Investors agreed to, among other things, the merger of Gexpro Merger Sub with and into Gexpro, with Gexpro continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and with the equity interests of Gexpro converted into the right to receive shares of Company Common Stock to be issued to 301 HW Opus Investors in accordance with, and subject to the terms and provisions of, the Gexpro Services Merger Agreement; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2021, by and among TestEquity Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TestEquity”), the Company, Tide Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TestEquity Merger Sub”), and LKCM TE Investors (the “TestEquity Merger Agreement” and , together with the Gexpro Merger Agreement, the “Merger Agreements”), TestEquity, the Company, TestEquity Merger Sub and LKCM TE Investors agreed to, among other things, the merger of TestEquity Merger Sub with and into TestEquity, with TestEquity continuing as the surviving limited liability company and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and with the equity interests of TestEquity converted into the right to receive shares of Company Common Stock to be issued to LKCM TE Investors in accordance with, and subject to the terms and provisions of, the TestEquity Merger Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to enter into this Agreement in order to set forth their respective rights and obligations with respect to the registration of Company Common Stock owned by the Shareholders and certain other matters.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1:

 

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Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, is under common control with, or is controlled by, such specified Person, through one or more intermediaries or otherwise; provided, however, that such Person shall be deemed an Affiliate for only so long as such control exists; provided, further, that (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be considered Affiliates of the Shareholders or their respective Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) and (b) the Shareholders and their respective Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not be considered Affiliates of the Company and its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including the terms “controlling”, “under common control with” and “controlled by”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

beneficially own” means, with respect to Company Common Stock, having “beneficial ownership” of such stock for purposes of Rule 13d-3 or 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act, without giving effect to the limiting phrase “within sixty days” set forth in Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i). The terms “beneficial owner” and “beneficial ownership” shall have correlative meanings.

Blackout Period” means (i) any regular quarterly period during which directors and executive officers of the Company are not permitted to trade under the insider trading policy or similar policy of the Company then in effect and (ii) in the event that the Company determines in good faith that a registration of securities would (x) reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or (y) require disclosure of information that has not been, and is not otherwise required to be, disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would adversely affect the Company in any material respect, a period of the shorter of the ending of the condition creating a Blackout Period and up to ninety (90) days; provided, that a Blackout Period described in this clause (ii) may not occur more than once in any period of six (6) consecutive months.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by Law or other action of a Governmental Authority to close.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.

Demand Shareholders” means the Shareholders and their respective transferees that become parties to this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.6, in each case that continue to hold Registrable Securities.

Equity Securities” means any and all (i) shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or other voting securities of a corporation, and any and all equivalent or analogous ownership (or profit) or voting interests in a Person (other than a corporation), (ii) securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or voting securities of (or other ownership or profit or voting interests in) such Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing, whether voting or nonvoting, and, in each case, whether or not such shares, interests, participations, equivalents, securities, warrants, options, rights or other interests are authorized or otherwise existing on any date of determination.

 

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Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Governmental Authority” means any U.S., state, local or foreign governmental, regulatory or administrative body, agency or authority, any court or judicial authority or arbitration tribunal, whether national, federal, state or local or otherwise, or any Person lawfully empowered by any of the foregoing to enforce or seek compliance with any applicable Law.

Law” means any laws (including common law), statutes, orders, rules, regulations and ordinances of Governmental Authorities, and judgments, decisions, orders or decrees entered by any Governmental Authority.

Losses” losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement.

Parties” means the Shareholders and the Company.

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, association, estate, joint stock company, limited liability company, Governmental Authority or any other organization of any kind.

Registrable Amount” means an amount of Registrable Securities having an aggregate value of at least $5 million (based on the anticipated offering price (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company)), without regard to any underwriting discount or commission, or such lesser amount of Registrable Securities as would result in the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by the applicable Requesting Shareholder(s); provided, that such lesser amount shall have an aggregate value of at least $2 million (based on the anticipated offering price (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company)), without regard to any underwriting discount or commission.

Registrable Securities” means any and all (i) Company Common Stock beneficially owned by the Shareholders and their respective transferees that become parties to this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.6 and (ii) other Equity Securities issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to the securities referred to in the foregoing clause (i) by way of conversion or exchange thereof or share dividend or share split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation or other reorganization. As to any particular securities constituting Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when they (x) have been effectively registered or qualified for sale by a prospectus filed under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the

 

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registration statement covering such securities, or (y) may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without regard to volume limitations or other restrictions on transfer thereunder. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person has the right to acquire directly or indirectly such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected.

Representative” means directors, officers, investors, limited partners, general partners, members, employees, agents, attorneys, consultants, contractors, accountants, financial advisors and other authorized representatives.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of capital stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

Transfer” means (i) any direct or indirect offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, grant of security interest, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), either voluntary or involuntary, or entry into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, grant of security interest, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock or (ii) in respect of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock, the entry into any swap or any other agreement, transaction or series of transactions that hedges or transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of such capital stock or interest in capital stock, whether any such swap, agreement, transaction or series of transactions is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise.

Underwritten Offering” means a sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.

1.2 Other Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in the sections indicated.

 

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Term

  

Section

301 HW Opus Investors    Preamble
Agreement    Preamble
Company    Preamble
Demand    2.1(a)
Demand Registration    2.1(a)
Demand Registration Statement    2.1(a)
Form S-3    2.1(a)
Free Writing Prospectus    2.6(a)(v)
Gexpro    Recitals
Gexpro Merger Agreement    Recitals
Gexpro Merger Sub    Recitals
Inspectors    2.6(a)(xi)
LKCM TE Investors    Preamble
Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering    2.3(f)
Merger Agreements    Recitals
Other Demanding Sellers    2.2(b)
Other Proposed Sellers    2.2(b)
Participating Shareholders    2.3(d)
Piggyback Notice    2.2(a)
Piggyback Registration    2.2(a)
Piggyback Seller    2.2(a)
Records    2.6(a)(xi)
Requested Information    2.8(a)
Requesting Shareholders    2.1(a)
Selling Shareholders    2.6(a)(i)
Shareholders    Preamble
Shelf Notice    2.3(a)
Shelf Offering    2.3(f)
Shelf Registration Statement    2.3(a)
Take-Down Notice    2.3(f)
TestEquity    Recitals
TestEquity Merger Sub    Recitals

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION

2.1 Demand Registrations.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, solely during any period that the Company is then ineligible under Law to register Registrable Securities on a registration statement on Form S-3 or any successor form thereto (“Form S-3”), or if the Company is so eligible but has failed to comply with its obligations under Section 2.3, any Demand Shareholders (“Requesting Shareholders”) shall be entitled to make no more than four (4) written requests of the Company (each, a “Demand”) for registration under the Securities Act of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by such Requesting Shareholders that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount (a “Demand Registration” and such registration statement, a “Demand Registration Statement”). Thereupon, the Company shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement, file the registration statement no later than 30 days after receipt of a Demand and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration as promptly as practicable under the Securities Act of:

 

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(i) the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Requesting Shareholders for disposition in accordance with the intended method of disposition stated in such Demand;

(ii) all other Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register pursuant to Section 2.1(b), but subject to Section 2.1(g); and

(iii) all shares of Company Common Stock which the Company may elect to register in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2.1, but subject to Section 2.1(g); all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities and the additional shares of Company Common Stock, if any, to be so registered.

(b) A Demand shall specify: (i) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered in such Demand Registration, (ii) the intended method of disposition in connection with such Demand Registration, to the extent then known, and (iii) the identity of the Requesting Shareholder(s). Within five (5) days after receipt of a Demand, the Company shall give written notice of such Demand to all other holders of Registrable Securities. The Company shall include in the Demand Registration covered by such Demand all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein within five (5) days after the Company’s notice required by this paragraph has been given, provided that if such five (5) day period ends on a day that is not a Business Day, such period shall be deemed to end on the next succeeding Business Day. Each such written request shall comply with the requirements of a Demand as set forth in this Section 2.1(b).

(c) A Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have been effected (i) unless the Demand Registration Statement with respect thereto has become effective and has remained effective for a period of at least one hundred five (105) days or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration have actually been sold or otherwise disposed of thereunder (provided, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the holders of Registrable Securities refrain from selling any securities included in such registration statement at the request of the Company or the lead managing underwriter(s) pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or (ii) if, after it has become effective, such Demand Registration becomes subject, prior to one hundred five (105) days after effectiveness, to any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental Authority, other than by reason of any act or omission by the applicable Selling Shareholders.

(d) Demand Registrations shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall be selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Requesting Shareholders.

(e) The Company shall not be obligated to (i) subject to Section 2.1(c), maintain the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act filed pursuant to a Demand Registration for a period longer than one hundred five (105) days or (ii) effect any Demand

 

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Registration (A) within ninety (90) days of a “firm commitment” Underwritten Offering in which all Demand Shareholders were offered “piggyback” rights pursuant to Section 2.2 (subject to Section 2.2(b)) and at least fifty percent (50%) of the number of Registrable Securities requested by such Demand Shareholders to be included in such Underwritten Offering were included, (B) within ninety (90) days of the completion of any other Demand Registration (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement), (C) within ninety (90) days of the completion of any other Underwritten Offering by the Company or any shorter period during which the Company has agreed not to effect a registration or public offering of securities (in each case only to the extent that the Company has undertaken contractually to the underwriters of such Underwritten Offering not to effect any registration or public offering of securities), or (D) if, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, it is not feasible for the Company to proceed with the Demand Registration because of the unavailability of audited or other required financial statements of the Company or any other Person required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Demand Registration Statement; provided, that the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such financial statements as promptly as practicable.

(f) The Company shall be entitled to (i) postpone (upon written notice to the Demand Shareholders) the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for any Demand Registration, (ii) cause any Demand Registration Statement to be withdrawn and its effectiveness terminated and (iii) suspend the use of the prospectus forming the part of any Demand Registration Statement, in each case in the event of a Blackout Period until the expiration of the applicable Blackout Period. In the event of a Blackout Period under clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Company shall deliver to the Demand Shareholders requesting registration a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the conditions described in clause (ii) of the definition of Blackout Period are met. Such certificate shall contain an approximation of the anticipated delay. Upon notice by the Company to the Demand Shareholders of any such determination, each Demand Shareholder covenants that, subject to Law, it shall keep the fact of any such notice strictly confidential, and shall promptly halt any offer, sale, trading or other Transfer (but excluding for this purpose any pledge or grant of a security interest that is in effect at the time of delivery of such notice) of any Registrable Securities for the duration of the Blackout Period set forth in such notice (or until such Blackout Period shall be earlier terminated in writing by the Company) and promptly halt any use, publication, dissemination or distribution of the Demand Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein, and any amendment or supplement thereto for the duration of the Blackout Period set forth in such notice (or until such Blackout Period shall be earlier terminated in writing by the Company).

(g) If, in connection with a Demand Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company that, in its (their) good faith opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be registered in connection with such Demand Registration would adversely affect the success thereof, then the Company shall include in such registration statement only such securities as the Company is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such adverse effect as follows and in the following order of priority: (i) first, up to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration by the Demand Shareholders, which, in the opinion of the lead managing underwriter(s), can be sold without adversely affecting the success thereof, pro rata

 

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among such Demand Shareholders on the basis of the number of such Registrable Securities requested to be included by such Demand Shareholders; (ii) second, securities the Company proposes to sell; and (iii) third, all other securities of the Company duly requested to be included in such registration statement, pro rata on the basis of the amount of such other securities requested to be included or such other allocation method determined by the Company.

(h) Any time that a Demand Registration involves an Underwritten Offering, the Requesting Shareholder(s) shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) that will serve as managing underwriters (including which such managing underwriters will serve as lead or co-lead) and underwriters with respect to the offering of such Registrable Securities; provided, that such investment banker(s) and manager(s) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

2.2 Piggyback Registrations.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, whenever the Company proposes to register any Company Common Stock (or any other securities that are of the same class or series as any Registrable Securities that are not shares of Company Common Stock) under the Securities Act (other than a registration by the Company (i) on Form S-4 or any successor form thereto, (ii) on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto, (iii) pursuant to Section 2.3, or (iv) pursuant to Section 2.1) (a “Piggyback Registration”), whether for its own account or for the account of others, the Company shall give all Demand Shareholders prompt written notice thereof (but not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the filing by the Company with the Commission of any registration statement with respect thereto). Such notice (a “Piggyback Notice”) shall specify the number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable) proposed to be registered, the proposed date of filing of such registration statement with the Commission, the proposed means of distribution and the proposed managing underwriter(s) (if any) and a good faith estimate by the Company of the proposed minimum offering price of such shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable), in each case to the extent then known. Subject to Section 2.2(b), the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities held by Demand Shareholders (a “Piggyback Seller”) with respect to which the Company has received written requests (which written requests shall specify the number of Registrable Securities requested to be disposed of by such Piggyback Seller) for inclusion therein within ten (10) days after such Piggyback Notice is received by such Piggyback Seller.

(b) If, in connection with a Piggyback Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company that, in its (their) good faith opinion, the inclusion of all the securities sought to be included in such Piggyback Registration by (w) the Company, (x) the Piggyback Sellers, (y) other Persons who have sought to have shares of Company Common Stock registered in such Piggyback Registration pursuant to rights to demand (other than pursuant to so-called “piggyback” or other incidental or participation registration rights) such registration (such Persons being “Other Demanding Sellers”), and (z) any other proposed sellers of shares of Company Common Stock (including pursuant to so-called “piggyback” or other incidental or participation registration rights) (such Persons being “Other Proposed Sellers”), as the case may be, would materially and adversely affect the success thereof, then the Company shall include in the registration statement applicable to such Piggyback Registration only such securities as the Company is so advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such an effect, as follows and in the following order of priority:

 

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(i) if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering for the Company’s own account, then (A) first, such number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable) to be sold by the Company, (B) second, Registrable Securities of Piggyback Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Piggyback Sellers, (C) third, shares of Company Common Stock sought to be registered by Other Demanding Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by such Other Demanding Sellers and (D) fourth, other shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by any Other Proposed Sellers; or

(ii) if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering other than for the Company’s own account, then (A) first, such number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable) sought to be registered by each Other Demanding Seller pro rata in proportion to the number of securities sought to be registered by all such Other Demanding Sellers, (B) second, Registrable Securities of Piggyback Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Piggyback Sellers, (C) third, shares of Company Common Stock to be sold by the Company and (D) fourth, other shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by any Other Proposed Sellers.

(c) For clarity, in connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Section 2.2 for the Company’s account, the Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a Piggyback Seller in the Underwritten Offering unless such Piggyback Seller accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s), which shall be selected by the Company.

(d) If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable) as set forth in this Section 2.2 and prior to the time the registration statement filed in connection with such Piggyback Registration is declared effective, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register such shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable), the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Piggyback Sellers within five (5) Business Days thereof and thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such particular withdrawn or abandoned Piggyback Registration; provided, that, if permitted pursuant to Section 2.1, the Demand Shareholders may continue the registration as a Demand Registration pursuant to the terms of Section 2.1.

2.3 Shelf Registration Statement.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and further subject to the availability of Form S-3 to the Company, any of the Demand Shareholders may by written notice delivered to the Company (the “Shelf Notice”) require the Company to file as soon as reasonably practicable, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after such filing date, one (1) or more registration statements on

 

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Form S-3 providing for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule) relating to the offer and sale, from time to time, of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by such Demand Shareholders that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount (the “Shelf Registration Statement”). To the extent the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any successor rule), the Company shall file the Shelf Registration Statement in the form of an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or any successor form thereto. If registering a number of Registrable Securities, the Company shall pay the registration fee for all Registrable Securities to be registered pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement at the time of filing of the automatic shelf registration statement and shall not elect to pay any portion of the registration fee on a deferred basis. The Company may also amend an existing registration statement on Form S-3, including by post-effective amendment, in order to fulfill its obligations hereunder.

(b) Within five (5) days after receipt of a Shelf Notice pursuant to Section 2.3(a), the Company will deliver written notice thereof to all other holders of Registrable Securities. Each other holder of Registrable Securities may elect to participate with respect to its Registrable Securities in the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the plan and method of distribution set forth, or to be set forth, in such Shelf Registration Statement by delivering to the Company a written request to so participate within five (5) days after the Company notifies such holders of its receipt of a Shelf Notice.

(c) Subject to Section 2.3(d), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold thereunder in accordance with the plan and method of distribution disclosed in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement, or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, from time to time, by providing written notice to the holders of Registrable Securities who elected to participate in the Shelf Registration Statement (the “Participating Shareholders”), to require such Participating Shareholders to suspend the use of the prospectus for sales of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement during any Blackout Period. In the event of a Blackout Period under clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Company shall deliver to the Participating Shareholders a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the conditions described in clause (ii) of the definition of Blackout Period are met. Such certificate shall contain an estimate of the anticipated delay. Upon notice by the Company to the Participating Shareholders of any such determination, each Participating Shareholder covenants that it shall, subject to Law, keep the fact of any such notice strictly confidential, and shall promptly halt any offer, sale, trading or other Transfer (but excluding for this purpose any pledge or grant of a security interest that is in effect at the time of delivery of such notice) of any Registrable Securities for the duration of the Blackout Period set forth in such notice (or until such Blackout Period shall be earlier terminated in writing by the Company) and promptly halt any use, publication, dissemination or distribution of the Shelf Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein, and any amendment or supplement thereto for the duration of the Blackout Period set forth in such notice (or until such Blackout Period shall be earlier terminated in writing by the Company).

 

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(e) After the expiration of any Blackout Period and without any further request from a holder of Registrable Securities, the Company, to the extent necessary, shall as promptly as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus, or any document incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(f) At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if any Demand Shareholder delivers a notice to the Company (a “Take-Down Notice”) stating that it intends to sell all or part of its Registrable Securities included by it on the Shelf Registration Statement (a “Shelf Offering”), then the Company shall amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed pursuant to the Shelf Offering (taking into account, solely in connection with a Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering, the inclusion of Registrable Securities by any other holders pursuant to this Section 2.3). In connection with any Shelf Offering that is an Underwritten Offering and where the plan of distribution set forth in the applicable Take-Down Notice includes a customary “road show” (including an “electronic road show”) or other substantial marketing effort by the Company and the underwriters (a “Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering”):

(i) such proposing Demand Shareholder(s) shall also deliver the Take-Down Notice to all other Demand Shareholders included on the Shelf Registration Statement and permit each such holder to include its Registrable Securities included on the Shelf Registration Statement in the Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering if such holder notifies the proposing Demand Shareholder(s) and the Company within two (2) Business Days after delivery of the Take-Down Notice to such holder; and

(ii) if the lead managing underwriter(s) advises the Company and the proposing Demand Shareholder(s) that, in its (their) opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be sold in connection with such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering would materially and adversely affect the success thereof, then there shall be included in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering only such securities as the proposing Demand Shareholder(s) is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such adverse effect, and such number of Registrable Securities shall be allocated in the same manner as described in Section 2.1(g). Except as otherwise expressly specified in this Section 2.3, any Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering shall be subject to the same requirements, limitations and other provisions of this Article II as would be applicable to a Demand Registration.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the requesting Demand Shareholder wishes to engage in a block sale (including a block sale off of a Shelf Registration Statement or an effective automatic shelf registration statement, or in connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities under an automatic shelf registration statement for purposes of effectuating a block sale), then notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provisions hereunder, no other Demand Shareholder shall be entitled to receive any notice of or have its Registrable Securities included in such block sale.

 

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(h) Any time that a Shelf Offering involves a Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering, the Demand Shareholders participating in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) that will serve as managing underwriters (including which such managing underwriters will serve as lead or co-lead) and underwriters with respect to the offering of such Registrable Securities; provided, that such investment banker(s) and manager(s) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

2.4 Withdrawal Rights. Any holder of Registrable Securities that has notified or directed the Company to include any or all of its Registrable Securities in a registration statement under the Securities Act shall have the right to withdraw any such notice or direction with respect to any or all of the Registrable Securities designated by it for registration by giving written notice to such effect to the Company prior to the effective date of such registration statement. In the event of any such withdrawal, the Company shall not include such Registrable Securities in the applicable registration and such Registrable Securities shall continue to be Registrable Securities for all purposes of this Agreement (subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement). No such withdrawal shall affect the obligations of the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities not so withdrawn; provided, however, that in the case of a Demand Registration, if such withdrawal shall reduce the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included in such registration below the Registrable Amount, then the Company shall as promptly as practicable give each Demand Shareholder seeking to register Registrable Securities notice to such effect and, within five (5) days following the mailing of such notice, such Demand Shareholder still seeking registration shall, by written notice to the Company, elect to register additional Registrable Securities to satisfy the Registrable Amount or elect that such registration statement not be filed or, if theretofore filed, be withdrawn. During such five (5) day period, the Company shall not file such registration statement if not theretofore filed or, if such registration statement has been theretofore filed, the Company shall not seek, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent, the effectiveness thereof. No Demand Registration withdrawn pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall count against the number of Demands which may have been made under Section 2.1(a) hereof.

2.5 Holdback Agreements.

(a) The Demand Shareholders shall enter into customary agreements restricting the sale or distribution of Equity Securities of the Company (including sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to the extent required by the lead managing underwriter(s) with respect to an applicable Underwritten Offering in which the Demand Shareholders participate during the period commencing on the date of the request (which shall be no earlier than fourteen (14) days prior to the expected “pricing” of such Underwritten Offering) and continuing for not more than ninety (90) days after the date of the “final” prospectus (or “final” prospectus supplement if the Underwritten Offering is made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement), pursuant to which such Underwritten Offering shall be made. The Company shall not include Registrable Securities of any other Demand Shareholder in such an Underwritten Offering unless such other Demand Shareholder enters into a customary agreement restricting the sale or distribution of Equity Securities of the Company (including sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) if requested by the lead managing underwriter(s).

 

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(b) If any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering involves an Underwritten Offering, the Company will not effect any sale or distribution of shares of Company Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Company Common Stock) (other than a registration statement on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto) for its own account within sixty (60) days (plus an extension period as may be proposed by the lead managing underwriter(s) for such Underwritten Offering to address FINRA regulations regarding the publication of research, or such shorter periods as the lead managing underwriter(s) may agree with the Company) after the effective date of such registration (or, in the case of a Shelf Offering, the date of the closing of such Shelf Offering) except as may otherwise be agreed between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) of such Underwritten Offering.

2.6 Registration Procedures.

(a) If and whenever the Company is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 2.1, Section 2.2 or Section 2.3, the Company shall as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:

(i) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement to effect such registration in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution of such securities and thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective pursuant to the terms of this Article II; provided, however, that the Company may discontinue any registration of its securities which are not Registrable Securities at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating thereto; provided, further, that before filing such registration statement or any amendments thereto, the Company will furnish to the Demand Shareholders which are including Registrable Securities in such registration (“Selling Shareholders”), their counsel and the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review and reasonable comment of such counsel, and other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the Commission, and, if requested by such counsel, provide such counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such registration statement and each prospectus included therein and such other opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, including reasonable access to the Company’s books and records, officers, accountants and other advisors. The Company shall not file any such registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto with respect to which the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities held by the Selling Shareholders, their counsel or the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object, in writing, on a timely basis, unless, in the opinion of the Company, such filing is necessary to comply with Law;

 

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(ii) except in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective pursuant to the terms of this Article II, and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;

(iii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Shelf Registration Statement effective and to comply in all material respects with the provision of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the Registrable Securities subject thereto for a period ending on the date on which all the Registrable Securities held by the Demand Shareholders cease to be Registrable Securities;

(iv) if requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, or the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an Underwritten Offering, promptly include in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, and such holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 2.6(a)(iv) that are not, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, in compliance with Law;

(v) furnish to the Selling Shareholders and each underwriter, if any, of the securities being sold by such Selling Shareholders such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto, such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule) (a “Free Writing Prospectus”) utilized in connection therewith and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act or any successor rule, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such Selling Shareholders and underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Shareholders;

(vi) use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Selling Shareholders, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities laws or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Shareholders and any underwriter of the securities being sold by such Selling Shareholders shall reasonably request, and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such registration statement is required to be kept effective and take any other action which may be necessary or reasonably advisable to enable such Selling Shareholders and underwriters to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Shareholders, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (vi) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

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(vii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities (if such Registrable Securities are shares of Company Common Stock) to be listed on each securities exchange on which shares of Company Common Stock are then listed;

(viii) use commercially reasonable efforts to provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

(ix) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement) in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings of shares of Company Common Stock by the Company and use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all such other actions reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Offering (A) make such representations and warranties to the holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the registration statement, prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (B) if any underwriting agreement has been entered into, the same shall contain customary indemnification provisions and procedures with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 2.9, except as otherwise agreed by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold and (C) deliver such documents and certificates as reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold, their counsel and the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to sub-clause (A) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder;

(x) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain for the underwriter(s) (A) opinions of counsel for the Company, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such underwriters and (B) “comfort” letters and updates thereof (or, in the case of any such Person which does not satisfy the conditions for receipt of a “comfort” letter specified in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72 (as codified in AS 6101), an “agreed upon procedures” letter) signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s financial statements included in such registration statement, covering the matters customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings;

 

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(xi) make available for inspection by the Selling Shareholders, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or Representative retained in connection with such offering by such Selling Shareholders or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary, or as shall otherwise be reasonably requested, to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such Representative, underwriter, attorney, accountant or other agent in connection with such registration statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to provide any information under this Section 2.6(a)(xi) if (A) the Company believes, after consultation with counsel for the Company, that to do so would cause the Company to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or (B) either (1) the Company has requested and been granted from the Commission confidential treatment of such information contained in any filing with the Commission or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (2) the Company reasonably determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the Inspectors in writing; unless prior to furnishing any such information with respect to clause (1) or (2) such Selling Shareholder requesting such information enters into, and causes each of its Inspectors to enter into, a confidentiality agreement on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Company; provided, further, that each Selling Shareholder agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction or by another Governmental Authority, and it is permitted to do so give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action seeking to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;

(xii) as promptly as practicable notify in writing the Selling Shareholders and the underwriters, if any, of the following events: (A) the filing of the registration statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the registration statement or any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection therewith, and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; (B) any request by the Commission or any other Governmental Authority for amendments or supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus or for additional information; (C) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings by any Person for that purpose; (D) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose; (E) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 2.6(a)(ix) cease to be true and correct in any material respect; and (F) upon the happening of any event that makes any statement

 

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made in such registration statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the registration statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, at the request of any Selling Shareholder, promptly prepare and furnish to such Selling Shareholder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such registration statement or prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(xiii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest reasonable practicable date, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (xiii) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;

(xiv) cooperate with the Selling Shareholders and the lead managing underwriter(s) to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (which shall not bear any restrictive legends unless required under applicable Law) representing securities sold under any registration statement, and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the lead managing underwriter(s) or such Selling Shareholders may request and keep available and make available to the Company’s transfer agent prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement a supply of such certificates;

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

(xvi) have appropriate officers of the Company prepare and make presentations at a reasonable number of “road shows” and before analysts, as the case may be, and other information meetings reasonably organized by the underwriters and otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate as reasonably requested by the Selling Shareholders and the underwriters in the offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the scheduling of any such “road shows” and other meetings shall not unduly interfere with the normal operations of the business of the Company; and

 

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(xvii) take all other actions reasonably requested by the Selling Shareholders or the lead managing underwriter(s) to effect the intent of this Agreement.

(b) The Company may require each Selling Shareholder and each underwriter, if any, to furnish the Company in writing such information regarding each Selling Shareholder or underwriter and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing to complete or amend the information required by such registration statement.

(c) Each Selling Shareholder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clauses (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) of Section 2.6(a)(xii), such Selling Shareholder shall forthwith discontinue such Selling Shareholder’s disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable registration statement and prospectus relating thereto until such Selling Shareholder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.6(a)(xii), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall extend the time periods under Section 2.1(c) with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a registration statement must be maintained by the amount of time the Selling Shareholder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.

(d) With a view to making available to the holders of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit a holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company shall:

(i) use commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information available as contemplated by Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

(ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act, at any time when the Company is subject to such reporting requirements; and

(iii) furnish to any holder of Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and of the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed or furnished by the Company with the Commission as such holder may reasonably request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without registration (in each case to the extent not readily publicly available).

2.7 Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of its obligations under this Article II, including (a) all registration and filing fees, including all fees and expenses of compliance with securities and “blue sky” laws (including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.6(a)(vi)) and all

 

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fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” as such term is defined in FINRA Rule 5121, except in the event that Selling Shareholders select the underwriters) (b) all printing (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the Selling Shareholders) and copying expenses, (c) all messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (d) all fees and expenses of the Company’s independent certified public accountants and counsel (including with respect to “comfort” letters and opinions), (e) expenses of the Company incurred in connection with any “road show”, other than any expense paid or payable by the underwriters and (f) reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for all holders of Registrable Securities whose Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement, which counsel shall be selected by, in the case of a Demand Registration, the Requesting Shareholders, in the case of a Shelf Offering, the Demand Shareholder(s) requesting such offering, or in the case of any other registration, the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith, shall be borne solely by the Company whether or not any registration statement is filed or becomes effective. In connection with the Company’s performance of its obligations under this Article II, the Company will pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties and the expense of any annual audit) and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on the primary securities exchange or over-the-counter market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or traded. Each Selling Shareholder shall pay its portion of all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale of such Selling Shareholder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to any registration statement.

2.8 Miscellaneous.

(a) Not less than five (5) Business Days before the expected filing date of each registration statement pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall notify each holder of Registrable Securities who has timely provided the requisite notice hereunder entitling such holder to register Registrable Securities in such registration statement of the information, documents and instruments from such holder that the Company or any underwriter reasonably requests in connection with such registration statement, including a questionnaire, custody agreement, power of attorney, lock-up letter and underwriting agreement (the “Requested Information”). If the Company has not received, on or before the second Business Day before the expected filing date, the Requested Information from such holder, the Company may file the registration statement without including Registrable Securities of such holder. The failure to so include in any registration statement the Registrable Securities of a holder of Registrable Securities (with regard to that registration statement) shall not result in any liability on the part of the Company to such holder.

(b) The Company shall not grant to any Person any demand, piggyback or shelf registration rights the terms of which are senior to or conflict with the rights granted to the Demand Shareholders hereunder without the prior written consent of Demand Shareholders beneficially owning a majority of the Registrable Securities.

 

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2.9 Registration Indemnification.

(a) The Company agrees, without limitation as to time, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Selling Shareholder and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, members, stockholders, employees, managers and partners and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such Selling Shareholder or such other indemnified Person and the officers, directors, members, stockholders, employees, managers and partners of each such controlling Person from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 2.9(a)) will reimburse each such Selling Shareholder, each of its Affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, members, stockholders, employees, managers and partners and each such Person who controls each such Selling Shareholder and the officers, directors, members, stockholders, employees, managers, partners, accountants, attorneys and agents of each such controlling Person for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, except insofar as the same are caused by any information furnished in writing to the Company by any Selling Shareholder expressly for use therein.

(b) In connection with any registration statement in which a Selling Shareholder is participating, without limitation as to time, each such Selling Shareholder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and employees, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 2.9(b)) will reimburse the Company, its directors, officers and employees and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, in each case solely to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Selling Shareholder expressly for inclusion in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Shareholder shall be liable under this Section 2.9(b) for amounts in excess of the gross proceeds (after deducting any underwriting discount or commission) received by such holder in the offering giving rise to such liability.

(c) Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification; provided, however, the failure to give such notice shall not release the indemnifying party from its obligation, except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to provide such notice on a timely basis.

 

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(d) In any case in which any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it may wish, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and acknowledging the obligations of the indemnifying party with respect to such proceeding, the indemnifying party will not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest, litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this paragraph) be liable to such indemnified party hereunder for any legal or other expense subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, supervision and monitoring (unless (i) such indemnified party reasonably objects to such assumption on the grounds that (A) there may be defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to the defenses available to such indemnifying party or (B) such action involves matters beyond the scope of matters that are subject to indemnification pursuant to this Section 2.9, or (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and the indemnified party is or would reasonably be expected to be materially prejudiced by such delay, and in either event the indemnified party shall be promptly reimbursed by the indemnifying party for the expenses incurred in connection with retaining one separate legal counsel (for the avoidance of doubt, for all indemnified parties in connection therewith)). For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding any such assumption by an indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such matter and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party except as provided in the previous sentence. An indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of an action or claim effected without its consent. No matter shall be settled by an indemnifying party without the consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such settlement (x) includes 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, (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party and (z) is settled solely for cash for which the indemnified party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

(e) If recovery is not available under the foregoing indemnification provisions for any reason or reasons other than as specified therein, any Person who would otherwise be entitled to indemnification by the terms thereof shall nevertheless be entitled to contribution with respect to any Losses with respect to which such Person would be entitled to such indemnification but for such reason or reasons, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses 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 or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party, the Persons’ relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was

 

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asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission, and other equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances. It is hereby agreed that it would not necessarily be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Shareholder shall be required to make a contribution in excess of the amount received by such Selling Shareholder from its sale of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering that gave rise to the contribution obligation.

2.10 Free Writing Prospectuses. The Demand Shareholders shall not use any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any successor rule) in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Article II without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Shareholders may use any free writing prospectus prepared and distributed by the Company.

2.11 Termination of Registration Rights. The rights granted pursuant to this Article II shall terminate, as to any holder of Registrable Securities, on the earlier to occur of (a) the date on which all Registrable Securities held by such holder have been disposed of; or (b) the date on which all Registrable Securities held by such holder may be sold without registration in compliance with Rule 144 without regard to volume limitations or other restrictions on transfer thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement shall survive the Transfer of the Registrable Securities and the termination of the rights granted pursuant to this Article II.

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

3.1 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented but only in a writing signed by all of the Parties.

3.2 Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such expense.

3.3 Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by a Party shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given, (a) when received if given in person or by courier or a courier service, (b) on the date of transmission if sent by confirmed electronic mail transmission (with confirmation of delivery), or (c) on the next Business Day if sent by an overnight delivery service:

 

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  (a)

if to the Company, to:

Lawson Products, Inc.

8770 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 900

Chicago, IL 60631

Attn: Rick Pufpaf

Email: ***@***

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

Jenner & Block LLP

353 N. Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60654

Attn: H. Kurt von Moltke, P.C.

      Brian R. Boch

      Jeremy A. Casper

E-mail:     ***@***

       ***@***

       ***@***

 

  (b)

if to the Shareholders, to:

301 HW Opus Holdings, Inc.

301 Commerce Street, Suite 1600

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Brad Wallace; Jacob Smith

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

and

LKCM TE Investors, LLC

301 Commerce Street, Suite 1600

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Andy Zacharias; Jacob Smith

Email: ***@***;

***@***

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

Mayer Brown LLP

71 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

Attn: Andrew Noreuil

Email: ***@***

or to such other individual or address as a Party may designate for itself by notice given as herein provided.

 

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3.4 Waivers. The failure of a Party any time or times to require performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect its right at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by a Party of any breach of any term, covenant, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing, and no waiver in any one or more other instances shall be deemed to be a further or continuing waiver of any such breach in other instances or a waiver of any breach of any other term, covenant, representation or warranty.

3.5 Interpretations.

(a) The table of contents and the headings of the Articles, Sections and subsections included in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of this Agreement or be given any effect in interpreting this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to: (i) Articles and Sections shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (ii) “paragraphs” or “clauses” shall be deemed references to separate paragraphs or clauses of the Section or subsection in which the reference occurs; (iii) any Law shall be deemed references to such Law as in effect at any given time and to any successor provisions; (iii) any Person shall be deemed references to such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, and in the case of any Governmental Authority, to any Person(s) succeeding to its functions and capacities; and (iv) any statute or other Law of the United States or other jurisdiction (whether federal, state or local) shall be deemed references to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Underscored references to Articles and Sections shall refer to those portions of this Agreement.

(b) The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender herein shall not limit any provision of this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, each defined term used in this Agreement shall have a comparable meaning when used in its plural or singular form. The words “including,” “includes” or “include” are to be read as listing non-exclusive examples of the matters referred to, whether or not words such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” are used in each instance. The words such as “herein,” “hereinafter,” “hereof” and “hereunder” that are used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context otherwise requires.

(c) Where this Agreement states that a Party “shall,” “will” or “must” perform in some manner or otherwise act or omit to act, it means that such Party is legally obligated to do so in accordance with this Agreement.

3.6 Successors and Assigns. Each of the Shareholders may assign all or a portion of its rights hereunder to any Person to which such Shareholder transfers its ownership of all or any of its Registrable Securities. Such transferee shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement and become a party hereto and such transferee’s Registrable Securities shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement.

3.7 Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and no provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to confer upon third parties, either express or implied, any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, cause of action or other right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Persons referred to in Section 2.9 shall be third party beneficiaries of such Section.

 

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3.8 Entire Understanding. This Agreement, taken together with the Merger Agreements, sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties and supersedes any and all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

3.9 Applicable Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, shall be governed by, and enforced in accordance with, the Law of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any Law of the State of Delaware that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

3.10 Jurisdiction of Disputes. In the event any Party to this Agreement commences any action in connection with or relating to this Agreement or any matters described or contemplated herein, the Parties to this Agreement hereby (a) agree that any action shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery and any state appellate courts therefrom in the State of Delaware (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware); (b) agree that in the event of any such action, such Parties will consent and submit to personal jurisdiction in any such court described in clause (a) of this Section 3.10 and to service of process upon them in accordance with the rules and statutes governing service of process; (c) agree to waive to the full extent permitted by law any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action in any such court or that any such action was brought in an inconvenient forum; (d) agree as an alternative method of service to service of process in any action by mailing of copies thereof to such Party at its address set forth in Section 3.3 for communications to such Party; (e) agree that any service made as provided herein shall be effective and binding service in every respect; and (f) agree that nothing herein shall affect the rights of any Party to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by applicable Law.

3.11 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each Party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each such Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right such Party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each Party certifies and acknowledges that (a) no Representative 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) each Party understands and has considered the implications of this waiver, (c) each Party makes this waiver voluntarily, and (d) each Party has been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 3.11.

3.12 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached and that any breach of this Agreement would not be adequately compensated in all cases by monetary damages alone. Each of the Parties shall have the right, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing in their favor, to enforce its rights and the obligations of the other Parties hereunder not only by an action or actions for damages but also by an action or actions for specific performance, injunctive and/or other equitable relief. The right of specific performance and other equitable relief is an integral part of the transactions

 

25


contemplated by this Agreement and without that right, none of the Parties would have entered into this Agreement. The Parties agree not to assert that a remedy of specific performance or other equitable relief is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to law or inequitable for any reason, and not to assert that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy or that the Parties otherwise have an adequate remedy at law. The Parties acknowledge and agree that any Party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 3.12 shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction.

3.13 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration or area of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable 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, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified after the expiration of the time within which the judgment may be appealed.

3.14 Construction. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, the language shall be construed as mutually chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Party.

3.15 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and such counterparts may be delivered in electronic format (including by fax and email). Such delivery of counterparts shall be conclusive evidence of the intent to be bound hereby and each such counterpart, including those delivered in electronic format, and copies produced therefrom shall have the same effect as an originally signed counterpart. To the extent applicable, the foregoing constitutes the election of the Parties to invoke any Law authorizing electronic signatures.

3.16 Relationship of the Parties. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the Parties as joint venturers, alter egos, partners or participants in an unincorporated business or other separate entity.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed on the date first written above by their respective duly authorized officers.

 

LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Ronald Knutson

  Name: Ronald Knutson
  Title:   Executive VP, CFO and Treasurer
301 HW OPUS INVESTORS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Jacob D. Smith

  Name: Jacob D. Smith
  Title:   Vice President
LKCM TE INVESTORS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Jacob D. Smith

  Name: Jacob D. Smith
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]