REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG MANITEXINTERNATIONAL, INC., MI CONVERT HOLDINGS LLC AND INVEMED ASSOCIATESLLC DATED AS OF JANUARY 7, 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exhibit 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
MANITEX INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
MI CONVERT HOLDINGS LLC
AND
INVEMED ASSOCIATES LLC
DATED AS OF JANUARY 7, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | DEFINITIONS | 1 | ||||
2. | REGISTRATION | 5 | ||||
3. | RELATED OBLIGATIONS | 9 | ||||
4. | OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS | 15 | ||||
5. | EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION | 15 | ||||
6. | INDEMNIFICATION | 16 | ||||
7. | CONTRIBUTION | 18 | ||||
8. | REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT | 19 | ||||
9. | ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS | 19 | ||||
10. | AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS | 19 | ||||
11. | MISCELLANEOUS | 20 |
EXHIBIT A | A-1 | |
EXHIBIT B | B-1 |
ii
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of January 7, 2015, by and among Manitex International, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the Company), MI Convert Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (MI Convert), and Invemed Associates LLC, a New York limited liability company (Invemed, and each of MI Convert and Invemed, individually or together, the Buyer).
RECITALS
A. In connection with that certain Note Purchase Agreement by and among the parties hereto, dated as of the date hereof (the Note Purchase Agreement), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Note Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Buyer an aggregate principal amount of $15,000,000 of the Companys 6.50% Convertible Notes due 2021 (the Notes), which will, among other things, be convertible into Common Stock (as defined below) (the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes, including, without limitation, upon conversion or otherwise, collectively, the Conversion Shares).
B. In accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the Securities Act) and applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Buyer hereby agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
1. DEFINITIONS.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Additional Effective Date means the date the Additional Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC.
Additional Effectiveness Deadline means the date which is the earlier of (x) one hundred eighty (180) calendar days after the earlier of the Additional Filing Date and the Additional Filing Deadline and (y) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Additional Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review; provided, however, that if the Additional Effectiveness Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the SEC is closed for business, the Additional Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the SEC is open for business.
Additional Filing Date means the date on which the Additional Registration Statement is filed with the SEC.
Additional Filing Deadline means if Cutback Shares are required to be included in any Additional Registration Statement, the later of (i) the date sixty (60) days after the date substantially all of the Registrable Securities registered under the immediately preceding Registration Statement are sold and (ii) the date six (6) months from the Initial Effective Date or the most recent Additional Effective Date, as applicable.
Additional Registrable Securities means (i) any Cutback Shares not previously included on a Registration Statement and (ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Notes, the Conversion Shares, or the Cutback Shares, as applicable, as a result of any stock dividend, stock split, combination, reorganization and similar event or otherwise, without regard to any limitations on conversion, amortization and/or redemption of the Notes.
Additional Registration Statement means a registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under the Securities Act covering the resale of any Additional Registrable Securities.
Additional Required Registration Amount means any Cutback Shares not previously included on a Registration Statement, all subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f).
Allowable Grace Period has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(r).
Blue Sky Filing has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6(a).
Buyer has the meaning ascribed to such term in the preamble.
Claims has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6(a).
Common Stock means (i) the common stock of the Company, no par value, as it exists on the date of this Agreement and any shares of any class or classes of capital stock of the Company resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof, or, in the event of a merger, consolidation or other similar transaction involving the Company that is otherwise permitted hereunder in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, the common stock, common equity interests, ordinary shares or depositary shares or other certificates representing common equity interests of such surviving corporation or its direct or indirect parent corporation, and which have no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, however, that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable on conversion of Notes shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.
Company has the meaning ascribed to such term in the preamble.
Conversion Shares has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals.
2
Current Public Information Failure has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(g).
Cutback Shares means any of the Initial Required Registration Amount or the Additional Required Registration Amount of Registrable Securities not included in all Registration Statements previously declared effective hereunder as a result of a limitation on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock of the Company permitted to be registered by the staff of the SEC pursuant to Rule 415.
Effective Date means the Initial Effective Date and the Additional Effective Date, as applicable.
Effectiveness Deadline means the Initial Effectiveness Deadline and the Additional Effectiveness Deadline, as applicable.
Effectiveness Failure has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(g).
Eligible Market means the Principal Market, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The NYSE MKT LLC, The NASDAQ Global Select, or The NASDAQ Global Market.
Filing Deadline means the Initial Filing Deadline and the Additional Filing Deadline, as applicable.
Filing Failure has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(g).
Grace Period has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(r).
Indemnified Damages has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6(a).
Indemnified Party has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6(b).
Indemnified Person has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6(a).
Initial Effective Date means the date that the Initial Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.
Initial Effectiveness Deadline means the date which is the earlier of (x) ninety (90) calendar days after the Closing Date and (y) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Initial Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review; provided, however, that if the Initial Effectiveness Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the SEC is closed for business, the Initial Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the SEC is open for business.
Initial Filing Date means the date on which the Initial Registration Statement is filed with the SEC.
3
Initial Filing Deadline means the date which is forty-five (45) calendar days after the Closing Date.
Initial Registrable Securities means (i) the Conversion Shares issued or issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes and (ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Notes or the Conversion Shares, as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise, in each case without regard to any limitations on conversion, amortization and/or redemption of the Notes.
Initial Registration Statement means a registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under the Securities Act covering the resale of the Initial Registrable Securities.
Initial Required Registration Amount means 125% of the maximum number of Conversion Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the Notes as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable date of determination and all subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f), without regard to any limitations on conversion, amortization and/or redemption of the Notes.
Inspectors has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(i).
Investor means the Buyer or any transferee or assignee thereof to whom the Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9 and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.
Lead Investor means MI Convert Holdings LLC.
Legal Counsel has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(d).
Maintenance Failure has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(g).
Note Purchase Agreement has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals.
Notes has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals.
Person means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.
Plan of Distribution has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a).
Principal Market means The NASDAQ Capital Market.
Records has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(i).
4
register, registered, and registration refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the SEC.
Registrable Securities means the Initial Registrable Securities and the Additional Registrable Securities.
Registration Delay Payments has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(g).
Registration Failure has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(g).
Registration Period has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a).
Registration Statement means the Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement, as applicable.
Required Holders means the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities.
Required Registration Amount means either the Initial Required Registration Amount or the Additional Required Registration Amount, as applicable.
Rule 144 has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.
Rule 415 means Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals.
Selling Shareholders has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a).
Violations has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6(a).
2. REGISTRATION.
(a) Initial Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable but in no event later than the Initial Filing Deadline, file with the SEC the Initial Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Initial Registrable Securities. In the event that Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is available for such a registration on another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders, subject to the provisions of Section 2(e). The Initial Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Initial Required Registration Amount determined as of the date the Initial Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f). The Initial Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise
5
directed by the Required Holders) the Plan of Distribution and Selling Shareholders sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Initial Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Initial Effectiveness Deadline. By 9:30 a.m. New York time on the Business Day following the Initial Effective Date, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Initial Registration Statement.
(b) Additional Mandatory Registrations. The Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable but in no event later than the Additional Filing Deadline, file with the SEC an Additional Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Additional Registrable Securities not previously registered on an Additional Registration Statement hereunder. To the extent the staff of the SEC does not permit the Additional Required Registration Amount to be registered on an Additional Registration Statement, the Company shall file Additional Registration Statements successively trying to register on each such Additional Registration Statement the maximum number of remaining Additional Registrable Securities until the Additional Required Registration Amount has been registered with the SEC. In the event that Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is available for such a registration on another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders, subject to the provisions of Section 2(e). Each Additional Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Additional Required Registration Amount determined as of the date such Additional Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f). Each Additional Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Required Holders) the Plan of Distribution and Selling Shareholders sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have each Additional Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Additional Effectiveness Deadline. By 9:30 a.m. New York time on the Business Day following the Additional Effective Date, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Additional Registration Statement.
(c) Allocation of Registrable Securities. The initial number of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and any increase or decrease in the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors (if applicable) based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time the Registration Statement covering such initial number of Registrable Securities or increase or decrease thereof is declared effective by the SEC. In the event that an Investor sells or otherwise transfers any of such Investors Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the then remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement for such transferor. Any shares of Common Stock included in a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors which are covered by such Registration Statement. In no event shall the Company include any securities other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement without the prior written consent of the Required Holders.
6
(d) Legal Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Lead Investor shall have the right to select one legal counsel to review and oversee any registration pursuant to this Section 2 (Legal Counsel), which shall be Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP or such other counsel as thereafter designated by the Lead Investor. The Company and Legal Counsel shall reasonably cooperate with each other in performing the Companys obligations under this Agreement.
(e) Ineligibility for Form S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
(f) Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) is insufficient to cover the Required Registration Amount of Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement or an Investors allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(c), the Company shall amend the applicable Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover at least the Required Registration Amount as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the filing of such amendment or new Registration Statement, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than thirty (30) days after the necessity therefor arises. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities if at any time the number of shares of Common Stock available for resale under the Registration Statement is less than the Required Registration Amount. The calculation set forth in the foregoing sentence shall be made without regard to any limitations on the conversion, amortization and/or redemption of the Notes and such calculation shall assume (i) that the Notes are then convertible in full into shares of Common Stock at the then prevailing Conversion Rate and (ii) the initial outstanding principal amount of the Notes remains outstanding through the scheduled Maturity Date and no redemptions of the Notes occur prior to the scheduled Maturity Date.
(g) Effect of Failure to File and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of Registration Statement. If (i) the Initial Registration Statement when declared effective fails to register the Initial Required Registration Amount of Initial Registrable Securities (a Registration Failure), (ii) a Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered thereby and required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is (A) not filed with the SEC on or before the applicable Filing Deadline (a Filing Failure) or (B) not declared effective by the SEC on or before the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (an
7
Effectiveness Failure), (iii) on any day after the applicable Effective Date, sales of all of the Registrable Securities required to be included on such Registration Statement cannot be made (other than during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in Section 3(r))) pursuant to such Registration Statement or otherwise (including, without limitation, because of the suspension of trading or any other limitation imposed by an Eligible Market, a failure to keep such Registration Statement effective, a failure to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be made pursuant to such Registration Statement, a failure to register a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or a failure to maintain the listing of the Common Stock) (a Maintenance Failure) or (iv) if a Registration Statement is not effective for any reason or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use for any reason, the Company fails to file with the SEC any required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act such that it is not in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) (a Current Public Information Failure) as a result of which any of the Investors are unable to sell Registrable Securities without restriction under Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) then, as partial relief for the damages to any holder by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity, including, without limitation, specific performance or the additional obligation of the Company to register any Cutback Shares), the Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement an amount in cash equal to (x) one half of one percent (0.5%) of the aggregate Purchase Price (as such term is defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) of such Investors Registrable Securities, whether or not included in such Registration Statement, on each of the following dates: (i) the day of a Registration Failure, (ii) the day of a Filing Failure; (iii) the day of an Effectiveness Failure; (iv) the initial day of a Maintenance Failure; (v) the initial day of a Current Public Information Failure and (y) one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate Purchase Price (as such term is defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) of such Investors Registrable Securities, whether or not included in such Registration Statement, on each of the following dates: (i) on the thirtieth day after the date of a Registration Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Registration Failure is cured; (ii) on the thirtieth day after the date of a Filing Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Filing Failure is cured; (iii) on the thirtieth day after the date of an Effectiveness Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Effectiveness Failure is cured; (iv) on the thirtieth day after the initial date of a Maintenance Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Maintenance Failure is cured; and (v) on the thirtieth day after the initial date of a Public Information Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Public Information Failure is cured. The payments to which a holder shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 2(g) are referred to herein as Registration Delay Payments. Registration Delay Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (I) the dates set forth above and (II) the third Business Day after the event or failure giving rise to the Registration Delay Payments is cured. In the event the Company fails to make Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner, such Registration Delay Payments shall bear interest at the Default Rate per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) Registration Delay Payments shall cease to accrue when all of the Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without any restrictions or limitations, (ii) in no event shall the aggregate amount of all Registration
8
Delay Payments (without regard to any accrued interest thereon in accordance with the preceding sentence) paid to an Investor exceed an amount equal to 10% of such Investors original principal amount stated in such Investors Note on the Closing Date, (iii) no single event or failure shall give rise to more than one type of Registration Delay Payment or (iv) if an Investor would be required to be named as an underwriter in the Registration Statement by the SEC and such Investor elects, pursuant to Section 3(s) below not to include any Registrable Securities of such Investor in the Registration Statement, no Registration Delay Payments shall accrue with respect to such Registrable Securities of such Investor.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
At such time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a), 2(b), 2(e) or 2(f), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
(a) The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing (but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline). The Company shall keep each Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the Securities Act or (ii) the date on which the Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (the Registration Period). The Company shall ensure that each Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading. The term reasonable best efforts shall mean, among other things, that the Company shall submit to the SEC, within two (2) Business Days after the later of the date that (i) the Company learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by the staff of the SEC or that the staff has no further comments on a particular Registration Statement, as the case may be, and (ii) the approval of Legal Counsel pursuant to Section 3(c) (which approval is immediately sought), a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time and date not later than two (2) Business Days after the submission of such request. The Company shall respond in writing to comments made by the SEC in respect of a Registration Statement as soon as practicable, but in no event later than twenty (20) days after the receipt of comments by or notice from the SEC that an amendment is required in order for a Registration Statement to be declared effective.
(b) The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post- effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply
9
with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Form 8-K or any analogous report under the Exchange Act, the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the Exchange Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement.
(c) The Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon (i) a Registration Statement at least three (3) Business Days prior to its filing with the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to all Registration Statements (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any similar or successor reports) within a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the SEC, and (B) not file any Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which Legal Counsel reasonably objects. The Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto without the prior approval of Legal Counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall furnish to Legal Counsel, without charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives relating to any Registration Statement, (ii) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, one copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, and all exhibits and (iii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, one copy of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel in performing the Companys obligations pursuant to this Section 3.
(d) The Company shall upon request furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, at least one copy of such Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, ten (10) copies of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request) and (iii) such other documents, including copies of any preliminary or final prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor; provided, that any such item which is available on the SECs EDGAR System (or successor thereto) need not be furnished in physical form.
(e) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by Investors of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or blue
10
sky laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
(f) The Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing (which may be by email) of the happening of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, nonpublic information), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and upon request deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to Legal Counsel and each Investor (or such other number of copies as Legal Counsel or such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly notify Legal Counsel in writing (which may be by email) (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel by facsimile or email on the same day of such effectiveness), (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, and (iii) of the Companys reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate. By 9:30 a.m. New York City time on the date following the date any post-effective amendment has become effective, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
11
(h) If any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in the Registration Statement as an underwriter or an Investor believes that it could reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter of Registrable Securities, at the reasonable request of such Investor, the Company shall furnish to such Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as an Investor may reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Companys independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors.
(i) If any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in the Registration Statement as an underwriter or an Investor believes that it could reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter of Registrable Securities, the Company shall make available for inspection by (i) such Investor, (ii) Legal Counsel and (iii) one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Investors (collectively, the Inspectors), all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the Records), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Companys officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the Securities Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the Investors ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
(j) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non- appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at the Investors expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
12
(k) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange or (ii) secure the inclusion for quotation of all of the Registrable Securities on The Principal Market or (iii) if, despite the Companys reasonable best efforts, the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), to secure the inclusion for quotation on another Eligible Market for such Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(k).
(l) The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as the Investors may request.
(m) If requested by an Investor, the Company shall as soon as practicable (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as an Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement if reasonably requested by an Investor holding any Registrable Securities.
(n) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
(o) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Companys fiscal quarter next following the applicable Effective Date of a Registration Statement.
(p) The Company shall otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration hereunder.
13
(q) Within two (2) Business Days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(r) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, at any time after the Effective Date, the Company may delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning the Company the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company and its counsel, in the best interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, otherwise required (a Grace Period); provided, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Investors in writing (which may be by email) of the existence of material, non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that in each notice the Company will not disclose the content of such material, non-public information to the Investors) and the date on which the Grace Period will begin, and (ii) notify the Investors in writing (which may be by email) of the date on which the Grace Period ends; and, provided further, that no Grace Period shall exceed ten (10) consecutive Trading Days and during any three hundred sixty five (365) day period such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of forty-five (45) Trading Days and the first day of any Grace Period must be at least five (5) Trading Days after the last day of any prior Grace Period (each, an Allowable Grace Period). For purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period above, the Grace Period shall begin on and include the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (i) and shall end on and include the later of the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (ii) and the date referred to in such notice. The provisions of Section 3(g) hereof shall not be applicable during the period of any Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of the Grace Period, the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public information is no longer applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an Investor has entered into a contract for sale, prior to the Investors receipt of the notice of a Grace Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
(s) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof shall identify any Investor as an underwriter in any public disclosure or filing with the SEC, the Principal Market or any Eligible Market without the prior written consent of such Investor (it being understood, that if the Company is required to name such Investor as an underwriter in such Registration Statement by the SEC (after a good faith discussion with the SEC to lift such requirement, including, without limitation, any reduction in the number of Registrable Securities of such Investor to be registered on such Registration Statement (to the extent necessary to lift such requirement)), such Investor shall have the option of electing to exclude all such Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement or to be named as an underwriter in such Registration Statement); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company from including the disclosure found in the Plan of Distribution section attached hereto as Exhibit B in the Registration Statement.
14
(t) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Buyer in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
(a) At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated Filing Date of a Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing (which may be by email) of the information the Company requires from each such Investor if such Investor elects to have any of such Investors Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete any registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect and maintain the effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request.
(b) Each Investor, by such Investors acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing (which may be by email) of such Investors election to exclude all of such Investors Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
(c) Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities until such Investors receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investors receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
(d) Each Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be paid by the Company. The Company shall also reimburse the Investors for the
15
fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel in connection with registration, filing or qualification pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement which amount shall be limited to $25,000 for each such registration, filing or qualification.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor, the directors, officers, partners, members, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an Indemnified Person), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, reasonable attorneys fees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several (collectively, Claims), incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto (Indemnified Damages), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post- effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered (Blue Sky Filing), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any violation of this Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being, collectively, Violations). Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d); and (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the
16
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by any of the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an Indemnified Party), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(c), such Investor shall reimburse the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by an Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one counsel for all such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party, as applicable, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. In the case of an Indemnified Person, legal counsel referred to in the immediately preceding sentence shall be selected by the Investors holding at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities
17
included in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in respect to such Claim or litigation and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
(d) The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
(e) The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that: (i) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Investor shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Investor from the applicable sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Claim exceeds the amount of any damages that such Investor has otherwise been required to pay, or would otherwise be required to pay under Section 6(b), by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
18
8. REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration (Rule 144), the Company agrees to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;
(b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
(c) furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights and obligations under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of such Investors Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights and obligations, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights and obligations hereunder are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Note Purchase Agreement.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders; provided that any such
19
amendment or waiver that complies with the foregoing but that disproportionately, materially and adversely affects the rights and obligations of any Investor relative to the comparable rights and obligations of the other Investors shall require the prior written consent of such adversely affected Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the holders of the Registrable Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration (other than the reimbursement of legal fees) also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Note Purchase Agreement supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyer, the Company, their affiliates and persons acting on their behalf with respect to the matters discussed herein, and this Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement and the instruments referenced herein and therein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor the Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and Required Holders. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 11 shall be binding upon the Buyer, Holders of Notes and the Company.
(b) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, including any purchasers of the Notes. The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder, including by way of a Fundamental Change, without the prior written consent of the Required Holders. No purchaser of any of the Notes from the Buyer shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase; provided, however, that the Buyer may assign some or all of its rights hereunder without the consent of the Company to any Permitted Assignee, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be the Buyer hereunder with respect to such assigned rights. A Buyer assigning some or all of its rights hereunder shall provide the Company notice of such assignment in accordance with Section 10(d), however no assignment shall be invalid solely due to failure to comply with this notice requirement. For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting the rights of a Permitted Assignee hereunder, the assignment of this Agreement to a Permitted Assignee shall not relieve the Company of any obligations to Buyer for any fees, reimbursement of expenses, indemnification or any other payments hereunder.
(c) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person, except that each Indemnified Person shall have the right to enforce the obligations of the Company with respect to Section 6.
20
(d) Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Manitex International, Inc.
9725 Industrial Drive
Bridgeview, Illinois 60455
Attention: Andrew Rooke
Facsimile No.: (708)  ###-###-####
Telephone No.: (708)  ###-###-####
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Bryan Cave LLP
161 N. Clark Street, Suite 4300
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: John P. Goebel and Todd M. Kaye
Facsimile No.: (312)  ###-###-####
Telephone No.: (312)  ###-###-####
If to the Buyer:
to MI Convert:
MI Convert Holdings LLC
c/o Perella Weinberg Partners
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
Attention: Mark McGreenery
and Legal Department
Facsimile No.: (212)  ###-###-####
Telephone No. (212)  ###-###-####
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Edward P. Christian
Facsimile No.: (212)  ###-###-####
Telephone No. (212)  ###-###-####
21
to Invemed:
Invemed Associates LLC
375 Park Avenue, Suite 2205
New York, NY 10152
Attention: John Baran
and Beverly Lemmon
Facsimile No.: (212)  ###-###-#### (John Baran)
Facsimile No: (212)  ###-###-#### (Beverly Lemmon)
Telephone No.: (212)  ###-###-####
Any party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.
(e) Specific Performance. The parties acknowledge that money damages are not an adequate remedy for violations of this Agreement and that any party may, in its sole discretion, apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance or injunctive or such other relief as such court may deem just and proper in order to enforce this Agreement or prevent any violation hereof and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, each party waives any objection to the imposition of such relief, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.
(f) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
22
(g) Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.
(h) Extensions; Waivers. Any party may, for itself only, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of any other party under this Agreement, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of any other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any such extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in a writing signed by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver by any party of any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right or remedy.
(i) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
(j) Amendments. No party may amend or supplement this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Required Holders and the Company. After an amendment or supplement becomes effective, it shall bind the Company and every Investor.
(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. Executed copies of the signature pages of this Agreement sent by facsimile or transmitted electronically in Portable Document Format shall be treated as originals, fully binding and with full legal force and effect, and the parties waive any rights they may have to object to such treatment.
(l) Rescission and Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) this Agreement, whenever the Buyer exercises a right, election, demand or option under this Agreement and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then the Buyer may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.
23
(m) No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
(n) Fees. The Company shall reimburse the Buyer (in addition to any other expense amounts paid to the Buyer or its counsel prior to the date of this Agreement) for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Note Purchase Agreement (including all legal fees and disbursements in connection therewith, documentation and implementation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Note Purchase Agreement and due diligence in connection therewith and the administration, modification and/or enforcement of this Agreement), whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, which amount may, at the option of the Buyer, be withheld by the Buyer from its Purchase Price at the Closing. The Company shall pay, and hold the Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any claim relating to any such payment.
(o) Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(p) Several and not Joint. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the rights, duties, and obligations of each Buyer or Holder hereunder are several and not joint, and no Buyer or Holder shall be liable hereunder for the duties or obligations of any other Buyer or Holder. No Buyer or Holder makes any representation or warranty hereunder to or for the benefit of any other Buyer or Holder.
[Signature Page Follows]
24
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY: | ||||
MANITEX INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ David J. Langevin | |||
Name: | David J. Langevin | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
BUYER: | ||||
MI CONVERT: | ||||
MI CONVERT HOLDINGS LLC | ||||
By: Perella Weinberg Partners Asset Based Value Master Fund I L.P., its Managing Member | ||||
By: Perella Weinberg Partners Asset Based Value GP L.P., its general partner | ||||
By: Perella Weinberg Partners Asset Based Value GP LLC, its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Aaron Hood | |||
Name: | Aaron Hood | |||
Title: | Authorized Party |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
BUYER: | ||||
INVEMED: | ||||
INVEMED ASSOCIATES LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ John Baran | |||
Name: | John Baran | |||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT]
[ ]
[ ]
Attention: [ ]
Re: | Manitex International, Inc. |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
[We are][I am] counsel to Manitex International, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the Company), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of January [ ], 2015 (the Note Purchase Agreement), entered into by and among the Company and the buyer named therein (collectively, the Holders) pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders convertible notes (the Notes) pursuant to which shares of the Companys common stock (the Common Stock) are issuable thereunder. Pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders (the Registration Rights Agreement) pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the resale of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). In connection with the Companys obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on [ ], 2015, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-[ ]) (the Registration Statement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling shareholder thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SECs staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the Securities Act at [ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and [we][I] have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SECs staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the Securities Act pursuant to the Registration Statement.
A-1
This letter shall serve as our standing instruction to you that the shares of Common Stock are freely transferable by the Holders pursuant to the Registration Statement. [You need not require further letters from us to effect any future legend-free issuance or reissuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holders as contemplated by the Companys Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions dated [ ].
Very truly yours | ||
[ISSUERS COUNSEL] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: [ ] | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
CC: [LIST OF NAMES OF HOLDERS]
A-2
EXHIBIT B
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
1. The shares of common stock being offered by the selling shareholders are those issuable to the selling shareholders pursuant to the terms of the convertible notes. For additional information regarding the issuance of those convertible notes, see Private Placement of Convertible Notes above. We are registering the shares of common stock in order to permit the selling shareholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the convertible notes issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, the selling shareholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.
2. The table below lists the selling shareholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock by each of the selling shareholders. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each selling shareholder, based on its ownership of the convertible notes, as of [ ], 2015, assuming conversion of all convertible notes held by the selling shareholders on that date, without regard to any limitations on conversion, amortization, redemption or exercise.
3. The third column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the selling shareholders.
4. In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the selling shareholders, this prospectus generally covers the resale of at least 125% of the maximum number of shares of common stock issued and issuable pursuant to the convertible notes as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the date the registration statement is initially filed with the SEC. Because the conversion price of the convertible notes may be adjusted, the number of shares that will actually be issued may be more or less than the number of shares being offered by this prospectus. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus.
5. The selling shareholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering. See Plan of Distribution.
Name of Selling Shareholder | Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned Prior to Offering | Maximum Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus | Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned After Offering |
Exhibit B-1
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the convertible note to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the convertible notes from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling shareholders of the shares of common stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock.
The selling shareholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling shareholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agents commissions. The shares of common stock may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions,
| on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale; |
| in the over-the-counter market; |
| in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market; |
| through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise; |
| ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| privately negotiated transactions; |
| short sales; |
| sales pursuant to Rule 144; |
| broker-dealers may agree with the selling securityholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; |
Exhibit B-2
| a combination of any such methods of sale; and |
| any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
If the selling shareholders effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling shareholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the shares of common stock or otherwise, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell shares of common stock short and deliver shares of common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling shareholders may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
The selling shareholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the convertible notes or shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending, if necessary, the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholders also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
The selling shareholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares of common stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling shareholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.
Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
Exhibit B-3
There can be no assurance that any selling shareholder will sell any or all of the shares of common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.
The selling shareholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling shareholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock.
We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant to the registration rights agreement, estimated to be $[ ] in total, including, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or blue sky laws; provided, however, that a selling shareholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the selling shareholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreements, or the selling shareholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling shareholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling shareholder specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreement, or we may be entitled to contribution.
Once sold under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.
Exhibit B-4