the company, we, us and our refer to Myriant Corporation and its subsidiaries, or its predecessor prior to July 16, 2009, as the context requires
EX-4.2 4 b86680exv4w2.htm EX-4.2 exv4w2
Exhibit 4.2
Execution Version
INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
1. Definitions | 1 | |||
2. Registration Rights | 4 | |||
2.1 Demand Registration | 4 | |||
2.2 Company Registration | 5 | |||
2.3 Underwriting Requirements | 5 | |||
2.4 Obligations of the Company | 6 | |||
2.5 Furnish Information | 8 | |||
2.6 Expenses of Registration | 8 | |||
2.7 Delay of Registration | 9 | |||
2.8 Indemnification | 9 | |||
2.9 Reports Under Exchange Act | 11 | |||
2.10 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights | 11 | |||
2.11 Market Stand-off Agreement | 11 | |||
2.12 Restrictions on Transfer | 12 | |||
2.13 Termination of Registration Rights | 13 | |||
3. Information Rights | 13 | |||
3.1 Delivery of Financial Statements | 13 | |||
3.2 Inspection | 15 | |||
3.3 Termination of Information Rights | 15 | |||
3.4 Confidentiality | 15 | |||
4. Rights to Future Stock Issuances | 15 | |||
4.1 Right of First Offer | 15 | |||
4.2 Termination | 17 | |||
5. Additional Covenants | 17 | |||
5.1 Indemnification Agreements; D&O Insurance | 17 | |||
5.2 Board Matters | 17 | |||
5.3 Nondisclosure Agreements | 17 | |||
5.4 Noncompetition Agreements | 17 | |||
5.5 Employment Agreements | 18 | |||
5.6 Successor Indemnification | 18 | |||
5.7 Termination of Covenants | 18 | |||
6. Miscellaneous | 18 | |||
6.1 Successors and Assigns | 18 | |||
6.2 Governing Law | 19 | |||
6.3 Counterparts | 19 | |||
6.4 Titles and Subtitles | 19 | |||
6.5 Notices | 19 | |||
6.6 Amendments and Waivers | 19 | |||
6.7 Severability | 20 | |||
6.8 Aggregation of Stock | 20 |
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||
6.9 Additional Investors | 20 | |||
6.10 Entire Agreement | 20 | |||
6.11 Dispute Resolution | 20 | |||
6.12 Delays or Omissions | 20 |
Schedule A Schedule of Investors
ii
INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS INVESTORS RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 13th day of January, 2011, by and among Myriant Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and each holder of the Companys Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock listed on Schedule A, each of which is referred to in this Agreement as an Investor, and together the Investors.
RECITALS
A. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Company and one of the Investors that is the holder of the Class A Common Stock are entering into a Class A Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) providing for the issuance of shares of the Class A Common Stock.
B. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Company and the Investors that are holders of the Class B Common Stock are entering into a Debt Conversion Agreement (the Conversion Agreement) providing for the issuance of shares of the Class B Common Stock.
C. In order (i) to induce the Company to enter into the Purchase Agreement, (ii) to induce the Holder of the Class A Common to invest funds in the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (iii) to induce the Holders of the Class B Common Holders to enter into the Conversion Agreement, the Investors and the Company hereby agree that this Agreement shall govern the rights of the Investors to cause the Company to register shares of Common Stock issuable to the Investors, to receive certain information from the Company, and to participate in future equity offerings by the Company, and shall govern certain other matters as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement (and in addition to terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement):
1.1 Affiliate means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, including without limitation any general partner, managing member, officer or director of such Person or any venture capital fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person.
1.2 Charter means the Companys Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as may be amended and/or restated from time to time.
1.3 Class A Common Stock means shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock, par value US$0.0001 per share.
1.4 Class B Common Stock means shares of the Companys Class B Common Stock, par value US$0.0001 per share.
1.5 Common Stock means shares of the Companys Common Stock, par value US$0.0001 per share.
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1.6 Damages means any loss, damage, or liability (joint or several) to which a party hereto may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state law, insofar as such loss, damage, or liability (or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement of the Company, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) an omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the indemnifying party (or any of its agents or Affiliates) of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any other applicable laws.
1.7 Derivative Securities means any securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for (in each case, directly or indirectly), Common Stock, including options and warrants.
1.8 Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.9 Excluded Registration means (i) a registration relating to the sale of securities to employees of the Company or a subsidiary pursuant to a stock option, stock purchase, or similar plan; (ii) a registration relating to an SEC Rule 145 transaction; (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable Securities; or (iv) a registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being registered.
1.10 Form S-1 means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC.
1.11 Form S-3 means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC that permits incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.
1.12 GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
1.13 Holder means any holder of Registrable Securities who is a party to this Agreement.
1.14 Immediate Family Member means a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, registered domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of a natural person referred to herein.
1.15 Initiating Holders means, collectively, Holders who properly initiate a registration request under this Agreement.
1.16 IPO means the Companys first underwritten public offering of its Common Stock under the Securities Act.
1.17 Major Investor means any Investor that, individually or together with such Investors Affiliates, holds at least 5% of the Registrable Securities (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, or other recapitalization or reclassification effected after the date hereof). For purposes
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hereof, Green Chem Holdings, LLC, Green Chem Second Edition, LLC, Itera Ethanol, LLC and Specialty Chemicals, LLC shall be deemed to be Affiliates of one another.
1.18 New Securities means, collectively, equity securities of the Company, whether or not currently authorized, as well as rights, options, or warrants to purchase such equity securities, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity securities.
1.19 Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or other entity.
1.20 Registrable Securities means (i) the Common Stock held by the Investors and Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock; (ii) any Common Stock, or any Common Stock issued or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise of any other securities of the Company, acquired by the Investors after the date hereof; and (iii) any Common Stock issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, or other security that is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, the shares referenced in clauses (i) and (ii) above; excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a Person in a transaction in which the applicable rights under this Agreement are not assigned pursuant to Subsection 6.1, and excluding for purposes of Section 2 any shares for which registration rights have terminated pursuant to Subsection 2.13 of this Agreement.
1.21 Registrable Securities then outstanding means the number of shares determined by adding the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock that are Registrable Securities and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable (directly or indirectly) pursuant to then exercisable and/or convertible securities that are Registrable Securities.
1.22 Restricted Securities means the securities of the Company required to bear the legend set forth in Subsection 2.12(b) hereof.
1.23 SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.24 SEC Rule 144 means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.
1.25 SEC Rule 145 means Rule 145 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.
1.26 Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.27 Selling Expenses means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions, and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel for any Holder, except for the fees and disbursements of the Selling Holder Counsel borne and paid by the Company as provided in Subsection 2.6.
1.28 Selling Holder Counsel shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2.6.
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2. Registration Rights. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
2.1 Demand Registration.
(a) Form S-1 Demand. If at any time after the earlier of (i) three (3) years after the date of this Agreement or (ii) one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of the registration statement for the IPO, the Company receives a request from Holders of at least thirty percent (30%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding that the Company file a Form S-1 registration statement with respect to outstanding Registrable Securities of such Holders having an anticipated aggregate offering price, net of Selling Expenses, of at least Ten Million (US$10,000,000) Dollars, then the Company shall (i) within ten (10) days after the date such request is given, give notice thereof (the Demand Notice) to all Holders other than the Initiating Holders; and (ii) as soon as practicable, and in any event within sixty (60) days after the date such request is given by the Initiating Holders, file a Form S-1 registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holders requested to be registered and any additional Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holders, as specified by notice given by each such Holder to the Company within thirty (30) days of the date the Demand Notice is given, and in each case, subject to the limitations of Subsection 2.1(c) and Subsection 2.2.
(b) Form S-3 Demand. If at any time when it is eligible to use a Form S-3 registration statement, the Company receives a request from Holders of at least twenty percent (20%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding that the Company file a Form S-3 registration statement with respect to outstanding Registrable Securities of such Holders having an anticipated aggregate offering price, net of Selling Expenses, of at least One Million (US$1,000,000) Dollars, then the Company shall (i) within ten (10) days after the date such request is given, give a Demand Notice to all Holders other than the Initiating Holders; and (ii) as soon as practicable, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the date such request is given by the Initiating Holders, file a Form S-3 registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holders, as specified by notice given by each such Holder to the Company within thirty (30) days of the date the Demand Notice is given, and in each case, subject to the limitations of Subsection 2.1(c) and Subsection 2.2.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing obligations, if the Company furnishes to Holders requesting a registration pursuant to this Subsection 2.1 a certificate signed by the Companys Chief Executive Officer stating that in the good faith judgment of the Companys Board of Directors it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such registration statement to either become effective or remain effective for as long as such registration statement otherwise would be required to remain effective, because such action would (i) materially interfere with a material acquisition, corporate reorganization, or other similar transaction involving the Company; (ii) require disclosure of material information that has not been, and is otherwise not required to be, disclosed, the premature disclosure of which would materially adversely affect the Company; or (iii) render the Company unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, then the Company shall have the right to defer taking action with respect to such filing, and any time periods with respect to filing or effectiveness thereof shall be tolled correspondingly, for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after the request of the Initiating Holders is given; provided, however, that the Company may not invoke this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period; and provided further that the Company shall not register any securities for its own account or that of any other stockholder during such ninety (90) day period other than an Excluded Registration.
(d) The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a)(i) during the period that is sixty (60) days before the
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Companys good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration, provided, that the Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; (ii) after the Company has effected two registrations pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a); or (iii) if the Initiating Holders propose to dispose of shares of Registrable Securities that may be immediately registered on Form S-3 pursuant to a request made pursuant to Subsection 2.1(b). The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to Subsection 2.1(b) (i) during the period that is thirty (30) days before the Companys good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration, provided, that the Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; or (ii) if the Company has effected two registrations pursuant to Subsection 2.1(b) within the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the date of such request. Subject to Subsection 2.3(c), a registration shall not be counted as effected for purposes of this Subsection 2.1(d) until such time as the applicable registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC, unless the Initiating Holders withdraw their request for such registration, elect not to pay the registration expenses therefor, and forfeit their right to one demand registration statement pursuant to Subsection 2.6, in which case such withdrawn registration statement shall be counted as effected for purposes of this Subsection 2.1(d).
2.2 Company Registration. If the Company proposes to register (including, for this purpose, a registration effected by the Company for stockholders other than the Holders) any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than in an Excluded Registration) and such registration may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall, at such time, promptly give each Holder notice of such registration. Upon the request of each Holder given within thirty (30) days after such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Subsection 2.2, cause to be registered all of the Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be included in such registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Subsection 2.2 before the effective date of such registration, whether or not any Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities in such registration. The expenses (other than Selling Expenses) of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Subsection 2.6.
2.3 Underwriting Requirements.
(a) If, pursuant to Subsection 2.1, the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to Subsection 2.1, and the Company shall include such information in the Demand Notice. The underwriter(s) will be selected by the Initiating Holders and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. In such event, the right of any Holder to include such Holders Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holders participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holders Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall (together with the Company as provided in Subsection 2.4(i)) enter into an underwriting agreement with the underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subsection 2.3, if the managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Initiating Holders in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares to be underwritten, then the Initiating Holders shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities that otherwise would be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated among such Holders of Registrable Securities, including the Initiating Holders, in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of Registrable Securities owned by each Holder or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders; provided, however, that the number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders to be included in such underwriting shall not be reduced unless all other
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securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest 100 shares.
(b) In connection with any offering involving an underwriting of shares of the Companys capital stock pursuant to Subsection 2.2, the Company shall not be required to include any of the Holders Registrable Securities in such underwriting unless the Holders accept the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and its underwriters, and then only in such quantity as the underwriters in their sole discretion determine will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company. If the total number of securities, including Registrable Securities, requested by stockholders to be included in such offering exceeds the number of securities to be sold (other than by the Company) that the underwriters in their reasonable discretion determine is compatible with the success of the offering, then the Company shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such securities, including Registrable Securities, which the underwriters and the Company in their sole discretion determine will not jeopardize the success of the offering. If the underwriters determine that less than all of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered can be included in such offering, then the Registrable Securities that are included in such offering shall be allocated among the selling Holders in proportion (as nearly as practicable to) each Holders pro rata share of the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered or in such other proportions as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest 100 shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall (i) the number of Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced unless all other securities (other than securities to be sold by the Company) are first entirely excluded from the offering, or (ii) the number of Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced below thirty percent (30%) of the total number of securities included in such offering, unless such offering is the IPO, in which case the selling Holders may be excluded further if the underwriters make the determination described above and no other stockholders securities are included in such offering. For purposes of the provision in this Subsection 2.3(b) concerning apportionment, for any selling Holder that is a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, the partners, members, retired partners, retired members, stockholders, and Affiliates of such Holder, or the estates and Immediate Family Members of any such partners, retired partners, members, and retired members and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing Persons, shall be deemed to be a single selling Holder, and any pro rata reduction with respect to such selling Holder shall be based upon the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Persons included in such selling Holder, as defined in this sentence.
(c) For purposes of Subsection 2.1, a registration shall not be counted as effected if (i) as a result of an exercise of the underwriters cutback provisions in Subsection 2.3(a) or otherwise, fewer than one hundred percent (100%) of the total number of Registrable Securities that Holders have requested to be included in such registration statement are actually included or (ii) in the case of a demand registration that, if effected, would constitute the last permitted demand registration under this Agreement, if the Initiating Holders are not able to sell all of the Registrable Securities included in such registration.
2.4 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Section 2 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and keep such registration statement effective for a period of up to one hundred eighty (180) days; provided, however, that (i) such one hundred eighty (180) day period shall be extended for a
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period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains, at the request of an underwriter of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company, from selling any securities included in such registration, and (ii) in the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on Form S-3 that are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, subject to compliance with applicable SEC rules, such one hundred eighty (180) day period shall be extended for up to sixty (60) days, if necessary, to keep the registration statement effective until all such Registrable Securities are sold;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement, as may be necessary to comply with the Securities Act in order to enable the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;
(c) furnish to the selling Holders such numbers of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, as required by the Securities Act, and such other documents as the Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate their disposition of their Registrable Securities;
(d) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue-sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the selling Holders; provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions, unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act;
(e) notify the selling Holders and the managing underwriter(s), if any, as promptly as reasonably practicable, and (if requested) confirm such notice in writing, (i) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (ii) if the Company becomes aware, at any time prior to consummation of the share sale and issuance that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sale agreement, or other similar agreement relating to the offering cease to be true and correct in any material respect, (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or overt threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (iv) of the happening of any event (but not the nature or the details concerning such event) that makes any statement made in such registration statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference or any free writing prospectus related thereto untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus, documents or free writing prospectus so that, in the case of the registration statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading, and that in the case of any prospectus or free writing prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(f) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction at the reasonably earliest practical date;
(g) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Subsections 2.4(e)(i), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (e)(iv) above, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
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incorporated therein by reference or a free writing prospectus related thereto, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the selling Holders, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(h) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its senior executive officers to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement (including, without limitation, by participation in road shows, holding meetings with potential investors and taking such other actions as shall reasonably be requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any);
(i) in the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement (including any Company lock-up), in usual and customary form, with the underwriter(s) of such offering;
(j) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on a national securities exchange or trading system and each securities exchange and trading system (if any) on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
(k) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement and provide a CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such registration;
(l) promptly make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any managing underwriter(s) participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney or accountant or other agent retained by any such underwriter or selected by the selling Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents, and properties of the Company, and cause the Companys officers, directors, employees, and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant, or agent, in each case, as necessary or advisable to verify the accuracy of the information in such registration statement and to conduct appropriate due diligence in connection therewith;
(m) notify each selling Holder, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed; and
(n) after such registration statement becomes effective, notify each selling Holder of any request by the SEC that the Company amend or supplement such registration statement or prospectus.
2.5 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Section 2 with respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as is reasonably required to effect the registration of such Holders Registrable Securities.
2.6 Expenses of Registration. All expenses (other than Selling Expenses) incurred in connection with registrations, filings, or qualifications pursuant to Section 2, including all registration, filing, and qualification fees; printers and accounting fees; fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and the reasonable fees and disbursements, not to exceed Thirty-Five Thousand (US$35,000) Dollars, of one counsel for the selling Holders (Selling Holder Counsel), shall be borne and paid by
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the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Subsection 2.1 if the registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered (in which case all selling Holders shall bear such expenses pro rata based upon the number of Registrable Securities that were to be included in the withdrawn registration), unless the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities agree to forfeit their right to one registration pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a) or Subsection 2.1(b), as the case may be; provided further that if, at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders shall have learned of a material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of the Company from that known to the Holders at the time of their request and have withdrawn the request with reasonable promptness after learning of such information then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses and shall not forfeit their right to one registration pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a) or Subsection 2.1(b). All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 2 shall be borne and paid by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities registered on their behalf.
2.7 Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any registration pursuant to this Agreement as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 2.
2.8 Indemnification. If any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this Section 2:
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each selling Holder, and the partners, members, officers, directors, and stockholders of each such Holder; legal counsel and accountants for each such Holder; any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for each such Holder; and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any Damages, and the Company will pay to each such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Subsection 2.8(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, nor shall the Company be liable for any Damages to the extent that they arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of any such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person expressly for use in connection with such registration.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each Person (if any), who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, legal counsel and accountants for the Company, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act), any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement, and any controlling Person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any Damages, in each case only to the extent that such Damages arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of such selling Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such selling Holder will pay to the Company and each other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Subsection 2.8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further that in
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no event shall the aggregate amounts payable by any Holder by way of indemnity or contribution under Subsections 2.8(b) and 2.8(d) exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Holder.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Subsection 2.8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action) for which a party may be entitled to indemnification hereunder, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Subsection 2.8, give the indemnifying party notice of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in such action and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, participate jointly with any other indemnifying party to which notice has been given, and to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party (together with all other indemnified parties that may be represented without conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such action. The failure to give notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Subsection 2.8, only if and to the extent that such failure materially prejudices the indemnifying partys ability to defend such action. The failure to give notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Subsection 2.8.
(d) To provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i) any party otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Subsection 2.8 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case, notwithstanding the fact that this Subsection 2.8 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any party hereto for which indemnification is provided under this Subsection 2.8, then, and in each such case, such parties will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of each of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements, omissions, or other actions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability, or expense, as well as to reflect any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact, relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, however, that, in any such case, (x) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement, and (y) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction); and provided further that in no event shall a Holders liability pursuant to this Subsection 2.8(d), when combined with the amounts paid or payable by such Holder pursuant to Subsection 2.8(b), exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of willful misconduct or fraud by such Holder.
(e) Unless otherwise superseded by an underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering, the obligations of the Company and Holders under
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this Subsection 2.8 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration under this Section 2, and otherwise shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
2.9 Reports Under Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of SEC Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the Company shall:
(a) make and keep available adequate current public information, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times after the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company for the IPO;
(b) use commercially reasonable efforts to 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 (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements); and
(c) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) to the extent accurate, a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company for the IPO), the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies); and (ii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act) or pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies to use such form).
2.10 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would provide to such holder the right to include securities in any registration on other than on a subordinate basis after all Holders have had the opportunity to include in the registration and offering all shares of Registrable Securities that they wish to so include.
2.11 Market Stand-off Agreement. Each Holder hereby agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the managing underwriter, during the period commencing on the date of the final prospectus relating to the IPO registration and ending on the date specified by the Company and the managing underwriter (such period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, or such other period as may be requested by the Company or an underwriter to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (1) the publication or other distribution of research reports and (2) analyst recommendations and opinions, including, but not limited to, the restrictions contained in FINRA Rule 2711(f)(4) or NYSE Rule 472(f)(4), or any successor provisions or amendments thereto), (i) lend; offer; pledge; sell; contract to sell; sell any option or contract to purchase; purchase any option or contract to sell; grant any option, right, or warrant to purchase; or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable (directly or indirectly) for Common Stock held immediately before the effective date of the registration statement for such offering or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash, or otherwise. The foregoing provisions of this Subsection 2.11 shall be applicable to the Holders only if all officers, directors and stockholders individually owning more than one percent (1%) of the Companys
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outstanding Common Stock (after giving effect to conversion into Common Stock of all outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock) are subject to the same restrictions. The underwriters in connection with such registration are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Subsection 2.11 and shall have the right, power, and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto. Each Holder further agrees to execute such agreements as may be reasonably requested by the underwriters in connection with such registration that are consistent with this Subsection 2.11 or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. Any discretionary waiver or termination of the restrictions of any or all of such agreements by the Company or the underwriters shall apply pro rata to all Holders and other stockholders subject to such agreements, based on the number of shares subject to such agreements.
2.12 Restrictions on Transfer.
(a) The Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and the Registrable Securities shall not be sold, pledged, or otherwise transferred, and the Company shall not recognize and shall issue stop-transfer instructions to its transfer agent with respect to any such sale, pledge, or transfer, except upon the conditions specified in this Agreement and the Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement, which conditions are intended to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. A transferring Holder will cause any proposed purchaser, pledgee, or transferee of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and the Registrable Securities held by such Holder to agree to take and hold such securities subject to the provisions and upon the conditions specified in this Agreement.
(b) Each certificate or instrument representing (i) the Class A Common Stock, (ii) the Class B Common Stock (iii) the Registrable Securities, and (iv) any other securities issued in respect of the securities referenced in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, or similar event, shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of Subsection 2.12(c)) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend substantially in the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR A VALID EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDER, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.
The Holders consent to the Company making a notation in its records and giving instructions to any transfer agent of the Restricted Securities in order to implement the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Subsection 2.12.
(c) The Holder of each certificate representing Restricted Securities, by acceptance thereof, agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 2. Before any proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of any Restricted Securities, unless there is in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the proposed transaction, the Holder thereof shall give notice to the Company of such Holders intention to effect such sale, pledge, or transfer. Each such notice shall
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describe the manner and circumstances of the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer in sufficient detail and, if reasonably requested by the Company, shall be accompanied at such Holders expense by either (i) a written opinion of legal counsel who shall, and whose legal opinion shall, be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, addressed to the Company, to the effect that the proposed transaction may be effected without registration under the Securities Act; (ii) a no action letter from the SEC to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of such Restricted Securities without registration will not result in a recommendation by the staff of the SEC that action be taken with respect thereto; or (iii) any other evidence reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Company to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of the Restricted Securities may be effected without registration under the Securities Act, whereupon the Holder of such Restricted Securities shall be entitled to sell, pledge, or transfer such Restricted Securities in accordance with the terms of the notice given by the Holder to the Company. The Company will not require such a legal opinion or no action letter (x) in any transaction in compliance with SEC Rule 144 or (y) in any transaction in which such Holder distributes Restricted Securities to an Affiliate of such Holder for no consideration; provided that each transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of this Subsection 2.12. Each certificate or instrument evidencing the Restricted Securities transferred as above provided shall bear, except if such transfer is made pursuant to SEC Rule 144, the appropriate restrictive legend set forth in Subsection 2.12(b), except that such certificate shall not bear such restrictive legend if, in the opinion of counsel for such Holder and the Company, such legend is not required in order to establish compliance with any provisions of the Securities Act.
2.13 Termination of Registration Rights. The right of any Holder to request registration or inclusion of Registrable Securities in any registration pursuant to Subsection 2.1 or Subsection 2.2 shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of:
(a) the closing of a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Charter;
(b) such time as Rule 144 or another similar exemption under the Securities Act is available for the sale of all of such Holders shares without limitation during a six (6)-month period without registration; and
(c) the fifth anniversary of the IPO.
3. Information Rights.
3.1 Delivery of Financial Statements. The Company shall deliver to each Major Investor:
(a) as soon as practicable, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, (i) a balance sheet as of the end of such year, (ii) statements of income and of cash flows for such year, and a comparison between (x) the actual amounts as of and for such fiscal year and (y) the comparable amounts for the prior year and as included in the Budget (as defined in Subsection 3.1(e)) for such year, with an explanation of any material differences between such amounts and a schedule as to the sources and applications of funds for such year, (iii) a statement of stockholders equity as of the end of such year, (iv) a statement showing the number of shares of each class and series of capital stock and securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of capital stock outstanding at the end of the period, the Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise of any outstanding securities convertible or exercisable for Common Stock and the exchange ratio or exercise price applicable thereto, and the number of shares of issued stock options and stock options not yet issued but reserved for issuance, if any, all in sufficient detail as to permit the Major Investors to calculate their respective percentage equity ownership in the Company, and certified by the chief financial officer or chief executive officer of the Company as being true, complete, and correct; and (v) other information as
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determined by the Board of Directors, all such financial statements audited and certified by independent public accountants of regionally recognized standing selected by the Company;
(b) as soon as practicable, but in any event within ten (10) days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, unaudited statements of income and of cash flows for such fiscal quarter, and an unaudited balance sheet, a statement of stockholders equity as of the end of such fiscal quarter, and other information as determined by the Board of Directors, all prepared in accordance with GAAP (except that such financial statements may (i) be subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and (ii) not contain all notes thereto that may be required in accordance with GAAP);
(c) as soon as practicable, but in any event within seven (7) days of the end of each month, unaudited statements of income and of cash flows for such month, and an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such month, all prepared in accordance with GAAP (except that such financial statements may (i) be subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and (ii) not contain all notes thereto that may be required in accordance with GAAP);
(d) as soon as practicable, but in any event within ten (10) days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, a statement showing the number of shares of each class and series of capital stock and securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of capital stock outstanding at the end of the period, the Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise of any outstanding securities convertible or exercisable for Common Stock and the exchange ratio or exercise price applicable thereto, and the number of shares of issued stock options and stock options not yet issued but reserved for issuance, if any, all in sufficient detail as to permit the Major Investors to calculate their respective percentage equity ownership in the Company, and certified by the chief financial officer or chief executive officer of the Company as being true, complete, and correct;
(e) as soon as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30) days prior to end of each fiscal year, a budget and business plan forecasting, the Companys revenues, expenses and cash position on a month-to-month basis for the next fiscal year (collectively, the Budget), approved by the Board of Directors and prepared on a monthly basis, including balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flow for such months and, promptly after prepared, any other budgets or revised budgets prepared by the Company; and
(f) such other information relating to the financial condition, business, prospects, or corporate affairs of the Company as any Major Investor may from time to time reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated under this Subsection 3.1 to provide information (i) that the Company reasonably determines in good faith to be a trade secret or confidential information (unless covered by an enforceable confidentiality agreement, in form reasonably acceptable to the Company) or (ii) the disclosure of which would adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel.
If, for any period, the Company has any subsidiary whose accounts are consolidated with those of the Company, then in respect of such period the financial statements delivered pursuant to the foregoing sections shall be the consolidated and consolidating financial statements of the Company and all such consolidated subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Subsection 3.1 to the contrary, the Company may cease providing the information set forth in this Subsection 3.1 during the period starting with the date thirty (30) days before the Companys good-faith estimate of the date of filing of a registration statement if it reasonably concludes it must do so to comply with the SEC rules applicable to such registration statement and related
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offering; provided that the Companys covenants under this Subsection 3.1 shall be reinstated at such time as the Company is no longer actively employing its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective.
3.2 Inspection. The Company shall permit each Major Investor, at such Major Investors expense, to visit and inspect the Companys properties; examine its books of account and records; and discuss the Companys affairs, finances, and accounts with its officers, during normal business hours of the Company as may be reasonably requested by the Major Investor; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to this Subsection 3.2 to provide access to any information that it reasonably and in good faith considers to be a trade secret or confidential information (unless covered by an enforceable confidentiality agreement, in form reasonably acceptable to the Company,) or the disclosure of which would adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel.
3.3 Termination of Information Rights. The covenants set forth in Subsections 3.1 and 3.2 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before but subject to the consummation of the IPO, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or (iii) upon a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Charter, whichever event occurs first.
3.4 Confidentiality. Each Investor agrees that such Investor will keep confidential and will not disclose, divulge, or use for any purpose (other than to monitor its investment in the Company) any confidential information obtained from the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (including notice of the Companys intention to file a registration statement), unless such confidential information (a) is known or becomes known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of this Subsection 3.4 by such Investor), (b) is or has been independently developed or conceived by the Investor without use of the Companys confidential information, or (c) is or has been made known or disclosed to the Investor by a third party without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to the Company; provided, however, that an Investor may disclose confidential information (i) to its attorneys, accountants, consultants, and other professionals to the extent necessary to obtain their services in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company; (ii) to any prospective purchaser of any Registrable Securities from such Investor, if such prospective purchaser agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Subsection 3.4; (iii) to any existing or prospective Affiliate, partner, member, stockholder, or wholly owned subsidiary of such Investor in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Investor informs such Person that such information is confidential and directs such Person to maintain the confidentiality of such information; or (iv) as may otherwise be required by law, provided that the Investor promptly notifies the Company of such disclosure and takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure.
4. Rights to Future Stock Issuances.
4.1 Right of First Offer. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Subsection 4.1 and applicable securities laws, if the Company proposes to offer or sell any New Securities, the Company shall first offer such New Securities to each Investor. A Major Investor shall be entitled to apportion the right of first offer hereby granted to it among itself and its Affiliates in such proportions as it deems appropriate.
(a) The Company shall give notice (the Offer Notice) to each Investor, stating (i) its bona fide intention to offer such New Securities, (ii) the number of such New Securities to be offered, and (iii) the price and terms, if any, upon which it proposes to offer such New Securities.
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(b) By notification to the Company within twenty (20) days after the Offer Notice is given, each Investor may elect to purchase or otherwise acquire, at the price and on the terms specified in the Offer Notice, up to that portion of such New Securities which equals the proportion that the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held, by such Investor bears to the total Common Stock of the Company then outstanding (assuming full conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of all Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and other Derivative Securities). At the expiration of such twenty (20) day period, the Company shall promptly notify each Investor that elects to purchase or acquire all the shares available to it (each, a Fully Exercising Investor) of any other Investors failure to do likewise. During the ten (10) day period commencing after the Company has given such notice, each Fully Exercising Investor may, by giving notice to the Company, elect to purchase or acquire, in addition to the number of shares specified above, up to that portion of the New Securities for which Investors were entitled to subscribe but that were not subscribed for by the Investors which is equal to the proportion that the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held, by such Fully Exercising Investor bears to the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held, by all Fully Exercising Investors who wish to purchase such unsubscribed shares. The closing of any sale pursuant to this Subsection 4.1(b) shall occur within the later of ninety (90) days of the date that the Offer Notice is given and the date of initial sale of New Securities pursuant to Subsection 4.1(c).
(c) If all New Securities referred to in the Offer Notice are not elected to be purchased or acquired as provided in Subsection 4.1(b), the Company may, during the ninety (90) day period following the expiration of the periods provided in Subsection 4.1(b), offer and sell the remaining unsubscribed portion of such New Securities to any Person or Persons at a price not less than, and upon terms no more favorable to the offeree than, those specified in the Offer Notice. If the Company does not enter into an agreement for the sale of the New Securities within such period, or if such agreement is not consummated within thirty (30) days of the execution thereof, the right provided hereunder shall be deemed to be revived and such New Securities shall not be offered unless first reoffered to the Investors in accordance with this Subsection 4.1.
(d) The right of first offer in this Subsection 4.1 shall not be applicable to (i) Exempted Securities (as defined in the Charter); (ii) shares of Common Stock issued in the IPO; and (iii) securities issued in connection with the acquisition by the Company of voting control or all or substantially all of the assets of another business entity in a transaction approved by the Board of Directors.
(e) The right of first offer set forth in this Subsection 4.1 shall be reduced with respect to any Investor who fails to purchase, in any transaction subject to this Subsection 4.1, all of such Investors pro rata amount of the New Securities allocated (or, if less than such Investors pro rata amount is offered by the Company, such lesser amount so offered). to such Investor pursuant to this Subsection 4.1. Such Investor shall thereafter have the right to participate in future offers only to the extent of its percentage participation in the previous offer, if any.
(f) The right of first offer set forth in this Subsection 4.1 may be waived as to the Investors by PTT Chemical International Private Limited (PTTCH).
(g) Any issuance of New Securities not made in compliance with the requirements of this Agreement shall be null and void ab initio, shall not be recorded on the books of the
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Company or its transfer agent and shall not be recognized by the Company. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that any breach of this Agreement would result in substantial harm to the other parties hereto for which monetary damages alone could not adequately compensate. Therefore, the parties hereto unconditionally and irrevocably agree that any non-breaching party hereto shall be entitled to seek protective orders, injunctive relief and other remedies available at law or in equity (including, without limitation, seeking specific performance or the rescission of purchases, sales and other issuances of New Securities not made in strict compliance with this Agreement).
4.2 Termination. The covenants set forth in Subsection 4.1 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before but subject to the consummation of the IPO, or (ii) upon a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Charter, whichever event occurs first.
5. Additional Covenants.
5.1 Indemnification Agreements; D&O Insurance. The Company will enter into standard indemnification agreements with each of the members of the Board of Directors. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, within ninety (90) days of the date hereof, from financially sound and reputable insurers Directors and Officers liability insurance in an amount and on terms and conditions satisfactory to a majority of the Board of Directors, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such insurance policies to be maintained until such time as the Board of Directors determines that such insurance should be discontinued.
5.2 Board Matters. Unless otherwise determined by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office (including at least one director nominated by PTTCH), the Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly in accordance with an agreed-upon schedule. A quorum for any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, including at least one director nominated by PTTCH and at least one director nominated by any of Norwood LDK, LLC, Plainfield Direct LLC. or Green Chem Second Edition, LLC. The Company shall reimburse the nonemployee directors for all reasonable out-of-pocket travel expenses incurred (consistent with the Companys travel policy) in connection with attending meetings of the Board of Directors. Each non-employee director shall be entitled in such persons discretion to be a member of any Board committee.
5.3 Nondisclosure Agreements. The Company will cause the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and each person now or hereafter employed by it or by any subsidiary (or engaged by the Company or any subsidiary as a consultant/independent contractor) with access to confidential information and/or trade secrets to enter into a nondisclosure and proprietary rights assignment agreement in the form previously made available to PTTCH and its counsel. In addition, the Company will revise such form for future use based on PTTCHs reasonable input and will ensure that all individuals who are now or are hereafter employees or consultants of the Company with access to confidential information and/or trade secrets following the Closing will enter into a nondisclosure and proprietary rights assignment agreement in such revised form.
5.4 Noncompetition Agreements. The Company will cause each officer, management level employee and key scientific and engineering employee now employed by it or by any subsidiary to enter into a noncompetition agreement in the form previously made available to PTTCH and its counsel. In addition, the Company will revise such form for future use based on PTTCHs reasonable input and will ensure that all individuals who hereafter enter into new employment contracts or become officers, management level employees and key scientific and engineering employees following the Closing will enter into a noncompetition agreement in such revised form with a term which the Company believes in its reasonable opinion, is the maximum allowed by the law of the individuals employing jurisdiction but in any event not exceeding twenty-four (24) months.
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5.5 Employment Agreements. The Company has or will cause each senior management level employee of the Company to enter into the form of employment offer letter or agreement in the forms previously made available to PTTCH and its counsel. In addition, the Company will revise such forms for future use based on PTTCHs reasonable input and will ensure that individuals who are now or are hereafter members of senior management of the Company following the Closing will enter into offer letters or agreement in such revised forms.
5.6 Successor Indemnification. If the Company or any of its successors or assignees consolidates with or merges into any other Person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or transfers all of its assets, the proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and assignees of the Company assume the obligations of the Company with respect to indemnification of members of the Board of Directors as in effect immediately before such transaction, whether such obligations are contained in the Companys Bylaws, the Charter, or elsewhere, as the case may be.
5.7 Termination of Covenants. The covenants set forth in this Section 5, except for Subsection 5.6, shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before but subject to the consummation of the IPO, (ii) as to any Investor, at such time as the Investor holds less than 10% of the Registrable Securities it acquires at the Closing (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) or in the Debt Conversion, or (iii) upon a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Charter, whichever event occurs first.
6. Miscellaneous.
6.1 Successors and Assigns. The rights under this Agreement may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee that receives Registrable Securities in compliance with this Agreement and the Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement that (i) is a partner or an Affiliate of a Holder; (ii) is a Holders Immediate Family Member or trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or one or more of such Holders Immediate Family Members; or (iii) after such transfer, holds at least 500,000 shares of Registrable Securities (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, and other recapitalizations); provided, however, that (w) all such transfers of Registrable Securities have been made in compliance with this Agreement and the Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement; (x) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred; and (y) such transferee agrees in a written instrument delivered to the Company to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the provisions of Subsection 2.11. For the purposes of determining the number of shares of Registrable Securities held by a transferee, the holdings of a transferee (1) that is an Affiliate or stockholder of a Holder; (2) who is a Holders Immediate Family Member; or (3) that is a trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or such Holders Immediate Family Member shall be aggregated together with those of the transferring Holder; provided further that all transferees who would not qualify individually for assignment of rights shall have a single attorney-in-fact for the purpose of exercising any rights, receiving notices, or taking any action under this Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement inure to the benefit of and are binding upon the respective successors and permitted assignees of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assignees any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.
6.2 Governing Law. This Agreement and any controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New
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York, without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of New York.
6.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
6.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
6.5 Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or: (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified; (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile during the recipients normal business hours, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipients next business day, provided in either case, that the facsimile transmission is promptly confirmed by telephone; (iii) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (iv) one (1) business day after the business day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next-day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective parties at their addresses as set forth on Schedule A hereto, or to the principal office of the Company and to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer, in the case of the Company, or to such email address, facsimile number, or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Subsection 6.5. If notice is given to the Company, a copy shall also be sent to (a) DLA Piper LLP (US), 2000 University Avenue, East Palo Alto, California ###-###-####, USA, Attention: Curtis L. Mo, facsimile: 650 ###-###-####, email: ***@*** and (b) Byron S. Kalogerou, McDermott Will & Emery, 28 State Street, 34th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-1775, USA, facsimile: 617 ###-###-####; email ***@***. If notice is given to PTTCH, a copy shall also be given to Allen & Overy (Thailand) Co., Ltd., 22nd Floor Sindhorn Building Tower III, 130-132 Wireless Road, Lumpini Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand, Attention: Arkrapol Pichedvanichok, facsimile: +66 (0)2 ###-###-####, email: ***@***.
6.6 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement 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 holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding; provided that the Company may in its sole discretion waive compliance with Subsection 2.12(c) (and the Companys failure to object promptly in writing after notification of a proposed assignment allegedly in violation of Subsection 2.12(c) shall be deemed to be a waiver); and provided further that any provision hereof may be waived by any waiving party on such partys own behalf, without the consent of any other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may not be amended or terminated and the observance of any term hereof may not be waived with respect to any Investor without the written consent of such Investor. The Company shall give prompt notice of any amendment or termination hereof or waiver hereunder, in each case with respect to a particular Investor, to each other Investor. Any amendment, termination, or waiver effected in accordance with this Subsection 6.6 shall be binding only on those parties who have expressly consented in writing thereto. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision.
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6.7 Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be reformed and construed so that it will be valid, legal, and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.
6.8 Aggregation of Stock. All shares of Registrable Securities held or acquired by Affiliates shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement and such Affiliated persons may apportion such rights as among themselves in any manner they deem appropriate.
6.9 Additional Investors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Company issues additional shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock after the date hereof (provided that such shares are issued in accordance with the Charter and this Agreement, as applicable), any acquirer of such shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may become a party to this Agreement by executing and delivering an additional counterpart signature page to this Agreement and thereafter shall be deemed an Investor for all purposes hereunder. In such case, Schedule A hereto may be amended by the Company to add such person without the consent of the other parties hereto.
6.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any Schedules and Exhibits hereto), the Charter and the other Transaction Agreements (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled.
6.11 Dispute Resolution. Any unresolved controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, except (i) as otherwise provided in this Agreement or (ii) any such controversies or claims arising out of either partys intellectual property rights for which a provisional remedy or equitable relief is sought, shall be submitted to arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (the AAA) in accordance with the International Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect. There shall be one (1) arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties from the names of potential arbitrators proposed by the AAA. If no agreement on the sole arbitrator can be reached within thirty (30) days after names of potential arbitrators have been proposed by the AAA, then the AAA shall select the sole arbitrator, who shall have at least ten (10) years experience in corporate finance transactions of the type provided for in this Agreement. The arbitration shall take place in New York, New York, and any award shall be final and binding and judgment thereon may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party will bear its own costs in respect of any disputes arising under this Agreement. Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to personal jurisdiction for any equitable action sought in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or any court of the State of New York having subject matter jurisdiction.
6.12 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of such nonbreaching or nondefaulting party, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of or acquiescence to any such breach or default, or to any similar breach or default thereafter occurring, nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. All remedies, whether under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: MYRIANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Stephen J. Gatto | |||
Name: | Stephen J. Gatto | |||
Title: | Chairman and CEO | |||
Address: 1 Pinehill Drive Batterymarch Park II, Suite 301 Quincy, MA 02169-4801 Facsimile: (617)  ###-###-#### Email: ***@*** | ||||
INVESTORS: PTT CHEMICAL INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LIMITED | ||||
By: | /s/ Narongsak Jivakanun | |||
Name: | Narongsak Jivakanun | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
GREEN CHEM HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Steven M. Sisselman | |||
Name: | Steven M. Sisselman | |||
Title: | President | |||
GREEN CHEM SECOND EDITION, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Steven M. Sisselman | |||
Name: | Steven M. Sisselman | |||
Title: | President | |||
PLAINFIELD FINANCE II LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Thomas X. Fritsch | |||
Name: | Thomas X. Fritsch | |||
Title: | Co-General Counsel | |||
PLAINFIELD DIRECT LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Thomas X. Fritsch | |||
Name: | Thomas X. Fritsch | |||
Title: | Co-General Counsel | |||
STEPHEN J. GATTO | ||||
/s/ Stephen J. Gatto |
Signature Page to Myriant Technologies, Inc. Investors Rights Agreement
SCHEDULE A
Investors
Name and Address
PTT Chemical International Private Limited
391B Orchard Road, #15-05/08
Ngee Ann City Tower B
Singapore 238874
Attn: Mr. Narongsak Jivakanun
391B Orchard Road, #15-05/08
Ngee Ann City Tower B
Singapore 238874
Attn: Mr. Narongsak Jivakanun
Fax: +65.6 ###-###-####
Plainfield Direct LLC and
Plainfield Finance II LLC
c/o Plainfield Asset Management, LLC
333 Ludlow Street
Stamford, CT 06902
Attn: James Healy
***@***
Fax: 203 ###-###-####
Plainfield Finance II LLC
c/o Plainfield Asset Management, LLC
333 Ludlow Street
Stamford, CT 06902
Attn: James Healy
***@***
Fax: 203 ###-###-####
Green Chem Holdings, LLC
9995 Gate Parkway N., Suite 400
Jacksonville, FL 32246
9995 Gate Parkway N., Suite 400
Jacksonville, FL 32246
Green Chem Second Edition, LLC
9995 Gate Parkway N., Suite 400
Jacksonville, FL 32246
9995 Gate Parkway N., Suite 400
Jacksonville, FL 32246
Stephen J. Gatto
1 Pinehill Drive
Batterymark Park II, Suite 301
Quincy, MA 02169-5210
***@***
Fax: 617 ###-###-####
1 Pinehill Drive
Batterymark Park II, Suite 301
Quincy, MA 02169-5210
***@***
Fax: 617 ###-###-####