Form of Registration Rights Agreement utilized in the November Stock Offering
Exhibit 10.43
SAFETY QUICK LIGHTING & FANS CORP.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) , dated as of _________, 20__, is made by and between Safety Quick Lighting & Fans Corp., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned (the “Holder”).
WHEREAS, each Holder has subscribed to purchase the Shares (as defined in Section 1 below) pursuant to that certain Securities Subscription Agreement and exhibits thereto (the “Subscription Agreement”), in connection with the Company’s offering (the “Offering”) of a minimum of $500,000 and up to $2,000,000 in the aggregate principal amount of shares of the common stock of the Company, no par value per share (“Common Stock”); and
WHEREAS, to induce the Holder to execute and deliver the Subscription Agreement and this Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws, with respect to the Shares issuable pursuant to the Subscription Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises, the agreements and covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Holder, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Subscription Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Subscription Agreement. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1:
“Closing Date” means the Closing Date, as that term is defined in the Subscription Agreement.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Effectiveness Period” shall mean from the date hereof until the earlier to occur of the date when all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement either (a) have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and (b) pursuant to a written opinion of Company counsel acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent and the legal counsel for the Holder, may be sold pursuant to Rule 144.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Holder” or “Holders” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals of this Agreement, and shall specifically mean the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities (including any permitted assignee) issued pursuant to the Offering.
“Person” shall mean an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
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“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
“Reasonable Best Efforts” means that the Company has taken steps which are commercially reasonable under the circumstances to accomplish its obligations hereunder, without jeopardizing the Company’s operational and financial stability.
“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Shares, and (ii) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization, anti-dilution adjustment or similar event with respect to the foregoing.
“Registration Statement” means any registration statement required to be filed hereunder (which, at the Company's option, may be an existing registration statement of the Company previously filed with the Commission, but not declared effective), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to the registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
“Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar Rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar Rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
“Shares” means the shares of Common Stock purchased by the Holder and issued by the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreement.
“Trading Day” means (a) a day on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on a Trading Market, or (b) if the Common Stock is not trading on a Trading Market, a day on which the Common Stock is quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported by Pink Sheets LLC (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting price). In the event that the Common Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (a) and (b) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a business day.
“Trading Market” means the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the OTC Bulletin Board, the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market.
2. Registration.
(a) Mandatory Registration. The Company shall, on the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days from the Closing Date (the “Mandatory Filing Date”), use its Reasonable Best Efforts to file with the Commission a Registration Statement (the “Mandatory Registration Statement”), covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Mandatory Registration Statement required hereunder shall be on Form S-1 or Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or Form S-3, in which case the Mandatory Registration Statement shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith).
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(b) Filing Default Damages. If a Mandatory Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Mandatory Filing Date, then the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to two percent (2%) of the gross proceeds paid by the Holder for the Shares (the “Filing Default Damages”).
(c) The Company shall not be responsible to pay any Filing Default Damages if the Company has exercised its Reasonable Best Efforts to file the Registration Statement and have the Shares declared effective. The Filing Default Damages and any related interest thereon shall be paid, at the Holder’s option, in cash or Common Stock (priced at the price per share paid by the Holder for the Shares pursuant to the Subscription Agreement), or a portion thereof. Failure of the Company to make payment of the Filing Default Damages within thirty (30) days of the Mandatory Filing Date shall be considered a breach of this Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else contained in this Agreement, any and all damages, penalties or interest incurred in connection with this Agreement shall, in no case, collectively exceed ten percent (10%) of the gross proceeds paid by the Holder for the Shares.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder, and during the period in which the Company is required or elects to keep the Registration Statement effective (the “Effectiveness Period”), the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and (iii) respond to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto.
(b) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement, as promptly as reasonably possible, (i) of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; and (ii) 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 of any Proceeding for such purpose.
(c) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(d) Promptly deliver to each Holder upon reasonable request, without charge, an electronic copy of the final Prospectus or Prospectuses and each amendment or supplement thereto. The Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by the Holder in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, except after the giving of any notice pursuant to Section 3(b).
(e) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by Holder, use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by a Holder under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject, or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
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(f) Upon the occurrence of any event that makes, or with the passage of time would make, the financial statements included in the Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein, or, that makes, or with the passage of time would make, any statement made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect, as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will 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.
(g) Use its Reasonable Best Efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission relating to the registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise.
(h) The Company covenants that it shall file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, but in no event longer than two (2) years after the date the Registration Statement is declared effective; provided, however, that the Company may delay any such filing but only pursuant to Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act, and the Company shall take such further reasonable action as the Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement, other than fees and expenses of counsel or any other advisor retained by the Holder(s) and discounts and commissions with respect to the sale of any Registrable Securities by the Holder(s). The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to any filings required to be made with the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or blue sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, in its sole discretion, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, the officers, directors, agents and employees of it, each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses relating to an Indemnified Party’s actions to enforce the provisions of this Section 5 (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, to the extent arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (i) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished (or in the case of an omission, not furnished) in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto,
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(ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(b)(iii)-(v), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of written notice from the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, or (ii) the failure of the Holder to deliver a prospectus prior to the confirmation of a sale. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holder. The Holder shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, to the extent arising out of or based upon: (i) the Holder's failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (ii) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (1) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished (or in the case of an omission, not furnished) in writing by or on behalf of such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus (or, in each case, any amendment or supplement thereto) or (2) to the extent that (A) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished (or in the case of an omission, not furnished) in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(b)(iii)-(v), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of written notice from the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, or (C) the failure of the Holder to deliver a Prospectus prior to the confirmation of a sale. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the Purchase Price paid by the Holder in the Subscription Agreement.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, however, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except and only to the extent that such failure shall have materially prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties unless: (i) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (iii) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and the reasonable fees and expenses of one separate counsel for all Indemnified Parties in any matters related on a factual basis shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
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All reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section 6) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten (10) Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder, determined based upon the relative faults of the parties.
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or Section 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 was available to such party in accordance with its terms.
(e) Rule 144. As long as any Holder owns any Shares or Registrable Securities, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. As long as any Holder owns any Shares or Registrable Securities, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Holders and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act annual and quarterly financial statements, in the time period that such filings would have been required to have been made under the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such person to sell the Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, including providing any legal opinions relating to such sale pursuant to Rule 144, if such person is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be in compliance with the rules and regulations set forth in Rule 144. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
6. Miscellaneous.
(e) Compliance. The Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(f) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and each Holder of the then outstanding Registrable Securities.
(g) Notices. Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder or to the Company shall be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions of the Subscription Agreement.
(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of the Holder.
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(i) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing the same (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Florida without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof. The parties hereto hereby irrevocably agree that any suit or proceeding arising directly and/or indirectly pursuant to or under this Agreement, shall be instituted in the courts of the State of Georgia sitting in Fulton County or in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. By its execution hereof, the parties hereby covenant and irrevocably submit to the in personam jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Georgia sitting in Fulton County or in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and agree that any process in any such action may be served upon any of them personally, or by certified mail or registered mail upon them or their agent, return receipt requested, with the same full force and effect as if personally served upon them. The parties hereto waive any claim that any such jurisdiction is not a convenient forum for any such suit or proceeding and any defense or lack of in personam jurisdiction with respect thereto. In the event of any such action or proceeding, the party prevailing therein shall be entitled to payment from the other party hereto of its reasonable counsel fees and disbursements.
(k) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(l) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | SAFETY QUICK LIGHTING & FANS CORP. | ||
By: | |||
John P. Campi | |||
Chief Executive Officer | |||
HOLDER: | |||
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: |
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